I awoke naked in a dark, damp room. The ceiling dripped a warm liquid. There seemed to be others in the room, for I could hear breathing.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" I asked.
"We aren't supposed to talk! Shut up!" a voice whispered, sounding terrified.
"What's going on? I don't understand-"
"If you value your life you will shut up NOW!" the voice whispered, then everyone fell silent.
I heard loud footsteps coming towards wherever I was. I assumed it was a female, since it sounded like she was wearing heels.
"I heard voices," she called, in a sing-song voice. "Which of my pretties is talking?"
Everyone else knew better than to speak. I, apparently, am the stupid one in the group.
"Can you tell me what's going on? I don't know where I am or what's going on-" I was interrupted by a heavy door opening, pouring light into the tiny room. I saw five girls huddled against a wall before I was pulled out.
A beautiful, tall woman stood before me. She had long raven hair and almond shaped gold eyes against milky white skin. She reminded me very much of the woman at the coffee shop.
"You don't know better than to talk, do you? You must be new, am I correct, child?" She seemed warm, like a mother, but barely old enough to be calling me 'child'.
"Yes ma'am. I'm not really sure where I am but I'd like to be getting home now..." I felt like an idiot, even as the words left my lips. It was so obvious that I had been kidnapped.
"I am afraid that will not be possible." She looked at me for a long time. "You have very lovely hair."
At that moment I started to become afraid of the matronly figure. It just seemed like too strange of a comment at that time. She motioned for me to follow her upstairs, and as I did, she began to explain how I was to "behave here" from now on.
Apparently, I was not to talk during my working hours. If an authority figure asked something of me, I was to comply without complaint. I was not to consort with any of the males. Neglect to obey any of the rules and it would mean my life. I stared dumbfounded at the woman (Anna, she said she was called) as she spoke.
"May I ask one thing, please?" I mumbled, feebly. I was beginning to shake badly.
"Yes, yes, what is it?" She was beginning to get irritated with me.
"I was with another girl before I woke up here, her name is Stefanie? She has long blonde hair and brown eyes?"
"You should forget about her. One of our patrons took a liking to your little friend. She is long gone by now, I'd imagine."
"I don't understand, ma'am, what do you mean by 'long gone'?"
"She is either dead, or he has taken her with him as a pet or something. I don't know."
I fell silent. She led me to a small room that was occupied by two other girls who were sitting on their beds laughing when the door opened. As soon as they saw Anna they jumped to their feet with blood-drained faces.
"See to it that this one is put to work and clothed properly. She will begin this evening." Without another word, Anna shut the door behind herself.
I stared at the two girls, wondering what the hell was going on.
"You're new. Pity, that," the shorter girl said.
"Could you please explain where I am and what I'm doing here?" I asked.
