Why couldn't I run into anyone but Alyssa? you think to yourself. You reach into your pocket, and give her all the money you have on you.

Alyssa stands there and counts it. "Hmm.. Only five hundred dollars, huh? It's going to take a thousand to get you into the place I have in mind. But I'll tell you what. I'll make up the difference, and I'll hold onto all of your stuff as collateral until you can pay me back. Do we have a deal?"

"A thousand dollars?" you gasp. "What kind of a place costs a thousand dollars?"

"The place I'm taking you to" Alyssa responds smugly. "You'll be able to stay there for as long as you like. They'll even feed you. They'll even give you things to wear. Now, do we have a deal, or not?"

You know deep down inside something's not right with this, but what other choice do you have? You look at her rather sheepishly. "Yes, I guess so."

"Good!" Alyssa says. "Now let's get going."

You walk for blocks on end, following Alyssa like a little lost puppy. You pass through parts of the city you've never seen before. Parts you were told to stay away from by your Dad. This is the Red Light district, where anything can happen, and everything is legal. You look at all the people as they pass you by. Some look like they've seen better days. Others stare at you like you're a piece of meat, waiting to be devoured. A couple of blocks later, Alyssa comes to a stop in front of a banana yellow house with chocolate trim.

"Here we are" she says to you. "Let me do all the talking. You just stand there quietly. Got it?"

You shake your head affirmatively, and follow Alyssa up the short flight of steps to the front door. She opens the door, and both step inside.

There's a woman behind a desk who looks up at the two of you. She smiles as she recognizes Alyssa. "So what brings you here today Alyssa?" she asks.

"This is a friend of mine. Her name is Janey. She's looking for work, and a place to stay, and I thought you might be interested in her."

The woman rises from behind the desk, and steps forward to get a good look at you. She smiles at you as she circles around you, checking you from head to foot. When she comes around to face you, she says "Take off your clothes. I want to get a good look at you. I want to see if your body is worthy. We only take the best."

You gulp hard. "Wait. What kind of place is this?" you ask.

The woman looks you right in the eye, unflinching. "It's what some people would call a whore house. But I would rather call it a house of a thousand delights. We serve both men and women, and our most popular girls make the most money. You will be given a room to stay in, three meals a day, and clothes to wear. But first there is the condition of the thousand dollar retainer fee. This is to cover your costs until you start earning money. If you don't earn enough money within six months to cover your next six months here, you will be sold to the highest bidder. Now, why don't you take those clothes off? you won't be needing them."

You look down at the ground, and flush red. Maybe you should have taken the beat down instead. But now it's much too late for that. You either take off your clothes and submit to be inspected, or you make a mad dash for the door. Either way, you're out five hundred dollars.