Rose Thorns || Swiss Ghoul ||

Prologue

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Guns, shooting, character death, angst, bar, alcohol mentions

"And, that's how i...disappeared..i think?"

-30 years prior-

"All i remember was the music."

A Small Town in California, May 1993

Within a large bar sat plenty of customers and hustling attendee and staff, a large stage stood in the middle of the bar, lights shining on a figure dancing and performing elegantly and skillfully. Between all the voices and the loud music, all eyes seemed to be on her. Whether it be the tight and long silky red dress, the feathers within her long and wavy brunette hair, her red high heels, or the way she moves so hypnotically and eye capturing, a single pair of eyes never dared to look a way from her.

A pair of eyes that seemed to be at the bar every night, could never take his eyes off of her, he was simply fascinated. "Uhm...excuse me sir?? i asked for a drink...?" the voice of a customer brung the man out of his trance of looking at the woman's nightly performance.
"Yes, my apologies i'll get right to it." the bartender replied, finally taking his eyes off the hypnotizing woman.

"I remember speaking to him, oh he was..such a handsome and respectful man"

The woman's performance ended merely 45 minutes after, leaving the stage with her infamous move before walking over to the bar and taking a seat at her usual stool. "Hey hot stuff" she chuckled to the bartender. the bartender smiled and walked over to her, leaning his face against his hand as it rested on the counter. "Well hello there beautiful, great performance tonight...per usual." He spoke flirtatiously with a signature smirk he'd put on every night for just her.

She chuckled softly, a hand covering her mouth. "you can never seem to keep your eyes off me, huh handsome?" she asks playfully, causing the bartender to slightly become flustered, quickly shaking it off and smiling. "You know me too well...anyways, the usual Ms. Lilith?" he replied, knowing he had to perform his job, and can't simply speak to the woman he's oh so fascinated with all night.

"Actually, i think i'll just have a water for right now" the woman replies with a softer smile. the bartender rose an eyebrow, seeming slightly shocked about the difference in her usual orders. "Oh? that's new, well coming right up. what caused the change tonight missy?" the bartender playfully asked, making sure she knew that she wasn't obligated to answer his question, while maintaining his playful bit professional personality. "Just not really up for a drink tonight, it's weird i know" she replied, resting her arms against the bar counter and resting her face in her hands.

Just as the bartender was about to hand lilith her drink, a scream of another woman was heard, before screams of many other attendees and customers, the bartender and Lilith's heads shot towards the entrance where the screams were heard, before bangs of a pistol were heard. lilith looked at the bartender with wide eyes.

"Handsome— wh..what do we do?" she asked in fear. The bartender sprung into action quickly lifting lilith over the bar counter and making her crouch with him underneath of counter space. "We're gonna be okay rose petal" he spoke quietly in a hushed and shaky whisper as she shook within his arms. A violent flinch with each customers scream, curling herself within the bartenders arms.

"I remember him. his words."

A pained and quiet grunt left the bartenders throat, lilith looked over at him with concern, before seeing his hand over his middle abdomen, pulling it back and revealing blood covering his palm. Lilith looked at him with horror. "Handsome...no— no we need to get you help." she said softly and quietly. the bartender gave a soft smile to Lilith, before his clean hand rested against her cheek. "It's okay amore as long as your safe." He spoke with a pained voice. lilith's beautiful hazel eyes filled with tears, as she rushed to lay him down in a more comfortable position.

As he laid on the cold floor, blood seeping from his wound. Even merely minutes away from his doom, he couldn't bare to take his eyes off of the woman he admired so much and had fallen in love with. She looked down at him, holding him within her arms as she quietly cried. "Don't cry pretty girl, i'm just a bartender." he spoke softly and quietly, the screams of customers running through the bar. "Your not just a bartender to me...and i don't even know your name" Lilith spoke, even in such a horrible situation, her voice was still so soft and elegant. "It's—..." the bartenders words fell short, his breath hitching before he went limp in her arms.

"The last thing i remember..."

Lilith cried softly, holding the bartenders limp and lifeless body close to her, holding his bloody palm in hers. The screams continued around her, but she didn't care. she had let out a silent scream, of agonizing heartache from losing her beloved bartender. Her handsome. She went to wipe her tears before—

"The last thing i remember is my screams."