They look around, taking everything in.
"Don't stare. You'll look like an outsider." Max whispers to Olivia. She nods, looking for Vera.
"You looking for some fun?" a girl asks, wearing nothing but a see through crop top and a black thong.
"Yes. I'm looking for..." Max trails off, forgetting her name.
"Emily." Olivia says. The girl smiles and looks for her.
"Emily." the girl calls out. "Right this way."
She leads the three of them into the back room to a skinny girl with black hair.
"Emily. You have customers."
The girl turns around, her green eyes studying them. They look familiar, like she had served them before. Her thong and fish net crop top leave very little to the imagination, making both Freddie and Max look away out of respect.
"It's her." Max whispers.
"I would like to rent her." Olivia says confidently.
"For the night?" the blonde asks. Olivia nods, her eyes never leaving Vera.
"You're in for some fun." Vera says with a smile. She takes Olivia's hand and guides her through some doors and down some halls. They step into an elevator and Vera presses the number six.
"Vera I am so glad you're here." Olivia says, hugging her. Vera pulls away, looking at her with confusion.
"Is this role play?" she asks.
"What?" Olivia asks.
"Is that who you want me to be? Vera?" Vera asks, the name sounding oddly familiar.
"What are you...you know who I am, right?" Olivia asks.
"I'm sorry, baby. I hardly remember anything anymore. Have I been with you before?" Vera asks. The elevator dings and Vera pulls Olivia out, into the large bedroom. Vera pushes her onto the bed, kissing her lips. Olivia pulls away with surprise.
"Don't be shy." Vera says, climbing on top of her.
"No, Vera." Olivia says, rolling off of the bed.
"You don't remember who you are?"
Olivia asks.
"Like I said, babe, I don't even remember yesterday." she says, sitting on her butt.
The scars on Vera's arms catch Olivia's attention and she grabs her arms, inspecting them.
"What're those from?" Olivia asks.
"My doses."
"Doses of what?" Olivia asks.
"You ask a lot of questions. Why don't you lay back and relax. Let me pleasure you." Vera says, pushing Olivia's legs apart.
"No." Olivia says, moving away.
"Look bitch, I don't know why you paid the money if you're not up to do anything." Vera says.
"Do you know what they put in you?" Olivia asks again.
"I don't know maybe Zip?" she says, not caring.
"Zip? Zeta inhibitory peptide?" Olivia asks.
"Ooh, big words." Vera says, lighting a cigarette.
"Shit, Vera." she whispers, pushing her hair back. She grabs her phone, calling Max.
"Hello?" Max answers.
"It's me." Olivia says.
"What's happening? Is she out?" Max asks.
"She doesn't even know that she shouldn't be here. Max she doesn't know who she is or who I am. They're giving her zip." she says while Vera smokes.
"What's zip?" Max asks.
"It's a drug that inhibits the protein called PKC zeta, which is needed to maintain long term memories. While she looses her past self, she is able to retain new things which explains why she has turned into a sex addict." she says, watching Vera separate her legs and put her hand down into her underwear, pleasuring herself. Olivia turns away, not wanting to watch her friend, who she looks to as a mother, play with herself.
"Max it's not her." she whispers, trying to keep herself from crying.
"What do you mean? You said it was." he says.
"It is but she isn't there anymore. I can't get her to escape because she doesn't want to. This life is the only way of living she remembers." Olivia explains, trying to tune out her moans.
"What is that?" Max asks.
"What?"
"The noise." he says. She sighs.
"She's...doing herself because I won't." she whispers.
"We need to get her to remember." Olivia says, changing the subject.
"How?" he asks. She paces the room, trying to think. She glances out of the window and sees Nestor waiting in the car and that's when it hits her.
"She needs to see him." Olivia says.
"See who?"
"He is our best shot. I mean they were so close. It has to work. I know it will."
"Olivia, see who?" he asks again.
"Nestor." she says.
The word entered Vera's brain, making her fingers stop their movement. She doesn't know why the name brought on such a reaction but her mind goes to the blurry outline of who she assumed to be her husband. The man with dark hair and dark eyes. She has held onto this image for dear life, thinking of this man whenever she made love to someone.
She pulls her fingers out of herself and wipes them on her shirt, standing up. The girl in the room hangs up the phone and turns back to her with a smile.
"Ver..uh...Emily. I have to go. But I already paid. So would it be okay if I had someone like take over for me? Like a substitute?" the young girl asks.
"I...I suppose. But they're gonna have to wait. I am on a time crunch and I have an appointment down stairs." Vera says, grabbing her things. They both get into the elevator and when they step off, Vera explains the situation to Lily who happens to be manning the elevator tonight.
"So when I walk on with someone else who doesn't have a ticket, you'll know why." she explains.
"Sure thing." Lily says.
"Which one is your sub?" Vera asks.
"He isn't in yet. I'll show him to you when he gets here." Olivia says. Vera nods and walks to her next customer who is an old man who is known to be grabby.
Olivia walks back to Freddie and Max who are looking around uncomfortably. She walks up to them and pulls them to the hall near the exit.
"Go get Nestor and bring him in. He is renting her." Olivia says.
"I'll switch places with him." Freddie says, running out. A few minutes later, Nestor walks inside, looking confused.
"What are we doing? If I get caught, they'll kill me." he whispers.
"She doesn't remember anything. She thinks her name is Emily. We are hoping you can help her remember." Max says.
"Have you already paid?" he asks as they walk back in.
"Yes. For you. She is with a customer right now." Olivia explains. She grabs his hand and pulls him in the direction of her. She had just finished a lap dance and is looking around. She stops when she sees him.
It's the man from her dreams. The man with dark eyes and dark hair. Her husband.
"Emily. This is Nestor." Olivia says. All they do is stare at each other. Olivia can see the wheels turning in Vera's head and she smiles.
"I'll leave you two to it." Olivia says, walking away.
Vera can feel butterflies in her stomach which is a new experience for her. She can feel her attraction toward this familiar stranger and she liked the feeling.
"Hey, you!"
Nestor jumps and looks at the manager who is walking up.
"I thought I told you to stay away-"
"He already paid. And he didn't do anything yesterday." Vera explains, not wanting them to take her stranger away.
"You think you can keep your hands to yourself?" the man asks. Nestor nods, glancing at Max and Olivia who watch with fear.
"Prove it." he says. Nestor's eyebrows scrunch together in confusion and Vera grabs his arm, pushing him into a seat. She hovers over him, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her hips start to sway to the music that is too loud to be comfortable. He watches, mesmerized at how her body moves. Her hands rub his shoulders and up to his face, her fingers getting lost in his thick hair. He forces himself to grip the chair, not wanting to make her feel violated. Until she grabs his hands, placing them on her hips that move in ways he never thought they could.
"Alright. You're good kid." the manager says, walking away. Vera stops dancing, stepping away from him.
"I'm sorry." Nestor says, adjusting his pants. She grabs his hand, leading him to the elevator.
