Chapter 9: Susanna

Past

Blue eyes. Hard. Emotionless. Empty. They track me as I emerge from the old, beaten down door of my bedroom, and goosebumps surge up my arms at the attention. He’s the prettiest man my stepmother ever let in here, but he might have as well been a statue of cold indifference.

A chill runs down my spine as I close the distance between us, my bare foot skidding across the dirty rug and my brown slip of a dress dragging behind me, catching the oils I spilled across the floors in a hurry to dress up and the puddles of soup and dried piss. His eyes don’t light up like the others do when they sight me in this transparent silk dress. Neither does his pants bulge. I do not think he is impressed by me. I must not have tried hard enough.

Fear tightens around my throat like a vise as my stepmother’s words resound in my head. Mr. Hawke’s a very important man, Susie. Would be a shame if he left…dissatisfied. Disappoint him, and you’ll be working till dawn…with less discerning clientele.

I hide