1 BlackOut

I sipped my coke, scanning the club; it was packed, as the only nightclub in this tiny town that was normal. It was probably the only place where you'd see a goth dancing with a girl dressed in a Barbie pink skintight dress. In this little world, everyone was equal no one cared what anyone looked like, their pronouns, race, gender. It was like an alien world but right here on earth.

I couldn't tell you why this little rundown place was our hideaway from the world, with black walls that held random spots of colored paint, the dirty bathrooms. Blackout felt more like home than my actual house did these days.

The bass pounded through my body, my heart matching the beat. It was a surreal experience. If you closed your eyes and just let the music take you, it was something almost spiritual.

"Hey!" My best friend yelled in my ear, "You should dance with me!"

Her face was reddish from the hardcore dancing, a smile that stretched across her mouth, curls bouncing around her dark eyes.

I pushed my empty bottle towards the bartender and smiled down at her, "Let's go."

She took my hand, the neon green bracelet on her wrist sliding up her arm as she lifted our entwined fingers to the roof. This club was one of the few that allowed those 18 and older to enter.

A song with a steady hard baseline kicked in; we moved to the beat, getting lost in the sound, not a care in the world. At least for me, the music took it away. Forced my brain to shut off and let my body do the rest.

My eyes closed as we shimmied, till Cat's hand slid from mine. Catana was now dancing with the tall goth guy again. A smirk on her face told me she was great with this as his hands landed on her hips, mouth moving to her ear. It looked like she was going to get lucky tonight, didn't surprise me. The girl was stunning.

I also didn't mind dancing on my own, lifting my hair off my neck as I dropped to the floor, coming back up slowly. The song turned into something slower, a sensual beat, which caused the goth guy to pull Catana closer, her fingers going into his dark hair.

I turned to head back to the bar when I bumped into a tall guy standing right behind me. "Sorry."

He wasn't watching me at all. His eyes were on the goth guy with my friend; hands balled into fists. His eyes were an icy blue, something rather spectacular to behold. Was he jealous? I looked back at Catana and the goth guy, who was lost in their world, just dancing to the beat.

I twisted back to the tall guy to see his eyes narrowed on me. I took a step back from him because there was such fury in those icy depths.

"Do you know that guy?" He asked, his voice deep and smooth. Full lips that just screamed 'kiss me.'

I shook my head, running a hand through my fiery red hair. "Never even seen him before tonight."

What did that matter?

"You should tell your friend to stay away from him." He said, turning on his heel, walking away from me. He was wearing all black, much like the goth guy but without the make-up and black nails. He had a better hairstyle too.

I put my hands on my hips that, was strange. Were they exes or something? I looked back to where Catana was dancing to see she was gone. No sign of her or the goth guy she'd just been dancing with. I scanned the rest of the club but came up short in no way would she leave with him without telling me it was our rule. We never left without making sure the other knew. It kept us safe.

I swallowed, a nervous feeling settling low in my stomach. I texted Cat quickly; no texts. I called her; straight to voicemail. Was I freaking out because of what that weird hot guy had said? The only place she could be was in the restroom; that would still leave the goth guy out here on the floor, waiting for her.

I pushed through the dancing bodies, heading for the bathroom. I had to check and make sure. Cat had to be here. While, the goth guy had slipped away when she did, to do his business. That was it! This feeling in my stomach was nothing more than worry over what the stupid tall guy had said, nothing more. I kept telling myself.

"Catana!?" I yelled, bursting through the door. The two women who were fixing their make-up in the mirror leaned back to look at me.

The older one with blonde hair raised her eyebrow, "Who?"

I touched my hand to my ear, "This tall, black, wearing a hot pink dress."

That dress was hard to miss. There would be no way she'd slipped by them unnoticed.

"Not seen her. Everything okay?" The other one asked, placing her red lipstick in her clutch, a concerned look on her face.

I knew it was rude but I closed the door on them anyway, breath coming out in little gasps. Cat was gone. I made my way out the door, past the bouncer. Maybe the goth guy smoked so Cat had slipped outside with him. Yeah, that was it. I needed to calm down. I was overrating way too much.

There was no one outside, like a ghost town out here. Fear dug its ugly claws into my spine, holding me tight. She was just here! How could she have left so damn fast? I checked my phone in vain, not a single message.

"Fuck!" I shouted into the warm night air.

Her beat-up old Honda was still in the parking lot, so she had to have left with the goth guy. But she'd never leave without telling me. Never. Did the goth guy kidnap her? Fear was now creeping up my throat, trying to close off my windpipe. I was going to have a panic attack if I didn't get ahold of myself fast.

I smacked my hand on her car, feeling the pain rattle up my arm. I just wanted to scream. I needed her to pop up while laughing at how dumb I was acting. I wanted her to laugh so hard that she had to hold onto her stomach to keep from losing it. She was my best friend. I couldn't live without her. What was I going to do now? Nothing like this had ever happened before, yet I had this terrible feeling that something was wrong. A voice in my head screamed at me to find her before it was too late.

I should call the police, fingers on the screen, ready to dial 911 when a pale hand shot out, tossing the phone onto the ground. "Did I not tell you to watch out for your friend?"

My head shot up, stunned to see the tall guy from the club right in front of me, angrily pushing his shaggy black hair from his icy blue eyes. "I'm tired of looking out for stupid little princesses."

I glared at him, "Go to hell, asshat." I grabbed my phone, thankful the screen hadn't cracked. These things were expensive! Princess? He didn't even know me; my life was far from a fairytale. "I'm in the middle of something important."

He glared, "Look, you only have one option if you want your friend back alive." His arms crossed over his broad chest, eyes bored as they looked down at me. Bored even though he'd just told me that Catana's life was in danger.

"Alive?" My eyes widened, heart dropping into my stomach. How had this night gone so freaking wrong so fast? "What do I have to do?"