Setting her suitcase down on the sidewalk, Lila Sands drew in a long, slow breath, willing herself not to panic β or pass out. Standing there for what felt like forever, anxiously biting down on her lip, she studied what appeared to be a derelict brick warehouse, a cold shiver of dread running straight up her spine, because of course she knew what stood behind that door β or at least had a pretty good idea.
But now she didn't know if she could do this.
Clutching the collar of her wool coat tight around her neck with one hand, long strands of her blonde hair caught in the slight November breeze, she used the other to dig out the card from her purse. Squinting under the dim street light she checked the address β 40 Front Street β same as the number on the red brick wall. So this was it.
To the average passerby, the dreary looking building would appear to be abandoned, except for the lone lightbulb shining like a lurid beacon over the battered black metal door, almost winking at her.
Closing her eyes for a moment, heaving in a deep steadying breath of bracing cold damp air, she slowly blew it back out β feeling almost prepared to do what she knew she had to do. Staring at the menacing looking structure, a cocktail of fear laced with an oddly equally powerful, nearly intoxicating sense of anticipation swept through her as every possible depraved scenario her mind could conjure played out in her head. Already scared spitless, she hadn't dared move an inch closer, her feet rooted to the sidewalk refusing to budge, as the tawdry images taunted and teased, even as the seductiveness of it goaded her to venture inside.
Truth was, she had no idea what might become of her once she walked through that door β but had a pretty strong feeling whatever happened wouldn't be good. No matter how scared she was, after coming this far, she knew she had no choice but to go through with it. Squaring her shoulders, Lila swallowed hard as she tucked the little black card back into her purse.
So this was it, and she was really going to go through with it.
Once she'd forced herself up the wide concrete steps β pushing a flat silver button by the door β she was buzzed inside.
Stepping inside and glancing around, her eyes flew open, startled to find herself walking into the most nondescript little waiting area she could have imagined. A pretty young woman of no more than twenty clad in a casual black T-shirt and jeans sat smiling behind a simple black lacquered reception desk, clacking her chewing gum. A picture of innocence, she just seemed so out of place, like finding a delicate little butterfly floating around in hell. Her sandy hair pulled back in a ponytail, open text books scattered across the desk, would give the casual observer the appearance of any typical student. And for this girl it was probably just some different-than-average part-time job to earn a little spending money.
But it was sure no burger joint β Lila knew that.
The girl gave Lila a quick smile then held out her hand expectantly. "You have your medical papers, Miss Sands?"
Numbly nodding, Lila took them from her purse, and handed them over. "Everything's up to date," she explained, anxiously leaning over the desk.
After a quick glance, the girl handed them back. "Okay, looks good. Now all you have to do is sign this waiver." She then pushed the official looking consent form across the desk toward Lila, along with a pen. "Feel free to read it. But basically, once you sign, you're agreeing that you are here of your own free will β for the entire week β and that you understand that while you're here, absolutely
anything
goes." With a cheery grin and shrug of her slender shoulders she said in a perky voice, "And then you're in."
The waiver Lila was asked to sign was surprisingly long. Scanning it as best she could, words like
unrestricted and unlimited sexual acts
,
pain,
safe word
and
consent
couldn't have stuck out more if they were written in red. Although more nervous than she'd ever been in her life, Lila tried to be certain about what she was agreeing to. After determining that everything seemed to be in order, picking up the pen, she quickly signed her name to it, jotting down her safe word on the line indicated. She'd decided on the word
Avocado
, since she hated the ugly little green fruit with a passion, as she already imagined she was going to hate what was to come.
But despite what she'd just signed indicating she was here of her own free will, she really didn't have any choice but to go through with it. Her last boyfriend Blake β who'd fooled her into thinking he actually loved her β had gotten mixed up in some pretty shady stuff. And due to a combination of his practiced charm, and her naivetΓ©, she'd foolishly agreed to co-sign a loan β unware at the time just how much he owed, what was really going on and who he'd been dealing with β ruthless loan sharks. So, now here she was. And this was the price she had to pay. The use of her body for one week, and the loan would be forgiven. Of course Blake was long gone with the money, but the men he owed reminded her, none too subtly, that since he'd fled,
she