Hannah cringed once she entered the club. The smell of cigarettes and liquor filled the air. "What kind of place is this?" she mumbled. She moved closer to Candy and they walked further into the club.
"Hi, birthday girl, what's popping?" Candy greeted the strawberry blond-haired girl in a vibrant red romper. As the girl turned to face her, Hannah's expression soured. She immediately identified those piercing ice-blue eyes. It was unmistakably Lorraine Wilson, the girl whom she perceived as determined to torment her existence.
"Oh hi Candy, I'm good by the way. How are…Oh, I see you've brought Hannah here," She said, firmly assessing her.
"Hi Lori," she said through clenched teeth.
"Thought you'd be reading a book or something. I assumed that was all nerds do. Whatever, I'll see you later Candy!" she said before walking away, in her red high heels.
Hannah gently guided Candy to a secluded corner, her voice barely above a whisper as she questioned, "What exactly is going on here? Why would you invite me to Lorraine's party? You're aware of my feelings towards her..." Candy, trying to diffuse the tension, responded, "Relax, Hannah. Lorraine hasn't done anything to you. I simply knew you wouldn't attend if I mentioned it was her party..." Despite Candy's reassurance, Hannah's apprehension lingered, uncertain of what the evening would hold. The air was thick with unspoken emotions as the two friends stood in the dimly lit corner, their conversation filled with underlying tension and unresolved issues. Hannah's internal conflict was palpable, torn between her loyalty to Candy and her deep-seated aversion towards Lorraine. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a joyous occasion.
"You got that right. You know what? I'm leaving…" She said, turning around to leave.
"Hannah you can't go!" She whined.
"And who says so? Lorraine?" she said sarcastically.
"The party's just getting started," She said in a pleading tone.
"Cool, have fun!" She said with all determination.
"Please, Hannah. I promise she won't do anything to you." She begged
Suddenly, she stopped and said, "You know what? I'll stay. Not because you said so, but because I'm gonna prove to Lori that I'm no some pushover that she can order around!"
"That's the spirit. Come on, let's go!"
They walked through the crowd of dancing people. After a while, they spotted Lori flirting with some guys. Candace brought out a bottle of champagne from her bag.
"Whoa Candy, where'd you get the money to buy that champagne? Even I know it's expensive."
"It's Lori's favorite. It's my gift to her."
"That's very thoughtful of you. Although I think she doesn't deserve it…"
"Whatever you say. Come let's wrap it and give it to her," she said, ignoring her remark.
They quickly wrapped the gift and walked over to where she was sitting. Candy lightly tapped her shoulder and she turned. She handed the wrapped bottle to Lori.
She tore the wrapping paper and smiled once she saw the drink.
"OMG Candy, thank you so much! But I'm sorry, I can't take any alcohol now. I'm pregnant, remember? But I'll keep it anyway. Thanks once more!"
She exchanged greetings with her before they finally took their seats at the end of the bar. They chose seats close to Lori's so they could know when the party games started.
"I've never seen a pregnant lady who flirts with guys before," Hannah said sarcastically.
"Stop being so judgmental Hannah…"
"I bet she got pregnant for some random guy in one of her wild flings…" She said, still disgusted by Lori.
"It's her fiancé's child…" She said in defense of Lori.
"Fiancé? She's engaged?" She said in astonishment.
"Yeah."
"I was beginning to wonder why she didn't abort the baby. Poor guy, I almost feel bad for him."
"You've got to be kidding me…" She said, trying to process what she just said.
"However, getting pregnant before marriage is not acceptable." She said once more, still trying to sham Lori.
"God Hannah, you sound like a nun right now. It seems like the party games have begun. Let's go!" Candy said to end the conversation.
They walked to the crowd. There, they saw that the classic party game of truth or dare had begun. The bottle spun and whoever it landed on had to pick either truth or dare. After a while, the bottle finally landed on her.
"So what's it gonna be Hannah? Truth or…"
"Dare." She said to everyone's surprise.
"Wow Hannah, I didn't expect you to be so bold. Let's make this easy for you…"
Lori popped the champagne that Candy bought and poured its contents into a cup.
"Drink it." She said
"But…" She replied timidly.
The group of friends gathered around her, egging her on with chants of "Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!" She could feel the pressure building as she summoned all her courage and took a deep breath before downing the champagne in one swift motion. As the liquid burned down her throat, she could hear Lori's applause and words of encouragement, "Good job! I honestly thought you would chicken out, but here you are, proving me wrong." The sense of accomplishment and pride washed over her as she realized she had conquered her fear and impressed her friends in the process.
After some time had passed, the game concluded. The resonating echoes of music enveloped the arena. Hannah was seated at a table, idly toying with her fingers. She chose not to partake in the dancing with Candy and her long-term partner Lucius, deeming herself a hapless and inept dancer. It was then that she caught sight of him. He entered the bar with poise and assurance, exuding an aura of robustness with his bronzed skin aglow. Making his way to Lori's side, he whispered into her ear. She laughed and gazed at him as if under a spell. With skillful finesse, he retrieved a slip of paper from her handbag and replaced it with another from his jacket. It was at that moment that their gazes locked. Her lackluster hazel eyes met his misty grey ones. She could have sworn she witnessed a glint in his eyes. A smile tugged at his lips as he winked at her. A rush of warmth flooded her cheeks. Presenting a gift to Lori, he departed the bar with the same elegance and confidence with which he had arrived. As he exited, she began to feel lightheaded.
She rose from her seat at the table, attempting to exit the establishment. The surroundings appeared to sway with each stride she took. Abandoning her efforts to depart, she settled at a nearby table. As time elapsed, her headache intensified. Unfamiliar noises and eerie creaks reached her ears. The sounds of breaking glass and gunshots reverberated through the air. Abruptly, a piercing scream pierced the silence. She scanned the vicinity for the source of the scream but found no one. The cacophony grew increasingly deafening. A voice called out to her, prompting her to pursue its origin. Exiting the club, she proceeded towards the hotel rooms. Pausing at the entrance of room 3045, the voice urged her to enter. Unexpectedly, a tap on her shoulder jolted her from her reverie.
"What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
Hearing Candy's voice, she turned and nodded her head.
"There was this voice…" She replied
"What voice? Are you hearing things?" She said in a confused tone.
She held her head in her hands.
"I'm feeling dizzy. We should leave…"
"That's fine by me. But first, let's go back to the club. I need to get my things."
She supported her weight on Candy's shoulder as they walked cautiously back to the club.
She sat at a table and waited for Candace. Her eyelids drooped as she felt light-headed. Meanwhile, Candy walked to the end of the bar and messaged someone on her phone. A few minutes later, Lori approached her.
"I received your text. I'm guessing she's unconscious, right?"
"She said she feels dizzy."
"That'll work. I'll call the guys. When they get here, provide them with the instructions."
"What's the room number?"
She looked through her bag and brought out a folded piece of paper.
"That has the room number. Take care of everything from here. I have to go." She said hurriedly.
"But what if I…"
The young woman abruptly turned and left in the middle of her sentence, leaving it hanging in the air. As she walked away, she carefully unfolded the crumpled sheet of paper in her hand, revealing the bold number "4004" printed on it. Just then, she felt a slight buzzing in her pocket and instinctively reached for her phone. The screen illuminated with a new message notification, prompting her to pause and read the text before continuing on her way. With a glance up, she realized she had wandered towards the back of the hotel, where she spotted a group of four burly men standing ominously in the shadows, their presence giving her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"You know how she looks right?" She said to them.
They nodded their heads.
"Take her to room 4004."
They went into the club and took her to the said room.