Her lungs filled hectically with air. Sharp pain coursed through her throat, her eyes snapped open, but the whimper remained withered in her throat. The weight that held her head down for a moment rattled.

Only slowly could Soleil gather her memories and reconstruct the moment before the blackness. She had almost been strangled.

Her gaze lifted languidly. A few black strands hung in view and the first thing she really registered was the semi-dark ambience. Soft yet artificial light shone down on her – on bare skin that was now only in underwear. Every movement brought a metallic clinking, made her see the chain at her neck, firmly anchored in an iron collar. He had leashed her like a mutt.

There was only a single red armchair in front of her, a small table beside it. Soleil herself was sitting on a stage, leaning against a pole with boxes sticking out of the wall in the background. The set-up had something of a personal mini-club about it. A place where no one had to pay attention to what they were doing.

"You're awake!" The delighted voice of her captor made her head jerk to the side, causing subtle throbs to erupt in her throat. She opened her mouth, but her vocal cords were numb. "I was afraid you were going to go all Sleeping Beauty on me."

She could only follow him with her eyes, watching as he settled into the seat and spread his arms. "Welcome to my club. Here you can dance and be perfectly safe from the greedy hands of unworthy men."

It sounded almost as absurd as the electricity bill she had had to pay two years ago for leaving the heating on at night.

"I bet you can't wait to follow your element!" Hastily, this guy grabbed a small remote control. A moment later, hard bass sounded behind her. Blunt vibration ate its way to her, shaking her to her aching neck and causing her to contort her face.

"Go on, dance!" he urged her, but Soleil remained seated. Her legs felt like pudding, and the rest of her body refused to sink any lower. She had only just escaped from dancing. To end up in this ambience again was a nightmare come true.

"I told you to dance!" Tensely, he jumped up. Wrinkling his nose, he looked like an angry bulldog. "I had all this built for you, so thank me kindly!"

He had had something built that pressed her into a role she had only ever wanted to escape. An endless nightmare that haunted her and yet couldn't possibly be real. Maybe she would wake up soon. But this man was ready to underline reality as he bridged the distance with great strides and lashed out. His fist smashed straight into her cheek, hitting her upper lip on one side and jerking her head sideways. Soleil couldn't support herself, slammed her skull against the wood and ended up in seconds of blackness. Stars danced gloriously colourful before her eyes. Her face throbbed and her neck was so weak that she couldn't even lift her head. There was blood on her tongue. Fire in her throat.

Maybe it would be better to dance after all. It was much better than dying in this place at this moment. Simultaneously, she had to find a way out, make an escape plan, and all this would be history. At least, if she was lucky.

Only slowly could Soleil bring herself back to a sitting position. Then she slid to her knees, pushed herself off with her arms and actually found her feet. He was still standing in front of her.

Her hips tried to follow the beat, but every muscle ached. It was hard, almost impossible, to block out all the flaws. Still, she was going to function. She had to. Otherwise, he would beat her again.

The bar behind her provided a good foothold to lean on, get to her knees and sensuously slide back up. A simple sequence of movements that didn't take too much energy. But it wasn't enough for him.

"You're beautiful, Titania." His voice was just a huff as his hands deliberately grabbed her bra and yanked it off her torso. Fortunately, the hooks gave way quickly, and she could stretch her arms forward – past him – fast enough to avoid cutting into the fabric. It was a different story with the panties, however.

He reached out and tugged at the elastic band resting on her hip, causing the edges to cut in. She felt the burning in her crotch, as well as her pelvis. But it was impossible to back away. Instead, the only thing to do was to endure until the fabric tore and she stood naked before him.

One hand immediately reached for her breasts, sending a shiver down her spine, while goosebumps invaded her arms. His nearness, his touch, both twisted her stomach and made her turn her head in another direction.

"I've missed your dances, Titania." This time, he purred in her ear. "I've been hoping all this time to see you dance again. You were my only light in the evenings after work. You gave me beautiful dreams." Gauzily, he placed a kiss on her cheek. "I thought I was going to die when you disappeared and then I heard you ran off with a man. But luckily you found your way back."

Bile stood in her throat. Meanwhile, Soleil noticed the rest of her clothes next to the front door. That meant her most important things were still there. If she could just get to the knife, she'd have a chance.

His second hand ran along her curves, massaging one of her thighs as if hoping for a sound. But Soleil's thoughts clung to her things. There was always a way out. Situations like this happened to many strippers. That was why they all dressed up or wore heavy make-up. Very few recognised one in the artificial light.

"I love your body, Titania."

"How long do you think I will stay here?" Her question sounded like a heated scratching that caused fire to ignite in her throat and then stifle it right after.

"How long?" He took a little distance so he could look at her. It gave her some space to breathe, some peace, and the assurance that maybe she could control him if she was smart about it.

"A long time," he replied then. "Long enough for me to forget you, Titania." He gently ran the back of his hand over her cheek, which still throbbed yet seemed almost numb. "You wouldn't be the first woman to wilt for a man in this way. Time doesn't last forever."

He would dispose of her when she grew old or weak – perhaps even when she no longer cast a spell on him. Eventually, her time would run out and until then she had to find a way out.

She was crazy, Soleil knew that, but she didn't want to die. Not underground, far from the glorious images she still wanted to see. Her new life had only just begun, and it threatened to shatter in the same breath. Her heart raced, the heat on her skin stayed cold, and the chain was far too short. She wouldn't even make it to the edge of the stage. Lips pursed, she clawed at the bar that supported her body. If she had even a hint of a way out, she would kill him on the spot. Scruples were out of place here.

"Don't worry, dear." His gaze betrayed care that Soleil couldn't sense – not even when he detached himself from her completely. "I will take good care of you because I really love you. I won't throw you away."

What options was she left with?

No matter how she twisted and turned the situation, the right time wasn't in those seconds. She would have to wait and see.

Wait and dance.

"You will only have eyes for me," he then put in once more before leaping off the stage and settling into his chair. "Now dance for me like you did at the club."

Like a slave.

Like a doll who served for the pleasure of others.

Without choice.