Dragon's Fire

    “Get up, you overslept.. Work starts in an hour” Someone yells from the door. I rolled over on the couch and buried my face into the cushions, smelling stale cigarettes. I do this every morning and still haven’t learned. I gag and roll over onto my back, gasping for fresh air. I drag myself off the couch and fold my blanket, draping it over the back of the couch. I walk over to the window and open it, letting the cold crisp air in to fill my airways.      I get dressed and grab a bagel as I head out the door, it’s past two in the afternoon now. I feel like I just went to sleep an hour ago. I work at a local nightclub as a waitress, the hours are crappy, working from 4PM to 4AM everyday. I have to dress in a skimpy outfit and get groped all day by drunk men as I serve drinks. The bright side is that the manager let’s me stay upstairs for free, as long as I keep the place clean.      I go outside walking to the park, I enjoy the outdoors, I always have. I find a tree and take a seat, looking up at the skies. I wish I could just fly away from it all. Not have to worry about anything anymore, just fly as far as my wings can take me. I watch as a bird shoots from the tree into the sky, the way it’s wings move so effortlessly. I’m jealous. I glance at my watch and see my shift starts soon, I have to get back.  I get up and brush myself off, starting my walk.  I get to the club and Joe the bouncer lets me in with a nod.      “Hey Janessa, come here will ya?” I’m called right away by one of the entertainers, Melody. I walk over to her and see she is already in costume. She dances dressed as a mermaid, her bra looks like seashells and her tail is a miniskirt with a small fin on it.      “Can you help me with my wig darlin’?” She hands me her long red haired wig. I nod and take it from her, helping her place it on her head, making sure all her blonde hair is tucked in.      “Thanks hun!” She smiles at me, “Don’t take any crap tonight okay hun?” She places her hand on my cheek and looks me in the eyes sadly. I nod at her and smile giving her a thumbs up. I walk over to the bar and put my bag away.      “Hey Janessa, ready for tonight?” Teddy, the manager asks me, I nod. “Alright, go get dressed” He waves me away. I go to the dressing room and grab my uniform, a short sailor's dress. I sigh as I put on the revealing outfit, feeling exposed. I make sure all the buttons are done up before I exit the room. I go to Charmin to do my hair for me. She brushes it and pulls it up into a pinup style, curling my bangs.      “There you go sweetheart” She says as she kisses my cheek, I blush and smile at her, giving her a nod as thanks. The girls have accepted me from day one, when I was scrounging for food in the alley way, they took pity on me and took me in, as part of their family. They got me a job as a waitress when I turned sixteen and never made a big deal about the fact I don’t talk much. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever really said a word to anyone. If anyone gave me any crap about not talking, the girls were all over them, telling them to leave me alone. I don’t really know why I don’t talk, I guess I just have nothing to say.      I was abandoned when I was twelve by my parents, they didn’t want me so they just dumped me off on the side of the road somewhere, I made ends meat by living on the streets and stealing to survive. That was until I was found by the girls. I’ve been here ever since, that was six years ago. I’m eighteen now and all grown up, I keep to myself as much as possible.      “Janessa, get over here, I’m opening up” Teddy calls, I rush over to my place in the line up and wait. The customers line up at the door, just like every night. I feel uncomfortable as the men eye me up as they come inside. I go over to the first table and take drink orders, heading back to the bar and getting the order filled. I balance my tray and carry it back, placing the beers down on the table, as I am walking away one of the men slaps my ass. I spin around, feeling my whole body burn with rage.      “Hey now boys, how about a dance, leave the poor waitress alone okay?” Melody comes up behind me, pushing me back towards the bar. I feel myself calm down a bit but I still feel hot.      “You okay?” Alex the bartender asks me as I go behind the bar and rinse my hands under cool water. I nod and turn away. I tap my face gently with the cool water before going back to the floor.  I walk around taking orders and handing out shots. The hours pass by slowly, I just want to be anywhere else but here.      “Why don’t you smile sweetheart?” A younger man and his buddies call me over, I ignore them and walk over to another table and refill their drinks. As I’m walking back over I see the man calling me over again.  “You hear me? Smile sweetheart” He says again. I turn to leave and I’m pulled down into the booth. I land in his lap and he pins me down beside him. I try to get up but he’s strong, too strong.  “Let me go” I hiss.      “Ohh she does have a bite.. See my boys and I have been watching you and we haven’t seen you talk to anyone, we thought you were mute a moment, but I told my boys here I could get you to talk.. You owe me $50” He laughs and puts his hand out to his friend who slaps down a bill into his hand. I feel myself grow angry, my body heating up again.      “Is there a problem here Janessa?” Our bouncer Joe comes over and holds his hand out to me. I take it and he pulls me out of the booth, standing in front of me and the men.      “Hey we were just joking around, here I was just trying to tip her” He holds out the $50 bill for me to take.. I look at him then at the bill, shaking my head and hiding behind Joe.  “I’ll make sure she gets it” He snatches the money and leads me back to the bar.      “You need to stick up for yourself Janessa. I can’t always be there to protect you, you know..” I nod and take the money from him. He looks at me with pity before walking away.      I am pathetic, we all know it. I’m not even ashamed to admit it at this point. I feel like I’ve been on autopilot for so long, I’ve forgotten how I’m supposed to act. How I’m supposed to feel. I just want to give up, be done with it all. There would be nobody to miss me, no one would even notice if I just disappeared into the night. Never to be seen again. I can see it now,  Janessa who?  Some girl who used to work here, she was quiet, hardly ever talked.  The mute girl?  What was wrong with her anyways?     I feel like I can hear them already talking about me when they think I can’t hear.     I make my way outback to the alley, needing some air. I sit down on some milk cartons and take in the night air, looking up at the sky. I feel at ease for the first time all day. I don’t feel hot or angry. I just feel empty. I hear the backdoor click closed, now I’ll have to go around the alley to the front.    Great..     I get up and start walking down the alley, when three shadows emerge in front of me.  “You really think it’s her?” One of the men asks  “Oh it’s her alright.. He will be please we found her first” Another one says, a wicked smile spreading across his face.       I try to make a run for it but one of them grabs me by the ponytail, pulling me backwards. I start kicking and thrashing my arms about. I can’t get away. A hand comes over my mouth, something wet on a cloth. I try to move away but I feel overwhelmed with dizziness suddenly. My eyes droop and my head falls.  “Take her away”  I wake up tied and gagged, I’m on the ground inside, no there’s dirt under me.  A tent?  Yes I’m in a tent, I can feel the cold air penetrating the sides of the fabric, slowly seeping through.  Where am I?  What is going on?      I go to get up and realize my legs are tied too, I look down and see the thick ropes digging into my legs. I move to sit on my butt and start working on an escape plan.  I need to get out of here… I need to get these ropes off me.      I move my arms down my back slowly, pulling on the ropes. It hurts but I need to get my arms in front of me, maybe I can use my teeth to untie myself. I feel my shoulders stretch as I push my arms further down and over my bottom half. With my arms under my knees it’s not hard to get them the rest of the way. A minute later I am biting at the ropes, loosening them with my teeth. Once my hands are free I work on my legs, removing the ropes. I massage my ankles feeling the cut skin. My whole body aches, I am so sore. I just want to go to sleep, but I have to get out of here.      I crawl forward to the front of the tent and peek under the entrance. There’s one man sleeping a few feet away but other than that there seems to be nobody around. I see I still have my high heels on from work, I kick them off gently, I’ll run faster without them on. I make my way out of the tent and start running, I don’t make it very far. Maybe ten feet when an arm reaches out and grabs me roughly by the throat. I’m lifted off the ground and I start to thrash, clawing at the giant of a man who caught me.   s**t!      “She’s a spirited one! I think Kellan was right, she may be the one he is looking for” The giant says smiling at me. He throws me to the ground. I roll a few times before hitting a tree. I gasp for air as the tree smashes my lungs. I scramble to get up to my feet when he comes over to me, kicking me in the gut. I scream out, my  voice coming out strained and frantic.  “Pleasee!” I manage to say one word at least.      “Let’s have some fun with her Micha” One of the other men I didn’t see before says with a malicious smile.      “No. We need her.. Mostly unharmed. For now at least. Tomorrow is a different story.” I’m pulled to my feet and tied back up and thrown back inside the tent.      “Don’t cause me any problems and maybe you will get out of this alive” He turns his back on me and walks away.      “Keep an eye on her!” He yells at someone.