Playing With Destiny

The Bidding

I stared blankly at the ceiling. I think my tears have dried out from crying nonstop since our performance last night. It’s almost the c***k of dawn but I’m still wide awake.

We all broke down the moment we stepped back on our assigned room after the show was over. Dianne and Stella both fell asleep while crying but I can’t seem to sleep no matter how much I wanted it. I’m still hoping that everything will change once I wake up. Maybe when I wake up I would still be with my family.

I just sighed when I remembered what happened earlier. It was just the first night, said Mara. She’s one of the women who was kind enough to talk to us.

“On the first night, you were just allowed to dance on stage making the clients crave for you. That way, they can even ask for a higher price.” She said with pity in her eyes.

“Were you also deceived by them?” I asked.

It was our break and we were at the backstage again. We can’t take breaks at the same time. Dianne already had hers earlier and Stella will have hers next to mine that’s why I’m alone now. Good thing Mara approached me. She smiled bitterly with my question.

“No, my uncle sold me to Madam Hirushi. I was an orphan and they were the ones who raised me. When I was fourteen years old, Uncle got so drank one night. He dragged me all the way here while telling me that I should repay them for everything. I screamed for help but no one came to rescue me, not even my aunt who is my mother’s sister.”

I gasped after hearing her story. She had it worse, thinking how young she was when she came here. I’m nineteen now and I feel helpless, what more for a fourteen year old little girl?

“H-have you tried to escape?”

 “There’s no escaping this hell. We can’t even go out unless a customer wants to take us home.”

“Take us home?!”

“Shh… Keep it down” she whispered before taking a glance at the security men.

“As I’ve said, you will just dance on the first night. You get to have special treatment when you’re still new. You have higher value, that’s why.” She drank the wine on her glass. She said it’s courtesy of her regular client.

“On the succeeding nights, the clients will be allowed to take you to VIP rooms. Almost all the clients here are big time, tycoons and politicians. They make fortunes with our bodies.” She laughed without humor.

“W-what’s a VIP room?” I asked, my heart starts racing once more.

“Tss, why don’t they do orientations on newbies like you? Those devils, they think we’re some mindless dolls that they will just use to earn money! Sh*theads!” she sipped on her wine again before she continued.

“On the first floor there is a spa and the lobby, you’ve been there for sure on your first day. Do you remember?” I just nodded at her.

 “We are now at the second floor. This whole floor is just for the bar and dressing room. On the third floor…” she suddenly paused then smirked. “There were VIP rooms for private performances. All of them were equipped with cameras because the clients were not allowed to touch us there. We will just perform, strip dancing mostly.”

She explained casually, like it was not a big deal while I can’t breathe with everything she just told me. I gulped hard. How can I do those things? I’ve never even had a boyfriend before!

“And of course the fourth floor is where the f*cking suite rooms are. There, the clients can do everything they want with you. Every f*c king thing! Well you know what’s on the fifth, our rooms. Everything is sound proofed so no matter how loud you scream, no one will hear you. Not even a prince charming will come to save us.”

My tears came rushing down as I’ve heard everything. I was just thinking about it and yet I feel like I’d rather die than to experience all of that. My family will surely understand. I cried more.

“Sometimes, when a client really wants you they can take you home. There will be a contract based on how many days the client wants you on his home. After that, madam Hirushi’s men will take you back, giving you no opportunity to escape.” She stopped to eat her snacks.

“I tried to escape once but I was caught immediately. The client tortured me because it was stated in the contract that if we were able to escape from their custody, they have to pay triple. Ah, that was so harsh. Until now, I can still recall everything they did.”

I was wondering how she can tell all of these with ease. I bet it has been so hard for her. How come it’s not hurting her now?

“They r*ped me. Not only the client, he also let his men use me. He even invited some friends over. It wasn’t enough, he starved me and beat the sh*t out of me. I felt like I was in hell already.”

“I-I’m so sorry” my tears went on like a broken dam after hearing her story.

“Don’t be. It only made me stronger. And that’s not the end of the story yet.” She smirked naughtily.

“What?”

“After sending me back, Hirushi didn’t spare me with another round of torture. I almost died but they did not even allow that. It was far worse than death, so don’t try to escape. Look.” She turned her back on me and that’s when I saw her scars on her back.

“And here” she pointed at the round scars on her inner thighs. “Those are cigarette burns.”

“I don’t want you to endure the same hell that I’ve been through. Don’t worry you’ll get used to it eventually.” She took another sip from her wine glass.

“Your tears will dry up. The pain will get numbed…”

“Hey sluts! No more talking! Go back on stage!” France shouted. Mara stood up and I have no choice but to follow even if I feel so weak.

I tightly closed my eyes, trying to stop the memories from earlier from rushing back. I tried to go to sleep even if it seems impossible.

“Three hundred thousand!” a man declared after raising his hand. He was smiling like a fool.

I hugged myself while standing in the middle of the stage. My whole body is shivering, not only because of the cold but mostly caused by the overwhelming fear that is consuming me right now.

This is our third night and France announced earlier that we can already be brought to VIP rooms. And for them to be able to do that, bidding is set. Dianne went first and she was bought for two hundred fifty thousand.

I harshly wiped the tears on my face. Several men are raising their offers just to take me. The bid started at fifty thousand until it got higher. I wanted to scream to stop them but the sight of Hirushi’s well-built men stops me from doing so. I was raging inside and I swear I could kill Madam Rose the next time I see her!

“Going once... Going twice…”

“Three hundred twenty!” a tall, balding man shouted.

“Juliana sold for three hundred twenty thousand!” the emcee announced when nobody raised the price anymore. They are the ones who gave me that nickname that they use to call me during performances.

I looked at the man who won the bidding. His face seems to split because of his wide grin. Even though my whole being was defiant, I still couldn't do anything because two men approached me and grabbed my arm to lead me out.

“Behave properly, Juliana” France whispered in my ear, taunting me before the men can take me out. I wanted so bad to hurt that b***h! One day I will, I swear!

My muffled sobs gradually made a sound as we entered the elevator. I just fell quiet when I felt a man's hand violently land on my head. I hardly bit my lip to suppress any sound from coming out making it bleed. I can sense the disgusting metallic taste on my mouth.

After a while we’re on our way inside the VIP room. It is a small room with all the walls covered in mirrors. There’s a pole standing on a platform in the middle. A small glass table is in front of it and then there were elegant loungers against the wall.

I was pushed inside the room before the door was slammed leaving me alone inside. There was a bottle of alcohol and some kind of food on the table.

When I glanced at the glass wall of the room I could hardly recognize myself. My eyes were swollen from crying and my nose was red.

I cowered into a corner when the door suddenly opened and revealed the man who had won the bidding earlier. He is still smirking as he looked at me from head to toe. He slowly walked to where I was standing.

“You can’t touch me!” I screamed before he could get to me.

“Ah yes. That’s a shame!” he took a seat on the lounger instead.

“Just pour me some wine then, milady.” He asked while his eyes are scanning me from head to toe.

I cautiously looked at him before I did what he asked. Praying silently that he won’t make me do something worse. His eyes were glued on my bre*sts as most part of it was exposed in front of him.

With my trembling hands, I poured some wine into the glass then put it in front of him.

“Now be a good sl*t and walk over to that pole.”

My tears were falling non-stop as I obeyed him. He smirked when I didn’t protest.

“Dance for me.”

I bit back my sobs as I grabbed the pole. We’ve been training during the days so I’m getting used on this thing. I did the routines that they taught us.

Well this could be better than dancing in front of all those people. At least now, only this pathetic excuse of a man is watching me. I tried to convince myself as I continued to work my way with the stainless pole.

When the song was about to finish, I let myself drop from the top then held on just before I hit the floor as the same time the music stopped.

“Bravo!” the man was even clapping his hands.

“Now, I want you to remove your bikini top.” He suddenly said and I was like hit by a train.

“W-What?!” I breathily whispered.

“I said strip your top off!” he said in a louder and commanding voice.

I shook my head in response.

“No, please…” I cried and tried to beg for him.

“I paid for you. Now you better hurry before our time finishes. I need to get my money’s worth!” his voice boomed inside the small room and I was left with no choice.

Letting my top fell to the ground as I tried to cover myself with my arms.

“C’mon, show me those babies.” He was barking in laughter.

In my head, I was imagining hitting his head with the wine bottle but fought myself against it. Yes, maybe I can beat him as we’re alone in this room but what will happen after? Madam Hirushi has countless of men to guard us and I am no match to even one of them. I have no choice but to do everything that this devil in front of me asks.

"Good, now I want you to remove that." he said while pointing at the last piece of clothing left on my body.

Tears fell abundantly from my eyes as I shook my head in defiance.

"No please... Sir... I can't do that" I pleaded in between my sobs.

"Of course you can, that's your job!"

I took in a deep breath as I let my bikini fall down to the floor. I swallowed the lump on my throat as I felt myself getting stripped off my clothes and dignity at the same time.

Just when I thought that nothing could get worse than this, the evil spoke once again and it shook my whole being.

"Turn around and bend over!" he said in a commanding voice, his hands were playing with the wine glass that he was holding.

"C'mon, do it if you don't want me to complain to Hirushi, I'm sure she won't tolerate this kind of behavior from her whores." he taunted and I just did what he asked me to.

My shoulders were shaking so badly from my sobs as I did what he said.

"Woah, what a beautiful sight!"

He is sick. A sick b*astard! I hope he rots in hell!

"Now, pleasure yourself and give me a good show!"

My skin hurts from the pressure of rubbing it but I don't care. I could feel my filth even though the man didn't touch me. When I remember what he asked me to do last night while I was not wearing anything I feel sick.

I stood under the shower. I am well aware that no matter how many times I wash myself, I couldn’t change anything but I still went on.

I don’t know what kind of cruel joke of destiny this is but I won’t give up without putting up a fight. I swear I won’t stop until I escape this hellish place even if it will cause my death.

When I finally came out of the bathroom, I caught up with a dazed Stella while Dianne was sleeping. I sat down next to her and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back before breaking into sobs. We both wept on each other's shoulders...