The Forbidden Club

By the time night fell, I was already regretting saying yes.

Not because I didn’t want to go.

But because I didn’t understand what I had agreed to.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection like I was trying to recognize the girl looking back at me.

This wasn’t me.

Or maybe…

It was a version of me I hadn’t allowed myself to be before.

“Okay,” Avery’s voice came from behind me, sharp and amused. “You’re definitely not dressing like you’re going to sleep.”

I froze slightly.

I turned slowly. “I was just...”

“Don’t,” she cut in, walking closer, arms crossed, eyes scanning me. “I know that look.”

“What look?”

“The ‘I’m about to do something reckless’ look.”

I let out a small breath. “It’s not reckless.”

“It’s always reckless when Damon Thorne is involved.”

That made my heart skip.

Annoying.

“You know about that?” I asked.

Avery snorted. “Zara, this is Blackthorn. Everyone knows everything.”

That wasn’t comforting.

“At least tell me where you’re going,” she added.

I hesitated.

Then...

“The Forbidden Club.”

Silence.

The kind that made my stomach tighten.

Avery’s expression changed completely.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “You’re serious?”

“Why?” I asked. “What is it?”

She stared at me for a second longer.

Then laughed.

“You have no idea what you just got yourself into.”

My chest tightened. “Then tell me.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice like someone might hear us.

“It’s not just a party,” she said. “It’s… controlled.”

“Controlled how?”

“By people who run this school.”

My stomach dropped.

“What?”

Avery tilted her head. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

She hesitated.

Then...

“I’m part of it.”

I blinked.

“You’re what?”

She shrugged lightly. “Not everyone gets in, Zara. It’s invitation-only. Elite. Hidden.”

“Hidden from who?”

“Everyone who doesn’t matter.”

That didn’t sit right with me.

“And Damon is part of this?” I asked.

Avery gave me a look. “Damon? Elias? Kai?” She let out a quiet laugh. “They don’t just attend. They belong there.”

Something twisted in my chest.

“But here’s the thing,” she added. “Their families? They would lose it if this ever got out.”

“Why?”

Avery leaned closer.

“Because the people running that club aren’t just students.”

A pause.

Then...

“Especially Kai’s father.” " He would definitely lose it".

I frowned. “What about him?”

Avery’s voice dropped.

“He’s the Chancellor, Zara.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

“And the rest?” she continued. “Damon and Elias’ father sits on the board. Powerful. Untouchable. The kind of people who don’t like secrets slipping out or getting involved in scandals.”

I stared at her.

Everything suddenly felt… bigger.

Darker.

“I can take you,” Avery said after a moment. “I’m going tonight anyway.”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Damon said he would come for me.”

Avery raised a brow. “You trust him like that already?”

I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t know. Time passed.

Too much time. I kept checking my phone. Nothing.

No message. No call. Nothing.

“He’s not coming, is he?” Avery said, already halfway dressed.

I swallowed. “He said he would.”

“And you believed him?”

That stung.

“I still do,” I said, though it sounded weaker than I meant it to.

Avery grabbed her jacket. “I’m leaving in five.”

I hesitated. Five minutes. Then ten. Still nothing. Something inside me shifted. Fine.

If he wasn’t coming...

I wasn’t waiting.

“I’m coming,” I said suddenly.

Avery smirked. “Told you.”

We slipped out quietly. No noise. No attention. Just shadows and adrenaline. My heart raced the entire way. Not from fear. From anticipation. From something I couldn’t name. The moment we arrived… I understood.

This wasn’t just a party. It was something else entirely.

Underground. Hidden beneath the surface like it wasn’t meant to exist. Dim lights. Expensive décor.

Music that pulsed through the walls like a heartbeat.

People dressed like they owned the world.

And maybe they did. They were having fun, if not too much fun.

“Welcome,” Avery said beside me, “to the real Blackthorn.”

I barely heard her.

I was too busy taking everything in.

The luxury.

The danger.

The way everyone moved like they belonged here.

Like this was their world.

And I...

I wasn’t supposed to be part of it.

And yet…

I was.

We moved deeper into the crowd.

Drinks. Laughter. Music. Everything blurred together.

For a moment, I forgot everything.

Until...

I saw him. Damon. At the bar. Of course. Because where else would Damon Thorne be? But he wasn’t alone. A girl stood far too close to him. Laughing. Touching his arm. Leaning into him like she belonged there. Like she belonged with him. My chest tightened.

Hard. Sharp. Unexpected. Jealousy. And something else. Something worse. I shouldn’t have felt that.

Not when what we had was fake.

Not when this was all just an arrangement.

But I did.

God, I did.

I looked away quickly.

Before he could see me.

Or maybe…

He already had cause I briefly noticed him trying to reach out to me but I turned and walked away.

Because I couldn’t stand there and watch that.

Couldn’t stand there and pretend it didn’t bother me.

Couldn’t stand there and feel something I wasn’t supposed to feel.

Couldn’t pretend he didn't just ditch me minutes ago to be here with that girl.

I didn’t stop walking until the music softened slightly.

Until...

“Zara?”

I turned.

Elias.

Relief hit me instantly.

“You made it,” he said, stepping closer.

“I guess I did.”

His gaze studied me carefully. “You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

He didn’t believe me.

I could tell.

Elias’ expression softened slightly. “You’ve changed.”

That again.

“I keep hearing that.”

“Because it’s true.”

Before I could respond....

A loud clink cut through the room.

Glasses. Voices quieting. Attention shifting. I turned.

A guy stood at the center of the room, raising his drink with a grin that screamed trouble.

Cameron.

“Alright!” he called out. “Let’s make this night interesting.”

A ripple of excitement moved through the crowd.

People gathered. Closer. Tighter. More dangerous.

“Truth,” he said, smirking, “or dare?”

Cheers erupted.

My stomach dropped slightly.

Elias glanced at me.

“This,” he murmured, “is where things go wrong.”

But I couldn’t look away.

Because something told me...

This night?

Was just getting started.

And whatever happened next…

There was no going back.