Too many beautiful people have died..."
Orie thought to herself as she stared at her ceiling listening to Jimmie Hendrix's "purple haze" blast through her room.
If there was a god why would he let so many good, important people die, such as John Lennon, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King... the list just went on.
She was absolutely sure there was no god. The way we were all created she wasn't quite sure, but she knew evolution was a right step in the direction explaining the way all life was created and functioned. Digging her face into her pillow she sighed, inhaling the sweet scent of the lavender detergent her mom had just recently bought.
Thinking about the whole origin of life and the universe was all way too complicated. She only really gave it a real thought when she was high, like she was now.
Sitting back up with a small smile playing at her lips she grabbed her small glass pipe from off her dresser and lit up another toke. Weed had always been a big thing with her. It made her feel like she could figure out anything, or realize something she hadn't noticed when she was sober. As she exhaled the smoke she let out a laugh making the cloud rush out of her lungs.
Tonight she was supposed to hit the clubs with her best friend. She had never been to a club. She imagined the music would mostly be abunch of R&B and pop shit music and she would be having alot, alot of drinks. She emphasized on the thought of drinks cause that was the only thing that was going to make this night fun. Looking over at her clock it read 6:55 p.m. She had an hour to get ready before her friend arrived.
Slowly slipping off the edge of her bed in a weed stricken haze she walked over to her closet. She didn't have any fashionable night club clothing so instead she picked out a pair of skin tight black jeans and a Beatles shirt sporting a painted red strawberry from the movie "Across the Universe."
She never wore much makeup so she painted on some red lipstick and black eyeshadow before she was finally finished getting ready. She couldn't exactly brush her hair since she had dyed bright red dreadlocks that hung just past her shoulders. Looking in the mirror she already knew there was no way she would fit in with the bunch of club going "mostly" slutty girls that came to the clubs hoping to find someone.
Her eyes were glazed over and starting to turn red. Normally she would have put in some eye drops but she was feeling too lazy.
Shrugging at her reflection in the mirror she couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Her and her friend were only going to this club because they both had never been. It was in their nature to try out new things. Even though the only way they were going to have fun was by drinking an excessive amount she didn't mind.
Since she was already ready about an hour early she went back to her pipe and began packing a new bowl.
xxx
"C'mon Orie you have to dance if I dance."
Ignoring her friends comment she absently stared out the window for about a minute, watching the blur of trees and other cars pass by.
"Ill only dance if you get me extremely wasted."
Even though she wasn't looking at Ramona she knew her friend was annoyed by the way she spoke.
"Drinks are about five dollars a shot... I can only afford so much on my own. You're the one who has a job you should be treating me."
Sticking out her tongue in amusement she turned toward Ramona who was staring at her expectantly from the drivers seat.
"Yeah yeah, don't worry by the end of tonight you'll at least be too drunk to stand. I have work in the morning so i'm only going to drink for the first hour or two. "
Stopping at a red light Ramona tapped the steering wheel with her index finger.
"Ah I forgot you have work tomorrow, what a pain." She let out a grunt bouncing in her seat impatiently.
"Yeah I guess it's sorta a pain, but I guess it'll be worth it... I can't wait to get the fuck out of this city." She slightly leaned towards her friend and poked her playfully in the side.
"When you get that job at wal-mart then we can finally make progress and move in together."
Ramona's eyes lit up at the thought of moving in with her bestfriend Orie soon.
"I know, but no worries. Very soon Orie we're both going to make it out of this shit hole of a city and travel as much as we can."
Orie leaned back in the passengers seat, a content smile gracing her lips. She loved knowing that she wasn't alone in wanting to get the fuck out of there.
"Yeah I know, those days couldn't come any sooner."
Her friend smiled without a word before pushing down on the gas.
xxx
Things were exactly how Orie had expected them. The club was dark with bright neon lights over throwing the dance floor. The bar was lit up with bright white lights and the place was crowded, mostly with girls wearing outfits that were to small for them. Letting out a giggle, more from being stoned then anything, she pulled Ramona over to the bar by her wrist.
"Two shots of Jack Daniels please."
She held two fingers up to the bartender in case the music was to loud for him to hear.
She watched his eyes scan over the orange band around her wrist before he began pouring the drinks.
It was very convenient having turned twenty one just a few days ago.
The two shots were in front of them within a few seconds and she handed over fifteen dollars to the bartender not expecting him to give her her change.
"Alright bottoms up!"
She held out the other shot to Ramona before they both took a shot, knowing it would help ease their tension.
She grimaced from the liquids warm burn that made its way down her throat and spread through her chest.
"Ahh, there's nothing like good ol' whiskey to ease the tension."
Ramona let out a laugh before signaling the bartender for four more.
"So after these four shots I expect you to dance with me!"
Her friend had to yell over the sound of R. Kelly blasting through the building.
"Fine but only if I feel buzzed!"
Her friend laughed as she slipped the bartender twenty five dollars and held her shot up to Orie.
"To being best friends always!"
Orie held up her shot so they clinked and then swished it down like water.
"To being best friends."
Clearing her throat she grabbed the next shot and waited for her friend to recooperate from the last. She had been best friends with Ramona since eighth grade. Her friend had changed dramatically over the years. Once her friend Ramona had been a gothic chick with too much attitude and no friends, that was before Orie had transferred to the same school. In those days Orie had had a knack for wearing leopard print and mounds of red lipstick, but now they both just dressed however their mood persuaded them.
"Are you ready for the next one?"
"Only if you are."
Smiling she gulped down the last shot before squinching her face.
"Ah that tastes horrible."
Ramona laughed. "You always do that squinchy face every time we drink. Grow some hairy balls and take it like a man."
She huffed out her chest.
Orie rolled her eyes and happily sucked on a lime slice.
Suddenly a mans voice rang out over the music.
"Let me buy you ladies another drink, it's on me."
The deep voice was commanding, demanding their attention with only that one sentence.
Looking over in surprise she noticed two men standing a couple feet from them. They were both dressed in black button up shirts and dark blue jeans. She couldn't help but notice that the one who had spoken had shaggy unkempt black hair and brown eyes that looked almost violet in the light. Something about the way those eyes raked down her body was enough to make her want to slap that smug look off his face.
She didn't bother to hide her disinterest.
"No it's okay we were planning to slow down on drinks for a bit."
"Agh" Her sentence was broken when Ramona elbowed her in the side.
"Yeah another drink sounds great!"
She glared daggers at her friend as the two men sidled up in the seat next to her.
"Great, what would you ladies like?"
She noticed that the man didn't seem to be raising his voice over the music at all, but somehow they could hear him clear as crystal.
Without hesitation Ramona said to the bartender," We'll both have a gin and tonic."
A wide smile spread over Ramona's features as she waited for the bartender to begin working on their drinks. Orie couldn't help but smile when she looked over at the goofy expression on her friends face. She was such a dork. Her green hair somehow made Ramona look more innocent than when it was dyed black.
"So are you guys from around here?"
Orie looked over at "Violet eyes" since he had been the one who'd spoken again.
"Yup. What about you guys, do you guys come here often?"
He was sitting next to Orie while his friend sat on the other side of him, away from Ramona. She didn't really get a chance to look him over before the man spoke again.
"We like to come here occassionally."
There was something smug in his expression that made Orie feel uneasy.
"Oh I see..."
The bartender placed a gin and tonic before Orie and Ramona while 'violet eyes' friend slipped him a fifty... She heard her friend let out a squeal of delight behind her while she continued staring at the two men.
'Violet eyes' turned so his body was facing her and held up a glass of clear liquid in a salute gesture. She hadn't even noticed he'd had a drink before.
"Well cheers to this being your first time here."
She plastered a small fake smile on her lips as she picked up the drink and downed it in two gulps. It tasted sweet at first before a bitter alcoholic taste over powered her tongue.
Wait- How did he know this was their first time there?
Setting down her drink she shot the man a suspicious look. He didn't seem to notice the glare he was being given. Taking a sip of said clear liquid he matched her stare with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Ahhh." He smacked his lips together setting down the drink.
She noticed his movements were slow. Even his eyes seemed to scan over her face as if he needed to take in every detail. Fighting back the shudder that reverberated through her shoulders she slipped out of her chair and took a step back.
"Well thank you for the drinks but me and my girlfriend are going to go dance now."
His eyes followed her but he stayed silent.
She was surprised to see the man didn't look at all disappointed as she dragged a half drunk Ramona away from the scene and onto the dance floor. By then Lady Gaga's song "Disco Stick" was blasting through the club.
"Dude they were both totally hot what are you doing?"
Orie ignored her friend and started shaking her hips to the beat of the song.
"Just dance with me, I had a bad feeling about those two."
She was surprised when Ramona didn't question her on the subject anymore. Rolling her eyes at Orie she began to dance along to the song that they both wouldn't have liked if they were sober.
They both stayed close to each other not wanting to lose each other in the crowd.
"How are you feeling?" Ramona yelled at her over the music.
"I feel good, kinda dizzy from the drinks though."
Ramona nodded and they both danced on not caring that this wasn't their type of music.
Halfway through the song she noticed Ramona getting kinda sluggish in her movements.
"Hey are you okay?"
Ramona ignored her before slowly falling to her knees. She was staring at the ground as if she didn't realize she was in the middle of a dance floor.
Orie wasted no time in grabbing Ramona by the arm and practically dragging her away towards the bathroom. When the reached the door to the bathroom Ramona pulled free from her grasp.
"Where am I...?"
Orie scowled at Ramona taking in the way her friends eyes seemed to be drooping as if she were about to fall asleep.
"Maybe you had one too many drinks... and we just got here..."
Pulling her friend by the arm again she attempted to drag Ramona into the bathroom.
"C'mon lets get away from this music so we can talk."
Before Orie could drag her friend any further she felt someones hand crush over her mouth and begin pulling her away.
"Wh-mmphm"
Whoever they were they were strong, too strong."
Her grasp was ripped from Ramona's arm as someone dragged her away from the bathroom entrance and through a pair of doors leading outside behind the club. The cold night air washed over her skin sending her into a panic. She struggled against the unknown assailant with all her might trying to see who he was and where he was taking her. Had Ramona gone to get help? Had anyone seen him drag her away?
"Stop struggling or i'll be forced to hurt you."
She furrowed her brow at the sound of that familiar voice. His voice was deep and sounded strained? She wasn't quite sure because her eyes were beginning to go out of focus and her body was starting to feel unusually weak. This made her panic and begin struggling even further. Clawing at the mans arm that was holding her in place she wriggled her body, mainly her shoulders to get out of his grip.
Wherever they were it was completely dark.
"I said stop struggling." This time the man punched her in the side of her stomach with the arm that wasn't covering her mouth. Letting out a painful breath her eyes started to cloud with hot tears. It felt like he had broken a rib more than anything.
Suddenly a black car that was blurry in her vision pulled up and the door opened by the shadow of someone who was inside the vehicle.
The man holding her against him leaned forward and whispered in a hushed voice for only her to hear. "Don't worry beautiful, in the end you'll be greatful I did this."
Ceaselessly struggling against the man holding her, he violently pushed her down into the backseat of the car before getting in himself. She meant to scream but her scream was cut off by a pair of lips pushing aggressively against her own until the stranger was on top of her.
What was happening...?
Everything in the car was black even the man on top of her was a black silhouette. She could feel his warm hand swiftly reach up her shirt until his hand was under her bra squeezing her breast painfully.
Everything began to blur as hot tears streamed down her face in fear. Were these people going to murder her?
With that last thought racing through her mind she felt herself succumb to a drowsy feeling that had been slowly taking over her senses before she blacked out completely.
