16

Since our encounter with Kahiki, Black's been avoiding me. Everytime I get home, he'll rise from wherever he had been and head into the room. Looking at the numerous papers in front of me, I try to forget all about Black's behaviours but they persistently keep haunting every second of my brain's thoughts.

"Hey Nine, are you okay? You seem dull recently," Luna asks pulling her chair next to mine.

"Is it that obvious?"

Luna raises her hand and I feel the warmth of her long delicate fingers resting on my shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Somewhere else, not here."

Luna nods her head in understanding and leans to my ear whispering," Let's go out tonight. There's a club King told me about a walk away."

I turn to her with a raised brow and she shrugs.

"Nothing wrong with a little drink to lessen the pain in you."

With no way of persuading her out of her thoughts, I nod defeatedly and she swings her arm over my shoulder.

"Great! Can't wait to try out the drinks they serve."

"Okay but first I need to finish up on these documents."

As I turn to my desk, Luna pulls me up and closes my laptop.

"Hey! I need to finish filling in these documents."

She wiggles her finger in front of my eyes and before I can process what's happening, she drags me out the door and onto pavements, the cool night breeze blowing.

"You can finish that work later, right now let's go clubbing."

Her enthusiasm quickly gets into my system and soon we are walking down the path chatting happily about drinks to try. Once at the foot of the huge two story club building, we stare mouth agape at its extravagant build.

"You sure this is the place?"

"Yeah, the address King sent me matches this one," she says eyes trailing from the building to her phone screen and back.

"This place looks... expensive, way out of our league. Are you certain King comes here?"

"Yeah. He said the drinks' prices are affordable. Should we go in?"

"Sure."

Taking the lead, I push the door open and we walk into the dimly lit room.

"This place is packed and it's the beginning of the night."

Making our way through the dancing couples, we head towards the counter and sit on the bar stools. I wave my hand drawing the attention of the bar tender who walks up to our spot.

"Good evening, what will you ladies have?"

"Um, can we get a menu on the drinks? We're new here."

The tender nods and pulls out two fashionably leather books and hands it to us and I marvel at its texture.

"We'll have this," she says pointing to. rainbow coloured cocktail and the tender nods.

"I'll have the same as her."

He nods and seconds later, hands us the glasses filled with the drink. Luna and I look at each other before looking at the drinks.

"One, two, three!"

We gulp down the drinks and place the glasses back on the table.

"That wasn't bad."

"One more round!"

Two more glasses slide in front of us and we chug it down, the bitter sweet sensation burning down our throats.

"Let's... dance Nine," Luna says her body swaying to the background music.

"I'll pass."

I drink a mouthful of the drink and swallow shutting my eye as the bitter liquid makes its way down my throat.

"Luna? Nine?"

I look up at the mention of my name my eyes trying to focus on the guy in front of me.

"Who are- hic- you?"

"How much did they drink?"

"Ten glasses each," the bar tender replies.

"What did they order?"

"Rainbow'e Touch."

King runs a frustrated hand through his hair and turns his attention to us. He tugs at my arm and I wretch it free from his grasp pointing a shaking finger at him.

"Don't touch me!"

"Let's dance."

Luna drags him to the dance floor and wraps her arms around his neck. I watch them through my heavy eyelids before chugging down the remaining drink in my hand. Two men pull up and sit on either side of me.

"Hello beautiful."

"Are you here alone?"

"What if I am? Another drink kind sir!"

"Want to play with us?"

"Mmh."

One of the guys stretches his hand and wraps it around my shoulder. I look between them and shrug his hand off.

"Keep your filthy hands to yourself. Don't touch me."

The guy leans over to my ear and I feel his stinky breath as he whispers," Come on baby, we just want to have some fun."

"Didn't you listen to the lady? Leave her alone."

Kahiki walks up to me and pulls me to my feet his hand sliding around my waist protectively. The sudden touch is enough to make my breath catch and my heart beat nervously. The two spit and disperse through the crowds. My body tenses at the sudden skinship between Kahiki and I and I slowly pull away from him.

"Thanks."

I make my way towards the counter but Kahiki grabs me by my wrist and pulls me. In my state, I fall onto his chest and he holds me close to him in a warm embrace.

"Nine, I was worried..."

"Worried? About me? Him? This must be some kind of joke."

I slowly and steadily manage to push my body away from his warm touch and look up to his dazzling beautiful eyes. Suddenly, a nauseous feeling settles upon my stomach and everything turns black...

The chirping of birds cause me to stir and I slowly sit up holding my head in pain. I look around the unfamiliar room and my eyes land on the painting on the wall.

"This isn't my place."

"Of course not. You're at my humble home," a voice sounds from the door and I pull the sheets to my chin.

Kahiki's figure comes into view and the tension leaves my body.

"How are you feeling?"