It was absolutely impossible to walk in a straight line. She saw car lights approaching, winced at the brightness, and veered the opposite way, barreling hard into the brick wall of the club. The good thing was that it smacked some sense into her. She had a moment of clarity, paused and caught her breath and looked around. Then her vision started warping and glitching again as she felt a slight burning sensation inside her skull. A warmth. A wave of ecstasy rolling through her entire body.
She moaned and panted, pressing her hands against her sweaty cheeks.
What should she do? What should she do?
She dropped her coat and purse and the contents spilled over the pavement.
“Sssshhhiiiitttt.”
She stumbled to her knees.
“Are you alright?” someone asked, approaching her.
“Fine,” she slurred, scooping up her belongings, trying to look as sober as she could, but knowing she was failing miserably. Whoever the stranger was, they helped her collect her things and placed them back in her purse, then lifted her to her feet.
“Thanksss,” Salvi slurred, already halfway down the street. She walked along trying to inhale the fresh air, knowing she needed to get away from the club and somewhere safe.
But each step became difficult. Gravity was pulling on her hard. She groaned, fighting the desire to lay down on the ground. She pressed herself against the concrete wall, a writhing taking over her muscles, as she rubbed her face over it.
“Hey! You need a ride?”
Salvi pressed her arms against the wall, relishing the coolness.
“Hey! Miss! Need a ride?”
Salvi ignored the voice, continuing to press her face against the cool, rough bricks. It felt so good…
Someone grabbed her arm, pulling her away. She resisted taking her face off the bricks.
“Hey!” the voice said, then suddenly it was right beside her ear. “Salv! It’s me!”
She opened her eyes and stared at the bricks.
“Salv!” the voice hissed, grabbing her face and turning it toward him.
She saw a face she recognized, although it took her a moment to remember the name.
Hernandez…
“Come on,” he said loudly, glancing about, and throwing her arm around his shoulders. “I’ll give you a ride home, miss.”
Her body followed his momentum across the street. She rested her face against his shoulder and neck and found herself wrapping her other arm around about his torso. He was soft. He felt good. She pressed her face into his neck.
“Ooookay… let’s get you inside.” She felt him removing her arms and suddenly she was sitting in a soft chair. She opened her eyes. She was in a car. It wasn’t a Raider. She looked at the driver. It was Hernandez. He was looking at her and his mouth was moving but she didn’t process what he said. Her hearing now warping with her vision.
The car suddenly swerved out onto the street, jerking another moment of clarity into her, before it quickly ebbed again. Between heavy blinks she saw Hernandez’s eyes had a silver sheen and he was talking to someone, glancing at her, then down at her hand which was massaging his thigh. He grabbed her hand and removed it, placing it back across herself like a seat belt. Then suddenly he wasn’t there at all. She felt the wind blowing around her, saw the city lights shooting past, felt the material of the seat beneath her and felt the drug wash heavily over her like a giant wave, while her whole skull tingled and her body began to ache, but in a glorious way.
She heard herself moan, then felt a slap and opened her eyes. She was still in the car and Hernandez was driving and yelling at her. Her body was writhing in the seat and she reached out to grab his chest. He knocked her hand away and she leant against the partially opened window, pressing her face against the cool glass, leaving condensation against it with every heavy breath.
She heard more moaning and realized it must’ve come from her. Her whole skull tingled and that tingling swept over her body. She was so hot. She pulled at her dress, wanting it off, but a hand clamped over hers to stop its movement.
“…Mitch!” Hernandez yelled at her. Another moment of clarity swept over her. “Alright?” Hernandez yelled. “Just stay awake, Salv!” He slapped her again, waking her senses briefly. He was talking on his comms. “No, I don’t think she needs medical attention. I think she just needs to be locked in a room to sleep it off.”
Salvi moaned again as another wave rolled through her from her brain down to what felt like every nerve ending in her body. She couldn’t move her mouth to talk at all; she ran warm, thick fingers down her face and enjoyed the sensation, dragged the fingers over her whole body as she fell into a sea of writhing, almost agonizing, black.
When she opened her eyes again, cool air poured over her. She was still in the car, but it was stopped, the door was open, and Mitch stared in at her with concerned eyes. He took her chin and angled her face toward him, studying her. She reached out and kneaded his arm, pressing her face into it. He pulled away and looked at Hernandez, who stood beside him. Mitch nodded and they reached in and pulled her out. The cool night air felt so good against what skin of hers was showing, she wanted to tear off her dress so the rest of her could feel it too. She was boiling and sweating so much.
Holding an arm each and supporting her weight, they marched her to another car and strapped her in. Between more heavy blinks, writhing and moaning, she saw Hernandez move back to his car, where Ford stood, arms folded, staring at Salvi.
A car door slammed and she looked to see Mitch at the driver’s wheel, staring back at Ford. Salvi
