The Cunning

28

Madison parted from Janine at the top of the stairs, heading to her room. She sat on the bed, facing the mirror. Her blonde had lost some of its shine and the stress had caused fallout. The once thick ropes of hair were thinner. She looked tired, bags creating shadows under her eyes. Her hair wasn't the only thing about her that was thinner. The strict three meals a day had helped her shed at least half a stone.

Girls are good in this business. It's surprising how much looking pretty lets you get away with. Look pretty, play dumb, a formula only women can get away with.

Her dad's words rang in her head.

She could hardly apply that formula looking like she did. Hesitantly, she made her way back downstairs, standing in the living room doorway. There was now another man in the living room with Jase and the others. Jase looked up from the scales he was piling cocaine onto. Sam and the stranger turned as well. The look on Jase's face had her heart in her throat. She immediately regretted coming downstairs without permission.

"What?" he asked with a bite to the 'T'.

Madison wrung her hands behind her back. "I was wondering if I could sit in Janine's room with her?" The other men looked at Jase. His jaw worked in irritation.

"Whatever, just stay upstairs." She quickly took herself out of sight, knocking on Janine's door.

"What's up?" she whispered through the gap, looking over Madison's shoulder to make sure no one was coming upstairs.

"Jase said I could come and sit with you," Madison replied. Janine took a moment to push the door wider, trying to process Madison's words.

"That's weird too," she mumbled, finally stepping back. Madison said nothing, looking around Janine's bedroom. She had a box of condoms on her bedside chest of drawers, next to a bottle of lubricant and baby wipes. Make-up lay scattered over her dresser. It was more like an actual bedroom than a prison.

"Can I use your make-up?" Madison asked, looking at Janine now sitting at her dresser.

"Is that why you wanted to come in here?" she replied. Madison hummed, grazing over the collection of cosmetics.

"It gets boring in the room."

"At least you don't have to work," Janine said, grabbing a make-up wipe and running it over her face.

"Did they take you as well?" Madison asked, dismissing the passive aggressiveness. For a moment, Janine looked confused. "Jase and that?" Madison elaborated. Janine shook her head.

"No, I came here by choice-"

"Why?!" Madison gasped, looking at Janine like she had sprouted a second head.

Janine didn't give much of a reaction other than rolling her shoulders. "I'm safer here than I was out there. At least I'm not getting in people's cars, going God knows where." Madison took a wipe for herself. Janine moved up on the seat so she could perch on the edge.

"Do you prefer it because of Sam?" Madison asked. Janine didn't say anything. "Do you love him?"

"It's complicated," Janine said, a solemn look in her eyes.

"Want to talk about it?" Madison offered. She was digging for information but, at the same time, she wanted to be friends with Janine. The house was lonely and having someone to have a conversation with would help keep her grounded.

For a few seconds, Janine didn't say a word and Madison wasn't sure she was going to get anything out of her.

"Sam was my first," she eventually admitted. Madison's brows shot up involuntarily. "We went to school together. We were always close. He looked after me, you know?" She smiled, though not out of happiness. The memory looked painful.

"How did you get here?" Madison asked.

"About two, two and a half, years ago, Sam saw me get out of someone's car, crying. They'd refused to pay, threatened to stab me, and kicked me out." Madison pressed her lips together, forcing herself quiet so Janine would keep talking. Janine let out a weak laugh, looking up at the ceiling, blinking back tears. "He saved me. I know it sounds stupid because of the situation I'm in now, but he did. I'd had enough that night. I was ready to count myself out," she wiped her eyes. "Sam was always in the right place at the right time. He asked what happened, I told him the guy threatened to stab me and wasn't paying. Sam pulled a gun. After that, he offered me a new job here. He explained all the rules but promised to look after me while I'm here." Her expression changed from nostalgic to serious. "He hasn't broken that promise. He even stood up to Jase and refused to let me have more than five customers a day. He lets me come downstairs when Benny isn't here, lets me pick my food." Her voice weakened at the end. Janine knew it was the bare minimum that a human deserved, but Madison didn't understand. "This house is the closest thing I've ever had to stability."

Her confession was moving, but it made Madison cautious. Janine's loyalties were evident, and Madison didn't want to go trusting the wrong people.

"Why are you giving me advice on Jase?" she asked. Janine quickly gathered herself, sniffing and sitting up straight.

"Because he's dangerous," she replied, not exactly answering the question. Madison nodded, turning back to the mirror.

"I'm aware of that. But you've got a pretty sweet setup here, all things considered, and you know you aren't supposed to say certain things to me, and yet, you do. Why?" she pressed on. Janine picked up a make-up brush, held it for a moment, and then turned to face Madison.

"He's an attractive man, and he treats you differently, like you're special and I don't mean that in a mean way. Have you heard of Stockholm Syndrome?"

Madison laughed. "You think I'm going to fall in love with him?" Janine rolled her eyes, turning back to her reflection.

"It's not impossible, and it's not that crazy. Trust me, take it from someone who knows. As soon as he has you in his clasp, he'll treat you like a puppet. I was your age when I started working because I was sweet-talked into it by a man that told me he loved me. He had money troubles, and we were desperate to get away. It seemed like a quick fix. I don't want to see you go down the same rabbit hole."

Madison almost wanted to let her in on what was happening, but there was only so much she could expose Janine to without putting them both at risk.

"Well," Madison said, opening an eyeshadow palette, "we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

"I don't know what you're playing at, Madison," Janine said, "but for the love of God, please be careful." They looked at each other in the mirror again. Janine was shrewd enough to know something was going on and sensible enough not to ask too many questions. Madison didn't giveaway any confirmations that she was right but she didn't deny being up to something, either.