The Brothel Ch. 05

"That diamond stud is invaluable protection to you. Along with that stud comes Adam's recommendation. Every client is influenced by his recommendation. Because you didn't understand, I will allow you to find it and clean it and tomorrow I will bring you back to Rachel to put it back on. Now that you do know however, you will be expected to cooperate or you will face painful consequences. Do you understand?" Gwen nodded mutely. "There are rewards for cooperation. This first is a grander gesture than others. It is based solely on your decision to speak with me and leave the room at my request. It is symbolic of your change of heart and your desire to be obedient. It also serves our purposes." He opened a door for her and she entered another room. It was a lavish bathroom with plush dark blue carpeting. The shower was lined with dark grey marble tile. Gwen headed right for it without waiting for permission. There were multiple showerheads and more than ample water pressure. She couldn't turn it as hot as she wanted at first because she was so cold that the water stung her skin. She wasn't too surprised when Joseph joined her.

She spoke through her tears without looking at him, "Do I have to be with you to stay?"

"No."

She nodded and put her head under the stream. Joseph stood near her without touching her. She turned the water warmer as she could tolerate the stinging of her skin. Despite her horror she was filled with a strange sense of gratitude to feel the warm water running across her body. Joseph handed her a bottle of shampoo and she lathered her hair. Her eyes were closed as she spoke, "Lisa is here too?"

"Yes."

"Is she okay?"

"She's fine."

"Can I see her?"

"Not for a while. She is in training."

"Like me?"

"Yes."

"Will Adam use her?"

Gwen noticed that Joseph paused at her bitterness and her wording.

"If he chooses."

She nodded and rinsed her hair.

"Are you feeling better?"

She nodded again. She was warm at least, but her stomach was still roiling and she was so frightened. She was cowed though and stood with her head down trying to control her tears. She didn't want to show her weakness. There was anger. She tried to hang on to that. She wondered if the outside world had even noticed that she was missing. She knew her parents wouldn't care. Nora might. No one else.

"I want to go back."

"I'm sorry honey."

She felt his hand brush hers and flinched away. He backed off as she turned her face to the water so he wouldn't see her tears. He waited until she managed to get her tears under control before handing her a bottle of body wash. He stood away from her as she lathered and rinsed and handed her a towel from a high shelf when she cut the water off. Most of her tears had been spent over the days in her cell. He dried himself off as she did and ran the towel over his head before throwing it in a bin in the corner of the bathroom. Gwen wrapped the towel around her hair.

"Are you hungry?"

Gwen nodded.

"I'll order some food." He opened another door that fed off the bathroom and turned on a switch. A light came on on the other side of the door. "Something else for you to enjoy." Gwen walked past him and peered around the door. The light came from a tanning bed. There was a basket of eye protectors on a small table to the side and an empty basket that had a sign on it that said, "used". There was a timer on the wall also. "You tan easily. Twenty minutes should be fine. In the meantime I'll get the food and come back for you. You won't be able to leave. The door to the bathroom will be locked." He waited for Gwen to position herself in the bed and handed her eye protectors and then set the timer and closed the bed.

Gwen welcomed the heat seeping into her knotted muscles. She was asleep when the buzzer sounded and the bed turned off. She didn't even remember succumbing. Joseph entered the door and opened the bed. He had put the sweat pants back on. He offered his hand and helped her stand. She was dizzy at first, probably from lack of food. He led her into the bathroom where a small table had been set up with two place settings. There were salads and a basket of buttered dark bread. Gwen dug in quickly, but all too soon she was full and her stomach wasn't happy. Joseph noticed and pushed his own plate away. "We should talk. You can take a bite here and there once this settles." Gwen nodded.

"How long have I been here?"

"You came in early Thursday morning. We woke you up Thursday afternoon. It is Monday morning now."

Gwen merely nodded. "That wasn't me at the bar. I don't know what happened. I wouldn't have done that under normal circumstances. I know I was a little drunk, but that just wasn't me."

"Dom put Ecstasy in your drink."

Gwen just looked at him and then sighed in frustration.

"I was watching you when we looked at the website. It was painful for you to see him. How long has it been?"

"Two years."

Joseph nodded. "You probably don't trust me now. I wouldn't blame you."

"You work with Dom."

"We brought a lot of that pain back for you." Gwen pressed her lips together. "I'm sorry."

"Then let me go."

Joseph studied her and she met his gaze. "It's beyond my power." He waited until she sat back and looked away from him. "I was angry for a long time."

She waved his comment away dismissively, "How many people are here?"

"Hmm?"

"In this place? What did Julia call it? A brothel? How many prisoners are in this brothel?"

"Three hundred and seventy-two. It can hold five hundred, but the population is based on demand."

"How many men?"

"Ninety-two men. Two hundred eighty women."

"And all of them...?"

Joseph smiled, "Most of them. All of them have, but the older ones aren't requested so much anymore and so to avoid death they have opted to fulfill other necessary functions. They cook or clean or do laundry, work in the infirmary. Some do administrative tasks like scheduling appointments or purchasing. Some run the spa or give massages. Some do phone sex. Some work on the set of the porn films we shoot."

"But eventually they are all 'disposed of'?"

It was Joseph's lips that thinned this time and he nodded.

"What happens to the bodies?"

"We have a crematory."

"Great. How many clients come through in a day?"

"Average is two hundred and ninety-three. Weekends more, special events more."

"I don't think I'm ready to hear about the special events."

"Probably not."

"So how many will use me in a day?"

"You're new and young and beautiful. You will wear the diamond stud. You will be busy. From six to ten a day, I think."

"What do you do to control STD's?"

"We vaccinate against herpes. We run tests on new clients as they enter. Blood and urine. They have to wear a condom until they are medically cleared for HIV. We run urine tests on returning clients. If a returning client happens to bring in a disease, we notify them, and we have medication to treat whomever they were with. Those they were with wear a band around their wrist and they are to be 'used' with condoms only until they are cleared."

"How many have bands on?"

"Now? Six, I think."

"How often does someone get HIV?"

"Only two have contracted it in here in the last five years. Twenty or thirty did in the beginning, but after that all the clients and the males here were made to wear condoms. Now the testing is better. The rest of the people who have the tattoos came in with the disease."

"How many have tattoos?"

"Twenty-three."

"What do you do to prevent pregnancy?"

"Female staff members are given Seasonale. It is the new birth control pill where you don't get your period."

"What happens if someone gets pregnant anyway?"

"The baby is aborted." He shrugged as she watched him. "We have a sterile procedure room. We have among our clients doctors of all kinds and dentists and oral surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists..."

"Perverts." It maddened her that he remained so passive. "How many clients like to kill... what are we called?"

"Once you have passed orientation you are a member of the staff."

"How many clients like to kill 'staff members'?"

"More than you would think, but it is a very expensive habit. When one requests it, or the decision is made for them, they are put out to bid."

"Like on ebay."

"Pretty much. Even the older ones get a good price."

"And all of them are tortured first."

"Pretty much."

"I suppose you sell tickets to watch."

"And DVD's."

"So the winner wears a Zorro mask?"

"Whatever it takes to hide his or her identity from the outside world in case the DVD should fall into the wrong hands."

"How many are on the auction block now?"

"No one now. It happens quickly."

"Where are we?"

"In a warehouse. The complex is six stories tall. There are no windows to the outside that I am aware of."

"Where is the warehouse?"

"I don't know."

"I don't believe you."

Joseph shrugged.

"When was the complex built?"

"In the late 60's."

"Who owns this... enterprise?"

"A corporation. A number of investors."

"Mob?"

"Yes."

"I have to go to the bathroom."

Joseph pointed to another door.

When Gwen returned she sat and waited and so Joseph spoke.

"So tell me about yourself Gwen."

"I'm a white female, nineteen, five foot six, one hundred ten pounds, thirty-four, twenty-two, thirty-three, dark hair and eyes, dark complexion, long legs, a cunt."

"Gwen." He sounded hurt.

"Dianna. I'm an object to be used. The rest doesn't matter any more. Don't worry though. I'm a waitress. I was one anyway. I understand that if you are nice to the customers you'll get a better tip. Tell me what I need to know."

"Fine." Joseph leaned forward and crossed his forearms on the edge of the table. "You will be known as Dianna from now on. You are not to discuss your previous life with clients. You are not to ask them to contact the police or family or friends on your behalf. You are not to pass on personal information of any kind about any of the other staff members to clients. You are free to discuss anything you wish with the others who live here.

"You are expected to keep yourself clean. There is a hair salon, manicure supplies, perfumes, lotions, spa facilities, exercise facilities. There's even a pool. You are required to perform sex acts with your trainers. You are welcome to participate in sex on a volunteer basis with the others who live here. You are also welcome to refuse to participate in extra-curricular sex.

"You are expected to be pleasant and professional with clients at all times. You will be expected to do as clients ask with them or other members of the staff. As I mentioned before, we also produce movies that are marketed. You will be required to participate in those. Both the movie from the bar and your performance with Adam are already on the market.

"There is an internal email system where your schedule for the day will be posted. You will be sent a profile of each client listing his preferences, likes and dislikes. You will be expected to cater to those. You will also receive email from clients and be expected to respond. All email is read as it comes in and goes out.

"During your training period you will be rotated among designated trainers, both male and female. They will report directly to me. Your attitude will be very important. Your performance is very important.

"You are one of the fortunate ones. You like sex. I know you're not where you want to be, but you have no choice about that. Since you have to be here, you might as well take enjoyment where it can be found. The harshness of the stone makes the flower more precious."

Gwen pondered his last statement, "A hot shower."

Joseph smiled, "Your room will be warm when you return."

"Is there any other sort of entertainment?"

"A library, a video library, we get a lot of the latest movies. We have a game room, ping pong, pool, cards, board games. Try and eat some more, then I'll give you a tour. You are scheduled for a physical exam and blood work later, and to have your teeth checked and cleaned."

Gwen nodded.

Joseph ate more with her and watched her silently. He spoke as they stood, "The towel stays here." She cringed and then walked to the bin and took the towel off her hair. As they left the room he held the door for her. She found his manners odd for her situation. "Did they teach you your manners?"

"They did. And I am required to use them."

"How come you can wear clothes and I can't?"

"Once we pass a certain level of training staff members can wear clothes if they choose."

"How long before I can reach that level?"

"It depends on the individual. You do have some control over how fast things go. We have discovered that if we press some people it ruins them."

"I guess you would want to protect your investments." Joseph didn't miss her cynicism. "I want clothes."

Joseph nodded. "I understand."

He led her to the library first. It was an L-shaped room twenty feet by twelve with another alcove twelve by twelve. It had industrial carpeting and two seating areas. The walls were painted cinderblock covered with plain shelving filled with books. It reminded her of her high school library. A man stood from his reading as they entered. Gwen flushed with embarrassment at her nudity and folded her arms across her breasts as Joseph nodded in greeting and the man approached. "John, this is Dianna. She is new this week. I'm giving her the tour." He turned to Gwen, "This is John."

John took note of her self-consciousness. He held out his hand in greeting and looked into her eyes as she shook his hand. "It will get easier after a while. It's nice to meet you." Gwen smiled ruefully. He looked to be in his late thirties and had on a loose pair of pajama shorts that rode low on his hips. "You like to read then?" Gwen nodded. "What do you like?"

"I haven't read much other than text books the last six months."

"We have some if you like." She couldn't help but smile at his teasing tone. He responded in kind. "May I recommend something then?" He looked from Gwen to Joseph and both nodded. Gwen went to look at the shelves as John left her to look for the book he wanted. There were sections marked romances, classics, historical, etc. John returned and handed her a small tattered paperback. It was 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Victor Frankl. He noted the scab on her navel as he handed her the book and exchanged a look with Joseph. He spoke as she looked up, "It might help." Gwen nodded. She gave it to Joseph as he offered to hold it. He slipped it into his back pocket.

Before they left Joseph opened a door to a room off the library in between the two L's. The room was dark. "This is where the training videos and books are kept."

Joseph continued the tour taking her through the game room nearby and then on to the salons and spa. He introduced her to whomever they met along the way. Most of the females wore only thongs. None of them were the least bit aware of their lack of modesty. Most took silent note of her navel.

"Do you do anything to watch your figure?"

"Not really. I run and lift, but not for that. I started running a couple years ago."

"Why?" Gwen shook her head and he understood.

The next stop was the gym. There was a woman on the treadmill in a room off to the side. The weight room was empty. Joseph watched as Gwen walked through looking at the free weights and leg machines.

"You like to lift?"

Gwen nodded. She had started running feverishly after the incident with Morrison. It was a way to get rid of the stress. When she came to Hudson she added lifting. It had given her a small sense of empowerment. Gradually she discovered she loved it and carved a space in her busy schedule for that reason alone.

"I'll schedule you to come with me if you like." Gwen shook her head. The thought of lying on her back on a bench with her legs spread was humiliating.

"If I had clothes."

"After you are trained then."

"So are you in charge of all the training?"

"I am one of three under Julia's direction. Christopher trains the males. He trains females also, but neither Robby or I work with the males. I am in charge of you and a young runaway we've decided to call Katy. The girl you saw first and a pro that was brought in the same night won't require much time. Christopher is in charge of them in addition to the male that came in with you. Robby has Lisa and another girl about your age. We write a report for Julia each evening to keep her apprised and we meet with her every few days."

They entered the room that housed the indoor pool. There were two women making out in the water. They broke apart when Gwen and Joseph entered. Joseph introduced her. Gwen noticed that his voice lacked some of the warmth that she had seen with the others he had introduced her to. "Dianna this is Stacy and Jill. Jill and Stacy, Dianna. They will be assisting with a portion of your training." As he spoke they both pulled themselves out of the water. They circled her like cats, smiling, as they looked her over.

Gwen couldn't help but shy away and reached for Joseph's hand as Jill moved to touch her breasts. He shielded her and a look from him was enough to wipe the smile from Jill's face. His voice was tight, "Soon enough, Jill." She smiled again slyly and the girls both dove back into the water as he tightened his grip on her hand and led her from the room. He didn't speak again until the door swung shut. "Watch yourself around them. They are both predatory. You have to go through that portion of the training, but Julia or I will be with you the whole time. In the halls though, we have problems with them. They rarely speak, except to each other. They are more like animals."

"Cats."

"Yes."

"I could swim without clothes." Joseph looked at her in confusion. He was still distracted thinking about the girls. He smiled when he understood what she meant.

"We'll do that then." Gwen nodded as he heaved a subdued cleansing sigh. It was an unconscious gesture on his part. Gwen thought he must do it frequently. "That's pretty much it then, other than the infirmary. I'll show you that tonight when you go for your check up. If you can eat again, I will take you to the dining room and that will end our tour." He turned as Gwen stopped.

"I haven't seen the crematory." Joseph deflated slightly. "I want to see it all, Joseph. Everything."

He continued to study her for a moment. "It's going to take a lot longer." She shrugged and pegged him with her stare. Reluctantly he acquiesced and led her away sighing. He showed her most of the rest of the complex. Some places he didn't have access to. He showed her the special events rooms and living quarters for the trained staff. He showed her what he called the trick rooms. They were small and held only a bed or a table or a chair like the one she had been so eager to use with Adam.

Some had no furniture, only restraints hanging from the ceiling or mounted to the wall. Some had leather-covered sawhorses with tie downs. There was a hot tub in one and a shower in another. Some were in use. There was a waiting room for the clients with erotic magazines spread on the table and a reception desk. There was a bathroom with a shower at the end of the hall. He showed her the laundry and the studio where movies were filmed. He answered her questions and spoke in short sentences.

He became silent though as he led her into an area similar to the torture room he had shown her first. He grew somber as they approached, and led her through a door into a darkened room. When he didn't turn the light on she felt for his hand. He stood silently for a moment and she heard him sigh before he opened another door and led her into another room. She let go his hand when he turned on the lights. She had to shield her eyes against the glare. She was inside a pie-shaped room in the corner of two solid walls facing a curved panel of glass that extended floor to ceiling. On the other side of the glass she could see bleachers that would seat thirty or forty people. On the near side in the ceiling tracks were mounted that held cameras. The other two walls were painted cinderblock and the floor was concrete. The cinderblock wall to her right had restraints hanging from metal eyes set in concrete. Immediately to her left was a concrete slab tilted at a seventy-five degree angle facing the center of the glass. There were tie downs on the slab. In front of it was a drain. Between the slab and corner where the glass wall met the cinderblock was the same rack she had seen in the first room mounted on the wall with whips and other instruments of torture. Under the rack was a metal tool cabinet.