Old Habits

[One week later - Welles' Home, the Glen, Heywood]

It was a typically hot summer day as the sun beat down on the City. Even in the shade, the oppressive humidity weighed everything down as people trudged along, one foot after the other as they tried just to survive.

With a loud crash, Maya dropped the last of the filled garbage bags into the dented metal trashcan sitting beside the Welles' home, baking in the late-afternoon sun. She took a deep breath and paused for a moment, sweat pouring off of her as she scratched an itch all over her neck and arms.

Mama Welles had kept her busy in the week she'd been staying in the old lady's home. The first few days weren't too bad, mostly just tidying up the house and helping clean and make meals... but a whole week having passed left Maya feeling like the pile of trash she had just discarded. An entire week without anything hard in her system left her with a persisting itch all over her body that she just couldn't shake. And today of all days, the heat didn't help her case.

She took advantage of the fact that Mama Welles was having to cover for someone at El Coyote as she looked both ways down the street, making sure no familiar faces were watching as she walked around to the back of the house, pulling a pre-rolled joint from her pocket. She placed one end in her mouth, lighting the other end as she inhaled deep and held the smoke as long as she could.

While her brain calmed and she exhaled, she considered her circumstances, feeling almost ashamed that she was having to sneak around like this. She didn't like having to hide just to enjoy herself. She couldn't blame Mama Welles for running a tight ship; the old lady had opened her home to a junkie stranger. Even if Maya's old man was a choom back in the day, that didn't amount to much given how far she had fallen from the path.

Still, the woman was always there, almost always watching. It was suffocating at times, and Maya was increasingly frustrated by it. She took another drag as she scratched at her arms again, just wishing it would stop. Overall, she felt rundown, like she was dragging ass just to exist. She knew the withdrawal would be tough, but she had given Mama Welles her word. Now, the doubts were creeping in as to whether or not she could actually make good on it.

As if to perfectly illustrate her point, just as she was starting to calm down, the panic returned at the sound of tires crunching over gravel from a vehicle pulling into the driveway. Maya quickly dropped the lit joint, stamping it out and scraping it with her foot to make sure no traces were left as she reached over to a spigot sticking out from the stucco wall. She turned the rusted knob, her stomach churning from the stench of the stagnant polluted water pouring out onto the ground. She weighed her options before leaning over and sticking both hands underneath, letting the water pool before she splashed it over her face.

She gagged almost as soon as the water hit her skin, the smell invading her nostrils, as if the entire experience was some kind of atonement for her sins against the rules of the house. Still, she would take this punishment over being talked down to... again...

She reached for the knob, turning the water off as she coughed and tried not to retch her guts out. To make matters worse, she saw Mama Welles peeking around the corner in her periphery, a smirk on her face as she asked, "And just what are you doing...?"

There was a tone in her voice and the way she asked that question that Maya was starting to resent, but she obliged anyway as she tried to play it off, "Finished with the trash... j-just trying to cool off."

The old lady nodded and joked as she turned back, "You'll have better chances jumping in the harbor... come inside."

Maya was still bent at the waist, catching her breath as she spat on the ground, trying desperately to keep any run-off from getting in her mouth. When she had collected herself, she stood up straight, following the old woman back around to the front of the house and up the steps. Mama Welles was already inside, standing with her hands on her hips as she looked around. She looked surprised as Maya joined her and said, "Just like you asked... furniture dusted, floors swept, trash taken out..."

Mama Welles nodded and smiled, "Thank you, mija. Are you hungry?"

While she probably could have eaten, Maya still shook her head, "Nah, I'm okay... going to rinse off."

She was halfway up the stairs before Mama Welles called to her again, this time with a soothing and motherly undertone, "Maya... todo bien?"

Maya stopped for a moment, looking down before she looked over and shrugged her shoulders, "...I'm a little rundown... guess my choices are catching up to me..."

She wasn't going to come right out and say the early stages of withdrawal were already kicking her ass, but Mama Welles read between the lines anyway, noticing a tremble in the girl's hand as she held onto the railing for the stairs. She nodded and said, "Go and rest... I'm done for the day, so let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks...", Maya nodded and continued up the stairs. She turned at the top, stepping into Jackie's room. She honestly wasn't sure how long this arrangement would last, so calling it her room felt inappropriate. She felt the shakes coming on, unable to keep her hands still as an aching sickness washed over her. Had she bothered to look in a mirror, she half-expected to see her face turning a funny shade of green. The churn in her gut hadn't subsided, if anything stronger now than before. She felt the surge rising, turning and running for the bathroom with a hand over her mouth as she scrambled to get the seat up in time.

She gripped the sides of the toilet, collapsing to her knees as her entire body quaked and quivered. The veins bulged in her head as she voided herself into the sparkling porcelain bowl staring back, her arms struggling to hold her up as beads of sweat built on her forehead. She hadn't felt this bad since Rafael was holding a bucket in her face...

Once it was all over, she was left heaving, gasping for air with tears in her bulging eyes as she spat the last remnants into the soupy mix swirling around. She felt a small reprieve before the shakes started again, her arms buckling as the sweat dripped from the edge of her nose. She stared into the bowl for a long time, considering her decisions and weighing her options... she needed a fix, and soon. She couldn't take it anymore...

Maya wiped her mouth clean of any leftovers as she flushed the toilet and reached over to hit the knob for the shower. The water poured, the steam building overhead as it trailed out of the bathroom. She forced herself to her feet with a low groan as she turned and looked in the mirror. Her face was ghostly pale, almost no color in her lips, and she quickly disrobed, leaving her t-shirt and faded and torn jeans in a pile on the vinyl tile floor as she stepped into the shower stall. The hot water was a small comfort, soothing her body as it pelted her skin and ran down. She afforded herself a moment as she knelt down, wrapping her arms around curling into herself.

She was still shivering, her mind in a fog. All she wanted was to get high... to stop feeling... even for a second...

--

[Some time later...]

Mama Welles was hard at work in the kitchen, a pot boiling on the stove as she prepared some other ingredients to add. Her focus was steadfast, her hands skilled as she negotiated a large knife around a cutting board, slicing, chopping, and mincing.

She heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs, wiping her hands on a nearby cloth rag as she stepped around the corner and into the den. She saw Maya dressed in a clean pair of jeans hugging her hips and a cropped jacket zipped up tight, and she asked, "Going somewhere...?"

Maya was halfway to the door as she turned and locked eyes with the older woman, "I uh... I just need to get some air. Feeling a little stir-crazy, so thought I'd go for a walk...?"

"I heard you up there earlier...", Mama Welles confessed, not buying it one bit, "...are you sure you're okay?"

"It comes and goes...", Maya nodded with a sigh, "...I won't be long."

Mama Welles gave a nod, "Dinner will be waiting for you, it's almost ready."

Maya turned for the door, swinging it open as she briskly walked down the steps and out to the sidewalk. She wasn't lying... she was going for a walk, and with no idea where she'd end up. She had to do something to feel uncaged, just for a little while.

The sun was setting, the day drawing to a close as the outside temperatures were finally dropping. Maya looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath as she decided which way to go. She had half a mind to go see Pepe at El Coyote, but she also knew better that any trouble would find its way back to Mama Welles in no time at all. As much as she wanted to see a friendly face, her best bet was to walk the complete opposite direction. So she turned right, taking the first few steps down the broken and filthy sidewalk.

The fresh air did help a bit, although she was still itchy all over, trying her best to ignore it as she passed a row of similarly dilapidated houses and storefronts. This far south in the Glen, everything looked like shit. Even if the Valentinos weren't anywhere close to the worst gang in the City, public services still weren't coming around very often all the same. Most of the distantly familiar streets Maya knew from her childhood had fallen into even worse disrepair than she remembered, trash piled up against buildings or flooding and clogging the drainage ditches. Almost every building in sight was painted from cracked top to crumbling bottom in graffiti, and every alleyway or underpass was stuffed full with ramshackle tents and tiny cardboard cities hosting the sizable homeless population.

Maya couldn't fault them, having been there herself for longer than she cared to remember. She didn't ever want to go back, but something in the back of her mind told her she'd end up right back there before too long. She shook her head as she turned north, hanging a right along the same block. All of it was so eerily depressing to her, to see what the neighborhood her father loved had turned into. Maybe she could escape it if she headed north closer into the City Center... even just a few blocks.

She still didn't have a good reason for taking a walk in the first place... at least not one that the old lady would actually believe. She wasn't even sure she could convince herself of a good reason, outside of the outlandish notion that some golden opportunity might drop right in her lap if she wandered far enough. That way had always gotten her nothing but trouble, but what else did she have? She wasn't about to curl up in bed and waste away while the worst of her withdrawal ate at her. But neither did she have a good answer for what came next. She had spent so long just existing day to day, doing just enough to keep the rent paid and Tony fed...

Shit...

She realized here and now, alone with her thoughts as she walked down a dark, neon-lit sidewalk, that this was the first time she had even thought of Tony since Mama Welles took her in. She was completely zoned out from the rest of the world, people passing by and music playing from shops or stalls on either side. The usual sounds of the City were just white noise as she navigated the winding maze of her own mind.

She wasn't sure how many blocks exactly she had already walked, but as she finally looked up, the buildings looked cleaner here. Everything was tidier and put together well. Even the piles of trash looked like they had purpose... and there it was...

Maya turned to her left and stood wide-eyed at a bright pink neon sign lighting up the street... 'JEWELZ'. It shined bright like a beacon of hope, its open outer double doors with bouncers on either side beckoning her to approach. The nondescript panel walls had etched portraits of undulating bodies and a smaller neon sign alternating between crossed martini glasses. She knew it was a bad idea, but she couldn't help herself, checking the street both ways and waiting for an opening to cross.

Once the small boom of traffic had ceased, she stepped out into the street, walking quickly to the other side. She stepped onto the curb, craning her neck as she stared at the sign and paused for a moment. She knew she was dead to rights if she walked inside, but the thumping bass of the music trailing out spoke to her. Jewelz was calling to her, despite the flurry of what-ifs running rampant in her mind. She shook all of them loose as the itch started again. She scratched her arms and neck, her eyes narrowing as she decided then and there, marching through the entrance as the second set of doors open, a wave of cool central air rushing out to meet her as the music assaulted her ears.

With a deep breath, she crossed the threshold, the doors shutting behind her... shutting out the world. The inside of the building was dimly lit, pink and red neons flashing from the floors to give an enticing and sensual ambiance as she looked around. There were several small raised stages littering the space with poles reaching from floor to ceiling, and all but one in a far corner were occupied. As her eyes adjusted to the low light, it became clear why the place was named Jewelz... all of the dancers were scantily-clad in various forms of stringy straps and fishnets, but all of them shared one thing in common... they each had a particularly large plug inserted in their ass, the bejeweled flared base visible and flashing all colors of the rainbow.

Maya almost blushed at all of it until she spotted a full wrap-around bar in the center of the floor, a lone handsome man working and conversing with a few patrons while wearing a flashy smile. She approached the bar slowly, taking a seat away from anyone else as she bided her time and waited for the bartender to notice her... and notice he did, a similar smile crossing his face as he sauntered over and spoke in a low, smooth voice, "And what can I do for a pretty little thing like you...?"

Maya smirked as she answered, placing her hands together on the bar top, "...take a vodka... neat"

The bartender cocked his head for a moment before he obliged, reaching down and grabbing for a perspiring tall bottle with a long neck, the colorless and crystal clear liquid sloshing around inside as he pulled two clean rocks glasses with his other hand. With a bit of artistic flair, he spun the glasses on the smooth bar top, pouring two fingers' worth inside each before sliding one down to stop squarely in front of Maya. She reached for the glass, pausing as she watched him returning the bottle to the well before she said, "...y-you can leave the bottle, thanks..."

"Honey... you can't afford my bottle service...", the bartender laughed and took his own shot with a sharp inhale, at the same time taking a shot at Maya before he leaned in and took a closer look as he motioned to her glass, "...matter of fact, I'm guessing you can't even afford that..."

Maya's head dipped, her hair covering one side of her face as she tried not to blush out of embarrassment. Her mouth was half open, ready to try and defend herself before the bartender interjected with a wink, "Don't worry, baby... that one's on me."

She tilted her glass as a nod of appreciation before knocking the shot back without a care in the world. The cold liquid stung her throat more than she wanted to admit, but she took it in stride as she swallowed hard and exhaled harder. It felt good, the grain alcohol burning the whole way down and warming her gut. She considered her options, prepared to step off the stool as the crash of the bottle on the bar top drew her attention back to her host. She looked to him wearing a wicked smile as he held court with both hands propped against the edge of the counter on his side. He looked her up and down as he weighed his own options and said, "How's about you and I make a deal...?"

Maya's eyes lit up, albeit not without a tinge of streetwise skepticism as she settled back in the seat. The bartender reached forward, twirling his finger in a circle motion as he commanded her, "Lose the jacket and let me get a good look at ya..."

As much as she suddenly didn't want to, something in the authority of his voice beckoned her, suddenly glad the bruises from her previous encounters were all but gone. She stepped off the stool, unzipping her jacket as she revealed a cropped black tube-top wrapping tight across her petite upper body, baring her collarbones and pierced navel and leaving nothing to the imagination. She draped the jacket over the stool, letting her jeans hang a little lower than usual to accent her wide hips and showcase her tattoos holding no secrets. She performed a little twirl, nearly losing her balance and laughing to herself as she turned and faced him with a hand on one hip cocked to the side.

His gaze shifted to one of pure hunger. He liked what he saw as he remarked, "You are a pretty little thing, aren't you... and damn, those hips don't lie."

Maya smiled and bit her bottom lip, her own eyes holding a similar hunger as she approached the bar and leaned in, "So uh... what do you have in mind...?"

The bartender chuckled, extending a hand as he said, "First thing's first... name's Ezekiel, but you can call me Zeke... and you are?"

She took the hand firmly in her own, "...Maya..."

"Charmed...", Zeke winked again, "...so, Maya... I run this joint, and you may have noticed I have an empty stage needs filled."

Her eyes shifted to the back corner before she cut back and nodded as he continued while pouring another two shots, "So... what I have in mind is... you dance for me, the drinks are on the house. Any tips you make are yours to keep... dig?"

He pushed a glass with three fingers' worth of vodka in front of Maya, picking up his own as he held it out in front of her. She looked down for a moment, knowing how fucked she was if she accepted the offer. A place like this was nothing but trouble for someone trying to stay clean, but just as the itch started creeping up again in her shoulders, she shook the sensation away as she picked up her glass and clinked it against his, "...deal..."

They both smiled as Zeke wrapped his arm around hers, bringing the glass to his mouth as he took the shot. Maya followed suit, another laugh escaping with a sharp exhale as Zeke signaled for someone else walking by, "Hey, Roxie!"

Maya turned to find one of the dancers approaching and leaning against the bar. Her hair was cut close, a short platinum blonde shag spiked on top and tapering off to a buzz around her scalp. Her face was striking with a defined jaw and gilded cyberware threading in her high cheekbones and throat. She smiled with a subsiding pink glow in her eyes and spoke with a mild slur, "Wha'sup, baby... what'chu need?"

Zeke signaled and answered, "This here is Maya... she's filling in for Yvonne tonight, so I need you to take her backstage. Get her cleaned up and show her what we're all about... think ya can do that?"

Roxie looked to Maya and leaned in with a hip check as she said, "Sure thing, sugar... follow me, honey."

She took Maya by the hand, leading her away from the bar as they navigated the somewhat crowded floor, the night shift of patrons and dancers settling in. Maya couldn't help but admire the ample sway of Roxie's hips, her firm but supple ass cheeks jiggling with every step. The flashing pattern of her jewel was hypnotizing, and Maya found herself unconsciously salivating as she watched. She quickly looked back to the bar, receiving a nod and a smile from Zeke as she blushed and turned her eyes to the front, letting Roxie's peach-perfect ass guide her all the way...

--

[Thirty minutes later...]

The dressing room wasn't unfamiliar to Maya, as she'd seen places like this before. She was no stranger to a stage or a pole, her endeavors in the megablock having landed her several opportunities for entertaining the more affluent penthouse tenants. They always put on the best parties, never a shortage of powder, booze, or other party favors to be had. She also held an unfair advantage over some of the other entertainers in having her own apartment on the lower levels. For those guests who didn't want the party to end, Maya was happy to host them in her own abode, often welcoming groups of men to take turns provided they had the money and drugs to trade.

A small part of her missed those days as she looked around at the row of dirty vanity mirrors and chairs with personal effects strewn about. Everything smelled of fruit-scented body glitter and cheap perfume. At the far end of the row, a group of three girls were huddled around an open locker, conversing and giggling among themselves. Maya could hear the hard sniffs followed by breathy sighs of relief as each of them loaded up before taking the stage again. She wanted so badly to ask for a bump herself, her hands shaking at having her one desire so close within her reach, and yet she felt entirely out of place among them.

For the moment, she stuck with what she had, knocking back her fifth shot of vodka since walking in the door. The booze had gone straight to her head, her petite body entirely out of practice after a week without at the old lady's house. She gently patted her mouth with a napkin, not wanting to ruin Roxie's efforts as she looked at herself in the mirror. Roxie had taken a personal interest in making her up, and she'd done a damn good job in only thirty minutes. Maya's eyes were accented with black wing-tipped liner and a neon-green shadow to match the tips of her hair. Her face had a base layer of red to touch up her cheeks and give some color, a few artificial freckles drawn on to accent her natural complexion. Her pouty and full lips were painted a glossy black to bring them out against her naturally tan face. She smiled for a moment, liking what she saw staring back. She felt attractive... somewhat less run-over than the last time she saw herself in the mirror of her apartment looking like an emaciated corpse. Even only a week of Mama Welles' home cooking had put a little meat on her bones... she actually looked healthy.

She took a deep breath and stood up from the chair, trying to pull herself together as she adjusted here and shifted there. It had been a while since she was this exposed, a light shiver running down her spine as she acclimated to the cool air against her bare skin showing goosebumps. To match her hair and eye shadow, neon-green was the order of the day for her uniform, a tight elastic choker around her neck with a heavy metal ring hanging down the front. From the ring, two thin strands of neon-green rope ran down the length of her torso to another heavy ring attached to an elastic belt wrapping tight around her waist and resting comfortably on her wide hips. Another small piece of fabric dangled down the front between her legs with a small loop on the end, its purpose known to her but as of yet unfulfilled. Her small and delightfully perky nipples were taped over with shiny X's reflecting the light from the vanity, and she wore fishnet sleeves cutting off below the elbows. Similarly, her legs were wrapped in identical fishnet stockings cutting off at the middle of her thighs, finishing the ensemble with a pair of black open-toed six-inch platform heels with neon-green outsoles. Neon-green in spades, her golden-brown skin standing out against the brighter colors. She bit her bottom lip as she turned, admiring the long line of her back and svelte figure, her tattoos on display for all to see.

She caught Roxie's reflection in the mirror, approaching from behind as she whistled softly, "Damn, girl... what I wouldn't give to take a bite out of that ass!"

Maya smiled and giggled nervously, suddenly shy and trying to cover herself with her arms as her new choomba stepped up next to her with another hip check, "Don't worry, babe... you're going to knock 'em dead out there..."

She reached around, placing a double rocks glass down on the table in front of the vanity as she cozied up to Maya and whispered, "A little pick-me-up from Zeke... should loosen you right up."

Maya's eyes widened as she noticed the glass. At first it appeared to just be another triple shot of vodka, except for the crystalline pink salting the rim, a few specks suspended in the liquid and almost luminescent. Her hands trembled as she picked up the glass cold to the touch and stared hard... she had already come this far, and to back out now...

She shook her head and dismissed any doubts as she brought the glass up, licking around the entire rim before knocking the whole shot back in one gulp. Her throat opened to accept the chilled alcohol tasting of salty-sweet strawberries, catching the fizzy bits with it as she swallowed hard. She waited a few seconds before she noticed a familiar blurry pink haze clouding her vision, her entire body warming up almost immediately as a breathy exhale escaped. It wasn't Lace, but as the Fizz coursed through her body, she felt herself opening up... she felt a little bit like her old self, and it felt good.

She noticed a pink glow in her eyes staring back in the mirror as Roxie leaned into her again, reaching around in front to the hanging strap between her legs. Roxie took her chance, placing a few light nibbles to her choomba's collarbone as she negotiated the flared base of Maya's very own shiny new butt-plug through the elastic loop. Once secured, it hung heavy, pulling the fabric down and swaying between Maya's legs as Roxie reached behind and underneath to catch it. She used the opportunity to gently play with Maya's moistening lips, enjoying the light pink dribble as she pressed a finger inside. Maya moaned, closing her eyes as she let herself melt into the older dancer's embrace. It had been far too long since she felt a soft touch, and she wanted more.

Roxie shifted herself to stand behind as they stared at one another in the mirror. She lightly rubbed up and down Maya's stomach and ribcage and whispered in her ear, "...are you ready...?"

Maya let loose a whimpering affirmative moan as she bit her bottom lip, watching in the mirror as Roxie brought her fingers up coated in pink slick, salivating as she put them in her mouth and licked them clean with her tongue. When she was done, she dropped to her knees behind Maya, pulling the plug back as she placed the business end in her mouth and sucked on it, her moans trailing up and music to Maya's ears. She finished with a lap of her tongue against the tip, leaving a greedy dollop of spit as she pulled the plug further back, admiring Maya's body writhing against the pressure of the fabric rubbing her up and down.

Roxie spread Maya's cheeks just enough to work the tip of the plug between them, pressing it lightly against her puckered rim and gauging for a reaction. Maya's mouth was agape, her moans trailing up as she yelped. Roxie smiled, pressing her lips softly against Maya's ass cheek, right over the cherry hearts tattoo, before gripping some of the flesh between her teeth and biting down. Maya shot forward, bracing her arms against the table as she cried out while Roxie pushed the plug into its proper place. She enjoyed watching the winking hole crown the plug bit by bit before sucking it all in. She followed up with a flick of her finger to the bejeweled base, the LEDs flashing to life. She stood up again, wrapping herself around Maya and nipping at her neck as she said, "You did good, sweet cheeks... now turn around and give me a little wiggle."

Maya dutifully followed orders, turning to face Roxie and looking up in her eyes as their bodies pressed against one another. She perked her ass up and out as she turned to look back in the mirror, giving a shake of her hips from side to side as her cheeks rippled against the movement. The pressure of the plug filling and stretching her hole lit her up inside, a warm rush rising as she wanted so much more. Roxie flashed a wicked smile as she gave a firm smack to Maya's ass, leaving a light red mark as she said, "Follow me..."

She stepped towards the hallway, again grabbing Maya's hand and guiding her. Maya grabbed the vodka bottle from the table as she felt a knot forming in her throat, suddenly more and more nervous with each step. Roxie slipped something into her own mouth, though Maya couldn't make out what. She firmed herself up, trying to swallow the knot as they approached a raised doorway with a small set of stairs and hanging curtains hiding them away from prying eyes... this was it.

Roxie stopped short of the curtains, turning to face Maya as she said, "After you..."

Maya stood dumbfounded and suddenly unable to move, frozen in time and space as she stared at the curtains. This was all a mistake, her mind flooding with a thousand thoughts. Roxie saw the look, recalling her own anxiety from a long time ago. She slipped another tablet in her mouth and smiled as she gently squeezed Maya's hand and said, "Hey... for luck..."

Maya turned, caught off guard as Roxie pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips met, her tongue forcing its way into Maya's mouth as they moaned deeply into one another with a shared breath. Maya felt something left behind as Roxie's tongue departed, a small trail of saliva breaking between them as they pulled away from each other. She could taste the salt in the tablet rapidly dissolving against her tongue, swallowing hard and forcing it down as her mouth felt dry. Her breathing was uneven, chest heaving and eyes cutting back to the curtain as Roxie egged her on, "You're up, doll... go get 'em."

It was now or never, and Maya's jaw clenched before she took a heavy swig from the bottle and shoved it into Roxie's hands. The knot in her throat, and the tablet, were both gone, washed down as the vodka worked its way down her gullet. She took one step at a time, moving higher and higher before she paused at the curtains one last time. She felt a gentle hand pressing against her back, turning to find Roxie smiling, watching and waiting. She nodded and smiled back before forcing herself out onto the stage.

Whatever she expected, it wasn't what she found. She half-expected to see every crusty gonk from her old 'block cheering and grabbing for her, flashing cash in her face as they stormed the stage... and yet she didn't recognize a single face. The crowd around her wasn't sparse by any means, at least a dozen or more patrons watching, but they were all civilized. They were all dressed in tailored corpo suits or just shirts and slacks, some with their ties loosened and top buttons undone, no doubt blowing off steam after a hard day's work up in the clouds. They were all sitting back in comfortable lounge chairs or on the wrap-around couch in the corner, politely sipping their various cocktails and speaking among themselves. One by one, the conversations died down as everyone present took notice of the fresh meat. Suddenly, all eyes in this far corner of the club were on Maya, and she didn't even know how to proceed. She was once again frozen in place, wide-eyed as she looked all around her.

And then in the blink of an eye, whatever Roxie had slipped her took effect. Slowly, she felt the head rush of endorphins flooding her brain, her body loosening up, arms and legs limber. She felt... amazing... the bass-y rhythms vibrating through her entire body, the music registering as colors and smells, and combined with the crystalline aphrodisiac from earlier, she was bordering on rabid as her demeanor shifted.

The club's DJ looked her way, giving her a nod as he hit a slider knob on his deck. Familiar lyrics and a cymbal faded in as the beat possessed Maya's body...

If you want to get with me, there's some things you got to know...

She closed her eyes, releasing a deep and calm breath as her head bounced in sync...

I like my beats fast, and my... bass... down... LOW...

Before Maya could stop herself, she turned to face the pole, perfectly timing the beat with a drop of her ass to the floor as she swayed from side to side and worked her way back up. The flashing from her plug reflected off the stage, the overhead neons and ultraviolet lights causing her outfit... skimpy as it was... to glow against her skin. She held the pole for balance, shaking her ass in perfect harmony with the music, teasing and enticing her audience. A few cheers sounded, eventually all the rest joining in as all eyes zeroed in on the new girl.

With each drop of the beat, Maya worked herself down and back up, undulating her hips as she followed the rhythm. She let her ample ass do the work for her, and the patrons certainly didn't complain. She pivoted on her feet, turning to face the audience as she slid up and down against the pole, her knees bent and legs spread wide. She felt up and down her body, bringing one hand up as she bit down on a finger and winked at one patron in particular. His eyes opened wide, looking like his heart might explode in his chest at any moment before she turned away again. She bent over at the waist, arching her back and pushing against the pole as she stretched herself out. Her ass hung off the stage, all the patrons reaching up as they shoved small bills in the elastic strap around her waist and cheered for more. She turned with a smile and flashed her teeth before pulling herself up.

...time to give them a show...

During a slow interlude of the song with no lyrics or beat to follow, she reached high on the pole, bracing her body as she climbed up and off the stage. She rode the pole between her legs, shuddering as the cold metal rubbed against her in the best way. She wrapped her legs tight around the pole, holding herself in place as she arched back, allowing herself to hang upside down. She whipped her head back, her hair falling away from her face as her eyes opened. Three of the patrons stood up and approached the stage, reaching out with bills in their hands as she opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out. They teased her at first as she snapped her teeth for the eddies and laughed, rubbing her hands along her neck to her stomach and teasing herself for their pleasure. They admired her body, licking their chops as they watched her playfully reach for them, beckoning them closer. One of the patrons stepped up, allowing her to stroke his chin and slide her thumb in his mouth. He responded in kind, softly biting down with a smile as he placed the eddies in her mouth... money well earned. The other two followed suit, shoving the bills in the strap of her choker before she flexed her core and pulled herself back to the pole. She carefully unwrapped her legs, sliding down as the pole spun in place. She landed firmly on the stage, having turned around to face them as she collected the bills and continued dancing.

...let's get up close and personal...

As the first song faded out and another started playing, Maya stepped off the stage, approaching a group of men sitting on the wrap-around couch. One of them was bent over a small table, carefully cutting lines from some kind of mixed pink and white crystalline powder. Her mouth watered as she recognized the substance right away, her brain lighting up with a single word... jackpot...

She sauntered over to the group as one of the men held out a crisp fifty-eddie bill, a coy smile on his face. She danced for a bit in front of him, swaying her hips and spinning in place before she stuck her tail out, wiggling side to side in his face as the plug flashed in his eyes. He reached up, shoving the bill in the waist strap before she inched closer, placing her hands on his knees and carefully taking a seat on his lap. She gyrated up and down, feeling his bulge pressing against her as she moaned and bit her own finger before leaning back. She pressed herself against him, throwing her head back as she breathed against his neck, begging for his hands on her small body. He gladly obliged, enjoying her toned stomach as he pulled up on the ropes connecting her collar and belt. As the thong fabric rubbed against her and tugged ever so slightly on her inserted plug, she yelped and reached back, running her hand through his hair as she pointed to the powder on the table and whispered in his ear, "What's a girl got to do for a bump...?"

The man laughed as he turned to his choom cutting the lines, then back to her as he cupped her face in his hand, "Well, what's it worth to ya?"

Maya pulled away for a moment, turning and facing the man as she climbed on his lap and straddled him. She brought her hands up, grabbing the back of his head and pressing his face to her chest as she brought her arms together. The man breathed her in, his own hands wrapping around her body as she threw her head back and giggled at the light nibbles while she rode him, grinding her hips as his bulge rubbed against her. There was a visible moisture soaking his pants from her arousal before she craned his head up to look in his eyes. She pressed into him, whispering in his ear again, "My set's over in an hour... find me in the bathroom... and bring your chooms..."

She pulled away as the man looked in her eyes, wanting to see her soul. She thumbed his lip and stroked his chin as she snapped her teeth at him, "...until then..."

She pulled away, climbing off the man and leaving him beside himself as she stood up and turned, walking back toward the stage as the other patrons flashed their own eddies, hoping for the same attention... and she was happy to oblige.

--

[One hour later...]

Maya's whole body was soaked through with sweat, but she never felt better. Her arms, legs, and stomach burned from the full-body workout of hanging off a pole and dancing her heart out. She was a little wobbly, almost losing her balance on the steps backstage before she found her footing on stable ground. She passed another dancer walking to take her place, a smile shared between them. Finally, she turned, leaning for a moment against the table in front of the vanity as she stared at herself... hard. Her first lap dance of the night never once stopped staring at her, admiring her form and figure as he explained to his chooms what was about to go down.

Maya poured herself another shot, knocking it back before Roxie all but attacked her from behind with a hug, "You did so good!!!"

She was startled, to say the least, but she calmed down at seeing the familiar and pretty face next to hers in the mirror. Other praise and compliments trailed in from the other girls around them, everyone seemingly impressed with the new girl's talent her first time out. Maya blushed at all of it, feeling a strange sense of belonging. She had always felt like the odd one out of any situation in which she found herself... but here and now, she felt like she actually fit in. A warmth filled her chest, and although she was fixated on what was to come, for the moment, she enjoyed the flattery as she looked at her body glistening in the mirror. She actually liked herself, and she didn't even have to fuck anyone to feel that way.

Not to say that she wasn't about to fuck a whole group of someones, but that was just means to an end. She quickly collected the loose bills she had accumulated on the stage, thumbing through them and counting as she smiled. Why she had never considered dancing over hooking before was beyond her... but she could figure that out another time.

In only a few minutes since leaving the stage, Roxie had draped herself over Maya, gently nipping at her, caressing her curves, and breathing in her musk. One of the other girls called out jokingly, "O-o-o-oh watch out... Roxie's got a new crush!"

Maya laughed along with the rest of them, Roxie blushing as she hid her face in her new choomba's neck. She took a chance, whispering in Maya's ear, "...I got thirty minutes before I go back on... come get lost with me..."

Likely as high and horny as she was, there was a sincerity in her eyes that Maya found endearing, and under any other circumstances, she would have jumped at the chance. But not now... not this time. She had other places to be, trying to casually play it off as she sighed deep and said, "I-I think I need to cool off for a bit... and I gotta pee."

Roxie didn't even give it a second thought, giggling and giving a heavy slap to Maya's ass as she cupped her face and pulled her in for a rough and wet kiss. No mystery gifts this time, just their tongues batting against each other as they moaned and shared another tender and breathless moment. As they pulled apart, Roxie bit her lip and said, "You know where to find me if you change your mind... babe."

As Maya's eyes opened and she stared into the pretty face a few inches from her own, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in her new friend. She was a second too late as Roxie bounced on her feet and down the hallway. Maya looked around, noticing she was suddenly all alone in the dressing room. She sighed again as she looked back in the mirror, checking her makeup and readjusting her outfit. Even if her face... and the rest of her... was likely about to be ruined, she still wanted to give a good presentation before the fun and games started.

A sudden realization crossed her mind as she stood there in solitude... the men's bathroom was all the way on the other side of the club, and the dancers had their own private bathrooms off from the dressing room, for obvious reasons.

Shit!, she thought to herself as she tried to figure out how the fuck she was supposed to traverse the entire club without being seen. She had to assume she wasn't the first girl in this club to have a shady rendezvous in a shitty bathroom, but she still felt the anxiety welling up all the same. Was it actually worth ruining a good opportunity? She had a real chance here...

Maya looked down at her hands trembling, the itch under the surface creeping back up. She was so close, and she couldn't let anything get between her and her fix. She stood up straight, taking one last shot and swallowing hard as she stared at herself with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw. This was her chance, and she wasn't about to blow it...

She looked around again, peeking down the hallway. The coast was clear, and she walked quickly, turning around a corner to try and push around the front of the club. With the sheer amount of bodies polluting the club at this hour... patrons and bouncers alike... she hoped she would be able to get by unnoticed.

She exited the hallway onto the main floor, the music assaulting her ears. She was in luck, a heavy crowd having formed and blocking the line of sight from the bar. For once, her petite stature was actually an advantage, most of the bodies around keeping her out of sight as she waded through them. Nobody seemed to notice her, not even the horny clientele otherwise distracted by the other girls.

She noticed a lull in the crowd, a wide open space by the entrance in clear sight of Zeke, and she paused for a moment... watching and waiting. Zeke was hard at work, not really paying attention, but she still wasn't taking the chance while he was facing the front doors. She bided her time, catching a familiar face passing out of the corner of her eye. The couch corpo had spotted her, smiling as he nodded his head and continued his walk to the other side of the club.

Maya cut back to the bar as Zeke turned, walking around to the other side. It was her best chance with his back to her, and she broke free from one crowd, moving quickly as she inserted herself into another. From here, it was a straight line to her mark, and there were enough people towering over her that she could move freely. She could still see the corpo staring back at her, twenty feet away and waiting patiently as he leaned against the wall outside the men's room.

Finally, she cleared the last of the crowd, stepping forward as she looked up at the man standing tall, at least half a foot or more over her. He smiled and chuckled, pushing open the heavy door to the bathroom as he said, "After you, sugar..."

She found her confidence in that moment, gracefully crossing his path as she ran her hand across his chest before grabbing his loosened tie and pulling him inside with her. The door shut behind them slowly, the hydraulic hinge preventing it from slamming against the frame. Once it was shut tight, Maya took stock of their surroundings as she stepped backwards, holding onto the man's tie as he followed. Despite the relatively clean interior of the club, the bathroom itself was in fact a shit hole, dimly lit and poorly maintained with a stench rising up from somewhere deep. It was enough to churn anyone's stomach, but Maya had turned tricks in worse places, her john likely not unfamiliar with a seedy back-alley himself.

She carefully backed herself into a stall, standing for a moment as she ran both hands up and down the man's chest and stomach. He breathed in deep before reaching up with one hand, bracing it against Maya's shoulder and shoving her back. She was shocked at first by his rough handling, barely catching herself as she fell back against the toilet... but she knew well enough the price of admission. She regained her composure and adjusted comfortably on the seat, her legs spread as she leaned back and rubbed herself through the thong. The flashing from her butt-plug lit up the inside of the bowl, creating their own little light show beneath the flickering fluorescents overhead. She locked eyes with the man as she placed a finger in her mouth and bit down with a smile while he unbuttoned his slacks. Before he could pull them down, Maya leaned forward, swatting his hands away as she gripped the pressed pants by both legs, looking up at him as she said softly, "Allow me... sir."

It didn't take a genius to piece together this particular corpo likely had a dominant streak, and he growled as he watched Maya work. She carefully slid the pants down to his knees, revealing a half-hard cock hanging heavy between hairy tree trunk legs and begging to be touched. The tip was already moist with pre-cum, the shaft twitching and swollen sack contracting.

Maya wrapped a hand around the shaft, stroking gently back and forth as she looked in the man's eyes. She admired him getting harder, his full eight inches standing at attention as she whispered, "Does that feel good...?"

The man grunted an affirmative as he pressed himself forward, and then back. He wanted to fuck her hand, to take control, but she had a better idea as she held his girth in front of her face. She opened her mouth, her tongue slipping out as she leaned forward and teased the engorged head from bottom to top. His discharge had a salty-sweet flavor, his musk lighting up her tastebuds as she held his cock up and ran her tongue along the entire bottom of the shaft. He choked on his own breath, his balls contracting again as Maya giggled before taking the whole head in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around, suckling like a baby on a bottle and never once breaking her stare.

The man reached down, brushing her sideswept bangs out of her face and stroking her cheek. She moved her head side to side as she moaned and took more of his inches in her mouth. As her throat opened to accept him, she moved back and forth, slowly bobbing her head and gagging from his size. Her tongue crept from her mouth, rubbing against the underside of his shaft and soaking him in spit as the run-off collected on her chin. As she worked him in and out of her throat, she reached down and pulled the thong aside to rub herself into a wet frenzy.

She was actually surprised in this moment how much she had missed being in this position, even if the Fizz was driving her mad with lust. She enjoyed being of service, knowing a reward was waiting for her.

"That's a go-o-o-od girl...", the man said as he watched her work with a smile, "You're going to let me fuck that fat little ass, right?"

Maya laughed, still with his cock in her mouth as she wiggled her hips side to side. Her throat bulged as she choked to release him, leaving a hanging trail of spit as she gasped for air, "Y-You give me that good shit... and you can fuck me any way you want, daddy..."

He snapped his teeth at her as he pulled a small plastic bag packed with powder from his shirt pocket. He opened the bag, holding his cock out with one hand and pouring a small line along the length of it with the other. Maya's mouth watered at the beautiful sight as she tried to contain her excitement. She sat forward, bringing his girth to her face as she pressed her nose against it. The man felt the hard sniff reverberating through the not-so-soft tissue as Maya ran her nose across the entire length.

Her head shot back, a long and protracted exhale escaping as her eyes glowed bright pink, everything a hazy blur. After an entire week without, the Lace breaking through the soft tissue of her nose to her brain was the best thing she had ever felt. Her entire body immediately felt at ease, loosening up as she moaned. The man laughed as he watched her and said, "Damn, baby girl... you've been aching for that fix, haven't you...?"

"Y-You... have... no idea...", Maya muscled the words from her mouth between heavy breaths as she stared at the dirty ceiling. When she had some semblance of her old self back, she leaned forward, running her tongue along the top of the man's cock to clean up any leftovers while she stroked him. He certainly wasn't complaining at her enthusiasm, tilting his head back and groaning with delight before he felt a heavy shove. He crashed back against the far wall, eyes wide as he watched Maya stand up from the toilet. Her entire demeanor was changed, hunger in her eyes.

She turned away from the man, bending over and arching her back as she reached between her legs. She wrapped her fingers around the flared base of the butt-plug, carefully pulling it free and letting it hang as her asshole winked a little looser than before. She spread her pussy lips wide, rubbing her clit as she looked back to the man and beckoned him, "Take your pick..."

The man chuckled and stepped forward, admiring the line of Maya's back and her tattoos, her moans ringing sweet in his ears. He leaned forward, tipping the bag over and pouring another line on the lid of the toilet's tank. It was just as filthy as the rest of the room, but Maya honestly didn't give a shit, pressing her nose against the crusty surface as she sniffed up hard through her other nostril. She laughed and growled as she slammed her hips back against him, catching his girth between her cheeks and bracing her arms against the wall as she barked, "Fuck me, already!"

She didn't have to tell him twice as he wrapped his hands tight around her hips, grinding up and down between her ass cheeks. She loved the feeling of his cock pressed against her and spreading her cheeks apart, but she wanted him inside, and her head sagged between her arms as she slammed herself back again, shaking her hips from side to side against him. He took the hint, wrapping one hand around the base of his cock and directing the throbbing head for her sweet spot. He worked himself in carefully, just the tip at first, pleased to see how gracefully her tight little hole crowned around him. He pressed in gently, grabbing both of her cheeks and spreading them wide.

Maya gritted her teeth and cried out, trying to relax her whole body as she pressed back. She spat into one hand, letting the dribble run down her fingers before she reached back and ran them along the sides of his cock and around her sphincter. It didn't do much to help, but the man admired her candor all the same as he pushed deeper inside. Bit by aching bit, Maya's ass gave way, accepting all of his inches until she was pressed against his body with nowhere else to go. All of his cock disappeared inside her, his balls resting against her wet lips.

The man slowly pulled out to the tip, giving Maya time to acclimate before he pressed in again. The second time was easier, and Maya relaxed with a moan as she pushed herself back against him. He fucked her with a steady rhythm, his balls slapping against her as she yelped with every thrust. His hands worked up her body, wanting to feel her small breasts bouncing.

Maya pushed away from the wall, arching her body as she leaned back against him and reached up with one hand around the back of his neck as she begged to be fucked harder, faster, and deeper. She wanted to feel him in her guts, ruining her from the inside out. She stood pigeon-toed with her legs spread, ass perked out, and choked on her moans with his hand around her throat... and she loved every second of it.

After several minutes, the door to the bathroom swung open, and in walked the man's entourage. The man smiled and turned toward them, pulling Maya from the stall with his cock still inside. He had her on display like a trophy as he kept fucking her, the group all cheering as they unbuttoned their pants, preparing themselves and waiting for their turn with the nubile neon-green fuck-toy.

Even in her precarious position, Maya raised a hand, pointing at one of the group... the same one she saw earlier cutting lines of powdered Lace on the table. Oddly enough, he was the only one still with his pants on. He smiled as the man fucking her... the Boss... asked, "Well what the fuck are you waiting for?!"

The Cutter approached, admiring Maya's body as he cupped her cheek, sliding his thumb in her mouth as he reached between her legs with his other hand and pressed two fingers inside her dripping wet cunt. She moaned louder, biting down on his thumb and bucking her hips as her warm pink walls soaked his fingers.

Without any warning, Maya grabbed the Cutter by his shirt, ripping it open as the buttons flew across the bathroom and clattered on the filthy floor. She was met with a muscular chest covered in irezumi-style tattoos, but the most prominent of his ink was a large Arasaka crest over his heart...

Maya knew that crest anywhere, and under any other circumstance, she would have clawed his eyes out where he stood. As it was presently, all she wanted to do was fuck, and she grabbed him by the collar of his torn shirt and pulled him close. She turned as much as she could while still bouncing on the Boss behind her, unceremoniously shoving the Cutter back into the stall as she ordered him, "Sit!"

The Cutter sat down on the toilet, a smile on his face as Maya pulled closer to him, bending over at the waist as she frantically unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down. Like the Boss, he was already half-hard, and he gripped around the base of his cock as he stroked slowly, hardening himself further. Maya strained her neck as she leaned down, spitting on the uncut head before wrapping her hungry mouth around as she braced her hands against either side of the stall. The blood rushed and the pressure built as she bounced her head up and down, forcing herself to the base of his cock, her nose pressing against his stomach as she gagged and left more drool behind with every pass. By now she didn't even register the feeling of the Boss railing her ass from behind. She wanted to be fed, and if she was stuffed from both ends, all the better.

The Cutter took control, grabbing Maya's head with both hands as he pushed down and held her there, letting her squirm as he pinched her nose shut and teased her. She choked, fighting for air as she fought against him, grabbing for his hands and trying to stay balanced on her feet. She was spit-roasted like a greedy little pig between both men as they took turns shoving in and pulling out.

Finally, the Cutter released Maya's head and she shot up, coughing as a grueling mix of spit and tears ran down her chin and neck while she gasped for air. He followed with a gentle hand on her chin, craning her face up as he stared in her bloodshot eyes with runny and ruined makeup and said, "Enjoying yourself, you filthy little whore...?"

Still trying to catch her breath, Maya's eyes narrowed as she spat in his face. He didn't hate it, licking the trailing wad from his cheek. Still, such insubordination couldn't be tolerated, and so he taught her lesson, grabbing her jaw and delivering a solid smack to her face. She cried out in both pain and pleasure before he grabbed her again, forcing her mouth open as he returned the favor with his own spit. To his surprise, her tongue was already out as she panted like a bitch in heat and accepted her fate.

The Boss called out from the back, still hard at work, "She's... earned another rush... don't you think?"

The Cutter observed the damage already done, a light trickle of blood running from Maya's nose as he stared in her empty eyes and answered, "...think I overdid it on her face... we'll just have to get creative."

The boss handed him the bag of powder, and he cracked it open, pouring a bump on his own hand before bringing it up to his nose. He sniffed up hard, amused as Maya tried to reach for it herself. He opened his hand, pouring a line along his middle finger before reaching between her legs and pressing inside, enjoying the slick coating his palm. He let his finger rest in place for several seconds as Maya felt herself light up from the inside out. Never mind all the risky shit she'd done over the years, a straight shot of Pop-Rocks directly to the nerve endings of her pleasure center was a first.

She pulled forward, not even realizing she'd pulled off of the Boss completely, her ass gaping as she crashed against the Cutter's shoulder amid slobbering moans. She pressed herself against his hand, wanting more of his fingers inside of her.

The Cutter handed the bag back to the Boss with a nod. The Boss smiled, tipping the bag over as he poured just a little bit more inside Maya's stretched asshole before pressing his cock back in.

From that point, Maya started foaming at the mouth, her moans wild and feral as she braced her hands against the Cutter's shoulders. She slammed her hips back against the Boss again and again, each followed by a whimpering cry of ecstasy. She had never felt such a sensation, both of her holes completely numb and yet burning with desire.

She was tired of the Cutter's fingers, wanting more as she pulled his hand out of her. She spat in her other hand as she stroked him, making sure he was nice and wet as she pulled off of the Boss again. She straddled the Cutter, her grip tight as she guided him inside and sat comfortably on his lap. She felt his pulsing cock stretching her pussy wide open as she wrapped her arms around his neck and bounced up and down. Not one to feel left out, the Boss took another step closer, bending at the knees as he resumed his work for a third time.

Maya screamed at both swollen members pushing deep in her guts, a stream of pink-tinted tears running down her face as she was stretched from both ends. She bucked her hips against the men, arching her back and begging them to use her, to touch her... to hurt her. Both of them were happy to oblige, growling in her ears as they praised her efforts and violated her body in the best ways.

After only a few minutes of the abuse, Maya's HUD flashed with what now felt like distantly familiar biomonitor warnings. She felt her body caving, giving way, her vision blurring in and out. Her eyelids felt so heavy, and she couldn't explain why. Her breathing was shallow, a tightness across her chest. Despite her best efforts to give the best performance of the night, she instead crashed against the Cutter's shoulder again, her eyes rolling back in her head and forcing themselves shut as a darkness consumed her and took over...

...just another fuckin' blackout...

--

[The next morning... barely]

The City streets were still draped in the dark of night. The sun hadn't yet crested the horizon, but the sky was lighting up to signal its return as blurry shapes of buildings whipped by. Maya sat barely coherent in the passenger seat of a strange car she didn't recognize, her head pressed against the b-pillar as she stared aimlessly out the window. Her head pounded from the come-down, her entire body hurting and yet strangely numb at the same time as she emitted a low groan.

The driver called out gently, almost tenderly, "Hey you... you're finally awake, huh?"

She winced at the voice banging around in her brain, her eyes cutting over to find none other than Roxie at the wheel, smoking a cigarette with a window cracked as they rolled gingerly down the street. Her face was hardened, and she wore a look of disappointment. Everything was a blur, flashes coming and going as Maya tried to remember. She turned her head as she shifted down in the seat and asked, "W-What happened?"

"You really don't remember, do you...?", Roxie scoffed, taking a drag and exhaling the smoke through her nose, "...yeah, you were pretty fucked up, I guess..."

Maya only remembered bits and pieces... no sooner had the Arasaka entourage finished and left her tweaking on the floor of the bathroom than Zeke found her curled up in the stall crying, leaking cum from every orifice, and begging for more. She vaguely remembered him yelling about the private rooms in the back... a hundred eddies per head every hour, and whatever happens is between you and the wall...

Maya admonished herself as Roxie chided her, "Ain't the first time, but... shit, Maya, that's just bad for business..."

She took another drag and kept going, "Zeke, he... he runs a really tight ship... he looks after his girls. 'Saka pays him well to keep their ranks entertained... but not like this."

For the first time since waking up, Maya's eyes widened as she turned to face Roxie, her blood suddenly boiling. Was the entire club just a 'Saka front...? She felt tears building in her eyes, once again hating herself... and this time for several reasons. Not only had she burned another bridge with her bullshit behavior; she had sucked and fucked an entire room full of the assholes responsible for her family's demise. What's worse, she laughed and enjoyed every second of it.

She tried to push everything to the back of her mind as she asked sarcastically, "So... you drew the short straw to give me a ride...?"

Roxie scoffed again, her ire now seemingly directed at someone else, "...Zeke thinks this'll teach me a lesson about crushin' on the new girls... look, I'm sorry."

"F-For what...?", Maya had a confused look on her face as Roxie delivered the fatal blow to only confirm what they both already knew, "Zeke doesn't want you back... barred for life, his words."

"Color me fuckin' surprised...", Maya spat as she curled up in the worn bucket seat and looked back out the window, the passing buildings looking more and more familiar as she panicked and asked, "W-Where... where are you taking me...?"

Roxie took the last drag of her smoke before tossing the butt out the window as she pointed to the shoddy and flickering nav panel built into the dashboard, "Didn't mean to sniff around, but we had to jack you in to make sure you weren't dying... found this address in a note."

SHI-I-I-IT!!!

It was Mama Welles' address. Maya was so wrapped up in getting her fix that she completely forgot how the fuck she was going to explain all this to the old lady. With any luck... not that Maya had any left... maybe Mama Welles would still be asleep and she could sneak in and at least try to sleep off the crash before facing the music. By her reckoning, the clock in her HUD read 04:42.

As it was, Maya's luck really had run out as they pulled up in front of the house, the old lady sitting on the steps with a tired scowl on her face and a cup of coffee in her hands. She watched the car roll to a stop, the brakes squealing and bald tires crunching over the gravel. Maya looked to Roxie, the fear apparent in her face as she wanted to beg to be taken away. Roxie read her mind, smiled and shook her head, "Sorry, choomba... this is as far as it goes for us. Damn shame, too... I really liked you."

Maya's eyes clouded over as her jaw clenched, and she kicked the door open as she shakily pulled herself out, her voice trailing off, "...t-thanks..."

She didn't even have a chance to close the door as Roxie pulled away, the run-down hatchback peeling out and disappearing down the road. She turned and looked at Mama Welles staring her down, a cold shiver running down her spine as she took a step forward before the old lady barked at her, "And just where the hell have you been?!"

"I uh... went to... see some friends...", Maya tried to come up with something, still hoping she could pull this off even though her face and body likely told a very different story, "Look, I don't want to fight... I just want to sleep..."

"I opened my home to you...", Mama Welles' voice was harsh and deliberate, "I took you in when you had nowhere else to go... and this is how you repay me?"

Maya stood in the yard, looking sullen and saying nothing as she scratched at her arms while the old lady kept going, "I made myself very clear when you came here... that you would leave your old life behind."

"I tried!", Maya fired back with her fists clenched, the frustration pouring out of her all at once, "I cleaned your house, took out your trash... I did everything you asked me to do... I just... I needed something—"

"You need help, child!", Mama Welles yelled back, stopping Maya dead in her tracks, "I want to help you! But not if you won't help yourself..."

"I loved your father like one of my own familia...", she continued, tears building in her eyes, "...to see what it's come to... Jesucristo, what would he say?!"

"MY FATHER IS DEAD!!!", Maya shouted as loud as her hoarse voice and swollen throat would allow, tears running down her face, "This city took him five years ago and left me with nothing but a hill of shit and a baby brother to look after... everyone turned their backs on us! I did what I had to do for Tony!"

Mama Welles' voice softened, "You really believe getting hooked on drugs and whoring yourself out was for Tony's benefit...?"

She reached behind, grabbing the strap of a heavy duffel bag and lifting with a grunt as she tossed it at Maya's feet, "If this is the life you choose, take it and go... take this poison from my home."

The bag landed with a heavy thump and a dusty cloud of dirt as Maya stared in shock at the woman's raw strength while she offered her final words, "I have already laid two children to rest... Dios aduyame, I will not bury a third! So go! Live your life of sin and be free of me!"

Maya stood in stunned silence and watched as Mama Welles turned and walked up the steps of her porch, disappearing behind a slammed door. The slam shook Maya to the core of her being, all of her choices and mistakes flashing in her mind as she collapsed to her knees in the yard and wept. She wrapped her arms around herself, having nothing and no one else to hold her as she poured out her soul into the dirt. Once again, she was all alone... and as before and always, she had only herself to blame...

--