-II-
It was a chilled August night as Laura walked down the streets of south Denton, the part of town that a lot of people considered to be seedy and disgusting, her hands buried in the pockets of her jade green coat as her bag brushed against her black tights covered legs. She looked up at the signs of the places she was passing until finally she found the one she was looking for, a place called The Red Lounge. The Red Lounge was one of a small handful of club bars and the only place that would take an 19 year old high school dropout with 16 years of dance experience as an employee.
After pausing long enough to readjust her bag Laura walked around the side of the old brick building and down the alley to the back door but stopped seeing someone guarding the door, a young guy around her age with messy black hair, blue jeans, scuffed up boots, a band shirt and a leather jacket. The club normally had someone watching the back door, as that is where the "important" clients came in, but normally it was a different guy and definitely not this kid. Shaking her head Laura kept walking but when she reached the guy he crossed his arms and blocked her looking down at her with blue eyes that made her chest tight.
"I can't let you in this way miss, you'll have to go in the front and have your ID checked."
Laura rolled her eyes putting her hands on her hips.
"Look clearly you're new here so I'll let this go but I work here and you're going to make me late. Now if you'd kindly shoo."
She made a sweeping motion with her hand hoping he would move but instead he only looked at her.
"I maybe new but I can't tell you how many times I've heard that from underage girls looking to sneak into the back to avoid having their fake ID's checked."
Laura growled throwing her hands up.
"I'll say it one more time I work here you big dope!"
The boy looked at her with narrowed eyes but looked away hearing another female voice approaching.
"Columbia there you are! We were just gonna make our way down to the pay phone to call ya."
Laura looked over her shoulder hearing her stage name and found a girl a little older than her maybe 20 years old with blonde hair, red lips, a sequined jade strapless top, black shorts that were skin tight and super short and a pair of black stiletto heels. Laura gave a faint smirk before turning to the girl giving her a quick hug in greeting smiling at the black haired girl behind her then pulled away looking into the blonde's hazel eyes.
"Sorry Jersey, I was trying to get in but this gorilla won't let me in, keeps thinking I'm some underaged air head trying to sneak in."
Jersey looked at the guy blocking the door before putting her hands on her hips smirking back at Laura.
"Well technically sweets you are underage but you don't drink just dance. She's clear Eddie, she's one of the starlets."
Laura looked back at the guy, Eddie, as he looked from Jersey to her then moved away from the door to let them in. Smiling at Jersey Laura led them inside and to the dressing rooms shedding her coat to reveal her gold sequined strapless top and black skirt that was barely long enough to cover her underwear.
"So when did he start working here?"
Jersey sat at the make-up table and began putting on face powder and mascara.
"Last week, I guess the other guy got fired for fighting with one of the clients or something. He's not all that bad though, he doesn't whistle at us or clip our asses when we walk in like some of the others did he's actually decent to us."
Laura made a small humming noise as she pulled her tights off and slipped on a pair of baby blue socks and her tap shoes.
"Where's he from? I don't remember ever seeing him around."
Jersey shrugged setting her lipstick down and fixing her hair.
"Don't know but he lives with that mean old science teacher from the high school, Scott or something like that."
Laura made a face as she moved to the other make up table and began putting on her lipstick.
"You mean Dr. Scott? That mean old German guy?"
The black haired girl nodded as she sat beside her taking her hair out of curlers.
"The very same, evidently that's his uncle, took him in after his mother died because he was a real trouble case."
Laura made another small humming sound as she thought over the words. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door making all three girls turn to face it as a guy looked in.
"Two minutes to showtime gals, and the boss wants your best cause there's a new client here tonight."
With that he left making the girls all share a look, if there were two things that rarely ever came through Denton much less their place it was new faces and big names. They quickly made their last touch ups to their looks before they left for back stage and peeked through the curtain trying to see who their new client was. The chairs were full, as normal on a Saturday night, but in the red velvet booth in the very back amongst all the cigarette smoke and dim lights they could hardly make out the figures sitting there.
"I wonder if they'll want private sessions."
Laura looked at the black haired girl beside her and rolled her eyes.
"Don't hold your breath Connie, why would they want us armatures? No they'll probably request Trixie or Lola."
Connie made a face looking over her shoulder at the dark haired women that was fluffing her curls as she chewed her gum looking like some teenage slut, despite being in her mid 20's, wearing a baby pink usherette uniform that was barely reaching her thigh and black heels.
"Yeah maybe you're right, oh well just means less work for us huh?"
Both Laura and Jersey nodded before stepping away from the curtain as Jersey took a little bottle from her pocket and emptied three little white pills into her hand. Connie took one and placed it on her tongue closing her eyes before Jersey offered one to Laura. Laura looked at the pill and shook her head, most of the girls would take drugs of many kinds to get them through the night but after a rough patch with a few too many prescription pain killers Connie had brought in Laura never took them.
After hiding the bottle Jersey popped the pills into her mouth and readied herself to go on stage, as the oldest of the trio at 23 she was always first then Connie would go and Laura last. The stage manager come up to the trio and put a hand on Jersey's shoulder.
"Hold on, Columbia is going first this time."
Jersey looked at the man wide eyed then to Laura.
"But we always go oldest to youngest! Why's she going first?"
The stage manager moved to Laura's side nudging her closer to her post.
"Because it's been requested by the client tonight, he wants to see the newest talents first and Columbia here has only been here a month."
Jersey crossed her arms over her chest and gave a low growl as she narrowed her eyes. Laura opened her mouth to protest but she was quickly pushed onto the stage as the curtain opened and her performing music began. Mentally shaking herself Laura began her tapping to the music stripping herself down to her underwear as she did. By the end of the song she could feel the figure in the back's eyes on her and it made her a little uneasy as she gathered her clothes and left the stage feeling a little sick.
Once back in the dressing room Laura pulled her clothes back on and she shook herself.
"Calm down Laura, everything's fine nothing to be nervous about. They'll see Trixie and the others and pick one of them just breathe."
Taking a deep breath she grabbed her coat and pulled it on heading out the back door. As she stepped out into the chilled air she took a cigarette from her pocket along with a lighter and tried to light it with difficulty.
"Fucking thing."
She cursed trying to light the lighter again only for it to fail making her sigh in frustration ready to give up until suddenly there was a lighter flame inches from the end of the cigarette making her blink but light the cigarette.
"Thanks."
Taking a drag from it she closed her eyes exhaling the smoke as she tilted her head to the sky.
"Tell me babe, what's a young, beautiful little thing like you doing in a place like this?"
Hearing the velvety smooth voice and alluring hint of a British accent Laura opened her eyes and looked at the person that had helped her. As soon as her eyes met the figure she gasped blinking a few times to be sure she wasn't seeing things. A man about six foot tall with black curly hair, forest green eyes, pale skin, heavy eye makeup, deep red painted lips, a leather jacket filled with pins and badges, a red sequin corset, black underwear, matching fishnet stockings and black six inch heels stood before her smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
Laura tired to make herself speak but only found herself able to open and close her mouth a couple times before a small squeak escaped her throat making her blush. The man chuckled, a deep throaty sound, but lifted a hand and placed his fingers under her chin carefully moving her head to see it from all angles.
"Hmm how old are you baby?"
Laura swallowed thickly but managed to find her voice.
"N-nineteen."
The man looked a little surprised but it quickly vanished as he nodded.
"My name is Dr. Frank N. Furter, tell me darling what is your name?"
Laura found herself giving a small smile as she debated telling the truth.
"Columbia."
Frank raised an eyebrow at her never losing his soft smile.
"Just Columbia?"
Laura bit her lip before shaking her head.
"Columbia McCall, I'm a groupie."
Laura knew she was lying but it wasn't a total lie, she had groupied for a few local boys and their bands but always found herself kicked aside or dropped like trash when the band split. Frank gave an intrigued hum as his fingers gently stroked her jaw looking into her eyes as if he was thinking.
"Would you like to come away with me pet? I can take you away from this place, away from all these perverted eyes watching you as they touch themselves."
Laura resisted the urge to shudder, even after a month of this job she still wasn't used to the vulgar language people used at least not from someone interested in her, but nodded once again unable to find her voice despite knowing it was most likely a ploy just so he could screw her and toss her aside like a doll she found herself unable to say no. Frank gave a wide grin taking his hand away.
"Exilent! Are you staying somewhere that you need things collected from?"
Laura nodded taking a second to answer.
"Yeah, in an apartment down the road my clothes and things are there."
Frank's smile wavered a moment as he looked over her outfit before it returned and he snapped his fingers.
"Riff Raff and Magenta, you two go to the apartment and collect her things, she and I have a few things to attend to."
As he spoke two figures stepped out of the shadows a man and a woman, both were ghostly pale and looked rather unhappy about being ordered around. The man was tall and thin as a rail, his blonde hair was stringy and straw like, his sapphire blue eyes were like needles as they watched Frank with almost venomous hatred, he wore a scruffy butler's uniform that was stained with some blood on the front, his boots didn't exactly match and were in rough shape as well, his hands were covered by black leather fingerless gloves and were twitching here and there as if he had some kind of nervous tick.
The woman beside him was shorter with heavy eye makeup and fiery auburn curls, her eyes were like emeralds behind half hooded lids as they looked at her over Frank's shoulder, her lips were painted blood red and set in an almost sneer, she was wearing a maid's uniform but the top most buttons were left open offering a nice view of her cleavage, her legs were well toned and covered by fishnet stockings and black boots that reached halfway up to her knees.
Evidently unpleased with their silent response Frank frowned and looked over his shoulder at them with narrowed eyes.
"Am I understood?!"
Neither of the pair jumped like Laura did at the outburst but instead shared a look before the man spoke.
"Yes master."
Frank turned his eyes to the woman as if waiting for her response as she looked back at him with almost bored eyes.
"Yes master."
Laura felt her eyes widen and her jaw drop a little. Unlike the two men that seemed to have light British accents the woman had a full blown Count Dracula accent, seeing Laura's reaction the woman smirked a little before it was gone. Frank turned back to Laura his smile back in place as he lifted a hand to her cheek lightly touching the skin.
"Do you have the key pet?"
Laura numbly put her hand in her pocket and produced the key holding it out to him making him smile and step to the side a little, as he did the woman came forward and took the key her slender fingers brushing against Laura's making her blush and her throat a little dry.
"Is there anything in particular they should bring?"
Laura blinked a few times then looked at Frank and nodded.
"My pictures, on the wall, and the outfits in my closet."
She paused thinking if there was anything else then bit her lip looking to Magenta.
"And on the bed there's a teddy bear, bring that too please."
Frank looked at his serve to and gave a tight nod before they left and he turned back to Laura wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"Now then baby while they are collecting your things how's about you and I have a little fun?"
Laura felt her chest tighten and her heart race, sure she had become a dancer for the club but she had never been requested for private sessions in fact she'd never had sex with anyone yet she always found herself to scared after what happened when she was 14. Frank sensed the change in her and a small look of pity crossed his features before he gave her a soft smile.
"Relax babe, I won't do anything you don't want I give you my word."
Laura relaxed a little and nodded following him as they began to leave.
"Columbia?!"
Laura paused in walking and looked over her shoulder to find Connie standing by the back door, when the girl's eyes caught her she ran to her ignoring Frank.
"Where are you going?! The show isn't over just because the client left, you still have a number to do after Trixie."
Laura opened her mouth to explain but Frank beat her to it looking down at Connie.
"I'm afraid this little star is being called away, no more shows for those perverts."
Connie looked at Frank and her eyes went wide, but more from fear than amazement like Laura, and she took a step back. Laura was about to say something but stopped when Frank nudged her forward making her keep walking away from the club. After walking a ways Laura found they were now standing outside a bar and Frank was holding the door for her, swallowing thickly she walked in then let him lead her to a booth in the back where she looked down.
"I-I can't drink, I'm only 19."
Frank gave a dismissive wave of his hand as a server came over.
"Nonsense babe just relax. Two purple starlights and make one a double."
Laura's eyes widened as she looked up, a purple starlight wasn't a drink to be taken lightly or for beginners. The waitress nodded and left without even looking at Laura. Frank reached across the table and gently tilted her chin up so she was looking at him.
"Tell me about yourself pet. How did you come to be in that nasty little place?"
Laura bit her lip hesitating before telling him only the need to know bits of her past, leaving out about Jason's actions, yet by the end she was in tears.
"And then they took her away and left me there like a broken toy, so I dropped out of school and began working at the club to pay for the apartment."
Frank said nothing for a long moment before he gently wiped her tears away as their drinks were set before them, the double in front of himself.
"Aww poor girl, things will turn out I promise on one plus side you never have to go back to that place again."
Laura nodded wiping her eyes as Frank nudged her glass closer to her a sly smile on his lips. Glancing around Laura hesitated to take the drink but took a small sip wincing at the burn it gave down her throat. After a few more sips and listening to Frank explain that he and his servants, a brother and sister pair, came from Transylvania to do some research Laura felt herself become light headed and her eyelids grew heavy by the second.
Frank seen her becoming drowsy and smirked acting like he didn't see it as he kept talking. Laura did her best to fight off the blackness tugging at her mind but after a short struggle it won out and her world went dark.