1 Chapter 1

Katir get down to work now Smith bellows over the phone.

Scrambling up, I quickly check the time and I see that I am already late. I run out of bed, put on some clean clothes and run of out the hostel where I stay. As I walk fast to the dingy restaurant where I work, I am filled with a sense of foreboding. I quickly slip into an alley to make my journey shorter. I quicken my steps because I know it is very unsafe to be walking around in a dark alley.

10 minutes later, I run into the restaurant panting.

I quickly run into the employees room to change before I can be intercepted  by anyone.

Changing into my uniform, I step out to the main area where I am intercepted by my friend Smith.

What the hell Katir. Where were you? He asks in a hushed tone.

I am about to answer him when we are suddenly interrupted by Adam the restaurant owner.

Now let me tell you something about Adam. He is an asshole. I mean grade-A asshole. He is also a pervert. I can't count the number of times Adam has invited me to his office for a quick round of sex and each time I turn him down, the harsher he becomes.

You are late again Katir he says in a stern tone

Yes sir. I am so sorry. I was caught up in something and I slept off I say.

Even as I am talking, I am conscious of the fact that Adam doesn't seem to want to hear me.

Your sorry doesn't bring in business for me lady he says.

Yes Adam but.. I start

But nothing he cuts me off. You are fired.

For a moment I can't breathe or move. Why will I be fired. Yes I know the job is crap but it's still a job. It helps me pay for the bed space I take in the hotel. I don't know how to get another job and I know how hard it is to get a job in the city.

Please Adam. I need the job. I would do anything I say and immediately the words come out of my mouth I realize my mistake.

Anything? He asks with a glint in his eyes. I try to force myself to say yes even though I know he is obviously talking about sex but I just can't.

Anything apart from sex I say while holding onto the hope that he has something else in mind.

His expression immediately hardens and he says Get out of here in such a hard tone that I flinch.

Trudging back to the employees room, I change out of my uniform, neatly pack it and put it in the locker allocated to me. I pull on my clothes and leave the employee room. Passing the kitchen, I keep my face down but I can still feel the pitying glances from the other employees. I am almost at the door when I hear Smith calling my name. Turning back, I see him looking sad on my behalf. I wave at him and walk out of the restaurant. I stand outside the restaurant for a few moments before I start walking again. I must have been walking for about 5 minutes when suddenly it starts raining.

Really? Rain? I shout at the skies. It may seem ridiculous but suddenly I feel so tired. I quickly duck into the alley I passed this morning. I stand under a tiny roof in the alley while hoping the rain is going to be short. While standing here I suddenly start thinking about my whole life. Losing my parents was hard and I am always struck with a pang of rage whenever I remember how they died. I firmly close that train of thought and shake my head to dispel any remaining fragments of the thought.

Hey lady a voice from my right says.

I jump up and screech in fright. I am about to start barrelling down the alley when I notice another man is blocking my exit.

Understanding slowly dawns on me and I look around to see that I am surrounded by five men in the alley with no means of escape.

No no no I mutter to myself.

What is a pretty lady like you doing all by yourself in this weather the same voice which first spoke says.

I turn around and face him and instantly I know he is the leader. He is a burly man with a thick mustache but it's his eyes that hold me captive. His eyes are cruel. I don't know how I know it but I just know it. It's almost like I am can see all the people he has tortured thorough his eyes.

Please let me go I plead.

They all suddenly start laughing and I make a break for it. I am caught by one of them around the waist and he tackles me to the group where I start striking out blindly even though I know it is useless. Tears are falling freely from my eyes and I can feel a wetness trickling down my wrist while one of them lies on me. Suddenly the weight is gone from my body and I slowly open my eyes and look around to see that the whole alley is empty. It's almost like nothing ever happened and I can almost believe nothing happened except for my bleeding wrist.

A man steps out of the shadow and I quickly scamper back.

He says nothing. Just walks to me and drops a card in my hands before walking away.

Opening my palms,.I see that the card contains a venue with an inscription saying

       " Come and keep me company for one night. The pay is 500,000 dollars".

For a moment I am shocked then I am angry. Who does he think he is to ask me to be a prostitute for him .

I am about to throw the card away when a hidden voice tells me to keep it. Stuffing the card in my purse, I limp home.