THE loud whistles from the audience excite Maria. Their claps, praises, and even expletives were like a piece of pleasant music for her ears. This kind of noise meant money for Maria. Where else could she go? If the only job that could give them so much money is just a dance away from her?
“Everybody, before we start our bidding, our dearest Magdalene will give us a steamy pole dancing,” the gay emcee announced on the microphone. “Brace yourselves once again for our lovely star dancer, Magdalene!”
Maria sauntered towards the pole, making sure that her hips swayed with her every step, and her breasts bounced perfectly. She’s a different woman now. She is not the angelic Maria that people knew. The mask of an ideal woman and mother was no longer in her face, what she wears now is the mask of a heartless woman—the veil of her angelic sin.
Before circling the pole, Maria flashed her well-practiced killer smile. She has to look good and gorgeous even with her mask because if she doesn’t, no one will look at her, and no one will pay attention to her. And, being unnoticed meant no income for her. For two years, Maria strived hard to maintain her position as an elite dancer of the club, wherein she has a will to choose who can lay hands on her body. But, things changed when Boss Doppy posted her pictures and performances up for bidding, that’s where she met the people who provided her any amount that she needs in return of one favor.
A favor that either can help her or destroy her. But was it important? Money is what makes the world go round. Money is what makes people live, happy, sad, or even cause death. Because of money, she lost her dignity, her family, and even her soul.
Still, money can help her daughter stay alive. And, that is what matters for Maria.
“Three hundred dollars!” one bidder shouted and raised his table card number.
“Four hundred fifty dollars!” a skinny man from the corner countered.
“Five hundred fifty!” said the man on table number eight angrily. “Give me my Magdalene!”
Maria hooked her legs on the pole and bend down, giving the audience a perfect view of her big and rounded breasts. She stuck her tongue and traced the corner of her lips. She rocked her voluptuous body against the pole as the music continues to blend with the noise from the audience.
“One thousand dollars!” the man in a business suit from the corner of the bar shouted. He raised from his seat and walked towards the stage to get a better look at her, but the clubmen blocked him. “One thousand dollars! I’ll take her—”
“Three thousand dollars,” the old man from the nearest table said on his microphone. “Three thousand dollars,” he repeated louder using his familiar throaty voice.
Maria felt the chills run through her spines. She knew that daunting voice well. And she doesn’t want to spend the night with him again. But, minutes had passed, and nobody announced their bid yet. Her chest tightened as the minutes passed, but nobody from the bidders spoke. When the music reached its chorus, Maria grasped on the metal pole and swayed her hips crazily and desperately. For a moment, Maria felt like she was dancing for her life.
When her eyes met the man’s, she quickly looked away. His eyes were like a fire that threatened to burn her again in torture. Maria shut her eyes when she remembered the night that this crazy man bought her service. Right after they sealed the deal, he took her from the stage and brought it to the car. They blindfolded her while on their way to wherever hell it was. The next moment, Maria just found her hands and feet tied on the bed while this crazy man is forcefully spreading her legs for him. He tortured her for the whole night, used and degraded her body in return for a thousand dollars.
“Three thousand dollars, is there anyone could beat the three thousand dollars bid of table number 3?” the emcee asked. “We’ll start a countdown. If nobody bid higher than two thousand until the music ends, the man from table number three will have Magdalene. I’ll start counting now. Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven…”
Maria must do something. She can’t just stand there and wait for herself to be retaken by that evil dirty old man. She sauntered back and forth on the stage and looked around the club to find anybody that could easily fall for her charm and body. And, to the corner of the stage, her eyes spotted a man in a black business suit. He was looking at her, but his hands were on the card as if he’s hesitating to announce his bid.
‘Gotcha!’ she thought. Whoever is that man, she doesn’t care. What she wanted now is to escape the hands of torture. There are still other ways to avoid that man, and she’s walking now towards her selected solution. She just hoped that this man has a lot of money than that evil.
Maria smiled sweetly as she walked slowly in the man’s direction. She focused her eyes on him even she can’t see his face clearly due to the bright lights on the stage that cast shadows in his direction. She doesn’t understand, but her heart is telling her to get him now. If it’s meant safety, it’s for her to know.
When she was in front of him, Maria sat on the stage and showed him her long legs. She ran her hand down her flat belly to her legs while keeping eye confront with him. She flipped her long and wavy hair to the side, exposing her bare neck and shoulders that shines against the lights.
“Five…” the emcee continues to countdown for her life. “Four…”
Maria was running out of time. She has to make this man bid higher for her, or else, she’ll end up again in the torturing hands of the man that made her experience the thin line between heaven and hell. “Please…” she whispered.
“Two… One—”
“Three thousand and five hundred dollars,” the man in black suit calmly announced on his microphone. He raised his table number and showed it to the last bidder. When audiences complained, he raised from his seat. “I’ll make it four thousand and five hundred dollars, Magdalene is mine.”
***