The streets of Gotham:
The sun never shines in Gotham, I've only been living here for a week but it's one thing I can say for certain. Today just like every other day I scower the streets looking for work. I'm kinda desperate at this point, I'll take any job. But no one really wants to hire a 17 year old girl without parents. I have a small apartment but that's all, no money, barely any nice clothes and absolutely no work experience.
I sigh sitting down on the curb, I might never find a job. I hear a scream and jump to my feet. I look for the voice and see two men on the ground, clearly having just been kicked out of somewhere. I walk to the location, a bar. Plastered on the door was a sign that read "help wanted"
Ignoring the men who'd just been thrown out I walk in praying that someone there would give me a job. To my dismay the bar was empty. I look around at the place. It's elegant and classy a cool place to work. "Can I help you?" I jump as someone speaks from behind me. I turn to see a beautiful woman with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she wears a tight black dress that fits her slim figure and expensive jewelry.
"I'm looking for a job," I say politely following the woman to the bar.
She raises an eyebrow, looking me up and down.
"You want a job, here" she sneers.
I nod courtly "yes,"
She squints at me with interest in her eyes. "exactly how old are you?" The woman asks. At first im tempted to lie but I know that won't get me anywhere.
"Seventeen" I say.
"Hmm" she eyes me like a hawk watching it's prey. I don't know what she's thinking but it doesn't seem to be good. And you want a job here, in this bar." She confirms.
I shrug, "I'm kinda desperate, no one will hire me."
The woman smiled "well your in luck because it just so happens that no one will work for me"
She laughs but I don't find it too funny, why would no one work for her?
"I'm El I say extending my hand,
"Barbara Kean" she says shaking it.
"You should know that I'm a big deal around here, you must be new."
I nod "yeah, I've only lived here for a week"
Barbara grins.
"Why don't you come into my office," she says sneakily. I follow her and we sit facing one another. "Now" she says drawing my attention "if I'm to hire you, you'll have to agree to a few of my terms." She speaks with a sly voice, there's something menacing about her.
"Oh, uh alright." I'm not sure what I'm getting my self into. Barbara smiles again a passes me a piece of paper. I read it carefully not wanting to skip over anything. Most of it is normal expect for one part. "What!" I exclaim. "This says that I have to do what you say or you'll kill me!" I look up at her in terror, she has a gun pointed directly at my face. "Just sign the agreement and I won't kill you." She says in a calm voice.
I jump up and attempt to leave but she stops me, grabbing my arm and pointing the gun at my forehead.
"sign it" she whispers threateningly into my ear. I tremble as I feel the cool barrel of the gun press against my skin.
"Please, just let me go." I plead but it's no use, Barbara had complete control over me. She knows it and so do I. Slowly I bend down and sign the paper. She smiled and puts away her gun. "Good girl, now sit back down."
I obey her quietly not wanting to upset her anymore. She folds her hands as she sits down. " You'll start tonight," she says, "but I recommend you change first, that outfit isn't exactly flattering."
I bite my tongue as she insults me. "Yes miss Kean" I say trying my best to remain polite.
Though no matter how hard I try I can't stop shaking. I can't believe how horrifying she is, part of me is tempted to leave and never return but something tells me that she'd be able to find me anywhere.
"Call me Barbara she says, only men call me miss Kean"
"Sorry, Barbara" I correct myself.
Barbara looks pleased, "alright now be back at four sharp, oh and don't even think about running. I'm the queen of Gotham, I can find you. And when I do I promise you will suffer."
I gulp, she laughs clearly amused by my fear. I can tell she's someone who likes to hurt others. But I was only sixteen, would she really harm a child. I wasn't going to wait around and fine out.
Once I'd left and checked to make sure no one had followed me I made my way home only relaxing once in my apartment. I flopped down on my bed and buried my face in my pillow. No words could describe how terrifying the day had been, and it wasn't even over. I had less than two hours to get ready and be back at the sirens club. I wouldn't dare be late and upset Barbara for there was no telling what she might do. It was no wonder no one wanted to work for her. I wondered what happened to those that did, and if they ever lived to tell the tale. There had to be a reason as to why the club was empty, I shuddered to think of what Barbara had done to her past employees. For all I knew they were dead.
After a little while I got up and got dressed, putting on my nicest clothes. A short maroon coloured dress, it probably wasn't fancy enough for Barbara's standards but it was the best I had.
I quickly did my makeup, straighter my curly brown hair and put on some black high heels. I looked in the mirror my blue eyes practically seeping with fear. As a last touch applied some red lipgloss and a thin chained gold necklace. Then I left for the club.
When I got there it was just as empty as before. I spotted Barbara who'd changed into a sparkly blue dress. She looked incredible and stunning, so much so that I wondered why she was a club owner and not a model. When she spotted me she finished her drink and she walked over, she barely tottered in her incredibly high heels . Unlike me who could barely stand straight .
"My, my don't you look nice" she remarks tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, I flinch at her tough and she snickers. "Jumpy are we?" She asks and I blush. I stand before her awkwardly for a moment.
"Well what are you standing here for get to work!" She barks. I quickly start my work, cleaning the club and making sure everything is up to Barbara incredibly high standards. She ignores me mostly just drinking and filling out paperwork. Ever so often giving me another order. By the time we are ready to open im exhausted having worked like a dog for hours.
"I'm letting everyone in" Barbara calls to me, "you can serve drinks and keep the customers happy." I nod obediently.
And about five minutes after opening the club is full. Mood music and lighting make Barbara easy to spot as her dress sparkles brighter than another else's . I noticed how she was watched me, not letting her eyes linger for to long. I could tell she was testing me, trying to see if I could handle the job.
I'm sure to keep my best game on. The last thing I need is her disposing of me, like she undoubtedly did to her last employees.
For hours I serve drinks and clean up messes. I try try to avoid Barbara as much as possible but it's hard since she's practically breathing down my neck. I stop only when I spot something peculiar, a girl around my age with green eye and short curly hair. She looks out off place with her street clothes and as the only sober one in the bar I an tell she's been stealing from the customers. I stroll up to her unsure of what to say.
"Looking for someone?" I ask cautiously eyeing her. She glances at me "what's it to you?" She asks. Who ever she is she's clearly not the social type. "My names El I work here."
She raises and eyebrow. "You work for Barbara?" She asks suspiciously. I nod "yeah why" she smirks "no reason."
"Selina, I see you've meet my new employee" Barbara walks up to us placing a hand on my shoulder. I shudder awkwardly. The girl who's name is Selina just started at Barbara "what happened to Tabitha?" She asks. I give Barbara a confused look, who was this girl talking about.
"Oh she's off somewhere, probably with butch." Says Barbara. She spots a fancy watch that obviously doesn't belong to Selina. "Hey what did I say about stealing from my customers!" She says snatching the watch from Selina. "hey!" Selina reaches for it but Barbara lifts it up high "uh uh uh" she tsks "not so fast"
She hands me the watch "I'll be keeping that" she says to Selina annoyance. I have to admit the witch is pretty though I can't imagine why Barbara would need it. Probably to sell.
"El why don't you escort Selina out, I think she's had enough fun for one night." Selina shots her a nasty glare to witch Barbara just smiles. I nod to Barbara becoming Selina to follow me. "Oh Selina" Barbara calls after us. "If you see Tabitha tell her I want to talk."
Barbara turns away and I take Selina outside. I finally get a break from the stove lights and the loud music. Selina turns to leave but I stop her "hey wait," she turns to me. "Ya" she asks.
"I uh, I" I can't tho of anything to say. She leans against the alley wall. "Do you wanna ask me something or what."
I blush slightly. "Barbaras kind intense," I say trying to start a conversation. Selina smiles "don't I know it, we use to be roommates."
"Really?" She nods "yea until she went crazy and murdered her parents."
I gasp "she what!"
"Yeah she was in Arkham for a while." I don't know what that means but it doesn't sound good. "Is that like an asylum?" I ask. Selina nods. "She got real see though, so she says anyways." I gulp, the more I learn about this woman the worse it gets. "So how'd you end up working for her?"
"She threatened to murdered me." I say quite bluntly. Selina raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like Barbara"
I laugh a little. "You must have known about her though, I mean she didn't just randomly threaten to kill you did she?"
I shake my head "no actually I'm new in Gotham, I don't really know anyone."
"Huh" Selina gives me an odd look. "Well if Barbara ever gives you a break find me, I usually hang around here anyways. I can show you around."
I smile. "I'd like that." We share a moment before she tuned away "I should go and you gotta get back Barbara doesn't like it when people are late."
"Oh shit right" I wave good bye and turn to leave.
Back inside the bar Barbara pulls me aside. "Where the helm have you been? We're tamed?" She says scolding me like I'm some child. "I uh-" she stops me "Neve mind just get back to work. She forcefully pushes me aside going to serve another customer. I do the same. "El" she beckons "their a delivery out back can you go get it"
I nod and quickly get to it. Sure enough there a crate outside, I can see it's full of alcohol.
"Put your hands up!" I turn around to see man wearing a black mask and black clothes. My heart rate quickens, he has a gun pointed at me, that's the second time today. "Give me the crate and no one gets hurt." I shake with fear closings my eyes. "Please don't you can have it." I say silently. He come closer picking up the package, I can practically hear my fast beating heart. Once he has the crate he removes his mask. "Sorry love but I'm afraid I can't keep my promise." I shut my eyes prepared for what comes next. I hear a gun shot, I'm ready to die, but to my astonishment I don't. I open my eyes and look down expecting to see a hiker threw my chest. Instead I see the man bleeding out in the cold hard ground, a billet through his head. "Well that was idiotic" Barbara steps out of the shadows. "Barbara, what!? How!?" She sneers.
"Did you really think I'd just let you die." She smiles kicking the dead corpse. "Hmm how unfortunate."
"How did you know?" I ask my breath shaking. She shrugs "what do you how did I know, it doesn't take five minutes to grab a crate." She says sarcastically "I thought you had either run, or been killed." I look at her in a mix of shock and gratitude. "You save my life, thank you."
"Whatever" she says nonchalantly "if anyone's gonna kill you it'll be me" despite the threat I smile. She saved my life. "Now get inside" she orders "we have work to do." Despite the death threats and the aggression I have faced I can't help but feel as though I might just survive after all...
Just so you all know this is my first Gotham fan fiction, I know it's terrible but it really hope you like it. I'm a really big fan of Barbara Kean and the sirens so I thought I'd write a little fan fiction. Pls comment if you want a second chapter.
Ps. I know the grammar and spelling is terrible, gramarly won't work on here 🖤