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«Jia, come here! You have to see this!» I quickly hurried over to my friend that was calling me and standing at the bar. This place was so crowded and sweaty that I honestly wasn't in the mood to stay any longer.

"What is it?" She grabbed my arm and pulled me closer so I could also get a good view on the guy that was dancing on top of the bar, shirtless. "I guess he had one too many drinks tonight," she laughed out.

"Is it always like this here?" I pulled her aside to be able to talk to her for a second without getting interrupted by everyone touching me and talking too loudly.

"It depends. On weekdays, it's more chill here but on weekends it's usually like this. Why?" Her fizzy drink in her hands she constantly looked around the room, seemingly to find someone she might know. She was always on the go, talking to this friend and then flirting with another one – she basically knew everyone here.

"You know I don't go out like this, why would you have to bring me when it's so crowded?" Not seeming too interested in my question she just leaned in and half-hugged me. "Oh, come on, don't be a party pooper! It's so fun, you just have to get to know some people! Oh, wait! I really need to pee, can you watch this for a second? And don't move, or else I won't find you anymore!" She hurriedly scurried off. As if it was important to her that I would wait for her. She knows everyone and they would gladly offer her a new drink if I went missing from her sight.

I lightly stirred the wooden pick around in the drink while having my back rested against a wall on the side. Lost in my thoughts, I observed the single lime floating in the drink surrounded by bubbles. While looking around I saw some familiar faces from school. They seemed to have grown up, just like me. The only difference was that they seemed to enjoy their evening at one of the most expensive clubs in town. I was dragged here while being assured that I would have fun too. Obviously I was still awaiting the fun part of this.

Suddenly I noticed that the amount of people was getting smaller without knowing why. There were less and less people on the dancefloor and it was only 11 pm, that's way too early for them all to leave the club already. An uneasy feeling crept up inside of me while I kept alternating my gaze between the emptying dancefloor and the doors of the bathrooms, waiting for Mina to return.

A horribly loud scream ripped through the still numbingly loud bass of the music and everyone took notice of it. People started panicking and running around, not knowing why or where this scream was coming from. It was like suddenly the crowd parted in the middle and hurried away from the center of the room. I pressed myself up against the wall more while slowly walking to the side, my aim being the bathrooms. If I wanted to buy some time to find out what is happening, I figured my best shot would be the bathrooms.

I was never in a situation like this nor have I thought about what I would do when I'd find myself in one.

The music stopped and all at once, every light went off. I could see some figures hiding behind the counter of the bar but most of them were running towards the exit sign that was still brightly lit, it probably having an external electricity supply for emergencies like this. My body was trembling as I didn't know what was happening and everybody running around made my heart go crazy. If they had fear, I must feel it too. It was always like that. One person in a society spreads fear and everybody feels it as well, even if they don't know what or even if something is happening.

I was almost at the door of the bathrooms and my focus was set on the handle of the door when I immediately got pulled back from a very tight grip on my wrist. I shot my head up and was confronted with a person wearing a mask, covering their face.

"Not so fast... Where are you going?" My body was frozen in shock. I cried out a helpless scream but got silenced by a hard hand being pushed on my mouth.

"Who's going to help you? Everyone's already outside or still hiding, they don't have the courage to save someone like you," he mockingly spat in my face, I could feel his hot breath reaching me through his mask.

I tried fighting for some space, shaking my entire body and yanking my arms, kicking my legs. Nothing was working. With a single, painful pull on my arm he brought me even closer to him. "Be quiet or else you'll end up with a bullet through this pretty head of yours, just like the bouncers in front of the club."

I hastily nodded, not wanting to test this man already hurting and scaring me. He slowly lifted his hand from my mouth and he fastened the grip on my wrist even more, showing me that he could even go harsher. "You'll come with me now. There's a back door we're using, outside of it there's a black car. Get in. If I hear anything from you on the way, you're dead. Understood?"

His face was too close to mine while he gripped my neck and signaled once again that he would follow his words and kill me if I tried anything. I was scared and in no state to protest, so I did as told. He pushed me forward and got behind me. "Walk!" He demanded and I stumbled forward with my weak legs. Suddenly, I felt something cold pushed up against my back, motivating me to keep walking. I turned my head to look at it when I got yelled at again. "Walk! Or else I'll shoot you with this gun on your back."

We exited through the back door and there was a black car waiting for us, just like he told me. He opened the door for me and harshly pushed me inside before shutting the door loudly. I could hear the car being locked and shortly after I felt the vehicle beginning to move. With my last energy to fight for myself I balled up my fists and started to heavily pound on the darkened glass that divided the driver's space from mine. I somehow knew that this was going to be the last chance of escape. It felt like whoever this person was took me for a reason and I wouldn't be able to get out.

I was still screaming and shouting while kicking around and pounding on the hard, cold glass, when all of a sudden the car came to an abrupt stop. Why me? Out of all people, why had they taken me? Was I the only one or were there other people in the same situation?

The door got yanked open and the same man with the mask from before came in sight. I scooted backwards, being afraid that he might do something to me.

"Come on, get out. We can't use you like this. Are you able to walk home?"

I nodded at this sudden spark of hope, surprised that it was coming out of the man's mouth who took me 5 minutes ago. Slowly, I shuffled forward to reach the opened car door. With his hands he gestured for me to hurry up and I did. I was determined to use this ticket to freedom. When I got to the door and finally stood up outside of the car, a blunt force came smashing down onto my head. My body gave up and sank to the ground, with the man immediately pulling me back up and throwing me inside of the car again.

"You're so gullible. Thinking we would just let you go like that after all we've been through to get you in the first place. Boss isn't going to be happy that his new toy was so feisty."

He shut the door once again, leaving me and my pain alone in the backseat of the car. The pain was so intense that I didn't think I'd make it. It finally took over and led me into a hole where I was surrounded by nothing but blackness. At least I couldn't feel any pain anymore.

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