I never thought the day would come when I would finally breathe in peace and have a calmer heart.
Talking to my little brother Faruk made me feel so light, so full of hope. I tried to absorb everything through his voice while waiting for the video calls, because according to the pimp, it still wasn't the right time—she needed more assurance from me that I'd keep my agreement to be the best prostitute in the house. I would be… I was being…
I could tell from my brother's voice the excitement as he talked about his new school friends. I felt joy hearing him speak to me again after two weeks, noticing he was thrilled at the thought of seeing me. His voice was clear, with no trembling or signs that he might be forced to say those things by someone, because yes, I still wasn't entirely convinced this was real. It's strange…
But it's a joy for me to feel that my little brother was doing well, being cared for and respected. And I would keep giving my all in this place so he could live well, healthy, and not go through what I go through here. I would give him a good life, even if it was only for him.
Happy, at peace in a way I hadn't been in a long time, I lay on the bed hugging my phone. Yes, I could have a phone, even if it was confiscated and programmed to only make calls to Faruk's boarding school. It was mine, and I didn't need to go to the pimp Margaret to ask permission. I just waited for Saturday to arrive, called at the agreed time, and could talk as much as I wanted and as much as he could listen.
I smile, my eyes full of tears.
Faruk said his hair is getting long. I imagine my brother with a lion's mane, with his chubby face and puffy cheeks—he must look so adorable. I'm going to hug him so tight when the day comes for us to see each other, and it will come. Of that, I'm certain.
— Looks like the slut is touching the clouds.
At that, I sat up in bed.
— Get out of my room. _I demanded, furious.
The bitch who'd been giving me hell in this place walked into my room and started pacing, observing and touching everything, checking her fingertips for dust.
— How did a whiny, crybaby slut manage to turn things around and become so desired? _She stared at me, her eyes dripping with envy as they scanned my body.
I stand up.
— Have you ever considered that I might just be doing my job well instead of trying to pull the rug out from under others?
She laughed and went to my vanity, opening the drawer and grabbing my highlighter. I grimace.
— I got here before you and came here on my own. I don't understand how a slut who whined and cried every time a man entered her pussy can suddenly love what she does overnight. _She opened the package and swiped the highlighter above her cheekbones with her fingertip.
I shook my head, incredulous that even in this promiscuous life, people could envy you.
Annoyed that she was getting on my nerves so early, I rushed toward her and pushed her.
— Get out of my room. You're not welcome. _I gripped her arm tightly and looked her in the eye, tooth for tooth. — You don't want me as an enemy.
— Do you really have that much power to dare threaten me? _She tried to break free from my grip on her thin arm but couldn't. I pinned her against the side of my vanity and used my other forearm to press against her neck.
— Do you really think I've been through everything I have just for another whore to think she has the right to bother me for doing my job? _I pressed my forearm deeper into her neck, and her hands came up to pull my hair. — What's your problem with me?
— I'll kill you. _She declared with so much hatred, but I still laughed, letting her go and ripping her filthy hands from my clean hair.
— You'd be doing me a huge favor. Now get the hell out of here. Or I'll beat the crap out of you… and believe me, I have a client who does martial arts and taught me a lot.
She rubbed her neck and glared at me with fury, wishing for my head.
— You're dead… tick-tock… tick-tock… _The wretch turned her back on me, repeating the tick-tock of my clock running.
Go fuck yourself… sicko.
---
Night had arrived, and the girls and I were in the VIP area, drinking with some guys and chatting amidst the loud music.
— For me, the biggest star in this brothel is the Black Widow… there's no way around it, it's like she's the queen bee. _A client complimented me and came to sniff my neck.
Aurora laughed, winking at me and bringing her drink to her lips.
— That son of a bitch said the same thing to me when he had his dick buried in my ass yesterday. _She remarked, pretending to be offended, and the client let go of my neck to give hers some attention, leveling the situation.
— My dick is yours too, darling.
I roll my eyes, bringing an olive to my mouth and savoring its slightly bitter, slightly sour taste.
Suddenly, I saw movement at the entrance and the security guards pushing the girls aside.
— What's going on? _Aurora looked at me.
Confused and grimacing, I stood up and tried to see what could be happening. It didn't seem like a fight, as the guards would've already shot into the air to calm things down.
Aurora grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the entrance. It was then, pushing through the crowd, that we saw a body in a black bag lying at the entrance of the brothel's VIP area.
Letting go of Aurora's hand, I walked through the curious and alarmed crowd and crouched down, braver than the guards as I unzipped the bag and froze in horror at who was inside, dead.
— My God… it's one of the girls. _Aurora screamed in shock and dropped to her knees beside me. In slow motion, I turned my eyes to hers and shook my head, bewildered by what was happening in this place.
I looked back at the lifeless body and, trembling, unzipped the bag further, hearing the crowd's uproar as they saw the woman with her breasts cut off, bleeding fresh blood and, below, countless cuts on her stomach.
At that moment, one of the clients, a policeman, crouched down too. I was so shocked and paralyzed by the scene that I fell back, sitting in terror.
— Another victim of the modus operandi.
I hear and raise my eyes to the policeman taking out his phone.
— What's that? _I don't understand.
— It was murder, and the cuts clearly show it's related to a modus operandi. I got a distorted call from the killer, which is why I came here today. I was watching everything and still couldn't see who left the body here. _The policeman lamented, shaking his head. — I already know this won't lead anywhere. The guy or woman behind this is a master at this kind of execution. Their main goal is not to get caught. The police are no match for them. The killer had stopped for a few months, but it seems they're back in full force. _He revealed, and I realized this so-called killer, man or woman, was terrifying even to someone who dealt with all kinds of crimes.
My entire body shivered hearing and seeing this.
But it got a thousand times worse when I stopped to think that the dead woman in that bag was the bitch who threatened to kill me earlier today in my room.
---
I'm outraged by what I hear when I return from the police station where I gave my statement.
— Margaret, are you crazy? We just lost one of the girls, and you want me to work? _My eyes widen.
I had stormed into her office in a frenzy and didn't even look around, just slammed my hands on the desk, desperately wishing I could slap this disgusting old woman's face.
— That client is back…
— He can go fuck himself. I don't have the stomach for this.
Suddenly, I felt something firm, like metal, touching the back of my head.
Terrified, unaware of who had been in the office this whole time, I turned around and entered my worst state, the horrifying one, when the barrel of his gun slid to my forehead.
His face was thinner, his gaze deeper, the corner of his mouth cut. He had returned, and he came back more catastrophic than the first time I saw him.
That day, he gave me a dark night and shattered my soul.
And today, it seemed that tonight he would devour it slowly, and in his dark, sinister eyes, there was hunger for it.
— How much more suffering can you endure, Lavínia?
The booming tone, the hoarse voice, and the soul-devouring gaze. Everything left me shaken.
He was back, and he came back craving a soul.