The City of Sin. The name it had been trademarked with was fitting. Every single inch of the city beckoned to every imaginable sin and St Croix had submerged herself in its diseased womb. Her nose wrinkled at the putrid odors around her until she began to realize the stench about her was herself. She so needed a bath. Pocket change and panhandling would only get the girl so far...

Where had that all gone? No where else but down the drain in a momentary respite back to bliss. Back to the Shine. That had been 48 hours ago when smiley faced pills were handed to her on loan. A loan that was swiftly building towards the zeros that were stacking up against her. A loan she couldn't pay back.

All the same she was starving and dirty and feeling the raw edge of need once more.

Darting down the street corner to the alleyway she knew so well she took the back door to enter the casino. She didn't fit in here.

The realization was heartbreaking and the withdrawal left her emotions tender. She choked back a sob as she darted as nimble as a doe through the forest as she moved around the crowd and the chiming sing-song of slot machines.

The shouts followed her but she managed to make it to the elevator to hit the button to the penthouse. Only in gasping relief would she allow her shoulders to slump as she sank back against the wall and lifted her gaze to the hidden camera. She knew they were watching...

They always were.

And they were waiting.

The chime signaled the elevator had reached the penthouse level and even before the doors had fully opened she was grabbed. A soft yelp of pain escaped her as she struggled helpless against the strong hands of Omar's lackeys.

"Please...let me...go" Her last words were silenced with a scream that fell into a rush out of breath as a fist connected with her solar plexus. Doubling over she only had a moment to catch her breath as she collapsed to her knees.

Like a slave, like a prisoner she was transported between the two men battered and broken to Omar's desk. So unceremoniously was she dumped in front of him.

"Omar...I swear...I will get you your money."
"Oh I have no doubt you will girl... You're far too gone. The point of no return... you will repay your debts. I'll make sure of that. You'll be on the streets by tonight, under my watch but first... there is a lesson to be learned about not keeping promises."

Omar made a subtle gesture towards his lackeys and the first crushing blow of a fist was coming towards her head. She ducked in time but not fast enough as the blow glanced off her brow and connected with her ear.

The pain made her see stars. Omar was right. She was past the point of no return.

The next blow didn't miss as both fists and boots connected with her body. Weaponless and Defenseless she curled up into fetal position, whispering the words over and over again with the rhythmic pattern of betrayal.

"Why didn't you come for me. Why didn't you come...for..."

"For God's sake shut her up already!"
"Yes sir."

The final blow did what it was told and the lights in St Croix's life went temporarily... out.