The Rebellious Ones

Rage of Man

Chapter 2

The only door that promised an escape was the blood-red doors she had entered. The sinful smoke seemed to be guiding her to the exit that was blocked by Jack. With her small pocketbook in hand, she prepares to make her exit. Slipping off the barstool, she starts to edge towards the doors.

"Thank you, Aiden, for helping me, but I need to get back to my store. It was nice meeting you now excuse me," as those words escaped her lips, Jack's eyes snapped towards her. His anger grew as he saw Cora in a space that wasn't meant for someone as innocent and delicate as her. She was his prized rose bush that even the gentlest of rainfall could damage her petals.

"What the hell is she doing here?" a growl ripped through the man. This was the angriest she'd ever seen the usually calm Irish man. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her red and puffy cheek and scraped knees. "Who the hell touched her?" He stormed up to Aiden," and what are you doing near her?" His large hand was pointing a thick finger to the skinny lads shaking chest.

Aidens green eyes widen in fear, and his hands rose up," I was just helping her out." At that moment, Cora decided to try and escape. Slowly sidestepping towards the door with the smoke trying to cover her. However, her movement didn't come unnoticed to Jack. Who reared his attention to her like a crazed bull.

"And you are not going back out there," he growled out to her with his thick accent. Jack's large hand now pointing at her leaving form.

"But my store! It's almost Teatime for the women of Granville. " her blue eyes glistened up at him in a dare. Tea time was a big moneymaker for her, and she was not going to miss it. Cora's small hand clutching the little white pocketbook in anger.

"It'll be fine, but you are not going back out there. It's safer if you stay here," with that jack left through another door. Cora slumped into the stool as she exhaled, this place was a maze of doors. Aiden jumps as she angrily slams the pocketbook onto the bar.

After a few silent moments, Cora turned towards Aiden with pleading eyes "please, I need to get back. That's how I make my money in that store, and it's almost the busiest time for the shop," Her doe-like eyes staring at him.

Cursing under his breath, Aiden looks away "you're lucky lass that you are as sweet as you are. I'll tell Jack that I went to get you more ice and you left when I wasn't looking and Ed over there was busy with a customer," Ed let out a grunt and turned his back to them, He turns back around to the two before throwing a glass on to the floor. A faked look of shock crosses his face as he pretends to busy himself with cleaning up the mess," Or that can work too, Ed. Now Miss McQuaid hurry up before he comes back."

Cora stands up grateful and starts to leave but stops when Aiden speaks up once again, "keep ice on that cheek now!"

The wrapped chunk of ice that Aiden had previously place on Cora's cheek was slid across the bar to her. A small smile forms on her lips, and a deep inhale comes from old Ed as he stares wide-eyed at the long wet streak that marks his bar top.

With that, Cora heads back out into the alley hurrying back to her store that has a group of housewives waiting to have their daily gossip over some afternoon tea. Their faces were a cartoonist look with makeup trying to cover up their true selves, trying to stay young and beautiful to keep their money. Their children never learning proper love expect one that is bought through money. Soon those children will follow their parents' roles.

Strangely most of the women were from the town next to Newark. They came from the hilltops of Granville, where there were no factories, and taxes so high one would have to sell their soul to pay them. One of Cora's childhood friends, Birdie Lange, had worked as a maid for a family and told of all the silly things they wasted money on. From building Massive mansions, with enough rooms to house five families, to the Lady of the house buying new china set for each year and party.

The women that had tea at the bakery were just the same, spending large amounts of money to keep a high social standing through automobiles, and beaded dresses. Their hands and necks would shine brightly in sunlight as they showcased their latest and most expensive jewel.

Nervously, Cora walks up to the door, trying to unlock the bakery with her shaky hands. The keys fumbling as the aristocratic stares of the women look at her form. One gasped as the blaring red cheek is exposed to the chin music makers. Whispers broke out different stories coming up off the shiner forming on her face as she rushed into the store to the counter, ignoring the best she could. With a fake smile on her face, she began her new chapter.