vi- Marionette's dilemma
2059 Words
Chapter six
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Marionette opened her eyes to an unpleasant screech, jolting upon instinct. Her hands touched the damp, wet leaves as she shudders momentarily.
'Where am I?'
"God." She gasps, upon attempting to move, only to realize that every fiber of her body ached. Despite the pain, she got up.
A cool breeze swept through her hair and skin freely, while the sound of the faint rustling of the leaves, danced along with the air.
Her eyes roamed around her surrounding, searching for the disturbing noise she heard, but her field of vision was blurry. She winced, through the foggy darkness, the moon being her only source of light. She urges her feet to carry on walking, mustering all the strength she had left.
Her forehead creased. "But," she wondered because, in her hazy mind, she had just fallen asleep. How come she's in a place she doesn't recognize?
After what seemed like forever, she gasps and after a tiresome walk through the forest, she had finally come across a house, or something more like a mansion, and it seems inhabited.
She persevered to walk, with her tired feet, until she reached the door. On her motion to knock, it suddenly flung open.
Marionette held back a gasp of shock, a chill went down her spine and fear began circulating in her system. She gazed bravely, at the darkness that was revealed behind the door.
"Hellooo? I-is someone there-?" She asks, undeterred, but was cut off rudely.
"It took you a long time, my Lady." Replied a low, husky voice of a man. It sent tingles to her body, which she discerns, was coming from the darkness accompanied by a few growls ringing in her ears.
"P-pardon me, if I am disturbing you but-" She stutters, fumbling around in the dark.
A hand slithers around her waist, thrusting her backward, into a pair of arms.
Marionette sucked in an audible gasp; she's taken by surprise, along with a shudder in her spine. When she felt the person's fingers tracing her jaw, in the dark.
She stares intently, comprehending, but the darkness is prohibiting her from recognizing the stranger, who's shamelessly touching her.
"Welcome home, my beloved." The voice whispered. The heat of his breath washed over her ear. "Now it's time... to mark you mine."
In all but a split second, two fangs protruded menacingly out of the figure's mouth, penetrating through her skin like daggers.
She yelped in pain, as a warm substance trickled down her shoulders.
A few droplets of sweat formed on Marionette's forehead, trickling down as she let out a heavy gasp upon waking up, returning to her senses.
"A dream again?" She whispered, panting heavily, as if her dream did happen just now, draining her energy.
Marionette squinted her eyes as she sat up and looked around.
The room was dark. She couldn't see anything. The darkness was trying to invade her mind. She doesn't know where she should fix her gaze because there was nothing but the absence of light inside.
Just as she was drowning into a series of panic, the room was lit with dim lighting.
This time as she roam her eyes, she noticed the walls were unfamiliar to her. The surrounding, the bed she's sleeping on, the black painted walls, and the strange atmosphere is making her question just,
"Where am I?"
The same with her dreams, she's in a foreign terrain.
Her eyes were bulging with what she realized. She jumped down the bed, wary of her surrounding.
She wasn't fully awakened yet, when she heard a continuous knocking, on the door right around the corner which she failed to notice because of her anxiousness.
Marionette's sleepy eyes stared towards its direction.
"Damn." She cursed, standing stone still on her ground, panicking at who will come inside.
The door opened revealing a man. She stared at him, cautious, wide-eyed, stepping back as if to get away from any danger this stranger might bring her.
"Oh, you're finally awake." he walked closer, "how are you feeling? Better?" and as if to check on her temperature, the stranger lifted his hand about to touch her forehead but she slapped his hand on reflex.
He was comfortable and casual. He had light brown hair and dark forest green eyes. She scrutinized him further, he was wearing a red tux and black slacks, trying to judge him based on his appearance. In her mind, a guess that this man's job may or may not be dangerous. Even a criminal may dress in a fancy clothing, and have an angelic appearance.
'Don't be deceived'
Marionette chanted in her head, memories of how men in black suits, standing inside tall buildings, who are the board of directors but owned a nasty tongue and spoke ill of her, recollected in her memory.
What she did threw the stranger's hand to his side.
Marionette embraced herself, awaiting this stranger's reaction.
"Goodness, darling. Why are you so aggressive? I only meant to help, okay?"
The man spoke cheerfully, not showing any signs that he was offended by her actions.
"Help?" She wondered out loud, proceeding to ask, "What am I doing here? What happened to me?"
Contrary to how she expected him to react violently, he only showed a calm expression.
A doubtful smile painted his lips. "You don't remember? You fainted on the street and I was a kind citizen to help you. I brought you here." he briefly explained.
However, his explanation was too vague for Marionette's understanding.
"I am Karen by the way." he took the initiative to introduce himself.
Meanwhile, Marionette, was just standing awkwardly, trying her best to comprehend the situation she's in.
Moments later, a surging memory in the afternoon rewinded in her head.
"....." Karen, as he introduced himself, sat at the edge of the bed, watching her with an amused grin.
She did remember, now that she's somehow calmed, Marionette lowered her guard. A tinge of pink painting her cheeks.
Rather than fearing him, actually, she owe him for saving her life. He was kind enough to not leave her like a poor stray cat lying helplessly on the ground, in the middle of the city walk. She's ashamed for how she reacted.
"Is.. that so?"
"That's all."
They sink into silence.
Marionette is thinking about the kindness Karen showed her, she faced him and suddenly, "I'm very sorry for the trouble," she apologized.
Taken aback, Karen stood up, "It's no worries, darling," waving his hand in the air to dismiss her sentiment.
"If that's the case.., may I go now?" she asked.
Rasha and Cain might be worried nuts right now. She told them that she will only be gone until the afternoon and be back home in time for lunch however, thinking about the time she spent sleeping in here, and how she's feeling rejuvenated, she's guessing it's already night time.
"I have to get home if you don't mind."
"Of course, of course. Let me see you out." Karen responded enthusiastically, leading the way out of the room.
She followed through.
"I am grateful for your help, you helped a stranger without any hesitation and even took me in your place. If there would be something I can do for you, tell me."
Karen gave her a smile and asked her instead.
"Your name, darling?"
"I am-" her words were caught in the middle when a loud, grumbling noise interrupted her. It was her stomach. "Marionette- don't mind that, please."
"No, no, it's fine. Why don't you have dinner first before leaving, and I'll tell you what I'd want in exchange. I'll take you up on your offer. It's a principle of mine not to reject any blessings."
"I- I don't want to further trouble you-"
"No, darling, it's no trouble. It's fine, it's only a few food, and.. if you really don't want to be indebted, I'll ask you a favor but for now, let's silence those beast inside."
"I'm really sorry." She lowered her gaze, perplexed at her own grumbling stomach.
Karen beckoned her to follow as he turned left, leading the way to a long hallway, it was an empty vestibule, with only the color of army green that was illuminated.
The road felt long but as soon as she could sight a huge door, the empty hall was suddenly filled with various accessories. Karen opened the door and what unveiled in Marionette's eyes was something beyond her expectation.
"W-what is this place..?" Her jaw dropped upon what she saw when the door opened.
Karen looked back at her and gave her a rather, spooky smirk chilling her to the bones.
She gulped.
The strange things that welcomed her inside was bizarre.
Girls in lace dresses were dancing around to a sensual and blaring music.
Marionette looked above. The high-ceiling seemed conscientious with its classic glit chandelier. There were also paintings in nude on every wall by some unknown artists.
"This is a brothel I own. Do you feel uncomfortable?" Karen asked.
He stopped on what appears to be a cafeteria, he gestured for her to sit down. Marionette was suspicious but still sat and moments later, a tray full of food was served in the table.
Her stomach grumbled again so when Karen told her to eat freely, she helped herself without getting embarassed. Forgetting to mind her surroundings.
Karen watched his guest. He was quite enthralled with the existence of Marionette. A beauty. Someone his business badly needs. Now that he helped her and she offered to return the favor to not feel indebted to him, he knew he should grab this chance.
What lies beneath the nice image of Karen, is an ulterior motive. A bad, dark intention.
Marionette finished eating but just as she was drinking water, Karen caught her off-guard with his proposition.
Nothing is free in life. Even a simple act of kindness, now has something in exchange.
"Why don't you work for me, Marionette?"
"Work.. you mean?"
"My customers are high-profiled businessmen, sometimes, also celebrities and most other times, politicians, but to be precise, they are all professionals who own a million, or a billion dollar in their bank accounts and are willing to spend thousands of dollar to bid for the enchantress that you- I see the potential in you to become the most desired woman in this brothel."
Marionette looked around, the girls were wearing seductive clothes, actually, some, almost none. What she thought at first was that they were only dancing, but as she thought wrong, because they are actually.. prostitutes.
She turned to look Karen in the eyes. "I do feel indebted to you for helping me but this.." she trailed off, trying to find the right words to not offend him. "I mean, this is not for me, Karen."
Karen's enthusiastic smile vanished in an instant. Now, he was looking at Marionette with seriousness, his dark green eyes staring at her with anticipation, as if he didn't just hear her rejection.
Marionette gulped, feeling the tension and pressure, then, an idea clicked on her head.
"H-how about dancing? I've learned all kinds of dancing since I was young and I excell in belly dancing. I could dance to entertain your guests but.. in terms of servicing them.. I-I'm sorry but I can't."
'What a pushover.'
Karen almost broke into laughter but he remained emotionless, however, in his head, he was mocking the lovely but naive lady in front of him.
"Dancing? Why not, here's my calling card. Contact me if you're really decided to do this, you're welcome here. For now, let's hail you a cab, it's getting late and I know you wanna go home."
Marionette's suggestion came out under pressure, she was impulse and she knew she can't take it back.
On her way home after talking some more with Karen, she only then realized, if she does take the job and makes a fortune out of it for some time, she might be able to save up for funding the enterprise.
It might help her.
But also, may put her in danger.
However, the truth is, the decision lies in her, whatever her choice may be, either way, it will save or break her. She just have to be wise.
- Writer
