Alisha

It was late morning and I woke up my body aching. I was so petrified of meeting Arlen today. I was to start paying off my debt tonight, but I needed him to explain to me how it’s going to work. He was going to be here in just an hour and ordered me to be clean. I was insulted at that, of course I didn’t dare say a word to him. What did he mean, “Be clean” of course I would be clean. I shook my head as if to shake those thoughts right out of there.

I stretched and winced in pain. Damnit, how am I ever going to do a good job for Arlen if it feels like every bone in my body had been crushed. Thoughts of calling home and begging for help ran through my head last night, but no. I wouldn’t involve my family, it was just me and my child now…and Arlen. Somehow I would over come this, and be better for it. Maybe I deserved this, I thought to myself. Maybe this is my punishment for accepting such a large charity of money. I sighed. Well no matter now, I just got to live today as it is here and now. I crawled out of bed and walked to the bathroom. As per King Arlen’s orders I was to be showered and wearing a sexy outfit.

I hopped in the shower and let the warm water blanket my body. Part of me was hoping this water would drown me, but I knew that could never happen. I hate this. I hate how all I think about lately is myself.

After my shower I tried to think of what I was going to wear. I decided I would wear my white halter top, strapless bra and my leather mini skirt. I smiled to myself, oh how my dad would freak if he seen what I was going to wear. Now for the shoes, I pondered. I looked over my very small selection of shoes, I decided on my dressy sandals. They had a bit of a heel which gave the illusion of stilettos but they were still comfortable enough to do a lot of standing or heavy walking in. Yes. That will do just fine, I concluded.

After I was dressed I went to the bathroom to do my hair, I was going to style it so a bit of my hair flared over one of my eyes, it always looked so sexy on Catherine-Zeta Jones, so I had hoped it would work for me as well.

It took me about an hour to get ready, when I realized the time I freaked out. I really did not want to have to make Arlen wait; anything was better then hearing him threaten my life again, or worse, having him rape me again. Tears started to flood my eyes but I sucked them back, I didn’t want to ruin my make up. I took just another second or so to check out my lip in the mirror. I was satisfied with how I covered it up, so with that I ran outside. And sure enough Arlen was waiting. Lucky for me he didn’t appear to be too pissed.


When we arrived at his so called office I was a little bewildered. We had pulled up to “Tyro” a very popular hip-hop techno rave club. It only opens at 6PM though. He got out of the car so I followed him.

”Hey Arn! Is this your new girl?” a lean dark skinned man asked.

“Yeah Randy it is. Did you hear when the Executives would be here? He asked. Executives? I thought to myself. Now more then ever I wanted to know what was going on, the curiosity was driving me crazy.

:”They should be here any moment, why don’t you go inside and show her around, catch her up to speed before they get here.” Randy suggested. Arlen didn’t oppose the idea so that’s exactly what we did. I followed him around the side of the building trying my best not to piss him off. I really hoped he liked my choice in clothing.

He led me down a long stairwell leading to the basement, then through another door. I was so shocked. His office had a desk and chair, and pictures of playboy all over his walls, there was a spare chair across from his on the other side of the desk. There were fluorescent light signs on his wall, one that read “Open for business 24/7” and another one that read “I have a 24/7 all you can eat buffet” I shook my head. None of these signs made any sense to me. He laughed as he seen me reading his signs and not registering the hidden meaning that was obviously behind them. I felt so stupid.

“Sit down” he ordered. And just like a dog I obeyed. How I hated myself for not seeing through his disguise that one day when he took me to “Italianos.”

“Alisha, do you know what I do?” he asked. I didn’t hear what he said, I was too concerned with how he found out my name was Alisha. I know I half slipped out that one time but surely he would have forgotten and if he didn’t he knows me as Hilary. Why would he call me Alisha? I was so scared. I knew so little about him and it appeared that he knew so much about me. I wondered how much more he must have knew about me. Did he know about my family, my sweet Marisa? If so, was he going to use them as bait to get me to do whatever he wanted?

“Hello, earth to Alisha” he repeated. He wasn’t angry though, so much of this wasn’t making sense. Why wasn’t he getting angry that I wasn’t immediately answering him? And how did he know my name was Alisha. He laughed. Uh oh, I guess my thoughts were too loud because I ended up saying that last part out loud.

“You really are naïve aren’t you?” when I didn’t respond he continued, “Okay, since its your first day and I can’t have you upset or stressed I will explain it to you in laymen’s terms. You called your best friend. Your best friend answered. Her name is Trista.” He said in a mocking baby tone, “I pressed redial. Trista picked up. I didn’t respond. So she started saying your name.” he concluded as he held his hands up in the air as if to say, “it’s as simple as that.” I dropped my head. I wanted so much to be mad at Trista, but I couldn’t that wouldn’t be fair. She didn’t know. I felt so helpless. Arlen had so much control over me, I hated it. I lost all freedom.

“I don’t have time to get all wrapped up in the technicalities. All you need to know is I point out a guy, you fuck him, he pays you, you pay me. It’s not complex at all. Even your tiny nutshell brain can wrap around that can’t it?” He asked insultingly. My jaw just dropped. Suddenly it all made sense.