SIX
1826 Words
It’s been a week since I last saw him. Ares Greeb. That night at the clubkeeps replaying in my head. The mansion feels off without him.too much space, too much silence.
Masha, the maid, polishes the counter with short, nervous strokes. “He’s been leaving earlier than usual, Miss. He doesn’t come home till midnight.”Her words hit hard, but I just act like I didn’t hear the rest of it.
“Oh, okay. I don’t care” That white lie burst from my throat.
I sip from his mug , the one he left on the counter days ago. It still smells faintly of his cedar. I hate that I notice.
A car engine hums outside which makes me glance toward the gate like a fool.
Of course It isnt him. I tell myself I don’t care But the guilt from that night still lives under my skin, breathing where it shouldn’t.
Mary bursts in, her curls bouncing, “Girl, have you been moping for days”
She throws the curtains open and sunlight smacks me in the face.
“Are you grounded or something?” she asks
“Of course not.” I roll my eyes because moving feels safer than feeling.
She tilts her head. “Then why you look like a ghost haunting her ex’s memory?”
I force a smirk. A few days ago I called Mary because left alone in this big mansion without company feels like a dead end.
“He didnt even look at me once this week” I say
She snorts. “ Girl We’re going out.”
“Out where?” I groan, just thinking about it makes me tired
“Park. Ferris wheel. I called Anisha’s and she picking us up.” Her grin stretches,
My stomach knots. “Anisha?” Since when does our friend do pick ups.
“What did you tell her” i ask not sure the extent i can go with my hesitation.
Mary just grins. “Uh, She says she’s got something fun planned.”
“Fun and Anisha don’t belong in the same sentence .” I remind Mary, Anisha is never the type to hang around for fun.
“She’s harmless.”Mary defends her
I raise a brow. “Last time she was ‘harmless, She left us stranded at Pierres.”
Yes classical music night event Anisha dropped us off and never returned to pick us, despite urging we buy her a front row ticket.
“Pass,” I say. “I’m not in the mood.”
“You’ve havent been in the mood all week. You’re rusting.” She grabs my wrist, tugging”
“Come on, Lilith. You used to be fun before Mister Tall, Fine, and Damaged scrambled your brain.”
Shut up.I want to say. Instead I let her pull me along, Anisha horning blasts outside.
Anisha’s car smells like alot of bad decisions i’m making all at once.the radio playing is to loud, my head already aches.
“Finally!” Anisha chirps, tapping her phone. “So, girls, I just made the call. Everything’s booked and ready.”
“Booked?” I echo.
“Don’t be so dramatic. she says, winking through her lashes
“It’s just a classy place, a Private park, we would hang out for dinner. Relax Lilith.”
“You sure it’s not another sugar-daddy escapede?” Mary teases,
Anisha laughs, too quick. “Please. Not everything’s about sex.”
Still I feel uneasy but thats more than enough to peel off my thoughts from Ares.
I just keep on staring at the window letting the conversations blur. We get there and the air changes before we even step out. Half-naked women in masks forming through the crowd. Men in tuxes, and some with nothing but open shirts watching from shadows.
The sign hits first — CHASTITY NIGHT, glowing in blood-red neon.
My pulse trips. “Anisha,Where the hell are we?” I ask already furious.
“Chill,” She grins, twirling a lock of her hair.. “Live a little.”
“What the actual—”Mary cuts in, wide-eyed she says what i am thinking. “Girl, this is a f*****g s*x club.”
“Technically, a private event.” Anisha shrugs like sh’es doing us a favour, I cant believe my ears.
“Are you insane?”I blink at her stunned.
“Come on,You’ve been sulking for days. She says “You needed to loosen up.”
“Loosen up?” I hiss. “At a s*x club?”
Mary throws her hands up. “Of all places, b***h—”
“You both need to get laid.” Anisha says as her smile sharpens
“Do we look like hookers to you?” I want to shove her, but Mary catches my arm, grounding me.
“Don’t make a scene. Let’s just leave.”
Anisha’s eyes gleam. “Trust me Girls It’ll be worth it.” And just like that she slips through a side exit. Gone.
“Wait— Anisha!” We move to chase after her but two huge bouncer steps in front of us, Their arms are the last thing between us and the door.
“Excuse me—where did she go?” Mary tries.
“No exit during show time.” one of them says
Before I can move, A man in a sleek suit and headset approaches us with clipboard in hand.
”What are you guys standing here for?” he says “The show is about to start now”
Mary throws me a confused glare “What show? “ I ask
he looks us up and down “Why are you girls even dressed like this ”
“Excuse us?”Mary blinks
“Your up for auction, No way those men will pick you like this.” He gestures at the long trousers and tank tops we are putting on.
“Wait slow down,What auction?,What the hell are you talking about?”
He flips the clipboard,and there we are, our pictures starring back at us “Listed right here. Are You not L and M, Anisha’s girls?”
“Oh my god.” My stomach drops. “That b***h actually—”
“She signed you both up for the auction,” he says simply. “Backing out means you owe ten thousand dollars to the club.”
“What?” Mary’s face goes pale. “We didn’t agree to anything!”
“Anisha owes the house money okay. She says you’re her coverage.”He gestures toward the curtained hallway. “If you’re not going on stage, you pay up.”
Mary’s jaw drops. “We didn’t sign up for this!”
He just shrugs,bored. “Then pay the fee.”
I let out a laugh, hollow and shaking. “You’re joking, right?” I don’t even have ten thousand dollars to my name!
“ I dont have time for this, He glances up at us more annoyed “You’ve got four minutes to decide.”
Panic crawls up my throat.This can’t be real,This isn’t happening.
Mary tries calling Anisha at the spot. Straight to voicemail.Leave a message, it says.
I want to scream.I want to find Anisha and tear her head off. Instead they lead us down a narrow hallway lined with red lights.. the carpet sticky under our shoes like the floor itself wants to keep us here.
The dressing room is chaos wrapped in glitter more Half-naked barbies moving everywhere adjusting masks, powdering skin,some laughing, some crying,pretending like this is fine.
A stylist throws a red lingerie set into my hands. “Put this on. You’re the Red Mask.” she says
I stare at the fabric “I’m not doing this.”I tell her She doesn’t even care to respond
Mary’ holds her own black set, trembling. “Lilith…”
“This is crazy,” she whispers. “Call Ares,”
She’s serious. “Call him now.”
I glare at her, “Are you out of your damn mind?” If Ares sees where I ended up, It will kill me faster than shame. He’d think I walked in here on purpose.
“You got a better idea?” Mary asks. I don’t. God help me, I have no idea how to get out of this.
The room spins. My hands shaky asi knot the straps that feels too tight,The silk stick burning to my skin. The mask presses into my lashes, I can barely breathe.
“We’ll survive this. Somehow.”Mary forces a grin that doesnt reach her eyes. I want to believe her
The manager’s voice cuts through everything. “ two minutes, girls.”
“I can’t,” I choke out, tears stinging at the back of my throat “I shouldn’t even be here,”
“Neither should we. Mary says “ But that b***h sold us.”
The ruminating Smell of Sweat, Smoke and Cigars puts me on choke hold.nervewrecking with sin and a side of fear.
“File out,” the manager barks
They line us up,fifteen, sixteen of us, all in color-coded lingerie under this bloody red light. We become a moving wall of faces.
The music changes. Low now. Hypnotic. Heavy with a bass that rolling through me.
Backstage opens up to this vast shadowy room dim as we walk, split by half walls and alcoves, drapes, mirrors reflecting, bodies pressed together,men to women. All naked and moaning, sucking and f*****g, moving from partner to partner, and taking turns.like something out of a fever dream.
My heart thrashes as I spot the silhouettes of men all masked in the front row, watching everything I guess that is the theme here. More ropes hang and dancing naked girls twists on poles.
“Blindfolds on,” the stagehand says “Manager says it adds mystery.”
Right more like scared to hell mystery.
I cant see a thing as the red silk slips over my eyes,ghosting my very vision.
I hear the shuffling of feet, the low hum of music. Someone’s fingers brush my wrist as they guide me forward. Not rough. But not exactly gentle either. My heart is a trapped animal.
“Tonight’ we begin the auction”
The crowd murmurs and cheers, clinking glasses, their sound reverberating through the floorboards.
I should have called Ares, there is no way I want to be chosen by any of these wreckers of men tonight.
“Bring out the bloodhounds” a voice calls
The air changes again heavy as charged, I'm frightened and forcefully swallow hard when someone hands at me a drink.
Relieve hits me when I taste it and it’s just aphrosodiac spiked stuff.
Then another voice slices through the dark.The crowd hushes,.
“That one,” a man says, low and certain.
“The red mask.” My knees goes weak
- Writer
