Seraphina's Awakening

Chapter Nine: Chaos

The drive to New York City is bursting with laughter and belting out songs on the radio at the top of their lungs. However, things quieted as they drive through Manhattan as the girls stare all about them in awe. Buildings Sera has to press her face on the glass to see and so many people wandering back and forth.

Then she notices steam spiral out of grates on the sidewalk. Trash piled so high they look like buildings themselves. She is starting to think New York City isn't all it's cracked up to be until the car finally drives into Times Square, which is lit up with probably more lights than her entire town could ever hope to power. The billboards flash and draw her eyes in. A yellow M&M waves to her as they pass and all too suddenly, the streets dim again. All Sera can do is stare. Amanda is of course, un-phased.

"Small town girls in the big city, watch out New York." Amanda hums to herself to the same tune as the song on the radio. She weaves the car through a few more turns. How she is veering in and out of lanes while avoiding the million pedestrians, Sera will never understand. The GPS keeps blaring directions and Amanda obeys every single one, even from the wrong lane. Ignoring the gasps escaping Sera and the obscene gestures she's receiving from other drivers, her best friend continues cutting people off like it was in her DNA. It's like she belongs here. Sera steals a look at her closest gal pal. Drop dead gorgeous with a what-the-hell attitude. It's a shame she was born a small town girl, when everything about her screams tough-skinned-city-chick.

Finally, the black sedan pulls up to an industrial neighborhood and miraculously, finds a spot a few feet from the brick single floor building with Chaos scribbled in green graffiti. Splotches of paint splatter around it in assorted colors.

"Are you sure this is it?" Sera turns to her friend. There's no windows, no line out front—nothing to indicate that this is indeed a nightclub.

"Yup, looks like the website."

"Oh." She finally climbs out of the car glancing about with concern. Because, websites are never wrong. Uneasiness settles in her stomach, something inside of her is telling her things are too easy.

She ignores her sudden unrest; this is going to be good night she reminds herself.

The bouncer gives their ID's a passing glance before allowing them entry.

Definitely too easy.

With one last glance behind her, Sera turns to the black curtain and passes through. On the other side, the club comes into view. The ambiance holds true to its name—Chaos. The whole place reeks of sweat and booze. Music thrums through the speakers above cascading down onto the dancers as they gyrate against one another. The opposite side of the club is where the huge bar lies, with mismatched stools and a bar lit up from the inside with a black light. The bottles lining the wall are also lit up from underneath, highlighting the premium bottles in ranging color scheme. Amanda begins weaseling her way to the bar.

"Are we late?" Sera screams into her ear to be heard over the music.

"Just in time." Amanda is still facing away, but Sera can still hear her with precision. Amanda continues to squeeze through two guys before turning back, "Oh, excuse me." With a push, Sera moves her forward.

They finally reach the bar swarming with patrons striving for a drink. "Is that paint?" Sera studies the brick wall beside them.

"And graffiti. Chaotic isn't it?" She shoots Sera a wink. "Ben says this place is all the rage since it opened a few months ago."

"A few months ago," Sera repeats. "You would think they'd be able to afford a mop," she mutters, picking her heel up from the sticky floor a few times.