They reach a club who was given permission by the center as well, as long as no killing or drugs were used inside of it, or just don't get caught doing so, and goes into a room designated for changing and makeup, gets left there, prepares herself and removes the jacket before proceeding to her assigned room for the night.
Then he comes in, already looking a bit tipsy but she doesn't mind. Money is money.
"My kitten!"
He hops to where she is and suddenly pulls her face near to his gaze, scrutinizing the bits of scratches that cannot be covered by her make up skills.
"Who the hell did this? Who?!"
Silence.
"It was nobody. An accident."
"Accident? Are you looking down on my capacity to punish whoever it is?! Huh?!"
He screams as he pulls her hair to face him, then throws her away like a ragdoll. Typical outcome of a busy day.
"I'm the only one who can do anything to you, do you hear me?!"
A kick to her side.
"Answer me!"
A stomp on her shoulder.
"Yes…. Yes it's only you… just you."
She looks at him with a cold stare in return as if she's so used to being in pain that it doesn't deter her anymore.
Her clothes get torn open and she lets him do what he wants, her face not showing any expression of anger or contempt, but of emptiness and resignation. And he traces her tattoos once again with kisses, whispering his adoration on how it looks like a garden blooming on her skin, and how the bright red peonies fit her so well, just like the first night he had paid for her.
Like every other night that she sells herself for a large amount of labor points she can get, much more than the amount she receives from the capitol from working in her government-given slot in the workers hall.
It ends with her being all bruised up except for her face, which helps her to stay hidden from the eyes of others.
She goes into the changing room with her torn clothes while the man is snoring peacefully on the bed, not minding the looks given to her by the other workers and dancers.
Sighing loudly, she gets the balm on the cabinet the owner had provided in cases such as hers.
She was given a promise of a ticket, one that would allow her to apply for work outside of cell city, somewhere where normal people live. But she's planning to talk with him for the ticket to be given to her niece so that she can get adopted into an official orphanage and have another chance of a family, somewhere far from where she was born in.
Somewhere where she can fit well and be at ease.
And be always full and not left alone.
For the first time in a week, she tears up.
"Kitten?"
She looks up, and smiles, empty, as it has always been, ribs still throbbing. But it feels nice to hear her name, even if it's just the one used for her mask, said in a concerned tone.
"You do know he doesn't like it when he wakes up and you're not there beside him."
"I know No- Lady Dee… I just needed to… to put something for the pain. I still need to go, have a duty tomorrow."
"…I'm sorry."
"You don't need to be sorry."
"But still, I…"
"Listen here, this is not the right time to talk about this, but don't ever, ever, feel guilty towards me. Do you understand?"
Instead of answering, she approaches her and gets some wipes and proceeds to removing the lipstick from hers, followed by placing her on another one.
"No matter how many times I've told you, you keep on forgetting that brick red is not your color, it's beige and peach. Okay?"
The younger nods and lets the other put on a new tint on her lips, and proceeds to walk towards the room where her guest is staying, while the other just walks past her, before sitting and looking at her own illuminated reflection on the glass cup filled with rum. Left alone in the well-lit room, her smile slipping off as she forces herself not to look back.
She wants to help them all, the ones she brought under her care, but she knows her supposed protection has brought pain in the process.
--
As she returns to her spot in the dim corner, gently proceeds to get his arms and wrap it around her, not because she wanted to or it's cold, but he hits him more if he notices her lying from afar. Noticing him stirring beside her, she speaks softly.
"Sir... will the ticket be ready soon?"
"Hmm?"
"The ticket… the one you've said you'd let me have."
"Ugh, let me sleep more."
"Okay. I'll wait. Sleep."
Past three comes and the bell inside the room rings, signifying the end of his paid time, he groggily sits up and wears his suit hurriedly before kissing her on the cheek, soft, as if he just did not hurt her a few hours ago.
Before he finally leaves for the day, he proceeds to take a folded piece of paper from his wallet and hands it to her, face lit up in a smile.
"Here's the ticket I was telling you. That's an open line so we can use it anytime we want to travel to the next city. I'll have the matron inform you of the schedule so keep it safe, but I don't mind if you brag it to others. You're my favored one after all."
He says in a smirk and goes away, leaving her frozen on the spot, holding onto the ticket as if it's her last lifeline.
She changes clothes and proceeds to walk home, despite of the 20-minute distance and it being almost 4 in the morning already.