Bones: Protectors of Manhattan

Hazard Pay

     The bar was empty as the hour struck 1 am. Robert was sat at the bar, 5 glasses in and knowing full well tomorrow held a hard days work at the warehouse. The usual suspects sat around him, ranging from old war veteran to guys who just wanted to drink away their problems instead of handling them head on. This was Robert, a man who lost it all and now found himself working for a disposal company. He wasn't quite sure his future was certain or even a good one, but he was for certain his purpose on this Earth wasn't much. He finished his whiskey and left his money on the bar, telling the bartender to keep the change before throwing his jacket on and making his way out the door.
The city was lit with the neon lights of billboards and signs of business' along the street. Trash was piled up in alleyways and the homeless were abundant. For a city that looked so disgusting, it was a surprise to know that crime rates were low and the amount of homicides were the lowest in the entire country. Robert could only wonder what truly went on behind the scenes, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag from it before blowing smoke from his nose. Life in the city was safe, yet one that brought upon hardships with the rising minimum wages. Rent for apartments rose and living felt near impossible if you didn't have a higher paying job. Robert soon reached his apartment building, entering the rundown elevator and riding it up to the 3rd floor. Once the doors opened, Robert made his way out and walked down the hall to apartment 309.
He unlocks the door and makes his way inside, removing his jacket and hanging it up before putting his cigarette out in the ashtray. His apartment was kept tidy, everything neatly organized and quickly put back if something wasn't in place. After removing his shoes and shirt, Robert reached for a remote where he turned on some nice soothing Jazz made back between the 50s and 90s. He would stumble softly from his drunken self as he made his way to the balcony, looking out to the city when something down in the alley below caught his eye. A shadowy creature was emerging from a manhole, lines of lava in the form of cracks along its skin while having lava colored eyes and the color glowing from its mouth. Robert leans out, trying to get a better look at it when it suddenly was sent flying against the wall, howling out as its stomach was cut open by something that he could not see.
Robert looked upon it in disbelief as lava spewed from the massive slash in its stomach. He rubs his eyes and that's when everything he saw in the alleyway was gone, with no sign of anyone having been there. Robert sighs and makes his way back into the apartment where he began doing his nightly duties. Robert knew he in some way, shape, or form had a mental illness. Whether it were Schizophrenia or even worse, he had never remembered to get himself checked by a doctor. With his nightly duties concluded, Robert would lay in bed and stare to the ceiling, contemplating whether living was really worth it these days. If he had no purpose... why should he go on?
*********
His morning consisted of rushing to the bathroom and puking up his guts from last nights run of drinks, his head in pain as the hangover was settling in. He hopped into the shower soon after, letting the warm water run over his skin. These mornings were never easy, and him having to show up at work within the next hour didn't help him in any way. He dug around in his closet to find his work clothes, grabbing them and slipping them on before making his way to the door where his coat and keys hung. The elevator down was semi full with those who were also about to make their morning commute to work. Some were in suits while others were dressed for construction. It was like looking at the bottom of the food chain and the top of it.
On one hand you had the lower end of the food chain which was constantly given the short end of the stick, and on the other was the suits who gave the hard working citizens the short end. Life nowadays was all about trying to get out of the bottom end of the food chain and up to those who seemed to have it all. It was every man for themselves in this world, it was up to you whether you got there or not. The elevator doors opened and they all walked out, Robert heading out of the building and to his car. The car was a 2032 Supra, a vehicle handed down from his father before he died. The 5 years since were rough, but this little piece of him that was left gave Robert all the hope he needed to keep moving. The commute to work was slow, being backed up behind many cars which seemed to not know where they wanted to go, or didn't realize their turn was so close.
Luckily Robert wasn't too far from work, parking in the underground garage. After making his way up to the ground floor, he made his way to the locker where he put his lunch and coat until his shift was over. He took a moment to look over a picture of him and his father that was taken back from when he was a kid. The smiles on their faces the purest he had ever seen in years. Robert shuts his locker and punches in for work before walking out to the work zone.
     The factory worked in a simple manner. Trash from the city was transported in a container along a conveyor system which ended where it would drop down to a vat of acid. The workers walked along catwalks below the conveyors, but just above the vats so they can survey the trash and make sure it made it to its final destination. Robert was an overseer of his section of the factory, leading a crew that didn't respect the man entirely, but they did try here and there.
     "So, no problems today? Usually we have one or two that miss the vats." Robert would say as Jeremy looked to the overseer. Jeremy had a stocky build, a buff guy who seemingly seemed like he could burst from his button up shirt at any moment.
     "No troubles today.... You aren't drunk are you?" Jeremy asked. Robert sighed and rubbed his eyes, leaning onto the railing and looking down at the vat below.
     "Just a hangover, but I'll manage. I usually do these days." Robert would say, staring down into the whirlpool of acid. He grew lost in the nature of how the liquid flowed, like some sort of tool made for mind control. His mind went back to thinking about his purpose on this world. Did his presence truly matter here? What if he skipped town and never showed his face? All of his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of multiple people yelling. Robert looked over his shoulder to see multiple of the workers by the railing and looking down at a vat.
    Robert runs over, pushing past them to see one of the newer employees hanging on for dear life by a handle. His foot was nearly touching the dangerous liquid, one wrong move and he would be melted to nothing. Robert would remove his safety vest and jump the railing where he climbs down to the new guy. When he got close enough. His hand reaches down, making sure his grip on the rail was tight.
     "Come on! Take my hand kid!" Robert exclaimed, the rookie soon grabbing hold and pulled up to the railing where the other workers pulled him up quick. Robert sighed a breath of relief, going to reach for the rail when his world fell into slow motion. He felt weightless, realizing he was falling backwards and staring up to his workers who were reaching out to him, some turning away to not witness the sight. He collides with the vat, feeling his body being eaten at by the acid. His screams were muffled by the liquid as he was submerged, passing out not much longer as the pain only grew worse. His whole world went dark... no bright light to awake him.... Was this what was on the other side of death? This can't be it... can it?