As Kem pulled in front of the large, two-story brick house, Miya could see the entirety of Hinansho from the building's front. Miya sat, astonished by the glorious sight as Kem opened her car door.
"You can get a better view if you get out of the car first, Miya."
Miya did so, and stared at the city for what seemed like an eternity to her.
"Wow..."
Kem stepped beside her, looking toward the city with her. He held his arms at his waist, taking in the sight for a moment, as well.
"That was my reaction the first time I came here, too. One day, we'll take you somewhere even greater than a college frat house."
Miya didn't respond and stood there for a while, soaking in the sight of the scenery. She eventually pulled herself out of her trance and began entering the building. Bo closed the door behind them.
The house was filled with unfamiliar faces, and the air was filled with a mixture of voices and music, causing the floor itself to bounce to it's bass. Bo held onto Miya's arm as they pushed through the crowd, their body's bumping against them as they danced amongst each other. Sarah walked ahead to what Miya assumed to be the living quarters of the building.
Bo tapped Kem on the shoulder while they walked.
"I need to talk to you."
Kem quickly turned around, his body also moving to the beat of the DJ's music.
"Huh?!"
Bo raised his voice by a exponential amount, filling the air around them.
"I need to talk to you!"
Bo suddenly backed off, his hand retreating from Kem as his eyes averted. It was strange, almost feeling like a different person to Miya.
"In private."
"Ask Sarah! I've got to take a shit!"
Kem vanished in an instant, and Bo hesitated before pushing deeper into the crowd. As he tried to navigate toward Sarah, his grip on Miya loosened, and they were pulled apart by the crowd. Miya stood, stranded in between the crowd and unsure of how to reunite with Bo and Kem. She was constantly pushed around by the rowdy mass of people and was unable to even gather her thoughts before being yanked by someone in the crowd.
"Miya!"
Chance held tightly to Miya's arm, causing Miya to wince in pain. He quickly loosened his grip, careful not to cause her any more pain. Chance dressed as he typically did, his casual clothing standing out compared to those around him, but Miya found comfort in his presence, saving her from the fear of the crowd of strangers.
"Sorry about that! Follow me!"
Chance led Miya through the crowd and to a bar area. Two people sat at the table before they'd sat down, their arms resting atop the bar's counter. They quietly drank as Miya and Chance sat down together, Chance being the first to speak.
"What brings you to this place?!"
Miya struggled to push her voice above the volume around her, but Chance still understood.
"Kem and Sarah invited me!"
"Then, why were you alone when I found you?!"
"They ran off without me! I don't really know where or why!"
Chance asked the bartender for a drink, tapping his nail against the counter before raising his hand to get the bartender's attention. Miya soon recognized the bartender to be Parisa, her body recoiling as she finally focused onto her.
'That's one way to attract people to a bar...'
Parisa wore almost nothing, an apron covering her valuables but letting the rest show to the world. Chance nudged Miya as he got his drink.
"I assume you're not much of a drinker!"
"I don't know! I don't remember ever having one!"
"I'm not going to coerce you into having one! Just curious! I don't drink much, myself!"
Chance took his time drinking the alcohol, and Miya didn't know what type it was and didn't ask him. After about three minutes of sitting silently, Chance finished his drink and fumbled around the table.
"It's hard to move around with my spiritual self in this crowded place! Stupid people! Always messing up my--"
Chance's torso fell onto the table, making a thud on impact. Parisa walked by and wiped the counter surrounding Chance, a grin painted onto her face as she cleaned the counter around him. Miya sat worriedly as she did so, unsure if she should help him or how.
"He's such a baby! Can't even take one glass before passing out!"
Parisa took his glass and walked away from them, eventually making her way to the sink and starting to wash the dish. Miya sat quietly, unsure of what to do now.
'I don't want to leave him here...'
Parisa returned to them, knocking on the counter in a swing fashion. Chance soon disappeared from his seat. Miya blinked rapidly, dumbfounded by his sudden disappearance.
"Woah! Did you do that?!"
"No! Nifla was looking out for something like this to happen! I just needed to give the signal! Got to keep the chairs clear for more guests!"
"She can hear that through all of this ruckus?!"
"Yeah! You'd have to ask her why, though!"
Parisa walked away from Miya to serve a man at the end of the bar. A woman also sat next to Miya, and after a while of sitting at the table, the woman spoke to Miya.
"Would you like a drink, ma'am?! You look very pretty-ya!"
"No, thanks! I don't really drink!"
"You sure?! Your friend tending to us does a really good job-ya!"
Miya looked up toward Parisa who eventually met eyes with her. She smiled but immediately returned to her work.
"I guess I could try one."
The woman motioned Parisa to where they sat and asked to buy the both of them a drink. When they finally arrived, the woman handed Miya her drink and then drank her's within a second.
'Well… Down the hatch, I guess.'
Miya drank the beverage, little-by-little, until it was finally gone.
"That wasn't that ba-errr…"
Miya felt nauseous and puked all over the counter-top. Her torso fell to the counter in the same fashion as Chance as the woman next to her tried to come to her aid, but she was immediately stopped by Parisa. The man sitting next to her held a knife to the woman's neck while Parisa stared at her with shining, pink eyes without a pupil or iris. Parisa and the man spoke in unison, matching each other's speech perfectly.
"You must've thought you were so clever. Let me guess... You were going to offer to bring her home? How generous… Don't you so as breathe on Miya, ya-ear me?!"
Parisa's eyes gleamed as she looked down toward the woman, fear instantly filling her eyes. The woman quickly backed away from the bar, tossing her glass to the floor. The DJ stopped the music, and everyone's attention fell on the woman and Parisa, a strange, pink mist filling the air around them.
"HEY, BOYS!"
All of the guys in the bar yelled in unison.
"MA'AM?!"
"LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A RAT!"
Everyone surrounded the woman, laughing hysterically. While they gathered, Parisa walked toward Miya and knocked on the countertop.