"The hell is all of this?" my boss jabbed at my stomach. I stood there. Clenching my jaw. Eyes straight ahead, even as I felt like crying. My left hand pinching the outer side of my thigh.
I turned my head to look him in the eyes, "I'm wearing the bikini you wanted me to, is there a problem?"
He looked down at my waist, where the mesh skirt hanging around the bikini bottoms started. He poked at my stomach again, where I had some muffin top due to the tight elastic of the bottoms.
"Do you see this? This is unacceptable for my staff!" he emphasized by waving his hands around in the air. I pinched harder.
I continued to meet his eyes, "Well, I apologize, I'm bloated today. I can't control my bodily functions."
I need to get out of here. How could I handle any more of his scrutinizing? I just need to pay off my debt, and then I can be out of this whores' nest. My mind can't wrap around the fact that people choose to work here. That they choose this.
However, that is their life to live. I'm not going to have some white savior complex. If they choose this, then they choose this.
Sireanes, my boss, looked away and looked back at me, "Fine. You didn't have any pre-bookings anyway. Go home."
That was an easy order to obey. I turned around and left. Once I finally got home, I closed the door and walked just far enough to sink into my chair. Looking down at my body, hating what I see. If I were to leave now, I'd be killed. If I buy my way out… that's a different story. All I need to do is keep making money.
Just… keep making money, sounds so much easier than it is.
I must've dozed off in my train of thought, because I awoke to the sound of knocking. I turned my head to the wall clock, and I saw it was about 11:20 p.m. Not even Sirearnes comes to annoy me at this hour, he has his own whores to bother.
As I was falling back asleep, there was more insistent knocking.
"Fine! I'm coming, I'm coming," getting up from my chair to check the peephole. I didn't want to open the door completely blind to whoever was out there.
A figure shrouded in shadow and a cloak stood outside my door. They looked back at me through the peephole and retorted, "Yes, yes, you're coming, but will you open the door?"
"Oh hell no, not until I learn who you are, and why the fuck I should open the door?" I countered. After all that has happened to me, like I'm going to just open the door as if I'm some naive child.
The figure scoffed, "I see your point, then let me offer something I know you want."
I cocked an eyebrow, "Something I want? What could you give me? A headache?"
They chuckled to themselves, "No, well, maybe… but I'm not here to offer you a headache," they softly laughed to themselves again, "I'm here to offer you enough gold to free yourself from this place."
This time, I laughed under my breath, "Really now? There must be some sort of catch? Some sort of 'new contract' you want to sell me to?"
There was a moment of silence. They didn't say anything. Neither did I. I stood back from the door. Silence ensued. I turned around and took a step. This mysterious figure offering me freedom? They can't trick me into a contract that's worse than the one I have. Especially since I'm almost free. Just another 100 TR Coins. 20 more jobs. I have the math worked out. I can get through 20 more jobs and buy my own damn freedom.
The figure spoke one last time, "Fine then. Get yourself free. This won't be the last you see of me, though. Once you're free, I'll find you. I'll give you the revenge you deserve."
They must've walked away at that point. I sank back into my chair, pondering their words. Do I have to fear for my life even once I get out of here? I knew it would be tough out on my own, but will there be a target on my back?
I needed to calm down. I need to come back to my roots.
My name is Kihearnis, I am 20 years old, I was born and raised in slavery, I will escape this hell, and find my own path in the real world. I repeated this memo to myself until I fell asleep again. Only to wake up again in the same hell hole…