Part 1

The city had never quite been the same since the virus, but then again who was expecting it to be? The adults had gone and left only children – scavengers, looking for shelter and food, the basics for life. After two years the city had calmed down, it had fought off the rule of the Chosen and was now living under the leadership of the Mall Rats, most of the city dwellers were happy. Lives had settled into a kind of routine, most people now had homes and friends to care for. Zanzi was one such person.

Zanzi looked up at the sign above the door – Zanzibar. He still couldn't quite believe it, his own club. Well the ownership could have been debated, he didn't know who used to own the club, before the virus. However he'd been living here happily for some time with his friends, and then the idea came about, why not open up the club? Of course that idea came from Sphinx, she was always having hair brained schemes that never really worked out, but perhaps this one would.

Zanzi looked down the street, there were a few abandoned cars, burnt out buildings, nothing out of the ordinary for this new world. He looked at the woman stood at the building next to the club. She too was admiring a sign above a door – Deadly Nightshades - the new casino. Zanzi knew this person so her presence wasn't alarming. He watched her as she moved away one of her red braids from her face, she returned Zanzi's stare with a smile.

"Not long now," She laughed and joined her friend.

"I know, I just hope we got the message out to enough people."

Belladonna laughed, "I'd say we got it out to the entire city, you know what Vanity is like when she sets her mind to something."

"Shall we enter then?" Zanzi pushed open the door to the club.

"Please after you," Belladonna placed a hand on the door to hold it open and beckoned for Zanzi to enter.

Zanzibar was a reasonable size. It had all the basics – bar, dancefloor, dance podiums, usual club things. It even had a DIY hole in the wall joining into Deadly Nightshades, all curtosey of The Zanzi's. This place had become a home to the tribe now known as The Zanzi's. They all somehow stumbled into a nightclub and decided to make it their home, and then when Sphinx had the idea to run the club again the entire tribe set about decorating and revamping the club. Offices above the club were converted into bedrooms, the bar was cleaned up, walls were repainted, the casino machines were dusted and an electricity generator was set up, curtosey of Saskia's ability to take five fingered discounts. The club was ready, it had the staff and the looks, all it needed was the customers.

Belladonna headed towards the bar where the rest of the tribe were gathered, Zanzi took one last look around the club and then joined them.

"Opening night tonight." Vanity Blaze looked at Zanzi as he sat down and spoke, "That means we have a lot of work to do, Vanity."

Vanity stood up, taking charge of the group, taking charge was something she did best, but she didn't have the leadership skills Zanzi did so she was given the position of personnel manager, "Ok bar staff tonight are Glitter, Saskia, Zanzi and of course, me. Sphinx you'll be getting some funky tunes from your dj podium." Vanity paused, "Did I actually say funky tunes?" She shook her head and continued, "Diva, Belladonna you're in the casino, James and Max you're on the door, Visage, Vixen and Kat you're the waitresses." Vanity smiled and picked up a piece of paper from the bar, "Now if theres any confusion you can all refer to my wonderful duty roster, colour coded and with little hearts for the dots over the "i"'s." Vanity laughed as she pinned up the roster, "Zanzi?" Vanity sat back down handing leadership back over to the tribes leader.

"I don't think I can beat Vanity's wonderfully planned roster but all I do want to say is that this has been a long time coming, we've worked for 2 years nearly trying to get this place up and running, we managed to hide away from the loco's and the chosen and now we can make a real go of this place, so lets make tonight a success." Zanzi smiled and then walked behind the bar. The rest of the group went their separate ways, most to the upstairs areas, getting ready for the nights opening.

"You think it will work?" Belladonna looked at Zanzi.

"Who knows."

"Glitter I told you not to touch my makeup!" Vixen fumed as she picked up discared lipsticks and eye shadows from her friends bed.

"Sorry Vix, but it's a big night tonight, I had to look the part." Glitter stepped out from behind the screen in the corner of the room, she was wearing a short black pvc mini skirt and a hawaiin print bikini top, all rounded off with black knee length pvc boots, and of course her trade mark of glittered cheeks.

"What the hell have you got on!" Vixen broke down in laughter at the sight of her friend.

"My outfit for tonight, Vanity said the girls mission is to dress to impress the boys!"

"Glit, the only person who would be impressed by that is a blind man."

Glitter sulked, "Well I don't see you doing any better Vixen! Whats that look called dressing gowns are us?"

"Actually, this is what this look is called." Vixen untied the knot that was holding the bath robe in place, she took it off revealing a black vest top that had a V on the center in diamonds. She was wearing a cut off demin mini skirt with a large belt displaying a V belt buckle, she too was wearing knee length boots but black leather ones that covered the red fishnet tights she had on under the mini skirt.

Glitter's jaw dropped, "Ok, maybe I will get changed then."

Vanity made one last adjust of her peroxide blonde hair in the mirror before she exited her room, Zanzi was leaving his opposite her. He was startled to see her.

"Vanity you look… wow!" Zanzi looked his friend up and down, she was wearing a purple corset with a flowing purple skirt, her peroxide hair was down in ringlets with purple streaks through and she had three purple lines on her right cheek.

"I know!" Vanity posed.

"No I mean it, you look amazing!"

"Just kiss me already," Vanity laughed. Zanzi obliged. Their lips locked for what seemed like an eternity, their kisses always did. As they parted Vanity looked her boyfriend up and down, "I can't say the same about you."

She dragged him into his bedroom and started throwing clothes at him, finding him an outfit, she eventually decided on jeans, a shirt and a black jumper, she spiked up his brown hair and admired her handy work.

Zanzi pulled on his boots and looked at Vanity, "I was thinking, we need some markings so people know who works here."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, maybe a Z?"

"Hmm." Vanity walked out of Zanzi's room and over into hers, she came back holding an eyeliner. She knelt down next to her boyfriend and drew a Z shape on his left cheek. She held up a mirror in front of him, "Like that?"

"Perfect, like you."

"Ok Zanzi now that we have these stupid markings on our faces can we open the doors?" Excitement had filled James, even after the embarrassment of having to have a Z on his cheek.

"Umm, places everyone!" Zanzi looked around as everyone scattered around the club, Belladonna and Diva darted towards the casino, Sphinx headed towards the DJ podium and most of the girls went towards the bar, Zanzi was stood alone in the middle of the club, the disco ball spun around casting light on the dance floor, Sphinx began playing music but Zanzi could still hear the sound of the crowd waiting to be let in from outside, "Max, James, let them in!"

A queue quickly formed outside, crowds of paying customers, each holding their supply of em's hoping to have a good night out, Zanzi headed towards the bar ready for serving drinks.

"All drinks free with admission!" Vanity yelled as customers headed towards the bar, for tonight of course there was no admission fee either, however Max and James were taking bribes at the door.

Casino slots were filled, tokens poured out of the machines, people danced, bottles were drunk, the club was a success.