Apotheosis: Isekai into Danmachi

The night was cold and desolate, this late there was no one to be seen on the streets. Flickering streetlamps illuminated the dark road. My breath was visible in clouded puffs that escaped me, I breathed heavily as I sauntered down the sidewalk. I clutched my bag close to my side, eyeing any strangers I passed on the street. I clutched the golden necklace I had purchased earlier that day at an antique stand, hiding it from view.

The moon was incandescent, hovering brightly above the city, nearly full. Music pounded out from doorways to clubs and bars on the strip. Drunken patrons stumbled outside of one doorway nearly running into me. I jumped out of the way. I took a deep breath and picked up my pace. I was running late. I ran my hands through my long raven black hair stressfully.

I jogged through the doors of 'The Wolf's Den', and the immediate rush of warmth that greeted me made me sigh in relief. I stared at my watch, five minutes to spare. I stopped to catch my breath, leaning against the bar. Bar patrons stared at me from over the rim of their glasses, a few of my regulars smiled.

"Mira, hey!" Henry called from behind the counter. I waved, moving through the crowd I made my way to the back room, taking off my jacket and layers, I put my purse down. Henry followed me through the door.

"How's your night starting off?" He asked, hands in his pockets. I strapped an apron around my waist, I looked in the mirror and my emerald green eyes met me. I sighed at the outfit I was made to wear to tend the bar. A short black skirt that barely passed my mid-thighs, a white blouse unbuttoned to show ample cleavage, apron, name tag. I fixed my name tag in the mirror, I pulled my hair to the side out of the way, displaying the delicate gold necklace.

"Just getting started. It's been a long day." I shrugged my shoulders. It had been a long day of tests and needles, doctor's appointments and no answers. I felt a familiar tickle in my throat, and excused myself to the restroom. I coughed, leaning over the toilet, cringing when the familiar red drops of blood fell into the water. I wiped my mouth with tissue paper.

I just have to make it through the night. Only a few hours of this shift, then I can go home and get some rest. I had been putting up with illness most of my life. I sighed wistfully, thinking of my small cozy apartment.

I stepped out of the back room, and took my place behind the bar. Henry was back there, taking customers orders and mixing drinks. The music was loud, pounding in my ears, I felt flushed. Henry tossed a bar towel at me. I caught it and thanked him.

I turned to my first customer of the night, a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties, sat waiting patiently on a barstool across from me. I turned to him and smiled.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you this evening?" I said smoothly, letting a smile play about my lips. The man met my gaze, his ocean blue eyes open and friendly. He gave a small smile.

"I'll have a whiskey straight." He said smoothly, a practiced order. I nodded and started putting the drink together.

"What brings you in here tonight?" I asked. Making conversation was good for tips. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair and shrugged his shoulders.

"I heard this was a good spot, I thought I'd… scope out the assets." He said, a smirk playing on his lips. I cringed, his meaning obvious.

"Finding what you're looking for?" I smiled and slid his drink across the bar. He inclined his head and took a long sip.

"We'll see where the night takes us." He gave me a wink. I nodded and moved to the next customer, while keeping my eye on him. Something about what he was saying gave me the creeps. He nursed his drink most of the evening, keeping to himself. I felt his eyes on me, going over my body. I shivered and tried to focus on the customer I was serving. An hour before closing, the man abandoned his barstool and slunk out the front door. I sighed in relief.

Tips were slow tonight, it was mid-week, so not one of our busiest nights. I took what I could with a smile and a wink, working my customers for all I could get. A light touch here, a flirty banter next. I did well enough for my time here.

The music was turned down low, and the lights were raised as we were wrapping up for the night. Last call was announced, and our clients finished their drinks and slowly made their way out to the streets. It was after three in the morning, most of the bars on the strip would be closing around now. Henry flipped the closed sign on the front door.

"You did well tonight." He said with a smile, rubbing the back of his head. I smiled gratefully and untied my apron, sighing with relief. I grabbed my purse from behind the bar.

"Another night in the books. I'm looking forward to my bed." I said with a sigh Henry followed me to the back room, where I shrugged on my jacket, zipping it up over the revealing outfit.

"Listen, Mira, I was wondering —" the bell at the front of the shop tinkled. We both paused. Wasn't the front door locked? We stuck our head out of the staff room door, the gentleman I had been serving earlier was standing at the bar, gazing around the empty room. Henry stepped out and walked up to the man.

"Excuse me sir, we're closed." I heard his voice say. Then there were some muffled shuffling and a thud. I gasped. I stuck my head out of the room. Henry was on the ground, blood seeping down the side of his temple. The man stood there with a sinister smirk.

"Oh, Mira…" He called in a sing-song voice. A shiver ran down my spine. I shrunk down, hiding behind the door. What do I do? This man just took down Henry with a hit! What will he do to me? How does he know my name?

"Come out and play, princess, I know you're still here." He said. He pulled a knife out of his belt, playing with the tip against his finger. The metal glinted in the light. I looked around the room for anything I could use, and I saw an old ceremonial broadsword hung on the wall of the staff room. I sighed and went up to it, yanking it off of the wall. It was heavy and thudded to the ground. I stepped out into the main room. He was between me and the exit.

His smile widened as I appeared, he raised a brow at the sight of me carrying the large sword. He threw his head back in a cackle. He slowly sauntered towards me, like an animal stalking its prey. I held the sword aloft with both hands.

"What do you want?" I asked between gritted teeth. He sighed and gazed intensely in my eyes.

"You. I've been watching this place for weeks. Learning when you come and go, seeing who you talk to. My princess is quite the whore." He spat. The look in his eyes was obsessive, fanatical. "What are you going to do with that?" He laughed, gesturing to the sword.

I raised my hands above my head and shouted out as I launched forward, aiming a downward strike for his neck. His eyes widened and his fist jerked forward, hitting me in the stomach, I doubled over, winded. The sword clattered to the ground. I fell to my knees. I coughed and sputtered, I coughed blood up onto the floor. I wiped my mouth with my arm, my illness was acting up. The punch to the gut I'm sure didn't help. I wheezed and looked up at him.

He circled me, like a jaguar. He gripped my hair in his fist, yanking it back so I was forced to look up at him. His knife was in his free hand, he trailed it up and down the line of my throat. I swallowed. I stared into his crazed blue eyes. He brought his mouth down against mine in a punishing kiss. I grunted and fought against his grip, he bit down on my lip, drawing blood. I broke away and spat on the ground.

"You're sick… I didn't know that." He sounded almost concerned. "Oh well, we can still have our fun…" He purred. I growled and broke away from him, ramming my shoulder into his sternum, I brought my knee up into his crotch. As he fell to the ground I ran for the door. He gripped my ankle pulling me to the ground. I fell.

"You bitch, I didn't want to do this." He flipped me over, straddling me and pinning my arms above my head. I struggled against his grip. Blood trickled from my lip, down my chin, over the necklace at my throat. It felt blazing warm against my skin. Burning hot, maybe it was my panic chilling my body. He gripped the knife in one hand and brought his fist down against the side of my skull. I reeled back, my eyes rolling up in my head. The world was fuzzy, pain flooded my body, as I felt the knife pierce my stomach. Blood pooled on the floor around me.

"You made me…" He cried.

I was surrounded by so much warmth. I felt like I was floating, I saw something glowing as I descended into darkness.