Owning Her Heart

Chapter 3

Christina

I was going through another one of the harshest days. The sun would soon set, but we had yet to obtain a single cent. The streets were mostly deserted because of the heavy beating rain. And the few people we did manage to encounter were too busy seeking shelter to bother with us. I stared at the people rushing through the road helplessly. Seemed like we were in for another night of sleeping on an empty stomach. Leaving my shelter, I despondently trudged back towards the place I left Lucia. I came here to this part of the city because I knew I'd encounter more people here. However, some quite dangerous people lurked through these streets, so I didn't want Lucia to accompany me.

The rain descended on me heavily, but I forced my feet to carry me forward, intent on getting to Lucia. But at some point, my trembling became too much and I had to take a break at the nearest shelter. However, one look at my surroundings and my eyes widened in wariness. Of all places I could have chosen to stop, it had to be close to a club for prostitutes. It appeared like a normal strip club but looking at the people who occasionally left the place with scantily dressed girls, it was obvious what really transpired here. It was quite common to encounter prostitutes in this area. Some walked the streets, others working in clubs. I think the one in front of me is the biggest and most popular one around here.

As much as I wanted to leave this place, my trembling was still as fierce. I burrowed myself in a corner, hoping no one would notice me. At some point, a vehicle stopped in front of the club, dropping off one of the prostitutes before moving away. I only briefly glanced at it all, keeping my head lowered as I listened to the clicking of her heels onto the pavement. But then I noticed the sound getting closer to me and I tensed. Her legs, clad in a garter belt and high-knees entered my field of vision, stopping right in front of me but I still kept my gaze lowered.

"What do we have here?" The woman intoned in her throaty voice. "Looking for a better life for yourself, my poor kid?"

I gulped nervously, shaking my head.

Her well-manicured hand reached out, tipping my chin up. Beneath her heavy makeup, she appeared still in her early twenties, her curly dark hair gathered in a mass over her head. However, I could sense no malicious intent behind her dark green eyes.

"No need to be shy, honey." She cooed, grinning at me. "I was just like you in the past. Then someone offered me the opportunity to work here and all my troubles flew away. I can now afford my own apartment and obtain my daily fix."

She probably thought I was a drug addict and interpreted my trembling as withdrawal symptoms. Most of the people thought the same of me, my skinny and malnourished figure further convincing them.

"You've got a nice face," the girl added, closely examining me. "If I put in a good word for you, I'm sure they'll be willing to employ you." She reached for my arm, pulling me towards the club. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the manager. My name is Jeanette, by the way. Just call me Jane."

"Wait!" I tried saying, but she still kept dragging me away.

I dug my heels into the ground with more strength. "Sorry but I'm not interested. I… don't do those things."

Even though it was probably the only place where I had even an infinitesimal chance of getting a job, I'd much rather die of hunger than sell my body. Just the thought made me shudder with revulsion.

Jane tilted her head. "If it's about lack of experience, I can teach you everything you need to know."

I shook my head vehemently. "I'm not willing to sell my body."

She eyed me skeptically. "Then what are you going to do about this?" She motioned towards my quivering body.

"I'm just cold. But it's okay, I'll deal with it." I explained. I then gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you for your offer. But I can't accept it."

I really did feel touched that she reached out to me. Normally the people around me were only concerned about their own problems and wouldn't look twice my way.

She scoffed. "Then what are you gonna do? Keep living in these streets until you die of hunger or hypothermia?"

"I'll find some other way out of this." I said firmly.

Her eyes on me were almost pitying. "Sorry for breaking it out to you honey, but there's no other way out of this. There's only two options. Either work here or keep groveling at people's feet for a few cents only to be trampled all over and get raped by foul-smelling junkies."

I inhaled sharply as I stared at her, my eyes burning. I had no response because I knew she was right. There had been many close calls in the past and I won't keep being so lucky each time. Either I give my virginity away to some random stranger or have it taken from me forcefully. But still, after all the pains I went through to escape my uncle, how could I resort to willingly letting other men like him touch me?

Seeing my lack of response, Jane sighed wearily. "If you're still unwilling then there's nothing I can do. But I know you'll soon realize that this is your other option. When that day comes, you can just come to find me here." She then reached into her cleavage, retrieving a hundred dollar bill. "You can buy your fix for the day with this."

I stared wide-eyed at the money, which was more than I'd ever seen since my parents died. I knew it had to be a lot for her as well and I opened my mouth to politely refuse. But she placed her finger against my lips, winking at me.

"Just think of it as a little loan. You can return it to me when you change your mind and begin earning your own money." She then stepped back, heading towards the club. "Well then, I'll go look for my next customer. Good luck, kid."

My eyes teared up as I watched her strutting away and I placed the hundred dollar against my chest. She was so kind-hearted, helping out a stranger like me knowing full well that I might take the money away and never return it. I won't wrong her though. I'll safely store away the hundred dollars and look for another opportunity to return it to her.

It was dark by the time I reached Lucia, who was worried sick about me. My cold had now mostly subsided but it was now the hunger which mowed my stomach. To think that I had more than enough money in my possession to afford us both a copious meal. But I couldn't use it. However, Lucia surprised me by handing me a hamburger. My eyes widened in surprise even as I eyed the food hungrily.

"How did you get this?" I asked her in wonder.

"I bought it." She grinned. "I already ate mine, so it's all yours."

"How were you able to afford it?" I placed my hands on my hips. "Did you go out begging while I wasn't here? Even though I warned you not to?"

She lifted her hands in defense. "No I didn't!"

My eyes narrowed. "Then where did you get the money?"

She grimaced, then let out in a tiny voice. "I stole it."

"What!" I shouted. "Lucia!" I said sternly. "How many times do I have to tell you it's wrong to steal?"

She batted her eyes at me, trying to act cute. "I know, I'm sorry." She croaked. "I won't do it again."

"That's what you keep saying every time." I scolded. "But you still continue doing it."

"Let's look at the bright side of things. At least we won't sleep on an empty stomach tonight." She thrust the hamburger at me coaxingly. "It will go to waste if you don't eat it."

I sighed wearily, then reached out to ruffle her hair. "You little devil. Always making me worry so much." I took the hamburger from her and sat down beside her. My clothes were still wet but right now I was more interested in calming my hunger.

"Thank you, my sweet Lucia." I murmured, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too Chris." She leaned her head against my shoulder, my wet clothes not seeming to bother her.