Suddenly, screams erupted from outside, followed by the frantic sound of people running. Fear gripped us instantly.
Arora rushed to switch off the light. "Hide, everyone!" she whispered urgently.
Without hesitation, we scattered, each of us finding a place to crouch in silence. My heart pounded so loudly I feared it would give away my hiding spot. Another gunshot rang out, the deafening sound echoing through the building. I clamped a hand over my mouth, trying to steady my breathing.
We had no idea what was happening, but one thing was clear—safety first. The panicked footsteps of people fleeing sent chills down my spine. Suddenly, the door burst open. Someone rushed inside and flicked on the light.
We shrank back in fear.Then, relief washed over me—it was Jess, one of our colleagues.
"Turn it off!" Clara hissed.
Jess quickly switched off the light again, plunging us back into darkness."What's happening?" Sasha whispered.
Jess exhaled shakily. "A drunk customer... he's the one shooting. I think someone provoked him," she explained in hushed tones. "Two people have already been shot. He's still loading his gun, and—"
Boom!
Another gunshot echoed through the club. I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping my knees. He's not ready to stop. How do they always manage to sneak in with a gun? Mike and Ben are seriously not doing their job properly. With the kind of customers we get, the club had banned firearms a long time ago, yet somehow, people still smuggle them in. But for what? To show off? To threaten? Or just to prove they have power?
I clenched my fists. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and it probably wouldn't be the last. Not long after, we heard the blaring sirens—police.
"This is bad. We need to leave right now," Sasha whispered urgently.
She was right. This club wasn't just a regular nightlife spot. It was a hotspot for all sorts of illegal activities—drugs, illegal deals, and God knows what else. And when the police showed up, they never started with the real criminals. No, they always went after the workers first, treating us like we were part of the mess instead of just trying to make a living.
"Take your belongings!" Jess shouted.
My ID was in my bag—I couldn't risk them finding it and tracing me back. Without wasting a second, I grabbed my stuff. The others did the same, scrambling to pack up whatever they had.
"Move, move!" Clara urged as we rushed toward the back exit, our hearts pounding with fear. We sneaked out through the back and ran like the world was chasing us, only stopping when we reached the other side of the street. Without wasting time, we hurriedly changed out of our uniforms to avoid suspicion. Once done, we hid in the shadows, waiting for the police to enter the club.
As soon as they did, Sasha and I quickly boarded a cab while the others scattered, finding their own way home.
I knew I couldn't go back home now—not with all the chaos that just happened. Uncle Roberto would only make things worse. With a deep breath, I made my decision.
I was going to James's house instead.
Sasha got to her stop and stepped out, leaving me alone in the cab. I watched as she disappeared into the night, and an uneasy feeling settled in my chest.
I couldn't shake off the fear I had felt just moments ago. The sound of gunshots, the screams, the panic—it all replayed in my mind like a nightmare refusing to fade.
I was relieved I hadn't been caught by the police, but the thought of my other colleagues getting arrested made my stomach twist with guilt and worry. What if someone didn't make it out in time? What if the cops started asking questions?
With a heavy sigh, I rested my head against the seat, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "Ma'am, we're here," the cab driver's voice startled me awake. I must have dozed off. Blinking away the drowsiness, I looked outside and saw James's house.
"Thank you," I murmured, stepping out and handing him the fare. He gave me a small nod before driving off.
I reached into my bag for my phone, intending to call James and let him know I was outside. But when I tapped the screen, nothing happened—just black. Great. My battery was dead. I must have forgotten to charge it earlier.
With a sigh, I shoved the phone back into my bag. Standing out here in the cold wasn't an option, so I had no choice but to knock. I knew he was probably asleep, but I couldn't just freeze out here. Taking a deep breath, I raised my fist to knock on the door. But just as I was about to, a faint sound made me stop midair.
I froze, straining my ears to figure out where it was coming from. When I heard nothing else, I shook off the feeling and knocked again.
Then I heard it—a moan.
My heart clenched, fear gripping me as my mind raced. Calm down, Bella. It's not what you think. Maybe he's snoring. People make all kinds of weird sounds when they sleep, right?
But then I heard it again, louder this time. A woman's moan, followed by a low groan.
The sound shattered whatever fragile hope I had left.
My hands trembled as I dug through my bag, searching for the spare key James had given me. Maybe—just maybe—I was wrong. Maybe I was overthinking.
With a deep breath, I inserted the key and unlocked the door.
But the moment I stepped inside, I knew—I had just made a mistake. A terrible mistake.