Prohibition Reinstatement Act (h.s. AU)

01

"What seems to be the problem, sir?" I addressed a disgruntled customer. I worked a small restaurant in an old rundown area. I started as a hostess at age seventeen and now almost nineteen I am the manager.

"This idiot brought me the wrong fucking brand of soda! I shouldn't have to pay for it! Or my dinner!" He exclaimed. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and responded as politely as possible.

"I'm so sorry sir, but we don't offer Pepsi products. Would you like us to bring you something different? Free of charge." I asked. The poor waitress, Mindy, looked like she was about to cry. It was only her first month of work and she didn't deserve to deal with assholes like these guys.

"Just get me the right fuckin' soda." The old man spat. He and his buddies had spent the entire night smoking and ogling women, I couldn't help but be slightly disgusted by them.

"Of course, sir." I gave a large fake smile and walked away with Mindy in tow.

"I'm so sorry Rose! He didn't specify the brand he wanted and so I just grabbed the most popular one! I didn't expect him to be so upset!" Mindy desperately exclaimed. I smiled sympathetically. The poor girl was only sixteen. I knew how it felt to work that hard at such a young age.

"No worries sweetie! He's a jerk and I don't fault you for that. You just take a little breather and I'll have someone else cover his table." She sighed in relief and I watched as she nodded and walked to the back room.

The hours passed slowly as I checked on the staff and did some paper work in my small dingy office. Although soon enough closing time came and after doing on last sweep through the small bistro I locked up and started the drive back to my studio apartment. It wasn't much, but it was home. I had tried to make it a little more cozy with some wall art but it didn't make much of a difference. The space had a kitchenette and a bed and a bathroom. That's about it. I don't have the money or the room for a tv or a couch. It was just me and I never really had company over so I wasn't exactly worried about entertainment.

Once I arrived at my building I walked to the second floor where my apartment was located. I unlocked the door then dropped the keys in the small bowl by the door. Once both my coat and shoes were off I slumped down onto my bed and let out a large sigh.

The shrill cry of my phone ripped through the silence and the caller ID flashed Mom I quickly hit the answer button and relaxed at the sweet sound of my mothers voice.

"Hi honey! How was your day?" She was so kind. It broke my heart that her cheeryvoice wasn't sincere. Even thought my father was an alcoholic he was still the love of her life. Now that he's in prison she's too depressed to work very much and needs my help.

"Same old, same old. Jerks who think that they can boss everyone around. Did you get the money I sent you?" I inquired. I sent her about half of my salary, leaving just enough to for me to survive.

"Yes honey, thank you so much I worked a couple hours this week so I'll send some back." My mother hated that I had to send her money but she had no other choice.

"No mom, keep it. Don't worry about me. I just want to make sure you have what you need." I said.

"Alright, thank you again. I gotta go sweetie. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She told me.

"Alright, love you." I responded.

"Love you too." And then she hung up. I sighed again and stood up to find some pjs to change into after my shower. As I open my bathroom door I let out a piercing scream. The man standing in my bathroom wrapped his arm around my waist and the other slapped over my lips.

"Shut your fucking mouth or I'll do it for you." His deep voice hosed into my ear. My scream was muffled by his hand but I continued to struggle against him. He reached behind him and I heard the sound of a gun being loaded. The barrel of the gun was the roughly pressed into my temple. I stilled instantly. "I said shut the fuck up." He growled. I could feel tears pooling in my eyes.

There was a sudden knock at the door and I could hear my neighbor yell through the door; "Is everything all right? I heard a scream. Rosalyn?!"

"You are going to answer the door and tell him your just saw a spider but you are fine. Then you will come back here and cooperate, you get me?" He whispered carefully.

"Rose?" I heard my neighbor call again.

The man dug his gun further into my head. I whimpered and frantically nodded. He released me and I swiftly walked to the door.

"Hi Marvin! Sorry I just saw a spider in my shower and it freaked me out." I told him with the most convincing chuckle I could manage, though I could hear my voice break a little.

"Are you sure?" He gave me a look that showed serious uncertainty and I quickly nodded my head, fearful that my voice would fail me once again. "Alright, well, take care." Marvin stated slowly. I nodded, yet again, and closed the door. I turned around, bracing myself for the man I knew would be behind me. He had scraggly brownish hair and reeked of whisky, which was very uncommon these days. For obvious reasons.

"Listen to me carefully. You are going come with me, get into the car and do it quietly, understood?" He told me with his gun still in hand.

"Understood" I squeaked. Tears were streaming down my face and I was shaking with fear for my life. He pushed me out the door and led me towards a black car with tinted windows by jamming his gun into my lower back.

I was pushed into the back seat and my hands were tied above my head onto the handle over the door. The man who came into my house jumped into the passenger side and another dark-haired lad was in the driver's seat. He sped off down the street at an alarming pace while the first guy picked up his cell and dialed a number.

"Hey boss, we got her and we are in our way. Is there anything else you would like us to do?" He spoke into the phone. The phone was on speaker so I knew that I would be able to hear 'boss' respond.

"Gag her, put a bag over her head and knock her out. I don't want her knowing the location or causing us any problems." A slow raspy voice spoke through the line. My head shot up in fear as the man said goodbye to his superior and turned towards me. I dreamed again as an old rag was stuffed in my mouth and a bag was put over my head, just and the 'boss' had said. I felt a sharp prick on my arm and within seconds I was engulfed in darkness.

...

My eyes peeled open and I groaned at the pain all over my body. It was muffled by the rag that was still in my mouth and I was disoriented by the darkness due to the bag over my head. There was a slight burning in my wrist and ankles which I assume is due to the rope tying me to a chair. How cliche.

"Oh she's waking up, call Harry." Someone to my left said.

There was shuffling behind me until I heard; "yeah, she's up. Come on down."

I sat with more silent tears running down my face for about two minutes until I heard a door slam open. The bag was roughly pulled off my face and I stared straight up into green pools. They were so intense that I had to look away. They were beautiful, but angry and cold. They evoked fear inside of me for reasons I could not understand.

"Take out the gag but leave her tied up." His voice sounded so similar to how it did over the phone, but it was so much more intense and scary. I cowered slightly as one of the other men untied the gag from my mouth. I coughed a little as I took a large breath. He finally spoke directly to me, rather than to someone else in the room.

"Welcome to hell, Rosalyn Day"