The giant red sign of "The Scarlet Vine Club Club" glared down like a watchful, angry eye, its harsh light turning Sylvia Summer's shiny, dark car a strange, unsettling color. The loud, pounding music from inside the club vibrated through the car, shaking it slightly as she parked. It was a world away from the quiet, elegant places Sylvia usually went. When she stepped out of her car, the cold night wind tried to snatch at her carefully styled hair, a sharp reminder of how late it was.
Before she could even close her car door, a figure rushed toward her, a blur of bright makeup and expensive clothes. It was Eva Harper, her supposed best friend, but tonight, her face was twisted into a mask of pure anger. Her eyes, usually sparkling with fun, were now hard and cold.
"Sylvia! Seriously? You said eight o'clock! I've been freezing out here for half an hour!" Eva yelled, her voice sharp and cutting through the night.
Sylvia felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "Eva, I'm so sorry. Something really urgent came up at the last minute. I tried to call, but..."
Eva's lips tightened into a thin, angry line, like she was about to explode with words. But Sylvia quickly reached into her purse and pulled out a beautifully wrapped gift box, the ribbon catching the harsh red light of the club. "Happy birthday, Eva!"
For a moment, the anger in Eva's eyes softened. She looked at the gift box, her fingers itching to tear open the expensive paper and see what was inside. "Fine," she said, her voice still a little angry, "but we're really late. My friends are waiting inside, and they don't like to wait."
Sylvia had planned to just drop off the gift and leave quickly, but before she could say goodbye, Eva grabbed her arm with surprising strength and pulled her toward the club's entrance. The music got louder and louder, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and cheap perfume. Sylvia felt a wave of heat and noise wash over her as they stepped inside. The flashing lights made shadows dance on the walls, making her feel dizzy and disoriented.
Eva pushed through the crowded room, her movements sharp and determined. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and the sweet, cloying smell of cheap perfume. They moved through the crowd, each person a potential threat in Sylvia's uneasy mind. They went into a small, private room, and the heavy red curtain closed behind them with a soft, ominous thud, shutting out most of the noise. But the scene inside didn't make Sylvia feel any better. The room was full of men, their faces and bodies showing a kind of danger. They sat on worn, plush seats, holding bottles of liquor, their eyes immediately locking onto Sylvia, staring at her in a way that made her skin crawl.
Their eyes moved over her body, looking her up and down, making her feel like she was under a harsh, glaring light. Sylvia instinctively stiffened, her hand tightening around her purse, her knuckles turning white. Sensing her discomfort, Eva gave a quick, sharp look to a man with a thick, horseshoe-shaped mustache, a silent message passing between them.
"Hey, stop it, you guys! You're making her uncomfortable," the man barked, his voice rough and gravelly, breaking the tense silence.
The men's lewd smiles faded, replaced by awkward, almost guilty looks, but their eyes still held a hint of something mean. Eva stepped forward, her voice sounding cheerful again, though it seemed fake. "Sylvia, this is Cole Chandler. Cole, this is Sylvia Summer, the girl I've been telling you about."
Cole Chandler's eyes lit up, his mustache twitching as he put down his drink, his gaze lingering on Sylvia with an unsettling intensity. "Wow, you weren't kidding! She's really beautiful." He let out a low chuckle, a rumbling sound that sent a shiver down Sylvia's spine, and the other men joined in with their own coarse laughter.
Sylvia felt a wave of intense discomfort wash over her, a feeling of being trapped and exposed. She hated their eyes, their laughter, the way they looked at her like she was a piece of meat. Her white silk blouse and tailored black pants, usually her go-to for looking effortlessly stylish, suddenly felt too revealing, too vulnerable, under their judging eyes. The delicate silver locket around her neck, usually a subtle touch of elegance, now felt like a spotlight on her vulnerability, drawing unwanted attention.
"Eva, I really have to go," Sylvia said, her voice tight, barely a whisper. "I'm already late for another appointment."
"What? No way! You can't just drop off a gift and run. We're friends, aren't we?" Eva protested, her grip on Sylvia's arm tightening, her fingers digging into her skin.
"Come on, sweetheart, don't be like that," Cole Chandler sneered, lighting a cigarette, the pungent smoke curling around Sylvia, making her eyes water and her throat tighten. "We're not going to bite."
She felt trapped, cornered, like an animal caught in a trap. Eva, sensing her discomfort, tried to make things better with a forced laugh, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "How about this? You were late, so you owe us a drink, right?" Eva gave Cole a meaningful look, a silent agreement passing between them.
Cole chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through the room, and poured a glass of wine, the liquid swirling like blood in the dim light. He walked toward Sylvia, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light, his smile wide and unsettling.
"I don't drink," Sylvia stated firmly, her voice icy, her eyes fixed on Cole's.
Eva's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, come on, Sylvia. Don't be like that. Just one drink. For me?"
Sylvia looked at Eva and Cole, her gaze flickering between their faces, trying to understand their intentions. "I really can't. I get dizzy easily, even with a little bit."
"It's just a light wine," Cole insisted, his voice smooth and persuasive, like honey laced with poison. "It won't hurt you." He held out the glass, his eyes mocking, daring her to refuse.
Sylvia hesitated, her gaze flickering between Eva and Cole, feeling the weight of Eva's expectant gaze, the silent pressure to give in. She took the glass, her fingers trembling slightly, and drank it all in one gulp, the sweet, syrupy liquid burning her throat, leaving a bitter, metallic aftertaste. Eva's eyes, usually bright and friendly, now held a dark, triumphant gleam, a flicker of something cruel and unsettling.
Sylvia's face flushed, and she coughed, her throat burning, the room beginning to spin slightly. She returned the empty glass to Cole, her hand shaking uncontrollably. "I really need to go now," she said, her voice barely audible.
But as she turned to leave, a wave of dizziness washed over her, her body suddenly heavy and weak, as if she were sinking into quicksand. A burning heat pulsed through her veins, making her cheeks feel like they were on fire, her mind clouded with a thick, ominous fog.
"You… what did you…" Sylvia stammered, shaking her head, trying to clear the fog that was descending over her mind, her thoughts becoming sluggish and confused.
