Red Light

Karma: Act 2

Madame Yu sat at a table near the center of the common room. Several TV screens, secured behind plexiglass, were at one end of the room with a small group of women watching. Another group was doing some craft in a small huddle. The far corner had women working out with simple exercise equipment.

Ma'am was there doing arm curls and smiling venomously to herself.

In-between these groups, women shifted and flowed. Some gossiped. Some read. Some stared lost in what only they could see.

Wei Ying walked amongst the women. Bothering no one. Just peering over shoulders. Smiling absently. Whistling a bit. Always moving closer.

Madame Yu watched him from the side of her eyes. She hated him for contaminating her home. For being loved by her children. For simply being.

Finally, he settled himself comfortably in the seat opposite her.

She looked away. Unwilling to acknowledge him.

"Madame Yu." he said respectfully with a slight smirk.

He looked at her orange outfit. "Not really your color, is it? Perhaps you can discuss it with the Comissioner of Prisons. I believe he was at one of the parties you threw. If I remember correctly, you locked me in my room during that event. Ahhh, thank the gods Karma has a sense of irony not to mention humor."

His smile broadened further.

"Soooo... how long do you think you have? Until they know why you're here, I mean?"

His smile was now stretching to the edges of his face. Horrifying in its good humor as he contemplated her situation.

"Go away." she muttered.

"Pardon? I didn't hear you, Madame." he said politely as his grin got sharper.

Hungrier.

"I said go away!" her voice was clear and vicious.

"Now that sounds like you! Cold. Self-righteous. Vile." he laughed. Malicious glee dripped from his voice to sizzle on the table top.

She glared at him. Stared him dead in the eye.

"Fuck off, you little bastard." Her tone was pointed and poisonous.

Wei Ying broke into merry peals of laughter.

"Unfortunately - for you - I have no plans to go anywhere." His teeth lengthened as each word fell from his lips.

"You made my life hell. I'm just here to repay the favor." His eyes flickered crimson.

There was a commotion at the end of the room pulling Madame Yu's attention.

" - uncovered evidence of human trafficking that can be specifically linked to Mayor Jin Guangshan. This may also be connected to both his son, Jin Zixun, who was arrested today on murder charges and Madame Yu Ziyuan who was arrested yesterday for human trafficking."

A picture of Madame Yu flashed up on the screen. The mug shot** was far from flattering but there was no doubt who she was. A woman turned to look at her.

"You sold people?" The voice was small. Incredulous. Falling like a stone in a pond in the suddenly silent room.

Ripples of whispers crossed the space only to hit a cluster of women and bounce away yet again.

Slowly, all heads were turned toward Madame Yu. Some began to edge forward.

"I was sold. Grabbed when I ran away trying to save myself. Sold to people who raped me. Beat me. Drugged me. Prostituted me. Destroyed me." The words were strangled. Tortured then torn from the woman's throat.