I woke up in a foggy haze. I was getting used to being poisoned and knocked out, now. “Good morning Everly.” Lisa was sitting on the couch with a book and cup of coffee. “I made you some coffee.” She said. I wanted so badly to say no, but my stomach was rumbling, and I needed some caffeine. I took the cup off the counter and took a seat next to her. “How do you like your new do?” What… My jaw dropped as I stared at her smiling face. She stood up and grabbed my arm all in one motion, pulling me towards a mirror.
I instantly burst into tears as I saw my blonde hair gone. Short chocolate brown hair fell to my shoulders. My eyebrows matched my hair. “Oh Everly, stop being dramatic.” She said in a cold, harsh tone. “We are going out today.” She dressed in her usual black attire. I went into the bathroom where there was a stack of clothes waiting for me. A black jacket with a hood, jeans, and black boots. Jeez, she sure loves her black, doesn’t she? I threw the clothes on and went back out to her.
“So let me explain something Everly.” She smiled again and took my hand into hers. “You are here to act as sort of a…project, if you will.”
“Excuse me?” I said, shocked at how mean my voice sounded.
She chuckled, “Everly, if you haven’t figured it out already…my husband and I don’t exactly work, like normal people do, yet we have money. So how do you think this is?” She said pushing my hair from my face.
I didn’t answer.
“Well, Everly, what we do here is bring in beautiful girls and give them clothes and makeup and a room. See, we treat you girls well. You being the newest, you may not realize just yet. Men pay to come see you girls, they pick which of you they like best and you do as they say. They pay by the hour and in that hour you are theirs. Got it? If they like you they can buy you.”
My heart fell to the floor, splattering on the white, marble tile.
Tears filled my eyes and anger flooded through my face. I clenched my jaw and pushed Lisa as hard as I could. It was reflex and she flew to the ground. I couldn't help but smile as she lay on the ground.
“Listen here, you do as we say or you get punished. You don’t want to be punished.” She gripped my arm tightly, nails breaking into my pale skin.

---

We left the house in her black Cadillac with super-tinted windows. Not sure how she hasn’t been pulled over for that yet…
“Come on, we are picking you out some outfits…if you will.”

We went into a few stores where she picked out “outfits” for the men who would be paying to see me. I never imagined that this could happen to me. You hear about these things happening, but never would think you would get involved in it. I was a victim of the sex trade. My fists balled up and it took everything in me not to scream in the middle of the store. I could escape so easily, I just had to have a plan. I think Lisa could see I was planning something. I had been looking at all of the different escape routes I could take.

“Don’t even think about it, Everly. The cops are our customers.” Chills ran across my body and down my spine as if they were trying to escape, too, like I wanted to do so badly.

---

“Oh goodness, I’m sorry!” Lisa’s voice burnt into my ears. I looked up to see a boy. I recognized him from school. I always saw him around and would give him a kind smile. He was beautiful and my friends always said I needed to talk to him, but I just never got the chance.
Coffee soaked into his skin.
“Here’s some cash, go get yourself a new coffee!” Her voice became a mask concealing her usual dark voice.
“Erm, no thanks. It’s alright. Truly.” Said the curly haired boy.
Lisa shoved the cash at him anyway. I looked up, making eye contact with him. I tried to say help with my eyes, when Lisa tightened her grip onto my arm once again. She shoved me behind her and pulled me away.

Notes