ShawnaJulian has come in every few hours to visit me.The first time, he brought me into the other cell, located right next to the one I woke up in, and sat me down on the filthy chair and strapped me down. I tried fighting him but he proved easily I could be overtaken by him and his size.To say fear racked through my body at an alarming rate was an understatement. I was petrified he was going to do something I wasn't so sure I would be able to walk away from, but instead he merely walked away and returned with food and water. Maybe he didn't get the whole torture thing but I wasn't complaining. I ate the dry sandwich and swallowed down the half bottle of water with gratitude.The second time he came in, he let me pee, which was as disgusting as it sounds. He seemed different, almost frustrated but kept his cool. His cargo pants were dirty and he had some stains on his green shirt but nothing looked like blood so I had to believe he didn't have anyone else somewhere in this hell
MaxMemories are a strange notion.I remember small bits and pieces of my childhood. Moments of my brother and I swinging in the backyard or walking to school together in the morning. I remember our Christmases, or the time we decided to make thanksgiving dinner for mom which ended in a disaster when we nearly caught the house on fire. I remember when I got the call about dad's death, and the moment I met Shawna. But, as I walk slowly down the corridor that is filled with filthy cell after filthy cell, the same memory kindles inside me on constant set of repetitive notions.The first time my squad was on assignment to go around a city and make sure there was no danger. I was petrified, worried that any little mistake could not only cost me my life, but the lives of my brothers. The army trains us to be brave, to make a life changing decision in the blink of an eye, but it doesn't teach you not to be human. So, naturally your main worry is that your human aspects will make a turn for
ShawnaI let the beat of Alessia Cara's Stay overwhelm me.My body moves to the new rhythm as I try and remember the steps I created in my head last night when I went to sleep. I round my neck slowly as the song begins and just as her voice fills the room, my hips circle moving quickly into each notion. The beat quickens and I lean my body into different forms.Ten minutes later I lay on the floor in a sweaty mess as the song goes on and on. I tap my chin with my finger thinking of how much better this dance would be if I had a male partner. I have to look into where and when I would have to most likely host auditions.I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and it aligns with the occasional thump. I smile thinking of Miss O'Neal walking up here to tell me to cut off the 'rap music'. She hits the last step then switches the iPod player off."You know, you should be resting that foot of yours." I yell out with my eyes still closed."I could same the same thing to you little missy. Are you
"Okay everyone, take your places and make sure you're all showing your beautiful smiles." I say as I walk around and check everyone's form.The curtain should be going up soon and I want to make sure they are all in their right places. This is the second showing we have done and the first one went down very well. After the first showing a week ago, I have had about fifty different sets of parents that wanted to be a part of my classes. It's been a successful few months and I couldn't have been happier with the success of the studio."Miss Shawna, your boyfriends here." Little Amanda sings as Max rounds the girls waving to them as he walks past them."Hey what are you doing here? I thought you couldn't make it.""Like I would miss one of your shows? I managed to get the bike finished sooner than I thought. Plus I wanted to see you in that tight little leotard." I roll my eyes at him and take the dozen pink roses he hands over to me.I lean in to kiss him, not being able to help myself a
VOLUME TWO: SHANELylaWhat a long day. Being a nurse in the ER department has its moments of amazing days. You're able to watch lives be saved and are able to witness as people come in a zero and walk out a ten. But nights like tonight? Nights where not only did I have to take the blood of a man so drunk even the officer that brought him in looked tipsy, but it turns out the asshole nearly beat someone to death at a bar because he almost tripped over him. Those are the nights that make coming home more exhausting.I park my car in the driveway and do what I do every single night since I moved out here from Texas. I take a few deep breaths and count my blessings. That's all a person can do when they are trapped between a rock and a hard place like I was.Hopping out of my car, I nearly trip over my three-year old's tricycle in the driveway and shake my head at the fact that once again, Lisa did not clean up after her when she played in the front yard. My sister Lisa isn't one to
ShanePulling up to Club Lust, I park my bike and hop off heading straight for the entrance. Austin needed me to do some dirty work today, something I don't occasionally do, but will when the club needs me to. Today is one of those occasions. Apparently, the manager of one of our strip clubs is rumored to be putting his hands on the girls.Torque, our tech guru, was told by one of the girls that Big Joe was shoving her around and slapped her in the face. She was trembling by the time she reached the Nightmare Warrior's compound, but we quickly showed her that was not something we stood for. We would never allow our staff to be assaulted, especially by someone they are meant to trust.After a few hours we were able to see that not only was Big Joe hurting majority of the girls, but the fucker had the audacity to steal from us. My main job for the legit establishments is books, which means the fucker was getting one over on me, and I don't tolerate that shit.Hence the reasoning for
Lyla"Mommy are you cheating?" I look up to find the matching deep green eyes that reflect as my own.Adrianna stands there with her small fist balled on her hip that is jutted out just a tad bit. Her foot is tapping as her other hand extends with its palm out."Why would you think I'm cheatin' honey clam?""Because your voice goes like that when you lie, and you always make up those goofy nicknames when you're doing something bad." I roll my eyes at the fact that I just called out by my almost four-year-old."Adrianna, mommies aren't allowed to cheat. It's located in our DNA." I smirk when her little lips push out in annoyance.If I had a nickel for every time my daughter made this face I would be a millionaire. I don't know who taught it to her, but she gets away with mostly everything because of it."Then how come you have some of the good cards behind you?" I laugh then reach behind me and grab the small paper cards.Cheating in a game of a Candyland with my daughter is not
ShaneI stare out the small dirty window as the sun shines off that stupid windchime Candice put up outside. The gleam moves around the table we are all surrounding, and I watch with boredom as it makes its way over to where my hands rest on the hardwood."We need something, anything on him that will at least throw him off." I look up at Chance's determined eyes as he stands up from his seat for the millionth time.We have been here in church for over an hour, and so far, we have absolutely nothing accomplished. It's Austin, Chance and I, and every part of me wants to just go home, sit out on my back deck and drink a beer. Anything is better than being here listening to each other go back and forth on what we can and cannot do about Alberts and our current dilemma."We will get something on him, but it has to be enough. He's already making our lives a living hell and we haven't even got a full name on the asshole. We have to be smart Chance.""We are smart Austin, but right now we