Once Upon A Prostitute

CHAPTER 2 - ANOTHER WAY.

I wake up really early. Having series of nightmares doesn't help for a good night's sleep. I kneel down to say my prayers but my mind is blank and my heart is heavy. The words I mumble don't make sense even to me, but old habits die hard. I was raised in a religious home so prayer was a given every morning. I won't say prayer has been a magic pill for me but I'm slow to change. It's also kind of relieving to talk to a supreme being about your problems when no one is around and you're almost losing your mind.

After my quiet prayer, I fold up the carton and keep back in the corner beside the cleaning supplies. Time to get out of here. It is still early according to my wristwatch – 5:30am, but I can not risk being found by the janitor who kept the cleaning supplies. He'd probably be mad that I tore up his supply box. I'm guessing he shows up every morning and leaves soon after cleaning. That would explain why he wasn't here when I took up residence in the evening. I tip-toe to the front door which is shut now. I look around the hallway, it's empty. Most of the lights overhead are dead and rest cast eerie dim shadows around. I find the door handle and pull. It doesn't budge. What the hell! I pull harder. Nothing. Maybe it is jammed, or maybe it has a trick handle. I should probably turn it upwards. I try that but it stays shut. Oh God, let this door not be locked. I start to panic. I'm standing here rattling and pulling the door handle, so desperate to get out I didn't realize I was making a noise.

"Hey, who's there?"

I freeze just as a flashlight is beamed at me. I can't see the person behind it but he must be tall judging from the position of the flashlight. The light moves to my face and I have to close my eyes because of its brightness.

"Who are you? How did you get in? He demands in a deep serious voice.

Me? How did you come in? There was no security guard here when I sneaked in yesterday. He must have come in after I slept because I didn't hear a thing. Do apartments even have security guards now? Suddenly get scared and start to panic again. What if he calls the cops. They'd discover I don't have my immigration papers. I know my life is wack already, but I am not ready to be shipped back home, not yet. I try to think of something.

"I umm...came to see a friend. I slept over." I mutter looking down.

"Oh yeah. Who?" He presses.

"John".

"There's no John living here" he states matter-of-factly.

"He must have given me a wrong name then. We met at the diner."

He gave me a look that said yeah right. "Look girl, you have one last chance to tell me who you are and how you got in here. In fact, you know what, I'm calling the cops"

My head snaps back up in alarm. "You can't do that" I exclaim.

"You think?" He straightens up and pulls out a phone from his pocket, then begins to punch in numbers.

"Well, you're doing a crappy job yourself if I slept here all night and you didn't even know until morning. I bet the owner of this place will love to hear that" I don't think I am in a position to be dishing threats but I have to do something. He glares at me menacingly but still hits the dial button. My pulse quickens but I hold his gaze feigning a boldness I do not feel.

"I've been doing this for the last two days and you didn't even notice. If I were him, I'd fire you on the spot". I watch the doubt and fear flicker across his features. He eyes me for a moment while I hold his gaze and square my shoulders. This is the stance I and Tetura often showcased when the older girls in the ring tried to bully us. It never intimidated them but they often let us be. I hope it'll work on a grown man too.

"Don't ever come back here...," he says finally and ends the call just as soon as it connects. "...or you'd regret it."

I nod and spin around as fast as an ice-skating figure. I want to get out before he changes his mind. Realizing the door is still locked, I look at him. He steps forward and opens it up with some keys. I breathe a sigh of relief when the cold air hits my face as I walk out. That was close.