3 Chapter 3 - The black widow and the weeping woman

Adria was not the only woman who'd been unfortunately dragged screaming and kicking into this world made of grit and pain and suffering. The compound's main populace was that of unfortunate women coerced into the kind of lifestyle one only ever read about or saw on tv – to put it simply, it was hellish.

She had thought herself the only woman crazy enough to disregard the rules so blatantly, but then she'd met the infamous black widow and the weeping willow woman.

Amy, the weeping willow, had lost her daughter to the very same traffickers. So, she put on her best Sunday dress, brushed back her blonde hair and knocked on their door. Literally. It had been a debacle. Her daughter had already been sent off, as she was one of the younger ones, merely 9. Amy had lost her marbles, went into shock, and remained paralysed while weeping constantly. The patrons had scrunched their nose. Amy had many ticks, strange and bizarre at best and downright creepy at worst; not even the dregs of society dared to copulate with her. She was moved to a secluded part that would soon become their abandoned corner. No one really knew how long Amy had been alone locked away – their best guess had been something close to 8 years.

Now, Rosie was another matter altogether. If her nickname as the black widow did not say enough about her, then her reputation would because she was just the type where the rumours were actually facts and not flowery, far-fetched lies. She had the tendency to kill the patrons. Chain her up. She would use the chains to suffocate them. Drug her. Her body would poison them magically. Multiple patrons? Well, let's just say that had been a party. A party of blood, gore, and body parts. She had killed every single one of them and then some. With a fork. Apparently, fatty Rick lost his mind, called in the big boss and they had a long, long meeting before they just said fuck it and shoved her in the same place as Amy.

Each kept to their own corners. They had probably exchanged less than a sentence in the last 2 weeks and 3 days since Adria had joined them. It did not surprise Adria that they had chosen this day to converge in her room, so to speak.

Rosie was a woman made to seduce, all curves and long legs, with black curly hair and bright sea green eyes. When she walked into a room, every eye would turn to her. She made walking look sexy. That is what Adria had gleamed from the other girls in her first week. The compound had not been kind to Rosie. The curves were there but less noticeable and her features were gaunt. She looked like an underweight, sick Angelina Jolie.

Amy had been a European beauty, the classic blonde with baby blue eyes and a slight, willowy frame. She'd been innocent and bright, the kind of woman you would find in an advert for expensive perfume. The compound had turned her into a silver of the woman she had been - jagged lines and sharp teeth made up Amy these days. Her blonde hair was like sand and her eyes dull, dark, jaded.

They had one thing in common. Their desire to get out and the cunning that had saved them from the fate of the other women. There could be only one reason why they sought her out risking Ricky's scrutiny.

"You're going to play your hand tomorrow," Rosie said.

She had a deep voice, roughened by years of cigarettes.

Adria nodded, leaning on the wall, she sat down. It had been a long time since she could sit like a normal human.

"You want in?"

Amy watched her keenly, gaze eagle sharp, and whatever she had found in Adria seemed to satisfy her. She dropped the hunched shoulders, choosing to slink back and let Rosie do the talking. Adria was curious now.

"There's this thing where you use words to say what you want. I can't read minds."

Adria could be nicer, but Adria liked them enough to be an asshole. Call it reverse psychology. The more polite she was to someone, the more she hated them.

"We know what you're planning."

Adria flicked the dirt beneath her fingernail, she found it oddly therapeutic.

"Mihm, no I don't think you do. Unless you have mind reading powers?"

Amy scoffed. Rosie, well, Rosie grinned, and by gods if that was not one of the most traumatic experiences in Adria's life. She liked them even more.

"You are going to use the showcase to make a run for it. Now, what I'm personally curious about is how you'll go about it. Everyone knows you can't get past the guards no matter what you do," Rosie said.

Amy chipped in, voice soft and velvety.

"That's a stupid question."

Rosie glared over her shoulder, crossing her arms. It emphasised her ample bosom. Wow, they were probably a double D. She huffed, rolled her eyes, and turned back to Adria.

"What makes you think you'll be successful."

That was a better question. Still, Adria had no reason to give them more than they needed to know. They could ruin everything.

"A little birdie told me a little something."

"Ricky."

"What do you know?" Rosie asked.

"Enough to get out."

It had both their attention. Amy sat forward, leaning over the edge of the boulder. Rosie rocked on the hills of her bare feet.

"Care to share?"

"No. I don't trust you."

The air hung like a heavy curtain between them, a tension crackling along her joints, her heartbeat rabbiting to a war drum beat. She swore for a second there Amy's eyes had changed colour. Adria had no time to think on it further because Rosie took a step closer, vibrating an aura so murderous it would make babies cry. She saw for the first time the black widow and not the woman she had a grudging respect for. Her eyes were narrowed, cruel, and cold. A calculating glint made Adria wander if she was coming up with ways to kill her. If each method became more grotesque.

Adria stood up, baring her teeth at the prowling predator.

"That won't work on me, little bird."

Rosie took another pointed step forward.

"Fine. I'll tell you so back the fuck off."

Rosie raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow (how in the name of the lord did she maintain them?). She waited until the widow stepped back to stand next to Amy. When did she stand up?

"I heard the big boss is coming for tomorrow's show case, Ricky put me in as the last act but how I get out is my fucking business. Fuck off now."

"We should team up," Rosie said.

Adria shook her head.

"Aha, ah I don't think so. I considered that before your ass went full on psycho on me. So, no thanks."

"Your loss, baby girl. Hit me up if you change your mind."

Nope. No. Noh. Adria was so not doing that level of cringe. Rosie shrugged, winking as she sashayed out. Amy threw her one last look before she followed Rosie. Somehow, Amy made her feel more uncomfortable. There was just something off about the way she looked at Adria.