30 Red Dresses

by Johan Twiss

  James slid the unconscious bouncer off his shoulder and draped him over a table. Turning his head to the side, he closed his eyes and cupped his hands around his ears.

  “Help! Someone help us!” faint voices cried out again. It was coming from the dark shadows of the far corner of the room. James moved closer, sloshing through the water, and saw a closed door.

  “I hear it now,” Munny said, following close behind James.

  James struggled to pull the door open against the rising water, but with Munny’s help they forced it open. High-pitched screams of terror came from inside the pitch black room. Shining his phone into the room, James jumped backward as dozens of snakes and rats swam out of the doorway. They slipped around him while some tried to climb up his body.

  Both he and Munny jumped up and down in the water, shouting curses as they swatted the creatures away. But their shouts were overpowered by the shrieks coming from inside.

  James fought back the fear of the snakes and rats, pushing through the doorway into the darkness. Shining his light against a wall, he gasped.

  In the room was a square metal cage with six girls locked inside. The young girls yelled for help as the water continued to rise, submerging them from their ribs down. One of the girls, an older looking teenager, held a small child in her arms as she desperately swatted snakes and rats off of them that were trying to escape the water. Munny went to open the cage, but found a heavy padlock over the door.

  “Take my phone!” James told Munny. “I have an idea. Tell the girls it will be alright. We will protect them.”

  Munny’s face was pale with shock and he stood frozen, mumbling something to himself.

  “Munny!” James shouted, shaking the young man by the arm. “Take—my—phone. Pull it together, man. I need you to try to calm the girls down and I’ll be right back.”

  Munny blinked at James, seeming to come out of a trance, and nodded. He let go of his wrist and took the phone, a new look of determination crossing his face, and he started speaking to the girls.

  James rushed from the room of horrors, thankful to find the bouncer still slumped over the table. Rolling him over, he yanked the handgun from his back waistband and read the words, .50 Caliber Desert Eagle, engraved along the barrel.

  “I hope this does the trick,” he muttered, hefting the large pistol.

  James remembered watching a TV show where they shot high powered guns into a pool of water to see if the myth of diving under water could save you from being shot like it does in the movies. Surprisingly, it had worked, causing most of the bullets shot from high-powered rifles to break apart on impact with the water. He hoped the water would offer some protection to the girls from possible ricochets.

  But none of that matters if I can’t get the lock off.

  Wading back into the room, Munny shone the light on James, nearly blinding him.

  “Shine that on the lock,” he yelled at Munny, shielding his eyes from the bright light until Munny pointed it at the cage.

  “Good. Now tell the girls to scoot back and duck under the water on the count of three!”

  Munny nodded and spoke to the girls.

  “Okay. One!”

  Munny repeated the count in Khmer.

  “Two!”

  James took aim at the lock.

  “Three!”

  Making sure the girls were underwater, he fired.

  CHAPTER 5

  Veata’s stomach churned and her tongue felt numb after swallowing the last of the candy. She held Chemsi’s hand as the older girl led her upstairs to the next floor and down a hallway to another room. A young man sat in front of the entrance, which was lined with hanging brown beads instead of a door, and stared intently at a game he was playing on his phone. He looked up, gave them a cursory glance, and went back to playing his game. Veata watched his colors fade back and forth between dark brown and tan as he moved the phone side-to-side like it was a steering wheel.

  “New girl?” he asked, keeping his eyes focused on his phone.

  “Yes,” Chemsi replied.

  “Take her to bed fifteen. Customer is waiting.”

  Chemsi sneered at the man as she walked past and gave Veata’s hand a gentle squeeze once they pushed past the beads.

  The room was long, spanning most of the second floor of the building. Fluorescent lights were strung across the ceiling and a few small windows were covered in newspaper, letting in a small amount of natural light.

  But the light wasn’t enough to brighten the dingy room, and Veata covered her nose against the strong musty smell mixed with incense. Lining one wall were rows of stalls with curtains covering them.

  Veata heard strange noises coming from the stalls and gripped Chemsi’s hand tighter.

  Chemsi pulled her along until they came in front of a stall near the end of the room. Veata’s stomach twisted like she had swallowed knives, and sweat beaded up along her forehead.

  “I don’t feel good,” she mumbled to Chemsi, holding her stomach. “It’s so hot...and my stomach hurts.”

  “You have to go in now. It will be over fast—like the tattoo. I don’t have any customers right now. I’ll wait outside to help you after.”

  The curtain slid open, revealing the man with the mustache who had called Veata’s number when she was on stage. His shirt was off, and his colors sparked violet and red.

  “Finally,” he hissed. “What took so long? I’ve been waiting.”

  “My apologies,” Chemsi said with a sharp tone. “She had to meet with the owner, Rithisak, first.”

  The man seemed to calm down at the mention of Rithisak’s name, the red in his color disappearing, turning a shade of yellow. But when he looked down at Veata, his colors flared violet again.

  Chemsi gently tried to push Veata into the tiny stall, but Veata shook her head, digging her heels into floor. But the man was tired of waiting. He grabbed Veata under the arms and lifted her small frame off the ground, carrying her into the stall with one arm while closing the curtain with the other.

  Veata groaned as he tossed her onto a cot covered with a stained sheet. Her stomach felt like someone was stabbing her and she clenched her jaw in pain.

  The man bent over her, his face so close she felt his hot, smelly breath against her neck. She fought to push him away, pressing her hands against his face when he tried to kiss her.

  “None of that,” he growled, grabbing both of her hands and holding them tightly above her head.

  Veata cried out, desperately trying to wriggle free, but the man would not let go. He leaned in to kiss her again and she kicked. She kicked as hard as she could in the place she knew it hurt boys the most.

  The man’s grip on her arms slipped free and he groaned. She kicked again in the same place and the man backed away a step, doubling over in agony. With his head in striking distance, she kicked again and again, connecting with his face twice more before the exertion proved too much.

  The room began to spin in a circle and her stomach burned as if it was on fire. The fire crept up her chest, into her throat, and exploded from her mouth in a barrage of vomit that covered the shirtless man.

  He yelled in disgust, swiping vomit from his face and chest, when Veata threw up again, this time all over his legs and feet.

  A cold shiver ran through her veins, and she started to shake.

  “So cold,” she mumbled, trying to stop herself from shaking, but her body would not relent.

  The customer screamed with rage, trying to shake the vomit from his bare chest and pants. The stall curtain whipped open and the man who had been playing games on his phone looked at the scene, reeling back as he wrinkled his nose in disgust.

  Veata heard the customer yell about being kicked, the vomit, and something about demanding a refund. But Veata didn’t care. She just curled up in a ball on the cot, whimpering as she shivered.

  Chemsi pushed past the men and lifted Veata into her arms.

  “Chemsi,” Veata moaned, her teeth chattering
uncontrollably. “I don’t...feel...good.”

  “I know. I’m here,” Chemsi whispered into her ear, holding Veata close. She carried her out of the room with the stalls and away from the yelling customer and his insults.

  “I’m sorry, Veata,” Chemsi said, holding Veata tightly as she convulsed in her arms. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have given you the candy. You’re too young for it. It made you sick.”

  “You...you made me...sick?” Veata asked, her teeth rattling.

  Chemsi nodded. “Not on purpose. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to feel it and be hurt. I was trying to help. I am—”

  But Chemsi went silent and Veata felt the girl’s body stiffen. Looking up, she saw Teng barreling down the hallway toward them, his colors blood-red and sour.

  “Stupid girl!” Teng hissed at Veata. “You cost us money!”

  “But she’s sick,” Chemsi retorted. “She didn’t know any better.”

  “Do you think Rithisak cares? We had to promise the guy free drinks and two free girls on his next visit. She needs to learn a lesson. Take her to the cage.”

  Chemsi shook her head. “No.”

  Teng raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

  “No! She’s sick. She has a fever. Let her sleep it off in an empty cot.”

  Teng’s hand shot out with a vicious slap across Chemsi’s face. Despite the blow, Chemsi stood firm and Veata curled her head into the older girl’s chest.

  Teng let loose a string of swears and gripped Chemsi by the arm, dragging them both into a nearby room. Inside, four other girls were resting on a dirty couch, waiting for their next customers. Dark circles hung under their eyes, which looked glossed over, and a pile of empty candy wrappers were tossed on the floor.

  “But it’s only her first day, Teng,” Chemsi pleaded as he closed the door behind them. “Don’t send her to the cage. She’s sick. She could die if you leave her in there.”

  The other girls seemed to wake from their fog at the sight of Chemsi, Veata, and Teng.

  “She a new girl?” one asked. “Been awhile since we had a new one.”

  “So little,” another said.

  “Teng wants to send her to the cage,” Chemsi told the girls. “But she’s sick. It’s her first day.”

  Three of the girls on the couch shook their heads, murmuring their disapproval, while one looked annoyed by the commotion.

  “C’mon, Teng. Let her be,” said one girl.

  “She’s no good sick,” chimed another.

  The annoyed girl flipped her long black hair behind her ear and rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she breathed. “Send her to the cage. Who cares? She’s got to learn some time.”

  Chemsi and the other girls shot her a menacing glare. “Shut up, Shukira!” Chemsi spat. “No one asked you.”

  Shukira raised an eyebrow and shook her head dismissively before popping another candy into her mouth. “You can’t protect her forever, Chemsi.”

  Ignoring Shukira, another girl with wide-set eyes slipped next to Teng and reached her hand up behind his neck, curling his black hair in her fingers. “Won’t you give her a break, Teng—for me. She’s new and we’ll show her how it works tomorrow.”

  Indecision flitted across Teng’s face and he slowly shook his head. “I don’t know girls. Rithisak is going to be furious. She needs to learn a lesson.”

  “I know,” said the girl with her fingers still in his hair. Her other hand crawled up his chest and she gave him a pouty lip. “We’ll teach her tomorrow. But for now, let her sleep. I’ll make it up to you.”

  Teng raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Well, maybe we’ll let it pass this one time. But I really shouldn’t.”

  “You’re right. You shouldn’t!” a voice barked from behind them.

  Veata saw a violent storm of deep black and dark red swirl into the room. It was Rithisak.

  He grabbed Teng by the hair and slammed his head into a nearby wall. Teng fell back a step, dazed, but Rithisak didn’t stop. The large man punched him in the stomach and then once more in the face.

  “I warned you—no more mistakes! I know you’ve been sneaking off with the girls during work hours. I know you’ve been stealing bottles of vodka from the bar. Not only will I teach you a lesson, but I’ll personally beat your mother and brother before I kick them out into the street from the room I so graciously let you rent from the Sen Zi.”

  Rithisak slammed his fist across Teng’s face one more time before Teng collapsed to the ground. He turned to the girls, a low growl resonating deep in his throat.

  “You are all property of the Sen Zi. You work for me! And if you’re not working, you’re not making money. And if you’re not making money, you must be taught to improve your work ethic.”

  Three other men came into the room, each holding a wooden baton in their hands.

  “Take them all to the cage,” Rithisak commanded. “No food. No water. No candy for three days.”

  CHAPTER 6

  James felt his ears explode as he fired two deafening shots at the lock on the cage.

  Munny, who’d been shining a light on the lock from a distance, waded closer for a better look and whooped with excitement.

  “Lock broken!” he shouted before pumping his fist in the air.

  James released a long sigh, only then realizing he’d been holding his breath. He pushed the safety on the gun and tucked it into his back waistband, which was now under the rising water. The girls waded out of their dark prison, some of them practically swimming as they hurried to escape along with the rats and snakes.

  An older teen was still pressed against the cage, struggling to hold a small child above the water. James reached out, offering to hold the child, but the older teen retracted.

  “It’s okay,” James said softly. “Munny, tell her it’s okay before they both drown.”

  After Munny translated, the teen hesitated a moment, but finally relented and handed the small girl into his outstretched arms.

  “Thank you,” James said. “I know I’m a big, ugly, scary looking old guy, and you have no idea what I’m saying, but I’m here to help.”

  The group sloshed through the water into the main room and headed to the staircase where the others had fled to seek higher ground.

  “Hey, where’s the guard?” James asked as they passed a floating table. It was the same table he’d left the unconscious thug lying on only a few minutes earlier.

  Munny shrugged. “Who cares? He drown, or wake and go up the stairs. We need go now or we drown too!”

  James nodded. There wasn’t time to search for him. Their priority was getting these girls to safety. He led the group up the stairs with Munny at the rear.

  James breathed hard as he struggled up the dark stairwell, his body rebelling against the unplanned exercise. Midway up, a sharp pain stabbed into his knee and caused the joint to buckle under him. He nearly dropped the girl, moaning in pain as he gripped the handrail to steady himself. A hot flame spread from his knee, up his hamstring and down the side of his calf, forcing him to lean against the wall for relief.

  “You okay?” Munny asked from behind as the group came to a halt.

  “Fine,” James growled. “I’m fine. Just need a quick break.” Still holding the child in one arm, he pressed his eyes closed and tried to push back the pain while taking deep breaths. His knee felt like it was swollen larger than a watermelon and he could barely bend it anymore.

  “You injured?” Munny called. “I come help you.”

  “No! Just give me a second,” James called back, knowing he was too big for Munny to help. “There’s a balcony door up ahead. We’re almost there.”

  James repositioned the shivering girl to his other arm. He gritted his teeth and took a step, then another, and another. The rickety stairs creaked and groaned, and he worried the whole thing would collapse under his weight, but it held together as he limped along. He looked up the next flight of stairs to the balcony door. It was slightly ajar and a glimmer
of daylight shone through the opening. The light seemed to beckon him forward, giving him something else to focus on beside the searing pain in his leg.

  James had never been so thankful for light as when he pulled the door open and stepped out into the fresh air. Rain drizzled from billowing pale gray clouds, and even though he was already soaked from the flood, it felt as if the rain and the light were washing him clean from the hellish scene below.

  From the third story balcony, he peeked over the railing to find a debris-filled river flowing through the street. To his left, a short metal ladder continued up the side of the building to the rooftop where James figured everyone else had gone.

  The little girl in his arms felt light as a feather as she clung to him like a koala bear. But seeing her in the light of day increased his worry. Her lips were purple and she was shivering uncontrollably in her wet, red dress.

  He pulled her closer, resting her head on his shoulder like he’d done hundreds of times with his own daughters when they had been little. He carefully climbed the ladder, thankful it was only a few feet high. When he pulled himself over the last rung he found a small crowd of men and girls gathered on the far side of the flat rooftop.

  He climbed onto the roof and helped the next girl climb up. It was the older teen who’d been holding the child before. She held her hands out to take the little girl back from James’ arms. This time it was James who hesitated to release her, but he relented under the teen’s hard stare.

  After handing off the child, he turned to help the next girl onto the roof when he heard a scream from behind. He turned to find two men dragging away the teen with the little girl in her arms. To his surprise, one of them was the bald bouncer he’d saved from drowning.

  They seemed to ignore James, shouting at the teen as they pulled her by the hair and dragged her toward a group of other girls in red dresses who’d been corralled in a corner of the roof.

  Blood burned through his veins, rushing up to his head until dots of light flashed in his vision. The pain in his knee was forgotten and his exhaustion disappeared, replaced with uncontrollable fury.