Chapter 5 Escape from Reality

Sabrina's Pov

Yesterday, at exactly this time. My life was normal.

Wake up. Go to class. Pull a double shift. Dance at the club. Sleep. Repeat.

Hard but normal.

Now?

My whole body ached. My thighs hurt. I couldn't walk without feeling the ache between my legs.

Yet I couldn't skip class. Not when attendance counted for half my grade and my scholarship was already hanging by a thread. So I dragged myself after a gruesome shower to class.

"Remember to do your assignments and submit them in my email before midnight." My professor droned. "Class dismissed."

It wasn't until a classmate bumped into my seat that I realized class was over.

"You looked distracted throughout the lecture. Is everything okay?" Lucas, my seat mate, said as he dropped his backpack on my table, concern etched on his face.

I forced a smile, "I'm okay,"

"You don't look okay." He brushed a stray hair and tucked it behind my hair. Leaning too close for comfort.

"You know you can count on me right?" His voice soft, minty breath fanning my face.

I gave him a wry grin which seemed to have satisfied him.

"I'm having a party at my place tonight. You are invited. You can bring Ana as well."

The thought of going to a party, of music, of dancing, only made my head ache. I wasn't the girl who had fun at a party. I was the girl whose night consisted of dancing in the club while others enjoyed their youth.

Only Ana knew, no one else.

"I can't,"

His brow furrowed, "Why not? This is the third time you've blown me off? Did I do something?"

Lucas had always been a nice guy. Safe. If I wasn't caught up with Adrian, If I wasn't ruined, maybe I could have given him a chance.

But who would want to be with a stripper? A stripper who just sold herself to the highest bidder? If he knew what I had done last night, he wouldn't be here.

Overwhelmed, I shifted back a little. "I gotta go." I grabbed my bag and dashed off before he could stop me.

A part of me felt sorry for being rude but I just couldn't take it. I just couldn't pretend my world hadn't shifted.

I skipped the cafe. Thumb flying over my screen to text Ana.

"On my period. Can't work. Sorry."

She sent back five crying emojis and a promise to cover my shift.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Ana didn't deserve being lied to. I was such a bad friend.

My phone buzzed with a message from Smith.

"Come by the club, we need to talk."

I groaned.

"Can't he just leave me alone." I muttered to no one, my eyes watering.

My phone buzzed again. A Credit Alert.

Two thousand dollars from Smith.

The screen blurred. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"What is he playing at now?"

I didn't wait a second before catching the first bus to club 99. I needed answers even though my body screamed not to go back.

I found Smith at his usual booth, smoking with a disturbed look on his face.

I dropped my phone on the table and pointed at it. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Your payment," He deadpanned.

"How can this be my payment when I owe you half of it. Make it make sense, Smith."

"I don't know what the hell you did to that man." His voice was sharp with fury.

My heart stuttered. "What are you talking about?"

"He grabbed me like I weighed nothing and almost killed me. He threatened to destroy my club. Because of you."

My throat went dry. "He what?"

"You being a virgin pissed him off. So, you're gonna stay on my good side. If he asks for you again, you tell him I didn't force you into anything. Got it?"

"I-I don't understand."

He threw a bottle against the wall causing me to jolt back in shock.

He stood up, his eyes red. "Don't play dumb with me. That man isn't someone to mess with. Do as I told you. You are free for tonight." he brushed past me in anger, leaving me trembling in his wake.

My hands shook as I slid my phone into my bag.

Adrian had been angry.

Angry enough to threaten Smith.

Why?

Why would he care?

---

By the time I got home, my skull ached from too many questions, my heart burning with anxiety.

I barely had time to settle down before someone banged on the door.

"Sab?" Ana's voice floated through the door.

God, why now?

I forced a smile that hurt my face and dragged myself to open the door.

Ana stood there looking worried, a paper bag in one hand. Chris loomed behind her, hands shoved into his hoodie pocket, grin easy and familiar.

"You missed your shift," Ana said, her brows knitting. "That never happens."

"The pain was unbearable," I lied, stepping back to let them in. "I'm just feeling better now."

Chris's eyes flicked over me, sharp and familiar in a way that made my stomach twist. He looked too much like Adrian. The softer version. "You look a mess."

I laughed, brittle and hollow. "Gee, thanks."

Ana handed the paper bag to me. "I brought painkillers and snacks. Figured you wouldn't have eaten."

"Thanks," I said softly. I hadn't even remembered to eat. I had been too caught up with my fears. Guilt coiled tighter.

They stayed for half an hour, talking about school and assignments and Chris's upcoming basketball game. I nodded, smiled and talked in all the right places, but my mind wasn't there.

It was in that dark room a night ago, tangled in sheets, with a man who didn't know me. But was angry enough to make threats.

When they finally left, I sank onto the bed and pressed my palms to my face.

A louder and sharper knock came this time.

I peeked through the peephole and cursed under my breath.

Mr. Luke.

My landlord.

I opened the door. "The rent's not due till tomorrow."

He leaned against the doorframe like he owned more than just the building. "I know. But I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd check in... see how you were surviving."

My fingers closed around the doorknob. "I'm surviving just fine."

His eyes flicked down to my bare legs. I was just clad in a large white shirt that didn't reach my knees. I felt naked.

He smirked. "You know, there's other ways to pay the rent...Sweet."

Disgust curled in my throat.

I started to shut the door, but his foot slid forward, blocking it. "I'm just saying, I could waive this month and next month's rent, if you warm my bed."

"Move your foot," My voice cracked.

"Think about it." His grin widened like he knew I was helpless. "You could end up on the street defenseless. I'm giving you a choice now but they won't."

I slammed the door so hard it rattled the frame.

I rushed to my bed and grabbed my phone. Hands shaking, I transferred the rent to his account. Out of the money I got from Smith.

Blood money. Shameful money.

I slid down to the floor finally letting the tears that had been building up fall. Heart heavy, skin dirty.

Because no matter what I told myself, I was just another girl trading her body for money.

Just another slut in a city full of wolves.

Adrian Marks doesn't know who I am. Not yet.

But sooner or later, he would find out.

And when he does...

Ana would be disappointed.

Chris would hate me.

And everything I had tried to keep together would come crashing down.

God help me, I don't know what to do.