Hi. This is Viatrix. This is a new idea that I'm playing around with, so...yeah. Enjoy!
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Prologue
The Flare
The Flare was an upscale night club located in the heart of Moscow. The multi-storey building was painted a dull red, the name proudly displayed in neon orange lights and it attracted people of all ages, both tourists and locals alike. It had everything.
Guests arrived at the door, discarding their coats at the coat check in the reception area. People who wished to change shoes could do so, leaving winter boots and wet sneakers in small cubbies that were constantly watched by receptionists.
The first floor was strictly for dancing, the wooden floors lovingly waxed to a shine. The low stage in the centre of the floor hosted DJs, karaoke singers on Thursdays and the occasional dancer. Small café tables were scattered along the edge, providing a recovery spot for tired dancers.
The second floor was the bar and lounge, creating a relaxed atmosphere with its sound proof walls. Every type of drink was offered and several kinds of small pastries and snacks were available after six in the evening. Padded booths offered a quiet retreat for couples, groups of friends, and even businessmen.
The third and fourth floors were like hotel rooms. Guests could check in their intoxicated friends for the night at a reasonable fee. The rooms were tastefully decorated in subtle colours and plush furniture, while some of the pricier rooms had finer décor.
Staff at the Flare handled their job well. Bouncers at the door patted each guest down for weapons before granting entry. Waitresses served dutifully, efficient with their care of customers. The bartender watched drinkers carefully, noting intoxication and suspicious behaviour to suggest drug abuse. Maids cleaned the building daily, humming and giggling through chores.
The Flare was one of the best maintained night clubs in all of Moscow.
A cover for one of the largest, government aided hidden organizations. It was called Black Wing. Its purpose was to watch for social disruption or suppressions, find the source, and turn it in to the Russian government. If the source could not be captured, it was destroyed.
Its existence was not known to the public, and the name Black Wing was never connected to the popular night spot in downtown Moscow.