Chapter 4 continuation

A girl stood by the closet, pulling on her jeans. Her hair was disheveled, and her whole look screamed that she’d spent the last few hour with someone. It was the same girl I’d seen running away from.

"Hey, Jay," the brunette smiled and came up to us.

"She's all yours. Show and tell her everything here. If you let her go, I’ll kill you," the guy barked and left the room, slamming the door loudly.

"Okay, Hailey. Follow me, I’ll show you to your room," the girl took my hand and dragged me along the hallway.

"What’s your name?" My voice was quiet, as if I was afraid to disturb the people in this house.

"Rose."

"What are you doing here? Don't you want to get out of here?"

"If I do, they’ll kill me. I’m fine here on principle, I'm used to it, you know. There’s no other way out."

We went into the room. There was a double bed in the middle of the room under the wall. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. In the corner there was a small desk and a plasma TV, near which there was a sofa.

"Here you’ll live," the girl sat on the bed, watching me.

"You still haven't answered my question. Do you sleep with them?"

"Yeah," I didn't seem to embarrass her at all.

"Why?" So there are girls in this house who are forced to do this and you’re saying I’m one of them now?

"I’m not being asked, dear. They just take and..."

"I get it," I interrupted Rosie, putting my hands out in front of me.

I don’t want to hear those details. I don't like being here. It looks like a whorehouse. They come here, take any girl they want and have fun. I don't think they’re resisting, though.

"I have to tell you about this place." Rose leaned back on the bed. I sat down on the sofa and looked at the brunette. "You already know what the left side of the building is, I suppose." Rose was silent, waiting for my confirmation.

"Not much, but I do."

"Oh," the girl let out a long sigh. "Dean was really pissed that Jay sent him there because of you."

"Sorry, he tried to rape me!" I raised my voice.

She’s worried about him? I was touched, humiliated in front of everyone, and she doesn't care. It’s not right. In this world, it’s every man for himself. The time of "one for all and all for one" is over. It’s gone, like sand in an hourglass.

"Those who broke the rules or hostages are sent to the left wing," the girl continued calmly, not paying attention to me.

"Hostages?"

"Yeah, the "Darkness" gang is always going to negotiations and shootings. How to put it that way," the brunette stood up and squinted her eyes. "They take bad people or violators hostage."

"Okay, what about members?"

"James Williams Foster. His dad’s a big shot."

"Who is he?"

"I’m sorry, I can't tell you all this."

"Please tell me," I got up and walked over to the girl, sitting on the bed next to her.

"No, just forget about it. Remember, no one really knows anything. Jay doesn't talk about his personal life."

"Okay, go on," I sighed, still not getting an answer.

"Dean is James's right hand."

"He’s a horrible person," I sighed and leaned back on the bed.

"No, no," the girl protested, shaking her head in protest. "James, he's a monster."

"What, he protected me from violence even though he hit me!"

"The mask. It's just a mask. Time will pass and you’ll see his demons. You’ll remember what I said."

What if it’s true? But Dean... Is she saying he's better than him? I don’t know. I really don’t know. This is a strange place.

"I’m gonna go. Don't you dare run away. The consequences are bound to be bad."

The brunette got out of bed and opened the door, turning around one last time: "Don't you dare run away," Rosie whispered again. "If he finds out, you’ll feel his demons on your own skin. You’re his personal toy, and no one can protect you from him."

The room is plunged into darkness. The window was open and a cool breeze blew in, giving my body goosebumps. The only source of light in this room is the moon.

No, I won't get up to turn on the light. No, I won't get up to close the window.

I lay my head on the pillow and close my eyes back. A tear slides down my cheek, and before it can fall, it’s wiped away by a cold palm. Just one day in this place and I gave up. I’ve always been weak, but I’ve always tried to show myself strong so I wouldn’t be broken, so they wouldn’t see my weak side. I’ve always dreamed of that person to stand up for me and protect me in case of trouble.

My past is terrible. Every memory, every reminder of it brings me pain. A stub right through my heart. A quiet sob filled the room. I buried my nose into my pillow and screamed in pain in a mute scream. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, falling in small droplets onto the sheet. The memory came back with every night. Every bad word spoken in your direction, every taunt echoed in my heart. I feel the pain. That’s good. It means I can still feel. But as time passes, I’ll feel empty inside. One step and I won't be able to feel. One step and I’m indifferent. I stopped talking so much. I started listening more, soaking in every word. The fire in my eyes is long gone. I burned out like a candle. Burned out. Outside the window I could see bright stars as the moon fought the darkness. Footsteps sounded down the hall. I tensed, because my door was unclosed. The door opened, and after a few seconds later, the bed beneath me sagged. I pressed my lips together, closing my eyes.

"I’m sorry," the guy whispered before getting up, closing the window, and walking out of my room, closing the door behind him.

What just happened? I jump out of bed and run to the front door, opening it quietly.

No one is there. A completely empty hallway. I scroll through the voice in my head and don't find it familiar. I don't know this guy? I close the door before I can get a glimpse of Dean coming out of Rose's room. I slam the door shut and lie down on the bed, closing my eyes. I slowly sink into my fantasy world.

"Hale, get up!" The blanket starts to slide off of me and through my closed eyelids I see sunlight. "Hailey, get up now!"

I desperately try to pull it back over me, still not opening my eyes, but I can’t do it.

"Okay, I'm up!" I jumped out of bed, not wanting to listen to these screams.

On my way to the bathroom, I shoved Rose aside and walked into the bathroom. Leaning my hands on the sink, I lifted my head and looked into my exhausted, tear-strained eyes. The view wasn’t the best. Tangled hair, black eyes from lack of sleep, pale skin and... I turned sideways, examining my cheek. There was the faintest trace of Jay's slap on it.

Rose opened the door and peered out from behind it, looking at me. "I can get you some makeup."

"Is it that bad?" I asked sarcastically and grinned.

"Well..." The brunette stretched out, not knowing what to say.

"Don’t tell me." I cleaned myself up and left the bathroom. "What are we going to do all day? Hang out with guys? Interesting."

I had no desire to be here. I can't get out of here. Then I’d have to get them to kick me out. Or, at the very least, kill me.

"Joe will be here in a minute to take you to James’s office," Rose muttered.

"Why? I’m not going in there," I folded my arms across my chest, frowning at that statement.

"Oh, sweetie. No one’s going to ask you." The girl put on makeup and grabbed her phone, and started surfing social media.

When I saw the cell phone, I remembered that it had fallen out of my possesion when I was caught on the roof. Even if I had it, it wouldn’t have been of any use at all. The police are covering for the Darkness gang and there’s no way anyone can help me. The door swung open, forcing us out of our business, if it could be called that. Joe stood in the doorway, forcibly looking at me.

"You’re going to Jay’s," he walked out, closing the door behind him. My body was covered with goosebumps and I pulled the sleeves of the sweatshirt tighter around my arms.

"Go."

"I’m afraid," my voice shook, showing how scared I was.

"Go and please," the brunette paused, pursing her lips. "Please don't make him angry. He's scarier than he really is."

Her words echoed through my head, replaying the same thing a hundred times. She can't lie. It doesn't make sense.

"Hale, out," Joe opened the door, waiting for me.