FROM THE ASHES
I couldn't imagine a more perfect place to be named
The Dungeon
. I'd heard of this club and the things that went on here. More than just stripping, lap dances and prostitution, this place was also known for B & D, bondage and discipline. After paying the ridiculous cover charge, and taking in the dark, cavernous setting, I was exposed to the elements right away. Everything was black, the walls, the ceiling, the floor, the bar, the stools, the sofas...and an odd techno beat pulsed through the place. Moments later, I found myself staring as a woman dressed in a skimpy leather contraption, that showed more flesh than it covered, led a grown ass man, with a ball gag in his mouth and wearing what looked like a leather diaper, around with a leash. I shook my head and decided right away not to touch anything, or anyone, and not to sit down. God only knew what kinds of fluids people left on the fake leather seats.
But judgment was not why I was here. So, I gathered myself up and started looking around at the faces of the people I passed. I was thinking about the text I'd received from my former student. A cryptic message for sure, but it sounded like she really needed my help. So, here I was, with the dregs of society at two in the damn morning when I had to be at work at 8am.
I was a guidance counselor at a public high school in a tiny little town in southern New Jersey. The town was not far from Philadelphia, about 30 minutes by car, hence my presence in the City of Brotherly Love at such a ridiculous time on a school night.
"Damn, you're new. Looking for a partner tonight?"
I glanced at the man speaking to me...and shuddered. Really? He had to be close to 60, or older, white, with bad skin and smelling a little funny. He was also dressed in a leather contraption, straps and chains draped across his body, a collar around his neck, and he was holding his own chain. I shook my head, averted my eyes, and rushed past him. I found myself in a rather crowded room a minute later, four naked bodies on a stage, white and black, three women "servicing" a man in various ways, one on her knees with his erection in her mouth as she bobbed up and down, one whipping him with what looked like cat-o-nine tails, the other allowing him to feast on various parts of her body...there were people in the audience, on sofas, at small tables, watching, riveted, as the scene played out. I averted my eyes and made my way through the room into a corridor.
"Ms. Graham?"
I glanced up as I heard my name, hoping it was my student, but knowing by the timber of the voice it wasn't. Someone older. I squinted at the person, my mind drawing a blank.
The woman approached me, but I still didn't recognize her. She was taller than me, also much larger. Dressed in a black tee shirt and black jeans, her hair shaved down close to her scalp...she had a thick, muscular neck, bulging biceps, and thighs the size of small tree trunks. Her face was distinctive, thick, dark eyebrows, a nose that was crooked with a lump in the center, full lips and eyes that I couldn't really see clearly, but they were dark, framed by thick lashes. I stared for another moment, but still didn't recognize her.
"What're you doing here?" She asked.
I wasn't sure how to answer that. She'd called me by my professional name, so I was thinking she knew me from school... and I certainly didn't want the news that I was in this club getting back to anyone.
"Uh..." I hedged.
And it suddenly dawned on her I had no idea who she was. She smirked, "Cap Collins? You helped with my niece about four years ago? Ariella?"
And in one of those moments of clarity, I saw her niece's pretty, caramel face, and tall slim frame. She'd been bounced through the foster care system for a few years after her mother overdosed, finally taken in by her aunt, Cap. Acapella actually, a silly name for a woman who was anything but silly... she went by Cap. Her niece did quite well in high school after that. Played basketball... and I remembered she earned an athletic scholarship to a state school somewhere in the south.
"Right, yes. How is she?"
The woman smiled, "graduating next year if you can believe that. Planning to take a year off and then go to graduate school for an MFA in graphic design."
I nodded, smiling a little. A success story. Cool. I remembered that success had a lot to do with the woman standing in front of me. In her 40s when she took in the teen, they'd had a lot of adjusting to do...and I remembered the woman didn't have a 'traditional' job. There were rumors that she was actually engaged in something illegal. I raised a brow as the thought crossed my mind.
"You work here?" I asked.
She smirked a bit, "uh, close enough. Never thought I'd see
you
here."
I laughed nervously, that made two of us. I glanced around, no one was paying attention to us, thank goodness. It's not like I was dressed to draw attention in any way. I was wearing a navy, long sleeved tee and jeans. I'd thrown on whatever was easiest before grabbing my purse and keys on my way out the door. But I was built in a way that tended to get attention regardless. Although I was knocking on the door of my 'late thirties,' I was still pretty curvy, despite my efforts to downplay my hourglass figure. Well, it would resemble one of those old, curvaceous hourglasses, and my hips were probably a lot rounder than I preferred, but like I said, I still garnered quite a bit of attention, especially from the male species. My cinnamon brown skin, light brown eyes, sculpted cheekbones and full lips didn't hurt either. Not that males were my preference. In fact, they were not. But considering I had not dated anyone in years, perhaps humans were no longer my preference. My last girlfriend had done quite a number on me...and to say I'd been on a hiatus was putting it mildly.
"So...what're you doing here?" She asked again.
Oh, yes, my student! Penny. She'd sent me a text...a text I wasn't sure she wanted me to share with anyone...
"Uh, I'm looking for someone," I hedged, nervously combing a hand though the silky curls on my head.
She nodded, barely, and raised a brow, clearly waiting for me to continue. I licked my lips nervously. To be honest, I didn't know my way around here. She looked like a bouncer for the place (she was certainly large enough to be one), so I just shrugged and dove in.
"Look, a former student of mine sent me a text over an hour ago...she sounded like she was in trouble. She said she was here."
She nodded again, "name?"
I hesitated for another moment, but then sighed. She'd either help or get out of my way and allow me to keep looking.
"Penny. She—"
"I know Penny. She works here. Strips."
I burst out laughing, thinking of the shy girl who I had to coax into doing
anything
in school. She'd hated getting any type of attention. I mean, this was the same girl who almost passed out when she had to give a presentation in front of a class. I remembered long, blonde hair she wore long in a way that hid most of her face...stripping? Penny? I think not.
But then...what else would she be doing at The Dungeon?
"Uh...do you know where I can find her?"
She turned and headed down another corridor and I assumed I was supposed to follow her, so I did. I took in her broad, muscular back appreciatively, but then shook my head, dismissing the image. I wasn't here for that. A few minutes later, she knocked on a door and opened it, revealing a collection of women in various stages of undress. Okay, to be honest, most of them were tall, curvy, and butt ass naked. White, Black, Hispanic...I think I saw an Asian woman...these must be the strippers. I looked down, a bit embarrassed.
"Guys, any of you seen Penny?" Cap called out over the chatter.
A moment of silence as they turned her way...but no answers at first.
"She looked pretty fucked up earlier, might be in the bathroom," one woman offered.
Cap nodded, closed the door, and headed further down the corridor. I followed.
She knocked on another door, but when she tried to turn the knob, it was locked.
"Penny? You in there?"
That was Cap's deep voice. Considering the message Penny'd texted, I thought she might want to know I was there also.
