Chapter 3

That night, as Timmy and Holly returned home, Madeline sat them down. She told them about the old man and his words, about the place he had spoken of where justice was not a game played by the elite, but a reality lived by all. The siblings listened, their expressions a mix of confusion and hope. Madeline knew that the road ahead would be fraught with difficulty, that leaving behind everything they knew would be a risk. But she also knew that the cycle they were trapped in could not continue.

Timmy nodded solemnly. “What happened at school today ... it’s like he was talking about us. We can’t let the world turn us into monsters.”

The incident at school had been a wake-up call for Holly. A black boy in her class, lost in the virtual world of his Sega game, had lashed out when the teacher tried to confiscate it. His punch had been wild, but it had connected, and now the teacher was in the hospital with a fractured cheekbone. The boy had been suspended, but the fear he had instilled in the class was palpable. It was a stark reminder of the chaos that lurked just outside their door, ready to invade their lives without warning.

The old man’s words echoed in Madeline’s mind. “He’s right,” she murmured. “When the court placed the truth hiding behind the walls, we need to find a way where we can live with fear.”

Timmy’s eyes searched hers, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. “We’ll figure it out,” he said firmly. “We’ll find a way in this place where we can be safe and happy.”

Holly leaned forward, her voice earnest. “But first, we need to make sure we can support ourselves,” she said, her gaze flicking to the worn couch and the pile of unpaid bills on the coffee table. “We can’t just run off without a plan. We need to save up, maybe find a way to make more money.” Madeline felt a surge of pride at her daughter’s practicality. Despite the darkness they had succumbed to, Holly was still the smart, resourceful child she had raised.

Timmy nodded in agreement. “Holly’s right, Mom,” he said, his eyes thoughtful. “We’ve got to keep our heads down, keep working. Maybe we can start looking for better jobs, or I could start working part-time.” Madeline’s heart clenched at the thought of her son taking on more responsibilities, but she knew he was right. They had to survive as they could without escape to this mythical place of justice and peace.

Holly spoke up, a hint of excitement in her voice. “There’s this new thing online,” she began, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Adult entertainment. It’s supposed to pay really well.” Madeline’s eyes widened, and she felt a cold hand of fear squeeze her heart. “What are you suggesting?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Timmy looked at his sister, his expression a mix of shock and curiosity. “You mean ... like, porn?” Madeline felt the room spin around her. How had it come to this?

Holly nodded, her eyes never leaving Madeline’s. “It’s a big market, Mom,” she said, her voice steady. “And it’s not like we don’t have experience ... in front of the camera.” Madeline’s mind reeled at the thought of her children engaging in such a degrading and dangerous profession. But then she remembered the alternative. Drug dealing, theft, the shadowy world of corruption that could swallow them whole. At least with this, they’d be in control.

Timmy stepped closer, his hand resting gently on Madeline’s shoulder. “Mom, you have the most important asset we need for this to work,” he whispered, his voice thick with a hunger that sent a shiver down her spine. Madeline looked up at him, her heart racing as she took in his erotic shape, his eyes dark with desire. She knew what he was referring to: her body. Her beautiful, curvy figure that had been the object of both his and Holly’s obsession.

Holly pulled out her phone, her thumbs dancing across the screen. “Look,” she said, turning the device so that Madeline could see the screen. It was open to a pornographic website, and there, at the top of the “MILF” category, was a busty blonde woman with a smile that seemed to say she had the world by the balls. Madeline felt a strange mix of disgust and fascination as she took in the explicit images, her eyes lingering on the woman’s voluptuous curves and the way she commanded the attention of every man in the scenes.

“See, Mom?” Holly pointed to the numbers beside the woman’s name. “This is what we could be. Your category is high in rank, making big real money.” Timmy’s eyes followed hers, and Madeline could see the hunger in his gaze as it traveled over the images. It was a stark contrast to the fear she had seen in them earlier.

Madeline took a deep breath, trying to process the idea. Holly was right; there were porn stars who had become mainstream celebrities, flaunting their sexual prowess without shame. They walked red carpets and talked on podcasts, sharing their stories and becoming public figures. It was a world of glamour and money, one that was as far removed from their current reality as the old man’s idealized Muslim country.

Holly scrolled through the phone, her thumbs a blur. “Look at her,” she said, pointing to a brunette woman with a megawatt smile and a figure that seemed to defy gravity. “She started just like us, Mom. Just a regular girl with a hot body and a camera. Now she’s got millions of fans and her own mansion and line of limousine.”

Madeline’s stomach twisted as she took in the images, the explicit videos of the woman with a string of eager men and women, all eager to satisfy her every whim. But there were other pictures too, of the woman at glitzy events, signing autographs, smiling for the camera without a trace of embarrassment. “It’s all like that?” she ask, her voice shaky.

Timmy nodded, his gaze intense. “It’s not like it used to be, Mom. Porn is mainstream now. And with the right look, the right moves, we could be set for life.” Madeline couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope at the prospect, despite the fear that clutched at her heart. They had to survive, and if this was a way to escape the grind of two minimum-wage jobs and the ever-present specter of danger, she had to at least consider it.

“But we’re not just talking about me,” Timmy added, his hand sliding down to her ample breast. “We’re a package deal. The three of us could make a killing.” Madeline felt her breath catch as his hand squeezed gently, his thumb brushing against her nipple. The thought of her children seeing her in that light was horrifying, but she couldn’t deny the dark allure of their plan. It was a way out, a path to a life where they didn’t have to hide, where their love for each other could be celebrated instead of feared.

Holly nodded, her eyes gleaming. “Think about it, Mom,” she said, her voice earnest. “You’ve seen it on the news. Murders and rapists, they get out of jail and live their lives like nothing happened. Why should we be ashamed of something that’s just a job, that could give us everything we need?” Madeline swallowed hard, the weight of their words sinking in. It was true that she had watched as monsters were released back into the world with little more than a slap on the wrist, living freely while she, her children and all city folks were trapped in a cycle of fear and despair.

Timmy leaned in, his hand still cupping Madeline’s breast. “Look at Hugh Hefner,” he said, his voice taking on a preachy tone. “He built an empire on the exploitation of women’s bodies, and everyone loves him. He’s like a saint in the eyes of the American public. And when he dies, you bet they’ll all say he’s going to heaven, no church will pray for him to go to hell.” Madeline felt a twinge of disgust at the thought of the Playboy mogul being celebrated in such a way, but she couldn’t argue with the reality of the situation.

“But we don’t need to be ashamed of doing it, Mom, our country provides a good place for us,” Holly interjected, her voice soothing and almost innocent. “We’re a family, If we do this together, we can control it.” Madeline studied her daughter’s face, searching for any hint of doubt or regret. But all she saw was determination, a reflection of the fiery resilience she had always admired in her.

Madeline took a deep breath, her hand coming up to cover Timmy’s. “You’re right,” she said, her voice trembling. “But I’m not ... I don’t know the first thing about that world.” She had always been a bit of a technophobe, her only real interactions with the internet limited to ordering groceries and checking her email. The idea of navigating the murky waters of online adult content was terrifying, but she knew that for the sake of their future, she had to at least consider it.