Page 72 of Scarred King

“Elena,” his voice is hard. “I can’t start looking after your junkie friends.”

Ralph chuckles and Mike smiles and I feel as if I’m being swallowed up by a black hole.

“You’re such assholes!” I slam the table and see Carly entering the club. I run to her, hoping she'll help me.

“Carly, please tell Johanna to get up,” I press my palms together like I’m begging, and we both watch Johanna chatting happily with the man with the glasses. He is biting his lower lip and shoving his hand into his pants.

“How did that happen?” she asks in astonishment.

“She was crying…and then…” I stutter. “And then one of the twins gave her some powder, and then she came back—”

“Another one gone.” She shrugs and I stare at her in shock.

“Aren’t you going to do anything?”

“He’s not hurting her, and it looks like she’s enjoying herself,” she says calmly, as if we’re not talking about my sweet roommate who has fallen into drugs and is currently providing sex services, going through the same humiliation I did. “But let me think of something to get her out of here.” She falls quiet and looks at me. “You’ve changed your hair. Your braid is gone!” she exclaims.

“Yeah… it’s…” I look at Johanna again. “It’s really not important now.”

Carly goes to the round table and sits with the men and I lean against the bar, watching Johanna. She continues chatting and giggling as the man in the glasses masturbates and breathes heavily. When he finally lets out a loud groan, one of the twins goes to the table and gives him some napkins. After he sorts himself out, he throws some money on the table and leaves.

“Don’t take the money,” I whisper and shake my head. “Don’t take the money. Don’t take the money.” I’m disappointed when Johanna puts her hand on the dollar bills, counts them with a smile and shoves them into the pocket of her skirt. I close my eyes sadly, and when I open them again, she’s already back to whispering with the twins.

“Well, have you thought of something yet?” I ask Carly impatiently. She whispers something in Mike’s ear and when he nods, she calls Johanna over.

Johanna pushes past Ralph’s legs and sits down next to her. Carly strokes her head and Johanna giggles.

“Do you want us to get you into rehab?” Carly asks in a motherly voice.

Johanna grows serious and looks at her in confusion. “I don't need rehab. I'm not an addict. I just need the white powder once in a while.”

“I see,” Carly mutters.

“Wait, but you do…” I raise my voice and Carly waves her hand, signaling me to be quiet.

“It’s a very expensive powder,” Carly says in a soft voice, “can you pay for it?”

“Not really,” Johanna looks like she is brooding. “I am here on a scholarship and I don't work, but I thought Tommy would still give it to me.”

“That won’t happen,” Carly says dryly. “Tommy probably won’t give you anymore, and we’re not running a charity here.”

I look at them anxiously, trying to understand where their conversation is going.

“Then what should I do?” Johanna asks worriedly. “Maybe I can do more sex talking here and the men will pay me?”

“No.” Carly answers firmly. “This isn’t the right place for you.” I sigh in relief. Finally, somebody here is helping me. “But I think you’ll like our club,” Carly continues suddenly and I turn white. “We have lots of students. It’s an exclusive dance club, and you could dance with a mask on your face. When you’re ready you can move on to the private rooms.”

I stop breathing. A dance club. Sure.

“But I do not know how to dance,” Johanna says awkwardly.

“No problem, we’ll teach you.” Carly stands up, squeezes her way out of the table and signals Johanna to join her. “You’ll like it with us, and you’ll be able to pay for your new hobby.”

Johanna’s eyes light up in excitement and I can’t even say a word. She set me up. She set me up, and there’s nothing I can do.

“You've changed your hairstyle,” Johanna says to me with a big smile. “You look so pretty.” She hugs me and then vanishes with Carly behind the massive steel door. I crash down on the couch next to Liam.

“I’ve ruined her life!” I mumble in panic.

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