Unwinding, and then the big meet up.

Glimmer spent her routine gossiping. That’s one thing that would never change. The desire for humans to gossip and complain about work, no matter how horrible it was. Of course, there was the exchange of **** being passed around. Glimmer once again declined the offers but was alarmed to find herself considering these escapes. If whoever “John Doe” was had been expected later than an hour, she might’ve taken the chance to see what it was at least like…

The routine of checking herself and gussying up before meeting her new client came into play. She had to maintain that picture-perfect appearance. It could have been anyone. Politician, police chief, a regular handsome man with kinks… A rich weirdo or below-average man spending his earnings… As Glimmer counted all possibilities, she found her motions becoming more slow and ****.

Behind her, the others were bustling around, too. Shaking off their highs or bumping another hit to fuel their systems before enduring whatever task they thought they’d be facing. Glimmer looked at herself in the mirror and sat back before glancing at the girls behind her. One of them jogged in place and repeated the mantra she often did. “Hello… Hello… I am Maise… I am Maise... I am Maise, and I’m yours tonight!”

At least half a dozen girls made a weird, grotesque ritual as they coped with this brutal part of the night where all the clients came in. Glimmer was soon reminded why she didn’t spend so much time here during the club's peak hours. She tapped her finger on her fish netted thighs and sucked gingerly on her lower lip, feeling the anxiety of her client fill her with dread. She drew a deep breath and left the silver case in hand as she took a break outside in the back.

She lit a cigarette and dragged long on it, searching for the break in her tension to snap. The nicotine struck hard, and she hacked, her face tightening in discomfort. She hadn’t coughed like this since her first cigarette in high school. She pulled the stick away and waved her hand gripping the case in front of her.

It took a full minute, maybe even a little longer, to clear her lung. She heard Paul’s voice telling her to pace herself. She exhaled, taking in the cool winter smoggy air, and closed her eyes, counting to 10. “You got this, Glimmer. Just one more client.”

“He could be worse than Alexander,” a voice told her from within her own head.

“Shut up,” she scowled, taking a more controlled drag on her cigarette. “Hello… I am Glimmer, and I’ll be yours tonight.”

Her lip trembled as she spoke. The mantra reminded her of Alexander's lingering effects, which remained. With another drag and another breath, she opened her eyes and saw Neon Shroud’s light bleeding into the black alleyway. “I am Glimmer… Hello… Hello… I am Glimmer. Are you mine tonight~?”

The trained voice she’d used for 2 years came out as easily as the smoke from her lit end. She stared outward, looking at Neon Shroud. “Hello, baby~. I am Glimmer. Are you mine tonight?”

Glimmer did something she hadn’t done in ages, and that was having a second cigarette. She posted herself to spy on Neon Shroud from the alleyway, listening to the city and smelling the scents—the throng of people walking by, not noticing her as she did them. With her, her memories, the rats in the garbage bags, and noises from the music now bashing from within. She snuffed out the cigarette and flicked the butt away before going inside. She ought to get a drink, too.

The music assaulted her ears as she was knocked around by the crowd dancing on the dance floor. Lasers and fantastic light shows ignited the ceiling with wild colors and holographic faces, cupids, and naked girls as the whole room bounced with seductive beats made by the DJ’s hands. She pushed through the people, barely able to make it to the bar. A young girl was back there this time, her arms covered in holo-ink, neon from the floor's dark light. “Woo Hoo!” Glimmer shouted, pointing one finger. “Make it quick! I got a client coming in soon!”

The girl nodded, realizing there was no small talk or request for payment from Glimmer. This drink is on the house; they almost always were for the escorts. Glimmer tried to sip the drink, but the people around her kept bumping into her, so she downed it in a few swallows. She dropped the glass and scrunched her face-- the bartender did a poor job mixing it. The glass shattered, but the sound was inaudible beneath the cheering and music. For the bartender, it’s noticed and cleaned up in nanoseconds; she waves off Glimmer dismissively, showing she doesn’t care.

Glimmer makes it out of the tight, jumping crowd and gets to the double doors, where she finds Paul standing. Their eyes meet, and she feels the drink buzz turn on as he grabs her. She clings to him and yells into his ear, “David??!”

“After you’re done!” He shouts. “This is about your next client!”

She shakes her head. “Tell me now!”

“THIS IS ABOUT YOUR NEXT CLIENT!” He shouts louder, maybe misunderstanding what she’s told him.

She looks back and shakes her head again. “No! Not my next client! What did you find out about David!!?”

Paul shakes her—the taste of her drink and cigarette mixing bitterly inside her mouth. “Your next client has a fake background! I checked after searching for David!”

“Thousands of clients do that! He’s probably married!!” Glimmer’s voice screamed when it was spoken. “I don’t give a fuck about this next guy! Tell me about David!”

Paul looks at her intensely. “YOUR NEXT CLIENT IS A CONTRACTOR!” He shouts.

There’s something in her mind that says to listen, but she shakes her head. “HE CAN’T HURT ME! Don’t worry!”

Paul is about to say more, but Adam, outfitted with a full helmet and carrier, comes into view before he can. He tells Paul something that she can’t hear. Paul looks at Glimmer and frowns. Adam is joined by another one of the special guards. She only recognized Adam because of his tattoos; the other man had his sleeves rolled down, which hid all his characteristics.

The two new guards open the door for Glimmer and gesture for her to go inside. She wants to hesitate but doesn’t… She goes forward, even though she’s never seen this kind of service or reaction to a client.

Glimmer stumbled forward, her foot caught on the carpet as she unintentionally dragged herself forward. Silence had been her companion in this hallway before, but as the doors shut with a click, a strange volume engulfed her. Now muffled by the stimulated crowd, the chaotic, ever-present music made the club’s protection of its “beloved escorts” seem almost miles away.

She took a deep breath and held it, frozen like an animal sensing danger. The tension in the hallway was so palpable that she feared her body might snap if she dared to move too quickly.

Before, nothing had prevented her from leaving this hallway besides duty, but knowing two guards were now stationed beyond the doors made it feel like the situation had changed; there was no other option. Glimmer had to do what was expected of her.

Earth’s gravity shifted this realization. She wondered if they were there to help her if she used the room’s panic button or to prevent her from fleeing.

Glimmer drew her hand close to her chest as she remembered Paul’s pleas about her newest client. “He’s a contractor!” he shouted at her. She’d dealt with contractors before… Perhaps a dozen in her time here. They paid well. They tipped well. They were rough and masculine- the stuff that mattered regarding personal preferences.

She approached the green light, highlighting the doorframe; it indicated that this was the room that was in or nearing operation, her fingers twitching as they drew close to the doorknob. He shouldn’t have been here; it was still early, but the visual evidence proved different. Paul, Adam, the other featureless guard. She whispered to herself. “Hello, I’m Glimmer, and I’m here for your pleasure tonight.” She practiced like whoever was inside was like any other client, even though every fiber of her being wasn’t.

Her fingers felt the chill of the knob as they finally gripped and twisted. Glimmer used a bit of her weight to push the door open. Even without seeing the entire room, she knew something was different. It was dark, and all the lights that couldn’t be switched off were dimmed to their lowest setting. The bathroom, which had a night light by design, was the brightest source of comfort but was placed in a place of no importance.

To hide all her fear and ****, she stepped inside with one fluid motion and shut the door behind her, the clicking of the locks audible in the silence. She turned with the same ease but was frozen when the outline of this “John Doe” was seen sitting upright on the couch.

She stared, noticing vague armor details, a ragged cloak, and the bulk of his helmet. Pauldrons covered his shoulders, and similar protection covered his shins. The two regarded each other, but she tensed, clasping her fingers as he breathed, a sound barely audible even in the room’s silence. Glimmer watched him embody inhuman stillness. Her body began to tremble, and past threats revisited her mind, namely Alexander.

“Hello,” Glimmer tried. Even speaking as quietly as she did, her voice sounded loud. “I’m Glimmer, and I’m here for your pleasure tonight.”