In the corner of the club, not far from the drinking bar, there was a stage where a man sat on a tall stool with an acoustic guitar in hand. With eyes closed and nodding to the cool rhythm his fingers made from touching the guitar strings, he parted his lips and soon his voice filled the entire club singing the song Shallow
Tell me somethin', girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for?
I'm fallin'
In all the good times, I find myself longin' for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself
Tell me something, boy
Aren't you tired of tryin' to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore?
I'm falling
In all the good times, I find myself longing for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself
I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
We're far from the shallow now
With each word he sang, one could feel the passion with which he was singing. Like he was singing for his woman.
Clara Hughs was leaning against the bar counter holding a serving tray close to her chest. She wore a sexy black bunny costume, with a white bunny tail at her waist, thigh-level black leg warmer with long white bunny ears on her head. Her waist-level long wavy brunette hair was tied in a ponytail. She had no makeup on but an application of lip gloss on her pink lips. At 19 years old, her beauty was breathtaking.
She was mesmerized watching the man playing the guitar. Lost in the melodious song he was singing. Clara was looking at the man's hands and how swiftly they moved on the strings. With each move, a beautiful rhythm is produced. She was lost in the song and instrument when Laura, her employer, came yelling at her.
"Stop daydreaming already about the music/guitar and move. People are thirsty. Move it already," Laura yelled
Clara, snapping out of her moment, quickly placed the tray on the counter for some drinks which she carried and started moving around the tables to serve the customers who wanted some drinks. She walked into one of the private rooms and two guys started harassing her.
"Come here you little bunny," the first guy said and pulled Clara's hand causing her to drop the tray and break some glasses, spilling the drinks all over the floor.
"Let go of her, she is mine," came the voice of the second guy pulling Clara by the waist.
"Please let go of me," Clara cried while she struggled to break free from the guy's grip on her.
The first guy stood behind her, he grabbed her hair, causing her to bend backwards and sniffed her neck to her shoulder
"Nice I like your scent," he murmured. "I like to eat you up, bit by bit," he added with a grin
"ha ha ha, we can have her together," the second guy got closer to her, bent over, and bit her belly under her bunny costume.
He tore the front of the dress open
"Please, please stop it," she cried, raising her leg, she tried to kick the second guy but he caught her leg before it could hit him "Help, somebody help me," she screamed.
Laura walked into the private room with 3 well-built men in an all-black outfit
"What nonsense. How dare you touch my golden price. Deal with these two" Laura yelled standing at the entrance to the private room with two fearsome guys.
One of the men with Laura pulled the second guy holding Clara and threw him to the wall like he was a piece of paper and in a swift move hit the other guy hard in the face sending him flying and crashing into the table with a lamp sitting on it. The man stood straight and adjusted his clothing, with not even a single scratch and shot the two guys a glance and they both ran out of the room.
Clara was on the floor crying. Laura looked at her indifferently and rolled her eyes.
"Get her ready. Someone has paid for her," Laura ordered
Clara knew what that statement meant; her face went pale immediately. She got up and knelt on the floor
"Please, ma'am. I will do anything you ask me. Please don't give me to any man," she pleaded
"Clara, you make me sick. I run this place with money. It's not a charity business. I have fed you, clothed you and still take care of you. It's time you start paying me back. You need to get out there and give them what they want. That is how I make the money I use in taking care of you," Laura said and placed her hand on her hips looking at Clara furiously
Clara was still pleading, infuriating Laura. She yelled at her
"You are making me lose money. My top clients want you. They are willing to pay enormous amounts of money for you."
She walked to her and pulled her up, holding what was left of her torn costume.
"What are you keeping your virginity for? Huh? It's not like Prince Charming will walk into a place like this to find you, princess," after yelling at her she closed her eyes and calmed herself, seeing the tear-soaked face of Clara.
"Okay, I know you have not done this before, so you are scared. Look, it will hurt a little and what follows next is an unending pleasure," She spoke softly into her ears straightening what was left of her costume as she wiped her tears
"You are going to love it. Just let yourself go and bring me that money," Laura said with a smile
"Please, I can't. I am scared," Clara cried
Laura's hand stopped as she got angry hearing what she said
"Okay, let's do it this way, you pay me a thousand dollars, any time a client asks for you, and I will let you go. How about that?" she said moving away from Clara and looking at her acrylic-fixed nails
Clara's eyes widened "One - one - one thousand dollars?" she stammered "Please I don't know where or how to get such an amount?"
"Well, that is your problem. You have the option, there is a man outside, who is willing to pay a million dollars for you. You can see him, or you pay me a thousand. I am being generous here," She said and walked away "Let's go boys"
Clara was left sitting on the floor dumbstruck. She straightened what was left of her bunny costume. Covering her exposed chest with the tray, she left the private room to her small room inside the club. She took off the bunny costume and slipped into another dress not so revealing. She untied her hair allowing it to flow freely on her shoulders and sat on her bed.
"One thousand dollars," She thought "Where am I going to get such an amount of money," she thought
Laura takes care of everything, so she works in the bar for free. She has been working as a waitress since she turned 16 years old. It appears Laura wants her to sell her body by all means. Tears rolled down her cheeks. If only her parents were alive. She wouldn't have to live this kind of life. Clara closed her eyes and the images flashed before her from the past
********Flashback***********
A tall man in a mask slapped her mum causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Clara who was hiding in the wardrobe closed her eyes and covered her ears as she heard three gunshots sound.
Hearing nothing, she looked through the small space in the wardrobe. Her mother was lying on the floor motionless. She covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from screaming. She was just 6 years old. The man left the room, and she heard another gunshot and then her dad's voice. She stayed in the wardrobe till she heard the police car sirens making a loud noise.
An officer came to the room and found her in the wardrobe with a tear-stained face. She was sent to the orphanage. She run away from the orphanage home when she turned 15 years because she was constantly being bullied and there were some rape attempts too.
She lived on the street after running away from the orphanage, begging for food, or stealing them to survive.
One day she entered Laura's house to steal food and she was caught. Laura offered her a job as a waitress in her clubhouse called the Bunny Club, in return, she will take care of her needs. That is the payment she receives from Laura, clothing, food, and shelter.
****End of flashback********
Tears were still streaming down her cheeks as she lifted her head to pray
"God please don't leave me. Help me." she prayed
Her only friend Jessica walked in. Seeing the state Clara was in she felt incredibly sad. Jessica was 4 years older than Clara. She was already in the business of pleasuring men with her body. She does have some money and has an apartment of her own.
"Clara," Jessica called out and Clara turned to look at her.
Jessica sat next to Clara and kissed her forehead
"Clara, everything is going to be all right. If I have an option, I will not do what I am doing but see there is no way out," She said to her, and Clara looked at Jessica questioningly
"I heard everything. I was at the entrance. Okay, I know you don't want to do that kinda thing. Have you thought of looking for a job outside? Let's try that. The club is open in the evening, so you can use your morning and afternoon to work at other places and earn some money." She suggested
Clara smiled "Thank you, Jessica. You are the best." They hugged each other
"It's settled then, tomorrow we go job hunting," Jessica said and she hugged Clara rubbing her back