Flicking through the stuffed mailbox of warnings and junk mail, I couldn't take my eyes off the eviction notice shoved within it all.
There it was in writing. It actually was true. John was kicking me out before I had a chance to make it all right again.
There was no smoothing anything out. The front door was hanging off the top hinge. The window was smashed in, and my clothes had been trampled into the dirt outside. Even the one rail I had to hang them on was now laying several metres away near the road.
From our here, I saw the kitchen benches had been smashed. A glimpse of the writing was glinting back at me from above my upturned and broken couch.
The whole house was a wreck. Even if they did it in the hunt for Tawn, nothing stopped them when they didn't find him hiding here.
This was some sort of sick revenge. What else would it be?
The police tape bounced in the slightest breeze. The door was plastered with a massive sticker warning of trespassing and the consequences it would have.
Stuffing the mail under my armpit, I bitterly ducked and plucked up my ruined clothing to dump them on the dirty front doorstep where the pot plant had been smashed across.
I should have listened to Vinnie and found a better hiding spot for the key. It probably wouldn't have helped much anyway.
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Ducking beneath the tape and slipping through the door, glass crunched beneath my shoes.
My mini fridge was on its side and leaking. My calendar had the pages shredded across the floor over to the lounge room where the message burned back clearly.
Who else could have known? Was it just a coincidence they used those specific words?
The handwriting was deliberately blocky. It didn't give me much to work on as far as identifying feature came. Whoever it was, was being careful.
The police would probably get something from it anyway. There was white dust all over the walls to try and lift prints from it. I didn't dare go anywhere near it and risk contaminating the scene.
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Lifting my feet over the multitude of smashed glasses and plates, I saw there was nothing salvageable in the kitchen. All of my cutlery has been swept across the dangerous zone of razor-sharp edges and ceramic fragments.
It wasn't just confined to the kitchen either.
The walls up the little hall towards my bathroom and bedroom had been gouged from plates being thrown into them. Glass showered here too, the floor becoming engulfed when I neared the bathroom door that was left side open.
'Bitch' was sprayed here, dribbled downwards.
I couldn't enter from the mountain of glass smothering the floor. The shower had been absolutely decimated. The mirror above the sink held the evidence of someone punching it, and the cistern lid from the toilet was broken in half; abandoned near the door.
My heart clenched tightly when I stepped over the glass to carefully pull my focus on the beaten washing machine spewing out my clothing near the back door.
The back door was no better than the front. I saw clearly how it had been brutalised and abused to be completely off the broken hinges.
The clothesline was also torn down and left laying amongst the long grass that had many paths cut through it on the mission of destruction.
It wasn't just one or two people. A whole group had come here on the hunt for Tawn. I saw the way they trampled the little yard and threw my belongings across it in their hunt to see if he was hiding out there. The paths all met at the broken pole, then converged into one angry beast tearing up the stairs.
Tears blinded me when I stared at my stained mattress now out in the open and on show. Part of my clothes hanger was broken in the far corner. The other part was missing.
They broke my belongings like they were nothing but trash. They didn't know how hard I worked to scrape together all I had. No-one knew I roughed it on a mattress because I couldn't afford a proper bedframe, or how I struggled so desperately just to feed myself most days.
I couldn't do that now. My fridge was totaled. I had nothing left to take with me. Seeing it all now, I understood perfectly why John had decided to kick me out. I caused this. I was targeted, and because of that, I bought this carnage to the only place I had closest to a home.
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Tearing my blinded eyes from the backyard, I steadied myself with a few shaking breaths as I eyed the closed bedroom door.
Holes were smashed into the surface. The spray paint had returned with a 'liar' spread lengthways down it.
I knew nothing was going to remain of my safe space. The mattress was already in the yard, alongside half of my rack. They really hadn't held back as they decimated each room so viciously.
Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I opened the door.
I didn't want to look. Already, the door was getting jammed on wood. I could hear the way it clattered when I shoved against it, squeezing my eyes open and sobbing at what I saw.
There really was nothing here.
The rest of the rack was smashed and thrown across the room. The clothes on it spread outwards, trampled and torn up from crushing shoes.
My only bedside table was broken and thrown behind the door I pushed further open so I could stand in the frame.
What little money I had in the table was stolen. Paint glued my license to the floor, ruining it into a red rectangle of nothingness. My pads were dumped and kicked across the room. Some were even ripped open and stuck to the walls like my suffering was some sort of comedy to them.
Stepping inside, I saw the familiar pink of my nighty. The scraggly cat had been torn in half and crushed. The yellow chick on the one Vinnie had worn was drenched in paint and kicked into the corner. My old underwear had been laughed over before being kicked around the room.
Fuck.
Smothering my choked tears with my hand, I saw the multitude of messages left behind for me.
Slut.
Die bitch.
Whore.
Snake fucker.
Worthless.
Cunt.
Some were overlapping others. They filled all four walls, repeating around various questions of where Tawn was, how I could be so disgustingly poor, if it was worth it, and that I fucked multiple people; by name, of course.
Vinnie wasn't here to comfort me or make it better this time with food and nightgowns. I wailed unashamedly about losing this shithole of a house, but having nowhere else to go. I crumpled the letters in my shaking hands, unable to open them and face it all again.
Tears burned down my cheeks and snot dribbled with saliva. I didn't care. Everything was gone. I was ruined and was left with trying to carry these horrible things to term just so I had a chance at finding somewhere new to live.
Why did it all have to be this way? Why couldn't I have a little apartment, like Ferlei, or no pathetic human worries, like Ezra? Why couldn't I just live in a dumb roof under some stupid lights and not give a fuck about anything else?
How come I had to do this alone? Why did no-one love me?
Choking on my grief, I felt my legs growing weak. Retreating to the doorframe to lean against it, I felt my eyes sizzle painfully when I closed them again.
Fuck. Why did everyone hate me so much? Why me?
After the borrowed room in the hotel, how was I supposed to survive the cold nights? What if they kicked me out too and I froze to death?
Oh God. What if all this time was wasted because these babies died? I couldn't go without warmth and all this pain for that. I was so close, yet so far.
I was just a worthless slut, sleeping around just to survive. Ferlei was the best thing that happened to me, and we were just strangers. I still had to face Ezra.
He'd know. Even with my plan, he'd be able to tell. Tawn had. He knew right away and still blamed me for the very thing he planned.
I had to return to work and find Ezra. He'd help me. I didn't want to spend the night in a strange hotel alone. Everyone would find out about that too and make fun of me for it.
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Pushing myself against the frame to force myself to my feet, I drew more wet breaths in.
I could do this. It was still morning. I had the mail, I had my phone, a translator, my Barbra, and a place to go; I'd be fine.
I really didn't want to walk all the way to work though. My feet were already throbbing from hiking from town to get back here to begin with.
I could call Vinnie? Maybe even Ferlei?
No. The less they knew, the better; especially Ferlei. He was a hook-up, nothing more. I could cry all I wanted to Ezra and he'd be forced to listen to and support me, like he should.
With the mail firmly clutched, I crunched back through my ruined home and dipped under the police tape to leave it all behind for the last time.
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Warning after warning glared back at me as I read through the overdue mail while I walked.
Some of these dates back months. The newest was three weeks old. Even the junk mail for the local grocer was expired by five days and so weathered that it was barely readable.
The eviction was saved for last.
Taking a shaking breath and tearing a long the envelope with a trembling finger, I slid out the folded paper.
It was handwritten. John's writing was old and clunky. It reminded me of the way the messages had been sprayed along the walls, but I knew John wasn't the sort of person to sabotage his own property when he was always pestering me for payments.
I had one week to move out my belongings, or they'd be taken to the tip and I'd be charged a three hundred dollar fee. I also had to pay the outstanding rent of two thousand and four hundred dollars, a two thousand dollar destruction fee, and an eight hundred dollar late fee.
I wouldn't get my nearly nine hundred dollar bond back; no surprise there, and all utilities would remain shut off until I did make payment.
Fees were double what I owed in rent. Even if I could afford it and my house wasn't a landfill, I would be living with no heat, water, or electricity for what could be weeks. It didn't seem ethical or legal, but I had no legs to stand on against the decision.
John had given me until the start of the new month to pay him in full; when I begged him I'd pay by. Seeing the hefty amount, I wished I had kept my mouth shut.
Flicking back over the sheets of paper, I started to calculate just how fucked I was.
Electricity was one thousand two hundred, plus a one hundred dollar late fee if it wasn't paid by the first.
Water was eight hundred and sixty dollars. There was an eighty dollar fee here.
My water ran solely on gas, so that was by the bottle. I owed for the last three that ran up to four hundred and eighty dollars, plus a late fee of fourty eight dollars.
My phone was by credit, so that would have to wait. I wouldn't be able to text or call once the new month started and my existing credit was wiped. I had ten dollars left on it now.
So, in all, with included fees and the tip run; since I wouldn't be back to salvage anything, I was looking at eight thousand two hundred and sixty eight dollars, according to the calculator on my phone.
Fuck me. That really was a lot when it was all put together.
Wiping the calculator clean, I began to figure out my future earnings, apart from the thirty seven dollars I currently had.
With these babies, I could maybe make enough to get some of the more important bills paid, like John.
Four hundred for a good Naga, eighty for deformed, one hundred with legs; that was the pay last time. I'd use that for a basis.
My average was five babies. Ezra was a Naga, so I didn't doubt he'd give me nothing but them.
That was one thousand and six hundred dollars already. It usually felt like a lot more, but with this large of a debt, my once grand amount felt like crumbs.
I had to add my pay from Paragon every Tuesday. Working five hours a night from Monday to Sunday, excluding Wednesday when we were closed; at an underpaid rate of twenty two dollars an hour, and I was making one hundred and ten every night; six sixty a week, if I didn't spend a cent.
Maybe I could ask Ezra for his share too? I don't know what he'd spend it on, let alone if he actually got paid to do whatever he did up in the roof.
Did he work the lights on his side? Run security? Keep common rats out? Help set up the shows, like Claire did?
I'd never questioned it before.
And what about Balae too? I'm sure a bird didn't need money for anything, if she was also being paid at all.
She absolutely hated me for no reason, but I'm sure she'd see sense if I just milked the desperation a little. She was trying to hatch Tawn's kids, and I was his long-term partner before her, so we had that in common. She wouldn't turn away someone who was pregnant.
Maybe I could actually do this? If I syphoned my funds into John first, I could stretch the others just a teensy bit further and pay them off later, no big deal.
That five grand from Bruce really could have come in handy right about now. Even the stolen items I could have sold would have covered my debts easily.
People paid good money for the most mundane things from someone they idolised, even their old clothing or shed.
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Hobbling down the dark hall that I dragged myself along the wall of wearily, I was met with the grateful sight of Vinnie behind the bar, and the even more gratifying sight of an empty seat to take the pressure from my feet.
"Hey, Bitch!" he greeted me with a smile and wave "come and sit your ar...."
Whimpering, I couldn't hold back the pain inside. Sinking to the floor, I let every sob shake through me noisily. Vinnie was finally here. He'd make it all better.
My feet throbbed and stung as if I had walked barefoot over the glass strewn throughout my home. My stomach was on fire and digging acid across my whole front. I was wading through a burning swamp between my legs, and was only running on a few danishes from earlier today.
"Oh, El" his voice soothed while I hung my head and drew my knees up "what's wrong? What happened?"
I heard the counter creak and his shoes run over to me.
His soothing hand ran down my back and I lifted my arms like a little child wanting comfort from their parents. Vinnie knelt in front of me, shushing and running his hand over my back while I wailed into his shirt.
"What caused this?" he asked, trying to lift my face that I kept hidden "did something happen at the station?"
I couldn't speak. I fought through my rapid breaths to pull out the letters and almost drop them when I held them out, trembling violently.
Vinnie sat on the floor, crossing his legs. He peered at me, then them. Flicking through each one, his face dropped further until his wide glistening eyes scanned over my eviction notice.
"Oh, Baby Cakes" he placed them down and leant over to hug me "I'm sorry. That's a lot."
I nodded, choking.
I couldn't make that much. Even with all my pay and whatever I made from these bastards, I'd still be short.
I'd have to turn to other means to get the rest of the cash. Maybe I could check the empty rooms here again for anything valuable I might have missed?
I knew I cleaned them out, but i was pitifully hopeful.
Shit.
"Here, come to the bar; get off this gross floor" Vinnie tapped one of my arms and hung it around his neck so he could help lift me "careful, there you go."
Limping to the seat he eased me up into it and quickly rushed back around the other side of the bar to fill up a pitcher of water, sliding across a glass.
"I w-w-w..." I tried to speak.
"Shhhh, drink some water and take a few deep breaths. Talk later, ok?"
The water was placed before me. Vinnie retrieved another glass and filled it directly from the pump so he could lean and watch me try to shakily lift the heavy jug.
"I've got you" he decided when I slopped some on the bar mat "here."
Now with my own glass, he rubbed my hand gripping it for dear life.
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Almost choking though the water that was refilled glass after glass, I could feel my breath steadying. I was a snotty, gaspy mess when I could finally form words again. The jug was taken to be refilled. My stomach gurgled and growled for something that wasn't liquid.
"You've got to take care of that" Vinnie pointed to my middle when he returned the jug "you could ask the kitchen?"
"No" I shook my head immediately "I'll be the poor girl who can't even afford food for herself. The bread and butter pudding ingredients are still in the back fridge, I'll eat those."
"Honey" Vinnie wrinkled his nose "those'll be dusty and mouldy by now. I wouldn't touch anything from that nasty fridge."
Maybe he was right. Still, it was worth a look to see if anyone has left anything else inside it.
My stomach gurgled again. We both heard it clearly. I sighed back and drank more water.
For once, I could have used Ezra's hunting skills. If he could cook a chicken, rather than bringing it back raw, I would have something to keep myself content.
Where was he anyway?
"Your friend is up there" Vinnie smirked when he saw me tilt my gaze to the roof "fixing things with Claire I think? I heard clanging earlier, so I don't know what all that was about... Everyone that is here is staying out of the way since the cops came through."
Who knew. He was infatuated with that girl, I swear.
"I should see him" I slid down from the seat "as much as I don't want to, I didn't go to all the trouble to get a translator for nothing."
Holding up the branded paper bag, the link clicked in Vinnie's eyes.
"I was wondering why you had some tourist shop shit with you" he held out my multitude of mail for me to drop back in so it was out of sight "good luck."
"Thanks."
I headed for the stairs before Vinnie cleared his throat to make me turn back towards him.
"Don't go to that fridge" he warned me.
"I won't" I rolled my eyes back.
"El..."
"Look, I won't eat it" I laughed "I'm good, promise."
He made a wary noise and shooed me away. Grinning, I headed through the empty dressing room to climb the stairs towards the roof.
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Sure enough, Claire was here, but I didn't see Ezra. Balae was fluffed out in her corner, but the gigantic snake that shadowed her was absent.
Picking my way over the floor, I noticed how empty it was. They were the only two here. It was strangely quiet.
Claire rose her head, saw it was me, gave a polite smile, and returned to pulling up the ribbons to check carefully for damage. She circled a corner with black marker and laid it across her lap to keep inspecting.
"Hey" I smiled towards her and leant on the railing "uh, how are you?"
"Oh, good" she did the little smile again but refused to look at me "just work, I guess. Someone has to do it for the newbies."
"They're still going ahead with that?" I frowned.
Wasn't Bruce gone after everything I had told the cops? Didn't they do anything other than manhandle all the hybrids?
She shrugged, circling another spot.
"I'm sorry about the other day" I grimaced out to her "I shouldn't have blown up at you or stole your food. I was stupid.... and hungry."
Claire glanced up, smiling.
"You were kind of an arse" she agreed.
"I got my own translator" I showed her the bag "thank you for letting me borrow yours. Despite everything, it actually was helpful."
Her grin grew large and she actually stopped checking the fabric to finally look at me.
"Ezra will be so happy to hear that" she beamed "he was saying just yesterday how he wished he could be understood more."
"I guess no-one at the station would have been able to make all the noises out" I realized.
"There was one" she held up a finger "but they had to call them in, and that took time. The snakes they had understood different dialects to his."
I thought Heshier was the most common? That's what Ferlei had told me. He as also trying to master three languages, so I could understand if other snakes out there didn't want to put so much burden on themselves for the sake of a select few.
"He's down at the back dock if you want to speak to him."
Why was he there? I thought Ezra never left the roof?
Looking across to Balae, I saw her head was tucked inwards on her chest as she slept while trying to cover as much space as possible with her spread wings.
"What happened to the other one over there?"
Claire's head turned and fell sadly. Shushing me, she draped the fabric and pocketed the marker so she could balance her way back over to the railing beside me.
"They took Silera" she whispered "Balae can't look for her and hatch her eggs at the same time. She's distraught, poor thing."
How on earth did they manage that? That snake was massive, and there didn't seem to be enough people or trucks to even transport something that size from what I had personally witnessed.
"Just try not to bring it up around her" Claire sympathized "if you do want to help out, I've been leaving her my leftovers. Seems to cheer her up since she can't leave as often to get food herself. Ezra's trying to help her out too."
That explained why he was on the back dock. He was raiding the fridge for my food. I'd have nothing left for myself. I'd be starving, yet again.
Fuck me. I'd better get down there quickly then.
"Thanks. I should go."
"Good luck" Claire called.
Lingering on Balae's now open eyes, I quickly descended once more to rush for my last chance at saving my last available meal.
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Squeezing through the small halls, i paused when I saw Ezra's back turned to me.
The back dock door was open and I saw the sobbing monkey from the cell leaning against it. It's head turned with a little smile when Ezra leant his own head downwards.
"He Sheh Ssea" he hissed "s-see-ah."
He was sounding out something. The monkey giggled.
His arm worked in circular movements. Plastic scraped on metal before he lifted up a bowl to scrape a mixture into a glass pan.
Was he...? Was he making the pudding to feed to Balae?
That arsehole. That was my food! I used my money to buy those damn ingredients! I was starving and he was more willing to feed an oversized chicken than his own partner!
Fucking traitor.
Turning to push the pan into the little oven, I saw the same baby from the raids was clinging to his collarbones. The legs were tucked beneath the little body curled up securely.
Ezra placed a hand under its backside to make sure it didn't slip when he tried to figure out the settings through the noisy dial.
"S eahs he sase. S-ah-s-eh."
More deliberate spelling. He clicked the knob as he slowed down his speech for the little monkey not even understanding a lick of it.
Was he teaching it words?
Intrigued, I decided not to step in just yet. I leant against the wall, watching.
He really was doting on this baby that wasn't even his. Ezra smiled softly when he looked down on it. His fingers scooped up the hands grabbing him, lifting up the baby to jiggle it side to side playfully.
He giggled and smiled to the monkey who did the same. The baby lifted its dangling legs to try and climb back onto Ezra's hands that promptly cupped it back to his chest.
One hand covered the baby, patting it. The other opened the oven door to make sure it was running properly.
Who knew he actually learned how to cook, despite not needing the skill himself. He was good with kids too. I felt like I was being deliberately blind-sighted when these other sides of him obviously existed away from me.
Maybe he actually would be good to have around when I have birth? I could use the support from someone who also knew what they were doing. Ezra wasn't a performer, so he would be available where Tawn wasn't.
His finger swiped some of the batter, the monkey quickly telling him off for it. He grinned again, laughing as he went for another before it marched over to grab the bowl and keep it out of his reach.
Ezra reached for it, twisting and dipping to try and get in another scoop. The monkey bent and darted to keep it guarded. It snorted and laughed with him when his body blocked its path and his arms grabbed both of theirs to try and force them from the bowl it hunched over.
Behind the monkey, the pose looked too suggestive. I felt my heart start to quicken as he kept grappling playfully with it. His tail curled around its feet and his back was pressed against its as he leant over.
I felt like I was witnessing something intimate. Quickly, I cleared my throat and saw their heads dart upwards.
The laughter instantly left. Ezra straightened and uncoiled from the feet to let the monkey step over his body to place the bowl down at the furthest part of the bench. On the way back, it stopped to be handed the baby that quickly cling to the front of its chest instead. Keeping it guarded with one hand, I stepped out of the hall so the monkey could leave with its baby.
Ezra seemed ashamed of being caught. I rummaged for the translator to snap it on and clip it in place. He suddenly became very fascinated in the oven before I stood beside him.
"You two are close" I noted.
He stared at the light, slightly nodding.
"Simi is just happy to have Juju back. A baby that young needs its mother. They shouldn't have been separated."
I stared at the light with him, sighing.
"Are you ok?" he spoke up before I could "I didn't know where you were after I got out."
Hugging myself, I shrugged.
"I went home to get my things. This is it" I held up the bag that he eyed "the rest is trashed."
He looked surprised. Maybe it unheard of in his species to trespass on someone else's land?
"People went into your home?"
I snorted at the understatement.
"Several" I said "I'm getting kicked out of there anyway, so I guess it won't be my problem anymore."
I tried to laugh, but felt the tears returning. My arms grew tighter.
"What about you?" I asked to try and redirect the conversation "I saw you got thrown around a bit trying to save that baby."
"Oh" a little noise left his lips "well, Juju can't protect herself, so I was there. She's..." he hesitated, staring at the light "....she's so small, and....."
"Like your own baby?" I finished, seeing his eye glance at me "it's no surprise you do act different around her. You're gentler."
Happier too. With me, we were between moments of peace like this and fighting.
He gave a little sigh.
"What happened?" I asked now "before this whole switch thing. You had kids, didn't you?"
There was silence. Ezra nodded once.
"So what happened to them?"
"Natural selection" he just stated "as it should be."
That didn't sound right. Something about his defeated acceptance rubbed me the wrong way.
"Are you going to do that with me?" I hardened.
His eye glanced again before his whole head turned. He checked the hall, then moved his body to face mine.
"You won't let me see them. I was warned about what you do."
Ah, Tawn had passed on his experiences to Ezra before he left. It was very deceptive on my part, but not out of his nature to do something like that. He also warned me about Ezra, that I should become close so he didn't try to kill me when that time came.
I needed them all if I wanted to get out of here. Maybe I could try and squeeze a few more bucks out of each baby too when I handed them over?
"You can see them now" I looked down, trying to soften him up.
His eyes followed, but his face remained stern. He checked the hall again, even flicking out his tongue.
Tawn used to do that too before people showed up. Loreen was horrible for trying to interrupt us.
"Is someone there?" I worried, taking a few steps back so we didn't appear too close.
"Two" he just spoke "moving along to others."
His head pulled upwards and he followed the roof across to the back dock door. He paused, slowly lowering it until he stopped somewhere diagonally above us.
"We should be good for now."
"Look..." I took a breath to blow it out, knowing we wouldn't have much time if others were actively moving about "... I was pretty scared in there. I, uh, wanted you there."
Ezra smirked, not believing me. He folded his arms, rolling his eyes.
"Me?"
"Yes, you" I huffed back "you could...."
Urgh, why did I have to say it? This was so damn embarrassing! Couldn't he figure it out himself?
"...keep me safe" I mumbled to the ground.
The smirk slipped away. Surprise replaced it as his arms unfolded.
"Are you sure?" he breathed.
I shrugged, looking elsewhere.
"It wasn't exactly the most pleasant place I had been" I admitted "and no-one was there."
"You have the bartender" Ezra gestured to the corner of the room. I looked across, as if I could see him through the walls too.
"I'm not..." I paused, checking the hall now "I'm not having his babies."
Something changed in his expression. There was a small smile. He softened a little; the first time he had towards me. He was proud of himself, but didn't want to show it.
Proud. He had no idea what I had done to him. I didn't deserve to be swelling up his chest or bubbling his gut like I was something that actually caused happiness.
Ezra slid towards me. I cringed, looking away from him.
He was right before me when I held out an arm to stop him smothering what little space I had left. My hand felt his cold scales, slipping away. His raised arms lowered back down. He had been about to hug me.
"I slept with another snake" I whimpered, unable to look him in the eyes "a red belly called Ferlei."
"....what?"
There was a little laugh. He didn't believe me. He didn't want to.
"I'm sorry."
"Are...." his hand hooked my chin to force me to look upwards "...are you kidding me?"
Closing my eyes, I just sobbed.
"I-i'm s-sorry."
His hand dropped away. He didn't move, instead staying right over me. What was a lovely gesture now made me nervous.
"W-why?" I heard the pain in his voice "why the hell would you do that?"
"Because you hurt me!" I whined back "I'm still bleeding from the first time. It's very painful."
He scoffed, grabbing my chin again. I glared at the corner of the wall instead.
"And that makes it ok? What did he say that I haven't? You put everything at risk for some fling!"
"He didn't...!"
"What? Cum?" Ezra scoffed and roughly pushed my chin away from himself, holding his head he tilted back "oh, that changes everything! How could I have jumped to conclusions so early then? By all means, keep sleeping around if it makes you happy; as long as they don't finish."
"It's not like that" I growled back "he was nice. He actually listened and got me. We don't get along at all!"
"You're blaming me?" he chuckled coldly "I don't believe you! You slept with some..." his face scrunched up and he clenched his jaw "....you're mine, not his."
That was different. With Tawn, he always told me he was mine, never the other way around. He never claimed possession over me.
"How can I trust you?" Ezra's eyes glistened "how could you have been so stupid?"
"I know" I begged, blocking his way "I'm sorry. Please, it won't happen again."
"It won't happen again when I'm around, or when I'm not?" he huffed "I should have known when you came in here with that smell on you. I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but I guess that was too forgiving."
"I was in a shelter with a bunch of others" I explained when he tried to move again "nothing happened there."
"So what changed?" he leant over me to hiss.
I had nothing to say. Dropping my eyes down, Ezra scoffed.
"I hope your pudding fucking burns" he pushed past me. The rest of his body trailed behind, whipping past my feet that moved out of the way.
He.....made it for me? Not Balae? Not himself? Not even the monkey or the baby?
Shit.
Slapping the power button and dumping the bag on the bench, I raced after Ezra, leaping over the tail so I could keep up beside him. He saw me doing so and turned his head up at me.
"I'm sorry" I pleaded down the hall "it didn't mean anything."
"Just get away from me" he muttered, pushing me back.
"Ezra" I caught up again "Ezra! Just wait!"
I snatched into his arm and he tore it away, snarling. Chasing again, I latched on when we neared the ladder.
"I need you" I pleaded before he could do anything "please. I can't do this alone."
"You should" he jabbed a finger at me "you deserve to."
"I can't" I teared up and sniffled "please. I've got nowhere else to go. You are the only one I can count on."
"Go back to the red belly" Ezra scoffed "I'm sure he'd be more than happy to house his new prize. Maybe you'll get lucky and he'll even share you around with his friends? That sounds like something you'd enjoy."
I didn't care who saw or heard me now. I needed Ezra to see sense in what I was trying to say. At all costs, I had to get him back on my side.
I grabbed both his wrists to stop him from moving away. He looked down, then around. His glare hardened when he couldn't find anyone intruding.
"I got this translator because I want to understand you" I breathed, my heart hammering "and I want to make things work. You're good with kids; i've seen it with that baby. Please help me birth yours. I shouldn't have done what I did. I was too scared after the first time to come back to you like I should have. I'm yours. Please help me. I don't want to be in a strange hotel, I want to be with you."
His eyes snapped down at my hands, then up to my face. They lingered there to try and search for more lies.
"Check me" I told him "I'm telling the truth."
He didn't. He wasn't trying to move away either. Ezra just stood there with pain in those hardened eyes. He was trying his hardest not to look down.
Noise to my right caught both of our attention. Ezra turned his head and pulled from me, just as shoes briskly thudded against the back of the stage and a woman with brown bangs peeled her head around the corner. Wearing a yellow hoodie to keep herself warm, her hands were tucked into the pockets at the front. I saw embroidered flowers down one of her jean legs, and shoes that almost matched her hair.
Loreen followed after her. The mystery woman approached cheerfully while Loreen hung back.
"Not her" Loreen shook her head when she went to speak to me "she's busy."
The woman glanced at me, looked to Ezra, then back at Loreen.
"I'm sure she doesn't mind" she bubbled.
"What don't I mind?"
The woman checked the area, then leant in close.
"Tonight, outside the gates at eleven, after show time" she muttered "Flower is having a meeting about Bruce. You should totally come."
Did I really want to? Anything involving either of those people sounded like bad news.
"You can come too, big guy" she directed to Ezra who folded his arms.
"Can't" he just said "I'm busy."
The woman looked impressed with my translator. She stared between it and him.
"Can't this just be in a message?" I asked, annoyed my progress with Ezra was being unravelled by this woman.
"Well then, it wouldn't exactly be secret" she giggled "only a few trusted people know about it. Ones that won't tell Bruce."
I raised a brow at Loreen. She quickly averted her eyes from me.
She didn't trust me. But to the extent that she thought I'd rat people out to that arsehole?
"Come on" Loreen jerked her head "we've got to cover the other side."
"Right" the woman smiled back, waving to us "see you later, you two!"
We watched them slide down the edge of the stage and follow the wall towards the other doors and opposite side of the building. With them now gone, Ezra moved from me towards the stage. He paused for a moment to look back at me.
"It'll be cold" he just spoke, slithering away until the tip of his tail flicked out of sight.
There was nothing I could do to shield it anyway.
Walking off in the opposite direction, I started to head back to the dock where I could continue cooking the pudding while I had the chance to clean myself up, take a shower, and push through more Barbra.
If I was going to face anyone, and possibly the ones who trashed my house, i'd do it with confidence. I couldn't let them know they got to me.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwTOycRwoh
I spent most of the afternoon eating pudding with my bare hand while dripping over the toilet as my clothes washed and dried. Once I was free to walk feeling back into my dead arse and legs, I shuffled down to stack the dirty dish under the other and took the time to survey the emptiness of outside.
It was peaceful when it was just this. No running around to get ready for the next show, no franticness of miniscule windows of time; just the sound of rustling grass, crackling leaves, and brushing breeze.
Ezra was already out there, flattening himself a nice little patch in the grass with his body. When he was satisfied, he dropped down his torso, crawled outwards with his arms, and promptly laid flat to soak up the rays.
I smirked to myself at how comical it all looked. With a few hours until night, and the opening of the doors again for returning hopeful recruits, I decided to venture out and join him.
He saw me coming immediately, but didn't move. Resting his head on his arms he simply closed his eyes and rolled his face away from me when I stood over him, casting a shadow.
"Can I join you?"
There was a little grunt. It wasn't a no.
Huffing and grunting myself as I lowered down, I laid on my back to face the clouds slowly rolling overhead. I hadn't stopped to stare at them since I was a kid. There was just no time for whimsical creature-finding up there anymore. That used to be my favorite thing to do out my bedroom window as a child.
The sun was so warm and welcoming. I sighed happily, glancing over at the back of Ezra's head.
"You picked a good spot" I smiled.
He said nothing.
"Thank you for the pudding. I was starving, so it was really needed. Unfortunately, it only burnt a little bit."
A snort. I couldn't tell if it was from laughter or irritation.
"Listen" I started "I just wanted to make sure things were good between us before tonight. Bruce knows about me now, and I'm worried that's going to lead to what happened with Tawn happening to me."
I heard movement. Looking across, Ezra propped himself up on his arms, staring seriously at me.
"Why do you think that?" he finally spoke.
"He's a creep" I chuckled nervously "and he likes danger. I don't think he cares if it's a male or female, he just wants to have that control. The things I was told..."
"I saw" Ezra mumbled "most of them. He's a disgusting human."
I agreed, glad we were on the same page.
"Tawn, Silera, Luke, and Levi are gone. He won't come near you, so that leaves me. If he's got some sort of snakeskin fetish, then I'm next; and I really, really don't want to be."
Ezra growled a little, closing his eyes.
"So, you pick and choose who gets you then?"
"Bruce is rape" I scowled "he won't kill them like what a snake could, but he certainly can cause some damage and trauma. He won't care that I'm pregnant."
Ezra's stern expression lingered on me for a few seconds before he pulled it away. He planted down his elbows and flipped his snake body so we were both staring at the clouds. I laid back down and he followed.
"If you knew that, why risk it with the red belly?" he asked "you could have lost them all."
"I made sure I wouldn't. I didn't want to go through that pain again. I was just..." I hesitated, frowning at the clouds "....I was kind of relieved that it didn't hurt as much."
He grimaced. Was he actually feeling bad about it all?
"You sounded like you enjoyed it."
"Before and after the actual sex" I admitted "that was nice. The actual part? Horrible."
"It's never been an issue" Ezra let out a breath "if anything, I wasn't good enough for Silera. It was hard to keep up."
"We can take things slow" I smirked "I'd prefer that. I'm a little scared to try anything after the first time. You shredded me and I've been paying for it ever since."
"You wanted to be pregnant. It wasn't going to be any other way while you had him inside you."
Tawn had said the same thing. I got greedy and this was my punishment.
"Can we start over?" I turned my head towards him "I need someone on my side who can protect me from Bruce."
His eyes met mine. They searched my hopeful smile for any hint of malice. He still didn't taste the air, out of respect.
"I don't want you near other men sexually" he spoke up "I can't trust that you'll carry my babies when you are letting others put them in danger."
"I can do that if you support me" I nodded "I need somewhere to have them that isn't here."
His interest piqued. Ezra's head turned back towards me.
"You aren't having them here? In the pit?"
"Fuck no" I scoffed "the further from this shithole, the better."
He grinned. Finding new grounds was the first step towards creating a family in his eyes. Maybe he saw this as his chance to try and steal them from me when I wouldn't be able to fight him off?
"I still need all of them. I'm swimming in debt, and they'll help me start over."
His smile left again. With a huff, he laid back down.
"I don't agree with it" he mumbled.
"And I don't have a choice" I told him "I need to make just over eight grand before the month ends, otherwise they'll send people after me."
Ezra was shocked. Even I was ashamed by telling him how much I had racked up while still living so miserably.
"Naga are worth that much?"
"Baby ones, yes. I'm not sure about adults."
"So...." he breathed, glancing, as he was unsure of what to look at "if you get the money, can I keep my babies?"
"You're going to get me eight grand?" I laughed "look, I don't know how you'll even do that legally. If you can get that much, you can keep the whole damn bunch."
If he actually could.
"Really?"
That grin again. Ezra even had tears prickling his eyes.
Did he honestly care about them that much? He was ready to do anything just for a few squirming things that he wouldn't be able to look after anyway as long as he still worked here and they were born out there?
Like hell I was going to play the role of the mother. Once they were out, I was gone.
He really did care. It made me sting a little bit from guilt at seeing him trying to withhold tears.
"I'll get the money" he vowed "and safe grounds. Please hold up your end and make sure they are healthy until they arrive. I'll even hunt more. I'll get you whatever you want if I can have them."
I'd never seen this side of Ezra. The usually stern and brooding Naga was breathless with excitement. He sniffled, wiping his eyes and smiling.
"You've made me very happy."
I didn't know how to respond. Smiling, I faced the clouds.
"When you do go hunting, can you give them to Balae instead of me?" I voiced while watching the lowest oddly-shaped cloud drifting by "I heard she's going hungry too, and I know how that is. It's not a feeling I'd wish on anyone but my worst enemy. She hates me, so it might be better coming from you."
"Barely" he chuckled "but I'll do that. You like the cooked ones."
"With absolutely no feathers."
He smirked. I giggled. It was funny how we could fondly look back now on something that had us once so furious with each other.
"This was nice" I sighed.
"It is" Ezra agreed "I'll work hard."
"Only until the end of the month. Whatever happens then is out of my hands."
He nodded, still elated.
"I'm going to get my family by then" he vowed.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrUO93nMf7
Bruce sat forefront at the end of the stage so he could grin up at the people forced to perform for him for a position at Paragon.
From the left, drinks from wannabe barkeep. From the right, food from eager caterers. Even nervous servers settled the food before Bruce and the table he sat at.
He had me to his immediate left. Alowyn was beside me. The closest things to Stars, we were forced to observe the talent while the others got to watch from behind.
Whatever food Bruce didn't finish was pushed onto our tables, like we were dogs deserving of scraps.
The temptation was there, but with everyone else here, I didn't want to seem too desperate and ruin my whole reputation.
I couldn't wait until it was all over. The meeting after work still has me puzzled as to how they'd try to push dirt onto Bruce's name when he obviously hadn't been dragged off in the raid.
I still fumed as he laughed with his open mouth and chewed noisily through a thick portion of beautifully seared steak, butchering it.
Each meal had the name of the chef stabbed with a little flag through it. The one currently picking out Bruce's teeth was someone called Alison.
How could he still be here, allowed to continue hiring? Maybe that's why he was so smug and sure of himself tonight? Everything seemed funnier when he mocked the people rotating off the stage who were still trying to win him over.
It was incredible how many there were. The police didn't deter them. If anything, it lured more resume-clad people to their chance at some sort of recognition under such a popular venue.
"Ok, time for the Stars" Bruce read under a little light he steadied over a sheet of paper "line up along the stage."
Several people and forth. Then more. When I thought it was done, a few stragglers rushed over to squeeze in across the stage, grinning.
Some wringed their resumes nervously before they were collected by Herb. Others folded them. Most remained unmarked when they were given to Bruce who laid them out in order.
"You, you, you, you" he pointed out the humans "you can go."
He handed up the resume's as they came to collect them. The others filled in the gaps immediately.
"The rest of you; names and what you do. Go."
He snapped his fingers and pointed to the first person who was caught by surprise.
"Psst, El" I heard a voice behind me when the first person rattled off their name "pass up the food."
Glancing at Bruce, then behind me, I saw it was Flower asking. She had a whole bunch of others I didn't know lined in the seats beside her.
"It's a waste" she whispered while others listed their talents "pass it up. Kitchen can grab the plates anyway."
There was a noise from the front of the stage. I eyed the lowest dish, a mash and asparagus resting beside a pot pie. The top corner was missing, and the mash was smeared across the plate from where Bruce had swiped his fork through it before abandoning the rest.
Glancing to Bruce, I quickly held it above my head with one splayed hand. I felt nails grip the plate, heard a little giggle, and excited whispering.
"Pass some more" Flower snickered as she handed down the first one "the steak."
I knew the one she wanted immediately, since it was the one I had also been eying off.
A wedge had been cut off the side that Bruce had eaten. He took a few more little bites, then left the rest.
A boat of gravy was sat on the plate, alongside a bed of garlic beans. The steak had a strip of pink in the middle; obviously not to Bruce's liking.
Balancing again, Flower quickly snatched it up. I heard her lips smack, and her sigh out.
"Fuck me, red wine gravy" she gasped "try it; Javier has done such a good job!"
The others dipped for the boat, mumbling in agreement. I turned my attention to a small plate of crusted potatoes, swiping one to hide in my lap before Bruce glanced over.
Smiling, I looked up at the shortened line. A striped cat hybrid was currently shredding away on a guitar they had bought.
Stuffing the cold, oily potato into my mouth, I instantly tasted the garlic and parmesan that formed the crust. The inside was bland, but soft and creamy. With some of that gravy the others had been raving about, it would be perfect.
Passing it up, I pulled a crispy pork belly doused in a beautifully dark red sauce closer. Bruce laid a hand around the back of my seat, tensing me up. I stopped, forcing myself to watch another hybrid be dismissed before they could prove themselves. Leaning back, Alowyn raised his brows at me when he saw.
I flicked my eyes to the food, signalling. He grinned, shaking his head and sticking out his tongue.
I tilted my head, offering. He wrinkled his nose with a smile, returning to his original position.
He leant close to Bruce to mumble something. I froze again, watching as he laid an arm on the back of his chair so he could steady himself and make sure he was close enough. As Alowyn muttered, his finger flicked across, urging me to keep passing food to the others.
Stuffed and brimming red, yellow, and green peppers flew up behind his head. Fish draped in its own skin and garnished with some sort of chunky sauce teaming with shaved vegetables followed. I got about five dishes done before Alowyn lost Bruce's interest and he turned back to the stage.
Finally. That pork belly was mine!
Checking, I didn't even care the delicious portion of fatty meat was oozing between my fingers that gripped it. I could feel myself drooling when I crunched through the first thick slab that was smothered in a sweet plum sauce that burned slightly, then went back for another as more food was delivered.
"Do you have any suggestions?" I heard Bruce ask.
He was talking to the newcomers. What a strange question. He never considered anyone else's thoughts on the show.
"Elgress?"
"Hmm?"
I whipped my head around and saw his greasy smile aimed at me.
"Suggestions" he pointed his fork towards the belly I was hunched over, still dripping between my fingers "since you like stealing my food for yourself."
"Oh" I quickly dropped it and tried to find something to wipe my fingers on but was forced to quickly suck them clean "ah, no. I was just..."
I swear he showed all his teeth when he smiled like that. Even if he didn't have his hand gripping so close to me, I could still feel him digging under my skin and shuddering into my blood.
"Eat" he promptly ignored me, flicking his fork and knife to the stage to gesture for the next person to come forth.
Checking that he wouldn't change his mind, I quickly grabbed the pork belly and bit into it. It crunched too loudly, making him smirk.
Fuck, it was good. I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction though.
The others watched and waited for their helpings to keep coming. With Bruce now aware, I couldn't actively help them. I helped myself to eating gnocchi with my fingers, then dipped through a shepard's pie.
I hadn't tasted food this good in years. Name after name was lost on my ravenous stomach just licking through the flavours melding together.
Each perfectly crafted meal and delicately flavoured portion was gobbled up greedily.
I didn't care I had the lit stage before me and everyone else up behind me; I had to think of myself first.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx39yOAKJA
With the stage minimized to ten hybrids, Bruce left his table to approach and inspect them, like prized animals at an auction.
I took the opportunity to pass up the other plates to keep tensions settled, after clearing a nice ring for myself. The others got their own portions, along with bowls of dessert I forfeited to keep the peace.
Alowyn was slid across a slice of raspberry cake he accepted with a warm smile. Instead of eating it, he pressed it into his bag and checked his phone before promptly getting up.
"I've got to go" he announced to Bruce "it's ten."
Bruce was about to snap back, but realised that it was the end of his allocated time. With a scoff, he let Alowyn walk out.
"Come back tomorrow, you lot" he ordered the others "we'll sort out whose got what it takes then. I'll keep your resumes with me."
They grinned and gathered their things to shuffle off to the back of the stage. Some tried to hang back to speak to Bruce, but he was already approaching me.
Fuck.
"I'm sorry about the food issue" I started before he could "honestly, it just looked so good, a..."
He chuckled, grinning again. I could smell dark chocolate and chilli trying to mask his rancid breath. Looking for some sort of escape, I noticed all the others behind me were already filing for the exit as well. Glinting eyes from the silhouette curled behind the lit light up where Balae lived told me Ezra was keeping a monitor on the situation. He wouldn't be quick enough if anything did happen though.
"So, how was it?"
I forced a smile, folding my arms.
"Good. Thank you for letting me have the leftovers."
He grinned again.
"Was it sweet, the pork?"
Sweet?
"Ah, the sauce was quite nice" I smiled, confused "you should hire whoever made it. Javier too. He makes really good red wine gravy."
The others would like that.
"I'm glad you liked it. Did you like where I had my mouth as well? Did that taste sweet?"
The greasy fucker actually licked the corner of his mouth and gave that shit-eating grin.
"I hadn't noticed" I played dumb, giving a little chuckle.
"Have a drink" he grabbed one of the multitude that has been crowding Alowyn's side "it's sweet too, like me. I'm very good to people who are good to me. You've been good to me, Elgress."
"Mm hmm" I played along, nervously glancing upwards again "I can't drink. It's so late and I won't sleep."
"Maybe something to... settle....you then?" Bruce sipped the drink noisily, licking his dripping lips "I've got some very expensive, very.... soothing..." he exaggerated the one word with a purr "...alcohol in my office."
Fuck no. If I went up there, I wasn't leaving unscathed.
"Thank you, but I've got to get home" I politely smiled "my partner will be wondering where I am."
He didn't need to know I lived alone. He may even become more excited if he knew no-one was waiting for me.
"Well, tomorrow then? You'll sit beside me. Dinner, drinks, and a show."
Eww, was he insinuating that it was going to be some sort of date? Fuck, even sleeping with a stranger was far less painful and disgusting than pretending Bruce wasn't trying to lure me to that table by suddenly being nice.
"I'll see you tomorrow" I forced another small smile and quickly pushed around the table to walk past him. On the way, he leant in and inhaled in the direction of my neck. I frowned back at him, unsure if that had just happened, and kept powering on for the front doors.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTrNrcYGfE
Outside the partially open gates, Flower stood on the sidewalk at the col-de-sac. Others crowded on the little portion of road, facing her.
Most had their friend groups they chattered within. Flower told the curious newcomers to keep walking; they weren't allowed in this meeting between actual staff. She played the part of the 'bad guy' to keep the meaning of this gathering under wraps.
Who knew if they would tell Bruce what they had heard here? They didn't know him like we did. They probably thought they would be doing the right thing.
With everyone there and marked off on Flower's phone, she led the way further up the road to where we could be out of range of the cameras.
Everyone spread out across the path beside the entrance of road that hooked from the main highway beside us. With passing cars helping cover her conversation, Flower took her place in front of one of the trees lining the way down.
"Ok, everyone here?" she looked around "good, good. Now, I've got you all here because we all have one thing in common, and that's Bruce."
There was mumbled agreement and nodding.
"Most of my friends are still in hospital because of that head-hunt he sent us all on. Most of yours are too. People who faced Avery and Nisha are still recovering with stitches. The ones for Tawn can't move from their hospital beds. Bruce doesn't care about that."
There were a few more verbal agreements. Some seemed to have experienced it personally as they loudly agreed.
"I want to take this man out of the job" Flower slammed a fist into her open palm "do something that not even the cops want to do. That's why I've gathered you here. We've all been wronged by him in one way or another."
More agreement and discussion. I nodded along.
"I want to give Bruce a show he won't forget" Flower grinned slyly "so, I need all the evidence of shit he's done. If you are ok with it being shown to an audience, and possibly the internet, I need you to give me your stories, videos, audio; hell, even interviews, of things Bruce has done to you. I need wherever you've witnessed in my hands so I can create the biggest thing that will get him kicked not only out of this place, but every place he ever tries to work at again."
The crowd stirred with excitement. They chattered and buzzed about their encounters, comparing.
"We can't have him getting wind of all this, so it's going to be disguised as a performance; a special tribute to a very special boss" Flower laughed "we'll practice a dance and everything for it to make it look legit. I'll have a song done, and everything will be incorporated into it through music and slides. It'll be massive. People won't be able to look away."
There were smiles all around. Even I was as I looked to my excited co-workers.
"I've been in contact with Avery" Flower began again to pull everyone back on track "and he'll be helping us with videos and audio of what Bruce has done to him, as well as his life outside. I also rang Tawn earlier today, and he has agreed to let us see him so I can get an in-person interview of his side of the story."
Hushed whispering spread. Some were amazed, but most were cautious.
"We won't be there to do anything; that time is over. He's staying at the Broken Nest Conservation Park at Brillance Creek for a few more days before he moves on. We can go there at their opening on the twenty first from eight am. There will be a twenty dollar entrance fee for each person to help pay for upkeep to the center. If anyone does want to go, let me know and we can sort out a carpool sitch to save space."
There were understandable grumbles at the high fee. Others didn't care about Tawn enough to even go and see him. Loreen, however, looked so hopeful. She hung onto every word Flower had to say now.
Typical.
I didn't even want to see him. Things were actually working out for me here and going back to him would only muddy that. He was done with me, so I should be done with him too. If he wanted to chase a useless human like Loreen when she showed up, so be it. She wouldn't be able to do what I did for so many years.
"Hey! Tomorrow, we'll have the rest of the potential Stars come back" Flower clapped her paws to get the attention back on her "so I don't want any of this being spoken to them. We'll meet at the back dock after work; same time, same reason. There is a bigger area out there we can use, and the side of the building isn't covered with cameras. We can practice our show out there."
Chuckles mixed in. I smirked, clinching inside with shivering delight that there was finally something in place to knock Bruce off his throne.
If it worked, it would be legendary. No-one had ever done anything like this before.
"I won't be able to make it" I rose a hand so Flower could see me "Bruce wants me next to him the whole time tomorrow night."
Some disgust. Some jeering jokes. I nervously smiled and tried not to think about the way he inhaled my scent as I passed. Even a flicker of a tongue would have felt more natural than the shit he did; lean and all.
"I'll be reaching out to past performers like Luke, Levi, Lumi, Sasha, and the girls, to get their stories" Flower slowly refocused everyone again "if there's anyone you know, let them know to come and see me in the sound booth. I'll be working hard in there."
Smiled were exchanged. Our whole future now laid in the patched paws of Flower.
"We'll meet tomorrow" she concluded "bring something casual to wear. I'll see you then. Bye."
People parted from the mass, waving to friends or calling out their farewells. I peeled off and began walking back towards Paragon where I could rest and retell the plan to Ezra.
Like hell I was walking all the way to the hotel tonight. Maybe if Vinnie didn't get out so late, and I wasn't held captive too long, I could get a lift from him?
Flower noticed me walking back to work but didn't say anything when I glanced back to make sure others weren't lingering.
As others disappeared for their beds, I slipped back inside the gates and pulled my gaze to the massive sign of Paragon.
Already, I was starting to feel like a Star. With a little more time, that could all come true.
Bruce liked me too much to demote me back to bar staff where it was safe. I'd be his little trophy on show every night under lights and chains as I sang for him. Maybe he'd even give me a new name as well?
Whatever he had planned beyond that, I was running out of time. New Stars were coming through tomorrow and I'd be allocated to one as the lip-sync singer. My role in Paragon would be reset as the partner to another dangerous performer. Bruce wouldn't go tame for his show; only the biggest and best would rake back in those dollars.
Whoever it was, I didn't care. We'd only have to be civil for five hours each night, then go out own ways.
As long as it wasn't another damn snake.
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