The shipping containers arrived mid-morning without explanation. Three simple words were spraypainted across their sides. 

Do not open. 

Naturally, people tried to open them. 

Liam took to one of the padlocks with a pair of bolt cutters. They broke in half just before he was about to clamp down. 

Harrison ran at one with an axe poised over his head and a crazed look in his eyes. The axe bounced back ineffectually as soon as he swung.  

Even Felicity, typically mild-mannered, tried to punch through any perceived weak points in the steel. She broke both her hands, but the containers remained secure. 

Her injuries didn’t deter anyone. If anything, they made things worse. 

By lunch, the containers had become the only topic of conversation. Meetings were cancelled; orders fell by the wayside. Almost the entire company had gathered around the steel boxes as though they were worshipping at altars.  

Except the Marketing team. 

They were hiding up in the Marketing Studio, hoping everyone forgot they existed. 

They were the only ones who knew what was inside the containers. 

“What’s gotten into these guys?” asked Jess, pulling back the blinds to peek down at the chaos below. “It’s like they’re possessed or something.” 

“Dude, get away from the window! They’re going to see you,” hissed Erin.  

Jess jerked away from the glass, but it was too late; dozens of heads whipped around in perfect unison.  

“So creepy, so creepy, so creepy!” she squealed, running over to the door. She slammed the deadbolt into place and slipped a wedge under the door.  

“It’s fine, it’s totally fine. If that’s the weirdest thing they do, we’re sweet,” Erin said, trying her best to sound calm. 

That’s when the chanting started. 

It sounded ancient and guttural, like it was coming from the very depths of their souls. As one, the group took one step forward, then another, their collective footsteps echoing ominously through the warehouse. 

They were moving towards the Marketing Studio. 

“How ‘bout if spontaneous chanting and unnaturally harmonised movement is the weirdest thing they do, are we sweet then?” asked Jess sarcastically. “I can’t believe this is how I die. I haven’t even seen the Panthers go back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back yet.” 

Erin rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to die. We’ll just tell them what’s inside and hope that snaps them out of it.” 

Jess shook her head vigorously. “We promised we wouldn’t say anything.” 

There was a thud at the door, which nearly flew off its hinges.  

“Under the circumstances, I think Amy will understand,” said Erin.  

Another wave of bodies hit the door, causing another loud thud. “Unless you’ve got any other ideas,” she added. 

Jess gulped and looked back at the door. She took a deep breath, then strode over and threw it open. 

“Alright, enough!” she yelled. “We’ll tell you what’s in the containers.” 

Everyone stopped, their jaws hanging open in suspense. 

“It’s our Scratch, Match, Win prizes. There, are you happy now?” 

Instantly, the trance was broken. Most of the team shuffled off shaking their heads, like they couldn’t quite believe where they were. 

But not Felicity. She waited until everyone had left, both hands hanging beside her like a pair of white boxing gloves. 

“What’s the theme?” she asked. 

“Oh, it’s a good one,” replied Jess. “Probably our best yet. It’s-” 

Redacted… for now.