The Crimson Trail of Death

[Sierra's POV]

The light was low, casting shadows around the room, a suffocating silence settling over everything except for his ragged breathing. His grip tightened, the hunger in his eyes overwhelming.

He worked swiftly, tearing at my clothes with each rip echoing louder in my head than it should have. His hands moved mercilessly, stripping me and positioning me roughly on the bed. Every motion felt like an assault on my dignity, each touch a violation of my sense of self.

As he forced me into position, I wanted to scream, to push him away, but my body betrayed me, frozen under the weight of his control-just another man sent from the club, driven by power rather than connection.

"You signed the deal," he whispered into my ear, the words laced with venom. "There's no escaping this. You're mine for tonight."

I felt every push and pull, each thrust more invasive than the last. My legs ached, my body tense and trembling.

Tears and an overwhelming mix of pain and confusion filled me as his actions left me bruised and exhausted. I couldn't cry, not yet. My mind was reeling, struggling to make sense of the cruelty inflicted upon me.

When he finally released, his demeanour was cold, indifferent. He pulled back, adjusting his clothes with a practiced nonchalance. He glanced at me lying there, a flicker of disgust crossing his face.

"You're really fading lately," he said, his voice devoid of empathy. "Don't waste my time next time."

With a final, contemptuous spat beside me, he left. I lay there, aching, each breath a struggle as the weight of what had happened settled over me like a heavy shroud.

I remained on the bed, my body aching with pain as I laid in the same position he had left me in. The side of the bed was tattered. After a few minutes, I got up, weak and tired, my mind reeling from the decision that led me to accept the offer.

Now, here I am, being used.

Dominic De Santos, the mafia lord who controlled every corner of this underworld, would likely never know my name. But his reach was everywhere, his men treating the club-and those of us in it-as pieces in his game. He'd taken over his father's legacy with a ruthlessness no one dared to question. And though I was nothing in his eyes, I was trapped under his control all the same.

I had heard there were two De Santos brothers, but the second brother was a secret, with nobody knowing his real identity.

I gently stood, my legs limping, my body aching as I put on my clothes, which the man had ruthlessly ripped off. I cautiously opened the door and left the room.

My eyes locked onto the neon sign, 'Moonlight Club,' as I stepped out of the rain and into the dimly lit alley. The smell of smoke and cheap perfume clung to me like a bad omen.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for another night of selling my body to strangers.

The rain drenched me. I didn't have my umbrella, but how did it matter? Would it be able to shield me from all this pain?

My life had been one of struggle, crawling through the gutters to build a life out of nothing. After my dad died, life had never been the same. Everything was snatched from us like we were nothing.

My dad's brother came in, claiming all of my dad's property and wealth, leaving us in the gutter to rot. My mother tried several times to plead for his help but was shut down by him. She even stooped so low as to sell her body to him. That monster, even after that, still never yielded or offered any support.

I was forced to put a stop to my studies. At a young age, I knew what the world was truly about. My only world crashed before my eyes, abandoning my dreams, my only hope, and aim to help my mother.

But yet, the same dirt I saw was my only way out.

Used and thrown repeatedly each day, I felt less alive.

I slowly walked down the roadside, my clothes dripping. I felt the eyes leering at me with a gaze, a sly grin on the strangers' faces consuming me. My hands gripped tight onto my clothes, but what was the use? I forgot I was what they saw, a tool only to be used to quench their desires.

My gaze dropped as I walked through the road, taxi cabs honking, hoping for me to hop in. But how I wish; the little money I had with me was for my mom's medicine.

She was diagnosed with cancer. At least the doctor mentioned there was hope she would survive. But it all seemed to be a sham of lies.

Mom had been bedridden for a year now, her illness not deteriorating, only getting worse each and every second. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. She was the only one I had, the only close friend I had in this world.

All just use and forget. A life they stand to gain from, but when in need or needing their favor, they vanish from sight, nowhere to be seen.

I nodded, continuing to walk.

People ran helter-skelter in the rain while I walked with a lowered gaze, bumping into me like I wasn't even there.

After some minutes, I finally arrived home, gently opening the door to the room...

"Mom, I'm home..." I uttered, my eyes scanning the area as I slowly closed the door.

The floor was damp from the rain droplets. The roof was leaking, and the apartment was quite run-down, half-damaged. It was the cheapest place I could afford, but I wouldn't say it was cheap now, would I?

The owner had been on my neck for a month now. I was overdue on my payment. I had been pleading for more time. I spent most of the money I earned on Mom's medications and treatment, with little left to eat and fix some things around the apartment.

I placed some buckets to prevent further flooding on the floor.

My mom's persistent coughing was enough to provide me with her location. I turned slowly, walking to her room, where she lay on the bed as her cough persisted.

"Y-you-u...here, dear?" she uttered, her words caught through her labored breath.

"Yes, Mom...how are you?" I asked, my heart aching at the sight of her struggling.

"I'm fine, my baby, Mummy is...o-ok," she said between coughs.

I knew she was trying to be strong. She wanted to help, but now it was my time to help her. She had tried so hard to raise me without Dad.

I slowly approached her, bending down as I sat beside her. My hands went for her medicine, and I helped her take a small dose.

After giving her the medicine as she was done taking them, I laid by her side, my grasp gently holding her like a warm hug. I didn't want to lose her.

I didn't know when I eventually fell asleep. My eyes fluttered open from the rays of the sun as I shook awake.

I slowly stood up, my gaze on my mom, who was still slumbering. The sight seemed to take away the ache in my heart.

A knock caught my attention later, and I slowly approached the door. It was the landlord.

"Good day, Miss Sierra. I can see you've just woken up. I hope I didn't disturb your sleep. It's quite shocking to see you sleeping so peacefully, even though you owe me a lot," he said.

"I know you're here for the money, Mr. Ambrose, but I promise to get it. Please, can you give us some more days?" I pleaded.

"And how many more days will I always give you? I mean, this 'few days' doesn't seem to end in your calendar," he uttered as I watched his steps getting closer as he entered the house, giving a swift glance.

"So many things to fix. I just have to ask, why do you do this to yourself?" he asked.

"What?" I questioned.

"Why don't you just let me... Just be mine, and I will take care of all this. Just be mine for two nights, that's all I ask," he said, his expression changing as his legs grew closer to me, and mine retreated slowly until I gently leaned my back against the wall.

"Why don't we just let this-" he continued, his hand reaching for my face, but I flinched away from his direction.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ambrose. You must be mistaken. I'm not like that. Please..." I said, pushing him away from my side as I stepped away from him.

"You're not like that?" he scoffed. "Come on, you think I don't know what goes on there?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The Moonlight Club? I know what happens there with you," he stated.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Ambrose. Please leave. I'll make sure to get you your money soon," I said, wondering how he knew about me working at that club. Many had seen me coming out of the club, and a lady coming out from such a club is always labeled with the same assumption. Could he have possibly seen me at the club?

"Now, now, don't change things, Miss Sierra. I'm sure your dear mother doesn't know what you do for a living-how many men you've been with..." he said.

"Watch your mouth, Mr. Ambrose!" I uttered, blurting out in a raging flame before lowering my voice, remembering that my mom was just in the other room. The last thing I wanted now was for my mom to find out that I was involved in such activities.

"If it's your money, I can assure you that your money shall be brought to you, so please leave now, Mr. Ambrose," I told him, my voice firm despite my fear.

"Money? Well, if it's all about that, I would've surely kicked you out of the house a long time ago. But I just stood to be impressed. I wanted you, so I decided to let things slide. But if you choose to disagree, things aren't surely going to go as well as you may think. You wanna imagine having no home to stay in with your sick mother, roaming through the street? But nevertheless, I will give you just five days to think about it," he said, lighting up a cigarette and inhaling the smoke as he approached me.

"I hope you choose wisely now, Miss Sierra. You have been with many, so adding me up shouldn't be that much of an issue to you," he said before leaving.

I crumbled to the ground at the mere sight of him. But no matter what, the truth stood glaring at me. No matter how much I denied it, I knew it was true. But yet, I would see to it that I pay him. I can't imagine him and-no. But if I don't end up paying the money...

My mom? I can't let that happen. Her condition was still critical, so I had to ensure her treatment and all. All I could hope was for her to get better.

And not to think that she was a burden, like she had always thought. Gently managing a step, I stood up, wiping out the little tears I had noticed crumbling down as I gave a sigh and then walked into the bathroom, bathing and washing up.

After getting dressed, I found my mom still asleep. Really, it felt nice to see her so fast asleep. It had been a while since I had seen her like that, so it felt overwhelming.

I wanted her every day to be like that-a day without any worries and many more days in pure health.

Approaching the fridge, I opened it up, my gaze upon the little portion of food left, which I was sure could not last us longer than today. I had to get some groceries now. As I checked my purse, my hope flickered at the moment. The little penny wasn't even enough for me to take a cab.

Where could I possibly be able to get any money today? I could only hope it was possible for me to earn just a small amount today. If I wasn't able to get some groceries today, it wouldn't be good. The last thing I would want was for my mother to be starving, even though she was sick.

Warming up some food, I left them covered for my mom before leaving the house after and walking through the road, bumped by each person passing by. Work days were usually crowded, especially in this area.

But now, knowing that the landlord knew about me working in the Moonlight Club, I had to watch my steps. I wouldn't want another person, who I knew, finding out. Today i was lucky, some other day I might not be, and my mom might find out.

Battling through the crowd, I finally arrived at the club. I gave a swift glance to my left and right before entering.

As always, the smell of burnt cigarettes and alcohol lingered in the air as the grasp of some drunken men came upon my wrist, which I quickly flung off.

"Come with me, sexy. Let's have some fun," one of them slurred.

I paid no attention to them as I walked up the stairs, entering the workroom. I sat down, my gaze on the mirror as I released a breath after another, applying some lipstick.

My ears picked up a knock at the door. "Come in," I uttered, only for my eyes to land on Nate entering.

A reminder of the last time still echoed in my head.

"A new customer has booked you, and they'll be coming soon. I hope you don't disappoint like the last time. This time, you won't be getting out of it that easily if any of the clients ever lay another complaint on you," he sneered, leaving in an instant.

I was lucky to be alive, I would say. The club was owned by one of the most feared mafia lords, and I had tried drugging one of his customers with sleeping pills, aiming to extract some money from him while he was fast asleep. They didn't pay me well here; I was only meant to obey and never turn my eyes away or run off.

I had heard of many who had tried quitting or running away after signing and violating the contract-all of them had gone missing, none to be found.

Nobody knew if it was due to fear or if something had happened to them.

It reminded me of Rose, a girl whom I had met here on my first day. She was always smiling, until one day, after so many years, I watched that smile wear off and turn sober. She had confided in me that she was going to escape from this place and run away. I warned her so much against it, but it was all in vain. After she took action, I hadn't been in contact with her for five months now, which stood to my wonder, for it wasn't like her not to call me up after finding a safe place.

All I could do was hope that she was alright and unharmed.

Pain shot through me as I felt a frozen ache lingering in each part of my body, unable to catch a proper breath as I lay on the bed. The night brought the echo of another long day filled with the weight of each word and gaze.

I managed to sit up, resting my back against the wall as I released a sigh, trying to get a grip on myself. The last client's grasp was still stained on my skin, leaving me to question my existence in this job every day. The painful fact remained that I wasn't able to get any money today since it wasn't payday. I couldn't repeat my actions of drugging and stealing the customer's money like the last time, so what could I possibly do now?

My only hope was in begging Nate and seeing if his cruel demeanour could show some mercy. I knew it wouldn't work as easily as I hoped, but the least I could do was try.

I gently stood up, climbing each step as I walked into the bathroom, splashing some water on my face. I washed my face, leaving a glance in the mirror after. I noticed tiny bruises, I had to keep hidden from my mother's sight.

Applying some touch of makeup to hide them, I stepped out of the room and walked down the stairs, my eyes scanning for Nate, intent on asking him if he could help out. To my dismay, I couldn't catch a glimpse of where he was, so I was left to wander around the club area.

My gaze landed on Ruby walking by. I couldn't say she and I were on good terms. From the very day I started here, she'd had a look that spoke of jealousy, of hatred. I had no idea why, but all I knew was that she was known to be the best, taking each fun at the job as though it was her dream.

But I had no intention of making enemies. I couldn't afford to have one; all I ever wanted was my mom's recovery, nothing more.

"Ruby," I uttered, calling her, only to receive a frowning glance in return.

"I just want to know if you know where Nate is," I said, trying to be polite.

"It seems you just don't know the respect rule. That's 'boss' to you. You'd better address him with respect. If anyone catches you calling Nate 'sir,' I can't assure you how jaw-rolling your punishment would be. And next time you call me, it's best to address me as ' The Head Courtesan.'" She sneered.

I had little time to argue with her. It was nighttime, and I had to return home soon. My mom must still be up waiting, but I couldn't leave without the money.

"Alright, Ruby, please, can you tell me where the boss is?" I asked, swallowing my pride.

She gave no response at first, her furrowed brows leaving a piercing gaze. "Check the last room up ahead. He's there." She finally said, turning to leave.

I approached the room door after a few steps, my hands reaching for the door handle.

My mind rethought my actions. What if Nate saw this the wrong way? I couldn't easily forget the warning he gave me last time, those narrowed eyes darkening with fury. Should I really be doing this? But if I don't, my mom-no, I have to.

I whispered to myself, mustering some courage as I opened the room door and walked in. My eyes landed on Nate, seated with four other men. Their discussion came to a halt at my mere entrance, all eyes gazing at me with fury.

"What are you doing here, Sierra?" Nate's voice came like a storm, jolting me and nearly making me stumble.

"I'm really sorry for barging in like that. I'll leave now," I said, apologizing as I turned to shut the door behind me. I leaned against the wall on the other side, my heart aching. I was sure Ruby knew about the meeting, and yet she sent me here without mentioning it, knowing the outcome of the punishment for such defiance. Some weren't even considered for a second chance.

Aiming to leave, I saw Nate stepping out, his grasp tight on me as he pushed me against the wall. "Why are you here, Sierra? Things were let to slide today, but next time, if such happens, I can't assure you what will happen."

Nate's eyes and grip were like no other, those eyes showing a mix of anger and care that I couldn't understand. The men present weren't familiar to me, and for all I knew, they must have been discussing business matters they wanted hidden. I just hoped they didn't see me as a threat.

"Sierra?" Nate's voice snapped me back to reality. "Why did you come here?"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to ask for a favour."

"A favour?" he scoffed at the mention, retreating his grasp as his eyes weighed on me. "Speak."

"Well, it's my mom."

"Your mom? What is it with her again?"

"I need some money for groceries. You can deduct it from my pay. I just need the money right now, please-"

"Enough of this, Sierra. You know things don't work like this, and you've been here for quite a while. On the boss's order, nothing has been done to you unless you break the club's rules. I've tried helping you in the least possible way. If the bosses get a glimpse of all you've done so far, mostly with the part of you drugging and robbing the customer, I can't assure you that your mother's medical care will go as smoothly as it was set to go. And I can't assure your safety either."

But something felt odd and different about him this time. Those cruel and merciless eyes of his seemed to soften for just this moment. But even with all he had said, I still needed the money.

"You speak of my mother's bills, but not much has been done about that."

"The hospital claims she will be alright, so now it's up to you to obey and work without any more questioning." He said

"The hospital claims and my mom's state don't match. Her sickness hasn't yet been cured. I admit it had stopped once, but now it's worse than ever."

I watched Nate glance to his right and left. "I know you're desperate for your mother to get better, and you want things to move along smoothly, but wake up from your dream. You agreed to the contract, and now you're bound to this club. Don't try to turn into a traitor. When the boss sees fit, he'll let you off the hook and-"

"Let me off? And how many has he let off, huh?"

I came here for some money to buy food, but one thing was staring me in the face: Was I ever going to be free from working here? My mind accepted that things wouldn't go as smoothly as expected when I wanted my freedom. I had never seen anyone who worked here leave. They were mostly disposed of when customers started complaining about them fading off and no longer being attractive. That's when they'd see them as trash and dispose of them. Return? I doubted it. None had been heard from after being dismissed from the club.

I knew there were many secrets lurking around in every nook of this club, secrets I didn't want to get involved in.

"Leave now, Sierra. Consider this a warning," Nate uttered, turning to leave, ignoring my words as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

I walked down the stairs gently, the realization hitting me that I had failed to get some money.

"What am I going to do now?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. My legs led me through the crowd, dancing and music blaring in the side of the club, amidst all the displays of nudity. I found myself at the bar.

"A drink..." I croaked, suddenly finding myself holding a glass of wine. Drinks ordered by us were usually placed on the house, so we wouldn't have to pay for them. But should I be drinking? I needed something, anything to distract me from all that stood before me.

I wasn't drinking to feel better. I wasn't drinking to feel anything at all. I just wanted to stop. Stop thinking. Stop remembering. Stop existing.

The world around me began to blur, the edges of the room fading away like everything was melting. My head felt heavy, the weight of everything catching up to me. I tried to stand, but my legs gave way, and I stumbled.

Before I could hit the ground, a strong hand caught me, steadying me.

"Hey, sexy. Wanna come home with me?" the voice came through like a whisper.

It was one of the customers who had come in looking for a good time. Maybe this was it, my ticket to getting some money. But if the house found out that I stayed late, working at the customer's home, I'd surely be in trouble. Still, he must know the danger before he asked, and this was my only chance. Giving the risk, it was worth it.

I nodded and soon found myself outside the club with the man, slowly leading me through the dimly lit streets.

"Wait here. Just got to get my car first," he said, leaving me with a flickering smile as he walked a short distance away.

I rested my back against a nearby wall, holding up my body so I wouldn't stumble, as my eyes were still blurry, and I couldn't catch a proper glimpse of what was happening.

Releasing a sigh, I shut my eyes for a moment. My ears picked up on whispers that grew louder by the second. They felt like cries, a weeping sound followed by a mumbling of words. Managing a few steps, I walked through the street, approaching the source of the voices and using the walls for support so I wouldn't stumble.

My eyes landed on four blindfolded people. From their clothing, I could tell they were students, but I wondered what was happening and why they were blindfolded. As a figure approached, I hid and leaned against the wall, slowly peeking out to catch a proper glimpse through the dark, shadowy area.

It was Dominic De Santos, the infamous owner of the Moonlight Club and the most feared mafia lord. No one dared to look him in the eye, and some said he was nothing compared to his brother, who remained a mystery to many, including myself. I questioned what he could possibly want with these students.

I watched as they removed the blindfolds from the four students' faces-three boys and one girl.

"So why did you do it?" Dominic uttered, bending down a bit, his eyes narrowing in fury.

"I am sorry, we had no idea. Please let this slide," one of the students pleaded.

"Let this slide? You came to me, you said you needed the work, and I needed students who wouldn't raise suspicion since my business is done both on school grounds and on the streets. But you ended up messing up. I mean, I wouldn't have guessed that a bunch of teens would have tried to stab me in the back. So you work for Gregor, one of my family's greatest enemies, double-crossing me and ratting out all my dealings to him?"

"Please, we won't do that again, Dominic, sir, please," the student begged.

"Oh yeah, you won't, because I will make sure you don't," Dominic said, standing up and shifting his gaze to one of his men behind him. "Take care of them. Don't kill the girl. She might end up being useful. You can kill the three of them."

He left, and I watched as one of his men brought out a gun. In a swift motion, he pulled the trigger, and I saw one of the students fall to the ground, their blood splattering around the area. My face paled, my eyes frozen in stunned silence. My legs stepped back as I slowly retreated, the echoing cries of the students fading to a gentle hum that suddenly fell silent as the bullet pierced through the air.

My mind could only process one word: 'run.' As I turned to flee, my purse fell, hitting the ground, and for a moment, my body froze, my eyes fixated on the bright light pointed at me.

"She's a witness. Don't let her escape," I heard them say. My legs moved frantically, attempting to escape, but my intoxicated state made my steps clumsy, and I kept stumbling to the ground. I refused to give up, leaning against the wall for support after a fall. Eventually, I found myself on the roadside, mere inches away from being hit by a car.