Saving Her (Closed to lmcms)

[CarnivalBarker]

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Bryan Kalama stood outside the entrance to Cat Nights on what appeared at first to be a typical, Wednesday night. The air was still warm from the late summer weather, but the wind blew cool when it came up, threatening to chill the night as it did so often in this devil town. The lights of the mid-size border city blazed over his shoulder, while the loud music inside had just begin to blare through the open front door, hidden behind the entrance canopy just past where he stood.

"Ladiesandgentleman direct your attention center stage and give a welcome to the lovely light of the night sky, Moooooooon!!!!" The stage music began to play and Bryan shook his head, glad for once that he was not working inside detail. Mellisa Tyler was the sweetest of the girls working at Cat Nights, and also the most burdened, it seemed. Each night when she came in, she told him hi and he never knew if the genuine smile she gave was for him or simply the natural way she greeted life, even if life didn't greet her back with such happiness. At twenty nine years old, Bryan had begun bouncing at the club nearly six years ago. It was more of a cover for jobs he held that the IRS would frown upon, but it was also good side money, and the perks from inside and outside the club were amazing. He remembered meeting with Derek Tyler the first week to pick up his paycheck on a Sunday morning, when the club was closed due to the state's puritan blue laws. That day, there was a cute, if very young, girl in his office whom he did not allow to visit the girls' dressing room or any other part of the bar. He did not learn he was Derek's daughter until a few days later, when one of the cooks commented about how he was counting the days until sweet little Mellisa, the boss' daughter could, well...serve him.

He gave little thought to the girl for a while, until she was a junior in high school. One day she had come to pick up Derek's Jaguar to take to a party in the hills nearby. He noticed she was attractive, hot even, and for the first time he noticed how her father treated her. When the girl showed up unexpectedly, Bryan was guarding Derek as he counted the weekend's cash for the weekly Monday bank deposit. Derek welcomed the girl with a sneer, refused to loan her the car for the night, and told her if she wanted the car, or any car, she needed to learn how to earn it from him in the VIP room like the other pretty little sluts that he had to pay for. Bryan hid his surprise as the girl became hurt, then enraged, then bruised behind closed doors as Bryan was excused, only to see her again crying and holding her cheek as she emerged from the office. While he said nothing at the time, he also didn't know their circumstance or dynamic. It wasn't his place.

Two years later, when Mellisa was eighteen, Bryan saw her again when she showed up in a tiny pink dress that glowed under the club's blacklights and she was carrying a modest black duffel bag, far larger than any purse. It was the first time he saw her at the club anywhere near club hours, and as she was allowed in without ID as was custom for her, she was greeted by Nile, who told her that she would show the girl her assigned locker. Since that time, a little over a year ago, Bryan had been inside plenty of times when "Moon" arrived onstage. Plenty of times the girl gave him the sweet smile he thought about now, looking as innocent as could be, as they both knew what awaited her once she went inside to work for the night.

The first time he worked inside while she danced, Bryan was impressed. The girl had the body of an angel and danced like an army of devils had inhabited her soul. He had slept with plenty of the girls that worked there. Hell, it was almost policy for security to do so. But he always felt protective of her. A couple of times he stayed after clocking out to have a beer and stayed far too long, before stumbling home angry and drunk. On those occasions when the anger set in, he could not tell if he wanted to punish her for being so stupid as to work here to support her father's seedy empire, which he had no doubt Derek forced her to do, or if he wanted to punish Derek himself. Either way, the thought of punishment led him simply to the thought of the horrible, awful things he would do to the girl, given the chance.

That all changed a few months back. Mellisa showed up and asked Dallas to do a double and cover a shift for her. The reason was as obvious as the black eye that makeup probably would not cover. When Dallas refused, opting instead for a private party with some investment bankers looking to get laid, Mellisa had to perform to the hoots, hollers, and declining tips that came when a girl danced while looking like she was off the streets. The next few weeks were the same. Bryan figured that when she did not bring in money, Derek would take it out on her. Having heard only the one vulgar, over-the-top comment, Bryan worried just how Derek did that, and that it involved Derek not merely hitting his little girl, but also doing unspeakable things with her body. But he didn't know for sure. It was merely speculation.

While Bryan worried for the girl, he kept his distance. He enjoyed watching her, and thinking about her. She was girlfriend material, but he worried she might be traumatized. In the meantime, he had some issues of his own to worry about. The last couple years found him to be a soldier in a stolen car ring, headed by an old friend, Timo Escalante. Timo's men began getting sloppy, and several of them had been arrested. While they did not turn on him, Timo became paranoid, wondering if there was a rat. Eventually, he accused Bryan and began to ratchet up his assignments to prove loyalty. Several times he had to hoist some of the most amazing cars in the area, which was simply unwise, as one could not easily conceal a Maserati, for instance, but he was called on to collect payments for protection, which might require the occasional assault or severe threat. Once, a garage owner refused to let the thieves enter his garage, despite being on the payroll for Timo. Bryan carried out a beating so severe that the guy remained on life support. When Timo became concerned that he would turn state's evidence if he woke up, the hit was ordered and carried out. While Bryan did not know who did it, he knew that Timo would worry that Bryan could now be turned. Loyalty became an issue again, and the jobs became more and more dicey.

As Mellisa's music began to wrap, Bryan took money from three guys waiting in line and then sauntered behind them to stick his head inside for just a moment. He noticed that she looked beautiful, as always, but that she wasn't smiling, as she typically did, even if it was just for show. He worried about her, and returned to his post as she stepped from the stage. He did not want to see the monsters that would take her to the VIP room. He never liked that part. As he lit a cigarette and blew smoke into the night air, he tried to force her off his mind. He wanted to protect her, but didn't know how. And he wondered if he wouldn't just complicate her world more than it needed to be.

 

[lmcms]

Melissa peeked out the curtain and decided that it was for sure that Bryan was working the door rather than inside the club. She shivered slightly already regretting the set she was about to do on stage. Her body hurt in ways it never had before. After the last time Derek had bruised her up good and she lost out on tips he found other ways to beat her that didn’t leave marks or some of the few places others couldn’t see, like the soles of her feet. Each step she took tonight radiated pain causing her to relive the “punishment”, for getting a new dancing outfit without permission, over and over again. She wasn’t sure how she would manage to dance when she could barely walk.

She wished Bryan was in the club tonight. Even though he never stepped in to stop her father she felt safer when he was closer. When anyone else looked at her they leered, sneered, or looked at her with pity. With Bryan when he looked at her she saw compassion and kindness. When the night’s DJ announced her on stage she winced even as she wore the fluffy thin outfit she had been beaten over. The material was white and see through it was also so light it floated and fluttered with the slightest movement or breeze. When she had tried it on the sales clerk had declared she looked angelic. She craved to hold on to as much innocence as she possibly could.

When she stepped onto the stage tonight she could not even force a smile to grace her lips. As she caught a look of herself in the wall mirror the image she saw reminded her of a sad angel. Apparently it appealed to the crowd as the tip flowed freely. Each step and turn was a new lesson in pain and torture. On the second song she removed the dress and the movement reminded her of the pain in her stomach that had been forgotten by the severe pain in her feet. Still she didn’t stop dancing she knew what would happen if she did. As the song began to wind down she glanced at the door about the time Bryan peeked in, she couldn’t even summon a smile for him and that hurt her almost as much as her physical pain did. Finally the song ended and she stepped off stage. She quickly sat down fighting back tears.

She couldn’t take the pain anymore there was no way she could work the floor and with the way Derek leered at her more and more now days she was even more nervous. She knew what that look meant and avoided him as much as possible. She slipped the dress back on and rose screaming silently. There was a way she could have everything she wanted to help her get through the night. Outside the front door near where the man on the door stood there was a small break area and no one ever went in their but the door man. She was hopping if she explained to Bryan she needed a bit of privacy and a break he would let her hide in there for a few moments. If he did, she could both sit to relieve her feet and be near him so she could feel safe even if for just a few moments.

As she moved she fought tears but some escaped streaming silently down her face. She never paused as she moved and she didn’t rush so she didn’t draw attention to herself. At the door she peeked out and up at Bryan, “Bryan could I sit in the room.” She asked him softly and even though she tried to fight it her tears could be heard in her voice as well as seen on her face. As she stepped out and closer to him while waiting on the answer she limped and winced with each step.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

The poor girl's voice put cracks in his heart and his steel facade as he looked down on her tiny frame, shuffling out the door. He wondered if her knee or ankle hurt, he couldn't tell. And he dared not ask what had happened.

"Hey, girl," he gave a sympathetic smile. "Of course you can sit in there," he said, reaching for the key and unlocking the little door to the room she was requesting to enter. Pulling it open, he motioned for her to hurry inside before anyone saw her. There was no real rule against going in there, but Derek liked the girls to be on their back in the VIP Lounge, not on their ass in the lounge out front. He wasn't certain if the same rule applied to Derek's daughter, though he suspected that it sadly did.

As she shuffled outside a bit more, Bryan could not help but notice how young she looked. She was over 18, but reminded him so much of the little girl he had seen that first day five or six years ago. Suddenly, over his shoulder, a guy in line let out a catcall, as he saw Mellisa step outside. Bryan turned around quickly.

"Hey, shut the fuck up!" He told the lanky college kid near the front of the line.

"Fuck you man," the kid said. "The whore comes outside, we're gonna look." Bryan's blood boiled. To the kid, Mellisa was another girl, another side of meat he wished he had enough money and class to stick his dick in, another firm side, or stomach, or thigh to rub against as he put the singles from his dad's bank account in her barely there lingerie. Bryan hoped she hadn't heard. He knew she was a sharp girl that had privilege growing up, but at the same time found herself repeatedly in an awful situation.

"Get out of line," he told the kid.

"No, fuck you man." Replied the boy.

"I said you're out of line." Bryan meant it in every way. After escorting the kid behind the velvet entry rope, he turned around and returned to where Mellisa stood.

"Sorry about that," he whispered, as he opened the lounge door. "Get inside. Take all the time you need. I'll tell you're dad we haven't seen you, if he asks." As she began to shuffle toward the door, Bryan hoped sincerely that Derek would not ask.

 

[lmcms]

Melissa heard what the cat calls and what the boy said, yes she thought of him as a boy even though he was most likely older than her she had experienced more than one her age should and she matured quickly to try and keep the beatings to a minimum. When she heard Bryan stand up for her a part of her heart, her soul that had begun to grow dim and fade seemed to brighten and lift ever so slightly. When he returned she was finally able to give him a genuine smile, small though it was.

As she walked past him to enter into the room she had to grip his arm to help her stand as the pain shot up her legs. She looked down as a silent scream split her lips. She had learned long ago not to make a sound. Her hand on him tightened as she drew the strength she needed to finish moving into the room. After just a few seconds but what felt like hours to her she looked at him silent tears streaming down her eyes as she mouthed “Thank you.” Then stepped into the room finding the closest seat. The door closed soon after she sat and she wasted no time at all in removing her shoes. Feeling the pressure leave her feet was a mixture of pain and pleasure. The unusual combination she had never experienced before cause the scream in her throat to find voice this time.

She didn’t know if the sound was heard or how loud it really was it had been so long she had actually heard herself scream the sound was defining. The way the seat sat she was facing the door and even as she screamed from the pleasure pain she propped her feet on the box in front of her. Her head fell back against the back of the chair and her eyes closed. She knew if she looked at the bottom of her feet she would see the thin, red, raised whelps and some where even scabbed her the hits had broken the skin. She didn’t know what Derek had used to hit her feet but she hated the tool heart, body, and soul. As he had done this too her he had told her it was a form of torture in some country or other and she could well believe it. After having to walk on the fresh wounds especially in the 8” heels she feared her feet where now deformed. With her eyes closed she tried to picture herself and she had a feeling her otherworldly sad angel look would now be more that of ravaged ghost.

She stretched her feet trying to make them just the smallest bit more comfortable. Again the pleasure pain assailed her thin broken body and again a scream left her throat this time louder than the one before of this she was sure.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

Shortly after closing the door, Bryan heard something that sounded like a faint squeal. He couldn't tell what she was doing in there from the muffled noise, drowned out more from the music coming through the front door, but he was certain it was Mellisa. He felt a jolt as blood rushed from his body make him throb a moment. Is that what she would sound like in bed? He wondered to himself. As much as he felt sorry for her, he was also a man, and she was also one of the more attractive women he had ever seen, young, smooth, soft, yet firm in all the right spots. He lit another cigarette to clear his head, and to force his mind to a more appropriate place. She doesn't need me treating her like that, he thought. But the thought of how he would love treating her became the pink elephant in the room. No matter how hard he tried, no needed, to push the thought from his mind, there it still was, the vision of her spread out beneath him as he filled her with his sizable length, making her feel all of him deep inside all of her. He took another drag, his mind finally rattled away from this place as Derek Tyler stuck his head out the front door.

"Have you seen Moon?" the Boss asked. Bryan winced a bit, looking at him trying to hide his annoyance that he would not even call his daughter by her actual name at times.

"No. I haven't," he replied.

"I got two customers that want her in the VIP with them both for a grand a piece," Derek told him. Bryan tossed his smoke to the ground, crushing it quickly beneath his feet in an effort not to attack Derek on the spot. It upset him to think what the girl would have had to do for two thousand dollars.

"Want me to find her?" Bryan asked.

"Yeah," Derek responded. "Get her in here." As Derek disappeared back inside, Bryan heard a longer, more sturdy sound that could more properly be called a scream. He closed off the velvet line, unlocked the door to the front lounge, and stepped inside. There, he saw little Mellisa with her feet up, catching a quick glimpse of her damaged feet.

"Jesus Christ," he said, in disbelief as he turned his eyes back toward hers.

 

[lmcms]

She heard the door close and Bryan’s harsh “Jesus Christ.” She opened her pretty water blue eyes and met his with a small sad smile. If she had seen her own smile at that moment she would have sworn it was sad enough to make actual angels weep and fill the heavans. She tried to be brave but if he was coming in her she knew more than her scream had to have drawn him and only one thing would have him come to get her, Derek was looking for her.

“He’s looking for me isn’t he?” She asked her voice breaking and an inner light that had always seemed to fill her baby blues faded.

She didn’t wait for his reply as she reached for her shoes wincing as moved. As she began to slip them back onto her feet she through her head back again this time no sound came out as her lips parted in a scream of nothing but endless pain. Mechanically even as silent screams of torture left her throat she continued slipping her shoes on. She knew the longer it took her to get back the angrier Derek would be and if he had sent Bryan to find then the larger the chance that he would be in trouble as well if it took her too long to return to her own personal hell.

Finally pulling herself together and getting her shoes on she looked up at him. It had felt like hours but she knew once again it had only taken seconds she was use to moving and moving fast even when in pain if Derek was looking for her. She tried to gather her strength to stand but no more strength was forth coming and in the back of her mind she wandered if this would be the night she died. Never before had all strength deserted her.

“Help me stand please?” She asked in a soft watery voice as she looked up at Bryan.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

Bryan watched the beautiful, wounded creature sitting below struggle with her feet, then her shoes, and he wondered how she had found the spirit to pull off her show not a few moments ago.

He's looking for me, isn't he? she had asked. Only now could he answer.

"He says he, uh......he has two clients." He peeked out the door not to look for anything as much as to hide his eyes so that she could not see his own fear for her well being and possible tears that would surely come watching this beautiful bird struggle with her wounds. "You're not going out there," he said, closing the door again and turning around once more. "I'm not helping you anywhere." He moved across the room to stand directly across from her. "You cannot let him do this to you, Mellisa." He watched her continue to strain, while he battled himself for some sort of answer that he did not, at the moment, have. If he helped her go be abused, maybe raped, he could not live with himself. If she was not found quickly, she would pay hell when she was. If she was found with him hiding her, they would both suffer repercussion.

Had he not seen her swollen, welted feet, he would not have seen much apart from a hot, little girl that was tired from long days and longer nights, that maybe partied too hard or worked too much. But even her pretty, sad eyes betrayed her. The idea of putting her in the car and driving across the border to a beach town where they could hide out and find jobs among the locals flashed through his mind, but then there was Timo. Escalante was known as The Reaper. His chop shop operation serviced the Mexican cartels. He made his money stealing cars, sending them south into Mexico, then chopping them up for sales after the cartels used them to smuggle back over the border. While Bryan had not seen much of the drug trade itself, he knew Timo knew people, and that those people owed him favors that he would readily call in if he felt he needed to chase down a rat and turn the rat's cute girlfriend into a sex-trade investment. The Reaper would find them there. If they simply drove to the heart of America, he opened himself up to having no way to earn a real living and possible federal charges if Timo wanted to have him framed and put him away that way. He needed an idea, and he needed to stall.

"Give me twenty minutes," he tells her. "And we'll get you out of here." He didn't yet know where they would go, or how. "You can't keep doing this."