n's

te smoke that clung to the skin. I could feel it on my tongue when I swallo

oice low. "Gwen, I need money for rent. He gave me the c

u sold me out without ev

. Please, Gwen. If you say no, I'll have to give it back. My landlady, she will

I cut her

linked.

calm into my voice. "How do I

She sighed in re

rd the three men at the booth. Music thudded from

bad day," Amanda said with a fake laugh, ushe

e stench of tobacco. He smiled, all t

ked and sl

name?" Frank aske

we

"I saw you dance earlier. You're...

, the hairy one, pulled out a bundle of notes. F

a jolt of electricity. I'd never seen th

d. "Name your price. I just want you to dance for

turned suffocating. For a moment, I was back in the o

sixteen," I said, p

Don't lie. You

aid

n high. "Touch me again and I'll scr

n he exchanged glances with his friends, laug

unny?" I

ark said bet

on't talk to her like th

stared, heat rising in my ch

ories. You actually believed that rubbish about snipers hiding

my stomac

mockery. "If anyone got shot in here, don't you t

ood there, feeling the w

t. I'd clung to Amanda's stor

ng smoke. "She probably told you tha

hoed long after

still pounding. "Jose," I asked the bar

nda told you that, eh? She pulls that trick

ly. Protected

k appeared. "Gwen. Madam Gr

the corridor. The music faded, replaced by the rhythmic th

the smell of cigar smoke hit me first.

to lie to

lence. She turned, holding a fi

n't unde

hteen years old, not sixteen. Orphanage reco

epped closer, her perfu

hissed. "You'll pay back eve

ath hi

e into my face. "Lucky for you, someone's offered

hit me l

ll keep you safe. The truth about my age is out, and I c

ase... don't sell me. I'll work

cat toying with a mouse. "Good girl

corridor I'd never noticed before, its walls cold and metallic.

door, fished out a ke

prison cell. A table lined with bottles, a mirror shaped l

ng this plac

k growled, "and I'll

ica. Come to the secret room.

ch sank.

"Whatever you're pai

n dollars. For your virginity

es gav

k, precise, chewing gum loudly. "She doesn't need much makeup,

ts her flawless

ll. My skin tingled from the unfamiliar chemicals. My lips glossed.

another bag and to

it

t Jack. He drew a smal

It clung to my chest and hips, stopping indecently high on my

ho

ibly high heels, wobb

els," Monica muttered

t," Jac

gathered her bags and l

ur. "Be good to the client. Or y

ft me

lights. I tested the door, locked. My pulse raced. I

ock c

ack suit. His shoes gleamed like oil. He remov

Madam Green said

rmured. His voice was

with a metallic thud. He

reen said. "Jus

e doing

s done. Jus

the doorway. "Tak

d my waist. The world spun as he threw me over h

lights, peeling walls, the he

car waited by the alley, engine humming. Jack dum

ing into the open door. Her smile w

ront passenger seat, murmu

cked with a

started

red into streaks of colour. My reflection stare

dark city streets, one thought p

knows I

adam Green's laughter foll