"And in other news, Gotham's most wanted man, the Joker is again on the loose, having just robbed a mob bank yesterday. He is confirmed to be armed and extremely dangerous. If anyone has any information on this dangerous criminal, please call GCPD at 479-251-9076 immediately", blared my alarm clock. Slowly, I was shaken out of my unconscious dreaming state to reality and 8:00 flashing at me in big red digital numbers. I rolled out of my bed slamming down on the snooze button.
Ugh, I thought to myself, Must we really hear about that psychopath first thing in the damn morning? Truly, that was the reason I switched my station to GC News channel. Really, I did want to hear about the Joker first thing in the morning so I knew what places to avoid that day. I then proceeded to drag myself to the bathroom and take a shower letting the water envelop me and calm me down for a short time before I go off into the hostile Gotham world. After that, I picked out an outfit and got ready for work. A black pair of skinnies, a blue Famous Stars and Straps shirt and my Taylor boots. After brushing and teasing my black hair to perfection, I looked at myself in the mirror and applied a coat of eyeliner to my eyes and clear lipgloss to my lips and proceeded to run, grab my keys and purse, ready to face the world. I went into the hallway and locked my apartment door rushed down the stairs to my car, because it was 8:30 and I am supposed to be at work at 8:45.
Where am I going at 8:30 in the morning dressed as I am? Good question. See, I work at Shadow, Gotham's most famous nightclub. I am a bartender there and I take care of the morning shift. The night owls take all of the action, but by four they're all ready to go home and that's where I come in. For three hours the club is closed until eight, when all the big business men in come in for their daily Brandy Alexanders, which I gladly supply them. In my car, I'm So Sick by Flyleaf played from my car as I sped down the road toward Shadow. Finally I got there and right on time too. I unlocked the doors to the club and turned on the green party lights behind, the bar. I pulled a bar stool behind the bar counter and grabbed People magazine, waiting for the first customers of the morning.
Snapping me from the paparazzi propaganda of the morning was Sal Maroni, Gamble and the Russian mob boss whose name I never seemed to remember strolled in casually as they did everyday.
"Morning Kara," said Maroni casually.
"Mornin' Sally" I called back.
Now I know what you must be thinking at this point. 'Why am I saying Good Morning to mob bosses?' Well, I'll tell you. The bosses and I are friends. They come in every morning before their "meetings" and have a drink so I know each of them pretty well, except for the Russian one. Yeah, if people knew that I was friends with the bosses, they'd probably ask if I knew their reputations. And I do, but to me they're all just ordinary people who happen to have questionable jobs.
"What does everyone want this morning?" I asked cheerily, already knowing the answer.
"The usual Kay," called Gamble back to me.
I nodded and pouring each of them their respective Martinis, Mojitos and Vodkas I pulled my barstool up to the counter and started our daily conversation.
"How are the kids Sally?" I asked Maroni.
"Good," he replied back. "The wife-y says hi."
"Great," I said "Good to hear it. Tell her I said hi back and that lunch was great. How's the girlfriend Gamble?"
"We're alright, not great. I just don't get you women and your mood swings." He said, taking a sip of his martini.
"We're not that hard to figure out Gamble," I said laughing "If she's mad at you, try spending a night in watching an old movie or going out to dinner. She'll appreciate the quality time."
Yes, I am also their Dr. Phil too. The boys come to me for advice on everything when it comes to relationships.
"Makes sense," he replied thoughtfully.
"Well, we'd love to chat some more, but we've got business to attend to. Meeting to hold and money to make" Sal said chuckling.
"Sure," I said. "See you when you get out."
The men nodded, leaving the money for the drinks, $300 total, with some VERY big tips for me. I smiled.
A little while after I had gone back to reading, Sara, the owner of Shadow came in. Sara is my best friend from high school. She had always said that she was going to open a nightclub and told me that when I was out of bartending school to look for her. I did, and she gave me a job.
"Mornin' Kara." She said.
"Mornin' Sara" I said back.
"You need help or are the boys in their meeting already?" she asked me.
"No I'm good, they've already gotten the meeting started." I replied.
"Okay well, I'll be right back, I'm gunna run to the bathroom real quick and then we can talk."
"Sure take your time."
I was too preoccupied in People to notice something eerie going on, the something that changed my life as I had known it up to that point.
It started with footsteps echoing through the dark club, which was only illuminated by the high window at the back and the green bar light behind me. It caught my attention.
"Hello?" I called out. "Sara, you back yet?"
No answer. And yes, while this is cliché, it never crossed my mind to run. I was too dumb to recognize that Sara wasn't playing a trick on me and that I should have run like the devil himself was after me. But the man that was in the club that day might well have been the devil's reincarnate.
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped. I felt hot breath on my neck and I nearly fainted when I heard a slightly high pitched voice,
"Well helloo beautiful."