It only took that one gesture to strip away the single thing that might've given her any satisfaction tonight. The triumph over Hana. A hollow victory, in a game you could only ever lose.
One of the waitresses nodded and headed off.
Lyra's body kept moving. Her hips still rolled, her ass pressed against the bars, but her motions had lost all fire. They looked more like a pendulum winding down.
Finally she leaned into the bars, sinking slightly against them, eyes dropping to the floor. Her silver hair fell forward, hiding her face, as if it could shield her from the biting stares below. Pathetic, maybe. But she made it look like the elegant end of her act.
Her game was lost.
And there was no one to blame but herself.
But just when she thought it couldn't sink lower, a shrill whistle cut through the crowd.
Another guy, young, but just as slimy, called over a waitress and pointed straight at Lyra. He was already licking his fingers, grin sharp as a blade, like he was imagining what he'd do to her. Maybe he liked her after all.
Or maybe he liked how she'd fallen.
For a moment time froze, as the two girls' eyes locked.
Hana's lips twitched into a strained but sly smile.
Stupid bitch, Lyra hissed inside. But on her face, the smile stayed. With a graceful flick, she swept the curtain of hair aside, stood tall, and turned away from Hana as if she'd never lost. She wouldn't give her that moment.
Two waitresses arrived almost at the same time. Both wore the same bunny outfits as Hana and Lyra.
Hana's waitress had to rattle the cage door a few times before it gave way. Her black ponytail swung with each tug.
"God, this cage drives me nuts!" she cursed.
"Everything here's junk. A few months ago you could open them from the inside," Hana agreed as she stepped out. "Thanks, Yuyu."
"Well, Rudi won't spend a dime," Yuzuki answered with a crooked smile.
"The guy's waiting for you in Room Three," she added, gesturing for Hana to follow.
Hana cast a quick glance at Lyra.
Meanwhile, the more muscular waitress at Lyra's cage yanked the door open with one hard pull, brushing a pink strand of her short hair out of her face.
"Solid show as always, princess," Natascha quipped with a wink, making Lyra flinch.
"What else did you expect from me, Natascha?" Lyra shot back, tone full of confidence that sounded nothing like defeat.
"Cocky like an idol. Typical."
With a loud clang, Natascha slammed the cage door shut again, laughing as she did.
"Come on, your client's waiting in VIP Room Two," she ordered, striding ahead.
Lyra glanced at Hana, just for a heartbeat. Their eyes met, then both looked away. A wordless, heavy tension clung between them. But compared to what was coming, it almost felt like something familiar. Almost like safety.
Because now they had to face the pigs.
Lyra forced a smile onto her face, a mask that didn't quite fit. Hana mirrored it, perfectly performed, as she slipped gracefully away from the cage.
Shitty game, Lyra thought.
And we keep playing it, Hana finished in silence.
Hana followed Yuzuki down the narrow side corridor to the VIP rooms. The walls were stained, the lights flickered, and the air stank of spilled booze. Her heels clicked against the sticky floor.
"Ugh, I hate these halls," Yuzuki sighed, brushing a strand of black hair out of her face. "Always smells like a damn toilet."
"Tell me about it," Hana muttered. "Thanks for walking me over, though."
"Always, sweetie." Yuzuki gave her a crooked grin. "For you, anytime."
She stopped at the door marked 3, resting a hand briefly on Hana's shoulder.
"The bald guy with the gold teeth… ugh."
"At least he pays well," Hana murmured, dry.
"True. The real dirtbags can't afford you, anyway." Yuzuki squeezed her shoulder gently.
She pushed the door open without knocking.
"Take care, Hana-chan," she whispered, then headed back down the hall.
"Thanks, Yuyu," Hana whispered back.
Hana took a deep breath, stepped inside, and the door clicked shut behind her.
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Lyra followed Natascha down the narrow corridor to the VIP rooms. Natascha was rambling about her last shift as a bouncer, but Lyra wasn't even listening.
She knew this hallway.
She knew the stench.
And she knew exactly which room was waiting for her.
Leaning against a stained wall, Riri pushed off the moment she saw her.
"You were sooo cool again!" she gushed. "The way you played with the bars was… HOOOT!"
Then her sparkle dimmed a little.
"…but what was that at the end?"
She actually looked worried.
Lyra stopped beside her, and so did Natascha. Her thoughts tangled again, just like earlier.
Riri faked plenty of things, but this wasn't one of them.
No sarcasm, like Hana. None of the mindgames, Serena always tried to throw her off with. Just a naive slut who worshipped her like a goddess. The goddess of sluts. Maybe that's why Lyra hated her so much.
She forced the corners of her mouth up.
Confident and arrogant, just like always.
"If I wasted time thinking about that, I wouldn't be where I am today," she lied coldly, then walked on.
She ignored the fire she'd lit in Riri's eyes. Not because she was truly that arrogant. But because everything was about to go to hell anyway.
Natascha slapped her on the back, nearly throwing off her practiced walk, then shoved open the door marked 2.
"Hell of a role model for the kid," she laughed.
"That's my job as number one."
One corner of Lyra's mouth twitched, then she stepped inside.
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Inside, the air reeked of old sweat and something sweeter, sharper, probably cum.
The room was small and bare.
A sagging couch in the corner, a stained coffee table, and red silk wallpaper peeling at the edges.
And there he was.
Hana's customer.
A bald man with a bloated face, greasy gold chains hanging around his neck, and a belly spilling out from under a shirt that was two sizes too small. His eyes slid up and down her body, slow and disgusting.
"C'mere, bunny," he croaked, his voice oily and slimy as his hands.
He patted the spot beside him on the couch.
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Dirty mattresses were scattered across the floor, the ceiling fan clacking as it turned.
And on one of them sat Lyra's client.
His face was red from heat or booze—or both. In his tiny eyes flickered a greasy glint.
The moment Lyra entered, he licked his lips slowly and spread his legs wide. His stiff cock jutted out from his unzipped jeans, the fabric stained all over. The reddened skin on his cock was covered in small pimples, making the sight even more repulsive.
"Come here, princess," he rasped, crooking a finger so fat Lyra swore it barely had a joint.
So I can puke on your lap?
She choked the thought down, let out a grin that was too sweet, too wicked, and slowly rolled her hips as she walked toward him.
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Hana swallowed dry.
She forced a coy smile that hurt even for her standards and swayed her hips as she walked toward him. Every step felt like sinking deeper into a swamp of shame.
The moment she sat, his hands were on her. Fingers grabbing greedily at her thighs, not even stopping when she flinched.
"Show me the tits, c'mon," he muttered, hand sliding higher.
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"Show me that ass," the guy demanded as soon as Lyra was close enough. His voice wheezed, spit already drooling down his chin.
Lyra turned slowly, placed her hands on her knees, and bent just enough to make the bunny suit stretch tight across her ass. She could feel his gaze burning into her skin.
A panting moan behind her.
Then the sound of a zipper, fabric rustling.
Without hurrying, she straightened, slid the bunny suit off her shoulders, and let it fall to the floor.
Now she stood in front of him, wearing nothing but black underwear.
Lyra shut her eyes.
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Hana breathed shallow.
Slowly, almost in a trance, she reached for the too-tight zipper of her bunny suit, tugged it down partway, and let the fabric slip lower. The cool air prickled against her skin as she forced her breasts free and pressed them together, pretending to enjoy it.
The man gasped, his eyes glassy with lust.
His hands came up. He squeezed her breasts like he was testing if they were real, kneading them without the slightest tenderness, while his tongue dragged wetly across his lips.
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His hand slapped Lyra's ass hard.
Again.
Then he grabbed her, squeezing so roughly she had to fight not to flinch.
"Nice and firm…" he panted, breath hot against her back. Still she stood frozen.
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Hana kept smiling—mechanical, empty.
His breath reeked of beer. At least that was the one bearable thing. He leaned in, sucking one nipple into his mouth, teeth scraping unskillfully across her sensitive skin.
Hana closed her eyes.
He grunted in satisfaction, his hand sliding between her thighs, rough and thoughtless, as if he didn't even notice how stiff she sat beside him.
Just until he's done.
Make it quick.
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Suddenly he buried his face in Lyra's ass, drooling, grinding against her, groaning heavy. His slobbering rubbed across every inch, the grunts vibrating through her.
He pushed further. And deeper.
But Lyra let it happen, while in her head the same two thoughts spun in a broken loop.
Only my body.
Not me.