The Kingpin

•07•

Amelia was alone for the better part of her high but wasn't mad when a knock sounded from the bedroom door. She was struggling to keep her eyes open but for the first time in what seemed like forever, her entire body was comfortable. She didn't have any aches or uncontrollable movements. Fuck. She wasn't even cold.

The man entered the room somewhat cautiously and took a minute to look over the girl now laying in his bed. He had never seen someone look so calm but again, it was definitely the drugs. Regardless, he knew she'd be thankful to him soon and that's why he did it all anyway.

  She forced herself to look over at him now, eyelids threatening to close completely at any second. Amelia's brain was a bit foggy as she tried to figure out how and what to say to him.

  He approached the bed but managed to still keep a bit of distance as he waited for her to speak.

  "Lay with me?" She asks now, not completely sure of what is going on but not necessarily opposing any of it.

  He can't help but scoff and look a bit taken aback at her request. "Why?"

  "Why not?" Amelia counters. She knows it's ridiculous but can't seem to care.

  He shrugs and after a moment of an empty expression, he walks around to the other side of the bed. His shirt is discarded onto the floor and his pants soon follow.

  His arms wrap around her waist as he slowly pulls her close. He's never really been this type of 'intimate' with someone before so doubts shoot to the forefront of his thoughts immediately.

  She allows herself to be wrapped up by him, his bare chest warm against her back. He was a bit frozen in this way, though. Maybe he was just as screwed as she was. He wasn't whole, she could tell. His hold was empty but it didn't matter.

  As Amelia lay there, she begins to think with more prominent thoughts pushing through the haze. She should've held her more. She shouldn't have fallen asleep that night. The fire was warm. Maybe that's why she didn't wake up to save her. She had just been tired of being cold.

••••

As quickly as it had come, her high wore off. She did what she knew the man wanted afterwards and was now laying naked on satin sheets. He had went into the bathroom to shower and Amelia was growing bored.

She slipped on underwear and snatched his button down from off the floor before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Once there, she rummaged around the cabinets only to find them pretty much empty.

Did he even eat? Amelia wonders this while pouring herself a glass of water. He only had two of each type of tableware and add that to the lack of food in the kitchen, one would think he only half lived here.

The front door lock begins to turn, causing her to jump and press herself against the countertop. Just as she's about to call up to the man, she realizes she doesn't even really have a name to get his attention by.

She hears the door open and her heart begins to pound in her chest. A woman enters holding a small child's hand. The woman looks to Amelia and immediately has a readable expression present: disappointment.

"I, uhm-" She begins but the woman cuts her off.

"Where is he, ma'am?"

"Upstairs." Amelia replies, her hands beginning to sweat. The woman before her can't be much older than Amelia herself but it still made her nervous.

  The little girl runs into the kitchen and begins a lofty ascent onto the top of the counter.

  "I..." She tries to figure out what to say but there are so many questions that they all cancel each other out.