Chapter 1 - A night at the Electric Labyrinth

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Connor keeps an eye out, standing casually in the hallway. His ears strain for the sounds of screams or struggles, but all he can hear is the music from the party. He checks his phone again and again.

Charlie had asked him some questions but he was becoming more distracted. He had mumbled something he was sure. Panic was riding. Why does she mean so much to me?

His mind flashes to Miriam in the coffee shop. His fists clench. He doesn't know for sure she had anything to do with it, but her betrayals were already stacked deep.

In the corridor, Connor notices two white women in their 30s wearing short dresses, their faces flushed and their steps unsteady as they zigzag towards the ladies' room. As they approach, he realizes he's blocking their path. It's no surprise that someone has finally emerged from the venue to relieve themselves after indulging in their fair share of alcohol.

Max hesitates but shrugs. " I hope you know what you doing, will keep watch with Connor outside. "

Connor sees the girls and says, loud enough to be heard in the bathroom. "Ladies, you're not leaving my party are you? Come back, let me get you a drink and you can tell me about yourselves."

He approaches them all smiles, and puts his arms around their shoulders, escorting them back to the party. "How about we play a game? Truth or Dare. Which one of you wants to go first?""

He lays on the charm and wants to get them to the party only long enough for Max and Tony to get clear of the bathroom.

As Connor leads the girls back to the party, their hesitant expressions soften under his charm. They exchange glances, seemingly intrigued by the idea of playing Truth or Dare with the star of the party.

One of the girls, a brunette with a mischievous glint in her eye, speaks up first. "I'll go first," she says, her voice tinged with excitement.

Connor grins, his plan falling into place perfectly. "Excellent choice," he replies, gesturing for her to continue.

With a playful smirk, the brunette leans in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Truth or dare, Connor?"

Connor chuckles, feeling the thrill of the game coursing through him. "Truth," he declares confidently, curious to see what she'll ask.

The brunette's eyes sparkle with mischief as she leans even closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "Is it true that you have a secret crush on someone at this party?" she whispers, her tone teasing.

Meanwhile, a drunk guy gets out of the ladies's room starting a commotion.

As Charlie staggers out of the bathroom, his transformation complete, he quickly attracts the attention of the nearest employee—a burly security guard stationed near the entrance to the venue. The guard eyes the man warily, clearly skeptical of his drunken act, but Charlie's urgency seems to pique his interest.

"What's going on?" the guard demands, taking a step closer to Charlie.

Charlie feigns a stumble, his voice slurred as he gestures back towards the bathroom. "There's a woman in there," he insists, his tone urgent. "She's on the ground, I think she's hurt. You need to go help her!"

The guard hesitates for a moment, exchanging a look with his colleague nearby, before nodding decisively. "Alright, show me," he orders, gesturing for Charlie to lead the way.

Charlie nods, feigning gratitude as he leads the guard back toward the ladies' bathroom, without much hesitation or trying to get an explanation as to why the man was in the ladies' room, he gets inside and notices the woman on the floor. " Oh shit, emergency in the VIP women's toilet. One lady is unconscious and needs a first responder team asap. Probably another overdose, bring the kit." He said in his radio.

"A secret crush? Oh my yes, sort of. I just met her, so who knows where it goes. I'm keen on finding out more, find out what she looks like when she's sleeping." He winks at them. "Your turn," he says to the other one. "Truth or dare."

When the commotion comes about, he interupts himself. "Oh no, an overdose? Sorry, I better go find out what that about. Nice to meet you both. "

He goes over to Charlie, helping them man stand. "Are you alright? Was it bad?" he asks, a little loudly for the benefit of the people nearby. "You better have a seat over here by the bar."

In their little bit of paradise, semi-hidden in the back corner of the small VIP room, Tav and Selvie momentarily untangle, do another line of coke, and finish off their previously sidelined drinks. Taking the opportunity, Tavisha checks within her small fashionable packpack and retrieves her burner phone. She quickly notes the time, then thumb and swipes through the messages and missed calls. She sighs and stuffs the cell back into her pack and pats the hidden compartment in the bottom to assure herself that her licensed pistol is still secure there, along with her NYC pistol carry license, in case it is found or detected even with her ability to hide or mask its presence to security and scanning devices.

Shrugging on enough of their garments to keep security and the cry babies off their asses—heavens only knows how those people got into the VIP of El Labyrnith's exclusive VIP room anyway in an intimate gathering of 200—the two of them wound their way back to the bar, trying to avoid said annoying, close-minded pricks, to check in with Nadia and get refills.

"Hello again, sexy." Tav greets their bartender. "We'll have another round while we wait for 3am..."

Connor strangles a beer.

"She's one of us. I want to get her back. But more than that. She said that she wasn't working with Miriam, so maybe we're being hunted. Anyone want that hanging over our heads?"

The mood shifts as Nadia leaves, and Jack enters. Connor can't help but smile. He's a sucker for strong women, and Jack had always been there, looking after them. She's not at all supportive of Connor's choices, but no one is perfect. He waves.

"Hey!" Jack says, exchanging glances with everyone, perhaps almost surprised that everyone seems okay and calm. She wasn't sure what to expect after Jennifer's text. She's almost dressed for the afterparty thing, or VIP room, or whatever this was. A clinging little black dress that doesn't really seem like something she'd wear under most circumstances, and... a pair of high-top sneakers. Chuck Taylors, a classic, just not such a great pairing with an LBD.

"How's everyone doin'?" she asks, making eye contract with each of them -- Charlie, Conner, Max, and Tav. Noting the commotion near the restrooms, she leans in closer, lowering her voice. "Everything okay?"