The Prize of Dysprosium

Chapter II: The Act of Being the Fish Caught

"We're in a brothel, what are you supposed to get from a brothel if not a hiding place?" I ask. "Now take off your shirt."

She gives me a cold look but then rips her shirt over her head as I pull down her pants. I can almost hear the footsteps approaching. How long can Barooba keep them? Will that man expose us? Will Hannah, or Ricardo?

"Lie down," I command and she does, wearing only a bra and her panties. "Okay, don't freak out," I continue, "But I'm going to climb up on top of you now."

"Wait," Alle gasps. I'm just about to say we don't exactly have time when she wriggles out of her underwear and holds them towards me. "Hang them somewhere obvious."

I grin and quickly drape them over the red lamp beside us while she takes off her bra as I climb up on the bed and throw the sheet over us. I don't mind naked bodies, I have seen too many of them to be uncomfortable around them, but I would be a liar if I didn't admit that the sight of Alle Bronze lying naked right before me doesn't stir some sort of response down under.

"So, do you usually receive oral sex, or-" I begin as I slowly move backwards but she claws at my back.

"Get back up here," she hisses and I comply. And not a moment too soon. There is a march of footsteps, then somebody violently wriggles the handle. I hear Alle gasp and the rush of my own blood deafening in my ears. I bend down as if I am going to kiss Alle. Then there is a shout and the door is kicked open by a single Pacifier.

"Hey!" I yell, acting as if I am trying to shield my customer. But then Alle's head appears, dragging the blanket up over herself. She must have smeared lipstick I hadn't realize she was wearing with the back of her hand because there is a red streak along her cheek. And then she says the most brilliant thing in a sort of whimper. "Please don't tell Ridder."

It takes everything I have not to begin laughing. Well, maybe not everything considering there are heavily armed Pacifiers in a room where I'm supposed to be naked. I can see the front one, the one who kicked the door down's helmet pointing towards the underwear on the lamp and I know we're saved. Behind them, Barooba steps into view, taking in the whole room in one single look.

"See?" she says shrewishly as the Pacifier closes the door. "I told you so."

The door, which has had its lock destroyed, closes as far as it can without sliding open and the footsteps recede down the hallway. I let go of a breath.

"Well that was fun," I say. Alle looks at me, her eyes level and far from the happy-go-lucky I remember from Middle School and the tv.

"Would you hand me my underwear please," she says tightly.

"Are you sure?".

"Now!"

I grin and roll off her, letting her keep the blanket as I pick up her bra and underwear and shirt and jeans and toss them to her.

"Turn around," she says.

"I've already seen everything," I say, but I do as she says. I stare into the wall as I hear her get dressed, the fumbling of bottoms and denim sliding over skin. When I am confident she's no longer naked I turn around, take her in as she's pulling on her shoes. And a thought hits me.

"What exactly did you do?" I ask. She frowns.

"Doesn't matter," she says. "It's too little too late. Thank you though, for helping me."

"What are old classmates for?" I say and there is an edge of cruelty to my voice, a cruelty I hadn't fathomed I feel before now. The words make Alle look up, take in my whole face as she tries to place me somewhere in her memories. I know my hair looks different, and my body certainly is. I think it's the eyes she finally recognizes.