1. Sienna #2
I pass the line to the women's bathroom, admiring the different outfits of those waiting, and internally clock the designer accessories in one of my personal favorite games.
When I open the exit door, a rush of crisp air hits me alongside the smell of urine.
My nose scrunches up at the putrid scent, which is unexpected from such an exclusive club.
But then I remind myself that anything goes in the back alleys in London.
But that's not what has me stopping in my tracks.
It's the man standing across from me, taking a drag from a cigarette, looking more sinister here than he did inside the club.
In the dim lighting, his forest-green eyes freeze me in place.
He’s alone, and it feels as if he’s waiting for someone, and now a little bit irritated that someone’s disturbed … whatever he’s doing. Stop overthinking this, Sienna .
“Didn't anyone tell you it’s unsafe to go into back alleyways alone?” he asks with the hint of a Russian accent.
His black hair almost fades into the dark. My gaze zeroes in on his neck tattoos again, and I can just make out what appear to be reptilian scales. Maybe a snake? Who is this person? It's only then I realize I've been staring far too long.
“I think I can make it from here to the street around the corner just fine, thanks.” I look back down at my phone, noticing that it's just after midnight, giving me plenty of time to call Romi on the way home with the time difference between London and New York.
And while he’s rather attractive, a shiver races down my spine when he speaks again.
“You didn't accept the drink I bought you.” This man is dangerous in more ways than one, I have no doubt. Confidence radiates from him like a black hole, and the longer I stay here, the more I feel as if I’m being dragged into his orbit.
I’m hit by a quick bout of lightheadedness, and it’s enough to snap me out of my transfixion. Something doesn’t feel right.
“No. I don't make a habit of accepting drinks from strangers, especially those who somehow know what my favorite drink is, despite me not ordering it tonight.”
He casually flicks the remains of his cigarette into a puddle. “It's good to see you have some common sense. However, you should know that posting photos of your favorite food and drinks at frequented locations isn't exactly smart.”
My heart skips a beat as a cold shudder runs through me, and suddenly, I don't feel like the stranger is so attractive.
Has he been stalking me? Or is he just an asshole who's trying to scare me? It doesn’t matter.
Either way, I need to get out of here, but my legs feel too heavy. Have they felt like this all night?
“Thanks, I'll take that to heart. Anyway, I have somewhere to be,” I say as I begin walking close to the brick wall, toward the mouth of the alley.
“Would that be the same hotel room you've been staying in since returning to London? Haven't yet really settled down here, have you?”
My heart stops beating, and my entire body runs cold. I don’t turn to look at him, knowing he’s still watching, that predatory gaze locked on me. Everything feels as if it’s fading in and out. I need to get the fuck out of here and call the police.
My phone vibrates, and when I check it, I see that Romi has sent another message.
I try my hardest to keep up my nonchalant act.
I won’t let him get under my skin. There’s a delay in my response, and the words come out slightly slurred.
“Well … I wish I could say this was pleasant, but it wasn’t.
Good night.” I still don’t look back at him, keeping my focus on the ground in front of me as panic rises at the growing heaviness in my limbs.
I hurry toward the street as fast as my leaden legs will carry me, tempted to look over my shoulder multiple times as paranoia creeps in. Is this some kind of game to him? I don't want to fuel the ego of a man like him by letting him know how spooked I am.
As I turn the corner at the end of the alley, and before I can respond to the text message, I slam into a hard wall of muscle. My phone is taken from me, but as I go to swipe it back, my movements are sluggish. A strange, hulk-like man with blue eyes and a shaved head ends the call.
“H-hey, give that back!” I yell as I jump to grab it from him. And it's not until I feel an arm wrap around my waist from behind and a hand covers my mouth that I'm acutely aware of the danger I've stepped into.
The stranger’s dark, alluring voice flushes against my ear with hot breath as he says in his Russian accent, “Don't take this personally, but I have a feeling you're not the type to come willingly. You shouldn’t have sipped from the second drink.
Unfortunately for you, you're friends with the wrong people.”
The air in my lungs turns frigid as I attempt to scream for help with his hand still clamped around my mouth. However, I just slump into the man holding me, barely clinging to consciousness.
Fuck, I’ve been drugged.
They’re going to take me.
No, I won’t go without a fight.
Dizziness sweeps over me, but I claw for every scrap of energy left in me as I smash my heel down into the man's foot and twist, a subtle warmth of satisfaction blooming in my stomach as I hear him curse. But it’s already too late.
My world begins to dim, and before I know it, I'm falling into an abyss of darkness.