Finding her wasn’t going to be easy, though. The club was packed and had been completely rearranged for Halloween. Huge set pieces and horror movie props were suspended from the ceiling and the walls. The bar had been removed, replaced with a DJ and smoke and laser effect device. At certain moments during the music, white smoke would venture out slowly and waft around the room, hiding the people behind its creeping tendrils. The dance floor was the only thing that had remained untouched.
Behind where the bar had been, Alex saw electronic effects glowing in a perfect circle around the floor, and realized they were lights attached to giant floor freezers. Inside was presumably where the alcohol was kept. People walked back and forth from them with bottles in hand.
Is the club giving away drinks for free? Alex wondered, before noticing the patrons wore lanyards around their necks. A girl in a sexy nurse costume inserted the lanyard card into a freezer’s slot and opened the door. They must be linked to a credit card or something, like a cruise ship.
Alex made her way toward Dante’s office first, figuring that was a likely place to find Michelle. And if not, it had a good window overlooking the dance floor. She might be able to spot her from there. It was difficult avoiding the jostling crowd, but as she wound her way through people, a pair of hands grabbed Alex round the waist from behind. Alex recognised the citrus fragrance. The same one she had given Lauren for her last birthday. The vice-like grip led her toward a dark corner of the club. Alex wanted to turn back, but didn’t dare, afraid of what she would see.
Alex’s breath caught in her throat when she felt Lauren smell the nape of her neck and her cracked, chapped lips pecked at the sensitive skin, followed by thin, cold fingers under her jaw, forcing her head slowly back, baring her throat. Alex clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly. She was going nowhere and couldn’t call out for help.
The music was pounding and her heart followed suit. “Loz, please don’t,” Alex begged in nothing more than a whisper. She almost screamed when she felt a hard suck on her earlobe, but then the pressure released. She put her hands to her neck, probing. No blood. She let out a sigh of relief. She chanced a look behind her and Lauren was there, simply staring at her.
Alex had no idea what to say to someone she had known for almost ten years. Lauren’s gaze was the worst thing of all. It wasn’t a look of anger or lust or hunger. There was simply no emotion on her face whatsoever. She was really dead. Lauren kept her eyes on Alex as she moved away, towards the exit at the back. There was only one other way out of T, and the parking lot for the staff was it.
Alex decided she couldn’t just let her friend leave. She still loved her, and if there was any chance Lauren could live like Dante had, then things might still be ok between them.
Lauren disappeared behind the exit door. Alex followed seconds later and found herself in a stairwell. Above her, she spotted the side of Lauren’s jacket rocketing up the curling staircase. Leading her up in a blur, silently willing her upwards.
It didn’t matter that it might be a trap. Alex ran as fast as she could to follow.
Alex pounded through the door and hit the open-air parking lot, seeing nothing but cars. She took a few steps and inhaled, ready to call for Lauren, when she heard the door lock behind her and a high-pitched laugh.
She turned to see Matt, sitting bound and tied against the door.
“What the—?” Alex rushed over and ungagged him. “What happened?”
“She’s crazy! Get me out of here!”
Alex worked on his bonds but didn’t get very far.
“Bout time you showed up, babe. I was getting worried.”
Lauren, hands on hips, stood over them, dressed in a red miniskirt with matching stilettos and black leather jacket.
“Looking as good as ever, Loz,” Alex said cautiously.
“All for you,” Lauren replied. “Your opinion always mattered more to me than any guy’s.”
“Well…I’m flattered. Now how about you impress me some more and let me take Matt out of here.”
“No.”
“Lauren, don’t do this. I can’t imagine what you have been through, but I want to help if you’ll let me.”
“I’m glad you said that. There is something you can do.”
Alex wanted to keep her calm and hoped she was telling the truth. “Ok, what is it? What do you need?”
“Join me.”
Alex froze. “Join you? What do you mean?”
Lauren smiled. “I think you know.”
“I—I’m sorry. I can’t. This is not the life I want. I want to help you deal with this, but I can do it better as a human.”
“No, you really can’t. You have no idea what it’s like to be so alive, even though you’re dead. Young, beautiful and strong forever. It’s everything I could’ve dreamed of. Tell me, what is so great about being human that you won’t join me?”
Alex didn’t know where she was going with this, and didn’t think she wanted to find out. “Oh, I don’t know. Come on—”
“No. I want to know. Tell me. What’s to live for?”
“Kids?” Alex tested.
“Whinging brats brought into an already overpopulated world. They will grow up to resent you anyway. Next.”
Alex racked her brain, finding the one thing she believed in, the one thing she hoped could reach Lauren. “What about love?”
“As good as myth, a brain malfunction. I mean does it really exist? Or is it just a combination of hormones at
