The Executioner

Chapter 2: Scarlett

The scalding water ran down her back, loosening the rigid muscles and relieving the tension that the day had caused. Scarlett's head was pressed against the wall if the shower, her eyes closed letting the water clear her head as well. It had been a rough one. She had pulled a double in the emergency room in a Saturday. Was she crazy? Obviously. When Jan, her boss, had asked if she wanted to stay over she should have told her no. But then she thought about the money. It would look really nice being deposited into her vacation account and she would be that much closer to paradise and her two weeks off. The thought made her groan with longing. If only she could see the light at the end of THAT tunnel. She rolled her eyes to herself. She hadn't had a full day off in over a year. The hospital was understaffed and this was not her first Saturday double, probably wouldn't be the last. But tonight had been especially grueling. She had a gunshot wound, swallowed lego, and a car accident with multiple injuries all within an hour. All her bays were full, as were all her seats in the waiting area. There were only five of them working so they had been stretched thin. By midnight she was starving, exhausted, and had to pee but there was no time for any of that, not in her profession. She was a nurse, by nature she was a nurturer and it had come easy to her. She loved what she did, most of the time, but it made her feel much older than her 25 years. She felt at least 56. She had pains on top of other pains. She bought "sensible" footwear for comfort. Her wardrobe consisted of scrubs and sweatpants. She didn't go out or have many friends for that matter. No, the only person she had a constant relationship with was her brother, Cameron. Which is why when her phone began ringing at 8am on a Sunday morning it had been extra irritating.