Coveted

My name is Carra Jensen. I'm just an average looking girl of 18. I have ordinary brown hair and brown eyes. My frame is small with a boyish figure. In short, I'm someone who is easy to forget. Life was pretty hard growing up. I wasn't abused or anything. I just had no stability. My mom was single and drank to forget her troubles. We've been evicted from 22 houses in my short life. We were always broke. I had to start working odd jobs when I was 14. That's when I decided once I turned 18, I was gone. So here I am. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life, but moving from place to place wasn't it. So I decided to put down some roots. Where, you ask? Vegas, baby! We lived here for about three months when I was twelve. I always loved to look at the lights shining over the city. I know that it was just a marketing ploy, but I always thought it had a romantic feel. It was like the lights were keeping all the dark and scary things at Bay. I've been searching through the want ads for a house, but I don't see anything I can afford. I wasn't able to save much money before I left home. It seems hopeless. I decide to scan the ads just one more time. That's when I see it. How could I have overlooked that before? The rent was reasonable and the address was close to downtown. It was perfect. I could feel my excitement bubbling to the surface. I called the number right away. A very sleepy voice answered the phone. I heard them mumble something about people having the decency to call at a reasonable hour. I looked at my watch and saw that it was 2:30 in the afternoon. I wondered to myself what qualified as a decent hour in Vegas. I shrugged it off and explained my reason for calling. The guy on the other end told me to come to the address listed at dark and ask for Antone. Then hung up. I had some time to kill so I decided to start looking for a job. I wanted work as a bartender, but didn't have the experience. I had to settle for a job as a cocktail waitress at a small sleazy looking place. I knew I was in no position to be choosey. I was assigned the night shift and had to start training in two days. All I had to unpack was one duffle bag, so that was fine with me. It was just starting to get dark, so I headed to the apartment building I was wanting to rent. What I saw when I got there was a surprise. It looked more like a spooky old house than an apartment complex. It was a dark and dingy gray color with vines covering over half the exterior. The building was done in a Gothic style, complete with gargoyles. The gargoyles eyes shined eerily in the moonlight. The front door was massive with a large round metal knocker. When I used the knocker bats flew from what looked to be a Bell tower. I was sure I saw someone looking down at me, but I must have imagined it because when I looked back they were gone. The front door opened and a thin, tall, very attractive man, who looked to be in his late twenties, answered the door. He was wearing designer jeans and a tight fitting white t- shirt. I'm looking for Antone I say. Sure come in. I'm Salazar, Antone's cousin. Sal for short. I'll go get him for you. As I look around I realize the interior is the complete opposite of the exterior. Where the exterior looks like something out of an old black and white horror story, the inside is warm and inviting. Plush carpet, comfy sofas, off-white walls and beautiful pieces of contemporary artwork. It looks like the home I always wished I could have growing up. As Sal turned to go get his cousin he bumped into a man who looked to be in his early thirties with premature graying hair and a stern countenance. He was very handsome, but also intimidating. Oh, speak of the devil Sal exclaims. My heart sank as I realize this is Antone. I start fidgeting nervously. I manage to introduce myself in a squeaky voice. He looks me up and down for a good five minutes, then cracks a large smile and proclaims that I'll do just fine. My brows furrow in confusion. He claps me on the back and says let's introduce you to everyone. That's when I noticed a crowd of people gathering behind the two cousins. Nothing about this was normal, but just kept getting more bazaar. Antone turns to introduce me to the rest of the tenants. "You've already met my cuz, so let me introduce you to the rest of our oddball group. Some have already left the house so you can meet them later. This beautiful young lady here is our local artist, Grace. She does all the paintings and sculptures. ". A petite young woman of maybe twenty is standing in front of me. She has pale skin and pale blue eyes. I tell her how much I love her art and that she's really talented. She just nods her head and steps back. "She doesn't speak", Antone explains. I look at her in shock then look away so she doesn't feel uncomfortable. The next to be introduced is a tall veluptuos blonde in her early thirties with Sal's arm draped possessively over her shoulders. Her name is Francine, but everyone calls her Trixie. Then there is a young man about my age named Zane, an older man in his sixties named Alfred, and then there was James. He was six foot five with biceps as big as my waist. He was wearing a snug white T-shirt that failed to cover his many tattoos. He had gray eyes and a sober expression. When introduced to me I put on my brightest smile and greeted him with a hello. He didn't say a word, just turned and walked away. I tried to mask my disappointment, but failed miserably. "Don't worry about grumpy darlin, let me show you to your room", Trixie said. She leads me up the massive staircase to the third floor. She explains that I will share the bathroom with three other rooms and it's first come, first serve. "Take a minute to look around your room, then come down to the kitchen and I'll whip you up something to eat while I go over the rules", Trixie instructs. She gives me a quick smile and heads downstairs. The room is simple, yet comfortably decorated. A full size bed with a fluffy blue quilt sits in the middle of the room. There is no closet, but a large. Cream colored wardrobe sits to the left of the bed. Those are the only things in the room. Despite the sparseness of furniture, the room is quite cheerful and homey. I go to locate the bathroom on this floor and see Mr. Personality, aka James coming out with nothing but a towel on. I blush fiercely and turn away. He chuckles with a self satisfied smirk on his face. I turn and run down the stairs before I humiliate myself further. I find Trixie in the kitchen cooking us omelets and toast. My stomach makes a loud growling sound and she turns to me smiling. Sounds like I cooked this just in time. I return her smile and sit down at the kitchen table. She begins to explain that anybody can use the kitchen anytime. If you don't want your food to get eaten be sure to write your name on it. She said we could eat in the kitchen or dining room, but no food in any other room in the house. I tell her about my job and she just stops and stares. Then replies, "oh honey you don't wanna work there. The owner is overly friendly and so are the patrons.". She takes out a pen and paper and writes down an address. She tells me to let them know I need a job and Trixie sent me. I nod and say thank you. Then I head to my room. To rest for a while. I'm walking from room to room exploring the house. Nobody even acknowledges me. I try to get there attention, but it's like I'm not there. I decide to use this opportunity to get a closer look at Mr hot and grumpy. I really have to decide on a nickname for him. I pass through his door like it's non existent. I shrug to myself. Obviously I'm dreaming, so I decide to make the best of it. James is changing and he is ready to take his pants off. I'm eager to catch a glimpse at what those Levi's are hiding. Just then his head snaps up and he says who's there? I run back to my room to hide. There on the bed is my sleeping form. What the hell? Then the room spins and my point of view changes. I'm suddenly sitting up in my bed. What was that? I shake it off and try to clear my head. The Gothic exterior of the house seems to have my imagination running wild. I change into some shorts and a tank top and head out to go to the store for some supplies. Nobody is around when I get ready to leave. I start looking for a 24 hour store. From the looks of it all the stores in this neighborhood are open 24 hours. I find a small grocery store and head in with my shopping list. I just need a few things. The basics like ramen, frozen waffles, toothpaste, deodorant, ect. The contents of the store get weirder and weirder, though. They have live rabbits in cages, frozen boxes labeled goats blood. Then in the spice section there is powdered eye of newt, ground eagle feather, and dried ambrosia. Is this place for real? I notice two guys staring at me like I'm lunch and they are starving. I grab the items on my list and check out. The two follow me out. I get ready to make a run for it, when I'm slammed against the side of the building. "There you are pet" , says a husky and aroused voice. I look up into the gray eyes of none other than James. The guys following me look disappointed, but walk away. I steady my breathing and say thank you to my rescuer. Mr hot and grumpy doesn't move an inch. Do you have any idea how stupid you are? If I hadn't happened along when I did you would be somebody's late night snack. I bristle at the insult. There was nobody around when I left the house, I stammer out in my defense. Then you should have stayed there. James looks up like he heard something and grabs me by the arm. I struggle to get loose, but he pulls me all the way back to the house. Once we are safely inside he glares at me and walks away without another word. I decide I've had enough for one day and head off to my room for much needed sleep. My dreams were filled with bizzare images. One in particular was of a man in an expensive black designer suit. He seemed to appear in all my dreams. It was like he was following me from dream to dream. The oddest part was his face was blank. It was just an empty hole where it should have been. I woke up with a start. My covers were tangled and my skin was clammy. I looked at the clock and it was only 5 am. I decided to shower and prepare for the day. Oncep dressed I went to the kitchen for breakfast. I looked around expecting to find someone else stirring. I had the entire kitchen to myself. I guess I shouldn't be surprised it was only 6 am and this was Vegas, after all. I had my choice of waffle, ramen or chicken nuggets. Not exactly nutritious, I know. I ate my waffle in silence and headed to the address Trixie gave me yesterday. The club was close by. I was able to walk there in ten minutes. The outside of the building looked like the entrance to a fun house. I looked up to see the name of the club in flashing neon lights, "Jolt". The sun had just started to come up outside, but you couldn't tell from the inside. There were no windows and the lighting was a mixture of blacklights and disco lights. I could see that the employees were closing up. I hoped I hadn't missed the boss. "Excuse me, I'm looking for the boss", I blurt out. I get no response. I decide to push on. "Trixie sent me". That got a response. The bartenders head jerks up and he motions for me to follow. Trixie must really have some pull here I thought to myself. I'm led down a set of stairs to a room. The bartender shuts the door and walks away. I'm left standing alone in a dimly lit office. I'm so lost in thought I jump when my name is called. I'm sorry Cara I didn't mean to frighten you. I turn to see a tall slender Man in a dark suit. Something about him seems familiar. Because of the lighting, I can't make out his features. I realize I'm staring and apologize. That's when it dawns on me that I never gave my name. "How do you know my name", I question? "Trixie said to expect you. My name is Mason LaRue. Can I assume by your presence you still need a job", he ponders? "Yes, I was hoping you had a waitress position available", I say with hopeful eyes. "No, I'm sorry", he states. "All I have is a bartender position available. Would you be interested?". I assure him I am very interested, but have to admit I have no experience. He tells me that he will pay me to train. We discuss pay, (which is much more than I was expecting.). When we've gone over all the details of the job he tells me to come back the next night at ten to start training. He calls someone named Sofie to get me a uniform and show me out. The uniforms consist of black slacks with a white button up shirt and a black neck tie. When I leave Vibe I'm so excited about my new job I decide to splurge on some work shoes. I try on several pair, but end up with a pair of lace up black combat boots. The stylish and comfortable option. I went straight home after shopping. I didn't want to get caught out after dark again. I was still a little shaken up from last night's encounter. To be honest I was a little turned on as well. James may be a jerk, but he is a super hot jerk! I can still remember the feel of his body pressed against mine. With my hands pinned above my head, I was completely at his Mercy. I shivered with excitement. I shake my head to dispell the memory. The house is still eerily quiet. I have the kitchen to myself, yet again. Nothing like a lonely bowl of ramen. I decide I need to hit the bed early tonight. I hadn't had much sleep lately and needed to play catch-up. Once upstairs, I practically fell into bed. I was asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. The strange dreams started again, but somehow seemed way more sinister this time.