The Cunning (18+)

41

Madison joined the showing later in the evening. She knew someone would come and get her if she didn't. She spotted Jase, Janine, and Sam at the table in the living room. Jase was leaning over his phone with a rolled-up twenty. She didn't expect him to acknowledge her but she hoped that maybe being near him would deter men from approaching. She gripped the neck of her drink bottle and started to weave through.

She didn't make it very far before a pair of hands reached out to grab her as she tried to pass the sofa, pulling her down. Madison landed on the lap of a man she didn't recognise. The stench of beer and stale cigarettes engulfed her, invading her lungs as the man breathed in her face. She recoiled, naturally. He was old enough to be her dad.

"Fuck me, you're lovely, aren't you?" He laughed at her squirming. Janine looked at Jase, who had just come up from a line and was now watching Madison as he took a cigarette out of the box. He looked agitated. Janine wondered whether that was the coke or something else. He held the cigarette between his teeth for a few seconds, letting the guy run his hands over Madison before turning away as he lit it.

"Let her go," he said calmly.

"Come on Jase, let me have a little fun," the guy said, but he listened, his arms springing away from her. Madison scrambled to her feet, patting out the grim heat his hands had left on her. Everywhere the man's fingers had roamed felt filthy, like he'd left a film of dirt on her skin.

"You want to play; you pay," Jase said. The man leaned forward, slapping Madison's arse so hard it was heard in the kitchen.

"How much for this one then?" he asked. Jase looked at Madison, taking a long slow draw on his cigarette. She was trying desperately to hold back tears. Her eyes glistened red with the threat of waterworks but she refused to let herself look weak in front of these vultures. She wouldn't give Jase the satisfaction.

"She's reserved," he said. She searched his face for anything that wasn't pure malice but there was nothing behind the shrunken spider pupils staring back. And they were spider pupils, Madison's vision was doubling, her head spinning, and that unwelcome and oh-so-familiar race of her heartbeat in the back of her throat rose like bile.

Jase cocked a single brow at her. Everyone was watching the exchange, the music fading into background noise as all heads turned. Madison's cheeks were on fire. Not even her first showing had made her feel so violated and alone. The first tear fell, eliciting a roll of Jase's eyes.

"If you're going to cry, do it upstairs," he muttered, turning back to the table and his magic white lines. Madison shot out of the living room in a fluster, darting for the bedroom. Janine glared at Jase. "You got something to say?" he challenged. She grit her teeth, swallowed everything trying to claw its way out of her mouth, and got up, following Madison. Sam shot Jase a disapproving glare.

"Don't be a dick to her," he said with an edge. When Janine spoke out of term, Sam let Jase do his job, but he drew the line at him being an arsehole for the sake of being an arsehole.

"Get her in line then," Jase warned.

*

The floorboard creaked beneath Janine's feet, alerting Madison of her presence. She quickly wiped her eyes and attempted to control her quivering breaths.

"Are you okay?" Janine asked, closing the bedroom door behind her, shutting out the noise.

"You shouldn't be in here," Madison replied. Janine shrugged, perching on the corner of the bed.

"They can only do so much. I know getting grabbed like that is scary, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Madison peered over her forearms resting on her knees. She sniffed.

"I hate being touched."

Janine breathed a small laugh. "If that were the only hurdle to get over." She pulled Madison's arms open, running her thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the tears and mascara. "You won't get anywhere crying, babe. Dry your eyes. Don't waste your tears on him."

"I wish he would just kill me. Anything would be better than this," Madison said through gulps of air. Janine chewed the inside of her cheeks, looking down guiltily. When Madison had first arrived, she had found her annoying. The upset Madison caused in the house made Janine panic, but seeing her like this was far worse.

"I said more or less the same thing when you first arrived."

Madison narrowed her eyes, sitting up straight and smudging away the rest of the smeared mascara with her sleeve. "Gee, thanks."

Janine smiled. "Not because I wanted to get rid of you, but because I didn't want anyone else trying to follow in your footsteps. It's honestly a miracle you're still alive," she said. Madison looked over to Jase's bedside cabinet where he'd left a pack of cigarettes. She took two, handing one to Janine.

"He can't kill me. They were paid to get me, and they've already got the money," she curled her lip in disgust, "paid by my pervert boss."

Janine dismissed this with a wave of he hand. Believe me, that wouldn't stop Jase from killing you if he wanted you dead. That's not why you're still here." Madison was about to take a drag on the cigarette when she stopped, barely brushing the tip to her lips,

"If that's not the reason I'm still here, what is?" she asked. Janine ran her tongue across her teeth.

"Because he finds you entertaining," she said after a brief pause. "As I said, Jase likes playing games."

Madison thought about anything that might support Janine's theory. His body language the night she'd first been brought into the house came to mind - he'd seemed so bored. The way he had recited who they were and what they did and where she was, it had been like reading from a script. It was all textbook for him, and she'd come along and disturbed the peace, giving him something new to pay attention to. Now her novelty was wearing off. They finished their cigarettes in silence.

"I need to go back downstairs," Janine sighed, stubbing the butt in the ashtray. She stopped at the door, looking over her shoulder, "Now you know what he's really like, think about your next move."

Madison scoffed, shaking her head. "There is no next move," she muttered.

Janine frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He won."

Janine laughed abruptly, startling Madison. "You're not done yet, Mads."

Madison realised Janine was rooting for her. She'd been helping as best as she could without putting herself at too much risk.

And here she was again, feeding her more information. Janine knew what she was doing, but she wasn't dumb enough to directly conspire.

Madison stubbed out her cigarette, the whole time considering everything Janine had said. She tried to hype herself up, to convince herself there was more she could do to work towards her freedom but she didn't have the energy to fight back anymore.

He. Had. Won.