TAMARA CLOUGH - THE ROOM

Tamara Clough specializes in preventative cancers and disparities as a community health worker in Bremerton Washington. Tamara is also a full-time student at Full Sail University; and will graduate in 2021 with a bachelor's in creative writing for entertainment. She is currently writing a book of flash fiction with a release date in the summer of 2020. Tamara is the author of Two Cents, a monthly employee newsletter where she works. She is inspired and motivated from her one book a week reading habit. A few of her favorite authors are, Attica Locke, Ta-Nehisi Coates, David Baldacci, and Steven King. When she isn't writing, Tamara volunteers with the American Cancer Society and The American Cancer Society's Action Network (ACS CAN). In 2019 the American Cancer Society flew her to Washington DC, California, and Nevada to share her cancer story. Tamara currently resides in Bremerton Washington with her husband of 13 years and their rescue dog Rosie. The two have six children ranging from 28 to 19 and one 9-year-old granddaughter. Tamara is looking forward to retiring where she can focus on writing and hosting workshops for inspiring writers.

THE ROOM

Tears fill my eyes. I smell like piss and sweat. This closet is warm and stuffy although there are slats, I can see through. He struck me before he put the gag on my mouth, and I taste blood in my saliva. I lay on my stomach with my arms hogtied as sharp plastic cuffs cut into my wrists. My dress is above my waist, exposing my soiled panties. My face has rug burns on the left side. I struggle to get loose before he returns. I’m exhausted. Footsteps approach. The electric door clicks and opens. It's him and a female. I listen.
"See, I told you I had a nice room," says the man.
"Yes, you did. Let me ask you this. How are you still single? I mean seriously, you’re tall, sexy as hell and obviously very..very ..rich. I mean look at this hotel and this view from your balcony” says the woman
"I know right. Sometimes you have to treat yourself.  Why don’t you go ahead and have a seat outside, relax, I'm just gonna open this bottle and meet you out there," says the man.
He's saying the same things to her, he told me. I start to struggle, and the momentum shakes the closest doors. 
Slow footsteps walk toward me. There’s a shadow of a person through the slots of the closet door. The wooden door swings open. Shiny black dress shoes appear. I roll to my left side and gaze at the tall man. He wears a crisp custom-tailored black suit with gray pinstripes. He's slim and has an athletic build. He smells of cigarettes and alcohol. He reaches down and turns me back onto my stomach. He presses his knee into my back and tightens the cuffs that tether me. He leans forward and says softly.
"I need you to be patient, or I won't let you play," says the man.
My heart beats faster. I can taste bile in my mouth.
"David, how long does it take to open up a bottle? I'm getting lonely out here," says the woman.
"I'm coming, babe. I had to take a piss," says David.
The man shuts the door to the closet.
The woman giggles.
"What type of music do you like?" says David.
"Mmm, I like music that moves my body, something slow," says the woman.
"Slow it is," says David.
There is slow movement under the door. I'm tired, and raising my head makes me dizzy. I'm hungry, and I have to pee again. The shadows are closer.
"I'm so buzzed, I can hardly keep my eyes open," says the woman. 
David chuckles.
"No, seriously, I can't stay awake," says the woman.
"Just ride it, babe. Ride the cloud," says David.
"What the fuck? ride the....clo" the woman stops mid-sentence.
The footsteps get closer and the door swings open. The man is holding a limp white female in his arms. Her hair is blonde, it partially covers her face, and she's wearing a black cocktail dress without shoes.
"It's getting crowded in here," says David.
He places the unconscious woman down next to me. I struggle with the restraints and make muffled cries.
"Tsk...tsk...tsk," says David.
David cuts the ties that bind my hands to my feet, and I stretch. I regain the feeling in my extremities. David hogties the woman. He pushes the crisp custom-tailored black suit with gray pinstripes that hang aside and tosses her on top of a pile of bodies.
 My eyes widen, I shake my head and push myself up. 
David turns around and reaches for me. He takes hold of my cuffed hands and pulls me up toward him. 
I stand and I can barely hold myself up.
"I'm going to take the gag out of your mouth, but you have to promise to be a good girl," says David.
I nod
"Now if you scream or make a noise, I'll be forced to put you back in the closet with your friends," says David.
I blink the tears back. Snot runs down my top lip.
David takes the gag out of my mouth. A string of saliva drips down my chin onto my restrained hands. 
I see a sharp bottle opener on the room’s minibar counter. I calculate that I need two hops to get closer to the bar. 
David leans in to kiss me, and I turn my face. He uses his hand to turn my face toward him; he closes his eyes and leans in to kiss me. 
I let him. 
I feel nauseous from the sour taste of alcohol in his mouth. David kisses me pushing his hard tongue through my lips. My eyes are open, and I look over at the four-women in the closet. Tears fill my eyes, my heart races, and I bite down on David’s soft tongue. 
David’s eyes open. His eyes meet mine. He holds my bound hands tighter. 
I bite harder. I taste blood. 
David writhes, my gaze does not break. I bite down and pull harder, saliva and blood mixture drool down my chin. I open my mouth and release. David's tongue is dangling; blood flowing down his chin onto his crisp custom-tailored black suit with gray pinstripes.
"I'm ready to play, asshole, are you?" I say.
I lunge at David.


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