Life is bigger,
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much.
I set it up.
That's me in the corner,
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion.
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it.
Oh no I've said too much.
I haven't said enough.
I thought that I heard you laughing,
I thought that I heard you sing,
I think I thought I saw you try.
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm Choosing my confessions,
Trying to keep an eye on you,
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool.
Oh no I've said too much.
I set it up.
Consider this
The hint of the century,
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed.
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around?
Now I've said too much.
I thought that I heard you laughing,
I thought that I heard you sing,
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream.
That was just a dream.
"Losing my Religion"
--R.E.M
(A.N.: These little symbols *** mean a break in the story to a different time or place... just to make it less confusing.)
Sad Songs and Waltzes: Chapter 7
Something forced her to sit straight up in bed. The action was so violent and quick, for a moment she feared someone had yanked her upright from her slumbering position. Her mind was sharp and reeling, trying to remember where she was and what she was doing there.
The Brothel- undercover- searching for the ripper. Her heart began to steady itself.
She was alone, with the exception of the snoring woman in the bed next to hers. Julia's steady breathing filled the room as Faye remained upright, her brow glowing with perspiration.
Why was she up? Slipping her long legs over the edge of her bed she skimmed the bottoms of her feet on the soft rug. Something was happening. Something big.
Quickly she dressed, not particularly worrying about waking Julia, who slept like the dead. As she pulled on her shorts, her mind wandered, going over the morning that brought she and her partner to this hellhole of society.
* * *
"-OOOHHH I THINK I LOVE YOU, SO WHAT AM I SO AFRAID OF? I'M AFRAID THAT I'M UNSURE OF, OF A LOVE THERE IS NO CURE FOR--"
Faye pounded on the bathroom door, wishing she had the strength to knock it down and grab Julia by the throat. "SHUT UP!!" She hollered, battering the door with her fists again. Her black hair was still matted against her head from sleep as she seethed out in the hallway, still dressed in her nightclothes.
From inside she heard a laugh. "What's a matter Faye, you don't like David Cassidy?"
With a quivering eyebrow, Faye stared at the door. "Not this early in the morning."
"It's nearly 1 o'clock." Julia replied her voice sounding tinny in the echoing bathroom. Faye heard her shut off the shower and pull back the curtain. "You should be awake now anyway."
"You should be awake now anyway." Faye mocked under her breath. "You'll see how awake I am when I crack your teeth."
"What was that?" Julia asked.
Crossing her arms, Faye muttered: "Nothing."
The door slid open, followed by a massive cloud of steam. Fanning it from her eyes, Faye grouchily stared at Julia, who stood before her, towels wrapped both around her body and her hair.
"I'd love to strangle you with that." She growled, nodding to the towel on top of Julia's head.
"I'd like to see you try."
"Don't tempt me." Brushing by Julia, Faye entered the bathroom. "There better be some hot water left."
"There is." Julia turned and began walking down the hallway, whistling a tune to herself. Faye stared at her back, completely puzzled. Since when was Julia allowed to be happy?
* * *
Faye stared across the table, a little fascinated, but mostly petrified. Julia was smiling. Granted, it wasn't a huge toothy grin, but still, it was a smile. And not the regular: "I'm smiling because I'm remembering a sad memory of Spike and I"- smile, but a genuine smile.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She grumbled, grouchily spooning her breakfast into her mouth.
Julia made a weird little happy noise and smiled a little broader. "What, I can't be happy?"
Faye sat back in her chair, making a truly disgusted face. "Since when do you do anything but mope around? I'm surprised the muscles in your face allow you to smile."
The smile fell from Julia's face as her mouth tightened. "Well excuse me for being human."
Since when have you been even remotely human? Faye thought to herself. She took another spoonful of her breakfast… what the hell was she eating anyway? Instead of trying to identify the food, she decided just to eat it and worry about the consequences later.
Jet strode into the kitchen; chest out, looking quite possibly the happiest Faye has ever seen him. He smiled to Julia, who once again was beaming.
"What the fuck is going on here?" She blurted out.
Jet and Julia both blinked at her. "What do you mean?" Jet asked.
Suspiciously, Faye glanced back and forth between the two. There was something going on that they weren't telling her about. Maybe they had gotten a bounty and not told her about it. Maybe they had put rat poison in her food. She glanced down at it. It looked normal, and besides, she had eaten worse on the Bebop in the past. Maybe they were… eww no, she hoped not.
Jet shook his head and sat down at the table. The smile was gone from his face, and he looked to be all business. "I have a plan to catch that nutcase they're calling the Ripper." Both Julia and Faye gave him their full attention. "It could be dangerous." He warned, eyeing them both.
* * *
Jet and his stupid plans. It was easy for him, considering his ass wasn't on the line. No, right now he was sleeping peacefully on the Bebop, probably curled up with a teddy bear, sucking his thumb. The image made her giggle as she began to unlock the series of deadbolts on the bedroom door.
Where was she going anyway? As the last lock snapped back, she figured it didn't really matter. Maybe she would just go for a walk.
She stepped out into the empty hallway of what was once a beautiful mansion. It still was beautiful, just a little bit more worn and faded, nothing a handy man couldn't fix up. The door closed silently behind her, the sound of her keys jangling in the hallway seemed ten times louder than normal, so loud that she might hear someone yell for her to keep it down. No one did. Turning the key she heard the satisfying click of the lock. Something about knowing Julia was safely locked inside made her feel relaxed.
For a moment she wondered why. Was she relieved that Julia was safe from any danger or that there was now a door and a lock to keep them apart?
She was jarred from her thoughts by the sound of another door opening. A man, dressed in a trench coat and hat quietly closed the door to Eloise's room. Her paused for a moment when he saw her there and Faye lowered her gaze to the floor. Both her and Julia were warned not to look at the faces of the clients, it could scare them off. After all, most of them were probably married or distinguished businessmen, why would they want whores gawking at them? At least, that's what Madame Brisette seemed to think.
Through her lashes, she saw him tip his hat and bow slightly.
"Have a nice night." His voice was eerily deep and scratchy. Faye mumbled back something, though it wasn't very comprehensive. They weren't supposed to converse with other clients either. Come to think of it, being here was a waste of time. Maybe that's where she would go on her walk, back to the Bebop, to shake Jet of out his peaceful sleep and scream that his stupid plan was never going to work.
She didn't move until the man had disappeared around the corner. With a sigh she started down the hallway and it was only by chance that she glanced at the handle of Elosie's door. Her legs froze as her eyes narrowed in on a rust colored smear that boldly stood out against the stark white door. Her shaky hand reached for the knob.
With a small push, the door swung open into darkness.
Her heart seemed to be beating in her throat and she tried to force it down before she spoke, "Eloise?" Her voice barely left her mouth.
Trembling fingers brushed the wall, searching for the light switch. When they found it, she flicked up the switch, flooding the small room.
For the first time in her life, Faye choked back a scream. She had seen some disturbing things in her life, but she now struggling to keep herself from fainting. Her shoulder crashed into the doorway, her eyes unable to pull themselves away from the horrid scene.
Eloise hung from the ceiling, two ropes from each side of the room tied to her arms, suspending her above her bed. Her head, the left side completely crushed in, hung limp and lifeless from her shoulders. Her abdomen had been sliced open, her innards cascading from her body and onto the bloody bed below her.
Faye shut off the light and jumped back into the hallway. The door shut quietly before her. The Ripper was right there, right beside them the whole time. Her eyes widened remembering the man in the hallway. She never got a good look at his face but she remembered what he was wearing.
She ran down the hallway and out onto the street, as fast as her legs would take her, never giving a thought about her sleeping partner.
* * *
*** A.N.- Yeah I know, it's been over a year. I'm a neglectful author, but really, this time I'm going to finish this story up. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and kept checking back, I swear, I'll make it worth your while. This is only half of this chapter, look for the rest in a couple of days! I mean it! I'll really update this time! Promise!***
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much.
I set it up.
That's me in the corner,
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion.
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it.
Oh no I've said too much.
I haven't said enough.
I thought that I heard you laughing,
I thought that I heard you sing,
I think I thought I saw you try.
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm Choosing my confessions,
Trying to keep an eye on you,
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool.
Oh no I've said too much.
I set it up.
Consider this
The hint of the century,
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed.
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around?
Now I've said too much.
I thought that I heard you laughing,
I thought that I heard you sing,
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream.
That was just a dream.
"Losing my Religion"
--R.E.M
(A.N.: These little symbols *** mean a break in the story to a different time or place... just to make it less confusing.)
Sad Songs and Waltzes: Chapter 7
Something forced her to sit straight up in bed. The action was so violent and quick, for a moment she feared someone had yanked her upright from her slumbering position. Her mind was sharp and reeling, trying to remember where she was and what she was doing there.
The Brothel- undercover- searching for the ripper. Her heart began to steady itself.
She was alone, with the exception of the snoring woman in the bed next to hers. Julia's steady breathing filled the room as Faye remained upright, her brow glowing with perspiration.
Why was she up? Slipping her long legs over the edge of her bed she skimmed the bottoms of her feet on the soft rug. Something was happening. Something big.
Quickly she dressed, not particularly worrying about waking Julia, who slept like the dead. As she pulled on her shorts, her mind wandered, going over the morning that brought she and her partner to this hellhole of society.
* * *
"-OOOHHH I THINK I LOVE YOU, SO WHAT AM I SO AFRAID OF? I'M AFRAID THAT I'M UNSURE OF, OF A LOVE THERE IS NO CURE FOR--"
Faye pounded on the bathroom door, wishing she had the strength to knock it down and grab Julia by the throat. "SHUT UP!!" She hollered, battering the door with her fists again. Her black hair was still matted against her head from sleep as she seethed out in the hallway, still dressed in her nightclothes.
From inside she heard a laugh. "What's a matter Faye, you don't like David Cassidy?"
With a quivering eyebrow, Faye stared at the door. "Not this early in the morning."
"It's nearly 1 o'clock." Julia replied her voice sounding tinny in the echoing bathroom. Faye heard her shut off the shower and pull back the curtain. "You should be awake now anyway."
"You should be awake now anyway." Faye mocked under her breath. "You'll see how awake I am when I crack your teeth."
"What was that?" Julia asked.
Crossing her arms, Faye muttered: "Nothing."
The door slid open, followed by a massive cloud of steam. Fanning it from her eyes, Faye grouchily stared at Julia, who stood before her, towels wrapped both around her body and her hair.
"I'd love to strangle you with that." She growled, nodding to the towel on top of Julia's head.
"I'd like to see you try."
"Don't tempt me." Brushing by Julia, Faye entered the bathroom. "There better be some hot water left."
"There is." Julia turned and began walking down the hallway, whistling a tune to herself. Faye stared at her back, completely puzzled. Since when was Julia allowed to be happy?
* * *
Faye stared across the table, a little fascinated, but mostly petrified. Julia was smiling. Granted, it wasn't a huge toothy grin, but still, it was a smile. And not the regular: "I'm smiling because I'm remembering a sad memory of Spike and I"- smile, but a genuine smile.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She grumbled, grouchily spooning her breakfast into her mouth.
Julia made a weird little happy noise and smiled a little broader. "What, I can't be happy?"
Faye sat back in her chair, making a truly disgusted face. "Since when do you do anything but mope around? I'm surprised the muscles in your face allow you to smile."
The smile fell from Julia's face as her mouth tightened. "Well excuse me for being human."
Since when have you been even remotely human? Faye thought to herself. She took another spoonful of her breakfast… what the hell was she eating anyway? Instead of trying to identify the food, she decided just to eat it and worry about the consequences later.
Jet strode into the kitchen; chest out, looking quite possibly the happiest Faye has ever seen him. He smiled to Julia, who once again was beaming.
"What the fuck is going on here?" She blurted out.
Jet and Julia both blinked at her. "What do you mean?" Jet asked.
Suspiciously, Faye glanced back and forth between the two. There was something going on that they weren't telling her about. Maybe they had gotten a bounty and not told her about it. Maybe they had put rat poison in her food. She glanced down at it. It looked normal, and besides, she had eaten worse on the Bebop in the past. Maybe they were… eww no, she hoped not.
Jet shook his head and sat down at the table. The smile was gone from his face, and he looked to be all business. "I have a plan to catch that nutcase they're calling the Ripper." Both Julia and Faye gave him their full attention. "It could be dangerous." He warned, eyeing them both.
* * *
Jet and his stupid plans. It was easy for him, considering his ass wasn't on the line. No, right now he was sleeping peacefully on the Bebop, probably curled up with a teddy bear, sucking his thumb. The image made her giggle as she began to unlock the series of deadbolts on the bedroom door.
Where was she going anyway? As the last lock snapped back, she figured it didn't really matter. Maybe she would just go for a walk.
She stepped out into the empty hallway of what was once a beautiful mansion. It still was beautiful, just a little bit more worn and faded, nothing a handy man couldn't fix up. The door closed silently behind her, the sound of her keys jangling in the hallway seemed ten times louder than normal, so loud that she might hear someone yell for her to keep it down. No one did. Turning the key she heard the satisfying click of the lock. Something about knowing Julia was safely locked inside made her feel relaxed.
For a moment she wondered why. Was she relieved that Julia was safe from any danger or that there was now a door and a lock to keep them apart?
She was jarred from her thoughts by the sound of another door opening. A man, dressed in a trench coat and hat quietly closed the door to Eloise's room. Her paused for a moment when he saw her there and Faye lowered her gaze to the floor. Both her and Julia were warned not to look at the faces of the clients, it could scare them off. After all, most of them were probably married or distinguished businessmen, why would they want whores gawking at them? At least, that's what Madame Brisette seemed to think.
Through her lashes, she saw him tip his hat and bow slightly.
"Have a nice night." His voice was eerily deep and scratchy. Faye mumbled back something, though it wasn't very comprehensive. They weren't supposed to converse with other clients either. Come to think of it, being here was a waste of time. Maybe that's where she would go on her walk, back to the Bebop, to shake Jet of out his peaceful sleep and scream that his stupid plan was never going to work.
She didn't move until the man had disappeared around the corner. With a sigh she started down the hallway and it was only by chance that she glanced at the handle of Elosie's door. Her legs froze as her eyes narrowed in on a rust colored smear that boldly stood out against the stark white door. Her shaky hand reached for the knob.
With a small push, the door swung open into darkness.
Her heart seemed to be beating in her throat and she tried to force it down before she spoke, "Eloise?" Her voice barely left her mouth.
Trembling fingers brushed the wall, searching for the light switch. When they found it, she flicked up the switch, flooding the small room.
For the first time in her life, Faye choked back a scream. She had seen some disturbing things in her life, but she now struggling to keep herself from fainting. Her shoulder crashed into the doorway, her eyes unable to pull themselves away from the horrid scene.
Eloise hung from the ceiling, two ropes from each side of the room tied to her arms, suspending her above her bed. Her head, the left side completely crushed in, hung limp and lifeless from her shoulders. Her abdomen had been sliced open, her innards cascading from her body and onto the bloody bed below her.
Faye shut off the light and jumped back into the hallway. The door shut quietly before her. The Ripper was right there, right beside them the whole time. Her eyes widened remembering the man in the hallway. She never got a good look at his face but she remembered what he was wearing.
She ran down the hallway and out onto the street, as fast as her legs would take her, never giving a thought about her sleeping partner.
* * *
*** A.N.- Yeah I know, it's been over a year. I'm a neglectful author, but really, this time I'm going to finish this story up. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and kept checking back, I swear, I'll make it worth your while. This is only half of this chapter, look for the rest in a couple of days! I mean it! I'll really update this time! Promise!***