Nine Months Later

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NINA

The nightclub always meets its peak sometime past midnight. Nina should know. She visits regularly, as the nightclub always has what she's looking for. Alcohol, music, and of course, money. Less on the music, though. She's never been one to dance.

This particular night is more hectic. The music is louder, the people more boisterous. It could do with it being the weekend, but this far surpasses every other Saturday. Maybe it's the influx of college kids paying a visit. Spring break did just let out. Though, Nina isn't sure why they would vacate in Savannah, Georgia of all places. But students these days are different. She hasn't been back ever since she graduated high school nine years ago.

Nonetheless, Nina is enthralled. It's the energy. She feeds into it much more than everybody else, because deep within the blaring music and tasteful alcohol is a world only she's part of. She navigates her way through the crowd for the bar, because nights out at the club are always supposed to start with liquor. And what better than a glass of cosmopolitan.

Then something new catches Nina's eyes. As recurring as her visits are to that club, she still takes it upon herself to study the environment, searching for things that stick out. It's a girl this time, propped up against the bar, trying to blend in with the rest of the rowdy crowd. But Nina can tell she doesn't belong, such as when she once dyed her hair brunette, only for the blonde roots to betray that after weeks only.

Nina can't help but be enthralled by this girl as much as the club. The red satin dress stops somewhere around her thighs, and from the side Nina can see that it's backless.

There's something else more eye-catching. The ink on The Girl's back; a Chinese dragon. It starts just above her waist and curls its way up to the top. The head rests on the right side of her shoulders, baring its fangs at anyone who dares to look. Its intricacy and details are by no means poor, as seen by the number of scales and talons that extend from the slim reptile. There's no color to it, just a traditional black ink.

Nina smiles. This girl must be new.

"Your dress. I love it."

The Girl turns to her, perplexed. Nina decides to clarify. "Please don't mind me. You're very gorgeous."

To this, The Girl smiles. Everyone loves compliments. Nina keeps up with the conversation. "I'm Nina, by the way."

"Do you usually, like, ogle girls at nightclubs, Nina?"

Nina only laughs, now much more entertained. "You're new, aren't you?"

The Girl looks at her with astonishment. "Oh, my God, how did you know? I just moved to this city, actually."

"I could tell." She switches gears over to the tattoo again, because the details are nothing short of impressive. "How long did it take to have that tatted?"

The Girl's hand goes to her back almost instinctively. "Um . . . I'm not sure, but it hurt like shit." She even laughs, and Nina finds herself more sure of this catch she's wandered upon. "But, like, I think it was worth it because I got another one after that." The Girl lifts her dress until the tattoo comes into view. This one is much more simple; a curvy snake that loops around her right thigh.

Nina can't help but think The Girl's tattoos and personality don't match. But that's what makes it interesting for her.

"You want another drink? My treat." The Girl hands a glass of margarita to Nina who accepts it gleefully. A free drink in addition. This certainly will be a very eventful night. Or morning.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Nina asks The Girl out to go dance. The dance floor is packed, bodies and arms swinging from every which direction. But despite all the distraction, Nina keeps her eyes on The Girl only. She even begins studying her all over again, picking up details that were missed the first time around.

Lengthy brunette hair much more authentic than Nina's, a mole under her left eye, and ears adorned with three piercings each. Her skin is a vibrant caramel shade. It must come to life under the sun. And her height. Nina sits at an average five foot six, but The Girl far surpasses that by an extra six inches. Minus the heels she currently has on.

Nina smiles once again, much more satisfied. "Hey, let's head to the V.I.P section."

The Girl eyes her with wide eyes. "Oh, my God, are you, like, rich?"

Nina laughs. "I have connections."

Out of excitement, The Girl follows Nina to the back where the V.I.P section is. There's a guard at the entrance who eyes the two as they walk up. But when he sees who Nina is, he lets them head in no problem.

The place is much less loud than the club. Girls in skimpy outfits roam around with trays of alcohol and some white substance which more or less must be cocaine. The men there must have some level of importance, because there are guards stationed around for protection. The smell of cigarettes warps the air, adding to the flair of secret talks that prove just about as shady as the place itself.

Almost instantly, intimidation sets in and The Girl sticks to Nina, her only sense of familiarity. "This place is a bit . . . weird."

"Really?" Nina smiles. "I think you'll have much fun here."

The Girl wants to add to the conversation, but Nina doesn't give her the chance. She pulls her towards the back and in front of a group of men who instantly cease their conversation when they see them. Three eye The Girl like she's a piece of meat, while the other keeps his attention solely on his cigar.

Only one of them gets to speak, and it's the man seated in the middle. There are a couple scars across his face, with eye bags that are heavy from age.

"This one is just perfect, Nina." He even grins, and besides Nina, The Girl stiffens up.

"What does he mean by that?" She turns to see Nina, who is now anything but friendly. Instead there's a distant, cold look that replaces the joviality. "Nina?" She calls again, but Nina pays her no mind. That's when panic begins setting in. "Hey, what's going on here?"

The man in the middle snaps his fingers, and a guard comes to him almost instantly. "Take this one to the van."

The Girl is being hauled away the next second. She kicks and screams to be let go, but the guard will not listen.

Nina smiles at the middle man once The Girl is out of sight, and he returns the gesture. "You'll be paid in cash as usual."

This is what Nina likes to hear. "Looking forward to it, Paolo."

There's a mutual understanding between the two. Nina lures in women and Paolo pays up. As simple as that. The two have been in business for a couple of successful years, and there are currently no plans to stop. Not from the amount of money Nina makes.

The easiest part of it all is finding girls who look gullible enough. It isn't too difficult to spot them since they were usually the ones who hung out by themselves. Some just didn't pay enough mind to their surroundings either. There are no questions asked about what the men do to the women, but Nina can guess. They have their way with them and sell them to some other sick individual when the fun is over.

As far as conscience goes, the ransom she gets is enough to cloud whatever judgment left in her. So Nina feels no guilt. She simply views it as a business transaction. Better the gullible women than her.

When Nina makes it back to the main club, her bodyguard is there waiting. "Get the car ready."

"Yes, ma'am." He leaves to do her bidding.

At the end of her nights, Nina likes to head to the bar to celebrate; a location different from the club. It's a tradition she's picked up over the years. It makes her feel somewhat powerful counting through the profits earned.

But something doesn't seem to be quite right with her, so she heads for the bathroom as quickly as she can. There's a sharp pain in her abdomen which has been gnawing at her for the past couple minutes.

Nina goes over to a sink and begins coughing voraciously. She tries recalling things that may have triggered the pain, but all she can remember is the beer she had before entering the club, the cosmopolitan she ordered, and the margarita The Girl gave her.

Nina is barely able to think straight once her breathing grows shallow. The pain is relentless. It makes her writhe in misery, makes her body grow weak and cold. Nina can barely even fathom any of it.

But it only grows worse. Nina begins coughing up blood. The onlookers in the bathroom quickly grow panicked, but all they can do is ask if she's okay. Nina is far from okay. Her insides feel like they're caving in, like they're looking for a way out. The amount of blood she vomits from it all grows in quantity.

"Oh, my God, what's happening?!"

"Call an ambulance!"

But it's too late for help. Nina collapses onto the floor dead, her clothes and hands stained with thick, dark blood.

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