X: A Short Story

I get off the phone with Tom. Can’t wait to see the girl he’s bringing this time. Can’t wait to get into the building. Good thing I brought water. Time to try the door.

            They checked my ID. I don’t know why. I don’t look over 18? Gotta get away from the crowd. These guys keep bumping into me. I’m gonna lose my keys.

            I got to the corner. Just check the coast. Clear. Pull out the bag. Glad no one’s around. This one’s a funny blue. Got a face on it or somethin’. Creepy. It’s looking at me. Ugh. I grunt at the taste. Bitter and dry. Like soap.

            It’s been ten minutes. No effect. No Tom. I might go to the main. Maybe I’ll start to feel this. I’ll wait another ten.

            Twenty minutes now. No effect. Mouth’s a bit dry. Think I’ll take some water now. Still no Tom. Maybe I’ll do a second. Still bitter. No more waiting. Going into the main.

            The flashing lights. They excite me. The bass. I can feel it. I can feel the beads of sweat. They're rolling down my forehead. It's a cool burn.

            So many people in here. She's got a great ass. I might try to find her later. Whoa. That's a big man. I can smell his sweat. It's really... oh I love this song.

            Glad I wore these jeans. They feel good rubbing against the palms of my hands. These lights are brilliant. They’re hitting my eyes. These colors are driving me mad. I’m feeling the bass. The room. It’s spinning now. I think I might fall down. No. Staying up. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken a second. I might go…oh there’s the bass again. My bones are vibrating. My teeth want to clench. Want to crack.

            Hey there’s that ass. I might go to it. She’s welcoming. I feel comfortable. I hear a muffled yell. Maybe it’s my ears. She stopped dancing. Looks concerned. She’s not looking at me. Over my shoulder. Scared now more than concerned. Her mouth moves slowly.  The strobe is catching her. “It’s just dancing!” I can see her mouth forming the words. It’s so slow I can see the white and colored marks on her teeth. Her gums are pink. Her lips. Red. They twitch at every word.

            Hand on my shoulder. Spins me around. It’s that tall fuck. His sweat still smells. I try to say something while his arm flexes and his fist clenches. The strobe’s still going. Each flash brings his fist closer. Split second. I can feel his knuckles in my cheek. Against my jaw.

            The strobe. The bass. The strobe goes. Can’t hear the music. Flash. Watching the room while I fall. Flash. I can see faces. Flash. Chests. Flash. Legs. Flash. Floor.