I spent the entire evening thinking about Dee. I couldn't even remember what I had done for the Client a few hours ago, it was all a crazy blur. I couldn't focus or sit still.
Was she okay? Would I ever see her again? God, I hated this place. Dee didn't deserve this, she was kind. Her disgusting, pathetic father was the reason she was here. Disgusting fathers, one more thing we had in common. I told her some of my life story but not all, no one could know it all, it wouldn't be safe, for me or them.
When she arrived, was it only weeks ago? She was just so positive, happy. I didn't want to like her, I kept my distance but she sucked me in. She always remained hopeful and it kept me going. I would save Dee. That's if she survived this. I would figure this out. I couldn't save my sister but I would save Dee.
I basically ran back to our room after my client. You try that in 6-inch heels. She wasn't there so I showered and changed and paced... a lot.
At 2 am there was a knock on the door. I ran to open it. An average looking male maid stood there with Dee in his arms. She looked, well, fucking horrible. My hands went to my face, tears filling my eyes.
"Oh, Dee honey..."I croaked out."Come in, just put her on the bed,"
I could smell the fluids, the overwhelming sweat scent making me gag.
The maid looked a bit worse for wear himself, the stress in his eyes apparent; he nodded and moved over to the bed I'd pointed at.
"She's been seen by medical?" I asked.
He nodded and looked at me. I was used to being looked at but not like that. The intense stare said all the things that he couldn't. We stood in silence for what was only a few seconds, conveying everything and nothing.
"She was brave. I've never...she was brave, strong." The maid said. "Tell her I said that. Please."
"What's your name?" I whispered.
"Bren." he murmured back.
He turned and strode toward the door. There was an unwritten rule with Silver, you didn't ask. The girls didn't come back, so nobody talked about it. I knew those rooms, knew the clients and knew what she was in for, though I really hoped it wouldn't be this bad. I felt shitty for not telling Dee but then I'd have to explain and well, I couldn't...she couldn't know that. I needed to know the client so I'd know what I was looking for, so I could help her heal.
"Bren." My voice halting him "Which client..." I trailed off; the implication apparent.
He paused as if wondering whether or not to tell me and stood so still that if I looked away I could have sworn that I was alone.
"The snowman." it was barely a sound, just a movement of his lips as if saying even his nickname would summon him.
My heart dropped to my stomach, my hands going to my chest as if I could stop the overwhelming pain growing there. The tears started in earnest as I moved over to Dee and took her hand. The door clicked closed behind me. I sat down on the edge of the bed and really looked at her. Her makeup was a wild mess and the only perfect thing was her lipstick, it almost seemed derisive of the whole thing that her lips were perfect.
Although medical and I assume Bren, helped to clean her up a bit, she still didn't look like herself. I couldn't leave her like this. Summoning the maids, I got them to help me lift her into the extended shower cubicle so we could lay her down. Once I'd washed her, being oh so careful, we got her back in bed. I sat and brushed her red tresses. Those fiery locks looked dull and lifeless without the spark of her personality to support them. I wished that she'd open her eyes and then thought better of it; sleep would be a slice of peace at the moment.
It would take days for her to heal.
As I sat there examining her bruises, remembering the wax falling from her skin and the tinge of blue that still lingered in her pallor, anger thundered through me. Mother fuckers, someone was going to pay. The Snowman, Christ, the monsters! How could they? I grasped her hand, avoiding the deep purple indentations on her wrists. My breathing became short and sharp, my brow aching from the frown I knew consumed my features.
A plan started to take root in my mind. I'd hidden long enough, keeping my head down wasn't worth this. Maybe the guy who Dee serviced the other night could help? He seemed to like her. I stroked her hair and whispered to her that everything would be okay. It was a long shot and I had no idea how to contact him but it was somewhere to start. It was time to pull out all the stops. I would sleep now and tomorrow there would be hell to pay.
____________________________________________________________________
Waking with a sense of purpose, I went over and checked on Dee. Some colour had returned to her skin and she looked like she was sleeping and not just passed out. Good sign.
I was dressed in my favourite silk, purple PJ's. So I popped the matching slippers on and did a quick check of myself in the mirror. My platinum blonde hair was high on my head and my clean face showed the distress of the last few nights. Dark bags and worry lines made me look older; I needed to pull it together. On my way out of our room, I instructed the maids to check on her every hour and if she woke up to try to get her to eat and take some painkillers.
Breakfast went as usual; I sat with a few of the others. They tried to ask about Dee, I just glared at them and they shut up pretty quick. Mother always used to say 'pretty nice on the outside, pretty awful inside', she was a bitch but sometimes it was true.
Towards the end of breakfast, the Superior arrived, so I took that as my cue to initiate my plan.
The Superior looked exhausted, that seemed to be her thing at the moment. Her clothes were smart and clean but there was something in her eyes that screamed jumpy, tired. This might work to my advantage. I approached her like a small child approaches an annoyed parent, with a large dollop of caution.
"Superior," I said softly. I hoped that she would take pity.
"Kinsey. How is she?" she jumped straight in, making this easier than I'd dared hope.
