It was a sunny day. "Mum, Mum, - mum..." a little girl rushed into the house screaming happily. "A man was staring at me outside. He greeted and gave me this," she said with her tiny innocent voice. "Lucy!" her mum exclaimed with shock "Who gave you all this money." she packed and seized the money from her daughter's hands. "I don't know him, mum, he was standing outside." Lucy retorted carelessly with her innocent voice "Mum, will you buy me ice cream" she asked since she saw a lot of money.
Instantly, her mum stared through the window hoping she could catch a glimpse of the person, but the outside was empty and this made her more anxious. Just when she thought everything was over this boom appeared. She didn't have an easy past, thus she made a lot of enemies on the way which could still show up and harm her family. "Lucy, can you tell me how this man was?" she stooped to her daughter, with furrowed brows mixed with intense fear and anger. However, this wasn't directed to her daughter. "He was very tall, he had a black suit on. Mum that's all I can remember. Mum, can I get some sweets?" she said recklessly. "Wait, Lucy" she immediately took a phone out of her pocket, unlocked it, scrolled the gallery and asked "Was he looking like this?" she showed. "Yes, yes mum, that's him. Please, can I get some sweets now?" she pouted. "Yes, you can" she shook her head as she helplessly fell on a couch, demoralized. While Lucy heartily rushed to the table and took some sweets. "Lucy, go up and pick your toys, only the necessary one, okay?. You will spend the weekend with grandma." "Wow" she ran up. Without wasting any time she came with her little bag filled with toys. She was very eager to visit her grandmother. Nervous, her mum stood up from where she was seated, picking up her phone and then the car keys... "There are mistakes in life that always stalks you and no matter how hard you try to forget or fix them, it is just too late. All I wanted at that time was to save a life not knowing I was going to leave mine while dragging others along with me. I can't go back in time but I want peace, just peace of mind. I want to sleep without thinking about it and all that follows" she screamed in her mind. As soon as they settled in the car, her phone rang. She picked up the phone with reticence "Private number" she read on the phone's screen. Her heart started pounding. She took a deep breath, battling to disguise her anxiety to herself as she answered the call "H... Hello, please who is on the line?" she asked with a fluttered voice. "Did you miss me?" this voice asked in an arrogant tone and she felt a stiff cold as if thousands of swords were piercing her heart. With a lot of effort, she retorted "Don't you ever call me, bastard" tears helplessly rolled down her cheeks as she immediately off the call. "Shit! I can't believe he's back" she told herself as she swept her face. "Mummy are you okay, why are you crying?" she asked with a sorrowful look as she helped her mum to wipe off her tears. This rendered her mum weaker. "Don't bother, mum is ok." she faked a smile while cuddling the little girl's hair. She started the car and took off driving at the speed of light like she saw a ghost. Luckily, she reached her mum's house safely. "Grandma!!!" Lucy rushed into her grandmother's arms. "My little angel. How are you?" The old woman stoop and hugged her tightly, although Lucy held tighter. "Mum said I will spend the weekend with you." "Oh, that's great," the old woman smiled then she peeped at her daughter with a slightly confused air. "Grandma, I have something for you" Lucy took out a tiny candy in her bag and handed it over to her grandma. "Wow, all this for me. Aww... you didn't have to. You're such a darling" she said with a funny grimace and Lucy laughed. "Oh, Grandma, don't be dramatic," she said with a naive but very silly voice and her grandma cracked up, she couldn't help it. Lucy heard that in a movie she watched with her grandma and since then she's been using it with her best friend, her grandmother. "You will seat here, while I discussed with your mother." she gave Lucy a seat then she hurried to her daughter who looked worried. "You didn't tell me you were coming and you look damn worried. Why are you here?" she asked. "Please, mum just take care of Lucy, I promised to be back soon," she begged. "Of course, I will always take care of my granddaughter because I love her as much as I love you. So now talk to me, why are you here?" she cuddled her girl's hair. "Keep this for me" she took out the money from her bag and gives it all to her mum. "Where did you take all this money from? Why are you walking with all his cash?" her mum fretted. "It's a long story. I need the keys to the basement" she ignored the question and asked. "Why?. I thought we left all that behind us." her mum grumbled. "Mum, I think he's back" she whimpered. Her mum held her mouth with both hands to withhold her scream. "We need to protect ourselves. Please, mum, the keys," she ruled. "I'm scared, I can still remember what happened the last time, a nightmare. Are you sure you want to do this again?" she sulked. "Trust me, mum, this is the best thing to do. Once I get rid of him we will all have peace. Mum, the keys." she ordered. "It's behind the television." she immediately took the keys and moved down. Mum, halted her "Please, promise me you won't take any stupid risk?" "I won't, mum" she hurried down to the basement. It was dusty but not unkempt. She opens a big cupboard, then boxes. She took out guns with many bullets. After that, she hurried out and handed over the keys to her mum before leaving. "Where are you going to?. I just need to be sure" her mum's voice halted her. "I'm going to Herpen-abort," she retorted. "That fucken place again. OMG, When will all this be over?" she whimpered. "When he will be dead and buried," she affirmed, seriously. "I will miss you mum, please don't stay for long" Lucy ran to her mum's feet. "Of course darling, I will be back soon, be a good girl and take care of grandma" she kissed her and left. She hurried into the car and drove off immediately. Riding to the fucken Herpen-abort. At the site, she parked the car, charges her guns and hurried into the building. She screamed as she ran into the building, "Show your fucken self, I know you're here. Show up." she claimed the stairs. She searched every room on her way, then she entered this room, and she could inhale his scent. She could only see the back of the chair, no way to catch a glimpse of who was seated yet she knew she found her man. The person she was looking for. "I knew you will find me, my little cupcakes" He rolled the chair and faced her with a malicious grin that made her sicker. "Fuck, you know I hate when you call me that" She pulls up the gun and point it at his face, then to his heart and finally, she stationed at his forehead. "We both know that you can't shoot. You can't even kill a fly" he said so confidently. "You say that because you don't know me. I'm not more that little girl, you use to abuse. It's been, six years now, 6 fucken good years" she said with disdain. Her heart was steamed with wrath, and at that very moment, she could still remember the first day they met. "That was so far the worst day of my life," she told herself as she stared at him with wrath coating her face as she regretted ever knowing him.
I'm so sorry... I didn't know how weak I was. I thought I was wise and strong enough, filled with good intentions. I never planned to hurt anyone or to be hurt by anyone. So I thought everything was going to be ok for me but little did I know that what you think only stays in your mind and mind can't be heard and nobody trusts the mouth... My name is Aria McCain and this is how I meet this monster. ~ ~ ~ ~ • • • Aria McCain's POV • • • I ran out of the restaurant sobbing in pain. Tears effortlessly ran down my cheeks. The pain in my heart felt like thousands of swords were piercing it.
The day was bright, it was a very hot afternoon. The streets were filled with pedestrians and shining, as they usually did on a sunny day. Despite all the sun, all I could see was darkness engulfing me. Everything seemed darker than usual. It was like everything was suddenly painted in black. I couldn't stop crying the hell out of me. My head had started aching. With a migraine, I had to settle. So I stopped at the nearest bus stop and sat on a public bench, weeping. After leaving several voice messages, my best friend, Besty, finally decided to show up. I texted her as soon as I heard the sad news because I needed someone to talk to. She was my only trustworthy and reliable friend. What do I mean?. She was my only friend and a sister she became as years passed by. We loved and cared for each other so much. In fact, I didn't fear trusting her with my life. I was still crying when she arrived with my head covered on my knees. I didn't want pedestrians to watch me cry like a mad girl. Although I wasn't far from it. "Girl your voice notes aren't clear, it's like you were crying. Why ain't you picking my calls?. Do you know how worried I was?" She spoke continuously like a parrot as she saw me. She sat near me. "I'm talking to you" she insisted but I said nothing, I was busy crying without letting any sound out. "Will you talk?" she yelled. I sluggishly lifted my face. "You are crying?" she sympathized with me "Your eyes are red and swollen. You have been crying for long!" she furrowed her brows sadly. I was tried to contain my tears but I couldn't. "Talk to me, okay?. Together we can solve everything as we have always done, right?" she flattered me as she best knew how to and my heart cold down small. "My mother is going to die," tears erupted in my eyes, and words got stuck in my throat and I couldn't breathe properly. I stopped talking... "Why do you say such a thing?. Your Mum won't die" she frowned. I took a deep breath with tears effortlessly rolled down my cheeks "She's going to die... She was diagnosed with... cancer... today, the doctor said she will soon be in her terminal stage if we don't start treatments in the nearest days" I busted back into tears. "OMG! I can't believe this. What are we going to do now?. I'm so sorry baby, where is mum?" she fretted. "She's seated at home. There's no money and she's going to die?" I wept. "Oh, I'm so.. so.. so.. sorry about that. You have to be optimistic. Mum won't die, I promise you," she said so confidently that I wanted to stop crying and I laughed a little before continuing mourning. "We talking about much money here. I know you're trying to help me but don't make promises you can't keep" I frowned. Anyway, I guessed it came from good intentions so I didn't mind it. "How much are we talking about?" she asked with so much concern. "It's a stage three cancer, we are talking about a hundred thousand dollars and more. I need to pay about thirty thousand dollars so that they can start the treatment" I explained with anxiety and tears was filled in my eyes. "Fuck, that's quite much money." she whimpered. "I know right!. Can you borrow me some, any amount? I promise to pay you back" I begged. "Sorry, I don't have that kind of money. I have no money, no savings. I barely can eat these days because I have to send money to my sick mum and for a junior in Russia and they have reduced our salaries at the club. Customers want new girls" she said with her Russian accent. Indeed, she has a huge family to feed in Russia which wasn't easy for her to deal with. So she was as broke as me. "So how do you plan to help me, we both know you have nothing. You are as broke as me. Or do you know someone that can help me?" I asked. "I know someone who can help you," she says. I wiped my tears "Who is this person" asked eagerly. "Mr. Blaine, the manager of the club in which I work," she replied. "Never," I exclaimed "Realy?..." she frowned "They are recruiting new girls like you. You should try it. The pay is good, five times better than what you have at that restaurant. You should be fast about it many girls are fighting to have this job" she deciphered. "I can't. I hate that club, it is always filled with armed men. How do you even manage to keep up?. Those Russian men are very brutal" I grumbled. "Yes, they are brutal but they pay you well. You didn't have a choice, we're talking about your mum's life. Okay, this is what we will do, you will come and watch me dance tonight. You will see, it's not as difficult or nasty as you think. I will you this opportunity to present you to my boss" Besty, gaily explained as if it was the ultimate solution to my problem. "I don't like that place I'm not comfortable there. The last time I came there I had headaches just because of the loud music and someone nearly shot me with his gun. I still remember as if it was yesterday." I whimpered. "I hate the Orthodox club" I cried out, but did she care?. It was found in the South of Brighton. An area populated with all sorts of Russian mafiosos, perverts, and all kinds of weirdos. Where drugs had turned into bio food. Anyway, that is how I saw that area. Ladies, there were very loose. To be honest, they were mostly prostitutes. I always wondered how Besty, came out differently. "I know right... Unfortunately, the situation is different. You need to raise such an amount of many at all costs. Trust me you will make a good deal, your virginity is worth thousands of dollars." she contended. "What! My virginity?. Are you trying to sell me or something?. I'm not a prostitute." I chided. "I never said that, I simply mean that you are worth more than every regular girl out there and if you strip they got to pat you more." she rectified. Anyway, I wasn't planning to strip, so I overlooked it. "Okay..." I pulled my words. "Please, didn't put on these long gowns when coming to the club. Put on something sexy. You know the gown I gifted you at your last year birthday party?" she asked. "Yes," I nodded my head. "You should put that on," she said. "Damn!" I exclaimed in awe. That gown was too short. In contrary to her, I'm a chocolate, African American lady with curves and tight-fitting gowns reveal my hourglass figure thus it turns out to be very provocative. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't fat at all. I was too curvy with everything in the right place and the right amounts. That is sizable boobs, flat stomach with well-carved ass. "Never, I can wear that to come to your notch filled with predators. I rather die," I said. "Then, I will kill you" she pinched me on the waist, continually until I began to laugh "Stop it, I'm not in the mood" I laughed. "Bot oho!" she exclaimed in Russian, I knew nothing about that language "I want you to keep on this smile. While we find the solution to your mum's problem," she consoled me. I don't know what I could have done without her. She was so lovely. "Bye," I wave at her through the window of the car. Usually, I took a bus home but this day, she paid for a cab that dropped me directly home. Immediately she picked out her phone as she watched me leave. "Привет, sir, you should call your client, I have the perfect girl for him. She's still a virgin and desperately in need of money" said with a smile on her face. "Great, he will be here this evening. Can the girl be available?" this hungry male voice asked. "Yes, sir, she will be at the club tonight" she replied. "Great!" he offed the call.
~ ~ Car blaring ~ ~ "Fuck, who the hell is that?" I cried. I was trying to have some rest after the hectic the day I had. I cried all through the day and my head was aching. I took some painkillers drugs and I was laying on the couch to have some rest. Then I heard this car blaring continuously down the street and it sucked. "Girl, I have been calling but you ain't picking up your calls. I've been blaring the car horn for you to join me out but you ignore. It's almost 7 pm" she barged into the house yelling.
"I'm tired!" I hit my face in dismay, I knew only a mad person could cause such a car blare. I seriously thought she was going to forget about me. It wasn't her first time proposing me to come join her at the club. "I knew it" she picked a pillow on the couch and hit me on the face "I knew you were going to fail me at the last minute. Luckily I'm smarter than you and I'm here to be your drive date for the night" she pulled me out of the couch. "Oh, Besty, I'm tired. I'm not in the mood" I cried. "You are never in the mood. Where is mum?" she asked. "At church, she will spend the night, praying. While I will spend the night resting. I have to be at work very early tomorrow morning." I was apprehensive about the whole thing. "Don't bother you will be fine. Follow me you won't regret it" she said confidently as if she going to change myself to the better. ~ ~ Phone ringing ~ ~ She took out her phone, declined the call then kept it back into her bag without wasting any time. "You won't do anything, promise. You just have to watch me do. You will see, it's not a big deal. Damn, girl, you used to be a very good dancer back then in school" she explained. "Yeah, that was the until reality came knocking at my door. Now, with my miserable salary I can't even save my mum's life. Betsy, thank you for all this but I just need space" I whimpered. "She won't die, I promise you" she said confidently "Find something sexy and put on" she helped me Search the wardrobe "See this will do" she pulled out a white sexy gown. "Damn, it's too short" I cried. "And so fucken what?" she said. "I won't be comfortable with it. It's a big NO. I will put this one" I pull out a long red fitting gown. "You know what!, just put on whatever you like. We are running late" she stepped back and sat on the bed, watching me. "Like serious girl? Sandals?" she chided as I pulled out my black sandals to put on. "Yes, the gown is already tight fighting enough I won't add heels on to call for attention. I want to be noticeable" I explained. That place was crammed with perverts. "Okay... Hurry up" she rolled her eyes wearily. Once I was done, we moved out and I locked the house. I kept the keys where mum could easily find them. We boarded the cab Besty hired. He drove off immediately as we sat in. I was sceptical about the whole thing, I didn't feel right deep within my soul. At the club, the driver parked the car and we moved out. A few men roamed around with bottles of beer, smoking cigarettes, flirting with half-naked girls. Some were hiding in the dark shadows. Just peeping at them gave me some goosebumps. My legs were sharp as we moved into the club "Seat here I will be back soon" she told with this she moved away. I was seated behind. A few girls were stripping already but the the club was barely filled. "Where is she?" Mr Blaine asked. He's the manager of the club. He was seated in the VIP section of the club. I saw Besty talking to him but I didn't care. "She's here" she points at me. "Great," he said with a malicious grinned on his face. He picked up his phone sent a text then he kept it down on the table. I was busily watching the strippers, asking myself a lot of questions. "Who is the man?. I have to know him, she's my friend and I don't want her to get in bad hands" she fretted. "He wants to keep her identity secret. Don't bother he's a good man." a notification arrived on his phone, he immediately checked it out and he smiled hearty "Your pay has increased to 10, 000 dollars" he said. "Thank you, sir" Betsy smiled. ~ ~ phone ringing ~ ~ The smile on her face was immediately swept away at the sound of her phone. She lookout the phone and still decline the call. "Get ready, it will be your turn soon. I don't pay you to be dressed" he yelled. "What about the girl and the money?" she asked. "I will get back to you once my clients arrive. I hope you have clarified everything with your friend. I don't want any unpleasant surprise." he asked. "Of course, I have and she understands everything " she replied. "Great!" he nodded his head while waving her away. "Follow me," she pulled me along with her to their dressing room. She changed then moved to the stage and started dancing. I was watching from the dressing room. I was more comfortable there away from those pervert lustful gazes. As Besty, danced, it seemed easy. She effortlessly tugged her body on the pole. She had it in the blood. It wasn't as nasty as I thought. After all she was going to spend the night with all those men. "Just a simple dance, Aria" I told myself. Money was spread on those strippers as if it was water rushing down a cliff. Damn! I wished I could run on stage, pick all the money then run away with it to save my mother's life. Is like those men lacked what to do with their money.