Ten
1211 Words
I paced the free space in my bedroom for what felt like hours, anxiously waiting for the events of the night to unfold. Gladdis had told me I couldn’t tell my family and friends, meaning I wouldn’t get the opportunity to say goodbye. I only hoped I would be able to come home and see them again.
I held my locket in a tight clutch as I tried to steady my breathing, praying my mother would send some luck my way. My hands were clammy, the anxiety in me making me burn up.
“Willow, let’s go!” My mother yelled from the hall, the sound of her heels walking away followed after. I took a final glance in the mirror, the mesh red bodycon dress Josie had chosen hugging me perfectly. Matched with a bold red lip and loose curls, anyone who saw me would think I was oozing confidence.
However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
With a sharp, determined nod I followed my mother to the car. Originally, I was supposed to be going with Josie and Nicki, but finding out I’d be leaving for a while enticed me to spend as much time with my mother as I could.
My mother wore a warm smile as she glanced up at me, before she gently kissed her lips. “Oh, Willow. You look beautiful.” I smiled back at her, softly squeezing her hand in response. “Thank you, mum.”
The ride to the party was bittersweet, we laughed about memories of my boisterous antics as I was growing up, my mother reminding me of all the times I had sent her to the edge of sanity. But the unsettled pit in the bottom of my stomach wouldn’t let me forget what this journey was; our final moments.
As we arrived at the club, the first thing that caught my attention was the sound of the deafening base that echoed outside the building. Mixed in the music was the sound of my friends laughing and mingling as they patiently awaited my arrival.
A man, dressed completely in black with a subtle ear piece in, unhooked the maroon rope that blocked anyone from entering the building, allowing myself and my mother to enter. With each step, the music boomed louder and louder around us. Strobe lighting span around the club, momentarily illuminating different faces on the dance floor every second.
The crowded room was mine and Josie’s favorite nightclub, the one where we often snuck off to with our fake ID’s on a Saturday night. The walls were entirely black, with a wall length bar along the back. Bartenders were already serving drinks, some shaking the cocktail mixers and showing off their fancy skills in shaking as customers watched in awe. The DJ booth was to my right and was already in full gear, getting the party started. The man behind the decks glanced my way, wearing a bright smile before bringing his microphone to his lips. “The birthday girl has arrived! Let’s get this party started!” He cheerfully bellowed.
Around a hundred pairs of eyes turned to my direction, noticing me in the doorway, before excited cheers erupted around the room. Numerous friends ran in my direction, but Josie abruptly cut them off as she stood in front of me. “Let the girl get a drink first, she’ll be here all night!” She ordered, before turning to me with a wide smile and dragging me to the bar.
“Two pina coladas!” She instructed the bartender, who nodded and got to work. “Damn, Willow. That dress was made for you.”
“Oh really?” I laughed. “My best friend chose it.” I shrugged.
Josie grinned, swiping the hair off her shoulder in a single movement. “Well your best friend has excellent taste.”
I chuckled as we took the drinks from the bartender, before we cheered and took a sip. The thick liquid went down too easily, tasting like a holiday in my mouth. I gulped down the rest, before slamming the empty glass on the bar. “Another!” I ordered, the bartender laughing and taking the empty glass.
“Damn, girl.” Josie giggled, looking at me wide-eyed. “Someone came to play tonight.” She joked. Well if this was my last night, I might as well make the most of it right?
The rest of the night became somewhat of a blur after my forth cocktail, Josie and I had spent most the time I could remember dancing in the middle of the room and mingling with the rest of my friends. Three hours later, I found myself stumbling out to the smoking area to catch my breath.
I slumped against the cold, brick wall as I basked in the sensation of the wind brushing against my skin. The balls of my feet were painfully sore, I’d done more steps tonight than I had throughout the whole week.
I reached down and unclasped my heels, letting my bare feet stretch against the pavement as I let out a sigh of relief as the tension eased. Groups of drunken people passed by as they headed back inside, many stopping to say the odd comment as they passed me such as ‘happy birthday’ or ‘sick party’.
I smiled and redirected my attention to the night sky, the twinkling stars fascinating me in my drunken state. From the corner of my eye, I noticed something in the shadows. I turned to glance at the narrow passage way behind the club, it appeared dark and gloomy and somewhere I definitely shouldn’t walk down alone.
But, whether it was my imagination or actual reality, I noticed a small, bright ball of light lingering in the empty space of the passage way. I looked around me, checking to see if anyone else here could see what I was seeing, but no one appeared to be paying attention.
I stumbled to the passage, eyes narrowed on the ball of light. As I got closer, it trailed deeper into the darkness but I prevailed, my bare feet quickening the pace in attempt to catch it. The deeper the light ball went, the more it seemed to expand bigger and brighter until it took up the entire space before me.
I halted in my tracks, mesmerised by what my eyes were seeing. I didn’t blink, convinced if I did then it would disappear. The light filled the space, inviting me closer as the warmth radiated off my skin. Spirals of additional light within the ball glowed as they circled around and round, drawing me in.
My hand instinctively reached out, desperate to touch the powerful energy. My feet followed in suit, edging me closer and closer apprehensively. I was barely inches away, any moment now about to explore this mesmerising beauty.
No fear in my mind, my hand finally made it to the centre of the source, my fingers penetrating through the power. The warmth spread up my arm like gentle, electric sparks, encouraging me to go deeper, and I did.
My foot stepped inside, bringing my body completely within the light and ironically, that’s when everything went black..
- Writer
