NIGHT SHIFT

NIGHT SHIFT

The bank of screens on the wall flickered in unison, emitting a low buzzing sound reverberating throughout the room. As the flickering caught my peripheral vision, I lifted my gaze from the novel that engrossed me. A central system seemed to connect the updating data, charts, and graphs displayed on the screens. The flickering had disrupted their synchronised rhythm, leaving me curious about what could have caused it.           

The container yard screens paused and resumed with a weird sepia-like hue, leaving an eerie feeling.

     I took my time to lift my legs off the table, feeling the stiffness in my joints as I rose to my feet. I stretched my arms and legs as I straightened up, eyes scanning the multiple screens before me. The view outside was vast and expansive, and as I peered out, my gaze settled on the tall gates at the end of the yard. A sense of relief washed over me as I noticed the gates remained shut and locked, ensuring no unwanted visitors could enter the property.

      The expanded, lit yard stretched beyond endlessly. As I stood there, my gaze scanning the area, the sudden illumination of a security light drew my attention to one bay. Illuminated by the light, the bay’s shape became visible. The bay was farthest from my office and closest to the docks, where enormous container ships were loaded and unloaded around the clock. A constant background hum filled the air from the movement of cranes, dockworkers’ shouts, and ships’ engines.

       I reached for the handle of my wooden desk drawer, feeling the smoothness of the polished surface under my fingertips. With a gentle tug, the drawer slid open, revealing the contents inside. Among a mess of office supplies, I found my heavy-duty torch, grasping the handle and turning it on, but to my dismay, the beam refused to light up. The torch sprang to life with a gentle tap. It shone into my eyes, blinding me with its brightness.

           I opened my eyes and blinked several times to adjust to the dim lighting. I felt a kaleidoscope of colours whirling around in my vision. After steadying myself, I reached for my Hi-Vis coat and slipped it on, feeling the familiar weight and warmth of the thick material. As I stepped out into the crisp, frosty night, I could feel the chill seeping through the fabric and into my bones. The air was fresh and invigorating, and I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool, clean scent.

           I stepped outside and felt the chilly air wrap around me like a thick, misty scarf. My breath escaped my lips in visible puffs, adding to the foggy atmosphere. I reached into my coat pockets and retrieved my insulated gloves, knowing that my fingers would soon become numb from the freezing temperatures.

Frost covered the ground as I approached the containers. With my torch in hand, I scanned the area before proceeding. The light revealed the details of the containers, and a satisfying crunch followed every step I took.

           I noticed a sudden change in the ambience as I stood in the darkness. An eerie glow enveloped the surroundings with the activation of a different security light. I turned my head towards the source of the sound, only to hear the faint sound of footsteps growing louder by the second. With my heart racing, I grabbed my torch and swung it to my right, holding it like a weapon. The beam of light pierced through the darkness, probing the surroundings like an illuminated index finger, revealing nothing but shadows.

           Startled by the sudden noise, I shouted out, “Who’s there?” The sound of my voice bounced off the nearby shipping containers and echoed back at me, making it difficult to decipher any potential response. Despite my initial fear, I felt a rush of adrenaline as I tried to remain alert and aware of my surroundings.

A jarring sound shattered the silence in the container yard, creating an eerie echo that lingered in the air. Its suddenness left an unsettling feeling in the pit of one’s stomach, but it’s impossible to determine its source.

           The sound reverberated through the frosty atmosphere. It resembled a distorted fox cry, a singular prolonged note that hung in the air. The uncanny noise was unsettling. As I stood there, the more exposed I felt. I tried to stay calm, but the noise felt strange and unexplained. It was impossible not to be perturbed by it.

           I searched the surrounding area, scanning every inch before continuing my quest. When I reached the bay, I heard a faint noise behind me, causing me to turn around. In the beam of my torch, I saw a hint of snow, delicate, flickering like translucent diamonds. The snowflakes swirled around me, creating an illusion of constant movement, but then my gaze fell on something specific, drawing my attention away from the hypnotic dance of the snow.

           I trudged through the falling snow and glimpsed something moving in the distance. Curiosity sparked. I strained my eyes, but the figure vanished like a shadow in the dark. Shielding my face from the blinding snow, I strained to see and hear more, but all that filled my senses was the thumping of my heart and the sound of my breath whistling through my throat. Refusing to give up, I kept my focus on the same spot and walked backwards, hoping to piece together the memory of the fleeting silhouette and reconstruct it in my mind’s eye.

           I slid into the dark void between the containers, aware of the dangers. The complete absence of any discernible shapes or movements around me only added to the overwhelming sense of disorientation and fear that enveloped me.     

I couldn’t calm down and felt anxious as I waited. Securing the site was my sole focus, and I felt relieved taking proactive steps to protect myself.

Amid the developing blizzard, I strained my eyes to see through the white-out. And then, out of the thick, swirling snow, a dark figure emerged, taking shape before my eyes—the silhouette emerging from the blizzard was surreal and intense.

I gazed ahead. A diminutive, stout deer came into view. It was a Muntjac, its size similar to a medium-sized dog’s. The creature’s coat was a mixture of ginger and brown, with a light-coloured belly, distinguishing dark stripes on its face, and diminutive antlers, each with a single point. To my surprise, another Muntjac emerged from behind a container, smaller than the previous one. Soon after, a juvenile Muntjac, even smaller than the second one, completed the trio.

Moving backwards, I felt my heel touch something solid. I came across the security fence when I turned. It surprised me to find no fence, only a gap. I peered through the darkness, trying to understand what was happening. My arms flailed as I stumbled backwards, seeking support. But there was nothing to support my weight, and I fell onto the frozen grass of the adjoining nature reserve. The cold seeped through my clothes as I lay there, feeling disoriented and confused.

The Muntjac family sprang into action when I fell into the reserve. They darted past me, leaping over me with surprising agility. The crunch of their footsteps in the snow filled the air as they retreated into the darkness. The biggest deer paused, gave me a disdainful look, and disappeared.

As I reminisce, the Muntjac’s fearful gaze from that night lingers in my memory. It reminded me that human encroachment on animal habitats is dangerous and unpredictable. We must take responsibility for preserving the natural world.