Subcutaneous Magazine Revenge 2017 | Page 54

been long ago , ever since she killed Lannus and relinquished the angel-bone blade back to Bao . Her body was still good to her , even in her mid-forties , but life hadn ’ t been . There wasn ’ t much out there for a retired stripper and whore .
Ivy put out her cigarette and walked through her apartment , pausing only long enough to slip on a pair of old Keds . She grabbed her house keys and walked down the stairs and outside . It was a ten minute walk to the restaurant where she waited tables , and she had five minutes to get there . She let her mind wander again , thinking about what had happened a lifetime ago .
“ You ’ re late ,” Ivy ’ s boss , Nick , said as she threw on her apron . “ That ’ s twice this week .”
“ Sorry ,” Ivy mumbled . “ It won ’ t happen again .”
“ Damn right ,” Nick said . “ If it happens again this month , I ’ m firing your ass .”
Ivy ignored her boss , walking through the restaurant and taking orders . Nick ’ s Pit lived up to its name , being a disgusting hole of a restaurant . It had its share of regulars , but most new customers didn ’ t return . She didn ’ t even know how he stayed in business .
Ivy was carrying a tray of food when she tripped over her own shoelaces . She fell to the floor , food and glass falling everywhere . The patrons laughed and clapped as she embarrassingly picked herself up again . Alli , one of her coworkers , bent to help clean up .
Don ’ t mind them ,” Alli said . “ They ’ ll get laughed at when they fuck up too . Karma ’ s a bitch .”
“ Thanks ,” Ivy said , looking away . She didn ’ t believe much in karma these days .
“ Ivy !” Nick shouted . “ That ’ s coming out of your pay ! Get to the women ’ s room and get your shit together !”
Ivy obeyed her boss , handing the tray to Alli . She went to the women ’ s room and tried the handle , but it was locked . She waited there for three minutes , aware of all the eyes watching her . Finally , the door opened and an obese woman walked out , nearly shoving her with her meaty arm . Ivy went inside and locked the door behind her .
The smell of whatever the woman had expelled from her body was strong , and Ivy nearly gagged . She opened the small window . There wasn ’ t much ventilation , but the cold air from outside was better that the warm stench in which she stood . She looked in the mirror , realizing she had been crying . It had been so long since she had allowed herself to do it , she had forgotten what it felt like .
Ivy was more embarrassed than before , realizing she was shedding tears in front of everyone while she cleaned up the food and broken plates she had dropped . Working at Nick ’ s was a shit job and not worth the emotion she had shown . Then , without warning , the memory of every stupid mistake she ever made came flooding back to her .
It had all started when she was 19 , begging a witch to exact revenge on her unfaithful boyfriend . She was soon fatherless , barren , and shamed . Her life after she had left home was full of one disappointment after another . One waitressing job led to the next , and she was in a möbius strip of her own design . When the witch came back into her life , she thought she ’ d make a run at the demon who caused her to go on her current path . She had found him , and she had killed him .
But her life didn ’ t bloom anew like she hoped .
She had left the apartment over Bao ’ s Kitchen , no longer needing to be part of his group . Anna had asked her to stay , but she wanted nothing to do with them once Lannus was dead . She had made that clear from the