Vertigo

The sweltering heat poured off the writhing form of multiple bodies crashing into each other like a pit of boiling water, their hands waving creating the effect of bubbles popping against the surface. I asked myself once more why I endured the noxious fumes of bodily fluids, burning sensation of physical contact and music so loud the force of it surely changed the pace of my heart beat. I looked towards Bethany, her brown hair loose and waving about her like an image blurred, her crimson nails darting flashes of color against her dark tan skin and black dress, the Jesus that hung from her neck catching the swirling lights and winking as though it was amused by the irony of religion in such a god-forsaken place as this. That was why. I scanned the crowd, fishing for something interesting to do with the next few hours I'd be here.

She loved this scene, and as her best friend she'd convinced me of my duty to escort her to and from each damp section of down town as she hopped from club to club. This was the darkest of all the usual flowers my little bee buzzed to, the sweet nectar of Vertigo was like ecstasy in itself – not to mention the actual ecstasy that was peddled among the tossing forms. But at the very least, everyone in this particular pit of perceptual human contact was dripping with good looks.

I was wearing a long sleeved shirt that fit over my diver's form and did my best to keep my bare hands buried into the shallow pockets of my black jeans. The less skin contact the less I was affected by the various drugs that oozed from the glistening pores of the mindless dancers that swirled around me like water teasing a rock with its movement. Well, at least she was enjoying herself.

We had been there for over an hour, unusually long for Bethany but not so much so that it caused me to wonder at it. Then, as though some one had whispered my name I felt the pull of my attention swivel to the stage. I can not for the life of me explain the reasoning I had for looking up at that exact moment but I did. And as my gaze leveled onto the raised platform standing tall in front of the bowl of a dance floor, a pulpit spewing music like religion to the masses, the proverbial preacher stood from his seat to point rather distinctly into the crowd. It seemed an odd gesture, measured purpose weighted the movement as he arched an brow above curiously red eyes. It was then I realized I could see his eyes clearly – as though the distance between us was 5 inches, not thirty some feet. I shook my head, cursing myself for such a stupid thought. I must have gotten a mild high from the steam curling off the bodies around me, it was known to happen.

I looked up again to find the man was still pointing into the crowd as menacing as a bishop condemning one of his fold to the gates of hell. I tried to locate the target of his indication but with all the movement tugging at my gaze it was impossible. I scanned the crowd and noticed a figure moving with a deadly calm, cutting through the thrashing dancers as easily as one might stroll through a field of tall grass. I watched him intently, trying to settle the churning in my stomach.

Something was not right.

The writhing bodies seemed to bend out of his way, throwing themselves into an arch of thrashing dance at the exact moment he needed to pass. Coincidence seemed an unlikely explanation. His figure cut an impressive contrast against the bright flashing colors of the dancers most of which were all but naked. His lithe form was covered in black, a button down shirt, slacks and silk looking tie with a pin that glinted like a giggling henchman as he stalked through his path.

The man's skin was pale- white against the darkness that clothed him and his hair was black and long enough to be shaggy but seemed to be combed into submission bringing his appearance to a professional 'emo'. His gray eyes though, were calm. Scary calm. As I watched him, something flickered in my stomach like a bird panicking in a cage. My chest ached as my brain struggled to get a grip on what was going on. Then he looked up. As his eyes caught mine, his blank faced expression of utter focus broke into a smile that sent shivers down my spine. Thin canines unsheathed over his lips as he grinned at me, a mocking sort of grin that seemed to be daring me to try and escape. With all the calm of a hunter he continued towards me. His cold steel eyes left mine and seemed to settle on something else, some other target, and for a moment my heart fluttered with relief.

Red nails flashed and caught my attention as Bethany stepped closer to me, her face flushed with the lust of a cocktail of drugs that coursed through her system. The terrified bird in my chest died for a moment and everything became still. The gray eyed hunter was licking his lips in anticipation as he closed in on his actual target.

Bethany.

My legs tensed and alarm bells were clanging in my mind, I had watched too many horror movies to know where this was going. I flailed, snatching at her shoulders, trying to pull her around, to put myself between her and the monster that was drawing ever closer. But try as I might my hands were ignoring my pleading thoughts to function properly. Something on the back of my neck stung, a dull sensation that as it peaked to a sharp pain I realized had been going on for some time now. It had started as that prickling sensation you get when sweat starts beading, but had been steadily throbbing into something more painful.

Colors swirled in my vision, faces turned towards me as incoherent screams tore from my spasming lips. In their eyes I saw death staring back at me. It hit me that a lot of the anonymous peoples surrounding me were not, in fact, sweating at all. Teeth flashed in my gaze, smiles pulled back over white fangs that I had not noticed before. As I slowly lost control, my screaming and useless flopping ceased and I was a captive in my own body. My vision swirled like looking through warped glass.

Gray eyes filled my vision, set in snow above angled cheeks and lips twinged with blue. My heart skipped a beat. He was talking, waving an arm about him as he did so and despite the music that pounded to the core of my being, I heard him clearly.

“All of this,” his words repeated as if my brain was skipping, his look of amusement tightened my stomach into knots. “All of this, can be yours.” Again my brain skipped, leaving me with a nauseous feeling.

“All of this, all of this can be yours."

With that his outstretched hand closed around Bethany's shoulder, his carefully manicured nails digging into her flesh and he ripped her from her writhing to slam into his own body, showing me he had her and I was powerless to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. Bethany didn't seem to be at all aware of the blood pouring down her arm and simply pressed into the man holding her captive, her eyes were rolled back in her head. His words echoed once more.

“All of this, all of this can be yours.

"Just give me what I want. And no one gets hurt.” His face fell into a deadly flat-line, and I felt my heart stop at the force of it.

The world tipped upwards.

Then, darkness.