The need for a holiday

[Hidamari]

“Teaseys’ Hot Stop” ... A club near infamous for accepting almost any clientele that decides to enter, A real dive in one of the worst parts of Manhattan’s lower class regional states. An abode of shady characters and low lives, drug abuse, prostitution, and occasionally... Murder, and even rape. The man running the club was Brannigan Teasy a short, stocky, scruffy looking bloke, around 45 years of age, roughly shaven and clothes that you would have thought the owner of a dumpster could easily outmatch.

The joint was open around the clock, women gyrating and showing their bare skin at all hours of the day, some young, and some old. Teasy prided himself on having pretty much all the types of females to display for his customers, the thing about his workers was they were normally stuck with no possible way out of his job, and that.. was just how he wanted it.

Innocent & shy girls, slutty & skanky girls, talkative loudmouth girls, dominant oppressive girls, of all ages and creeds could be found in Teasys could one stand a day there. Brannigan held value of the innocent and shy variety over the other girls under his heels, for they were extremely rare in this neck of the woods. In the run down area on Manhattan where Teasys’ Club was located.. prostitutes could be found anywhere, and everywhere... only problem was figuring out if they were clean of not. All the girls Teasy ‘owned’ were ‘checked’ regularly to make sure they were all in good medical health, if not.. they were disposed of.

The club had just opened a new ‘attraction’ known as ‘The Oasis’ a room in the basement where the girls were practically forced into prostitution for the high paying customers.

Brannigan is a business man, and not a stupid one either, he deliberately kept each girl on a very tight leash, and on the verge of financial ruin, so that they would not run away, betray him or refuse to do as asked. And physical punishment was delivered to those who got out of line.. [/color]

*The sounds of struggling could be heard behind the door to Brannigans office, a glass fell to the floor along with a rush of other objects of different kinds, all cascading down inside the office, then there was silence.
Brannigan knelt down beside the person he had just punched to the ground, the person lay with their hands covering their face, trying to suppress their emotions from making them cry in front of him. Brannigan’s eye twitching slightly with stress he rubbed his knuckles speaking in a quiet and serrated manner.*

Brannigan: "You still don’t get it do you Whitehall... don’t you understand how much you are valued here? Do I not pay for your clothing, keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach? *his eye twitched a little more* and still you defy me?!"

*Brannigan punched the girl in the stomach, her body convulsing, vomiting in response, her left eye and cheekbone from another such encounter completely bruised, she coughed and spluttered*

Brannigan: sooner or later, you will be the main attraction in The Oasis an-

Tia: "........"

*Tia fought for breath laying on the floor, the her head thumping from her fall, her eye seeming to pulsate and throb, Brannigan lifted his hand to strike her again and the door was opened*

Joanne: "M..Mr Teasy.. There are some men... out front wanting to... speak to you"

*Brannigan lowered his fist and stood up looking into the womans eyes that just walked in, piercing to the back of her skull with an evil glare.*


Brannigan: "what did I say about knocking first Joanne? Well?!"

*She jumped and bowed a little, stepping back.*

Joanne: "I.. I’m sorry Mr Teasy.."

Brannigan: "Tch..."

*He stood up and massaging his fist he walked out of his office leaving the girl on the floor, tears streaming down her face as she still fought for air. Brannigan left the area, down the corridor outside his office to the lounge area. Joanne quickly followed him hesitantly at first before he god mad at her too, she looked back at the open door whilst walking away.*

Joanne: "..."

Tia sniffled and shivered, on the floor of the office, coughing occasionally, the taste of stomach acid in her mouth, burning, the beating sensation she felt on her face head and back. She curled up slowly crying to herself, thinking of her mother, and also the only 2 people she could think of that could possibly save her. But she knew they would not come, they could not come to her rescue this time, the colour slowly seemed to strip from the world.

Tia sat up gradually, swallowing, and painfully holding her abdomen. Standing up carefully, she leant against the desk and shivered, looking around dizzily, the pain in her face distorting things. Closing her eyes she looked down at the desk to try and stop the room from spinning, eventually she turned around quickly holding her hand to her mouth as she felt her stomach twitch, breathing through her nose with long quivering breaths, adrenaline still flooding her system from fear.

A clock beeped on the other side of the room, it displayed 3am. Tia swallowed again, a small feeling of relief opening in her mind, for three o’clock meant home time. Realising that she might be ill at any moment Tia held her mouth for a little while longer; looking away from the clock she made her way to the open doorway slowly.

Shivering and looking out into the corridor, there was nobody there. Tia made her way into the changing rooms, opening her locker and changed her vest for a long sleeved woollen jumper, removing her vest Tia sat topless for a few moments, looking into the long mirror within her locker. Along her flanks and neck old bruises still healing could be seen, some large some small, she cradled her arms together, along the backs of her arms the story was the same. Tia looked between her legs into the mirror and looked at the backwards “Teasy” logo on her glittered thong before hanging her head into her hands and scrunching them into fists, letting an exasperated gasp of despair leave her lips.

*The doors to the changing rooms were opened and talking could be heard, the girls for the next shift had arrived. Tia jumped a little and pulled down her jumper quickly and exchanged for plain white underwear, pulling up her jogging bottoms as the girls arrived in the room.*

Karen: "Tia babe! How are you darling?"

*Karen approached Tia with a smile, she was just about to hug her when Tia shouted suddenly making her jump.*

Tia: "Don’t touch me!"

*Karen looked concerned, Tia never shouted. Taking a seat next to Tia on the bench, she leaned forwards trying to see past Tia’s hair into her eyes. The other girls were silent and began to strip getting ready for their shift, Karen put her hand on Tia’s thigh sympathetically.*

Karen: "Tia... ?"

*Tia sat still, a tear fell onto her hand. Karens shoulders dropped and she moved a little closer to Tia but Tia stood up, closing her locker, turning to Karen with a tearful smile.*

Tia: "Im fine.. thanks Karen, but I need to go."

*Karen nodded, not knowing what else to say, she admired Tia’s resistance, but she knew that resistance never worked with Teasy.*

Tia stood up and walked out of the door to the changing rooms, colour still dripping from her world like rain on a water base painting. Approaching the back door she paused for a moment before opening it, shivering as if she felt a chill, looking behind her quickly but there was nobody.
Tia opened the door and a warm wind blew in her face, it was a hot night, she took out her wooly hat and pulled it down low, cradling her arms together she walked out of the door, looking up at the clear skys, the traffic in low orbit bustling even at this time.

The sounds of sirens ambient in the distance, walking under an old bridge towards home Tia replayed the events of the day in her head over and over, she became upset again, clenching her fists together, thinking of all the things she should have done, but didn’t. Her tears fell silently as she walked, thinking of what Mason would say, “remember what I said about controlling with fear”, Tia sniffled very quietly holding her arms tighter still in despaired frustration.


*A tachyon burst rifle was fired up ahead somewhere, Tia felt her body become hot with fear, she jumped and ducked down, a man was cursing up ahead, she hid in a shadow near the bridge. The man was chasing somebody, but she could not see who it was. Stuck in the small alcove she wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, the man was gone but she could still hear him cursing.*

Man: "hur’ ma dawg will ye! Crazy varment!"

*Tia looked down the street, the street lighting was far between, but she saw a small animal, cornered by the man, the animal looked weak, the man kicked it into the corner and the creature stood back up and faced the man in a hostile posture. Tia watched in horror covering her mouth and shaking her head, wishing the animal to just lay down so the man would leave. The man pointed his gun at the creature and pressed the trigger, Tia closed her eyes and heard the sound of a click from the man’s weapon, and a torrent of curse words, the man lunged forwards and kicked the small creature again against the wall moving back quickly, and again, shakily the thing stood defiantly for a few seconds before collapsing to the side and laying still. Tia gasped and the man cackled.*

Man: "an so’s it shoul’ be a less’n to ya taffing rodent! Haw haw!"

*The person slowly walked away, the creature lay still in the street light Tia tip toed down the street, reaching her neck to see if the man was still there somewhere. Realising the man had gone she walked to the creature, it was a tiny grey fox of some kind, she knelt next to its still body, tears welling up in her eyes.*

Tia: "I should.. have helped, I'm sorry little one..."

*Tia saw that its chest was still moving, it was still breathing. gasping a little in relief she picked up the small animal and placed it into her arms against her chest like an infant child, standing up and walking home more briskly. She knew that the animal might need veterinarian aid, but she also knew they would charge her money for it, and she didn’t have any money.

Reaching her home apartment block she remembered that no pets were allowed..*

Tia: "J... Just for the night ok? Or, until you get your strength back."

*She pushed open the creaky doors to the stairwell and after a few minutes, was back inside her apartment. It was cold within, merciless heating bills gone unpaid and all heating being shut off to her apartment.*

Tia: sorry it’s a little cold..

Tia placed the animal onto her settee and walked quickly to the kitchen area, taking the plastic sink bowl out and wiping it down with a cloth before quickly rushing into her room looking for something to line the bowl with, glancing at the clock displaing 3:50am. Finding an old t-shirt Tia quickly returning to the living room, the small animal was still sleeping, or was it unconscious, Tia couldn’t tell. Putting a small cushion from the settee in the bottom of the bowl she sat down and examined the animal carefully.

The animal in question was strange, Tia had never seen one close before. It was not a dog, nor was it a cat, nor did it resemble a rodent as the man had described, it had a fluffy tail, and long-ish ears, kind of like a rabbit, it was also about 3 quarters of the size of an average house cat. Tia placed the animal in the basket and then folding the t-shirt placing it over the top of it Tia had made a makeshift bed for it, or at least that’s what she was aiming for.

She looked at its grey fur, stroking the animal slowly, she looked at her hand and saw her hand was covered in a grey substance, dirt and soot.

Tia: "Oh you poor thing.. you are all mucky."

Tia placed the bed down on the settee and stood up, moving to the kitchen she got another bowl from under the sink and filled it with soapy water. She looked a little discouraged when she felt the water, as it was bitingly cold, boiling the kettle she added the much needed warmth to it and returned to the settee, she picked up the animal very carefully in her hands and lowered it into the warm water. The creature did not stir even an inch, remaining completely unconscious.

Tia looked a little concerned at it, washing its body with the water. The water quickly changed colour to a dark murky one. Standing up still holding the animal she changed the water again and continued to wash it. Tia thought sat ambiently washing the animal making sure not to drown it, thinking of a name for it in the process, the idea of keeping it settling in quite nicely in her mind, stumbling at the fact that she didn’t know what gender the creature was. After washing she removed the soap from the water and rinsed it off, sure now that it was Male she looked amazed at the difference in its colour.

The animal was no longer a murky brownish grey and was brilliant white in colour with black stripes ringing its tail, ears and legs, she had never seen anything like it on Manhattan.

Tia: "What shall we call you then?" *She said rinsing off the sleeping animal*

Standing up again Tia carried the dripping bundle to her room and wrapped a towel around him eventually drying him off gently so as not to hurt it as it remained completely unconscious.

She returned to the living room and placed the sleeping bundle into its bed she made for it, covering it up with the t-shirt so that just its head was popping out from under it. She felt a warm and fluffy moment in her heart realising how cute he was now he was clean.

Gradually, watching the animal sleep, made Tia herself sleepy, she had also forgotten about her own pains whilst dealing with the animal, now that was over, slowly her pains began to creep back into her more conscious regions. She felt her cheekbone tentatively, it was still sore, her stomach too but not so much. Together with the general overall ache from her various.. ‘accidents’ Tia felt very upset, she took the small makeshift bed into her bedroom putting it on the other side of the room and climbed into bed, resting on the left side of her face to avoid the pain she curled up to keep warm in the cold apartment and slowly drifted off...

Tia: "I'll.... call you Reno.."

<div align="right]~Tia and Reno, Reference

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