The nightclub was bursting with energy. The speakers erupted with live and vibrant music, and the dance floor was illuminated by flashing lights and a subdued bass that made it vibrate.
Emily Moore, who was enjoying her 21st birthday, was at the center of it all.
On top of the stage, she laughed and danced, enjoying the fleeting pleasures of the evening and losing count of how many drinks she had consumed. Her body felt light and liberated. All of her troubles, sorrow, and suffering appeared to fade in the drunken fog.
She was inebriated but felt unstoppable, and the world was spinning around her in a lovely way.
That night, that moment was hers. However, a voice murmured in the recesses of her consciousness that this was all too much.
She needed distance, air, and time to center herself. She broke away from the group, navigating the crowd of partygoers as she headed for the club's exit.
As she approached the steps leading to the rooftop, the noise began to die down, and she was thrilled to be away from the chaos for a while.
"Ahhh...I need some fresh air; It's too crowded and hot here." She murmured to herself.
Her cousin Rhea Moore swept by her as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs and put a drink in her hand. She winked and added, "For the birthday girl," before vanishing into the crowd.
Emily took a sip without thinking twice. She ignored the alcohol's faint burn. It was just a drink, so she was okay. She walked up the steps and felt the cold air strike her face as she arrived at the rooftop.
"Ahh, what a night. This is life, living life to the fullest." She mumbles as she scans around the rooftop. "Piece and quiet, this is what I need."
She was drawn to the edge, resting on the railing to gaze at the night sky as the brilliant lights of the Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, extended far and wide. It was so beautiful that she wished to share it with someone like her parents. If only they were still there to celebrate with her.
She spoke to her parents briefly, something she hadn't done in a while, while the stars above shimmered beautifully.
Although she didn't usually believe in the paranormal, tonight, while feeling particularly vulnerable, she murmured to the stars as if her parents could hear her.
"Mom, Dad," she said, her voice laden with sorrow, "I miss you." I would have loved to have you here. I wish I could see you right now."
Before she could process her loss, an intense rush of heat shot through her body. A tear fell down her cheek. She had never experienced anything like this, a robust and scorching feeling emanating outward from her body.
Her body shook, and she gasped, gripping the rails. Her heart was pounding, and her skin felt hot. There was a problem.
Emily felt like someone had punched her in the stomach as her thoughts rushed. The drink. It was more than simply booze. Someone had given her drugs.
She felt the aphrodisiac take hold, and she started to panic as her body started acting strangely. She had to leave this place and go somewhere secure.
She staggered back from the rooftop edge, her eyesight becoming fuzzy as she moved toward the entrance.
Only one story below was her hotel room, and she had to get there. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled with her phone, vainly dialing for help.
The heat was getting stronger by the moment, and her body was betraying her. Desperate to get out, she pushed the stairwell door.
She went inside and descended the stairs as best she could, terror and bewilderment whirling through her head. She staggered into the corridor as she arrived at her floor, her eyesight blurry.
She barely made it to her hotel room door before she collapsed, panting for oxygen.
It's when she noticed him.
A man who appeared to sparkle in the faint hallway lighting, tall and striking with dark hair and piercing eyes.
Even in her exhausted state, his broad shoulders and chiseled features made him appear like a Greek god. His brow furrowing as he approached her warily, he immediately saw her.
"Are you okay?" The fury that had exploded inside her contrasted with his voice's deep and calming sound.
Emily's body shook as she glanced up at him. She parted her lips to say something, but nothing came out.
She grasped his arm before she could stop herself, drawing him closer as she felt the heat build and want to cloud her judgment.
She muttered, just audible, "Please... help me."
The man's realization clouded his eyes. He paused for a time as though considering the ramifications, but something changed in his eyes. He took her into his arms with ease and carried her inside the hotel room.
The evening unfolded in a flurry of passion as one thing led to another. The heat overcame her, and the only thing that mattered was the man she was touching. She was overwhelmed by the yearning flowing through her veins and could not resist.
***
The following day, Emily was humiliated as she remembered the previous night's occurrences.
She lay in bed with the sheets wrapped around her body, her head pounding from the combination of the drug and alcohol.
Whoa, whoa! How in the world did I spend last night? Why is my head aching so much ugh? Did I wrestle a Bear? Why does my body hurt all over? What is this? Why am I down here, naked and hurting?
Then it dawned on her...– She just had a one-night stand with someone.
"Oh my God!!!" She exclaimed in despair as she attempted to get up and go to the restroom.
Her legs were shaking, and in between her thighs, it felt like it was ripped apart. She barely managed to walk, but she kept going to clean herself up.
As she approached the bathroom, she heard the water running and concluded that the man with whom she had a wild night was probably having a shower.
The man remained in the shower, the sound of flowing water breaking the stillness in the space.
Anxiety swept through her. She was afraid to confront him. After everything that had transpired, she could not face him.
She had to leave the place right now. Emily sprang out of bed without thinking, grabbed her clothing, and quickly got dressed.
Her heart pounded as she struggled with the door, her hands shaking. Hearing the sound of the running water as she turned to head into the restroom, she took one more peek before sprinting out.
She went outdoors, and her world began to spin all over again. She had only gone a few feet down the street when her knees buckled. The loud sound of a vehicle horn startled her back to reality, but it was too late.
In her confused state, trying to escape, she found herself on the street without direction.
She only realized she was in the middle of the road when she heard a loud, *Screech*
A sound of extreme pressure applied to the car's brakes– Next– A loud... *BANG!!*
Followed by a tremendous noise…
*Thump, thump, thump*
*Whoosh!*
*Thud!*
Emily plummeted into the air before she was thrown to the ground and felt the force of a car slamming into her.
All went dark after that.--