Maya, Leo, and Riley exchanged uneasy glances after leaving Elena's boss, her words echoing in their minds. The address she gave them was a place that even the bravest in their school whispered about with an unspoken fear—the Red District. No one went there willingly, and those who did usually came back with stories they'd rather not tell.
"Are we really going to do this?" Riley asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maya nodded resolutely. "We have to, Riley. If Elena's really been involved in... all this, we need to understand. We need to know why." Her determination was fierce, and both Leo and Riley could see it. Despite the risk, neither wanted to leave her side.
The dim glow of the streetlights flickered as the crew stepped off the bus, the air thick with the scent of damp pavement and cigarette smoke. The district they had arrived in felt like another world, one of neon lights, red streets, and whispers in the shadows. The farther they walked, the more the air became saturated with the clamor of a world that never truly slept—people shouting, cars revving, the distant sounds of glass bottles smashing. It was a place where everything seemed to exist on the edge of a broken dream, and yet, somehow, people still clung to it like it was their last chance.
Maya tightened her grip on her jacket as she looked around. The streets were teeming with a strange mix of people, their faces illuminated by the harsh red glow of the streetlights. Some were stumbling through the crowd, drunk and laughing loudly, while others leaned against the walls, waiting—waiting for what, Maya wasn't sure. The air smelled of cheap perfume, sweat, and the underlying rot of decay. It was a place that clung to desperation like a second skin.
Leo's footsteps were steady beside her, his eyes scanning the area with practiced calm. He wasn't fazed by the chaos around them. His build, solid from years of playing in the school's karate club, made people take a step back, their eyes darting to him briefly before they looked away. He could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the situation, but he kept his face neutral, his movements deliberate. It was as if he had already steeled himself for whatever was waiting at the end of this night.
Riley was slightly ahead of them, her usual confidence replaced by a palpable unease. She kept her gaze low, avoiding eye contact with anyone as they passed by. The crowd wasn't kind to people who didn't belong, and they were clearly outsiders here. Yet, she didn't slow down. She couldn't. Elena was somewhere in this mess, and they were going to find her, no matter what it took.
They finally stopped in front of a building. The sign above the entrance was nearly illegible, its neon lights flickering intermittently. The words "The Red Veil" flashed above the door, casting an eerie, dim glow on the pavement below. A woman was standing just outside the door, leaning against the frame, smoking a cigarette. Her posture was relaxed, but there was an air of authority in the way she held herself. She was tall, her features sharp, and her expression unreadable as she looked at the group. There was something cold about her, but underneath it, something dark lingered, something that told Maya that she wasn't someone to be underestimated.
"Didn't think you'd actually show up," the woman said, her voice low but steady. She dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under the heel of her boot. and come towards the neons lights "But I guess you're all in now."
The crew exchanged looks, unsure how to respond. This wasn't just any random woman; this was Elena's boss, the person who had kept the secrets they were now desperately trying to uncover. The woman motioned toward the door with a flick of her fingers.
"You can come in now," she said. "The place is empty. But things are... different here."
With a nod, they stepped inside, the thick scent of alcohol and smoke greeting them as they entered. The first room was a bar, but it wasn't like any bar Maya had ever been in. The walls were draped in red velvet, and the lighting was muted, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and flicker. The place was quiet, calm almost, save for a few patrons sitting at the bar, nursing their drinks. The sound of a low jazz tune played in the background, mixing with the soft clinking of glassware. Everything felt... off, like they were in some kind of limbo, suspended between two worlds.
The woman led them to the back of the bar and up a narrow staircase. As they climbed, the air grew thicker, the smell of vape clouds heavier, laced with the sickly sweet scent of grape and watermelon. When they reached the second floor, Maya's stomach twisted with unease. The atmosphere was heavier here, darker. The lights were dim, almost non-existent, casting the place in shadows. A few older men sat at tables, some with young women perched on their laps, their heads tilted back as they laughed at something one of the men had said. The girls were pretty—too pretty for a place like this—but the smiles on their faces were empty, hollow. Maya felt a chill run down her spine.
The boss turned to them then, her face unreadable. "This is the second stage of the building. Not everyone makes it this far. But this is where the real business happens."
They didn't say anything, just nodded, their eyes scanning the room with discomfort. Riley looked ready to bolt, but Leo put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her calm. They had come this far. They couldn't back out now.
With a casual wave of her hand, the woman led them to the third floor. This place was a stark contrast to the first two. It was a sprawling dormitory of sorts, though it wasn't like any dorm they had ever seen. The hallways were lined with doors, most of them half-open, the sound of muffled voices spilling out from the rooms. A few girls walked up and down the hall, some in robes, others in tight clothing, looking like they had just come from a shift. It was like walking into a nightmare where time didn't matter. The girls were like shadows, fading in and out of view, all looking tired, their faces blank, like they had been stripped of something essential.
A few girls glanced at them as they walked by, their eyes lingering just long enough to make it clear they knew who the newcomers were. One of them smirked as she passed, a playful glint in her eyes.
"New freshmen, huh?" she said, her voice a mix of mockery and amusement. "You really changed Elena's place fast."
The boss gave a small, tight smile in response. "It's a business. Don't take it personally."
Finally, the boss stopped in front of a door and opened it. The room was small, cramped, with a bed, a tiny wardrobe, and a broken mirror in the corner. The air was heavy with the stench of cheap perfume and sweat. The walls were bare, the floor covered in dust.
"This was Elena's room," the boss said, stepping inside. "She shared it with two other girls. I don't know if you'll find anything, but maybe there's something worth looking at. I've asked the other girls, but no one knows anything."
They entered, and their eyes immediately began scanning the room. The place was devoid of personality. It was bleak, disorganized, and random in a way that was almost unsettling. Maya noticed a worn handbag lying on the floor next to the bed. She opened it quickly and found a few things that caught her attention. There was an ID card, but it didn't have Elena's name on it—though it looked remarkably like her. Along with that, there were some old school papers, a small purse with loose change, and some receipts for items she didn't recognize.
While Maya was inspecting the bag, Riley looked to the corner of the room, where clothes were strewn about. She spotted a shirt with a strange stain and, nearby, a small key. "This looks like a key, doesn't it?" Riley murmured, pointing to the small object she had found.
The boss gave a slight smile, but her eyes were watching them carefully. "You can ask the other girls here, but I can't give you more than this. What I know is that Elena was in some kind of emergency situation before she left."
"But how…?" Maya started, but she didn't finish the question. She knew there was more to this. More than they could understand just by looking at the room.
Before they could ask any more questions, another girl walked into the room. "Did you find anything?" the girl asked with a mocking smile. "You planning to look through Elena's stuff too? I found a note she left around here." She pulled a crumpled paper from her pocket and handed it to Maya.
Maya read it slowly, her heart sinking. It was a confusing note, but there was a name at the bottom: "James." It was written in a hurried, almost frantic hand. The note mentioned Elena needing money and that James would ensure she had a better life if she did some "tasks" for him. Maya's fingers tightened around the paper. Who was James? What had he promised Elena? And what was she really involved in?
The pieces were starting to fall into place, but the more they uncovered, the darker it became. Elena wasn't just caught up in something she couldn't handle—she was entangled in something far worse than they could have imagined. And now, they were deeper in this world than they had ever wanted to be.