A/N: I know I keep starting new fics BAILEYS DON'T KILL ME I just got this idea whilst on holiday and HAD to write something down. Anyway, I hope you like and reviews would as always be the most welcome thing in my life. Enjoy.
Violet Hartnett sighed into her palm as she tried to keep her eyelids from falling. Her head sunk further down until it was nearly on the counter.
"Maybe you should take some coffee for yourself, Vi." Donna muttered, handing a latte to a slim blonde woman in a knee length sand coloured coat which she had wrapped around herself tightly, finished off with a light pink scarf. It was the last customer of the night and as she exited the shop, Donna quickly unravelled her apron and tossed it behind the counter. Although it was only nine, Violet felt as if she had been up to the early hours of the morning.
The small worn television in the top right hand corner of the back room crackled quietly about weather reports. It was getting colder and colder each day so elderly people were advised to stay inside and keep the heating on at all times. Donna went over to pull the shutters down at the front of the shop before ambling back into the back room and collapsing on the kitchen surface, lighting a cigarette. Violet followed, taking the cash out of the register and putting it in the safe.
She joined Donna on the counter, pulling the sleeves of her black jumper over her hands and reaching for her Marlboros. They sat there for the best part of an hour, talking about the day and complaining about neighbours, rude customers - the norm. This was a routine they had gotten into which helped them relax after work. Sometimes one would bring a bottle of whiskey or a small clump of weed to help unwind.
"We interrupt this weather report to show a breaking news clip which may be unsettling for some viewers."
Donna and Violet's heads snapped up.
"Late this evening, the body of Andrea Parker was found in an alley off Grove Crescent. Authorities believe it to be the work of the Joker, as with many of his other victims, Ms Parker had been raped and facially mutilated." The screen then came up with a picture of the late Andrea Parker who was lying up against a brick wall, sand coloured coat ripped apart, face pale and eyes blackened with a deep gash running out from each side of the mouth, her blonde hair in disarray. It looked like he had covered her with war paint and used the blood from her mouth to draw on a gruesome smile.
Violet gasped, "Wasn't that our last customer?"
"Oh my god." Donna whispered, eyes wide as she stared at the screen. "Grove Crescent is like four blocks away!
The reporter continued, "Ms Parker was considered dead not long before being discovered by a horrified passerby who would like to remain anonymous."
"That means he could be close by." She whispered, slowly turning around to Violet who had gone a very unhealthy shade of white.
At the end of the report the woman reviewed the last seven victims of the Joker, who were all blonde women in their early to late twenties. They had all been sexually assaulted and mauled by a sharp knife, their faces twisted with a horrific smile. Violet remembered the second victim, having been so violently assaulted that her nipple had been bitten clean off. That case had stayed in her dreams for weeks.
Violet reached over for the remote and switched it off, her breathing hard and laboured. Her eyes flitted about without really seeing much. She realised that the Joker was moving across Gotham, slowly and seemingly randomly but getting slowly further west. As he had already struck tonight it would be unlikely he would do so again, as it was roughly two victims a month.
"I've gotta get home." Violet muttered, thinking about her unlocked doors and windows. The Joker didn't usually strike within people's homes, for fear of getting caught, she guessed.
"No, wait!" Donna hissed, "You can't go home alone!"
"My apartment is seven blocks from here, trust me I can cover it in ten minutes." She replied, gently removing Donna's hand from her arm and getting down from the counter.
"How about I walk you there?" Donna asked, her eyes hopeful. Five years older than Violet at 26, she was like her older sister and helped her out whenever possible. Although complete opposites in looks, Donna having red hair and a light dusting of freckles, a lean build and standing at 5'9, Violet pale with black hair, 5'6 and a slim, willowy frame, they enjoyed the same music and had a very similar humour which made it easy to work together.
"You live on the other side of Gotham." Violet protested, knowing Donna took the train to work every day.
"It's no problem, I wanna know you got home safe." She smiled.
Violet returned the smile, giving her Auburn hair a stroke before stepping back and going for the exit.
"See you tomorrow." She called over her shoulder, giving a little wave before disappearing into the night. Donna sighed, packing up her things and giving the counter a once over before turning out the lights and locking the back door. She replaced the keys in her pocket and made her way to the train station.
Violet was halfway home when she sensed she was not alone.
The feeling of being watched is like a prickling at the back of the neck. You can feel it in your stomach and the bottoms of your feet. Violet rubbed the back of her neck before turning around slowly. She was halfway along an alleyway which had dim orange lights every five metres. She glanced along and saw a figure disappear behind the wall.
As her heartbeat accelerated, she told herself that it was probably just some homeless person looking for a warmer place to stay.
Violet watched the end of the walkway for another minute but with the shadow not reappearing, she turned quickly and sped up her walking.
A/N: If I do shorter chapters then they should be up quicker. Please review and thank you for reading!