Page 17

Chapter Sixteen

Tokyo

T he crowd continues to dance and cheer, so fucking happy to be here. But I remain on alert. I thought tonight would be fun—being invited to the exclusive Heartless rave felt like a golden ticket. Yet something’s off.

“Suicide” by Mascarpone blares through the night sky, the heavy bass rattling through my chest. Kai holds me close, his eyes locked on the naked android bots dancing outside the dome. They move with an unnatural grace, their mechanical limbs shimmering under the neon lights. My grip tightens on the bat, fingers digging into the handle as one of the androids pulls back an arrow and fires. The arrow strikes the ground with a hiss, and a burst of pink and red smoke explodes around us.

“Yo, what the fuck?” some dude yells beside us.

“SO FUCKING COOL!” his friend shouts, chugging his beer.

The entrance looms ahead, dark and shrouded in pink smoke. Masked figures sit on either side, dressed in black cloaks and wearing porcelain doll masks. They hold clear containers, collecting phones from every guest. The sight sends a chill down my spine, and the hairs on my skin stand tall as we get closer. The smoke clings to my lungs, its sweetness almost sickly. Something about those masks—so still, so blank—makes my stomach churn.

“You sure you’re okay? You’re hella tense, Trouble,” Kai whispers into my ear. His voice is soft, warm, but it does little to ease the knot in my stomach. I glance up at him, my mouth opening to respond, but the words die on my tongue. I’ve done enough damage.

We reach the entrance, and one of the masked figures steps forward. His voice, distorted and inhuman, echoes through the night.

“NO phones. NO rules. NO mercy.”

Kai stiffens beside me, his hand slipping into his pocket to retrieve his phone. His movements are deliberate and tense as he tosses it into the container without a word.

“Phone, pretty lady,” the masked figure says, turning to me.

I look up at him, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “I don’t have one,” I reply honestly. I wasn’t dumb enough to bring it. I knew this would happen—I wasn’t about to risk it getting lost, stolen, or destroyed. My eyes drift over the masked figures, a cold question settling in my mind. Which one of these assholes is he?

Once we’ve all dropped our phones into the clear bins, the masked figures step aside, allowing us in.

“Ayo, Tokyo, wait up!” Miko’s voice cuts through the music behind me. I glance over my shoulder and see him jogging toward us, a smile plastered on his face.

“Hurry up!” I shout back over the pulsing bass, pulling away from Kai.

His hand moves to my hip, firm and grounding. “Don’t go too far.”

I look up at him, meeting his dark eyes. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Miko reaches the bins and drops his phone in, his grin never faltering. As he approaches me, his hands sink into the pockets of his neon green puffer jacket. I extend my free hand to him.

“Stay close.”

He takes my hand, giving it a little squeeze. His touch is warm, steady, and for a moment, it feels like everything might be okay.

Kai remains in the same spot with Lalo and Chino, all three scanning the inside of the dome. And it’s truly unreal. The dome encloses around us, trapping us inside. There’s so much room despite the mass of people, and every corner is filled with attractions. We move in awe, stepping deeper into the dome. The graphics are like we’ve entered an ethereal forest—naked androids lie across the screens, fucking in slow, deliberate movements. It’s like a twisted Adam and Eve show on full display for us. Then there’s the blonde naked cupid, her bow poised, her mechanical gaze scanning the crowd.

The only light comes from the dome’s shifting graphics, casting pink and red hues over everything. Shadows stretch unnaturally across the ground, flickering with each pulse of light. The air feels heavier, almost claustrophobic, like the dome itself is alive and watching.

Miko releases my hand just as Kai’s calloused, large hand clasps mine. “This is insane,” he mutters over the techno music blasting.

“Right... so fucking wicked.”

“Right. Stay by me,” he says, lifting our joined hands.

“Where else would I go?”

The deeper we move into the venue, the attractions come into view. To the right is the Lover’s Maze, shrouded in smoke and lights. To the left, a grotesque heart-shaped chamber looms. Its surface is slick with what I hope is red paint, dripping slowly down the pulsating organ. The largest vessel stretches upward, almost touching the dome’s ceiling. A faint, wet squelch echoes every time the “paint” bursts from the top, spraying the crowd below.

“That’s some freaky shit. Rich people sure know how to party,” Chino shouts over the music, fist-pumping as he slips into the crowd, heading toward the stage.

And fuck, is the stage phenomenal. It’s like a Greek podium, blood leaking from faucets at its base. Naked women with long hair and wings dance in cages above the DJ booth. Beyond the stage, arena-style seats rise into the shadows. People in white cloaks with golden linings sit silently, their porcelain doll masks gleaming. But these masks are gilded, their design more intricate, their expressions eerily calm. They look down at us like cattle, and my stomach tightens.

Lalo moves closer. “Yo, I’ma find where the fuck I can get a drink. Coming?”

Kai nods, his grip on my hand tightening as we navigate through the crowd. I glance back for Miko, but he’s gone. The knot in my stomach tightens. He wouldn’t just disappear like this. Would he? My grip on the bat tightens instinctively as we move toward the end of the dome, closer to the maze.

We stumble into Cupid Pub, where the smoke is thicker and the music louder. The air feels suffocating, and the flashing lights disorient me. A chilling scream cuts through the noise, sharp and raw. It’s the kind of scream that makes your blood run cold, primal and real. It bursts from the maze but is quickly overpowered by the sound of the android on the screen.

Her fists pound against the glass, her expression twisted in agony as another android fucks her from behind. The blonde cupid appears behind them, drawing her bow. The arrow pierces through them both, and in a dazzling 3D effect, it shoots out toward the crowd. It slams into the screen, shattering it with a spray of blood that splatters everywhere. The sound of cracking glass echoes like a gunshot.

And then, everything goes dark. The music stops.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The organ begins to beat, faint at first but growing louder, echoing through the sudden silence. The soft glow of red becomes vivid, casting the room in bloody hues as the organ pulsates like a living thing. The beat picks back up, syncing perfectly with the heart’s rhythm.

Another scream pierces the air, sharp and raw, making me stumble back into Kai. My breath catches, my eyes darting to Lalo, who stands still, his smirk now unsettling under the red light. He’s completely enthralled by the spectacle, his eyes gleaming with something darker.

Kai’s hand moves to my hip, grounding me, and I look up at him. He gives me a small smile, and I return it automatically, but in the corner of my eye, I catch Lalo’s gaze. His smirk falters, his expression darkens, and for a moment, his lip curls—disgust? Hate? Then he turns away, ordering drinks like nothing happened.

I shake it off. I have to be tripping. There’s no way Lalo would look at us like that. He’s Kai’s best friend. They’re like brothers.

But the voice in my head whispers otherwise. Yeah, and he also used to be madly in love with you.

I ignore it. There’s no way he would still hold a grudge on me.... he never knew about what happened between us. That was our secret Kai’s and I.

Lalo returns with drinks, handing Kai a beer. “Here you go.”

He turns to me, holding out a glittery pink drink. “T, something fruity.”

“Thank you,” I shout over the music, bringing the drink to my lips. The taste of whiskey, cranberry juice, and grenadine floods my mouth. For the first time tonight, I let myself loosen up, sinking into Kai’s warmth as the beat vibrates through my chest.

“You good?”

“Yeah.” I nod, though my eyes drift toward the maze near the bar.

“Wanna check it out?” Lalo asks suddenly, his tone casual, but there’s something in his eyes that makes my stomach twist.

Kai follows my gaze, but before he can answer, Lalo grabs my hand. His grip is firm, almost commanding, and the warmth of his touch sends a faint shiver down my spine. “Let’s go dance, T.”

I hesitate, glancing back at Kai, who stiffens, his jaw tightening as he takes a long sip of his beer.

“It’s just a dance.”

He’s right. I’ve danced with Lalo before, and I’m sure his teenage crush is long gone, but still—something gnaws at me. I saw the look of rage in his eyes. Reluctantly, I let him pull me toward the dance floor. The crowd swallows us, the lights pulsing overhead as the bass drops, drowning out my second thoughts.

“You look beautiful as always,” Lalo murmurs, his voice warm and low, brushing against my ear.

“Thank you. So do you.”

“So you think I’m beautiful?” I can hear the smile in his voice. The room is still dark, the androids continuing their mechanical fucking on the dome screen, but now the sky above is void except for the slow, rhythmic beating of the glowing heart.

“It’s good to have you back,” he says, his tone softer now.

“It’s nice to be back.” I take another sip of the fruity cocktail. “This shit is good.”

Lalo shrugs, sipping his beer. “The bartender said it’s Cupid’s Love Potion. Popular drink—also on the house.”

I pause mid-sip, debating whether I should drink more, but the warm buzz from the alcohol already has its hold on me. “On the house?”

Lalo tilts his head to the side, the dim red light casting shadows across his face, making his features appear sharp and almost sinister. His black hair falls over his forehead, but he brushes it back as his gaze locks on mine.

“Yeah, they offer free drinks. Relax, T.”

“But—“

“No buts, woman.” His voice is firm but playful as he steps closer. “Relax. Dance. C’mon.”

Letting out a shaky breath, I slowly start to move my feet, finding the rhythm as a familiar warmth begins to creep through my veins. I raise my cup, holding my drink in one hand and keeping Lalo at arm’s length with the other as we sway to the music. Despite the low lights, I feel his eyes on me, sharp and intense, but I also know Kai is watching. It feels like a pissing battle, one I want no part of.

Lalo’s hands move up my arm, his touch lingering as he spins me around. My back presses against his chest, and from this angle, I see Kai across the room. His eyes are locked on us, his hand gripping the bat I let him hold, his knuckles white.

“Let go, T. Enjoy the night,” Lalo whispers, his breath hot against my neck.

Our bodies move together, the music vibrating through me. My free arm lifts above my head, my hips swaying in time with the beat, but the heat inside me suddenly intensifies. It spreads from my stomach to my limbs, slow and deliberate, like molten lava, filling every nerve with an unnatural buzz. My thoughts grow hazy, the edges of the world softening as the bass pulses louder.

“What the fuck...” I mutter, but the words barely make it past my lips. My drink slips from my hand, shattering at our feet.

“Look at your big brother, T,” Lalo whispers, his voice tinged with lust? Mockery? “Dance for him.”

The warmth grows hotter, my skin prickling with an unnatural buzz. I try to speak, but my tongue feels heavy, useless. My body sways without thought, without control. Across the room, I see blonde curls emerge from the shadows near the maze. Stacy.

She moves like she owns the place, her red leather bodysuit clinging to her curves, knee-high black platform boots catching the dim light. Her devil horns flash in time with the music as she makes her way toward Kai, her every step calculated.

I try to pull away from Lalo, but his grip tightens. His fingers dig into my skin, his tone dropping into a low growl.

“Dance, T,” he commands. “Let them have their fun.”

My heart races as heat floods my cheeks. “What did—“ I try to ask, but my tongue feels heavier. My head falls back against Lalo’s chest, and I feel him press a kiss to my temple.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful.”

I smile faintly, the words registering in some distant, foggy corner of my mind. Valentine’s Day. Right. I forgot.

“Kai,” I breathe out as I keep moving, my body pressing harder into Lalo’s. His body feels rigid against mine, the heat between us impossible to ignore.

But all I can do is feel. Sway.

My knees feel weak, my limbs too heavy to fight back. My heart races as Stacy stops in front of Kai. Her eyes lock onto his, and his posture shifts, his body relaxing unnaturally as her hand presses against his chest. Her smile is sharp, predatory, and I see the moment his grip on the bat falters.

“You’re okay, T,” Lalo murmurs, his hand sliding up my neck, fingers grazing my jaw. “You’re just... feeling it. Let go.”

I want to scream, to shove him away, but the warmth burns hotter, dulling my thoughts, making everything else seem so far away.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see Miko.

He’s standing near the Cupid Pub, his neon green jacket glowing faintly under the red light. A drink is in his hand, his grin wide and unsettling while raising his glass in a mock toast.

My stomach churns, the warmth inside me twisting into something sharper, colder. What did you do?

The organ’s beating grows louder, faster, erratic. The lights flash once, twice, then go completely dark.

And then the first scream tears through the air.