Catharsis.
That's what they called it.
A moment of "emotional purification".

I stepped outside and I finally understood the word properly because the world I'd escaped into wasn't mine.

My mom wasn't waiting there with open arms like I'd fantasised about. My dad didn't have a proud grin on his face as he saw me, while my brother tugs on his arm, pestering him.

Instead I had no one.

There weren't even any trees.

In fact, the absence of nature was so intense that I wondered how anyone here still had any oxygen.

The streets had different signs to the ones that I had learned in driver's education and the buildings looked significantly uglier. I wasn't sure if it was the building's peculiar shape or the dull grey paint that slowly wasted away on them.

Everything was different.
The world looked... lifeless.

Once I'd escaped down the street, I barely felt like I could function at all, but I knew I had to keep moving otherwise they'd find me.

I had already spotted a guard on one of the street corners but I had managed to dodge him. Then I found a dumpster in an ominous looking ally to hide behind.

That was the first time I'd admitted to myself that I was never going to see my family again.

And I did what anybody would have done.

I cried.

It felt like I didn't stop for hours. Eventually I was unable to contain the violent sound of my sobs. I didn't care who heard me. I just wanted to go home.

I tried to calm myself down but all that came out was what sounded like a twisted hiccup. Eventually, I heard a noise. It sounded like a crackle as if someone had stepped on something.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before picking up a piece of broken glass that had been lying next to me.

Then I got in touch with the tiny part of bravado that was still left inside and hopped up to my feet.

"Don't come any closer!" I yelled and held the glass up like a knife. "I'll stab you."

But then I heard a familiar crazy laugh and relief washed over me.

"You'll stab me?"

"Malvin." I breathed. "How did you find me?"

"It was easy. You aren't exactly the 'Queen of Stealth'. I could hear you half way down the street."

I blushed. "I was just-"

"Crying." He nodded. "That's understandable. I was rather surprised that you'd waited so long to do so. It is quite an emotional endeavour and you did a good job of keeping your composure until now."

"I didn't think any of this was true until now!" I snapped.

"We need to keep moving. My suggestion would be avoid the whole situation for a little longer until we're both fine."

"I thought it wasn't real."

Malvin sighed.
"We both know that's not true."

Malvin began walking in the direction of the road, expecting me to follow. I shuffled forward without argument.

He forced me to walk in silence for a while but I ended up complaining about my feet since the hard rocky road was giving me blisters.

Soon came the question of where we were going. Dare I ask it.

Let's just say I didn't receive a pleasant response. He ended the situation by telling me to trust him.
That was reassuring.

"How come nobody else is out here?" I nagged.

"Are you going to spend the entire night asking questions?"

"When you start answering maybe I'll stop." I folded my arms, halting in the middle of the road. "Where are we going?"

Malvin rolled his eyes before spinning around to look at me unimpressed. "To get some clothes that don't make us look like inmates."

"But where-" Malvin put his finger to my lips before I could finish.

At first, I thought he was just being rude but from his worried expression, I soon realised it was much more than that.

He made eye contact with me and I knew it was a warning of what was coming. Then he grabbed my arm forcing me to speed walk down the road.

"Not so fast," I heard a voice sing.

Malvin stopped in his tracks and I jerked right into him.

"What's the rush?" A girl's shadow had emerged and I recognised the ridiculously anorexic figure as Veera.
"It almost looks like you're scared of something."

"Don't be ridiculous, Veera." Jake hissed from behind making me jump.
"Malvin isn't scared of anything. Isn't that right?"

"I've got the girl, Jake." Veera said arrogantly. "You and Mal can do your thing."

Malvin giggled and threw up his hands flamboyantly. It only made him look crazier. "Well that's just boring. How about I take the Beauty Queen and you take my sidekick?" He stared at Jake. "Just to shake things up a bit."

My jaw dropped. Sidekick?

"I don't think your 'sidekick' likes the sound of that." Jake grinned, reading my expression. "Either way this is just a formality. We can always skip this part."

"Where's the fun in that?" Malvin giggled and then he whispered to me, "Trust me you can take him."

Was he crazy?

Veera was as skinny as a rake and Jake looked like he spent six hours at the gym every day. Malvin just mimed "Trust me" with his lips.

I ran.

I was surprised at how successful I'd been before Jake caught up with me but I was almost sure Malvin had held him back so that I could get a head start. (I was always that kid in physical education running at the back).

I really needed a plan.

Unfortunately I was too busy catching my breath to think of one so I just ran into the first door than said "OPEN" in bright lights.

I crammed myself into the crowds of people that seemed to be in this tiny looking room. A couple of glances around were all it took for me to realise what this place was- woman cradled themselves in men's arms and their clothing left absolutely no room for imagination-
It was brothel.

I was in a brothel.

I flinched as somebody grabbed my arm.

"You're new." A middle-aged man who hadn't shaved or showered was the culprit.

I pulled away from him.

"I like the felon costume." His hand changed its course from my arm to my ass to reel me in closer. "I've always liked to play dress up."

"Get the hell off of me!"

I attempted to push him away but he still hadn't budged. I was about ready to let out a piercing scream, but I didn't have to because creepy guy let go.

It looked like he'd just seen a ghost or something.

I didn't understand it at first, but then I saw a hand on creepy guy's chest. It happened to be connected to Jake with a look on his face that even frightened me a little.

"You heard her."

I pulled away and folded my arms while the pervert tried to fumble a response.

"I... I'm sorry man. I didn't realise she was taken."

"Yeah because 'get the hell off' wasn't clear enough," I muttered.

Creepy guy glanced at Jake to detect a reaction. "Look man, no harm no fowl. I thought she was just playing around," he said.

"Go." Jake growled, "Now."

He was gone in a flash.

Although Jake definitely looked like he could throw a good punch, the man's reaction had seemed a little extreme. It had almost felt like he'd known Jake.

In fact, I noticed several other looks of recognition from whore-ish woman and terrified men as Jake led me over to the bar.

"People know Mr Maxwell at the brothel. What a surprise," I said sarcastically.

"You think you've got me all figured out, don't you?" Jake grinned. "By the way, thanks for running right into the place we're staying tonight. That was really helpful."

I sat down on an empty bar stool and looked at him in disbelief.

"We're staying at a brothel?"

Jake lent over and whispered. "It's also a motel."

Before I could respond, a bartender with massive tattoos interrupted us.

"Mr Maxwell, it's good to see you. What can I get you?"

"Two shots."

"You got it."

I lifted my brow.

"Do you want a drink or not?" Jake agreed.

I nodded.

"Are you even old enough to drink yet?"

"I'm eighteen." I glared.

"You don't look eighteen."

"Well things aren't always as they seem." I repeated Malvin's words.

The shots came before he could say anything and I grabbed it a little quicker than I should have.

What can I say? I needed it.

Jake watched me and then took his shot with little less enthusiasm.

I stared at him for a moment. "You're like me, aren't you?"

"What?"

"Karnoi? Like me."

Jake didn't reply but he did ask the bartender for a refill. I noticed a yellow glint in the bartender's eyes. A glint I'd been seeing a lot lately. Jake took his shot but I was too distracted.

"The bartender-"
"Is like us? Everyone in here is."

Us.

"And that's why you come here?"

Jake nodded. "It keeps certain people out."

I stared at him quizzically. The people that he worked for?

"Do you want to get some air?" Jake lent closer to my ear so I could hear him over the terrible music. "We've got lots of time."

"Why do you say that?"

He smirked. "It's going to take a while for Veera to catch Malvin."

"Why'd you come after me then?" I grinned. "People seem to think Malvin's no match for you."

"I figured you'd be more fun."

I hopped off my seat.

"Then let's go have some fun."

What trouble is Pacem about to get into?

Is Jake good or bad?

Keep reading to find out!