She found her shoulder bag slumped against the corner of the room, counted the bills from the suitcase Dabi had left unsupervised and shoved it into the small pocket hidden beneath the lining of her bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder and drew the velvet curtains.

Dabi lay motionless of the couch facing the stage. His dark cropped bangs and monk strap shoes hung from either end of the couch. One long bony hand held a glass of brandy by the rim, his other arm shadowed his eyes into sleep.

She eyed his entire motionless figure as she tiptoed along the edge of the room to the exit. The roads were empty in broad daylight. Families, grannies and children crowded the streets. She walked a long distance on the street until she hit the free-way, far as she needed to be from the scoundrel.

She walked for two hours in the heat before deciding to stop by a ramen place. It was a small counter made of teak, the only shade on the busy free-way. It was a Japanese-styled restaurant.

She lifted the cover and sat on an empty stool and ordered the first thing on the menu, none of which she could read. Whatever it was, she ordered twice to satiate her hunger. After handing the bills, she held the owner's hand. The oriental woman eyed her with disgust.

"Please, I need work," she looked into her eyes. The woman eyed her with disinterest. "Please, I have no home. I lost my family." She repeated, a strong yearning in her voice and held her gaze with the woman. The woman forced her hand from her grip and plodded to the kitchen. An elderly man working at back, whom Cindy believed to be her husband, was met with a tap on his back from his wife. The two were in a conversation which was barely audible from where she was.

She eagerly waited for the woman.

"Come at 7. We will give work" She said with a flat English accent.

Cindy's sore eyes brightened, "Thank you!" She smiled wide.

She left the small shop, sauntering along the streets, her heart elated. A few paces further, there was a park from the small lane to the left. She decided to take in the fresh air and strolled into the grass. The twittering of the birds and the children from the playground, gave her the opportunity to find solitude in her new life.

She threw herself back on the bench gazing up at the sky. There was a clock tower a few streets further down which overlooked the park. It was five thirty in the evening. She relaxed back into the seat. Soon the tiredness overcame her and her eyelids grew heavy.

A few minutes later, she sprung back up. The sky was now dark and the clock on the tower that overlooked the park was lit with a dim yellow light. It was eight thirty. Her heart leapt in her throat. Cindy raced a few paces down to the ramen shop strapping her shoulder bag around herself on the way.

CLOSED. That's what the label said outside the shuttered shop.

She was determined to meet the lady the next day. So she decided to seat herself on the pavement outside the shop and hugged herself for warmth. The busy free-way was now deserted. The streetlights stretched on the road, looming shadows between them. It was hard to fall asleep when the night looked so eerie.

She saw the mist leave her nostrils. It was fun to watch it for a while until a figure appeared.

"Oi lassie, care fo' a ride 'ome?" A raspy dry voice loomed over her face. An elderly lout in his sixties towered in front of her.

"I'm good thanks," she proceeded to rub herself to keep warm and also distract her from the growing fear within her.

"Oi, you're that lassie who twisted me arm at the club" He leant closer, pinching his chin and squinting to observe her features. She stared up at him. "Look at that lassie now, defenseless. If only I could get my hands dirty like he did. Oooh... what pleasure" He licked his dry lips.

"Back off!" Her reflexes spoke before her and kneeled his groin. The man succumbed to the pain, stumbling back on his stubby legs.

"You'll regret that!" He pulled out a dagger from his pocket charging towards her. She shrieked, flailing her hand at him. The dagger fell to the concrete. The two of them eyed the weapon. She reached for it on the floor struggling against his grip.

"No no," he pulled her arms, twisting them uncomfortably. Her shriek echoed in the night reaching no one in particular. Her fingers reached for the dagger and she punctured the old man's belly.

Again.

And again.

And AGAIN.

He groaned when she tore the flesh across his throat and plunged it into the cavity of his chest.

"What the hell?" Was the last thing he said before he staggered to the ground, unconscious. The crimson colors dotted her face, arms and clothes. The body stayed motionless. Lifeless.

She shrieked with each jab she inflicted with a singular motive- what if, what if he woke up and sexually tortured her against her will like he did. She made sure he remained dead. Stayed dead. But the thought of him waking up again to inflict pain traumatized her.

From the shadows appeared a loutish figure and a singularly repulsive face that gave her the benefit of a very unpleasant leer.

A whistle escaped his lips, "Impressive," He clapped slowly, approaching the dead body. The pool of blood spread, pouring from its open wounds. His eyes admired the look on her. She breathed uncontrollably, ready to take her next victim. He grabbed her wrist forcing her to drop the knife.

"I love this side of you," Dabi lifted her hand and ran his tongue along the side of her forearm, locking his eyes with hers.

"You're - crazy..." A look of horror came over her face when she saw the hunger in his eyes. He pinned both her hands above her head, inching closer to her lips.

"So are you," His lips crashed into hers, his tongue fervently demanding entry into her mouth. It was frantic, erotic and impulsive allowing her to melt into his mouth. His lips stung the side of her neck, relishing the taste of her skin that aroused her.

"Why- why are we doing this?" She breathed between her soft moans.

"Because we are so similar," his lips brushed past her chin, wounding her other shoulder with his teeth. "Become legit at the club." He urged, taking a moment to admire what he had caused within her.

"You have a fucked up, convoluted way of showing that you want me" She put her arms around his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

"And you want it." He smirked, "Have me chase your ass over and over again until I am uncontrollably desperate"

She smiled, "You're not my type"

"And yet so obedient,"

They dived into a deep kiss, breathlessly tasting each other. She ran her hands along his torso, her fingers crawling beneath his clothes.

"Ow," She felt a sting on her bosom. His hands had found entry into her thong.

"That's it, better be moaning your ass off when we mark that spot tomorrow"

"I'd rather be watching your friend undress when I'm moaning" She teased.

"Behave or that pretty tongue of yours could be someplace else," His abdomen pushed into hers. He wanted more from her out here, under the night sky.

"Try me," she let him take the lead.