Elisa nervously gazed at her watch while her friend was swallowing another shot. She's finished her beer and now was up for something stronger.
It was a few minutes after eleven and Elisa really needed to get home.
But all the fun was just about to start. The club was becoming more crowded and people seemed to talk louder.
The volume of music was growing in proportion to people arriving.
The initial excitement of the alcohol they'd drunk turned into a dumb pulsing pain that was pounding in her head to the music beats.
'Nick's asking if he can come already,' Elisa waved her I-phone before her friend's eyes.
'Tell him to give us 30minutes,' she turned away, 'Oh hey!' She saw someone she probably knew and headed to the dance floor.
'30 min,' she texted.
'Got it.'
Had Elisa been drunk, she'd been dancing together with Kelly in the middle of the crowd, but her brother started doing drugs again. And mom was worrying. And the only way Elisa could see of preventing him from getting deadly high again is to ask him to pick her up.
'Hey, do I know you?' She heard a male voice. A guy in a black T-shirt and black sweatpants came to their table.
'Em… No, I don't think so,' Elisa smiled politely; he raised his brow as if in a surprise.
'You look familiar, ever been here?' he shrugged his shoulders, a thin silver chain swung slightly on his neck.
'Nope, first time,' she turned to him. The guy was quite handsome, his sandy hair was a bit long and brushed back, though, a few locks fell on his forehead.
'Sorry,' he replied. Elisa honestly thought he'd go away now but then realized it was just a simple pick up line when he said: 'Can I buy you something then, as an apology?' He smiled.
'Ah, no, I'm about to leave now, so…'
'No, we're not!' she didn't notice when Kelly appeared at the table. 'Don't mind her, she's a prude. I'm Kelly,' she reached out her hand, the guy squeezed it.
'Kevin.'
'So, you were saying something about delicious drinks for two lonely girls, huh?' Elisa wondered how her friend could demand things from guys so easily. She knew she was charming and attractive and used it to the full.
Elisa noticed one more guy heading to their table. His steps were relaxed; he kept both hands in his pockets. There was something cocksy about him, he held his head high, his big blue eyes wandered lazily on both the girls. He was close-shaved and was wearing a black unzipped hoodie, a white T-shirt with a print of Mickey Mouse on it was gleaming in the club's twilight. The character of the cartoon Elisa loved so much when she was a kid felt so inappropriate on that haughty guy. He reminded her of those bullies you're likely to come across in a dark street late at night and be at a risk to return home with no phone or money.
'Hey,' he slightly nodded his head.
Kevin smiled with a corner of his mouth, 'That's Kelly and …' he looked inquiringly at Elisa.
'Elisa,' she introduced herself.
'Liam,' he had that bored look as if nothing could impress him. Maybe he didn't really like them, Elisa thought.
'We've got a booth over there, just in case you want to join in,' Kevin pointed to the opposite wall. It was just now that Elise actually noticed rows of dark-red curtains there. Some were open; companies were slouching comfortably on soft velvet couches around the tables.
She felt her friend's enthusiasm as if it was the last night of her life. Alright, they may stay for a bit longer.
Elisa felt so uncomfortable. She didn't mind the guys but they were clearly older, over twenty at least, and little experience in going to such places told her nothing of what intentions of the guys who pick up girls in clubs really are. They seemed pretty normal, though, and weren't even drunk. That was reassuring.
'Move out in 10 m,' she texted to Nick. The message got delivered but he was offline.
Kelly was chirping unstoppably and all their attention was on her, and Elisa knew how awkward it would be to interrupt her to tell they need to go.
'Kelly,' Elisa touched her friend by the elbow but she didn't seem to hear.
They both smirked at her attempt to get to her friend.
'Kelly,' she called again, pulling at her arm harder.
'What?' she rolled her eyes and sighed, 'Elie, we're just come, can't we stay for a bit more?' she pleaded.
'Want to leave so soon?' Kevin made a disappointed look. 'Come on, we've just met. Who agreed for a company?'
'Not me,' Elisa laughed stiffly trying not to show her discomfort. 'No, I mean, you're nice, no offence, it's just... not the right day,' she shrugged.
'It is sure not', Liam murmured with a sneer and they exchanged glances with Kevin.
'Huh?' She turned to him for explanation. He stared at her, lips twitched in a suppressed smile. He was handsome, no doubt. But there was something about him that just… felt wrong. As if his every glance or phrase was a mockery. When Kelly got drunk her tongue grew to that length so that she couldn't control it. When they asked them about their age, Elisa wanted to say they were at least eighteen but Kelly fired up the truth immediately that they were just seventeen to have a chance to boast of a significant friend she's got here who'd let them in with no problem. So probably both of the guys were not really into hanging out with underage but, unlike Kevin, Liam was showing it too obviously. And unlike Kelly, Elisa didn't really feel at ease.
'And yeah, I just got all of us some refill' Liam added.
'So why are you still here then?' Kelly's eyes glistened.
'Room service, worth buddying up with some staff here,' his phone gave a signal of a new message. Liam's lips pursed in irritation as he read it.
'So what takes him so long?' Kelly demanded. 'You better tell your friend, I'm not satisfied with their service.' She flashed at him with her long lashes.
'So what could we do to satisfy you, huh?' He licked his lower lip and slouched back on the sofa.
Their eyes locked at each other's, teasing.
'Guys, we'll leave you for a sec, I think my make up needs fixing,' she giggled and the guys smiled understandingly.
She took Elisa by the hand and pulled her out of the room. Elisa saw Liam getting up too, following them. He winked at her as she looked back and headed for the bar.
Kelly was in the cabin like for eternity.
'They're cute, don't you think. Liam's into me, I'm telling you,' her voice was contemplating from behind the door.
'Uh-uh…' Elisa opened the dialogue with her brother. Nothing.
Finally Elisa heard flashing, and the door opened. Kelly smoothed down her skirt, and headed to the exit.
In front of the mirror a girl was trying to apply some lipstick but seemed no less drunk than Kelly and her hand was wiggling from side to side trying to point at the place on her face where her lips are supposed to be.
'Shit!' She cried out when Kelly bumped into her. Her lipstick drew a long curved line on the girl's cheek and fell clattering on the floor, rolling under the sinks.
'Oh Gosh, sorry!'
Kelly was about to get down on her knees to get her lipstick but the girl stopped her.
'Ah, never mind, a cheap crap. My ex loved it, though.' The girls laughed.
While Kelly was helping the girl to clean up, Elisa looked at her phone again.
Nick still hasn't read the message. And his phone was only replying with long beeps when she tried to call him. He couldn't have let her down. He can't just sit constantly waiting for her calls, she tried to calm herself.
When they left the ladies' she noticed Liam sitting on the bar-chair talking to the barman. They were discussing something, gesturing actively. Liam was probably well accustomed to the loud music and the communication within. Turns out he can talk like a human sometimes. They both turned their heads at Elisa and Kelly. They nodded to each other and Liam stepped towards the girls. He looked at Kelly and, making a smoking gesture with his fingers, pointed to the exit.
'Be right back,' Kelly blew her a kiss and was about to go.
'Kelly', Elisa took her by the hand while she hasn't gone far, 'I texted Nick, he's on his way here.' She spoke it up so convincing that she even believed it herself.
She tsked.
'You're a true buzzkill, you know that? Alriiiight-,' she rolled her eyes, 'I gotcha.'
She walked dancing to Liam and took a high seat next to where he was standing. He was watching her lazily, head on his side. He said something to her and pointed to the menu on the bar counter. Kelly gave him a playful smile. They made some order and headed to the exit.
Elisa sighed. She hoped Nick would show up soon, so her friend would finally realize it was time to go.
It took her some effort to break through dancing elbows, backs and arms, especially with the light flashing into her eyes. The owners of some even turned to her to say sorry but she didn't stop to reply, being at a risk to be stumped out.
When she returned to the booth, Kevin was on the phone. He was walking to and fro as far as the space of the booth allowed it. He smiled at her but she thought he was annoyed with the caller, his brows were furrowed. To her surprise, he was not speaking English and though she couldn't understand anything he was saying, there was a slight irritation in his replies.
Holding his phone between his ear and shoulder, he pointed at the newly arrived cocktails and gave her way to take a seat.
'Sorry', his lips whispered to her. 'Jeg sagt, vi er næst'n færdig,' he said through his teeth. (I said we're almost there)
'Ja. Forstod.' (Yes. Got it.)
She sipped off her cocktail. Probably it was there for some time already. It got warm and its taste was bitter, or maybe her sense of alcohol has returned to her since she's stopped drinking like an hour ago.
'Sorry, no rest from this shitty work', he exhaled and flopped on the sofa next to her.
'What language was that? German?'
'Of, course, German, what else could it be,' he laughed. 'It's actually Danish.'
'Why do you speak it?'
'Because I can,' he smirked. 'Is it not alright with you?'
'What? Nooo,' she realized her previous question sounded a bit tactless, but sometimes she got really stupid when being around new people. 'I mean…'
'Relax, I'm joking,' he sneered. 'That's my native language.'
'Oh. Well, I was just asking why you have to speak it. You work for the Danish company?'
He nodded after a slight delay, 'Yeah, kind of…'
'Wow! What do you do?'
'Many things,' he sipped at his beer.
'Like…?'
'That's… complicated, never mind.' Elisa felt a bit offended, does he also think she's not adult enough to talk about work. But then, he had quite an unpleasant conversation just now, so probably that's the reason why he doesn't want to talk.
Her phone vibrated and Elisa hoped it was Nick but it gleamed with the picture of her mom. She dropped the call.
'It's mom. We're having some issues at home so… She's just worried,' she explained hoping he'd be more understanding to why she's spoiling their fun.
'Yeah, moms always are,' he nodded.
'Where are you?' she texted her.
'At Kelly's. Be home soon, Nick's picking me up,' she texted back.
'You talked to him?'
'Yep, he's okay. Be home soon, go to sleep' she pinned a kissing sticker to the message and opened her dialogue with Nick. Still no reply. And if she were sure, he was okay, she'd loosen up. But the uncertainty and anxiety were eating her alive.
'So…' Kevin turned his whole body to her. 'Since your friend has revealed your secret,' they both chuckled. 'You're still at school, right? How's it? I kinda miss it.' he bit his lip and glanced at the curtains as if it displayed his memories like from an old filmstrip.
'Yeah, a year left.'
'Any plans after school?'
'Just don't laugh,' she snorted. 'I want to be a teacher, actually.'
'Huh? Really? Gonna struggle with a bunch of bad graders like me? So, what do you want to teach?' he asked but all his attention was on his phone screen. He was texting something again.
They were both kind of tensed all along. Him and Liam. Were they sure it was the right time to make new acquaintances then?
'History.'
'Uh, I never liked history, no offence.' he put his phone on the table, screen down.
'None taken,' she smiled. 'Listen, I really have to go. It's just… my brother, he's coming for us so…' she explained. Maybe they should take a taxi, she thought. She was too worried about Nick, she couldn't just sit still.
'I just texted to Liam… they're coming, don't worry,' he tapped his fingers slightly at her forearm. She looked at her phone again. Her last message was still hanging there unread.
And moreover, Liam and Kelly were not coming. She looked at the calmly hanging curtain hopefully they would show up. But behind it there were only dark shadows, moving, dancing, jumping to the music, rays of lights flickered constantly through the gap between the curtain and the floor.
Elisa sipped at her cocktail just to suppress her frustration but it was so bitter she could hardly even swallow it but she felt she got drunk just enough to be feeling sleepy.
'I'll go find her…'
She got up but Kevin was sitting in her way and for some reason didn't even move a bit to let her pass.
'Come on, wait up a bit, they'll be back in a minute,' he moved closer to her, putting his arm on the back of the couch above her. She hunched uneasily.
It was in the air, it was in his movements. In everything.
'Your brother hasn't come yet, so relax.' He smiled. Nervously. She noticed it. Something was not quite alright here. Goosebumps crept down her spine.
'He just texted me, he's almost here. We gotta walk out,' she got up again, now intending to squeeze between the table and Kevin if he doesn't move, she didn't care.
Suddenly she felt Kevin pulling her backwards by the straps of her jeans overall, she whimpered as she crashed onto his laps.
'Oh, really, is he?' He murmured calmly. She regretted putting on that short top, and now she could feel Kevin's hot fingers on her waist.
'WHAT ARE YOU DOING! I'M NOT…' she kicked him with her elbows, and breaking free, got to her feet and almost ran up to the curtain when Liam appeared in her way.
'Going anywhere?' he raised his eyebrows.
'Yep, where's Kelly.' She was furious. Her good opinion about Kevin dropped to disgust. What does he think she is? She looked behind Liam but he seemed to have come alone. She tried to pass him by but he repeated her movements and didn't let her walk out.
'She's gone home. Got pretty wasted.'
'What?' her eyes grew wide. 'No, she couldn't have gone without me.'
She pushed him and tried to walk around, but he shot his arm in front of her blocking her way.
'Let me out,' she felt panic rising up inside her. She pushed his arm away but it was steady as a rock. Instead he suddenly grabbed her by the elbows and turned around to Kevin.
'What the… ?' she attempted to set free from him but, if she could escape Kevin easily, now all her struggling was in vain.
'Should we let her go, Kev?' Elise froze still as the question flew high above her head.
'Nah, I like her.' His lips broke into a wry smile.
Liam pushed her back into the room.
'What are you doing? Get your hands off me,' she tried to free her hands or at least kick him but his grip on her wrist only got firmer and it was so painful that she thought he might break it.
'Where's Kelly!?' she cried out, still couldn't accept the thought of her leaving.
'Which part of 'she's gone home' you don't get? I just got her a taxi myself,' he shrugged and smirked exchanging glances with Kevin again.
Kevin leaned forward to her, their faces almost met. 'Come on, stay with us. It'll be fun.'
She tried to flinch back from him but behind it was only Liam's chest.
'Yeah,' he leaned so close she felt his breath on her ear. 'Ever been in a threesome?'
The guys both burst into laughter and she felt tears forming in her eyes.
'This is not funny, let me go home, please,' she whimpered with a shaky voice. Her throat felt dry. She was so scared that her mind refused to accept what was happening. It can't be happening to her. The guys are just messing around, they can't be serious. As if to prove her words Liam suddenly let go off her arms and she turned out pressed to the edge of the table with Liam and Kevin at her sides.
Kevin jerked up his head.
'So, you think you come to a club and some good guys buy you drinks to let you go home? Everything has a price.' He lightly touched the bare skin on her waist, she froze up.
'I've got the money,' she grasped at that possibility as if it was a safe belt. Her tear-filled eyes moved from one guy to another. Liam was looking at her with a fake sympathy on his face. 'I can pay, please let me go.' A part of her still believed that they would suddenly realize they were doing something wrong.
They started laughing so hard she thought they'd laugh themselves sick.
'Oh,' a long moan exploded from Liam's chest, 'she's got the money, you hear that. Fucking hilarious.'
'We would let you go, honestly,' Kevin spoke up calmly. She stared at him pleading. 'It's just I'm afraid, you won't be able to go on your own,' he twitched his lips apologetically, 'in like… a couple of minutes?'
'What?' she gasped with a burst of terror. She tried to rush forward but Liam caught her in his arms again. She screamed so hard that her throat went hoarse immediately. Liam's heavy palm fell on her mouth.
'Don't they teach you at school to check what you drink?' He hissed in her ear. The realization of what she's been denying all along hit her like a fireball. She tried her hardest to keep the tears in her eyes but they betrayed her. Her face twitched with uncontrollable tears that rushed down her cheeks. A loud sob escaped her chest.
'Shh…' Liam pressed his lips to her temple. She started fighting with more force than before. She scratched and kicked without looking, even managed to bite his hand.
'Woah, she's a beast,' he scoffed. He pushed her back and she found herself pinned between him and the table. Its sharp edge stuck painfully in her stomach. She felt the weight of him behind her but somehow managed to turn around. Her head gave a spin and she felt a sudden tiredness overwhelming her.
A sudden warmth spread in her chest, black stubbles of shaved beard on Liam's chin grew in a big black spot.
She's been drunk before. And it clearly was not the effect she could compare to being drunk. She felt growing waves of weakness in all her limbs, her knees seemed so feeble that if it wasn't for the table and Liam holding her, she would probably fall down. Her movements became terribly sluggish. She kicked him in the chin but it turned out so weak, he didn't even react. She struggled to suppress the panic, her breath got ragged, more from the stress and fear. It seemed as if she dived under water. Her head was heavy and her vision was failing her. She moaned faintly and squeezed her eyes to chase away the unfamiliar feeling. Until she was conscious, her mind could understand the situation. Her gazed slid at her half-drunk glass. She's been drugged. The thought of it was so impossible she couldn't truly believe it. And she was so terrified. What has she done? What will they do to her?
Kevin got up from his seat and it all was in such a slow motion that she felt sick.
All her body relaxed when Liam stopped gripping her. Elisa couldn't even cry anymore because her mind and senses were slowly refusing to react to anything. She felt terribly sleepy, she was afraid to even close her eyes because she might not open them again. She took an unsteady step and her forehead bumped into Liam's chest. Eyes to eyes with Mickey. From the T-shirt he was smiling at her, happily as always.
It was the last thing she saw before she gave in to the blackness.
