Why Fireflies Flash

The Need to Prove

The White Stallion Burlesque Club

The Madam paced back and forth in front of the only empty vanity that night.

"Relax, Madam," one of the other girls, Mandaline, called to her. "Anabeth said she'd be here. She's the one girl that keeps her promises here."

"Anabeth's skipped out on us all week," the Madam said pointedly. "I don't entirely trust the girl."

"She's one of the best girls we've ever had, Kiki," Toni calls to her from the balcony above. "Give her a break. She said it was a family emergency."

The Madam gave the mulatto girl a cursory look. "Give her a break? How much family can one American have in London?"

"None, actually," a sharp voice says. "Not anymore. Thanks for your concern. I've been busy this week. With family problems, yes, but not in London. I've been out of town most of the week." The lie slipped from her crimson lips naturally. "You can call my brother if you'd like. I mean he's not exactly happy about ending his honeymoon a week early but, you know, he won't mind defending his baby sister's honor."

Kiki's jaw set as she shot Anabeth a meaningful glare, which was rebutted with one of a dare. Anabeth took her seat at her mirror and pulled the bag of cosmetics from her purse. The bag was immediately dumped out on the table. Kiki walked away with a bit less pep than earlier. "Thirty minutes to showtime," she growls.

Anabeth begins to slather foundation on her face sighing at the temperature of it. "I can't stand her and she knows it. She's needs a viable excuse to cut me. And one family emergency isn't it."

Roxanna, a tall lithe natural strawberry blonde, came and leaned on Anabeth's table already in full costume. "You know, you could be a little less rude and maybe she won't strangle you."

"Oh? And risk losing my bad ass reputation? I don't think so. It's too much fun." She paints her eyelids a smokey gray before gluing bejeweled eyelashes on. "I just have the Cher number tonight right?"

"Yeah, Madam Kiki was worried you wouldn't show. And you haven't practiced so..."

"I always practice, not that-"

"Yeah, yeah. Not that you need to."

"Damn skippy."

Madam Kiki called fifteen 'til. And the girls rushed around to put their outfits on. With a final stroke of red to her lips, Anabeth powdered her face with settling powder before rushing off to find the skimpy little black thing she had to squeeze into.

Anabeth had just gotten off stage when things began going down hill.

"Have you seen Sherry?" Kiki asked her.

Anabeth shook her head. "Not since we went out for a smoke right before I went on. She stayed out there."

"She wasn't out back," Roxanna says slipping the back fire door shut.

Anabeth shrugged. "Did she go for a walk you think?"

Roxanna shook her head. "I didn't see her."

"We need to find her," Kiki ordered. "Check the bathroom."

Roxanna crossed her arms. "I already did. She's not here. She might have left."

"She might have gone for a walk. Clear her head," Quinn states. "She's been having troubles with her boyfriend, you know. I'll go slip into something warmer and see if she's gotten too far." She turns away quickly and rushed to her table to slip into the trench coat waiting on the back of her chair. Her black stilettos click on the refurbished flooring of back stage. She hastens to the door pulling her cell phone from her pocket. Sherry's number is hidden within the S's of her contacts. The bar is clicked and soon a dial tone is emanating into her ear.