Chapter 5 : The Elite Club

Grace

‘ Adrian Valente- ‘

Sunlight stabbed straight into my skull the second I opened my eyes. I whimpered, low and pathetic, and tried to roll away from the window. My arm stretched out as I tried to relax my stressed muscles but,it was a big mistake. 

A sharp, throbbing pain exploded behind my eyes like someone had taken a hammer to my temples. I groaned louder and instantly curled into a ball under the blanket for a second before forcing myself to sit up.

My vision blurred as I felt the room spun once, then settled. Barely. I dragged a hand through my hair. Feeling the tangled, greasy, disgusting texture- and caught my reflection in the full-length mirror across from the bed.

Jesus.

Mascara had raccooned down my cheeks in black streaks. Lipstick was smeared across my chin like a bad crime scene. My eyes were puffy and red and my hair was sticking up in every direction. 

I looked like I’d been hit by a truck full of regret. I looked awful.

I groaned again, louder this time, and not being able to watch myself look so hideous, half-crawled, half-fell out of bed. I gasped as my bare feet came in contact with the cold floor and instantly, my legs felt like jelly. 

Every step toward the bathroom made my head pound harder. 

I immediately splashed some cold water on my face, which helped a little. I splashed it over and over until the worst of the smudged makeup came off. Immediately I brushed my teeth twice because my mouth tasted like death. 

Ran wet fingers through my hair in a useless attempt to tame it. Still looked like a hungover raccoon, but at least I didn’t look like I’d been crying in a dumpster.

I shuffled out of the bedroom in my oversized sleep shirt and shorts, following the smell of coffee and something savory. Was it bacon? Toast? My stomach growled even though it felt like it might revolt at any second. 

I felt like a hungry beast who hadn’t feasted for years. As I reached closer, voices drifted from the kitchen. Soft. Hushed murmurs.  “…let’s just hope she doesn’t remember what happened last night.” I froze in the hallway, frowning. “…she shouldn’t know him or else—”

Know who?

Were …. They talking about me? I pressed my palm to my forehead, trying to force the memories back. Flashes- club lights, music thumping, laughter, a cigarette, coughing like an idiot… and then nothing. Just black. A big, empty void where last night should be.

Weird.

Finally, I walked into the kitchen. The girls went dead silent the second they saw me.

Stella mid-sip of coffee. Laila holding a spatula like a weapon. Kristy and Michelle exchanging quick looks. “What are you guys talking about?” I mumbled, rubbing my temples in slow circles.

Kristy shook her head, grabbing her coffee and sipping on it. “Nothing. Just… girl talk.”

I dropped into the chair like my bones were made of lead. “Fuck, it hurts.” My whole body ached so badly that I felt like my body would crack into small pieces any moment. 

Stella winced sympathetically. “You drank way too much last night, baby. We tried to stop you but you were on a mission.” She shook her head at me and I stared at her. “How much?” 

Michelle rolled her eyes, sliding a glass of water toward me. “Enough that you don’t remember anything. Even if you try.”

My stomach twisted, not from nausea, but from something colder. A prickle at the back of my neck. Like I’d done something stupid. Really stupid. Did I?

The next moment, Laila set a steaming bowl of chicken soup in front of me. “Here. Eat. It’ll help.” I didn’t argue. I needed some relief from this horrible pain. I dug in and The first spoonful was warm, salty heaven. 

I let out a long, satisfied groan as it slid down my throat, chasing away some of the fog. “Did I… do something last night?” I asked slowly, looking up at them one by one. Kristy scoffed. “Something? You did everything you shouldn’t have.”

The words landed like ice water down my spine and my hand froze mid way to my mouth for another bite. “What does that mean?” I asked with raised eyebrows and cautiously. 

Michelle reached over and immediately smacked the back of her head. It was light, but enough to make her wince. “Nothing. You Just threw up. A lot. And it was a nightmare carrying your ass back here.”

Stella chuckled nervously. “Yeah. You were… enthusiastic about the tequila. That’s all.”

Stella avoided eye contact and I narrowed my eyes. They were lying. Or at least leaving huge chunks out. But my head hurt too much to push.

Stella once again broke the tension, clapping her hands together too brightly. “Okay, okay— finish up. We have something to discuss.” I raised an eyebrow, spoon still in my mouth. “Discuss what?”

Laila grinned like she’d won the lottery. “Well… me and Stella managed to get us all passes for the Dark Elite Club tonight.” My spoon clattered against the bowl. Did I hear that right? No way- 

“You’re joking.”

“Nope.” Laila pulled out five glossy black cards from her pocket and fanned them like winning poker hands. “VIP access. Full entry. We’re going.”

I stared at her in disbelief. Was she crazy? That place was known to be a black place. A place where normal people like us avoided and many were forced to avoid.

 “The Dark Elite- That place is… insane. Politicians, celebrities, and—like—actual criminals go there. It’s not a club, it’s a… a danger zone.” I clarified, thinking she might have mistaken the place but her excitement and answer shook me to my core. 

“Exactly!” Michelle said, eyes sparkling. “That’s why it’s fun. We’ve never been. We have to go at least once.”

I scoffed, pushing the empty bowl away. “Shopping is better than that shitty place. I’m not in the mood to get murdered or kidnapped.”

Laila gave me the look- the one that said arguing was pointless. “We’re going. End of story. You’ll thank us later.” 

I opened my mouth to argue further but Michelle placed her palm over my mouth and Stella pointed her finger at me, warning me to shut up. I sighed, looking at them all, long and defeated.

They were right about one thing, there was no winning against all four of them when they teamed up. “Fine,” I muttered, rubbing my temples again. “But if anything weird happens, I’m leaving. And you’re all buying me coffee for a week.”

Stella grinned. “Deal.” I leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. My head still pounded. My memories were still missing. I closed my eyes to remember last night and something- some tiny, nagging feeling— kept whispering that last night had been more than just drinking too much.

I just didn’t know what. Yet.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The Dark Elite Club loomed in front of us like a black glass fortress. So tall, sleek, no flashy neon sign, just a single silver “DE” etched above the heavy double doors and two men in black suits standing like statues on either side. 

My stomach twisted the second the car pulled up. Stepping out, I tugged at the hem of my black leather skirt which reached mid-thigh, tight enough that every step made me hyper-aware of how much leg was showing. 

The off-shoulder crop top left my collarbones, shoulders, and a slim strip of my waist completely bare. The high-knee boots added a few inches, making my legs look longer, but right now they just felt like armor I didn’t trust.

Stella had straightened my hair until it fell like a dark curtain down my back, added a smoky liner that made my eyes look bigger and sharper, and a touch of deep red on my lips.

I looked good.

Maybe too good.

Devilishly good, like I was trying to play in a league I didn’t belong to.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I murmured. My voice was barely above the low thrum of bass leaking from inside. Stella nudged my hip with hers, grinning. “Come on, baby. We’re here now. And I know you’re going to love it. One drink, some dancing, and we’re out if you hate it. Promise.”

I forced a smile. It felt tight. Fake. Of course, it was forced. I could not shake off that heavy feeling off my chest. 

We stepped forward when it was our turn. The security guy scanned each of our black passes under a blue light. His eyes flicked over me once, twice, lingering on the bare skin of my midriff and it made me shift slightly before he nodded once and stepped aside.

The doors opened.

And the moment we crossed the entrance, everything inside me screamed wrong. My eyes immediately scanned the place with sharp gaze, full on alert. 

It wasn’t crowded like the usual clubs- no sweaty bodies grinding shoulder-to-shoulder, no drunk college kids screaming lyrics. 

The space was vast, dark and…. deliberate. Deep red lights washed over everything, turning skin and suits into shadows and blood. Low leather booths lined the walls, each one occupied by men in tailored black or charcoal- older, sharper, the kind of men who didn’t laugh loudly. 

They sat with drinks in crystal glasses, girls draped across their laps or leaning close, whispering. A few couples moved on the small, circular dance floor in the center, but even their dancing looked calculated. The slow rolls of hips, hands possessive, eyes never fully closed.

The music was heavy, sensual, bass so deep it vibrated in my ribcage. My palms started to sweat and I swallowed hard. This place felt so different and dark than any other place I had visited on earth. The people here weren’t here for fun maybe …… 

This place wasn’t waiting for fun.

It was waiting for something else.

For someone else.

For me?