Chapter 1 The Masked Man

Beep Beep Beep! The rhythm went on and on in Jason's room where he got admitted to the Wolfcare facility.

I watched my brother Jason struggle for his dear life. He does not move, open his eyes, or should I call him utterly mute. Coma.

I sat on a chair beside him, hands wrapped together into his. Tears ran down my cheek.

This was the result of what six years ago planted on me. I watched as the numbers on the machine kept moving up and low. His heart rate on the computer was not stable like before.

“Nova, Jason's treatment would have to come to an end, we have tried our best keeping him alive on this support machine,” The doctor paused. “We know you did your best the last time, but if you don't provide the sum of $30,000, we would have to take him out of support.”

I rushed up from my seat, wiping a drop of tear off my cheek, “Please doctor, don't take Jason off the support machine, He is the only family I've got. I would find a way to get you the money, but please don't let him die, I beg you.”

I swallowed hard the lump in my throat, realising my tears wouldn't solve this situation. I also knew getting such a huge amount was going to take my entire existence to provide.

I hope and pray that my only brother gets to live again.

“You have until one week to provide the bills, Nova, Good luck, you'll need it.”

I watched as the Doctor stepped out of the room.

I clutched the hem of my dress tight, searching my brain for an answer or how to solve this problem.

Even though I worked as a staff at Club Venom, that alone cannot cover such bills without me selling my body to some wealthy cartels.

“You look like you got struck by lightning, Nova. Start talking. I need to know what hit you.”

Amber.

My sassy best friend, we both work at the counter as staff at Club Venom together.

“I'm fine, Amber. Leave me alone.” I rolled my eyes off the counter to hers.

“You are not, Nova. Look at you. You look great like you went to an evil carnival, you were in the hospital?”

“Yes, madam, I was.” I said.

“So what did the doctor say? How's Jason doing?”

“He is well…” I stretched to my apron to change into my working clothes after hearing her speak.

Amber is like my second family since I came to this city. She found this job for me and made sure seeing blood or boobs never made me puke or nervous.

“$30,000, that's the upfront the hospital is requesting to continue his life support, like they expect me to rob a bank or what?”

“Girl, that's fucked up. Where the hell will you get that kind of money from? We don't even get up to a hundred a week after taxations.” She said, breathing deeply, her voice completely flat.

“Nova, There is a guest I would want you to meet upstairs. He just came in. I think he can help if you play your cards well.” Amber said.

“What do you mean play my card well?” I stuttered.

“There is this masked guy who comes here to drink once in a while. We heard he's so rich and healthy, No one has ever tried to entertain him at the VIP without getting into his trap, he pays as high as $1000 for thirty minutes pleasure, and guess what Nova? He even asked if you.” She smiled like this whole thing was something to be happy about.

To Amber, it's nothing serious, having to go naked for a masked man who comes here alone to me is weird, but the thought of my brother brought me back to my senses.

“You want me to strip for him? For money?” I whispered.

The sound of low jazz music and the smell of mixed alcohols filled the whole club area, so I was sure our dirty little conversations didn't get caught off guard.

“Not that way, just figure something out.” Amber handed me a bottle of champagne in a bucket filled with ice plus a short black gown and comb from her bag to go change with and go serve the mystery man.

She handed them from inside the counter where she stood and nodded west, to the women's bathroom area.

I breathed heavily out through my mouth and took in a deep breath through my nose back in.

I poured cold water on my face and changed to a black short gown and tied my white apron on top of it.

I brushed my hair with the comb and packed it smoothly upright.

Walking out the corridor of the women's bathroom, my heart began to pound so hard.

Amber winked at me with a smile that made me shrug back at her.

I picked up the bucket and headed upstairs.

Then I met him. He was seated, legs crossed, one arm resting on his legs and one hand sipping the red wine from his glass cup. His face was really covered just as Amber mentioned. His hair is so dark and thick. His suit alone cost more than my eight months' pay.

I pushed myself towards him, trying to avoid eye contact. He gestured for me to sit beside him.

The noise in here was so calm and mild with the strippers doing their thing and the bartenders doing their job. Another man fucking the hell out of a sex worker.

My vision nearly blurred from all of it.

I hardly or rarely enter the VIP section, since my business was always downstairs serving drinks to customers.

“You are Nova, right?” He said, not like a question, but like he already knew who I was.

I nodded and watched him closely.

If I needed to pay my brother's hospital bills, I needed to act alone.

“You were not at your station when I came in?” He said.

“No, I was at the hospital for my younger brother who is in a coma.”

I had sworn to get back to the man from six years ago who made my life this miserable and weak, but first, my brother comes first.

“Got it.” He looked away to his watch on the left arm and the sleeve of his shirt moved up. When I saw it,

It has a serpent-like dagger drawn as a tattoo on the arm just like the one from who killed my parents years ago. Could it be him?

“You know you look exactly like your mother,” he said, turning his face back to me.