Five
1312 Words
ANGELA’S POV
My father had never been the best parent, but he had done one thing right.
When I was fifteen, he signed me up for self-defense classes.
I hated every session, and frankly speaking; I was never particularly good at hitting the blue man-shaped mannequin.
Yet something from those lessons stayed with me.
“Ouch! You f*****g b***h!”
The man’s roar filled the small room as my knuckles connected with his jaw. The force hurt my hand more than it seemed to hurt him, but it worked.
The second his stubby fingers released me to clutch his face, I scrambled off his lap.
But then, I stumbled backward and my heels caught on the carpet causing me to go down hard, landing with a painful thud that knocked the air from my lungs.
“You’re going to f*****g pay for that, you slut!”
His hand clamped around my ankle and yanked. I was dragged across the floor, nails scraping uselessly against the carpet as tears flooded my eyes.
“No!”
"Come here," He crawled over me, pinning my thin wrists above my head with ease. "I will show you how to f*****g hit me,"
Rage darkened his face. Yellowed teeth flashed between chapped lips twisted into a hateful scowl.
“I was going to go easy on you,” he whispered against my ear, his coarse, whisky-sour tongue dragging over my skin. “But you’re forcing my hand.”
Tears streamed freely down my cheeks. I kicked and thrashed, but nothing broke his hold.
One of his hands slid under the thin fabric of my bra, rough fingers claiming my bare flesh.
He grunted in satisfaction when my struggling finally weakened.
“Good girl. Stay still.”
I was shaking, my entire body having grown limp underneath him.
Helplessness, disgust, and raw fury warred inside me as he shifted between my legs and began undoing his belt.
Is this how it ends? Is he going to r**e me and leave me here?
I looked up at him—and something snapped.
Fuck that!!!.
“Aghhhhh!”
His expression of lust and power twisted into pure agony as the sharp tip of my stiletto drove into his crotch with every ounce of strength I had left.
The man howled like a wounded animal and collapsed, curling into a whimpering heap on the floor.
I didn’t stay to watch him rocking back and forth on the ground. With novice like grace, i got on my feet and rushed out from the room, panting and with tears wetting my cheeks.
The second I burst into the hallway, a pair of cool, unblinking eyes met mine; making me halt abruptly.
Dog.
He was leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, watching the entire scene with clinical calm. He didn't say a word nor did he move as he glanced behind me at the mess of the man curled up on the ground.
For the first time since I had started working here, something almost like surprise flickered across his stony face.
I wanted to scream at him.
Why didn’t you stop it?!!!
But all that came out was a broken sob. I lowered my head and fled down the corridor as fast as my shaking legs would carry me.
“Angel! What the hell happened?!” Katie’s voice rang out as I shoved past her.
“Angel wait,”
She followed immediately, barely managing to catch the bathroom door before I could slam it in her face.
She found me curled on the cold white tiles, face buried in messy blonde hair, shoulders shaking with violent sobs.
“Angel…” Softly, she closed the door and sat beside me. “What happened?”
“I can’t take this anymore,” I choked out. “I can’t. He… he almost…”
I didn’t need to finish. Katie pulled me against her side and held me tightly.
“Shh. That must have been terrible.” Her usual bright tone was gone, replaced by quiet understanding. “We all go through it. The first time is always the worst.”
“I can’t do this anymore,” I whispered against her shoulder, breath hitching.
My eyes were swollen and red; the tears refused to stop.
“Why did you come here, Angela?” The question was gentle but direct. “You’re not one of the girls chasing easy money. So why are you really here?”
“My father’s debt,” I managed between sobs. “He borrowed a huge amount from… from Hanzo. They were going to kill him if I didn’t come work here.”
Katie inhaled sharply.
“Oh my God…”
Quickly, I grabbed her shoulders as I lifted my face to meet her gaze.
“You have to help me. Katie, please. I need to get out. I’m not like you. I can’t stand this..”
“And you think I can?” Her voice hardened. She pulled back and stood. “You think my dream was to become a stripper for the Russian mafia?”
“That’s not what I meant..”
“Yes, it is.” Her eyes shone with something wounded and cold. “You think you’re the only victim here? Grow up. We’re all trapped. There is no way out. Never. There is no free ticket back to a normal life. Get cleaned up.”
"Katie..I…”
The door shut behind her with a sharp bang.
I was left alone on the cold tiles, face streaked with tears, fingers clenched in my hair.
“s**t… s**t… SHIT.”
Another wave of sobs shook me.
“Why me…?”
Then the words returned, cutting through the hysteria like a blade.
‘Sell your virginity to me, and I’ll clear your father’s debt’
Maybe there really was a way out.
I lifted my head.
One night. One decision. And they would leave my family alone.
I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and forced myself to stand.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
I didn’t bother checking the mirror; I already knew I looked wrecked; still I walked out of the bathroom as I was.
Every pair of eyes in the changing room turned toward me. Even Odette stayed silent. Katie glanced over, concern replacing the earlier anger, but she said nothing as I approached.
“I’m sorry for what I had said earlier,” I said quietly. “I know a way out. And I promise… I’ll find a way out for you too.”
Katie’s face filled with pure worry.
“Angel… what are you doing?”
She could tell I was about to do something reckless. She had never seen me look this determined.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to find Dog.”
I grabbed a robe from the hanger and left before she could stop me.
I found Dog at the bar, a single glass of whiskey in his hand, cold eyes scanning the crowd. He noticed me the moment I stepped into the main floor, but he made no move to help as I pushed through grinding bodies and wandering hands.
“I want to see Hanzo,” I said the second I reached him.
Dog looked me up and down, took a slow sip, and answered flatly.
“He’s not here.”
“Then take me to him.”
“He is the one who requests meetings. Not the other way around.”
“He offered me a deal.” My voice shook, but I forced it steady. “I want to accept it. Take me to him. Please.”
He stared at me over the rim of his glass for a long moment. Finally he sighed, set the drink down, and stood.
“Get dressed,” he said. “You have ten minutes.”
- Writer
