Page 16 of Into The Darkness

“I am going to fix it,” I declared, grabbing my two new friends’ hands and walking over to where the bouncer was chilling in a plastic chair. He casually let a few people in before he leaned back and drank his beer.

“Hi, excuse me.” I pushed the girl at the front of the line away, ignoring her exclamations. “We were invited personally by name, so if you could please let us in, now.” The fog was thick, and I could barely see through it, but the alcohol soared through me. I was free and unabashed of any restraints.

“Yeah, so was everyone else here.” He gestured around with a bored look on his face. He was handsome, in a strange way, and tall. His black hair was pulled back and his features were angular and unique. When his gaze met mine, the deepest-blue eyes I had ever seen pierced through me. They were the color of the ocean on a bright day and looked so out of place next to a pine forest.

“How much is it going to take for us to cut the line?” I asked.

“Your money is no good here.” He laughed deep, sounding frustrated, like his whole job was annoying him.

“It’s okay, Em, we can just go back in line.” Beatrice tugged me backward, but I shook her off. I was having a proper stare-off with this doorman. That was when I did something that two-hours-ago me would have been completely ashamed of doing.

I walked over to the mysterious doorman, sat on his lap, and pulled his chin up so he was facing me.

“If I let you feel my tits, you’re going to let me and my friends in immediately,” I demanded, and his eyes widening told me that even he didn’t expect this to happen. It was a shame, because he was quite good-looking. In a different way than Ash, but attractive.

“Throw in some tongue and you’re in,” he countered. He didn’t think I had it in me. While my brain was screaming to get up and stop embarrassing myself, the lack of inhibitions that coursed through my veins told me to keep going.

So I stared right into his deep-blue eyes as I straddled him on the plastic chair.

“Okay.” I shrugged, then dropped my head down and pressed my mouth onto his. I grabbed his hands and shoved them onto my chest. His mouth opened, and there I was, in front of everyone, letting this man feel me up so I could go to a party?

Who was I?

I had no idea what was happening inside my mind, but it felt so good. Finally, I was doing something with no reserves, and I didn’t think I could ever go back to my old life again. This life shrouded in darkness was enticing.

Plus, the kiss. Holy shit, the kiss. It wasn’t anything like I’d ever felt in my life. Soft lips entangled with mine, somehow creating this show of fireworks dancing along my tongue. It wasn’t just a peck on the lips, this was an all-consuming kiss that terrified me.

I pulled back, jumped off his lap, and straightened my dress as quickly as I could. I needed a new distraction so I didn’t spiral into overanalyzing what just happened.

“Thanks for letting us in.” I winked and walked past him, gesturing to my friends to hurry up and follow me.

I glanced over my shoulder, and he was running his hands through his hair, staring in my direction. My fingers landed on my lips, and I gasped. What . . . did I do?

“Holy—” Beatrice exclaimed. My attention snapped back toward her and Maddy.

“Shit, Ember.” Maddy finished, running to catch up to me as I rolled my shoulders back, confidence now oozing off me.

“Eh. It was no big deal.” I twisted the corners of my lips into a smirk to show them what a badass I was. The old Ember was shedding her skin, and I was someone new, daring and enticing. It felt good to be seen.

“That was rad. I didn’t know you had that in you,” Maddy said.

“I didn’t either,” I murmured so no one could hear. Behind us, a chorus of very annoyed girls were now propositioning the door guy with other lewd sexual acts, and I glanced back, yet again, but then quickly shifted my attention forward. I hated to admit that was so fucking hot. Like the earth-shattering kiss that would blow anyone’s mind, and it made me want to do it more . . .

Loud club music blasted around us, and when we got to the steps, I realized how terrifying all the masks made it feel. There were no identities here, which meant sin could run rampant.

“This is so cool.” Beatrice smiled. We were crowded inside what looked like what was once a living room, but furniture was pushed up against the walls. The darkness inside was pervasive, only occasionally punctuated by flickering, colored party lights. The walls appeared to have witnessed countless parties and gatherings, their surfaces worn and aged, like silent bystanders to the passage of time. It was a place where secrets were shared in hushed whispers and laughter echoed through the shadows, where people came to lose themselves in the music and sin. Bodies filled every corner, creating an electric atmosphere as they moved in rhythm with the music. The place had an eerie charm. Right in the center was the large dance floor where people were packed in like sardines.

The strobe light made it hard to actually look around.

“Oh my God, look.” Maddy pointed to the corners of the room where a few couples were . . . having sex?

“Ew.” I turned away, feeling like I had somehow interrupted a private moment. Yet there was a curiosity that had me looking back.

My stare lingered a little bit longer than I’d hoped. I was curious, as a woman bounced on a man while he bit down on her nipples. Her eyes rolled and her mouth dropped open on a cry, but the noise was drowned out by the pulsating music.

“Earth to Ember.” Beatrice poked me. I had been staring at them for far too long.

“Who would do that willingly in front of this crowd?”

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