Thread: The Point of No Return (The_PG&Malicious Lullaby)

The sound of her alarm was one that was making her want to take her head, remove it from her body and throw it against the wall. One would think shed simply do that with her alarm clock but after the amount of shots she took the night before after her shift at The Spot, removing her head was a lot easier than tossing her alarm clock. Normally, she had set to the alarm and the radio. This morning, it sounded like a cross between Chicagos tornado alarm and someone croaking a really poorly written and composed song. Or a thousand crickets falling out of harmony. Her hand flashed out from beneath the coves and she pressed down on the snooze alarm with a certain force, she hoped not to hear the sound again. It was a difficult task getting out of bed, especially since it felt like she plopped into it about five hours ago. Most likely it was because of the fact she did that very task. Sure, actual lawyers probably got less sleep and since she was just a runner, she should be pretty damn lucky to still get five hours of sleep. However, it was also because she bartended a few nights a week at the bar and on nights she had a long day at the firm. Things just sounded and felt worse after a big round of shots which easily shook off the edge and exhaustion from a long day. Although right now, it proved a bad idea, seemingly amplifying the exhaustion as opposed to alleviating it. Although it was nothing new, waking up a bit hung over and heading right into the firm. She did it often and no one seemed to be wiser, except for Bree Larkin, her department manager. Her eyes peeked open, thinking maybe it was really Saturday and she was off. No, it was Friday but what set the alarms inside of her head was the time. She was supposed to be up at 800. It was 830 and she had to be at the firm by 900. Shit. It was amazing at how quickly she moved when she was on a time crunch. In the shower in less than thirty seconds, clothes flung everywhere and out of the shower within five minutes. Her hair was sopping wet, her hang over seemed to be cured from the cold water and she looked all bright eyed and bushy tailed, better than ever, like a brand spanking new shiny toy. In fifteen minutes, she was out of her hole-in-the-wall apartment tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her hair tended to be rather unruly and unforgiving when it wasnt properly groomed to submission. She forced it into submission by tying it into a ponytail, as pristine and neat as she could possibly get and the past few years of her bad habits taught her how to properly apply eyeliner in a hell of a rush, and impeccably too. Donning a long sleeved white blouse with black pinstripe slacks, her matching pinstripe blazer was on the passenger seat and she was speeding her way to the firm, narrowly missing being pulled over by a cop. A start to a good day. Upon arriving into the firm, she took the elevator to her floor, the fourth floor, to put her things in her little miniscule cubicle and she hoped to avoid Bree Larking. The continuation of a good day. Until of course, she passed by her desk in a haste and the woman had her on her radar. Her head snapped up and she tapped her desk before clearing her throat. Late again are we? Maybe someone needs to stop partying so hard the night before work. And thus began a really bad day. Do you intend to make this a habit Miss Martin? That was her. Esther Martin. Runner by day, bartender by night. Normally, she was never late. She was always on time, always arriving to the firm fifteen minutes before she was actually due to be there so shed never be late. Same with her job at the bar. Today was technically the first day she had ever been late. Bree liked to think otherwise. There might have been once upon a time that Bree Larkin was nice to Esther but that lasted about a week when she first started. Since then, she made her life a living hell. Esther said nothing about it. She was a runner. Who would hear or care for her plight? A senior partner? Yeah, thats as likely even if pigs could fly. I work two jobs Bree. So? This is the first time Ive ever been late and Im only late by She glanced down at her wristwatch and only mildly cringed. Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes in which the lawyers have not yet received documents necessary and their colleagues around town are probably close to firing someone down in the mailroom. All because of you. Esther cringed and she nodded her head. It wont happen again. Damn straight it wont. If it does, youre fired. Wouldnt you just love to fire me, you bitter bitch? But of course, Esther didnt say any of that. Heres your stack. Get to work. Dont take a lunch. Once more not saying a word, Esther took the stack of papers and documents needing to be delivered and she went about her job. This was how it always was. Even if she was on time, she suffered some sort of rude remark from Bree, whether it be her appearance, her work ethic or something, even if it was really nothing. What was really embarrassing and made her worried for her job here was when Bree would lash out at her for nothing, as if purposely timing it when a partner, lawyer or senior partner would walk by. Runners were the lowest of the low, next to mail interns. Above them, probably only the lawyers assistants and the hierarchy would continue. Only at the very top sat the lawyers and partners. While she worked, she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket but didnt check it right away. They werent call buzzes. They were text buzzes. Someone was blowing up her phone. Only when she took a quick trip to the bathroom did she check them. They were from her friend and ace reporter, Abby. They were childhood friends, went to college together and while Esther couldnt make it as a teacher, Abby was soaring high in the city newspaper. She was still in the basement but after her first article which landed the front page, it was a dead given that the world of journalistic reporting would need to be on the lookout for Abby. She was a journalist star on the rise. Esther was happy for her. If there was anything Abby was the best at, it was being a nosy reporter, fearless and didnt think of repercussions or consequences. Deciding to message her later, Esther went about her work at the firm. The remaining papers and documents needed to be run to a couple of firms across the city so she went to do that. When she finished, only then did she stop by the newspaper and popped into the basement, under the pretense of being on her lunch. Sure, Bree said not to take a lunch but shed be back in no time. Finding Abby in, she knocked on the open door. Hey. There you are! I have been blowing up your phone! I know. Its so nice of you. Abby gave her a mock laugh. What do you need? Juicy news. But I am so busy, I dont even have a moment to tell you. Oh? Tell me what? Later. Come tonight. Well have wine and Ill tell you the latest. She looked at her reporter friend with a quizzical brow. Your firm is involved. And that piqued her curiosity well enough. Ill be right over after work. Esther air kissed her cheek and then left, heading back to the firm. Walking inside, Esther did her best to avoid Bree. She really should stop, since it was impossible. She was noticed, found and bitched out for taking a lunch break when she specifically told her not to. It caused Esther to cringe again, especially when a partner walked by just as Bree called Esther a series of names that doubted her competency. How convenient. That took longer than expected, getting to this reprimanding. Maybe she was doing better. Still, she went about her day like her ego and confidence hadnt been bruisesas difficult as it wasbefore she eventually was let out. Before she left, she checked in with a good friend, Mallory Joyner. She was the assistant of the youngest senior partners at this firm. It was an amazing feat. The other two senior partners were well into their forties. Not him. Mallory always gave her the gossip, a recurring soap opera in their opinion considering the rumors of his line of women, flavors of the month as they called them, and the fact he was the citys most eligible bachelor. He really was something, both girls fancied him, but they admired from afar. Well, Esther admired from afar. Mallory had a sort of up close and personal relationship. She was his assistant after all, although she was adamant about it being strictly professional. If there was something Mallory wasnt, it was being reduced to another office clich. After making sure with her that she didnt need anything done, Esther left and went to Abbys place, having stopped a liquor store on the way to pick up a cheap bottle of red and white. Upon walking to the front door of her apartment, she was stunned to find the door open. Abs? She called out, opening the door further and poking her head in. She saw Abbys gray cat meowing in the corner and frowned. Hey Rumple. She walked in, shutting the door behind her and the gray cat ran to her and nuzzled his ears against the side of her leg. Putting down the chilled bottles of wine, she picked him up and gave him a little scratch behind his ears, causing him to purr rather contentedly. Wheres Momma, hmm? Letting him down, she continued on her search, checking all rooms. Abby lived in a far better place than Esther. Not so much a hole in the wall. She actually had two bedrooms, always trying to convince Esther to move in with her so she wasnt saddled with too much rent. Even Abby knew that the last thing she needed was more bills but Esther declined. Sure, she had enough on her plate but she prided being able to live on her own. She liked it. Even if it was lonely sometimes. It seemed only right after her mother passed away right out of college. Coming to Abbys bedroom, she pushed the door open a little bit before walking in, although she stopped immediately, frozen in her tracks and her eyes widened. Blood, more blood, even more blood splattered over the wallswait was that a brain chunk?blood smears and then a body, right there in middle of a duvet. Clothes ripped and strewn about and Abbys lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling. Esther would have screamed if she had a voice. Instead, she turned cold, as if she was having an out of body experience she couldnt move. It felt like she was on autopilot when she called the police and ambulance, reporting the murder. It felt like she wasnt even really there when the police questioned her. People who lived in the complex were gathered around behind the police caution tape and Esther was now sitting on the stairs, Rumple in her arms and she was absently stroking the back of his ears. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, her hands shaky, cold as ice. Hello? Oh my stars, Esther, I just heard! Oh, Mallory. Esther, are you okay? Um Her eyebrows furrowed like she was really contemplating that question and answer. I dont know. Look, Ill call my boss and let him know. N-No, Mallory you dont need Ill be right there Esther. So will he. She hung up and made the call. The police officer came back to Esther, wanting to get an official statement. Her head was spinning, she looked confused and didnt understand. It was as if it hit her but it hadnt really sunk in. The more the police officer insisted on her statement, badgering her and pushing her, the harsher reality hit. Abby was dead. Abby was gone forever. Her best friend, the girl who was like her sister, her other halfgone. There was no bringing her back. The reality set in and she snapped out of her trance and looked up at the police officer with tears in her eyes. Esther wasnt normally a girl who showed emotion. Too much happened that allowed her to close things away easily. She didnt let herself feel. It was easier. She blocked it all up when her mother died, never truly grieving. She was trying her hardest to block it all up right now but she couldnt. The pain from losing her mother and now losing her best friend was too overwhelming. People always left, she knew that. But why did the people she loved most dearly always leave her?