Chapter Text
I sigh in disappointment as yet another rejection email fills my screen. I thought that once I had gotten my second PhD that the job offers would come flooding into my inbox. However, no such luck. I close the laptop screen and gently rub the raised birthmark on my inner wrist. An anxious habit I had formed early in life that I cannot seem to let go of, nor do I particularly want to. I stare at the ceiling and contemplate my next moves. Obviously I need a job, living in the city is quickly depleting the little that I had stored away in my savings. If I can’t find a job in my field, anything would have to do until then. I rub the sleep from my eyes and glance around the sparse apartment that I currently call home. A simple couch and table in the corner, both salvaged from the street corner before the trash collector could take them away. On the other side of the room was a sink with a small refrigerator and stove top oven with enough counter space for either a microwave or dish. I had chosen to put the microwave on top of the stove, not like I had the money to be cooking anyways. I continue the lazy circle around the room eyeing the bare off white walls of the apartment. They always seem to taunt me, ‘Where are your pictures of family and friends?’ At that thought I sink a bit further into my threadbare couch and glance at my phone.
10:48 PM
0 Notifications
I lock the screen and open my laptop again. The melancholy feeling creeps over me at the sight of the email once more. The rejection stinging anew through my mind. I close out of my email and open a tab for a new webpage. I click the bookmark to ‘Disney+’ and select the first Captain America movie, content to rewatch the timeline from the beginning. The opening fanfare surrounds me in a comfort that I don’t experience much. Since the loss of my family I have been alone. Well, as alone as someone can be while obsessed with fictional characters. My eyes begin to drop as the movie comes to a close as the next begins, the familiar music lulls me to sleep once again.
When I open my eyes once again it is still dark outside. The soft glow from the laptop is stagnant as a generic screensaver of rolling hills takes over the screen. I glance at my phone,
10:48 PM
No Service
‘Did I really sleep for 24 hours?’ I ask myself with a confused grumble. I sit up and crack my neck, getting all the kinks out. As I stretch my stomach growls angrily at me. ‘How long was I asleep? When was the last time I ate something?’ Shuffling from the second hand couch to the closet I throw on a black hoodie, careful that the sleeves are long enough to cover the mark on my wrist. I slip on my sneakers, determined to lift my spirits a bit with some greasy food from the 24 hour diner down the block from my building. I pat my pockets to find my wallet and keys and step out the door. I lock the door behind me and shuffle down the stairs and into the crisp night time air. Turning left with eyes-downcast to continue my shame and self-hatred spiral, I shuffle in the direction of the diner at the end of the block. No sooner do I leave the safety of the light from the front of my apartment building do I hear a sneer,
“Lookie here, I think we found a new toy to play with.” My eyes widen as I glance around me, sight landing on a group of three gruff looking guys with their predatory gazes locked on me. My heartbeat picks up as I glance around trying to figure out if I will be able to run away, or if anyone is nearby to hear a call for help. My panic is reaching a crescendo as I start to back away from them, keeping my eyes fixated on them rather than paying attention to where my feet are taking me. I can only concentrate on getting away, and hopefully in one piece. As I shuffle away from them my breath begins to come in short gasps as my back collides with a solid wall and a whimper of fear escapes from my lips. The leader of the three chuckles at my predicament and moves closer with his goons following close behind him. He reaches out and grabs my hair, I flinch and move to try and get away.
“Don’t run away sweetheart, we’ve only just begun.”
He slaps me across the face which sends me flying towards his goons. I shriek whether in pain or panic, I don’t know at this point, and throw my hands in front of me for some semblance of protection. For a split second, nothing happens. But then a sharp pressure begins to build behind my eyes and the leader of the goons is thrown off his feet and lands with a crash in a nearby dumpster. My vision begins to darken along the edges as the true terror sets in with the looks of hatred on the other two faces. As they begin to approach, I throw my hands up again, praying that it would happen again. I hear before I see a heavy thunk of metal before both the men disappear from my eyesight. I can see a brief reflection of a street light on metal before I begin to sway before collapsing to the cold concrete.
My vision and consciousness continue to ebb away as I register a somewhat familiar looking face in my field of vision. I hear some brief mumbling followed by voice stating,
“Vitals stable but it seems she is going into shock sir”
And everything fades to black.