ET Chapter 17: Ghosts everywhere

At first she thought it was her imagination playing a trick on her and making her see things. Or a person simply waiting for a ride just like she was.

It was dark in the late night, and cold. Though the snow fall was light, the wind blew harshly, whipping her black tresses into her face, making it impossible for her to see clearly.

Gabriella's squinted eyes sought the lone figure standing across from her. A woman, she could tell by her sensible curves, with her arms crossed against her chest. The distance between them was only a street, but somehow it seemed almost like twelve feet. Gabriella couldn't be sure, but it was as if the woman was watching her.

Curious, she took a step forward. Almost instantaneously the woman moved from her stilled position to take a step forward.

Curiosity taking over, she took a step, which produced into another, and another. Until she found herself being drawn in, taking small baby steps toward the stranger. The more steps she took, the more the stranger took, at the exact same time. Almost as if they were mirroring each other's movements.

With every step that she took, Gabriella noticed the few things being shed into the light.

The shiny black stilettos she wore strapped around her ankles.

The leopard fur jacket that was up to her thigh.

Her jet black hair flowing wildly in the strong winds.

Wheels started turning in Gabriella's head as she studied the woman. There was something about her. Something vague. The outfit, the seductive sway of her hips, the way she carried herself. There was something odd about this lady of the night.

Something familiar.

With one last step, the distance between them was an inch. Standing apart from each other. It took everything Gabriella not to gasp, though mixed shock and shame were spiraling uncontrollably inside her.

The image was so uncanny to hers, almost as if it were her reflection. She had almost believed that was the case. If not for the subtle differences she was picking up as she examined the woman.

The unmistakable gray entwining with the raven black of her hair. Her weak, almost skeleton-like frame that looked even smaller in her getup. The hallowed bitterness that aged her face, the harsh lines removing any trace of youth. The self-inflicted, punctured marks on her arms that were seen through the ripped sleeves of her worn- mouth-eaten jacket.

"People call Temptress," Maria smiled, a seductive smile on her face that would be more charming if not for the horrible teeth. The few survivors were blackened and looked rotten to the core. She unfastened her jacket, revealing the very skimpy lingerie she had underneath. "And I can make your most wicked temptations come true. For a hundred bucks."

Gabriella sucked in a sharp breath as she freed herself from the nightmare. She felt a coldness seeping in her veins, chilling her to the bone. She sought shelter in the blanket she brought along with her, burying herself deep within its contents.

It was a only dream, she told herself. A stupid, fucking dream that meant shit.

Except she knew it wasn't.

She wasn't naïve to believe that, while coming back to New York, bad things wouldn't restart again. It was bound to happen. You don't just waltz into the big, bad wolf's den and not make it to the other things without getting mauled by the creatures in the darkness. She supposed she was, and this was a confession she was ashamed to make, naïve to think they wouldn't hit her so hard.

During the day the demons were kept at bay with hours and hours of grueling but energizing rehearsals. At nights, dancing for a packed audience created a shield that ward off the unwanted darkness. And in her free time, she made sure she was busy. In the mornings to afternoons, traveling all over the city. Ice-skating, stopping at the public library, shopping. Then at nighttime drinking and dancing the night away, along with a few hookups once in awhile.

However, there were moments when she was alone. With nothing to do, nowhere to go. That would be when the demons, taunting and cruel, came upon her. Especially as she slept, making it nearly impossible to do as she tossed and turned, trying to wake up from the nightmares. Nightmares more so painful, unnecessary to think about thoughts. Thoughts of Javier, Carlos the perverted asshole, Scorpion the Devil's incarnation, and Maria.

Or, as customers knew her as, Temptress. Whose wicked, seductive ways were the devil's definition of sinful pleasures. For a hundred bucks a go.

Prostitute, street-walker, hooker. Or as Gabriella referred to her, crack whore. It might be mean to say, but it was the truth. From the age of sixteen Maria has been trading in her body for two things: money to refill her liquor cabinet and drugs and simply for the drugs, which was mostly the case.

Gabriella often remembered walking home from school or dance class and seeing her mother working. Parading her assets at the street corner. Sending a smirk at every male passing by. Once a customer was reeled in, they'd make conversation for about ten seconds. Then she'd get into the car, and they'd ride off. Him taking her to parts unknown, and Temptress returning the favor once they'd reached their destination.

Sometimes she'd bring the customer up to their apartment when extra cash or cocaine was thrown in. When that happened, Javi would gather her up in his arms and run to their room, locking the door. He played dolls with her quietly, read to her, did anything he could to take her distracted from the moans and yelling going on outside. He did it to preserve her innocence for as long and as best as he could. He also did it because more and more of those creeps were showing a disturbing interest in Temptress' pretty little daughter.

Gabriella rolled onto the other side of the Madame's soft lazy-boy couch, facing the wide screen TV. Onscreen the NCIS marathon continued on the USA Network. She stared at the screen blankly, seeing it without really watching it. Her mind was just too damn full of thoughts to pay attention to the latest case Gibbs' team was dealing with.

Sometimes as she walked back from the clubs after a long night of partying, she would look across the street and see something that made her stop in her tracks. A woman, lean and dark-haired, dressed provocatively, walking the streets and chain-smoking. It was the only when she turned around and proved to be someone else could she finally breathe.

Still her mind brought up the possibility of crossing paths with Maria. She could have been released early. Could have easily cut a deal. And be right back here, waiting.

God dammit! Gabriella turned her back to the TV, as if it could shield her from her horrible mind.

And as if she didn't already have enough thoughts keeping her up, there was someone else other than the puta constantly circling around her mind. A scrawny, weak, pebble-sized weenies for balls pup.

Pup who was such a mindless idiot it stunned her he survived for so long in the world.

Pup who'd rather live in his own hell then to finally break free.

Pup who can be so infuriating she wanted to punch him.

Pup, who was to her great dismay, good-looking. Too much for his own good.

Pup who had incredible blue blue eyes that made things happen to her. Made her feel things, weird and warm tingly things.

Feelings. The thought sent an uncomfortable shiver to run through her body, feeling so odd. Feelings she never experienced before. Feelings she sure as hell didn't want to think about.

Growling in frustration, Gabriella kicked off the blanket and stood up from the bed. She stretched out her arms, then her legs, and popped her neck, unknotting stiff muscles.

As much as she loved NCIS, staying here and thinking unwanted thoughts wasn't going to fly with her. It was New Year's weekend. And she planned on having fun.

Half an hour later, Gabriella was showered and dressed in her favorite club outfit. Black leather ¾ sleeved top attached to a bleached denim mini skirt that barely covered her thighs. Paired with the ensemble was a pair of fierce black suede boots that went over the knee.

She smirked at her reflection. She looked hot. And she was determined to have fun.

The Prey was her favorite club in all of downtown Manhattan. The bouncers barely glanced at ID, the bartenders made strong drinks, and the DJs played the best music, including great throwbacks and remixes. And with it being New Year's, girls got into for free and their first five drinks were free.

Gabriella glided her way through the long line outside the club, ignoring the complaints coming from protesters. She quickly flashed her fantastically-legit fake ID she got when she was fifteen, and made her way inside.

The party mood was going at full swing. Pitbull blasted from the speakers, the majority of people busted their wild moves on the wide dance floor, some girls took their dance to the poles, and the bar was crowded with thirsty customers.

She made her way over to the bar, shoving people out of the way. She grabbed a stool caught the eye of a blonde bartender who pulled away from his conversation with a sorority-looking chick in strapless dress. He smiled at her and asked her choice of poison.

"Tequila."

Four shots of tequila with two vodka sodas surging through her system, the hot music making her body a slave to its sweet sound, Gabriella felt like she was on the cloud nine.

She felt so free. Light and weightless. As if nothing could touch her.

Then again that was the beauty of alcohol.

Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Gabriella's eyes went back to the bar, where a pair of eyes have been watching her for some time. A pair of hazel eyes that belonged to a guy sitting at the bar, taking sips of his beer.

She studied him. Lean with some muscle and lightly-tanned, wavy light brown hair. He was good-looking in Dave Franco kind of way, and luckily for him she liked Dave Franco.

His smile broadened as he noticed her staring back at him, holding up his beer to her as a greeting. Gabriella's smile turned sly as she considered him. It had been awhile since she had been laid. He seemed to have potential.

Let's see if he can earn it, she thought. Soon Justin Timberlake's Let The Groove Get In ended, and Shakira's Hips Don't Lie filled the club.

Keeping her eyes locked on his, Gabriella swayed her hips seductively to the beat as she moved further into the dance floor. As he jumped off the stool and quickly followed her, she slipped into the role of a hip-swaying, belly-dancing seductress. With every delicious sway, her booty popped, her hands caressed her body, and his eyes soaked up every moment of it.

As he took another step forward, she pushed her body to his, grinding her ass ever so slowly against his crotch, listening to his long sounds of tortuous groans.

Unable to resist, he gripped her hips and guided them. He groaned again as she moved her ass against him, arousing a brutally sweet burn. "Are you a seductress or a tease?"

Gabriella smirked, letting her hips and ass do all the talking for her. As she came back up from another grind, she turned around, facing him. Her hands slide down from his shoulders, to his chest, deliberately brushing against his hard nipples. He groaned for the fourth time, titling his head back and closing his eyes.

The game was going better than she expected. She leaned close to his ear and whispered "Maybe I'm both."

She then went back to the bar. But not without gently nudging his little 'friend', a move that turned him on more. She took a seat at the stool and called for the bartender that served her before. "Vodka."

"Make that two." Mr. Hot and Bothered who was frozen on the dance floor a few moments ago, practically gasping for air, was right beside her. He sat down at the stool next to her.

Gabriella was impressed. Usually when her games were through, she was prepared to face two types of potentials. The modest who were too stunned by her boldness that all they did was watch her from afar, either continuing her fun or finding another toy. The cocky who believed her boldness was an invitation to say whatever or act however they wished. They were the ones who ended up with a punch to the face or her drink all over them.

Mr. Hot and Bothered leaned more toward the modest side. He was close to her, but not too close, leaving her to her personal space. That was a plus. He didn't try to take her drink and act all macho. That action would have been called for immediate dismissal. He didn't make a grab for her ass. A very wise move since that would have gotten him a black eye.

"I'm Scott." he smiled charmingly.

Gabriella only replied with a small, half smirk. The bartender set down two full glasses of Absolut vodka.

"So what's your name?" 'Scott' asked.

Gabriella gave him a feline smile and chugged down half her drink. It amused her that he watched her so closely, mesmerized.

He soon figured out the method of her game. She could tell by the knowing glint entering his eye. A twinge of cockiness appeared in his smile as he looked at her closer. "So if I get your name right, what's my prize?"

Gabriella leaned closer to him, a seductive smile on her lips. "You seem to be a big boy," She made a point of looking down at his little friend that was practically growing before her eyes. "I'm sure you can use your imagination."

A few hours later the pair stumbled into Scott's loft at the Lower Eastside. He pushed Gabriella against the wall, next to the door, drinking in her alluring beauty before he came back to her. Their lips attacked each other hungrily, tongues fighting a brutal battle, their hands feeling as much as their clothes would allow.

Gabriella wrapped her legs around Scott's torso, running her hands through his hair as they battled for dominance. A battle she wasn't about to lose. She pulled away from the kiss, moaning, as Scott's fingers slipped underneath her skirt and played with the elastic of her panties. Sweet Jesus, she could feel herself getting wet as he stroked against her core. She arched closer to his touch, wanting a release from the buildup starting in her.

"You like that?" he whispered in her ear, slipping a finger into her, stroking her slowly.

As much as this was nice, Gabriella wasn't quite through playing with her toy yet. She pulled away from him and pushed him against the wall. Smirking at his stunned face, she crushed their lips together in a hot, sensational kiss filled with hunger. Scott returned the kiss desperately, pressing harder against her. As they kissed, she quickly undid his belt, and then got his pants off with some help from the eager boy. Next, her fingers unbuttoned his black shirt, revealing his very nice upper body.

Left alone in his boxers, Scott trembled in anticipation as Gabriella pulled away from the kiss and got down on her knees before him. Slowly she pulled down his blue boxers and was greeted by his very eager, excited member.

"My, my, my," she smirked. "So you are a big boy."

Scott nodded and closed his eyes in satisfaction as Gabriella fingered him. He groaned hard the second her finger was replaced by her tongue that stroked him. Going up and down, causing his trembling body to shake uncontrollably as the pleasure increased. Up and down, the pressure built up more and more. Slowly and teasingly, he was getting closer and closer to his climax.

"Oh…my…shit!" He managed to pant out, using one hand to bring her head closer to him. The other one he used to grip tightly onto his coffee table, trying to steady himself.

Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, she switched tactics. She stopped kissing his dick to bring the velvety beauty to the tip of his member. She licked it coyly and sucked on it hard, increasing the volume of his hard groans.

"Sweet Fucking Jesus," he groaned loudly. "you're fucking killing me!"

He could tell he was going to cum. It was coming closer with each suckle of her mouth and lick of her tongue. He was going to cum. He was gonna-

"SHIT!" he nearly screamed out loud, nearly falling back from the vast amount of pleasure crashing in. Streams of cum sprouted from his dick, and Gabriella swallowed the whole thing up.

"You really are a big boy," With dazed, hunger-filled eyes, Scott looked down at her. "And big boys deserve big prizes."

Gabriella pushed him onto his king-size bed and stood in front of him. First she kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her dress. The material fell down to the floor, unveiling her lavender and black lace Victoria secret bra-and-thong set.

"Sweet Jesus." Scott whispered, breathless. He looked like he wanted to ear her. Or fuck her in every way possible.

He was quickly through with just looking. He reached over and grabbed her onto her waist, pulling her into the bed. Gabriella found herself lying on her back and Scott on top of her. His urgent mouth met hers, their teeth clashing together as they fought for dominance while they rolled around in the bed.

"So fucking sexy." he whispered before his mouth went down to her neck, peppering her skin with hot kisses and breathes.

Gabriella could only moan. She helped Scott unclasp her bra, and moaned louder as he handled her breasts. He put her left breast into his mouth, licking her hardened nipple, as he fingered the other hardened nipple.

"Fuck yes!" she moaned. "Oh, yes!"

He switched to the other breast, licking the nipple he was stroking. Gabriella grabbed hold of his head and pulled him closer to her chest, arching her body toward him.

As soon as he was done with her breasts, Scott's lips traveled lower down her body until they reached her pussy. Her panties were fairly soaked and she helped him be rid of the unwanted thing. He pulled back for a moment to put the condom on, and thrust into her.

"Fuck!" Gabriella yelled as he filled her. She was so used to being in this position; she didn't feel the burn anymore. All that mattered was the great feeling he brought to her.

As soon as he began thrusting, she quickly followed his lead. She closed her eyes and moaned in pure ecstasy, feeling as though she was skyrocketing to cloud nine.

"Faster," she chanted in moans. "Harder."

Scott grabbed her hips, and Gabriella spread her legs wider so he had more access. "So…fucking…tight." He groaned.

Gabriella barely heard him. Sweet ecstasy filled her, drowning out any other unimportant thought or sound. She moaned louder as he leaned down, his hands and mouth playing with her breasts as he rode her onto a highway of great pleasure.

She opened her eyes. His familiar, chestnut hair plastered to his damp face. His muscles ripped glisteningly each time he pulled away from her and re-entered again. His eyes snapped opened, revealing the familiar and very incredible blue shade that locked passionately to hers.

She froze, bewildered by the blue, intense stare. He leaned so close to her, their lips only a centimeter apart, and brushed back a strand of black away from her face. It was done in almost a tender way that caused her heart to skip a beat.

"Gabriella." Pup whispered, kissing her cheek and his lips traveling to her neck. Each one of his kisses burnt her body, causing her to moan out loud.

She nearly called out his name, wanting more. Till her senses flooded back to her, reminding her of what happened. Her dismay soon morphed into near mortification. Her mortification changed into anger quickly arousing to rage. She didn't do weakness. And that was what feelings were to her: weakness, someone having power over to her. Well, she sure as hell wasn't about to let that happen. She refused to be dominated by anyone. Especially weak-minded, spineless but intense Pup.

Distraction my ass, she thought angrily as she quickly flop them over.

He was stunned by the change in position. But he could get a word out, Gabriella thrust hard into him, which had him howling from the unbelievable sensations washing over him. "Great fucking hell!"

Gabriella smirked as she grabbed hold of his shoulders, riding him hard with powerful thrusts. All he could do was groan and scream out curses as he gripped onto her hips, holding on for dear life as he returned her brutal thrusts as roughly as he could.

"You like?" she asked coyly.

"Oh fuck!" was all he could scream. He pushed his dick harder into her, thrusting roughly into her. Gabriella threw her head back, moaning so loudly she was practically screaming.

They thrust more and more, gripping him each other until they finally reached their climax, screaming so loudly as they cum and did so very hard.

Gabriella smirked to herself as she left Scott's apartment. The night had gone even better than she thought. She got her fill, and Scott clearly got something out of it.

She knew from the wide grin on his face that he was more than satisfied.

This was a good night. Despite the weird mind tricks that happened earlier, she definitely received some really great sex.

She inhaled deeply and let out it with an amused smirk on her face. She felt so free, so good, so-

"Temptress?"

And just like that, all the great weightlessness she had was deflated in an instant the second she heard that familiar name.

Gabriella turned around and was faced with a tall, lanky man with multiple piercings and tattoos covering nearly every inch of him, his hair buzz-cut and black, and his brown eyes glassy from liquor.

An old customer, she realized, though she doesn't recall seeing him around her old house before. Most likely he fucked Maria in the back seat of his car or in the alley.

"I'm sorry," Gabriella said as calmly and clearly as she could. "But you got the wrong person."

The drunken idiot shook his head. "Nah, I recognize that pretty little face and that nice body anywhere." He eyed her figure hungrily, making her feel so disgusted.

"Yeah, well. My mother is the cheap whore, not me." She turned back to walk away, but before she took another step, she found herself pulled into the guy's embrace. She fought the urge to puke at the heavy, hard liquor fuming from his nasty breath.

"Well, you know what that they say, darling. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," For a drunken asshole, he had surprisingly strong grip. No matter how many times she tried to break free, he refused to cut her loose. "How about we go back to my apartment? You can have some fun with me, then some fun with my roommate. I'll even throw in an extra fifty for a threesome. What do you say?"

What did she say? Gabriella decided to let her actions speak for her. As soon as she saw an opening, she kicked him hard in the balls, nearly sending that sucker up his spine. The guy released her and screamed out loud in pain. She silenced him with a hard punch to the face that knocked him out cold and down to the ground.

"Fuck you!" That was what she had to say to his shitty offer.

She quickened her step to Madame's penthouse, needing distance between her and the asshole. But with every step she took, the feeling of disgust and shame only increased instead of decreased.

The asshole wasn't the first to think that she was as cheap as Maria. She remembered the looks she often got from the scum in her neighborhood. The whispers, the looks. It as if every single one of them, including the fucking whore and her pimp, were waiting for the day she would lose all her pride, get on the streets and spread her legs open for anyone willing to pay for a piece of her ass.

Fuck them all, she thought.

Because Maria was so fucking weak and dependent, she had done the most cringe-worthy things to get by. But not Gabriella. She learned enough from living in that hell-hole that she would never make Maria's mistakes. She would never let herself become so fucking weak. Not for anything or anyone.

She would never, not in a million years, become like her mother.