Author's Note: Something tells me that title is really corny. This is my gift to you all before I head off to school this morning... Anyway, enjoy!
Ah, the once-bane of my romantic existence, yet another close friend just like the others in the group, she was just such as an amazing individual like the others… Her full name is Amber Chen He-Huang, a name that indicates her proudly-born Chinese roots, and has never been given a nickname for it seemed it was never necessary. Born on September twenty-first; the Fall Equinox, she is currently twenty-two years old. With a height of five feet and six inches, she has warmingly pale skin that seems to glow under artificial light, and black straight hair with, oddly enough, natural fair brown to gold highlights. Her eyes are, I swear, dark brown eyes that always seem to be filled with all the worries and cares of the world within the recesses of it, as well as clever- and craftiness. She has this personality just as sweet as Rocket's, but with a hint of shyness instead of proper social graces, yet the same, if not similar, charm.
It was a bleak morning when she arrived. And, throughout that day, all things seemed monotonous like a daily routine that simply was too well-put into memory. The uneasiness that settled within the new patient's gut was hardly put to rest except by my own weak smiles as I passed by her and did her mental examination; the same assessment of questions I remembered receiving on my first day all those years ago by Gorski about my life and such other things. She was so nervous and concerned over, for her, strange surroundings the whole day. I tried to introduce her to the trio, but Blondie was quick to take to disliking adding a member, no matter how much I coaxed her. Blondie had grown independent while I was absent, and unaccepting, which I couldn't stop. She was her own person, and I was mine… And I knew she was still feeling betrayed of our lack of time together since my promotion. I could see it in her eyes whenever I gave a lingering glance or two, to Sweet Pea's disapproval: "She loves you, but she hates how far that you and her have grown apart. You should give her some space; let her clear her head… She's like the real-life version of the minotaur with her stubbornness."
Oh, but things were different once Amber was emerged into the dream world. She, most conveniently, was sorted into A-3 that night, and became the new addition to the brothel as well. After being harassed by Blue for a few minutes, all while I shot glares and stares at him with utter hatred, she joined the others and began to learn the new routine as if she were just like any of the others. She was so confused, but Rocket and I helped to comfort and calm her, telling her to just play along.
It was in the morning that I greeted her and explained the truth of the situation. She was unbelieving, thinking that she was just having some twisted nightmare at first but, after I told her what I had seen her do along with Sweet Pea to be supportive proof, it was too much of a coincidence, she realized. The dream hadn't been just hers, but everyone else's in the dorm. Everyone knew. Everyone saw. Everyone had their parts in it all. "Whether you like it or not, you're just as stuck as us, I'm afraid," Blondie quietly grumbled, "Welcome to our little slice of hell."
"Blondie…" I sighed pleadingly, wanting her to not scare, before turning to Amber. "Don't mind her, if you please… Anyway, everything will be alright, I promise. I vow to not let anyone get harmed by Blue or his goons, even if it will cost me dearly one day." I looked to her, smiling, the protective aura of mine showing through.
For the first time since she arrived, Amber smiled, no matter how scared she seemed behind it all. "I'm glad that there are people who care, at least… And not hurt, like what others have been doing to me all my life." At first, I was puzzled. But I was to learn, later on, after viewing her portfolio, that her parents had been burned along with her house as part of a hate crime towards racial minorities.
Things went rather well. Sad to say, though, Amber was of age; twenty-one, and so, after having been in the brothel only a month, was already receiving men that she would be forced to take to the client rooms, and had to do more than just dance... It was a painful thought to bear, but we couldn't have anybody punished. "For, as punishment, it would be Blue harming or even raping the accused," Sweet Pea told me and everyone else, "And it's torturous. He has a knife he particularly enjoys utilizing…" She knew because she'd been threatened by such things, and saw one of the other females get dragged away and come back with carve-like cuts all along her body. The very thoughts caused shivers down my spine, and made me hate him even more.
In the few months that followed afterward Amber's beginning to work, she, one night, confessed something to Sweet Pea that spun my head around endlessly for the whole day afterward: Amber had started a relationship with Blondie… I'd never noticed it at all before. But then, as I spent the following day contemplating in silence, I realized there had been the small things that I remembered overlooking: the long gazes that Amber gave off to Blondie's way whether the other was looking or not, the way the two's behavior for each other had drastically changed since the first day (especially Blondie's), how they seemed to never separate from each other now when going to and from different places, and how Amber constantly requested private rehearsal time. That last one I had once thought was for what she had said; to practice dancing… But I was proven wrong so very soon, to my own dismay.
Dance rehearsal had just ended for the day. Madame Gorski receded to her own personal quarters past the bedroom, and I was to start working on the new routine. I eagerly took on the job, now having an alibi to be in the choreographer's office.
As per usual, Amber came up to me, a sweaty brow and grin placed on her facial features. "Hey, Blaire. Just the usual request again." She always has worn a silky cream-colored corset with black frills at the edges of the top with little white rhinestones beside it, black leotard underneath, black translucent leggings, and black heels. For whatever reasons, she also decided to tie a black ribbon around her neck, though whether it was just for decoration or meant something, I never found out.
I nodded, though, today, it was a bit absentmindedly, replying a bit blankly, "Sure. I'll be in the office today, if you need anything from me or Gorski." As for myself, I had a black velvet leotard, dark steel blue dancer's three-quarter sleeve wrap (most certainly a running joke for how closely related I am to the very monster who created this world), black dancer's tie-around skirt, the trademark black leggings, and the same shade of blue as the color of my tapered heels.
She nodded, "Alright, thanks!" She walked off to one of the near bars, beginning to stretch out her legs by placing her right on the lower one. I couldn't help look. What was it about her that attracted Blondie? She was just as friendly as me, sure, but much less social, if anything. Then, she was also the crafty kind, not the observant type.
I walked off and closed the door to the office. Then I closed the all curtains of the glass windows, which were usually used to signify that private matters were going on within, everybody knew. It was too perfect of a set-up. I'd just linger in the silence, partially holding my breath to the wall closest to the doors of the studio, where it would be hardest to spot somebody from Amber's position. I could move aside, just a bit, the very edge of the nearby curtain and be able to view what was going on… It was a tactic I knew Gorski used very often, and I'd learned it as well.
Soon enough, Blondie showed up. I disliked how much I loved what she was forced to wear for daily use at the brothel scenery. It was a dull rose pink corseted leotard with thin translucent black, black translucent leggings of the same material, red dancer's cotton shrug, shiny black stilettos, and stocking-like black fishnet fingerless gloves. She gave off a giggle and said, "It's amazing that Blaire has never caught on, you know that? You're really too good to her…"
Amber blushed lightly as she turned around to see her lover, letting her leg slip off first. "It's nothing. She has been taking care of me. Of us… All of us. Who knows how long we would have lasted if she wasn't there to protect us from her brother… I feel guilty for doing this behind her back all the time."
Blondie made her way towards the other, a glint in her eyes as she gave off this most sultry tone, "Don't be. It's worth it every… Single… Time." She stood before Amber upon the last word. A slightly mischievous grin placed on her face, she kissed along the other's jaw line. Amber mewled at the touch, burying her head the nip at Blondie's collarbone, causing a moan. They stopped for hardly a moment before Blondie sloppily left a sidelong open-mouthed kiss along Amber's neck, which caused the receiver to tilt up Blondie's jaw with her left hand while the other slid down to her waist, a fiery kiss on the lips given, which caused Blondie to groan then return the same eager. They tugged each other tightly together, eyes closing to relish the moment, and Amber's fingers tracing about Blondie's hair, tangling in the wavy tresses. Their hold against each other was full of passion and lust, though I could feel bitterness in the air… I didn't know why or from whom, but it was present. And, somehow, that was the part that hurt the most, striking home the hardest and longest… Because it felt directed to me.
I gritted my teeth. I couldn't bear looking anymore. The supposed satisfaction of having been proven of the truth before me was horrifying, causing knots to form in my gut, and the butterflies that I used to remember being there writhe and turn into snakes. All around me, I swore it was getting cold… Or maybe it was just the chills. Either way, it felt the same. I slumped onto the floor, hardly remembering that they were still just outside the office, in the studio, now. My wrap hitched slightly against the wall in reluctance for a few moments before it came down with the rest of me.
A bit of a clatter came from the sleeping quarters of Madame Gorski before she came out, her hair down, pooling around her shoulders. This was the first and only time I ever saw it like that, I know… She kneeled down by my side and asked, easily reading and registering the worry written all over my face, "Vat is wrong, my sweet?"
I snapped my head, looking directly into hers, my eyes puffing slightly and my face flushed of color. I could feel the tears swell, but I held them back, my proud nature unwilling to give in so easily… Or maybe it was because, even after all these years, I still couldn't trust elders? Something made me not want to, that's all I remembered. Instead, I turned my head away and sniffled lightly, "Nothing. I-I should just go." With that, I simply, though very rigidly, stood up and, not even giving things a second run-through in my mind, opened the door with a huff and stormed away. My sight was straightforward, unyielding to even look at the now-surprised couple. I didn't even stick around to see what would happen to them in the aftermath. Oh, no, I just kept going down the hall, not even knowing where I was heading… But, next thing I knew, I was, for whatever reason, crashing into Blue's stature all-too-willingly, my tears flowing freely. I found myself to be just inside his office, the door closed behind me (it seemed I wanted privacy), hugging tightly to the brotherly figure that I remembered it to be.
His smell was comforting: a mix of cologne, rich exotic cigar smoke, and alcohol, most likely bourbon or scotch. His body was as stiff as a board for a few moments in shock, but it softened greatly as he understood the familiarity in the gesture itself. He cooed softly, "Hey, hey. It's alright, sis, j-just ssh…" He tucked his head a bit under so that it was gently atop of mine, his arms surrounding me. He was an addict, bruiser, heart-breaker, rapist, and everything I knew in my mind. But he was still family.
Author's Note: Oh, nothing good will come out of this, trust me, if you cannot already feel it in your bones… Reviews, please!