A sat splayed in the ring of lights. My head rested on the back of the wooden chair, and my panting breath began to slow.
I was vaguely aware of the scootching sounds of chairs and the rustling of moving bodies. The execs were leaving.
"Please follow me to the bookie, and you can place your bets officially. Remember that we welcome tips for the performance, and a lucky winner will get a one-on-one dinner with our newest recruit." Boss swept an arm to her right and disappeared, leading the small group away.
A beep caught my attention, and I glanced at Ji-Woo, setting the camera back on its stand.
"I bet you're ready for a shower and a nap." Her mouth quirked in amusement, and heat warmed my cheeks. I nodded, not sure if I was capable of speech yet. "Follow me."
Ji-Woo stepped from the lights, and I scrambled to my feet. I didn't want her to disappear and leave me alone.
"Are we leaving?"
"Our benefactress owns this building. It's slated for demolition, but the plans are tied up with the city. We get to stay here under the stipulation that we keep it looking abandoned, so no one leaves that often. We eat, sleep, and live here, and don't be surprised by the state of things." I felt relief at the openness. But the "no one leaves" comment had me feeling a bit uneasy.
We walked through another heavy metal doorway and down a shadowed hall. The setting sun's faint pink and yellow light filtered through small windows at the tops of hardwood doors trimmed in burgundy. I noted the historical quality of the place. It seemed as though it was created in the mid-20s. Pistachio and cream walls, a dingy brown carpet, and exposed pipes led the way ahead.
A door to the left hung precariously on one hinge. Inside, naked bodies writhed together. Sounds of fucking and passion vibrated my ears. The glare from a ring of lights bounced off the two women's fair skin, blinding me briefly--another door, this time shut, muffled sounds of smacks and cries of pain. A thrill ran down my spine when I realized I'd have a chance to explore all my depraved fantasies.
"How many of us are there?" I asked after clearing my throat and taking a deep breath.
"At this moment, ten." She crouched down, pausing to make wispy noises at the fluffiest grey and white cat I'd ever seen. Tail raised it pranced to her and chattered. Its blue eyes sparkled, and Ji-Woo scooped it up and cradled it like a baby. She planted a big smack on the cat's head and squeezed it before letting it go.
"There's a lot of rotation in the cast. Some gain little interest and either join the film crew or move on to other things. We always have our core cast of three. They're the favorites."
"Are you one of them?" I tried to ignore the fluttering in my chest at the adorableness I'd just witnessed. Ji-Woo turned and winked, not answering, as she depressed a small protruding button at the end of the hall.
The rusted folding gate of the elevator was questionable. When it arrived, Ji-Woo swung the gate open with both hands and a mighty jerk of both shoulders.
"Sometimes it sticks. Sometimes, it stops in the middle of a lift. You gotta be careful on these." I eyed the cast iron filigree and wondered if taking the stairs would be better. Hesitantly, I followed her inside, and together we closed the gate.
The shaky ride jerked to a stop on the fourth floor, and I let out the breath I'd unconsciously held. Ji-Woo threaded her fingers through mine.
"Almost there."
She ducked her head and tugged me to the end of a similar hallway. A nudge of her foot against a door on the left had it swinging open, revealing an utterly bare studio apartment.
The dirty windows had an obstructed view of the city through graffiti, most of which was a backward 'howdy' sprayed in sizeable yellow block letters. The wall to my left was covered in orange wood paneling, and the 70s décor contrasted oddly.
The narrow metal bed looked serviceable but squeaky, and there were fresh sheets and a comforter folded at the foot, waiting to be used.
On my right was a bathroom without a door. I managed a glance and noted the sink and toilet but didn't see if there was a shower before Ji-Woo pulled me again. She closed the room door and turned to me, a finger pressed to her lips.
"They have devices all over, cameras, mics. Be careful. It's all on the site, 24/7, unless no one's watching. Clients love to see us in our day-to-day. It's how they bond with the cast, and if you put on a good show, you'll stick around longer and make some bank." She whispered to me.
I nodded, staying silent, waiting for her lead.
