CHAPTER TWELVE
ALEXANDRA JONES
SHE WOULDN’T STOP.
“Then he just…fuck did he know what to do with my body. I orgasmed like five times.” Catherine explains flicking through her closet as I flicked through a magazine, my feet in the air-resting one hand under my chin.
“Really.” I chuckle at her confidence. “You know this is your little sisters teacher, right?”
“Well, he certainly knows what he’s doing,” she replies, trying to keep a straight face.
She presents two dress options, one black and the other bright pink. I point to the black one, and she tosses it to me. “Go get changed, we need to leave. I got us VIP tickets to the newest club in the city,” she announces excitedly.
I groan, feigning reluctance, and let my head fall back onto the pillow. I take out my phone and realise I forgot to respond to Ares’ earlier text. Maxine had assigned me to take the boxes to the recycling bin as punishment after she saw us kissing on the security cameras.
“Your makeup is done, your hair is done—I’m going to wait in the car by the time you get ready,” Catherine says as she leaves the room to prepare the car.
I take off my clothes and slip into the black dress, feeling its smooth fabric hug my curves perfectly. It fits like a second skin, accentuating all the right places.
The low-cut neckline reveals a tantalising glimpse of my breasts, leaving just enough to the imagination while stirring a sense of desire in those fortunate enough to witness my presence. The bodice wraps to my figure, cinching at the waist to highlight my slender silhouette, before cascading down into a daringly high slit. The dress leaves my back exposed, a symphony of delicate straps dancing across my skin like a seductive melody. The hemline brushes just above my knees, teasing with glimpses of my toned legs that seem to go on for miles.
I struggled to move around in this dress, this was the first time my skin has been so exposed. Reaching the car, I slid inside the passenger seat.
“Alright, girl, let’s have some fun,” Catherine exclaims, pulling out a bottle of vodka and handing it to me.
“I’ve never drank before,” I admit to her, my cheeks flushing with slight embarrassment.
“Just take a sip, but don’t overdo it,” she advises, flashing a mischievous smile. I cautiously unscrew the lid and take a small sip, feeling the fiery liquid slide down my throat.
“This is...different,” I whisper, trying to suppress a slight cough. The taste is strong and unfamiliar, but there’s something strangely exciting about it.
Catherine chuckles, understanding my reaction. “You’ll get used to it, trust me. It’s all about finding the right mix and enjoying the experience.”
As she drives us to the club, I take a few more sips, gradually acclimating to the taste. The anticipation builds as we approach the vibrant lights and rhythmic beats of the club.
“We’re already here, alright, let me find a spot to park,” Cathy says, skilfully manoeuvring her car next to a familiar vehicle. The lingering taste of the vodka I sipped earlier makes my throat feel warm and tingly. Stepping out of the car, I take a deep breath, trying to shake off any lingering nerves.
Thirío.
The name of the club stands out to me, and my heart beats faster with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The distant music filters through the air, enticing me to step into the vibrant world beyond the club”s doors. Adjusting my dress down my thighs, I take a moment to collect myself. Cathy loops her arm through mine, providing a reassuring touch as we approach the entrance. The line to get into the club is long, and my heart sinks a little at the thought of waiting. The anticipation builds with every passing second.
My mind races with curiosity and nervousness as we inch closer to the entrance.
The security guard at the entrance looks us over, his stern expression almost intimidating. But Cathy confidently hands him the tickets she purchased, and he unclips the red rope, granting us access.
With each step, the music grew louder, and the lights pulse with energy. The door swings open, revealing the vibrant world of Thirío, filled with electrifying beats, swirling lights, and dancing bodies.
Stepping inside, the lively atmosphere engulfs us.
The DJ perched atop the elevated platform is a maestro, manipulating the turntables with expert precision. The sound system blasts out the tracks, and I can feel the bass pounding against my chest, aligning my heartbeat with the pulse of the music. The DJ’s infectious energy is palpable, and the crowd hangs on every beat, waiting in anticipation for the next drop. The air is thick with the scent of sweat, perfume, and alcohol. Drinks clink together, laughter echoes, and conversations buzz with excitement. The atmosphere is charged with an electric energy, fuelling the carefree spirits of the revellers.
Overhead, a dazzling display of laser lights creates intricate patterns that dance along the walls and the ceiling, adding an otherworldly dimension to the club. As the lights sweep across the crowd, illuminating ecstatic faces, it feels like being in a kaleidoscope dream.
The bar area is a hub of activity, with bartenders’ skill fully mixing drinks and serving them with flair. Neon signs advertising various cocktails and spirits light up the area, casting a neon glow on the patrons as they savour their libations.
Catherine pulls me to the bar and orders a row of shots.
“Catherine-”
“Shots!” She screams as the bartender winks at me, lining up the shots before pouring the liquid into it-spilling some on the counter. Catherine gives me a shot glass, “one…two…three!”
We both down the shot, and I release a disgusting sound.
How does she like this?
It tastes horrible.
Oh my god. That is disgusting.
Cathy’s enthusiasm is contagious, and she pulls me into the centre of the pulsating mass of bodies.
As the beat intensifies, Cathy’s hands grip my waist, guiding me in sync with the music. I let go of my inhibitions, allowing the rhythm to take over my body. The music becomes a part of me, and I move with a newfound freedom, surrendering to the euphoria of the moment.
Our bodies sway and gyrate, perfectly in tune with each other. Cathy’s laughter mixes with the music, creating a melody of joy and exuberance. Her radiant smile lights up the dance floor, and I can’t help but be drawn into her magnetic energy.
As I feel someone’s presence behind me, my instincts kick in, and I snap my head around to see a stranger standing too close for comfort. He takes my hands in his, pushing me against him, invading my personal space without permission. My heart races with discomfort, but before I can react, Cathy comes to my rescue.
She steps in, shoving him away from me with fiery determination. “Touch her again, and I’ll kill you!” She screams at him, her voice cutting through the loud music in the club.
Her protective stance sends a clear message, and the stranger hesitates before retreating, holding his hands up in a show of surrender.
“Come on, all that ass and no one to grind it on,” he taunts with a lewd smile.
My discomfort intensifies, and I instinctively hide behind Cathy, finding safety in her protective presence. She gives him another warning push, making it clear that she won’t tolerate any disrespect towards me. He takes the hint and backs away, exchanging a suspicious package with one of his friends before disappearing into the crowd, leaving us alone.
We make our way to the bar, seeking a moment of reprieve from the unsettling encounter. The bartender whips up another drink for us, trying to help us forget the encounter. However, our respite is short-lived as another man slides onto the seats next to us.
“Well, aren’t you both beautiful?” His voice breaks through the music, and Cathy turns to face him with a playful smile. I take a quick glance at him; he’s undeniably attractive, but my mind drifts to someone else. Someone with a striking resemblance to this man – Ares. The newcomer has brown hair, contrasting with his piercing green eyes. He oozes charm, and I can see why Cathy is entertained by his presence.
“And you are?” I ask, raising my voice to be heard over the blaring music.
“Adonis, what about you two?” He replies, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
“I’m Cathy, she’s Alexandra,” Cathy shouts enthusiastically, clearly enjoying the company of our new acquaintance. Her confidence is amplified by the alcohol coursing through her veins, and she doesn’t hold back from complimenting Adonis. “You’re stunning,” she exclaims, a rarity for her, especially towards a man.
“Cathy, I feel like you and I are going to get along just fine,” Adonis chuckles, seeming unfazed by her directness. I take a sip of my drink, still getting used to the bittersweet taste of alcohol. Something feels off about it, but I chalk it up to my lack of experience with drinking.
As the night progresses, the music envelopes us, and we lose ourselves on the dance floor. The pulsating beats drown out my thoughts, and I try to let go and enjoy the moment. The combination of the loud music and the drinks I’ve consumed starts to take its toll, and my head begins to pound.
I rub my temples, trying to alleviate the discomfort.
But as time passes, I realise that Cathy and Adonis have disappeared. Feeling a little disoriented, I decide to take a break and head towards the restroom, hoping to find Cathy along the way.
As I make my way through the dimly lit club, my steps are somewhat unsteady. The alcohol is starting to affect me more than I anticipated. I stumble slightly, tripping over something, but I quickly regain my balance and continue my search for the restroom.
I take a seat on an empty black chair near the exit door and slide my phone out-my vision begins to bubble slightly. I tap onto Catherine’s number and wait for her to pick up, I call her a couple more time, but it goes straight to voicemail.
I then scroll through my contacts and press onto Ares; I dial his phone and he answers on the third ring.
“Alex?” I couldn’t hear him clearly; I stand up and push the exit door before stumbling outside. I grab onto the wall for support, “hello?”
“Ares…” I slur out.
“Where are you?” He responds quickly, I groan at the pounding feeling in my head.
“Ares, I can’t feel my leg.” I whisper, my knees bending slightly.
“Where are you?” He asks me once again.
“Thirty? Some club.” I could hear him shuffling around, telling me to stay on the phone with him. But my fingers slowly begin to lose movement and my phone drops out of my hand. I slide down the wall and rest against it. Why is my body acting like this? What if I die? What if I over-drank? Is that even a thing?
I force my eyes open, trying to fight off the grogginess that engulfs me. I sit up, groaning in pain as I try to make sense of my surroundings. My head throbs, and I instinctively reach for my phone, only to realise it’s missing.
Suddenly, I become aware of my predicament. I’m surrounded by four pairs of feet, and dread washes over me as I recognise the man who was hitting on me at the club.
Fear clenches my heart, and I know I’m in serious trouble. I try to push myself up, but my body feels weak and unresponsive.
Why am I like this? Come on Alex!
He crouches down and grabs my jaw, forcing me to look into his menacing eyes. “Where’s your little firecracker of a friend now?” He sneers, his grip on my jaw tight and painful. I wince as he throws my face to the side, and his friends laugh in amusement.
I feel his lips press against my cheek, and I shudder in revulsion. Panic sets in, and I try to muster up some strength to fight back, but my limbs feel heavy and uncooperative. “Y-You drugged me,” I manage to whisper out, my voice trembling with fear and anger.
But my words only seem to amuse him further.
He chuckles, revealing in my vulnerability. I can feel the fear coursing through my veins, making me feel trapped and helpless. My mind races, trying to figure out a way to escape this dangerous situation. The man spreads my legs and before I know it, he’s flung backwards and crashes into the wall. My eyes look up and I see Ares slamming his fist into the man’s throat. The blonde guy, who had been harassing me, tries to recover, but Ares is lightning-fast.
He ducks a punch and delivers a crushing blow to the man’s gut, causing him to double over in pain. Before he can react, Ares lands a powerful uppercut to the man’s jaw, sending him sprawling backward.
The other three men rush at Ares, but he effortlessly sidesteps their attacks, using their momentum against them. With a fluid motion, he sweeps the legs out from under one of the men, sending him crashing to the ground.
Ares then delivers a swift knee to another man’s midsection, knocking the wind out of him.
He seems almost untouchable…
The remaining attacker, a burly guy with tattoos, charges at Ares with a fury in his eyes. But Ares is too quick and too skilled. He dodges the man’s punch and counters with a lightning-fast series of strikes, hitting pressure points that leave the man temporarily paralysed and gasping for air.
He rushes towards me, “Ares.”
“You need to vomit Alexandra.” He speaks, bringing me against him as he shoves my hair away. I shake my head, I always hated vomiting and to do it in front of him.
No.
No way.
“Alex, vomit.”
“No, I don’t want too…” I whisper out, my body becoming limp.
He sighs and pushes both his fingers into my mouth, I couldn’t stop him-couldn’t grab onto his wrist and pull his hand away from my mouth. He pushes deeper causing me to gag slightly, and I vomit all over the ground.
God.
This is so embarrassing.
No. I hate myself. I really do.
“There.” He whispers, “they drugged you, it’s out now.” He lifts me up from the ground, one hand on my back and the other arm underneath my legs. I rest my head against his chest as he opens his car door and settles me inside. His car was right beside Catherines, I knew it was familiar.
I begin to gain some feeling in my hands now, but my eyes were threatening to close again.
“Alexandra, no- open your eyes, butterfly.” He taps onto the side of my face and opens the back door. I suddenly feel something cold spill over my face and force my eyes open, he brings the water to my lips and forces me to drink some.
My hands regains their reflexes and I use it to push Ares away, he pulls the water away from me and I wipe my face. I suddenly feel tears pouring down my eyes, mixing with the water. He presses my head against his chest as he strokes the back of my hair, “I’m here.” He reassures me, he lifts my head so that our eyes locked. “I’m right here, okay, you’re safe Alex.”
He kisses my forehead and does my seatbelt for me before closing the door.
“Hey! What the fuck! That’s my friend!” Cathy’s fierce voice breaks through the chaos. Her eyes blaze with anger as she rushes towards us, pushing Ares to the side.
“Touch me again, I dare you.” He stands in front of me, “what a good friend you are? Leaving your friend in the club alone where she got drugged and nearly sexually assaulted.” Her brows furrow, her eyes locking with mine.
I turn around, away from the window.
My body feels heavy, and I struggle to keep my eyes open as Ares settles into the driver’s seat and closes my door. I vaguely hear Cathy’s voice calling my name, her desperation echoing in my ears.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to leave you!” She cries out, slamming her hands onto the window.
Ares glances down at me, his expression unreadable.
He seems to hesitate for a moment before he takes off his jacket and gently drapes it around my bare shoulders. The warmth of the jacket envelops me, offering some comfort against the chilly night air.
He carefully slips my arms into the sleeves and zips it up, making sure I’m as snug as possible.
He reverses out of the car park and drives, now my legs begin to tingle. He takes my hands into his, I slowly look at him. “Thank you.” I whisper out.
I glance down, realising his fist is bruised and bloody.