The Disillusion Mountains

Chapter 1

    "I'm sorry Miss Rigel. The value of your home isn't enough to justify a mortgage of this size."   

    "Even including land value with the home?"

    "Unfortunately, yes."

    Nimma felt a bubble of frustration and despair rise in her chest. She'd known this loan was far from a sure thing nevertheless this blow hit hard.

    "This doesn't have to mean the end of our business. If you would consider lowering the amount you're asking for there may be a chance that would meet approval." The loan officer typed something into her computer and then printed out a series of papers. "These are other options with very reasonable interest rates that might pass muster." 

    Nimma bit her lip after examining it. While any amount of money from this list would certainly help it was still far from what was needed. Sighing, Nimma folded the papers and put them in her purse. She thanked the woman and headed the eight blocks to the law office she worked at.

    The walk wasn't long but this time of year it felt longer. The decorations for the festival had started going up last week. Everywhere she looked reminders of what would come in the following months stared her in the face.  The Disillusion Mountains stood tall on all the banners along with the logo of the Towers family. To an outsider it would seem nothing more than an interesting banner.

    To the people of Star City it was something more; a legacy of triumph and progress to some, and murder and treachery to others. Nimma focused her eyes on the sidewalk and refused to look up. Though that didn't help when the banners were also plastered to the windows of stores she passed. She sighed wishing she could safely operate a vehicle so they would pass quickly. She let out a breath of relief as the front of Trucker's Law Firm came into view; blissfully barren of the poster and banners she'd always hated.

     The bell tinkled overhead as she stepped into the office. Today was a Friday so the office opened later than normal and closed early. However as usual, Selmmie Aster, the only attorney in this small office, was already behind her desk with a stack of case files in front of her. Nimma could just see the bright pink hair of her boss over the file she was examining.     

    "Selmmie! I'm in."

    "Good. Can you make sure all our current cases are up to snuff? We need to get the Williams vs. Bradley case a date in court. Don't forget the House vs. Shelby affidavit needs to be copied, notarized, and dropped off for opposing council! I have an important lunch meeting today I can't be late for. Make sure I'm out the door at least a quarter to noon."

    "You got it." Nimma tied her long blue hair into a ponytail.      

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    Selmmie hadn't come back to the office. She'd sent Nimma a text saying the meeting was running long and to cancel any appointments for the day. Nimma spent the afternoon making phone calls to slightly annoyed or irate clients. Definitely that was her least favorite part of her job. As soon as the clock struck two, Nimma locked up the office and hailed a cab.  

    A five mile walk from the town center wasn't difficult especially for a former soldier like Nimma. Today though she needed to clean her chimney, which was a task she wasn't looking forward too, and would require much of her remaining energy.

    The family home had only been in her possession for a month; ever since the death of her Great-aunt. It was a large place but old fashioned. Great-aunt Rockbell had kept the aging home in the best condition possible through the years. Some things slipped through even her careful hands though–like the cleaning of the chimney.