Midnight Alignment

[Verse 1] I went back in after closing time Forgot my scanner on Forklift Nine Figured I’d grab it, be in and out Nothing unusual to worry about But the warehouse felt a little off Like someone turned the normal down soft Lights still on… but not the same Like the building forgot its own name [Verse 2] All seven forklifts in their charging row Same place they always go Betty centered, perfect straight Like she was waiting to evaluate Carl was parked with his usual sigh But his screen flickered in my eye Warnings flashing, gone too fast Like the system was skipping past Pete was quiet—no alarm at all Which somehow felt worse than a call Wendy’s battery read full green But she looked like she didn’t want to be seen [Pre-Chorus] Joe once said, “If it feels too clean Don’t trust what the quiet means…” And I laughed it off back then But I wasn’t laughing now again [Chorus] Something’s off in the midnight alignment Nothing is broken, but nothing is right yet All of them parked like they agreed Without anyone saying what they need Something’s off in the blinking light In the hum of the warehouse night They’re all at rest, but I can tell They’re not really idle at all as well [Verse 3] I checked my scanner where I left it behind Sitting on Hank like it was just fine But the screen lit up for half a blink Like it was trying not to let me think Aisle numbers shifted slow Then snapped right back like they didn’t want to show Forklift IDs flickered wrong Like something was there, then gone too long Even the air felt measured and tight Like the warehouse was holding its sight [Pre-Chorus] A single beep from somewhere near But no machine was moving here Then another, soft and low From a place I didn’t know [Chorus] Something’s off in the midnight alignment Nothing is broken, but nothing is right yet All of them parked like they agreed Without anyone saying what they need Something’s off in the blinking light In the hum of the warehouse night They’re all at rest, but I can tell They’re not really idle at all as well [Bridge] Then I saw it—on Charger Zero A light that shouldn’t even show Faint green pulse, then gone again Like it wasn’t meant for me to see then All seven chargers started to hum Not loud, not fast, just one by one Slowly syncing, line by line Like they were learning how to align Betty beeped once. Sharp. Clean. Carl responded, unseen Pete echoed, Wendy too Like they were all repeating through [Final Chorus] Something’s off in the midnight alignment No one is speaking, but still there’s assignment Seven machines in a quiet parade Moving without anything being said Something’s off in the blinking light Like the warehouse is thinking tonight And I don’t know if I should stay Or quietly back away [Outro] I grabbed my scanner, finally froze The screen flickered… then slowly closed For half a second, just before black… It read: CHARGER 0 — ACTIVE Then nothing. All seven forklifts beeped once. At exactly the same time. And none of them were moving.