Chapter 18

Useless

Ana stumbled along a balcony walkway of an old apartment building. As she passed a line of flats, the girl glanced over the rails to the desolate courtyard a few stories down. She swallowed a lump as her eyes swept across the view, remembering the height from which she once had fallen.

A few doors down the sound of children playing could be heard, while across the way in the neighbouring apartment block, the yells of an arguing couple echoed out. These apartments were alive with endless stories from the real world.

As she continued along the walkway, she moved past an older woman who was leaning on the railings and smoking her cigarette. Neither woman acknowledged the other. A good thing about the Narrows is that everyone keeps to themselves, the perfect place to go unnoticed.

Ana's eyes groggily gazed at the door numbers as she passed them. A group of small children ran out of an apartment, playing tag. They dashed past Ana, almost knocking her out of the way. She gave a sharp inhale as she recklessly fell to the side and braced her foggy self against the wall.

She irritably shook her head and slowly looked back at them as they obliviously ran away, laughing in their own little world.

Room 42, Room 43… Room 44.

Ana swayed in front of door 44 and glanced back to check no one was watching her. Whilst looking the other way Ana let herself in, stumbling into the apartment.

She wandered down the narrow corridor, placing a hand on the torn wallpapered walls to steady herself as she moved towards the kitchen at the end. As she entered the room she clocked a woman at the kitchen counter, sluggishly chopping a loaf of bread with a serrated knife.

Ana stared at the knife as she dropped down onto a chair at the breakfast table, watching the knife easily slice through the crust and hit the wooden chopping board below.

"Here's Elizabeth," a low male voice cooed next to her. Their voice sounded distorted as Ana struggled to focus on it. Her eyes felt heavy as she sank into the chair.

"She's already gone," another voice chuckled, sitting opposite Ana. Ana glared at the man sitting across from her. Her head swayed from left to right, trying to find the strength to stay up.

Frank and Lee were the guys sitting at the table. Two drug dealing thugs who lazily sit around ordering the girls of the house about. Frank was a larger man with an unkept stubbly beard and ratty t-shirt and jeans. He glanced at Ana next to him as he rudely chewed his breakfast burrito with his mouth open. Lee was a slimmer and younger guy, wearing a baggy hoodie that swamped his figure. He was leaning against his chair, his arm hanging off the back as he eyed Ana up and down.

"Make yourself useful girly," ordered Frank as he used his tongue to dig out some food from a rotting tooth.

"Yeah, little Elizabeth, cut us some food," Lee sniggered as he dragged a damp chopping board and paring knife across the table in front of Ana. Ana glanced down at a ham joint that uninspiringly sat there. Ana questioned the date of the meat as she eyed the bread slices the other woman was cutting.

These rats want me to make them a sandwich!? How cliche.

"That is if you even know how to use a knife," Lee patronised, enjoying poking fun at the new recruit. Ana let out a low exhale from her nostrils as she glared at the fool.

They don't know who she is. They don't know who she used to work for. They don't know who trained her on how to use a knife.

Idiots.

"Hello?!" Lee called in front of her, dragging her out of her fiery thoughts. Frank jabbed her in the arm to wake her up more. Ana felt a jolt of energy and stared at the two thugs. They glanced at her again before simultaneously laughing at the girl.

"She's proper out of it," Frank laughed. Ana felt the annoyance bubble as she sat there, but her body betrayed her unable to move. Everything felt blurry and dream-like.

Maybe I am dreaming. Maybe if I blink twice then I'll wake up. I wish this were just a bad dream.

"Hello boys, what do you have for me today?" Another voice came into focus from behind. Isaac Baxter sauntered into the room, immediately portraying his dominance over the gang.

"Had good coverage today of the south harbour," Lee started to rattle on about drug dealings. Ana just sat there, staring at the chunk of meat in front of her. She felt a fog surround her, nothing could penetrate it, no words, no thoughts. It felt nice to sit in the mist.

"Your new whore here is useless though," Lee gestured to Ana, who was still lost in her own world. "I think she's enjoying our last batch a little too much," Lee rolled his eyes. Isaac stared at the back of Ana's head, before grabbing her chair and leaning her back to look up at him.

Ana jerked as she clung to her seat. She felt like she was flying momentarily before coming face to face with the new Boss. Isaac Baxter, a drug dealer known for offering cheap stock that's laced with all sorts of other drugs and chemicals. Ana stared up at him, noting his gelled black hair and dark stubbly beard, before realising that he had been talking to her.

"What?" she questioned getting hauled out of her mist.

"I said, is my girl not putting in the work? You know the deal, you get my product as long as you're useful to me," he smirked. Ana shifted uncomfortably in her chair as her thighs firmly grounded to the seat.

"Sorry… Boss," she mumbled. Isaac nodded as he pushed the chair back onto all four legs, and loomed over Ana, close to her ear.

"Since you look like you're having some fun in the snow, why don't you make yourself useful to me right now," his warm breath whispered in her ear. Ana flinched at the sensation.

You disgusting piece of trash.

Ana glared at him, unable to speak. Her mind was too foggy, and the room felt like it was spinning. Isaac saw that she wasn't completely listening and glanced at the other henchmen with a wicked smirk.

"Come on my dear Elizabeth," he smiled as he reached out his hand to Ana. Ana looked down at his hand, knowing all too well what he was alluding to if she took it. But she needs to pay for her drugs in some way, they are all she has left now. She no longer wants to feel the overwhelming anxiety and loneliness that seeps into the empty voids the Joker left behind.

Ana gave out a soft sigh before weakly grabbing his hand.

"Good girl," Isaac grinned as he pulled her up. Ana suddenly felt lightheaded as Isaac led her out of the room.

"Have fun you two," Frank chuckled before taking another bite out of his burrito.

Isaac wrapped his arm around Ana's waist as he led her down the corridor.

"I thought I told you to come back in a more exciting outfit?" he pulled Ana closer and eyed her up and down, noting her hoodie and jeans ensemble. "Take Tabitha back there, little dress and boots. Very endearing," he sniggered, moving his hand to rest in Ana's back pocket.

Ana remained staring straight ahead, she felt like she was floating down the hall, not realising she was moving her legs. The corridor looked narrower than before, and her head felt heavier. The drugs were reaching their climax, the perfect time to shut out the noise.

Isaac ushered Ana into his bedroom and closed the door.

Ana perched herself on a bar stool, resting her arms on the bar and nursing her vodka and coke.

Her empty stare latched onto the wood knots ingrained along the bar. Ana has never tried this establishment before, she knows to keep her hotpots moving around just in case people start to recognise her.

Her head felt clearer as she was on the comedown from her last buzz from dirty cocaine, but the comedown was getting worse these days. She'd feel throbbing headaches and intense nausea. Alcohol helped tame it for now.

Her back was to the rest of the bar as she intentionally rubbed her temple with two fingers. She heard laughter and chatter happening behind her, which wasn't helping her headache. However, she wanted to be around people, and yet she felt a weighted feeling in her chest.

How can you feel so lonely when you're surrounded by everyone?

"Buy you a drink?" A thick Italian accent spoke next to her.

Ana's stare was interrupted as she cocked her head to the man sitting beside her. He looked rather dashing in his light grey blazer with rolled-up sleeves, and a crinkled white shirt underneath. His brunette hair was slicked back, and his beard seemed well-kept. Ana gave a slight smile.

"Sure," she sat up, pushing her hands off the bar. "Vodka and coke," she nodded as she quickly finished her current one. The man smugly smiled as he gestured to the barman for another round.

"I haven't seen you here before," He leaned in, turning his torso to face her.

"I'm new to the area," Ana flatly lied.

"Ah well then welcome... erm," He signalled for her to introduce herself.

"Elizabeth," Ana finished his sentence before gulping the last of her beverage.

"Elizabeth? What a lovely name. I'm Armando," he smiled.

"Pleased to meet you, Armando," she gave a small smile as the barman placed down their next round.

The night seemed to tick away as Ana enjoyed some flirtatious chatter with this new acquaintance. Slowly the frustrating events of the day faded with every sip of her red wine from a bottle they were now sharing. Ana felt like her old self again, even letting out a few genuine laughs here and there.

Ana felt in control of the natural direction this conversation was going. She eyed Armando up and down and figured him to be a nice warm figure in her bed tonight, helping her rid the image of Isaac Baxter taking advantage of their agreement to aid her supply of cocaine.

"Fancy a nightcap back at mine?" Ana gently stroked Armando's thigh.

"Thought you'd never ask," Armando's Italian accent made his voice sound richer, sending a tingle down Ana's spine.

They each took one last gulp of their drinks before collecting their things and heading out of the crowded bar. Ana made sure to grab the bottle of wine, as she knew better than to let the remainder go to waste.

When they were outside, Ana linked arms with the man and looked up at him with a warm sense of joy. They slowly walked down the street, arm in arm, continuing their banter and innocent chuckles. When they turned the corner, Ana noted that the street was lined with parked cars on either side and a lone white van parked on the sidewalk up ahead.

"So, Armando, do you like to play in the snow?" Ana teased as she stroked the man's arm with her linked hand. Armando let out a chuckle as the couple walked past the van.

"Ah no, I like to keep a clear head these days," he handsomely smiled down at Ana and studied her face.

"That's fair," Ana nodded, not entirely agreeing with him as she listened to the wine slush around in the bottle that she was carrying.

"You know Elizabeth, you remind me of someone I used to know," Armando smirked and squeezed her linked arm.

"Oh?" Ana naively smiled.

"Well, I didn't know them personally, but they're pretty famous in my group," Armando explained. Ana let out a scoff, suspecting the man to deliver a compliment as the punchline.

"See, they helped bomb our base," Armando stopped walking and turned to face Ana. Ana's heart leapt into her throat as she stared at the man, unsure of what to do or say.

The Italian accent. It can't be.

"What?" she breathed, trying to grasp what was happening and wrangle her arm out from his.

"Yes, see our Boss has a vendetta against your Boss, the Joker," Armando's face dropped as he cocked his head to the side. Ana tried to step back away from him as their arms unlinked but he fiercely gripped her wrist.

"You've got the wrong person, I don't what you're talking about," Ana anxiously defended as she looked over her shoulder, hearing the van door open and revealing a second man sauntering toward them.

"I don't think so, Ana," Armando shook his head.

The two stared at each other momentarily. Armando's hold on her wrist started to hurt and radiate up her arm. Ana let out a sharp exhale.

Armando fiercely threw a punch with his free hand, colliding with Ana's left cheekbone. She let out a yelp as her balance was shoved to the side, but the Italian still had a tight grasp on her wrist, keeping her up.

"No…" Ana breathed before he threw another punch at her, this time striking her left temple. Ana felt a sudden dizziness blur her vision as her knees gave way and she fell to the floor, Armando threw her hand away from him.

"You've got it wrong, I don't work for him anymore!" she pleaded as she lifted her left hand, which was still holding the wine bottle, to protect her face.

"You did that night," the other man growled as he strode toward her and kicked her in the stomach. She let out a pained wheeze, unable to stand back up.

"You blew up our base too!" she spat, glaring up at the men. The second man threw another punch, hitting her right cheek. Ana let out a frustrated snarl as she tried to pick herself up.

"And used us as target practice on the pylons!" Ana screamed, crawling to her knees. Armando let out a scoff and called out something in Italian that Ana didn't understand, before swiftly kneeing her in the chest, winding her immediately.

In a weak attempt to fight back, she flung around the wine bottle to warn them off but it didn't work. The second man struck her again and yanked her up by her denim jacket.

She was face to face with him, not recognising him at all from that night the team were kidnapped. His eyes glared fiery daggers into hers.

"I wonder what Maroni will do with you, let's start him off," he growled, yanking her closer, "Shall we?" he said through gritted teeth just as he drove his concealed knife into Ana.

Ana's eyes widened as her mouth hung open unable to speak as she felt a sharp stab in her lower abdomen.

Feeling a burst of adrenaline finally tear through her drunken state, she let out an animalistic shriek throwing her arm around and colliding the heavy bottle against the second man's head. The bottle didn't break, and instead let out a low clunk.

The second henchman backed off and released her as he clung to his throbbing head. Ana fell back onto a parked car. Her head snapped down to check that the car bonnet was behind her before violating slamming down the bottle against the metal. It shattered all over the path, leaving only a jagged bottleneck to be used as a weapon.

Armando stormed towards her, holding his own knife. Ana swung the broken glass in front of her but missed Armando. He retaliated by lunging forward and slashing his knife towards her, catching her upper arm. Ana let out a wince and sliced the bottleneck back across, she felt it hit Armando's face, feeling it tear through his skin.

He let out a yell as he clutched his face and stumbled backwards. The second henchman looked over to his injured partner and locked eyes with Ana. She glared at him briefly before snapping her head back at Armando, clocking his firearm on his belt as his blazer was pulled up by his raised arms protecting his face.

Ana dove forward and rammed the bottle into Armando's chest, quickly releasing it as the glass embedded itself into him. He let out a gurgled cry and he fell backwards while Ana reached for his firearm. They both fell to the ground, Ana landing on top of him.

The second man charged at her, pulling out his own pistol. Ana frantically pulled Armando's pistol from its holster and rapidly fired. The first two shots missed but the next three struck the henchman across his torso.

As he fell to the ground, Ana stared at him, panting heavily. She heard Armando gurgle beneath her. Without hesitation, she shot him point blank. There was silence.

Ana tried to calm her breathing as she sluggishly crawled off Armando and sat on the ground resting against the parked car. She let out a distressed cry as she clung to her abdomen.

Looking down she saw blood seeping through her clothes from the stab wound. She let out another wince as she peered down the street, noticing a couple walk around the corner, spot her and the two dead men, and then run away.

I can't stay here.

Ana's vision started to blur but she shook her head to try and force herself to focus. She let out heavy pants as the agony spread across her stomach. She painfully stood up, grabbed the car for extra support and tiredly ran in the opposite direction. Ana stumbled away from the crime scene.

At this time of night, Gabe was already locked up and about to head upstairs to his connected apartment. Just as he turned off the lights and walked to the bottom of the stairs, he heard a banging at his storefront door.

He froze in place, with one foot on the first step.

"What on earth?" he mumbled as he looked behind him, noticing how dark the corridor was with only the light from the upstairs illuminating his way. He carefully moved down the hall and back into his store, avoiding turning on any lights just in case this was a disgruntled customer.

His front door was covered with posters to help detour the unwanted public. He peered through a small gap in a ripped corner and gazed out into the darkness. His face scrunched up in confusion at who was outside his store. Gabe hastily unbolted the door and swung it open.

"Ana?" he queried as he observed the henchwoman whom he hadn't seen in over eight months. He immediately noticed the blood smeared over her hands and torso.

"I need your help," she breathed. Gabe stared at her in disbelief.

"I'm sorry Ana, I can't let you in. If the Joker found out I helped you…" Gabe anxiously explained.

"Gabe," Ana angrily breathed, holding herself up against his store window. "I am one of Gotham's most wanted right now. I will die out here. On your doorstep." She panted as Gabe watched her. "How long do you think it will take the Police to start snooping around this place after finding me dead… Right outside," she growled.

"Ana, I…" Gabe breathed.

"Please," Ana pleaded, trying to hurry his response as she could feel herself fading. Gabe stared at her, trying to figure out the best outcome for himself.

"Fine," he finally said, "Come inside," he ushered Ana in, wrapping his arm around her shoulder to offer support to lean on.

"What happened to you?" Gabe asked as he stared at her wound.

"It was Maroni, they recognised me," Ana winced as they slowly hobbled to the back of the store. "But I got two of them, Gabe," Ana weakly smiled. "I got two of them…" Ana trailed off as her head slowly started to fall back and her legs started to give way.

"Woah woah woah, stay awake Ana," Gabe lifted her slightly, putting all her weight onto him.

They stumbled into the corridor and headed upstairs.

"I've got to stitch you up fast," Gabe mumbled under his breath as he felt Ana's blood seeping onto his shirt.

"I got two of them... I'm not… Useless," Ana breathed.