Page 94 of Angels In The Dark

31

Darkside

Juliana

I’monautopilot.

Everyone is moving around me, but I don’t even realize I’m going through the motions. All of this—Kieran being taken by his dad, whatever is going on at the club—is my fault.

I know it.

Once we’re in the cars headed towards the club, I realize I’m dressed. It takes me even longer to process why we’re heading to the club in the first place.

It’s only a little after five o’clock on a weekday. What can possibly be going on at Bliss that needs immediate attention? What could possibly have spooked Jay enough to call in the cavalry?

Understanding dawns as we pull up to the club.

Smoke.

Before we can even park, I’m up and out of the car, racing towards the club door.

Why is no one outside? Why hasn’t the building been evacuated?

I approach the door and reach out a hand to open it, but an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back.

“Think this through, ti dife.” Cy’s voice ignites a rage in me.

How dare he stop me? How dare he question my reaction? My people, my family, are in there. Jay is in there.

“Let me go, Cy.” I struggle against him, but he doesn’t let up as he drags me farther away.

Sage comes up next to us and places a hand on my shoulder. I still at her touch, but only long enough for Cy to loosen his grip on me.

Cy turns away when Ember calls out to him, and I’m off the second he’s distracted. I’ve already yanked the door open before he can respond.

The whole club is eerily silent as I call out for Jay.

Where is everyone?

I run back to my office, hoping Jay will be there, but when I arrive, the door is wide open, and no one is there.

Frantically, I begin to check other rooms.

That’s when I smell it.

Natural gas.

It’s mixed in with the smell of smoke, but it’s there. There must be a broken pipe somewhere, and whatever fire is burning must be deep in the building if it hasn’t already taken over. I can already feel the heat of it building up the temperature as I make my way further into the club.

I’m standing in the hallway when I hear voices behind me. I spin only to find a livid Cy, frazzled Ember, and Sage looking calm as ever, ready to deal with a crisis.

“Where’s Griffin?” I ask.

Of course, Sage is the one to respond. “Outside on the phone with EMS. He’ll be able to get people here faster. Where’s Jay?”

“I don’t know.” I’m starting to truly panic. The smoke has tears pooling in my eyes, and I can feel myself nearing the edge of a breakdown. I don’t have time to shut down. I have to find Jay. “We should check the dressing room and the rehearsal studio.”

“Okay, you and Sage head to the dressing room. Ember and I will go to the studio,” Cy commands. “I can smell the gas. We need to work quickly.”