Chapter 9 CHAPTER 8

Katherine Garcia

We get out of the car as soon as Matteo finds a parking spot. The impact of the sound is immediate; the deep bass of the music vibrates through the pavement, filling the air with pulsating energy.

"Wow, it's been so long since I've gone out dancing! I'm so excited," Amanda exclaims, beaming.

She links her arm through mine and Matteo's, urging us forward.

"Come on!"

We're dragged toward the entrance. To my surprise, the line moves quickly, with only a few groups waiting for their turn.

"I thought it would be busier," Matteo comments as we join the flow of people.

"Me too. Everyone must've gotten here really early tonight," Amanda says.

I notice she's already swaying her shoulders to the rhythm spilling out through the club doors.

The wait is brief. We soon make it through the entrance, receive our wristbands, and step inside, leaving the bill to be settled at the end of the night. As we walk through the entrance hallway, the scene changes drastically.

"Holy shit! This place is packed!" Amanda shouts over the deafening volume of the sound system.

"It definitely is!" I shout back, impressed by the crowd.

"Let's go straight to the bar!" Matteo suggests.

We join hands, forming a human chain as we make our way through the sea of people packed tightly onto the dance floor.

The heat from all the bodies and the smell of perfume mixed with alcohol fill the air. There's barely enough room to move, but we finally reach the dark wooden bar.

"Fuck, that was brutal," my friend says as he manages to get a seat.

"Tell me about it. I felt unwanted hands on my ass in the middle of all that pushing and shoving. For fuck's sake."

Amanda complains as she settles beside me, looking indignant.

I sit down too, feeling the padding of the tall barstool beneath me.

"Good evening! What can I get you to drink?" the bartender asks.

My companions don't hesitate to order drinks loaded with alcohol.

"I'll have a virgin caipirinha, please. No alcohol," I order.

Their reaction is immediate: disapproving grimaces and incredulous looks.

"I need to stay clearheaded. If I get an email about the job early tomorrow morning, I want my mind sharp. No hangover."

"Fine, we'll forgive you this time," Amanda concedes, laughing at my caution.

My drink is ready in the blink of an eye. I slowly sip the refreshing liquid, turning my stool around to survey the place. My body begins to relax, and my head starts moving to the beat almost involuntarily.

In the distance, out on the dance floor, an older woman is having the time of her life without holding back. The sight brings me an unexpected sense of comfort; she's living proof that having fun doesn't come with an expiration date.

As I scan the club, I notice the VIP area on the upper floor. It's an imposing structure, shielded by tinted glass that makes it impossible to see what's happening inside. A mysterious sanctuary above the chaos of the dance floor.

"Let's dance, Kath! We didn't come here to grow roots on this stool." Amanda calls me over, grabbing my wrist.

We head to the center of the dance floor. My friends throw themselves into the rhythm with enviable ease, while I remain stiff, feeling the weight of all the years I've spent away from this kind of environment.

"Loosen up, Kath!" my friend encourages, shouting close to my ear. "Shake that ass, woman!"

Embarrassment rushes into my cheeks like a flame.

"I'm embarrassed!" I shout back, trying to hide behind a timid movement.

"Just relax! Nobody's focused on you. Everyone's lost in their own world. Enjoy the moment!"

I take a deep breath, letting the warm air fill my lungs. She's right; in the dim light of the club, we're nothing more than silhouettes in motion. I decide to let myself go. I close my eyes, allowing the electronic beat to take control of my nervous system.

Little by little, my movements become fluid. The black dress glides over my skin as I slowly roll my hips with deliberate sensuality, feeling every curve of my body.

I bring my hands to my hair, raising them before slowly running them down my neck, over my breasts, and toward my thighs, where I lightly grip the fabric before lowering myself toward my knees and rising again with a deep, sensual sway of my hips.

I feel powerful, like a force of nature driven by the bass of the music.

When I finally open my eyes, the shock is immediate. The space in front of me is empty.

"Holy shit!" I exclaim, my heart jolting with panic.

I look in every direction, spinning around frantically while the crowd continues dancing around me, completely oblivious.

"Where the hell did they go?"