Episode three

Ethan left home two months after his mother's death. Living with his stepfather had been a nightmare filled with emotional and physical abuse.  His stepfather had shown no remorse as he vented his anger on him.

His father had died when he was just a little boy, he couldn't even remember his face. All he knew about him was the stories his mother told him, and the picture of his father carrying him on his shoulder smiling.

His mother had told him how he died doing his job. He was a fireman and a roof had collapsed on him as he tried to rescue victims trapped in the building. 

His mother had met his stepfather shortly after his father's death at a bar and they had started dating almost immediately. At first, he had been nice to them, taking him to the pack and always showing up when needed. But all this changed after marriage. 

He abused his mother physically and threw hurtful words at her, she had bruises at hidden places in her body. Sometimes her eyes were bloodshot from severe beatings. 

Ethan knew his mother lived in constant fear, she tried to hide it from her son but as he grew older it became more difficult to hide. She smiled throughout the whole abuse, never blaming him, and found solace in drugs.

Ethan had grown up in an abusive home and had his own fair share of pain, this had helped mold him into the man he later became.  His stepfather had not only abused his mother but him too. The constant pulling of his hair or banging of his head on the wall when he was drunk or simply bored.

He had watched his vibrant mother become a silhouette of herself. He had beaten her self esteem from her and scarred her for life.

Ethan had begged his mum to leave him, but she refused. "He loves us, darling." She would say "That's just how he shows it." Ethan had wondered why you would hit whom you claimed to love but since his mom said so then it must be true. As he grew up he realized his mother stayed because she needed someone to pay her bills. 

Two years later she died as a result of a drug overdose, he was just coming back from school when he saw her corpse being carried away and his stepfather standing at the front door barefooted, with his protruding belly and receding hair, he looked unkempt 

"You killed her, you damaged my mother." He wanted to yell at him, but instead, he stood there watching as they took his mother away.

Ethan didn't cry, his mum had told him that real men don't cry. Well, he believed her. Sometimes he wanted to cry so bad, to remove the huge burden in his heart but his mother's words hunted him.

"Never let them see your tears, it gives people undue access and power  over you." Since then he kept everything to himself and rather became addicted to pain, at a point he started inflicting himself with physical pain.

Then he met Maya, she was soft-spoken and to him the most beautiful girl he had ever met. He found himself falling in love with her. 

When he summoned the courage to take her out, She said she loved him as a friend and didn't want to date him.

Ethan had felt betrayed, he felt unworthy of being loved. He had sulked for days, refusing to hang out with friends.

After some days he felt better and was more determined to make her his girl, but she always said no whenever he professed his love for her.  Each rejection hurt Ethan more and each time he became more determined and obsessed to make her his.

He had asked her out again, but she rejected him just like always. "You are like a brother to me Ethan, I love you but only as a friend."  In fury, he had left her and walked home alone, but this time he took another route.

Ethan had come across them when he missed his way home the last two months, they were all scantily dressed, leaving little to the imagination.

As he passed them some made rude remarks, while others invited him to share their bed, somewhere indifferent.

But today was different, he intentionally took that route. He was a man on a mission. He needed a companion, any companion.

The rage within him was escalating and he needed something or someone to calm him down. In the past, he had tried alcohol and ended up with a terrible headache, clogged mind, and blurred vision.

He didn't like the way he felt after drinking, it made him feel weak. And he wasn't a weak man. He wanted what or whom he could have control over, and dominate.

As he walked into the brothel, he became self-aware of where he was. His courage nearly failed him

 "Is this the right thing to do?, should I walk away.?" He thought to himself. 

He continued into the bar and sat on a vacant seat hidden in the dark corners. The bar was alive with music, you could smell the musky air of sweat mixed with tobacco.

He needed to access his environment first, and he observed as people came in and left. He wondered why they kept coming back, "Do they get the satisfaction they crave?."

Ethan knew exactly what he wanted, the pleasure that would soothe his body and soul. He hoped to get the gratification he yearned for and never come into this place again.

As his eyes scanned the room it rested on a petite girl, she had this charm around her. He guessed she couldn't be more than 22 if not less. She had the kind of worldliness he desired.

Downing his beer, he stood and walked up to her. She didn't move nor make any conversation with him. They both sat in silence until Ethan took the lead and spoke out

"Can I sit with you?" He said smiling down at her. "Sure," Char replied.

She was used to men now. They came in different shapes, colors, and temperaments.