C Holliday - Her animal act

"But you can't leave his body there!"

"Don't panic. We'll get him and dump him at sea."

By the time they'd circled the field, Juan's car was gone. But another car was down there, speeding along the runway toward where Elliott lay.

"Of all the rotten luck!" Pico growled, pulling back on the controls and giving the plane full throttle, lifting away from the runway.

"Land, Pico… land and get him!"

"I can't! The runway could be swarming with people by the time we got him into the plane!"

"Oh, sweet Mother of Christ," Faustina breathed, crossing herself. "What if his body is identified… what if…"

"Hush, Faustina. Did you get a look at him when we passed over. He's a mess. I think he will not be identified." Pico smiled tensely, reaching into his side coat pocket, coming out with Elliott's wallet and personal things he'd had in his pockets. "His suitcase is in the plane, and I have everything from his pockets. I took them from him after he attacked me this morning."

Faustina sighed. "Fly out over the ocean. I'll throw his things out – just to be on the safe side."

Living in Pico's sin palace was like an unending nightmare for Ruth and Paula. They spent the first night locked in an upstairs room. Some of the louder noises drifted up to them from the large bar below, where Pico had said they'd be working the following night. Horrified at the sordid life ahead of them, they lay huddled naked together on the bed. The rooms on either side of theirs were busy, one or the other of the beds nearly always rasping under the weight of fucking bodies. It went on until a faint light began to filter in through the one barred window, signaling that the night was drawing to a close.

It was then, at dawn, when Ruth broke the news to Paula about her father's death. Paula stared dumbly at her mother for several moments, then buried her face between Ruth's breasts and broke down completely. Ruth held her, both of them crying for over an hour before a hopeless fatigue set in, bringing a deep sleep with it.

They were awakened and fed at three the next afternoon, their first meal in the whorehouse dining room (one end of the main barroom) consisting of flour tortillas, bacon, scrambled eggs, refried beans, orange juice, milk and coffee. The food was good. Ruth wolfed hers down. But Paula, still numbed by her situation and the news of her father's death, could only force a few bites down. She sat sipping orange juice, staring blankly at the other whores, listening to them chatter away in Spanish as if all was right with the world.

There were fifteen girls in all, varying in age from midteens to late thirties, most of them in their twenties. One looked Oriental, two Indian, and one was black with flashing white teeth. The others were Latin American. Ruth and Paula were the only Anglo girls, and their light skin and blonde hair made a striking contrast. Their fairness set them apart from the others. A couple of the younger girls seemed friendly, but most showed amused resentment when Ruth and Paula saw them glancing their way.

Pico and a plump, bored-looking woman he called Rosa sat at the table with Ruth and Paula. Rosa was by far the oldest and least attractive woman in the house. She spoke fair English, but nowhere near as well as Pico.

At the table next to them sat Jose, watching Paula with a worried expression as he ate. Two Latin men, almost as big and muscular as Jose, also sat at that table. One had an ugly scar running the full length of his left cheek, the other showed three front teeth missing when he laughed or smiled.

Five of the girls hurried through their meal, then four of them stood hopefully off to the side as the fifth came to the table and spoke to Pico in Spanish. He asked her a question. She pointed to the scarred man as she answered. Pico nodded. The scarred man came over. Pico gave him some money, then he and the five girls left.

"They are going to a movie," Pico explained as the front door banged shut. He grinned at Ruth. "Perhaps you and Paula will earn similar privileges one day."

A ray of hope flashed in Ruth. If she and Paula could get out of the building, even with one of those men along, there was a chance of escape.

"But of course I'd never permit you both to go out at the same time," Pico added, smirking, exploding the hope just as suddenly as he'd raised it.

Ruth shivered and lowered her gaze from his cruel eyes. She knew she could never escape and leave Paula behind. But there was a way. There had to be a way she could get Paula and herself out of this terrible place once and for all! And she determined to find a way if it was the last thing she ever did.

"I can read your mind, rubia."

"What?"

"You're thinking of escape."

"No," she lied.

"No matter. Think of it all you wish… just don't be foolish enough to try it. If either of you should succeed, it will be at the expense of the other."

"What do you mean?"

"The one left behind will die," he said calmly, lighting a cigar. "Very slowly and very painfully."

Ruth gasped. "You wouldn't!"

He laughed.

A chill swept over Ruth. She hugged herself and shuddered.

"Both of you go bathe and make yourselves pretty. Two of my most valued patrons are coming shortly. They've graciously agreed to let you practice your new profession on them. Rosa will instruct you what to do and when to do it. I would advise that you eagerly obey her every command. Don't force me to punish you. Cooperate. Your lives will be much more pleasant for it."

The instant they were alone in their room, Paula dove onto the bed and began crying bitterly. Ruth sat down beside her, patting and stroking her, trying to console her.

"I don't wanna be a whore, Mommy!" she wailed. "I want to go home!"

Tears misting her own eyes, Ruth slapped Paula hard. "Get hold of yourself! Stop crying and listen to me!"

Sniffling and rubbing her cheek, Paula sat up obediently.

"We will go home, baby. I promise you that."

"But how? Pico won't let us!"

"Hush now! Don't start that again!"

Paula shook herself and wiped her eyes.

"I don't know how yet," Ruth went on, "but there has to be a way! I'll find it. I'll get you out of here."

"It's hopeless, Mother, and you know it."

"No, it isn't. It can't be! Believe that, Paula. We'll get out of here. It'll take time, though, and for now we'll have to do as they say."

"I don't know if I can," Paula moaned.

"You have to. There's no choice."

"I'll try."

"We'll act like we've accepted things as they are. Don't cross Pico in any way… no matter how disgusting it becomes. Make him think you're trying to adapt. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Good girl. I know it's going to be horrible. But we have to go along for now. When he's convinced we're broken, they won't watch us so closely. We'll find a way, Paula. We have to. And when the time is right…"

"It could take months."

"Then help me, Paula. Study everything. Help me come up with a plan."

"But what if we can't find a way?"

"We can. Believe that, or we're lost already. I promise to get you out of this, and I've never broken a promise to you, have I?"

"But this is different, Mother."

"I'll get you out of here, even if I have to stay behind."

"No! I won't let you do that! Pico would kill you!"

Ruth smiled sadly. "If we can't both escape, you'll be the one to go. Do you understand me, Paula? I'd rather be dead than have my daughter live her life as a whore."

Paula gulped.

"But we'll find some way. We're more intelligent than they are. We can do it if we put our minds to it… if we think it out carefully and find the most logical plan before we attempt it."

"I'll help you, Mother. If Jose could only talk, I believe I might get him to help us. He's in love with me, I think."