“You’re early,” Cindy yelled, looping an arm through Tiny’s to usher her to the dance cage.
“Been one of those days, babe,” she said, plastering on a smile.“How’s the clientele?”
Cindy snorted.“The same.”She yanked on the lever to lower the cage, then helped Tiny step inside.
She was told purple lights strobed around her when she danced.It had to look good, or she would’ve lost this job.Informing Axel, her other boss, that she was blind had made no impact.
He’d almost sounded bored when he said, “Dancing doesn’t need sight, only rhythm.”
“Is my weight an issue?”she’d asked.By the rolls around her middle, she could only think she’d been stress eating.Food didn’t judge.
“No,” was his response.
She stood in a cage, only being lowered every hour for five minutes to rehydrate or for a pee break.Some waitresses asked her if she lost her mind up there.No, not when she wore no label.She doubted any observer would realize she was blind.None of that mattered.
Time flew by, measured in increments of pee breaks.Many songs were her favorites, reminding her of days long gone.Down she went, was ushered to the bathroom then handed a bottle of water.Here, she didn’t need to count her steps.With the milling crowds, the landscape was forever altering.Axel hadn’t instructed his staff to help her, but a few had taken it upon themselves to do just that.Depending on the shifts, she could count on Cindy or Liza or whichever bouncer was nearest.
With one more hour to go, Tiny sipped her water, gazing into the club at random.She had no idea how large it was, where the music came from, where the bar was, or what was below her cage.In the shifting darkness, she had to use her imagination.
Someone bumped her from behind, spilling water down the front of her jumpsuit.As welcome as the cool liquid was against her sweaty cleavage, she still hissed.
“Oh, so sorry, sweetheart,” a man drawled.
Her skin itched when he gripped her hip and tugged her against him.
“Unhand me, sir,” she snapped, shoving at his chest.
He didn’t smell bad except for the staleness of alcohol… His beer breath fanned her face, roiling her stomach.
Instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer.“Pretty little thing like you…” When he nuzzled her throat, her bruises stung.
She whimpered while squirming, trying to wriggle free.
“Hey,” Cindy said, grabbed Tiny’s arm, and yanked.“Let her go.”
“Go away.Lady Purple and I are just getting acquainted.”
Cindy huffed, the mint-scented puff of her frustration blowing across Tiny’s cheek.
Tiny stomped on the man’s boot, but her slippered feet had no effect.Parts of her that hadn’t been touched since med school pinged at his abuse.The urge to vomit gripped her, but she swallowed, shut her eyes, and prayed for help.
When cool air bathed her chest, the man’s hands no longer touching her, she almost sobbed.Miracles do happen, she wanted to scream.And twice on the same day.A fist connecting with the man’s jaw followed.She staggered back, away from the scrambling of feet on a sticky floor.When she bumped into a wall, she stilled, not sure where she was.She hadn’t been this lost in a long while.Fear coiled in her belly, and she squatted, curling into a ball.
When someone seized her under her arms, she cried out and swatted at the hands.
“Getting yourself into trouble again, cupcake,’ her hero said, the gentle humor in his voice welcome.“Maybe another job would be safer.”
She faced the direction of his voice, on the verge of gushing her gratitude.His words sank in, and she glared, instead.Another job?Was he kidding?Did he have any idea how hard it was to find work as someone ‘helpless?’
“Well, if you know of anyone hiring blind doctors, call me.”Her tone dripped venom and ingratitude.
There was no helping that.Exhaustion had stretched her energy reserves thin.Her neck throbbed, her throat was scratchy when she swallowed, and her willingness to face whatever life threw at her with as much dignity as she could?Farg, that had evaporated along with her patience.
“I see,” he said then laughed.“No joke intended.I may know of an ice hauler in need of a medic.You interested?”
She gaped, then snapped her mouth shut.Squaring her shoulders, she raised her chin as if to meet his gaze.“I might be.”
“We don’t need medical treatment that often, but it would be handy having you onboard.”He caught her fingers and pulled her forward.“Name’s Dieter, Finish your shift while I make a call.I’m gonna see what Captain has to say.”
