**This is the first installment of a book I have been working on. Let me know if you enjoy it, or not. Criticism welcome, affirmations more welcome.**
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Larkania, the city at the end of the world. That is what outsiders called it, but the people who lived within it knew what it really was. A last ditch effort by humanity to remain human. Larkania was run by Mayor Hector Vincent. An overly selfish man, whose only claim to fame was his wealth. He was one of the few elites who lived in Larkania, most were underlings that barely scraped by. Life in Larkania was never easy, most everyone did what they had to do to survive. The world was dark and miserable, with few luxuries and less pleasures.
Devania's mother had always told her that she shouldn't expect anyone to give anything to her. If Devania wanted something, she was going to have to give something away. So, here she was now, getting ready to go and try to find real work. Ashton, her thirteen year old brother had already run off someplace for the day. She had told him to go to school, but she knew he didn't. She figured whatever he was doing, he was learning more about the real world than sitting in some school would ever teach him. Besides, she never went to school, and she was fine. She spent her childhood helping her mother about the house, and watching her little brother. They were five years apart, but Devania had always felt like his mother, even before their parents vanished.
Devania's father was a dark and brooding man. He never spoke to her, except to criticize. Her mother was quiet, but strict. Devania grew up wishing she could escape, but she stayed to care for Ashton. She couldn't leave him behind and she knew the outside world was far too dangerous for him. She spent her days dreaming of leaving, climbing the walls, digging a tunnel, just walking out the front gate. Someday, when Ashton was old enough to be on his own, she would leave and see what was out there.
Devania and her brother lived in a very small apartment right above The Mass Market, Larkania's biggest shop. Sarah and Mikia owned the entire building, and from what Devania saw, they did quite well. Sarah and Mikia had been renting the place to Devania's parents when the left, and they let them continue to live in the small apartment alone, as long as Devania worked hard in the shop.
It wasn't that Devania minded the work, it was nice talking to everyone in town as they came in to buy what they needed throughout the day. It was the money. Since she was working for rent mostly, Devania ended up with just enough to make sure her and Ashton kept fed. Even then there where some days that Devania didn't quite eat what she should have. Sometimes she had to steal food from the store, but she always silently promised herself one day she would pay Sarah and Mikia back for it all. This was her chance.
Now that she was 18, Devania was qualified to apply for a job at The Glass House. She had a sort of inkling what was expected of her, but she had never actually been inside. The Glass House was off limits to anyone underage.
Devania checked herself in the cracked mirror above the dry, rusty sink. Though her figure was distorted, she thought she looked alright. She was wearing a gray tank top and a short dark green skirt, which were made for her by the local seamstress, and her best friend, Annie. It was one of the few outfits Devania owned that was not full of holes or stains. Devania reached in her shirt, and pulled up her breasts, so they showed more prominently. She checked her hair and, satisfied, she turned on her heel and walked out the door.
The door led to a rather precarious set of stairs that lined the back outer wall of the shop. Sarah was there loading up crates of brightly colored fruit, oranges.
Devania stopped in her tracks. She hadn't seen anything that brightly colored in a while, almost everything here was gray and browned with age.
"Sarah! Where did you get all these?" Devania asked astonished.
Sarah smiled warmly, "I have my ways. Here," Sarah picked up one of the round fruits. "Take one."
Devania held her hand out. "Thanks! Ashton is going to be very excited." She slipped the fruit in her bag, smiled warmly at Sarah, and started walking up the street.
"Good luck!" Sarah called after her.
After a few turns, and some side steps to keep out of rubbish piles, Devania came upon the Madam's house. She took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt before knocking on the highly adorned door. The Madam's house was one of the few that was original, from before. It was tall, sleek, and the eaves curled up on the edges. The windows were boarded up, since glass was so hard to come by, even the Madam couldn't afford it, but it didn't detract much from the building's beauty.
"Come on in girl!" The Madam's voice boomed from within.
Devania opened the door and stepped in hesitantly. The room she was standing in appeared to have no purpose except as an entryway. There was a small white table, and a faded red couch. "Madam?" Devania asked awkwardly.
"In here, girl!" The madams voice came from the doorway on the left. Devania stepped through into a rather large room that appeared to be nothing but couches and books. Devania looked around intrigued. She loved books, she wasn't very good at reading, but she loved the ones with pictures. Books, especially minimally damaged ones like these, were rare.
The Madam was an intimidating woman, she was large with enormous brown eyes. The lines on her face made Devania think she had never smiled a day in her life.
"Over here girl. Stand straight!" The Madam commanded of her.
Devania marched over and stood as straight as she could, she tried not to tremble as the Madam circled her like a hawk.
"You are of age yes?" The Madam said, tapping her cane on Devania's ankles.
"Yes, Ma'am." Devania answered staring straight ahead, trying not to show how unpleasant she found being poked at by the cane.
"Good. Are you pure?" The cane made its was up Devania's thighs, tapping.
"Uh, pure Ma'am?" Devania replied, confused.
"Pure, child! Pure! Have you ever laid with a man?" The Madam said frustrated by Devania's ignorance.
"Oh!" Devania said surprised, "Uh. Yes. Just once, though."
"Are you a good listener? If someone asks you to do something, can you do it without asking questions, without hesitating?" The Madam stood back, leaning on her cane and gazing up and down at Devania.
"Yes. I can do that," Devania said nodding her head.
"Why don't you show me what you have to work with here. Off with your clothes now." The Madam walked over and sat down on a couch staring at Devania.
Devania took a slow breath. She knew this was going to happen, but didn't think it would be today, so soon. She pulled her tank top over her head. Then stood there awkwardly holding it.
