Chapter 44: Bite of the night

Chapter 44: Bite of the night
Jesper bends down to retrieve a single piece of paper that landed on the ground. The person who hit him behind the head has vanished. The moment his hand closed around the paper, he found himself being pulled hard against the wall.
“Hi,” the small voice startled him.
He scrambled against the wall searching for her. It took real effort to adjust his eyes, finally seeing her huddled in the corner. “Why are you hiding?” he keeps his voice low.
“I don’t want him to see me,” she whispers.
“Who is he?”
“The man in the suit.”
“Why are you afraid of him?” Jesper keeps looking around. It was only them in the side of the alley.
“He wants to sell me,” she whispered. “Lady Emerson said I should hide.”
Jesper slowly stood. This whole night was strange. It feels like he was in a whirlpool being spin out of control. Nothing makes sense.
“Grace,” he said her name for the first time.
“Who is she?” the girl now stood beside him. Her small hand slipped into his. Again, the premonition was instant. He found himself within the very soul of the girl. She was a girl age thirteen. Shyness was her companion. Fear was her enemy. She was no innocent. She was betrayed by people who should have protected her. Her innocent eyes the color of chocolate brown. Her hair once golden with chestnut warmth. He sees her running bare foot dressed in dirty clothes. Now, together they stood beside the river of betrayal. She was a girl age thirteen.
He tried to loosen her hand from his. Puzzled she looked at him. “You must know,” she whispered. “We need your help.”
“What are you saying?” he looks down into her dirty face.
“You are the one who could silence the voices in our head.” She said matter of fact. Her tone full of hope. “Take my hand, we are just beyond the edge of darkness. You need to lead us to safety.” Her small hand slipped into his again.
Fear was their enemy. Fear is also their protection. As they both start walking down her mental path, the picture clear. He saw her now as a shadowed girl aloof and withdrawn. He can feel her wanting to run free, then sixteen candles for another year of betrayal. He can feel her feeling trapped in her skin, her heart frozen. Far and near is her enemy. Fear no longer her protection but her trap. She is a shadowed girl with empty eyes. A broken spirit crying soundless tears…
Jesper looks around. He was alone. He feels the chill in the night air. He starts walking now looking around. He was in the center of the CBD of Crows Cries. It starts to dawn on him her was seeing more than the normal person. It was like he could actively see what’s happening in the shadows. The truth hidden to others exposed to him.
“Hey handsome,” the voice said from the shadows within the shadows.
He stops to look at her. Her face shielded by shadows but her body very revealing. “What do you want?” he asked in a stern voice.
“I am looking for a ‘daddy’. Want to spank me?” she asked in a purring voice.
“No,” he starts moving away from her. A sound of tears made him look back. She now sits crouching as she cried. The impulse was powerful to go back to her but he forced himself to keep walking. “Help me ‘daddy’” she screamed.
He focused his mind on Grace but it was like the night was pulling him into its darkness. He forced himself forward.
The sound of a bottle breaking against a wall instantly alerted him. His eyes scanned the surrounding. There they stood, watching and waiting. A cold breeze unexpectedly washes over him. He was unprotected for this night.
He crossed the street but they follow him. He wants to run but instinct warns that would be a mistake. A red door opened nearby. He didn’t even think just slipped inside.
“Welcome,” the woman was suddenly at his side. “We have been waiting for you.” She firmly took his arm leading him towards a table in the middle of the giant room.
“Let go of me,” she said forcefully.
“If you insist, sir. Please take a seat.” She said smiling. “I will bring your drink of choice.”
Jesper watched her walk away. As he looks around, he found himself looking into cold yet familiar eyes. The lawyer was watching him. Curious he waits until she approached him.
“Your drink sir.” The waitress was beside him. Her hand touching his shoulder with a form of familiarity. He instantly felt resentful shaking her hand from him. “Don’t touch me,” he warned.
“You are an odd one,” the lawyer slide into the chair across from him.
“Who are you?” he asked pointedly pushing the drink away from him.
“I am who I choose to be. Tonight, I am a watcher.” She reached for his drink.
“Jesper sits back studying the club. There were more young women than men. He found this odd. “What kind of club is this?”
“A place of happiness. A place of punishment. A place of sorrow. The choice is yours. Pick up the menu and place an order.” She instructed. Her eyes focused on him was almost hypnotizing.
“I choose number four.” He said closing the menu.
“Good choice. She likes conversation.” She stood now waiting for him. He slowly follows.
Jesper slowly opened his eyes. It feels like a truck hit him. His head fuzzy and throbbing like crazy. “What happened?’ he asked groggily.
“You enjoyed the bite of the night.” The woman said clearly full of enjoyment. She steps into his view completely naked. She smiled leaning over to kiss him.
“Watch it,” he pushed her face away from him. Jesper struggle to move into a sitting position. It took him several seconds before he understood he was tied to the bed. “What the hell is this?” he roars in instant anger.
“You choose the game. Now we are playing.” She said grinning.
The throbbing of his head makes him struggle to focus. A quick testing of the rope made him understood he won’t get free without help. “Where is that bitch,” he questions. His memory was returning. He followed the lawyer. She allowed him to walked past her. There was a brief prick against his shoulder.
“You mean the mistress? She told us to make you comfortable. She needs to interview you. In the meantime, I thought the two of us could play a bit. I really missed the attention of a man.” She touches the rope looking at him. “If you play with me, I will untie you.” Her grin wide and full of hope.