5. Dawn.

*What she's hiding.*

 

 

 

Distant voices reverberates in my ears as I rise from the couch. Oh, my body aches so effing bad, I have to recoil back on the couch.

 

God, who could have thought I’d make out of the stampede last night?

 

The events of last night gives me more reason not to be a social person. This is New York, and shits happen. Though, not as bad as what happened last night. I thought I’d die there.

 

I just don’t get it. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that all that happens in my wake is disaster. I’m still sulking for my late father, and consequently my friends suggested that hitting a club with them on the crack of dawn of a new year will help ease the pain. The sorrow. However, things went south and now I’m not only going through emotional trauma, but also physical pains. My feet got blisters as I ran for my life last night.

 

“Solntse!!”

 

A seemingly raging voice spears through my eardrums from a distant, but it seems the voice is coming from speaker. I endeavor to strain my ears and hear fully what the voice is screeching about, but it seems futile. Then a female voice lance through the air.

 

I throw glances around the room and figured I’m in a hotel room. Oh, now I remember. The moment I excused myself from the strange brooding, hulk of a man last night. I headed straight to the bathroom to ease my racing heart.

 

It’s still strange to me that who took my first kiss is a stranger. A stranger that looks lethal and dangerous. Yet, I can’t deny the fact that the kiss made me feel things. It made my heart run a mile a minute. I was still grappling with the knowledge that he called me sexy and before long, his glossy pink lips slammed against mine.

 

Oh, thinking about that kiss, my first kiss, makes me smile. I know I shouldn’t be drowning in joy because the man looks like someone made from darkness, but I can’t help the grin that plucks at my lips.

 

Strangely, I haven’t shared the news with Mae and Mercy. Prolly because of how things turned bad last night. The moment I hit the bathroom there, I splashed on water on my face. Oh, hell, I totally forgot I wore a makeup when I did that, but I needed something that can wipe off that blush from my cheeks.

 

When it seemed that my racing heart have calmed, I lumbered away from the restroom. I debated edging close to the man again. My mind rioted. The side of me that loved the kiss I got from a stranger wanted to go back to him,  but the rational side of me wanted out. As I stood by the hallway, aiming to squelch the screeching noises in my head, I heard the bang and the screams.

 

I jerked to a stop, and my heart picked up race again. Although, this time the race it picked up isn’t as a result of the my first kiss but as a result of fear.

 

Hearing the second bang, I feel a jolt of adrenaline rush through my veins and on instant, I became high on alert. Following the bangs are screams and stamping feet against the floor, then the breaking glasses and bottles, I jittered, I racked my mind on what to do. Where to go and before I could think further, I see a stampede heading toward me.

 

Wait no. It wasn’t exactly toward me but the back exit. Seeing that, I need not be told that there’s a surge of chaos in the damn club. Instantly, the gunshots picked up race and I now know it’s not only coming from one side again. It was now a crossfire.

 

People tumbled on the floor as the crossfire began, loud bangs of gunshots now took over the initially vociferous club. Those who tumbled on the floor, myself included, sustained injuries. At the worst part, some weren’t able to erect on their feet again because they were stepped upon, and you know already what that would warrant to.

 

Death.

 

Those who couldn’t stand up again where marched upon and they died instantly. I didn’t wait to know how many lost lives that was because I was running for my life. The surge of adrenaline gave strength to my feet as I dived onto the road, far away from the chaos-ridden club house.

 

It didn’t occur to me that I’m not with my friends then until I assembled in front of a close grocery store to fill my lungs with a lungful of air. Then I hear people skittering to a stop to do the same thing I did. When I pulled my head up, I spotted Mercy heaving for breath.

 

Hell, she looks so disheveled, same goes to each and everyone of us. I reached her in a begrudging five steps and that was when she noticed me.

 

Worriedly, we embraced each other and began searching for Mae. Mercy pulled her in a call and she told us she’s in a hotel with Matt.

 

Thankfully, the hotel is just a few meters away from where we are. Cabs was already scarce, so Mercy, a strange blond haired guy and I trekked down to the hotel through the alleyway.

 

The moment we landed, Mae took us in. She tied a robe around her and Matt was in his briefs. I didn’t wallow in thoughts about their reason for leaving the club as it was Mae that initiated the idea that I head to the club with them.

 

I gently slumped on a couch and appreciatively took the glass of water Mae handed us. After guzzling the water, I scanned my body for injuries only to discover that I have a busted lips, a gash on my right wrist and blisters on my feet. Then internal pains settled deep in my body. I winced and reclined my head on the couch’s headrest.

 

I don’t remember the last thing that happened before I sailed into the ship of slumber.

 

That’s why waking up now, I feel nothing but a surge of pain. The distant voices still blasts gently against my ears.

 

“I told you dad, I’m fine.” A voice spoke again but this time it’s not coming from the speaker but from a lady.

 

Attesting to its familiarity, I know immediately it’s Mae's voice. I conclude within me that her father must be worried sick about her if he heard the events of last night at the club. Mae's father is a top politician now after working as president’s PA.

 

I heard from Mae that he'll contest for the next presidential election which will happen a few months from now.

 

“Yes, I did it. I had to make her like me and take her there. Dad, you don’t expect me to be with someone I don’t even know. God, so you can sell your daughter off like that ? Because of a fucking deal?”

 

Mae's voice takes on a high pitch. Aside from her piercing voice, I’m genuinely curious about what’s transpiring between her and her father. She’s seems disgusted. Angry, for lack of a better word. As my curiosity peaked, I strain my ears to hear her.

 

“I can’t, dad! I want only my boyfriend to be the one who touches me. Fuck you and your deal. I’ve already done what I had to do. Thank goodness I eavesdropped your conversation with whoever that was.” She barks, her words coming out quick and thick.

 

The next few words the man speaks seems foreign to me. A language I can’t pinpoint and to my shock, Mae replies him in that language as well. It might be Russian or…

 

Oh, I never knew Mae’s adept in foreign languages. I’m amazed to figure that out now.

 

I gulp down the lump in my throat, only to discover how sour my saliva tastes. Shit, I didn’t brush my teeth before dozing off last night. I gently erect to my feet and aim to search for the bathroom then Mae's voice booms again.

 

“I used her. For my own benefit. She’s my friend….so what?”

 

At that comment, I knew something’s up. There’s something she’s hiding from us. From me. And I want to know why. Why did she lure me to the club dressed like her and then left?

 

And what about the bartender…he definitely acted like someone paid to execute a job. Who sent him?

 

I need answers.

 

I want to find out what she’s hiding. And now!