*Please note that this story is only a work of fiction. It contains themes of reluctance/coercion and predatory behavior. If this causes you distress, I urge you to reach out to someone about it. All main characters involved are over the age of 18.
The clink of a coin hitting stainless steel causes me to raise my head from where I've been sitting, hunched up against the subway station wall. A sympathetic woman, cradling a purse in one hand and the fist of a child in the other looks back at me as she walks away. "Thank you" I say. My voice comes out cracked and rusty. I don't have much cause to speak these days. I look into my tray to find a fresh two dollar coin winking under the putrid yellow light. It sits beside a 20 dollar bill and a handful of spare change. A pretty good haul by my standards. I should be able to buy a decent meal tonight. I draw my knees in further to my chest and survey my surroundings. This is a very busy place on a Monday evening. Tired workers enter and exit subway cars, minds set on getting home as soon as possible. This time of day is when I get my best money. People are worn out, more emotional. More likely to cut some slack for a homeless 20 year old girl.
It also helps that I'm not a drug addict. My skin isn't sunken, sallow. My body isn't hollow and used up. People see me and they can guess I'm not just going to spend their money on a packet of cigarettes and a bottle of vodka. Can't say I blame the people that chose that path honestly, living like this is its own kind of hell. I, of course, wasn't always homeless. I had a home, albeit, not a very good one. My mother was never there. A money and status chaser through and through. She never even noticed that I was neglected, she was that caught up in her job title as CEO of a peanut butter manufacturer. Fucking peanut butter. I don't even like the stuff all that much. It's sticky, icky, and gets caught on the roof of my mouth when I try to swallow it. My father eventually threw me out of the house claiming I was the reason why she was never home, which I like to hope was a lie. It doesn't matter though, she hasnt sent for me. My father also seems to have moved on and I get to enjoy the long, cold nights of Sydney underground.
I'm contemplating the situation when I realize that someone is trying to engage me in conversation. I look up to see a man in his 60's looking down at me with a kind smile. He has a rather fat tummy and his hair has receded right back to past his ears. He wears the typical gear of an older man. Comfortable shoes, khaki trouser shorts and a sweaty polo shirt. He speaks to me again.
"I said, do you have a place to stay tonight young missy?" I pause then shake my head, eyes wide. His smile grows wider before he asks, "would you like to come stay with me? It's going to be an awfully cold night and I have a fireplace in my living room. You look like you could do with a bit more food too" he adds, licking his lips and looking at me absentmindedly, "starvation is not good for cute little dears like you. It's such a waste." Those words give me pause. What an odd thing to say to someone. I immediately feel a bit uncomfortable but then his easy smile calms me down.
"Yes please" I say. How could I refuse an offer so generous. His smile grows its widest at this and he extends his hand to me.
"Call me Mr Marten dear" He smiles. I take it and before I know it, I am standing in a little kitchen being made a sandwich by this man. He layers it in roast beef and cheese, giving me a generous dollop of mayonnaise to 'fatten me up a bit.' I eat it hungrily and when my eyes dart to his little fridge, he smiles and pulls out a tub of ice cream from the freezer compartment.
"Now, you can have some of this if you'll let me feed you, little pet" He proposes. This takes me aback again and I frown. Something is definitely off about this kindly looking older man. Then I look at what flavor it is. Birthday cake. I love birthday cake.
"O-okay" I stammer. He reaches out his hand and rubs my shoulder.
"That's a good girl. You are a very good girl" I smiled weakly at his compliment. He gets a little spoon, opens the container, takes a small scoop and brings it over to my face. "Open wide, pet" he rasps gently. I blush and open my mouth. He brings the spoon in and i suck the ice cream off the metal, licking the underside to get what I missed. This seems to set him off though I meant nothing by my actions.
"Ughhh" he groans softly, watching me intently. "You are
very
good at this, aren't you?" I nod my head slowly, being drawn in by his words, his subtle charisma. He proceeds to feed me spoon after spoon of the ice cream, watching closely as I suck it up and swallow the sweet, creamy goodness. His breathing has grown heavy to the point that he's practically panting.
Eventually I sigh and say, "I'm full Mr Marten." He caresses my cheek and his hand lingers by my mouth where he wipes away a bit of ice cream and sucks it between his fat, pursed lips.