Maria stood at the bar, tapping her fingers impatiently waiting for service. From this point, she could see all her friends make their way around the room as if casing the joint. Sighing she turned to the bartender and placed her order. Drink in hand she made her way to the table Isabel, Tess and Kyle had claimed. The chances of getting a table in this place were next to impossible and at Maria’s questioning look Kyle shouted out over the music. “MIND WARP!” Grinning as he said it. She managed a smile through gritted teeth. Tess and Isabel sat in their chairs, perusing the men around them as if deciding what to order. The looks they were getting back were certainly of the menu variety. A tall, dark haired man approached Isabel and extended his hand toward her. Isabel stared thoughtfully at it for a moment, before placing her own in it, they made their way to the dance floor and were lost in the crowd. Kyle leant forward and whispered something in Tess’s ear, she giggled and they both stood, following in the direction of Isabel and co. Maria was about to follow them, not completely sure that what they were off to do would go unnoticed, but then Max reappeared and sat down next to her. “HEY!” “WHERE’D YOU GO?” Max raised the drink in his hand and Maria felt slightly stupid. She glanced around for the others, not Michael of course, she wasn’t looking for Michael, he could be on killing spree of the entire R&B room for all she cared. “WHERE’S MICHAEL?” She asked Max. He shrugged his shoulders in reply. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY YOU KNOW” he told her. “WHAT?” “I SAID, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY! WE’VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT THIS” “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” Maria didn’t understand Max at all. “WE NEVER GET CAUGHT, AND NOBODY GETS HURT, WELL NOT A LOT ANYWAY, WE JUST TAKE A LITTLE BIT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.” Suddenly Maria understood, her earlier confusion over how they planned to hunt in such a crowded place now answered. The idea of dozens of people leaving tonight with a slightly damaged psyche weighed down on her leaving a bitter taste; she took a sip of her drink, ridding her mouth and mind of it. “DO YOU MIND?” Max queried, pointing to the dance floor. She just waved him away, chugging down the remainder of her vodka and lemon. Her vision was blurry, but made her remember the sly look the bartender had given her. She groaned to herself and held her head in her hands, willing the room to stop spinning. Sitting up straight, Maria caught sight of Michael, he was leading a young girl by the hands, headed for the dance floor. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shiit! The short young girl in the borrowed dress and too high heels was her cousin. ~~~*~~~ Through an alcohol induced haze, Maria sat contemplating her options. She could call Aunt Nancy and dob Liz in for being out on a school night, but that would mean admitting she wasn’t tucked safely away in bed either. Alex sprang to mind, but was quickly dismissed as she realised the amount of time that would pass before he could get here. Max’s words came back to her ‘We’ve gotten really good at this, nobody gets hurt, well not a lot’ Liz was in danger, serious danger. Maria’s mind seemed to uncloud itself at this thought and she was on her feet in an instant making her way towards the frantically moving crowd. Pushing past people, stamping on feet when necessary, Maria found herself staring at the back of Isabel’s head, her lips were locked with the dark stranger, and while he seemed to be enjoying it, Maria could see the sweat forming on his forehead, the cloudiness of his open eyes, his pupils dilated and empty. Disgusted with both Isabel and herself she turned away from them. Unwittingly coming face to face with her worst nightmare; Michael had his hands around her cousins throat. Slowly, they drifted down to her hips, pulling her closer towards him. Maria just stared, horrified. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Max, making his way through the crowd towards them. Grabbing him by the hand, Maria dragged him with her. She was unsure if this would be enough to pull Michael away from his victim but it was all she could think to do. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to confront Liz in front of Michael and unable to confront Michael in front of Liz. Maria situated herself and Max directly in Michael’s eye range, but hidden from Liz’s. The music was upbeat with a hard tempo, and Maria abandoned herself to it. Ignoring the questioning look in Max’s eyes, she closed her own, swaying sensuously to the beat, he seemed unresponsive and she turned her back to him, placing his hands on her waist and leaning back into him. Then the song changed and from behind her Max pulled away, Maria was to afraid to open her eyes, not knowing what she’d see. Max’s arms wrapped around her middle once again pulling her closer into him. The involuntary sway of her hips to the slow music and the hands that were now much more daring in the exploration of both her upper and lower body made Maria realise she’d have to put a stop to this right away. Turning around, Maria stared into the eyes of Michael. Neither Max or Liz were anywhere to be seen. An involuntary gasp escaped her throat, and Michael’s eyes seemed to issue a challenge. The first to back down loses, they said. All thoughts of Liz were now forgotten, because Maria never lost. Placing her hands around his neck, Maria moved her hips in time to the music, they were pressed up against one another, tight. Maria’s eyes widened as Michael’s hands slip up under the back of her shirt, delicately running his fingers over the skin there. She closed her eyes as she trailed her hands up his neck, playing with the curls at the base of it. A small sigh escaped her mouth as soft wet lips trailed along her neck and jaw line. She moved her hands away, slipping her arms underneath his, starting with her hands on his hips, almost of their own accord they moved towards his butt. Michael was now exploring her face, trailing his lips and tongue over her eyelids and cheeks till finally coming to rest on her lips. Maria started guiding his hips, in a slow rhythm, she could feel his hardness press against her through two layers of denim, her underwear was getting increasingly damp. Sucking on his bottom lip before thrusting her tongue into his mouth, she moved her hands up once again, running them through his hair. Their tongues were engaged in a battle as violent and passionate as any verbal one they’d ever had. As the music changed, the crowd around them started to ‘Moche’ to the rock ballad being played. Across the room four sets of eyes smiled at the scene playing out before them, another however narrowed with anger. TBC

Part 9