Murderville

the young Mexican kid had seen her, he had tried his hand with her.

“You can’t afford it, Juan,” she replied with an innocent smirk. No other girl on the block could even enter the convenience store unless they were spending money, but Juan had taken a liking to Liberty. He knew what she did but he didn’t judge her for it. He allowed her to clean up in the store’s restroom whenever she needed. He passed her the key and gave her a wink as she passed.

As soon as Liberty was inside the safety of the bathroom she locked the door and removed the money she had just made. Her hands flipped through bills efficiently. $322, she thought. She removed the $100 that she would have to turn in, before lifting the lid off the back of the toilet. She pulled out the small stash that she had made by overcharging her johns and added the extra money to it before putting it back and replacing the porcelain top. If she ever got the chance to escape, she wanted to have the funds to get out of town and although her chances were slim… this small hustle kept her hopeful. After stashing her money, she pulled out some baby wipes and propped one leg up on the sink as she cleaned her vagina. She had become so used to the routine that she was no longer ashamed of what she was doing. It was all in the name of survival. After eight years of being forced to sell her body and soul, every dick felt the same. She didn’t know how to equate sex with love. She had stopped believing in fairy tales long ago. Her childhood had been flushed down the toilet the moment that Ezekiel had raided her unsuspecting village. Liberty was damaged goods and as she stared into the mirror all she could see were flaws. It was unreal how she was blind to a beauty that everyone else could clearly see. It didn’t exist to her; she couldn’t see her own mystique through her tainted vantage point. The everyday haze that she lived in made life almost bearable, and as she pulled out the small heroin-filled ziplock bag her stomach began to turn in anticipation. She wasn’t allowed to shoot it up, despite the fact that it gave her the best high. She felt like she was flying on the rare occasion that she could sneak a needle into her veins, but because it left tracks marks on her arms she was banned from indulging in that way. Instead, she sniffed it and she popped Ecstasy as often as she could get her hands on it. Liberty had a nasty heroin habit, one that the traffickers happily maintained. Keeping her high kept her submissive as she worked the streets. She could never run too far away. Liberty was no fool. She had seen some of the other girls try to escape only to be lured right back by the monkeys on their backs. This is why she saved up her own money, little by little, so that if the day ever came she would be able to support her insatiable cravings and purchase a one-way ticket out of town. As a euphoric feeling crawled through her system she cleared the extra dust from her nose and left the bathroom. She returned the key, buying a pack of cigarettes on her way out before returning to the strip.

“Hey, Lib, wait up!”

Liberty turned toward the familiar voice. She watched her friend Trixie exit a vehicle and approach her. Liberty could tell by the strut in Trixie’s step that she was in high demand that night. Despite the fact that they all were forced into prostitution, the women on the strip were still competitive with one another. Whoever made the most money had the most clout in the streets, and Trixie was winning that race by a mile. Her shoulder-length hair was naturally curly and framed her pretty face well. She was easy on the eyes. High cheekbones, naturally bronzed Brazilian skin, and chinky eyes made her seem so exotic. Her long, lean legs were like a web of seduction that men didn’t mind being stuck in. Trixie had a figure that any woman would kill for, and she worked hard to maintain it. She knew that there were a million bitches that would love to snatch her spot, so she worked constantly… often going the extra mile for her clientele. It was no secret that once Trixie got a hold on a man, he was hers forever. She had turned out too many to count. The sex with her was just that good. While the working girls like Liberty had limitations to what they would do, Trixie had none… she performed it all… she sucked, fucked, welcomed anal, fulfilled fantasies and obliged fetishes all for the sake of making a dollar. She was the biggest diva that Liberty had ever met, and one of the only people that Liberty had grown close to over the years.

“Hey girl, you pulling it in for the night?” Liberty asked. “You meet your quota?”

Trixie went into her thigh-high boot and pulled out a nice-sized knot of dead presidents. “Don’t a bitch always meet her quota?” she stated. She put the money back and removed a pack of cigarettes from the same boot.

“Damn, Trix, how much shit you got stuffed in that damn thing?” Liberty asked with a slight chuckle.

Trixie passed Liberty a square and then pulled one out of the pack before putting it back. “Bitch, as much shit as I need while I’m out here dealing with these niggas. I got rubbers, lube, and a blade in there too just in case a mu’fucka wanna get cute,” Trixie said seriously. Liberty and Trixie weren’t rookies on the block, and they acted accordingly, protecting themselves at all costs.

“I can’t wait to come up out of this shit,” Trixie complained as she wiggled uncomfortably while adjusting the thong out of the crack of her behind. “Where is this motherfucker?”

“Just take the shit off now, girl. You know they will leave us here all night to make sure the rest of these hoes earn their keep. It ain’t easy to make a minimum of $500 when you only charging $25 to wrap your lips around some dick. Fuck that… my head too good. If a nigga pump his brakes to fuck with me he better be ready to come up off some dough,” Liberty replied. She lit the cigarette as she leaned against a street sign and put her head back as she blew smoke into the air. She had been on the hoe stroll since she was ten years old and nothing surprised her at this point. She was a veteran, and her fuck game was out of this world.

“Hmm, hmm you know I need a mirror for that shit,” Trixie commented as she danced uncomfortably in her stiletto boots.

“Girl, you don’t need a mirror. Just rip the shit off. Go over there in that alley and handle your business,” Liberty instructed.

Trixie disappeared down the darkened alleyway while Liberty stood on the sidewalk playing lookout.

“I can’t see a damn thing back here! It’s too dark! All of the fucking street lights are busted out,” Trixie whispered harshly.

Liberty rolled her eyes and marched over to her friend. Liberty reached up and pulled down Trixie’s black satin thong as she knelt on the ground in front of her. Reaching under Trixie’s skirt she grabbed the piece of duct tape and slowly peeled it off, freeing Trixie’s privates. Once it was completely removed, Liberty patted Trixie’s package.

“It’s a shame this big ol’ dick was wasted on you bitch,” Liberty joked as she stood to her feet.

Trixie stuck up her middle finger and exhaled as she finally was able to breathe. “Girl, please… ain’t nothing going to waste over here. I be dicking these niggas down. They might not know what they are getting when they stop, but I’ve never had one man kick me out once they reach down there and find out what’s between my legs. These down-low ass men are curious as hell. Shit, I get the occasional housewife too.”

Liberty shook her head and tried to keep the disgust from showing on her face. Trixie was so feminine and beautiful that no one would ever guess that she was a transsexual. After years of being forced to live her life as a woman, Trixie now embraced it. “If I have to be a bitch, I’mma be the baddest bitch that has ever done it,” she said.

“I’m just so sick of this. Every day it’s the same thing… same bullshit… different men. I haven’t figured out how yet, but the first chance I get, I’m leaving. I’m running as far as my feet will carry me,” Liberty said honestly.

“That’s what your little stash is for?” Trixie asked.

Liberty looked at Trixie in surprise as her brow lowered instantly. “How do you know about that?” she asked.

“Girl, please… Juan done sampled a little bit of this too,” Trixie said.

“Juan?” Liberty shot back in disbelief.

“Juan, bitch,” Trixie confirmed. “I told you these men be out here loving them some Ms. Trixie, baby!” She smiled and took a long drag of her cigarette before she continued. “He knows you keep some paper put up in his bathroom, and he mentioned it to me one night when we were hooking up. You know how that pillow talk shit goes,” Trixie stated as she tapped the ashes that had accumulated on the tip of her cigarette, sending them flying into the sky. She noticed Liberty’s disposition had gone sour, and she waved her hand dismissively. “Fix your face, mami. I didn’t tell anyone else about it. Your secret is safe with me, Lib. You’re my girl. It’s not like you’re stacking big paper, babes. Just a little nest egg in case you’re able to break free. I respect it. You can trust me. I wouldn’t play you like that. You’re my bitch, Liberty… honestly, when you go I’m going with you. I wouldn’t last a day without you out here with me. You keep me sane bitch!” Trixie stated.

Before Liberty could respond one of the ‘shepherds’ pulled up and all of the ‘sheep’ made their way to the van. The men who ran the operation were anonymous. It was a system of sexual enslavement that was run with such precision that they could never be caught. Even if one of the girls managed to escape she would never be able to