Employee №. 3

The "Badge-Deprivation Syndrome": A Preliminary Investigation into the Paranormal Phenomena of the Office

Abstract

This preliminary investigation explores the anecdotal phenomenon known as "Badge-Deprivation Syndrome" (BDS), characterized by the sudden appearance of an anomalous entity within office environments. This entity, observed by multiple witnesses, is colloquially referred to as "Employee No. 3," "Staff_07," "The Interloper," or simply "The Phantom." This study aims to document observed behaviors, analyze potential triggers, and explore the psychological and metaphysical implications of BDS.

Methodology

Data collection relied primarily on anecdotal evidence gathered through informal interviews with office workers experiencing BDS. Observations included:

• Entity Description: The entity manifests as a humanoid figure, typically male, wearing generic office attire (gray suit, nondescript shirt). Facial features are often obscured by shadows or appear distorted.
• Behavioral Observations:
  • Presence: The entity is typically observed in peripheral vision, lurking in hallways, near the coffee machine, or within the vicinity of the server room.
  • Interactions: Direct interaction is rare, but witnesses report feelings of being watched, a sudden drop in temperature, and inexplicable malfunctions of office equipment (e.g., printers, computers).
  • Possession (Hypothesized): In extreme cases, witnesses claim to have experienced a temporary loss of control, leading to inexplicable actions or utterances.

Triggers

The primary trigger for BDS appears to be the absence of an employee's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) badge, resulting in restricted access to certain areas of the office, particularly the server room.

Hypotheses

• Psychosocial Explanation: BDS may be a manifestation of collective anxiety and paranoia within the office environment, exacerbated by the perceived loss of control and individual autonomy.
• Metaphysical Explanation: The absence of the RFID badge may disrupt the employee's "energetic signature," creating a void that is exploited by an interdimensional entity seeking to occupy the vacant "position."
• Technological Explanation: RFID technology may inadvertently interact with latent psychic energies within the office environment, inadvertently summoning or attracting the entity.

Conclusion

This preliminary investigation provides compelling, albeit anecdotal, evidence for the existence of the BDS phenomenon. Further research is warranted, including controlled experiments involving RFID deprivation and the use of electromagnetic field sensors to detect anomalous energy fluctuations.

Disclaimer: This research paper is intended for satirical and entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Creepypasta

The office was a hive of activity, the usual hum of keyboards and conversations filling the air. I, like most mornings, fumbled for my RFiD badge, the plastic card that granted me access to the building and the sacred server room. My heart sank as I realized I'd left it on my nightstand.

"Damn it," I muttered, already picturing the disapproving glare of Mr. Henderson, the IT guy.

"Morning, John," a voice chimed from behind me. It was Sarah, from HR, a woman who always seemed to be radiating an unsettlingly cheerful aura.

"Morning, Sarah," I replied, "I seem to have forgotten my badge. Any chance you could let me in?"

Sarah smiled, her eyes gleaming a little too brightly. "Of course, John. But you know the rules. No server room access today."

"Of course," I said, already dreading the day ahead.

The day passed in a blur of monotonous tasks. I answered emails, filed paperwork, and generally tried to avoid any eye contact with my coworkers. The office seemed different today, quieter somehow. A strange unease settled over me, a feeling of being watched.

Around lunchtime, I decided to grab a coffee. As I walked down the hallway, I noticed a small, framed photograph on a desk. It was a group photo of the office staff, but something was off. There was an extra person in the photo, a man standing awkwardly in the back, his face obscured by shadows. He was wearing a plain gray suit, and a nametag that simply read "Employee No. 3."

I shook my head, dismissing it as a trick of the light. But the image lingered in my mind, a chilling reminder of the unsettling atmosphere that had enveloped the office.

Later that afternoon, I was working late, finishing up a report. The office was almost empty, the only sound the hum of the air conditioning. Suddenly, I heard a faint scratching sound coming from the server room. I froze, my blood running cold.

The door to the server room creaked open, and a figure emerged. It was the man from the photograph, Employee No. 3. His face was still obscured, but his eyes, when they met mine, were cold and lifeless.

He walked past me without a word, his footsteps echoing eerily through the empty office. I watched him go, my heart pounding in my chest.

The next morning, I arrived at work early, determined to put the incident behind me. But as I entered the office, I noticed something strange. Sarah was sitting at her desk, staring intently at the photograph from the previous day.

"Morning, Sarah," I said, trying to sound casual.

Sarah looked up, her smile strained. "Morning, John. Did you… did you see him?"

I felt a shiver crawl down my spine. "See who?"

Sarah pointed to the photograph. "Employee No. 3. He was here last night, wasn't he?"

I felt a wave of dread wash over me. "What do you mean?"

Sarah's voice dropped to a whisper. "He comes when you forget your badge. He takes your place."

I stared at the photograph, my mind reeling. The face of Employee No. 3 seemed to shift and change, morphing into the faces of my coworkers, then back again.

From that day on, I never forgot my RFiD badge. And I always made sure to keep an eye on the photograph, just to make sure that Employee No. 3 stayed where he belonged.

Disclaimer: This is a fictional story and should not be taken seriously.

I hope you enjoyed this creepypasta! Let me know if you'd like to hear more.