Page 20 of Disco Fever

“Are you alright?” the woman asked, carefully taking the gun from my hand.

Looking back, I watched Juan stand, unharmed, and stare as we drove away.

“No.” I closed my eyes.

“Dottie?” Patty’s voice broke me from the painful memory, a loud gasp shooting from my lungs as I realized I was in the present, back in the dressing room. My eyes searched the room, my consciousness settling as I tried to bring myself back down.

You’re fine. Everything is fine.

“Dottie?” Patty knocked on the dressing room door. “The Devils are here. They’re looking for you.”

The Devils—my devils. Pull yourself together.

I shoved my dark demons aside and cleaned myself up, looking at my pained reflection. I could see the old me staring back. She was scared and hurt, lost in this big world. “That isn’t me anymore,” I whispered. “The old me is dead.” I pinched my cheeks for the perfect blush and shook my head, settling into my new self. “Luanne is gone.” My trauma sank to the pit of my stomach as I adjusted my lingerie and wings, feeling like my usual self again. “Time to party, Dottie.”

I opened the dressing room door and Patty stood there waiting for me. “Hey.” She eyed me closely as I stepped out into the club. Eden’s Inferno was fully alive, lights strobing all acrossthe club as music shook the building. It was a fucking vibe, the very one I was needing right now. “Everything okay?” I looked down to see her holding a tray of shots.

Without even thinking, I picked two up and shot them back, the whiskey burning my throat as I let out a loud whoop. “Perf!” I smiled, brushing past her to The Devil’s Corner. “See you later, Patty!”

The music took hold of me as my body swayed and moved with the beat. I shimmied my chest, the crystals glistening under the mood lighting as my wings wiggled behind me. My eyes noticed the two bedazzled devil masks, locking onto them as I danced my way through the crowded club and to them.

“Oh, I love this song!” I screamed, shaking my ass as I reached their table. With a quick spin, I landed in Dante’s lap, giggling as he tried to help me up.

“You okay, angel?” Kat rushed to my side, trying to help me back to my feet, but I laughed, rolling around in Dante’s lap.

“Oh, I’m fine! Jeez, why does everyone keep asking me that?” My legs kicked as I shook my ass, tossing my hair around. “I just want to party!” Kat grabbed my wrist, yanking me up as Dante stood, holding my waist.

“Dot, what’s going on? Are you high? What did you take?” His hands reached for my face, but I slapped them away.

“Knock it off! I said I was fine!”

“Angel.” Kat spun me to face her, carefully lifting her mask to see my face.

Ugh, Kat is just fucking perfect.

“Dottie, did you use?” She pulled me close, looking into my eyes as my hands pressed against her chest. “I think she overdid it a little, Dante.” Kat spoke to him behind me.

“God, you’re so beautiful. Kiss me.” I leaned forward, kissing Kat as she nearly fell over. Dante had to grab us, pulling us apart as I laughed out loud, grabbing his neck to kiss him. “Take yourmask off! Let me see your handsome face!” He grabbed my wrist, stopping me. I nearly stumbled over, feeling the mixture of coke and whiskey mixing in my stomach.

“Why don’t we take a seat and just rest a moment, angel? You don’t look so good.” Kat tried to direct my body to their table, but I didn’t want to go. Dante had rejected me and Kat was trying to mother me, and I didn’t like it.

“No!” My arm ripped from her grip as they watched me. “I want to party! And if you two don’t want to party with me, then I’ll just find someone else.” My wings almost knocked me over as I spun away from them.

“Angel. Angel!” Kat screamed after me as I pranced into the dancing crowd, raising my hands up high, flicking them off.

“Later bitches!”

I lost myself in the music once more, dancing with random patrons as the devils watched from their corner, sullen and bitter.

That’s right, watch me. Keep your devilish eyes on me as I show you what you’re missing.

I purposely put on a show, shaking my ass and dancing on everyone I could, letting strangers touch me and hold me however they pleased. I didn’t care who it was or what they did, I just wanted to remain in this fuzzy high and drift away from everything. And I wanted the devils to see me having the time of my life without them. To make them regret rejecting me.

“Want to go outside for a smoke?” The guy I was dancing with asked. He seemed harmless enough, but truthfully, the hot club air had made me break a sweat and the idea of stepping outside in the cool spring night sounded like a good idea.

“Sure!” He took my hand and led me towards the back of the club. My eyes peeked over my shoulders and past my wings as I waved bye and blew a kiss to the devils, watching them stir and simmer.

The two of us stepped out into the night, our hot breaths fogging the air as the moonlight beamed down on us. The strange man lit his cigarette, watching me squeal and spin beneath the blue light, sparkling as my wings felt like they were glowing. “It’s such a beautiful night!” I exhaled, gripping the railing next to him as he offered me the lit cigarette. “Thanks,” I breathed, inhaling the smoke.

---