Page 55 of Orion Ruined

“I’d rather not go anywhere. Kai told me to wait for him here,” I repeat. More for myself than for her.

“Don’t worry. Let’s grab a drink then come back here. I’d hate for you to be alone–there are pervs in the vicinity.” She looks around at the few people who are staring at us. I wouldn’t want to be near them either. “What’s your name?”

“Um, Em.” It’s all I can think of on the spot. I should be playing defense, I know, but she seems such a sweet girl.

“Right then, Em, come on.” She reaches out a hand to me.

I’ll have to either take her hand now and get off the bike, or be rude and leave her hanging after she’s given me her shoes and invited me for a drink. I throw one last glance at the office. Kai’s in there by himself, deep in paperwork.

“I’m Natasha, by the way,” she adds, and now I’ll be borderline insulting her if I don’t take her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Natasha.” I shake her hand, and lean on her as I hop off the bike.

“Likewise.”

Walking inside the bar makes me nauseous. My senses are attacked by the blaring music and the smell of alcohol. The place itself is not that big. There are wooden floors, with tables positioned in a random pattern. People probably just move them as they gather here. The bar’s on the right side of the room, spanning the length of one wall, with two bartenders pouring drinks. The other side has the street entrance, but the tinted windows don’t allow much natural light to come in.

“Listen up, everyone!” Natasha yells at the bikers in here. There are about twenty of them, most with a beer in their hand. “Kai’s brought this lovely girl on his bike today!”

“Did he, now?” a sleazy, bearded older man jeers. He instantly gives me the creeps.

“Her name’s Em. Shall we make her welcome?”

“Heyyy! To Em!” All of them cheer and raise their drinks.

This is a bit too much. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t even want it. Low-key, that’s what this outing was supposed to be. And suddenly, it’s not.

Natasha helps me take off Kai’s jacket. “It’s hot in here, you don’t need this.”

“Sure.”

Those who didn’t have drinks approach the bar, and the bartenders begin to pour like there’s no tomorrow. Why’s there a big deal about meeting me? And it’s like there isn’t any monetary system in place at all. It’s a free-for-all.

Someone hands me a drink, a shot of something. “Here’s one for you, Em!”

I’ll have to drink this, even though I don’t want to. “Cheers.” I gulp it all down. Yuck. I hate vodka.

There are gathered around me now, and all of them want to clink my shot glass and drink with me.

For some reason, I’m hearing alarm bells. “Sorry, I can’t drink this anymore.”

Natasha laughs, then pinches my chin and opens my mouth while the bartender manages to pour more vodka down my throat before I pull away.

I manage to jerk out of her reach. “Hey, what the hell are you doing?” The alarm bells are in full siren mode now.

“You’re gonna need it!” Natasha jeers, and pushes me into the crowd. My heart pumps erratically while the fear grows more potent. I lose my balance, and whoever I land on gropes my ass as they help me up.

I’m confused and shaking. What the hell’s going on?

“You’re gonna have so much fun, Em,” a bearded man with no front teeth says mockingly, and grabs my boob.

“What the fuck?! Let go of me!”

Natasha saves me. “Dewei, keep your ugly hands to yourself.” Thank God.

I think it’s over, but then I hear her next sentence.

“Let’s take off her t-shirt first.”

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