We arrived at Baylee's house not too soon after our odd, albeit reassuring conversation. I was comforted by the fact that Baylee seemed to understand my situation, not only did she understand it; she respected it.
Days passed before I finally found a job, but our relationship blossomed very much in the few days; she opened up to me. Baylee was a runaway too, but she was running from a man. It was a boy who pledged to love her with all of his heart, until the day they threw him into the dirt and buried him six feet under, but his love turned possessive and cruel. Baylee was expelled from her college when the boy beat up her professor and left a note signed by her addressing that she wasn't interested in a student teacher love affair. The professor also lost his job. The first time her boyfriend hit her was the last, as well. She ran off and has hidden in Orlando ever since.
It was the night I got the job at King Triton's Cove that she opened up to me. Apparently, my place of work has a bad reputation, but I chose to ignore it. The pay was decent and it was going something that I loved - dancing. I wasn't a stripper, but the boss- Ricky- told me that in his bar everyone danced. I told Baylee about my uniform because, well, it's a bit skimpy and she shook her head, sadly. "Lynn, I know you want to find a job, but I don't mind if you turn this one down and keep looking. I don't want you to get hurt in there." I shook her concern off and donned the skin tight skirt and seashell bra. It wasn't a tasteful look, but on tips and my pay I'd get along nice enough until I could find a nicer, better paying job.
It was my first night at work and I was nervous. My hands shook whilst I carried my tray around. It was a decent joint with plenty of beautiful girls, but the current customers were a little too friendly- not that I'd ever admit it to Baylee. I served a few tables at once and the first man left me a generous tip with a note that contained his name and number. He'd been making suggestions since I asked him what I could get him and I was glad to see him leave. My second table was rowdy, however, each man had a woman with them, so I surpassed anyone leering looks and crude jokes. I thought I was doing well, until Ricky pulled me aside around midnight.
"I thought I made myself clear when I told you that all of my employees danced." He growled, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. My eyebrows pulled together at the center and he motioned out to where all the other servers were. "They all give their customers a little dance while they take orders and you just stand there! I'm losing money, clientele, and you're losing tips! Get it together out there or you'll be out of job before the end of the week!" He snapped and I nodded. I held back a rather rude lashing and turned on my heel to go back to my tables. I upped the ante and shook my hips as I walked trying to be...seductive? I wasn't sure it was working because the only thing close to seduction I 'd ever done was with Eric getting off the ship, then again, he seemed like he enjoyed my company well enough.
"Hey, pretty girl, nice tattoo." A big, muscled guy whispered, grabbing hold of my wrist. I tried to pull away casually, but he held fast and I wasn't sure what to do. "And I love your hair, bet it feels as good as it looks." He growled, reaching his fingers up to touch it. I jerked away then, pushing him back. "Here at King Triton's Cove, we have a look-don't-touch policy, sir. I'm sure you've heard of it." My voice leaked with venom and the brute stared at me. "Whatever." He stalked off, but not before shooting me an evil glare. I was sure that the escorts were what scared his off as they moved in closer, but I wished I could say that I did by standing up for myself, but that was unrealistic. One thing Daddy taught me that I still honor, men have trouble understanding the word 'no'. My mother was proof of that.
I was home at two and thoroughly exhausted. As if the job wasn't hard enough, I had to walk home. Hopefully, soon enough I could save enough money for a bike. A car is unrealistic, seeing as I have no license and to get one would not only be a hastle, but also I knew that there was no way I'd be able to afford a car, gas, or insurance with one job paying ten cents over minimum wage. I closed the door as quietly as I could, knowing Baylee would probably be asleep.
"Lynn! I have been so worried. I really wish you'd get a different job." I jumped out of my skin when I heard Baylee's voice speak.
"Jesus! Do you want to give me a heart attack?!" I yelled, grasping my galloping chest to calm myself. "Sorry, but you got off at 1:30 and here it is, two o'clock when you stroll in the door. I thought you'd been killed."
"I had to walk home, Baylee! I thought you knew that! I didn't mean to make you worry, I figured you'd be asleep. You have work in the morning." Baylee sighed in defeat, shaking her head. "I forgot you had to walk. I'll pick you up from now and on. Orlando isn't the safest place to be at night." I nodded, knowing what she meant, but at the same time, I couldn't let her take on that task because I knew she had to work everyday. Her job wasn't easy and there was no way that I could ask her to come and get me every morning on a clear conciense.
"Baylee, I'll get a ride from someone at the club, I told the guy when I went in for the interview that I don't have anyone to provide for me hence me being so young and working in a club. Just let me work it out. Now, c'mon, we both need some sleep." I grabbed at her hand and tugged her to her room. It was difficult, because for someone who was just bearely five foot tall, she was strong!
"Fine, but I expect a phone call if you don't have a ride, Lynn, I'm responsible for you now. If something happens to you it falls on me, no one else."
"No one is responsible for me! I ran away so I could be responsible for myself. I don't need someone else hounding me!" I spat, turning on my heel and storming out of her house. I ignored the sound of Baylee screaming my name as I stalked further into the night.
I wasn't sure how long I'd been walking when I realized I was still in stilettos and my feet were weeping bloody tears. I cursed, bending down to free them from their confines. Once my feet hit the bare cement I realized how totally screwed I was. I was lost in Orlando with no money, no where else to go, and I was dressed like a fifty cents hooker! Frustrated, I threw myself against an alley wall and sank to my butt.
"Hey, pretty girl." A cold voice spoke from a few feet deeper in the alley. I barely lifted my head, sure that if I gave the person any attention nothing good could come of it. "I'm talking to you." The voice - obviously a man's- snarled again, this time closer. My head popped up instinctively and my eyes met a large man's. He had eyes darker than night itself, sunken into pale, almost purplish skin. He was tall and wide, his shoulders the width of at least double my own. A gnarled, meaty hand reached out and snatched me up. I whimpered, trying to push against. I wasn't used to feeling so helpless, but I had no idea how I was going to fight off someone as big as he was.
"I'm talking to you!" He growled out and I let out a meek, "yes?" He threw his head back and laughed. His laughter was an unsettling sound, one I wasn't sure how to respond with, but before I could say anything else, he hit me.
Darkness surrounded me and my last memory was his low voice, "You will do."
YOU ARE READING
The Silent Sailor
Teen Fiction(Retake on Disney's Little Mermaid) Lynnette is the daughter of a man who owns a powerful cruise ship; he's practically King of the Ocean, but Lynnie isn't happy. She's still mourning the loss of her mother from years ago and feels stuck under...
