You left the office building in a hurry, full of anger and disappointment.
Another job rejection.
You had just graduated college and were looking for a new job but it was proving to be a daunting task. You’ve filled out dozens of applications and went to plenty of interviews to only be denied at the last minute.
“Sorry you’re overqualified,” they would say, or the more common, “You’re underqualified, we’re seeking someone with more experience.”
“How am I supposed to get experience if I don’t get a job in the first place?” you think annoyed as you make your way back to your apartment. You live in a pretty “decent” apartment for someone living in New York City but if you didn’t find a job before summer ended, you wouldn’t have any saved up funds left to pay rent which meant eviction.
Luckily it was May and you still had a few months left but it didn’t remove the burden off your shoulders entirely. You didn’t have many friends, problems from being a loner in university, nor any family to rely on. You had only moved to New York after obtaining a full ride scholarship which meant leaving your parents, siblings, and other family members back in your home state. And you didn’t want to ask them for help, in fear of you showing them how much of a failure you were.
“Besides they’ll only suggest for me to move back,” you say to yourself with a shudder. There was another reason you were so eager to accept the scholarship, you wanted to escape the small town lifestyle your hometown provided. And New York City was the perfect choice. However, if you didn’t find a job soon, you would eventually find yourself returning to it.
You needed a job. And you needed one fast. Anything would do.
You arrive at your apartment complex, an old thin 3-floor brick building mostly full of college students. It was near your old university campus which is why you and the other residents chose it in the first place. It was convenient before but now only served to remind you of your failures as you watch old classmates moving out with lucrative job offers.
You try not to dwell too much in your lack of success in job hunting and try to find a silver lining as you go up your usual two flights of stairs. But it wasn’t easy to find something to be happy about. You arrive on the third floor still miserable and unhappy.
Glancing at the end of the hall, where your apartment was located, you spot something that instantly fills you with joy: a small taped brown box, resting in front of your door.
YOUR PACKAGE ARRIVED!
You race toward your apartment and grab the box off the ground. It wasn’t very big and wrapped tightly with packing tape, it would probably be a hassle to open but it would be worth it.
Unlocking your apartment, you quickly enter and lock the door before racing to your desk. Grabbing a box cutter you begin chucking madly at the box’s sides, desperate to open it.
You weren’t very superstitious but when you saw a lucky crystal online for cheap you just had to buy it. The item description stated it was an item that would bring it’s user everything they wanted if they were the right candidate.
You had no idea what any of that meant but you needed all the help you could get, especially with your job hunting. Besides the crystal was cheap and looked cool, even if it didn’t work it was a win-win either way.
Finally you open the package and, to your surprise, find a black felted box with a golden symbol on the top: 胡
“What does that mean?” you ask aloud. It looked like a Chinese character but you didn’t know the language so you couldn't be certain.
“Maybe it’s just the seller’s name?” you convince yourself easily and dismissing any leftover concerns, you open the black box.
Inside laid an orange crystal that shone so brightly it appeared to be glowing. Without a second thought you grabbed the crystal out of the box.