The inner city became more familiar the closer Cherri led them to the club where Angel danced, the neon lights dead in the light of day but still recognizable to Clover as they weaved through the streets below them. The memories were hazy, but something about the area sent a sick sense of dread straight through her as she stared up at the tall buildings, nearly running into Husker when he suddenly stopped in front of her. Leaning around his tall, winged form, she just caught Cherri turning around to speak.
"So, if I get any closer to this place, it's gonna look weird, cause the fuckin' bouncers know me, so I'm gonna' go try and find us a way to get outa' here real fast once ya'll get eyes on Angie. Honestly, I would just blow the joint up if I didn't know for a fact that he was in there."
Clover quickly pulled out her cell phone, handing it to the cyclops after unlocking the device.
"Put in your number and send yourself a message, I don't trust that I'll be able to use Angel's phone if we need it."
"You're fuckin' smart babes, good call!"
As soon as a form of communication had been solidified, the group split up, Husker and Clover following Cherri's direction to the tall building with the neon pink awning sticking out into the street a block down. Husker led the way, shoulders hunched forward as he pushed past the few pedestrians that were scattered across the dirty sidewalk while Clover followed behind him until they'd made their way to the door of the establishment. The bouncer looked them over briefly, raising a brow at her attire before nodding an approval to enter. Inside was something close to what she would have expected, dimly lit minus the glow of neon lights that lined the walkways and filled the room with an empty, feverish light. Why Clover thought that the place would be empty during the daylight hours of hell, she wasn't sure, but the small collections of people scattered throughout the club's various sections took her by surprise as she took stock of what they were dealing with. The hopes of finding Angel among them died quickly, finding no recognizable faces as they moved towards the bar. A ruckus from above stalled her for a moment, a wheezing laugh and the smash glass causing her ears to twitch anxiously.
The bar was set into one wall of the room, it's back wall lined with hazy mirrors that reflected the sallow faces of its patrons. Husker had taken a seat, conversing with the horned bartender as he fixed whatever cocktail had been requested. They locked eyes in the reflection, slitted eyes darting to the reflected stage with a raise of a feathered brow before moving back to the bartender as two drinks were placed in front of him. Clover took the hint, ducking around the spiral staircase that led to the balcony before moving further into the room. The stage and it's catwalk stood empty of any performers taking advantage of the dull rhythm of the music that played in the background, the few booths and tables set aside for viewing dotted with scantily clad demons and their customers. A heart shaped door in the far corner caught her eye as she took a seat in one of the empty circular booths set below what she assumed was a VIP box as Husker appeared once again and pushed a drink in her direction.
"He's here, bartender said the place was packed last night because of 'im, and he was down here a couple hours ago with 'the boss', whoever the fuck that is."
"I'm going to guess that was Valentino."
"I thought he wasn't doin' this shit anymore."
"He just dances, I think, he mentioned that he makes enough money from that and from what Charlie is paying to keep him clean to keep his boss happy."
"Fuckin' contracts…"
The genuine disappointment that altered the normally gruff voice of her elder friend grew questions in Clover's mind, but now was not the time for her normal inquisitive interrogations.
She sipped experimentally at the recognizably red concoction that sat in front of her, wrinkling her nose at the sharp spice that sparked her to further wakefulness. Clover couldn't help but tease.
"Are you trying to tell me something Husker? I thought I was avoiding being visibly hung over."
"I needed to get ya' somethin' that wouldn't be suspicious, ya' look like the aftermath of a one night stand, kid, as fuckin' funny as that statement is knowin' who yous was with last night."
Clover blinked at the crude comment, turning her head to look into the mirrored wall behind her to investigate. He wasn't entirely wrong, remnants of her makeup remained smeared around bleary eyes and staining nerve bitten lips. Barely opaque tights covered her legs, her modesty retained by the baggy hoodie that hid her figure and fell to her mid thighs. Sitting back down properly, she turned to Husker, taking a long sip of her drink and waiting for the cackling coming from upstairs to reach its peak before continuing their conversation.
"I think we need to get into the backrooms."
"You're fuckin' crazy, there is no way in hell you're getting back there without payin' someone for somethin'."
"There has to be a way, like an employee entrance or something."
"Probably, it's probably somewhere on the outside of this joint, but how the fuck do ya' plan on gettin' in?"
"Do you really think anyone is going to look twice at a woman in the backrooms of a place like this, they probably have people come and go all the time. If I can avoid 'the boss', then I should be fine and-"
Another wheezing laugh from upstairs, followed by a loud hollow smack and the click of heels turned her eyes to the balcony above them once again, Clover sighing heavily in irritation before dropping her voice.
"-and I'm pretty positive I know where he is."
Husker's eyes flicked upwards at the sound of people coming down the spiral staircase, tensing slightly as whoever it was passed beside Clover. Her peripherals caught the swing of hips, draped in shining pink fabric that shifted in the light as their owner twirled to the sharp change in rhythm on platform boots before turning sharply towards the heart shaped door and disappearing through it. For a moment her heart leapt into her throat, thankfully stopping her from calling out before she noticed the bob of red hair where white curls would have sat if hopes had been answered. It was never going to be that easy. Husker snorted beside her, mumbling into his glass before taking a long sip.
"Hell, if that isn't the 70's on heels…"
Clover rolled her eyes, shifting her way out of the booth before holding out a hand expectantly, tilting her hips in false confidence.
"Do you have a cigarette?"
"You don't smoke."
"But you do, and I need an excuse to go back outside."
"You can smoke in here, I'm not lettin' you outta' my sight. I may gamble but I don't gotta' death wish. Think of anotha' plan."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'll be a rug by tomorrow if you get yourself inta' trouble on my watch, either by Vaggie's hands or Al's, and I'm not plannin' on figurin' out which one would get to it first."
"I'll handle it."
"I don't think-"
"Just give me the fucking cigarette."
Husker blinked at her, ears twitching at her rise in volume as she held a hand out expectantly. She hoped he would catch on to the feigned fight, her stubborn nature he was used to but her being openly confrontational wasn't something she tended towards. A moment passed before Husker's shoulders sunk, tapping a pack of cigarettes on the table top before holding the open pack out to her.
"You need me to light it for ya' to or can you do that by ya'self?"
Clover tried her best not to smile, taking what she needed and turning sharply on her heel to stalk back towards the doorway, pressing her palms against the cold glass of the revolving door. She blinked at the sudden brightness, shielding her eyes as she regained her bearings underneath the sagging awning, careful not to trip on the entryway carpeting as she made her way towards the nearest alleyway. She searched quickly, pink eyes looking over graffitied brick and scattered remains of junkies past before landing on something painfully familiar.
The bright pink door was set into the brick, set underneath a red bulb that was flickering helplessly in the daylight. Her heart sunk into her stomach, feeling the floor drop out from under her all over again as the memory of deafening wind sent her head spinning. A quick glance above the doorway solidified what she already knew, finding the familiar rust of her final descent into hell, the fire escape's rusted ladder stuck a few feet above the ground. Shaking herself of whatever one would call the feeling of being suddenly faced with the memory of one's first moments in hell, she pressed on. The handle of the door gave way instantly, opening up into a darkened hallway with a stairway at the end. The soft sounds of talking echoed down the corridor, hopefully covering her soft footsteps as she made her way down the concrete staircase. Her nerves loosened when the voice became recognizable as a single person, singing above the soft sounds of music from an open door at the end of the hallway. Clover passed other doorways, closed with various names scrawled on paper shoved into the empty slots beside the cracking paint that threatened to seal the doors shut. None of them read the name of who she was looking for, and the empty group locker room gave her as much direction as that, maybe less. Leaning against the wall, Clover weighed her options. Angel was popular, it was possible that he'd have his own permanent dressing room down one of hallways past the open door, but moving forward risked being caught.
All in all, it didn't seem to matter either way.
"Lookin' for somethin'?"
Clover nearly jumped out of her skin, turning sharply on her heel and instantly meeting a facefull of fluff. For a moment her heart leapt at the idea of finding Angel Dust this easily, but hope died as she was overwhelmed with a stomach churning sweetness that made her teeth begin to ache as she was forced to tilt her eyes so far upward her own lashes almost became a plague on her vision. Taking a few steps back did little to help the strain on her aching neck muscles but put the person standing behind her into better perspective. Far taller than Angel Dust, this person filled the empty hallway with spiraling spoke, it's haze pairing with the shadows cast by a large brimmed hat making it almost impossible to discern eyes behind rose colored glasses. The stained smile that sneered down at her was so unlike the cheerful expressions she was used to, dripping lewdly with condescension as it opened to speak once again.
"Or, someone?"
"I'm...sorry?"
As he leaned down into her personal space, her instincts fought against her rational sense, her mind screaming alongside the electric buzzing of her nerves, chanting together in time with her rushing blood one word.
Run.
Still, she doubted she could, not as she breathed deep the thick scent of sugared pheromones that were blown directly into her face as narrow red eyes peered over heart shaped frames. Every breath made her feel less aware of her own limbs, the biting sting of her nails against her palm turning into the dull warmth pain left behind even as blood threatened to spill. The man in front of her tilted his head at her, eyes looking over her form without shame as his brow rose. One of many hands adjusted his glasses once again, crossing them across his chest as he began to speak, words dripping with fake saccharine like syrup.
"Can I help ya' doll? I didn't think we had any new girls comin' in, but if you're lookin' to sell, well, I just might be up to buyin'."
"I don't, I mean, I'm not-"
"Speak up honey."
Whether it was the numbing sensation sinking into her skin or the bile that threatened to heave itself out of her throat as his smile widened, Clover struggled to answer. It was only when he let out a rasping laugh that she found truth in her assumptions. She knew who she was talking to, and she didn't dare let him catch on, not even as both sets of arms caged her in the tiny hallway with bars of red velvet and white fur.
"If you're not here for work, then what's ya' business, bunny?"
He reached towards her, her muscles screaming to retract but frozen solid as long fingers brushed against the swell of her breast, Clover cursing her lazy habit of leaving herself bare beneath her hoodies and sweaters on days like today had promised to be before she'd found herself on this risque rescue mission. She almost cried in relief when he pulled at the strap of her forgotten camera, releasing its weight back into her stomach with a heavy thud that snapped her out of her terror. He only watched as she stepped back, glasses dropping down his nose with the fall of his smile. His gaze didn't leave her camera, even as she took measured steps away and sent an anxious glance to the exit behind him. She flinched as he moved suddenly, standing up to full height above her as his expression shifted from the once honeyed smile to something more sinister entirely.
"Ya know, we usually charge for pictures. You're not back here tryin' to rip me off, are ya?"
"No! I'm just-"
"Let's go upstairs, doll."