The Los Angeles night has an uncanny resemblance to a restless beast. Through the glass windows of his room, Jason could see the police cars patrolling the streets below, their sirens wailing. He was staying in one of the diverse neighborhoods of the city, predominantly populated by African Americans. It wasn't the safest place, as police visitations in the middle of the night weren't unusual.
Jason pulled out a roll of bills Clea had given him and tossed it casually onto the bed before heading for a shower.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, "Hey, Jason, are you in there?" came a woman's voice. It was the receptionist.
"Doll, you can just come in. I know you can manage that," Jason called out from the bathroom. Before he even finished his sentence, he heard the door creaking open. The little receptionist had indeed let herself in.
"Hey, Nina, mind passing me the towel if you aren't too shy about it?"
"Sure, I know, it's right in the bathroom," came her coy response. Nina then slipped into the bathroom, catching Jason off guard.
"Oh, aren't you already wrapped in a towel?" she chuckled, revealing the sexy top she wore that showcased her midriff, coupled with a short skirt that accentuated her legs. Nina's barefoot stance made her look more enticing, and her bountiful bosom was hard to miss.
"You sure are a sizzling hot number!" Jason exclaimed, pulling her closer without hesitation, planting a quick kiss before releasing her, "Why aren't you waiting on the bed? I'll be done soon." He gave Nina a playful smack on the backside.
Nina squealed playfully and whirled out of the bathroom, moving towards the bedroom. Her light, graceful movements resembled a delicate sprite, her short skirt fluttering like a butterfly in flight, revealing a glimpse of her underwear.
Post-shower, Jason towelled his hair and stepped out, his lower body wrapped in a towel. Nina was seated on the edge of the bed, one hand on the bed, the other caressing her collarbone – a seductive gesture that wasn't lost on Jason.
"I told you, I'm treating you to coffee tomorrow," Jason stood in front of Nina, lifting her chin to look into her eyes, "Didn't expect you to be so eager."
"Yes, it's hard to wait," Nina's voice came out sultry and inviting, "You know, standing at the desk all day can make a girl...restless. Not that you'd understand, not being a woman." In an unexpected move, she tugged at his towel.
Caught in his underwear, Jason left Nina speechless.
"Surprised?" Jason smirked, moving his hand from her chin to her throat, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Doesn't match your imagination, does it? Tell me, how's Nina now?"
Suddenly, a puff of smoke exploded, transforming the seductive Nina into an ugly creature with a hideous face, rotten teeth, and piercing green skin. She tried to attack Jason, but he held her throat firm, rendering her helpless.
"Tell me where Nina is, or I'll send you to your companion. You know what I did to her, don't you?" Jason smiled coldly. "I'm running out of patience. You have five seconds to decide."
"Five..."
Jason started counting.
"I'll talk..." The woman's foul breath hit Jason, making him wrinkle his nose. He released her throat, and she tried to leap out the window. However, an invisible barrier stopped her, sending sparks flying.
She fell to the floor with a loud thud, whimpering in pain. Jason slowly approached her and squatted down. "Forgot to tell you, once you're in my hands, don't think of escaping. Don't assume I won't kill you."
The ugly woman no longer moved and managed to sit up, cowering in the corner as she watched Jason with terror-filled eyes. "I've given you a chance already." Jason sat at the bedside, a flick of his palm, and a shimmering light appeared above his hand, like a small, glowing sword. However, the pressure this tiny sword imposed on the woman sent shivers down her spine.
The woman, ugly and grotesque, was speechless under the weight of extreme fear. She could only let out pathetic and low moans, which eventually faded into silence.
With a turn of his hand, Jason receded the glowing sword. The woman immediately felt a release of tension and looked up at Jason in panic, making quacking sounds like a duck. "Nina is fine. She's still at the front desk. I just pretended to be her... I swear, I never intended to harm her."
"So, you're seeking vengeance for your sister?" Jason's smirk provoked immense pressure on the woman, "You know I took your sister. What's her name... Sherry? Is that her real name?"
"Yes, she's always been called that. My name is Jenny." The woman, still somewhat cowed, said, "We... it's not our fault."
Jason paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Really? Why do I get the feeling you're playing innocent? Jenny, tell me, are you really so innocent in what you've done to those men?"
"If they hadn't been seduced by women..."
"Shut up, Jenny. Stop making excuses. Tell me, what was your real intention?" Jason squatted in front of her, his head tilted, inspecting her face. Despite its ugliness and ferocity, his narrowed eyes studied her as if admiring a beautiful painting.
"Speak up."
As Jenny, the ugly woman, contemplated her response, a booming voice startled her, like a thunderclap ringing in her head. A voice kept echoing inside her: Tell the truth, tell the truth...
"Because... we were coerced..."
Uttering these words seemed to drain all her energy. Jenny collapsed onto the ground, weakly murmuring to Jason, "We had no choice but to do so because we were forced."
Jason stared at her, seemingly lost in thought.
"Can... can I see my sister? Sherry... I..." Jenny carefully addressed the man who appeared kind but was somewhat cold, "I just want to see her."
Jason didn't respond. Instead, he stood up, pulled out a small cloth bag from his pocket, and gave it a shake. A tiny figure tumbled out, landing on the ground and instantly grew to human size. It was another ugly woman - Sherry.
"Sherry—" Jenny exclaimed in excitement.
"You—what did you do to her—what have you done?" Sherry emerged from the bag, looking somewhat dispirited, but she ignored Jason's presence and yelled at Jenny, "Did you strike a deal with him? Are you crazy... You're going to get yourself killed... Ah—"
Before Sherry could finish her sentence, smoke began to seep out from within her body, rapidly turning into flames that engulfed her from the inside out. Amidst Jenny's screams and Jason's astonishment, Sherry was set ablaze.