A Marriage Of Ruin

"This is exactly what I'm talking about." I stared at Mara in confusion. "What?" "You weren't even listening, see?" The last word came out in a high-pitched ring, in a way that made my left ear ring. I hated it when she did that. I let out a breath, my shoulders sagging in defeat as I took a sip of my remaining bourbon. "I was," I sighed. "I just don't get the part where 'that's exactly what you're talking about.'" I gestured with my left hand, as if that would magically diffuse the irritation on her face. "I was talking about Sarah." I blinked, staring at her with less interest than I'd come here with. "I know." I said eventually. All she'd done all month was talk about Sarah, even in conversations that weren't about her. We'd spoken about her more than we'd spoken about our relationship. Sarah was her annoying married boss who kept flirting, touching her inappropriately, calling and texting outside of work... The list was endless. I'd offered to talk to a friend of mine to have her transferred to a branch closer to her apartment, and she'd told me she was going to have to think about it. That was two months ago. "You know what to do." "What am I supposed to do?" The disgust in her tone was sharp. "Leave?" "Leave?" "Yeah." I stated it all over again like it was a new idea. She looked at me with renewed disgust and shook her head. "I've worked too hard to just let this go. I can't let her win." I nearly rolled my eyes. "Yeah." I exhaled. "Whiskey, please." I nodded toward the bartender. "I think you should tone down the alcohol tonight, babe." I turned to her with a squint. "Why?" "You know alcohol is bad for you." The crinkles around my eyes deepened. "Isn't it for everyone?" "I'm just saying you shouldn't drink too much." My gaze shifted to the low-cut top she was wearing before I eventually tore my eyes away from her. It was the red top I'd gotten her for her birthday. It had that low neckline that brought her boobs up almost to her neck. Now, seeing it on her, I high-key hated it. Did she wear that to work? I shook my head. I bit my lower lip to keep my question to myself. "Thank you." I took a sip of my drink. "Did you wear that to work?" I asked, pointing at the shirt. She just shrugged. I pursed my lips, looking everywhere but at her. "If you have something to say, you should just say it, Rain." Was I being a total cunt for having an opinion on what my exclusive mutual f**k wore to work? "Rain." I c****d a brow. "You were going to say something." "I wasn't." I took another sip. The face she made unnerved me. "The thing is, if you dressed like this to work, you're just bringing Sarah on, and you know it." "What do you mean? Are you saying I shouldn't dress however I want just because I don't want my promiscuous boss on me?" "Something like that." I locked eyes with her. "You don't even dress like this on a normal day. If I didn't know better, I'd say you like the attention." "Rain-" Her phone suddenly came on and began vibrating, cutting her short. Speak of the devil. I snatched the phone out of her reach before she could make for it She tried to fight me for it but I maneuvered around the bar stool as I picked the call and proceeded to walk outside of the bar. I ignored her frantic calls for me as I brought the phone to my ear. "Hey baby" I stopped short, nearly stumbling into a guy who looked like he wanted to chew my head off. Was I hearing things? I brought the phone back to my line of vision, it was Sarah on the phone. I hung up the phone, pulling up the password icon. Two three six nine zero two. Wrong password "Why'd you change your password?" "Because I don't want you in my phone" She said, rolling her eyes and making to snatch the phone out of my grasp. "I never check your phone." It was fact. I was irritated beyond measure. I brought the phone to her face to trigger the face id but she docked out of the way. "Rain!" "You're sleeping with her aren't you?" "I'm not!" "Then unlock your f*****g phone" "God- I'm not- ugh!!" She stomped her feet on the ground as she screamed. I c****d my head Was she.... having a tantrum? "I guess I'm leaving then." "Not with my phone" "If you're sleeping with her just say so Mara otherwise you're not getting this f*****g phone" She looked at me with that too familiar expression on her face. "I... I don't know what to tell you." She sighed "Then save your breath and unlock the phone. How hard could that be?" "I haven't slept with her" "Haven't?" My voice does that high pitched ring. "That's not- we- Rain were not even dating what's with the TSA shit." My eyes widened in surprise and my mouth hung open. "Wow" I laughed "Right" It seemed like I was being tested and it was working. I was boiling inside. "Hand me my phone Rain" "You want it so bad?" I asked with a mischievous smile. "Catch" I tossed the phone as far as it would go across the street. "Rain" She screamed, hitting me square in the stomach before running her after her phone. "f*****g psycho." I let out. Fuck it. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my coat and started walking. The cold hit me almost immediately. I was too busy fighting over a situationship while I was actively freezing my ass off. I shuffled through people as I made towards the road that led to my apartment. I needed my space, I needed to think so I took the alley instead. It was the usual shortcut to my apartment. Mara and I had walked through it countless times after nights out. Nothing had ever happened. My stomach still throbbed where Mara had punched me. Choosing her boss over me? "Cunt," I muttered under my breath. My breath came out in little clouds. I hated this time of the month Halfway down the alley, I heard footsteps behind me. I slowed. The footsteps slowed too. I looked over my shoulder. A man was walking in my direction. He was far enough away that I couldn't make out his face clearly. I turned back around.. I continued walking. The footsteps grew louder. I glanced over my shoulder again. The man was closer now.. I stepped toward the side of the alley to let him pass but instead, he walked directly toward me. "Excuse me." He bumped my shoulder. "Hey-" Before I could turn around, an arm wrapped tightly around my waist. My entire body went rigid. What the bloody- Another arm locked across my chest. I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand clamped over it. Panic exploded through me. I kicked backward, catching something or someone in the shin. The man grunted but didn't let go. I fought harder My scream was swallowed against his palm. Two more figures emerged from the darkness. My heart slammed against my ribs. No... no no I twisted violently, trying to see their faces, trying to find anyone on the street who could see me. A car rolled slowly toward the mouth of the alley. Its headlights washed over me, nearly blinding me in the process. For one stupid second, I thought someone would stop. Tears blurred my vision. A million thoughts crashed through my mind at once Never let them take you to a second location. The thought came so suddenly that it almost felt like someone had whispered it directly into my ear. One of them grabbed my legs, and suddenly my feet were no longer touching the ground. I kicked and thrashed, desperately trying to make enough noise for someone to hear me. Nothing. Then something sharp pricked my neck.