When i came back to myself i was sitting by the pool table holding a beer. A miller pony. The kind i had drunk as a child with my grandfather. i felt the bile rise in my throat and choked it down. This would be a bad time to puke. i sit the beer carefully on the table behind me and asked in a shakey voice if i could use the ladies room. Jack eyed me strangely but nodded and indicated the one in the back basement room, through the heavy metal door that had concealed Kayla being beaten the day before. i entered cautiously but it was okay, the room was unoccupied today. Still modest i felt uncomfortable peeing so exposed in the corner of the room but i did. Then i washed my hands and for good measure splashed cold water on my face. i returned to the main rec room and settled back into my chair at the pool table. John approached me from behind. He rubbed my shoulders and i felt like screaming. "You are a very interesting little girl, you know that? Can you pull that trick anytime?" "What trick?" "Changing." "Changing?" "Never you mind, darlin'. Old John will learn how to work it. Old John will learn just how to take care of you. And, you will make us lots of money." i wanted to ask him what the hell he was talking about, but i was scared. Scared of him... and scared of the answer.
