There was a line to get into the restaurant making it look like it was a posh club instead of a restaurant granted there was a dance floor in the basement according to Ari. Zuri was about to suggest another place when Ari took her arm and led her straight to the front door, “Hey Timmy, how’s it going?” she said to the gigantic man standing in front of the door.
He went from formidable hard ass to soft teddy bear in second upon seeing Ari, “Hey, beautiful,” He scooped her up into his massive arms, “Who’s your friend?” a huge smile is plastered on his face.
“This is my bestie and a known recluse, Zuri,” she said after he puts her down.
“Hi,” Zuri laughed a bit and gave him a small wave.
He allowed them to go inside, which didn’t get them any pleasant looks from the people who had been waiting for what seems a long time to get it. The restaurant had a sultry vibe because of the dark lighting and different shades of dark reds that decorated the space, in the middle of the space had small intimate tables but low private booth that seem to have a lot more than food eating going on inside them.
The space looked like it was designed by a vampire trying to be human was the first thought that jumped into Zuri’s mind. Wonder how many unsuspecting women he lured into his den and sucked dry, she laughed at the thought.
Which cause Ari to turn to her, “What so funny?”
“Nothing just a thought, this place looked like it’s owned by a vampire to lure women into his keep.”
Ari laughed, “I said the same thing when I first came here, and the owner does kind of give of big dick vamp vibes.”
They both laughed as Ari took her directly down to the basement level apparently you can order food from there too and there more seating available there as well.
After finding a seat and ordering food and drinks, they sat and watch the crowd dance and sway on the dancefloor while some couples did a lot more than dance in some of the darken corner. Zuri tried her best not to gawk at them and Ari just didn’t seem to care, or it was a normal thing for her to see here either way it had her wishing for a moment that she was a dark corner with someone who couldn’t keep her hands off her.
It had been years since she even been on a date let alone had sex with someone although she would have to admit that she had not thought much amount, she was always busy with her son and his various activities not to mention work took up most of her time. Usually by the time, she got home, and she finished cooking, feeding and helping her son with his homework it was more than enough for her to pass out completely until her alarm went off the next morning.
While they sat talking, a bottle girl walked over with a bottle, “The bottles are crazy expensive here. I never take them.”
The girl greeted them then informed them that two men sitting in the corner brought them the bottle and said cheers.
She was about to politely decline when Ari told the girl thank you and began to pour into her champagne glasses the bottle girl had provided.
“What?”
“You know that they have no real interest in us and just want sex, right?”
“Of course, I do but that doesn’t mean we have to give it to them, and it also doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this bottle.”
“Fine, but they come over here, you’re getting rid of them by yourself and I’m decking anyone that gets handsy,” She warned Ari.
“See that right there,” Ari made circles with the finger towards Zuri, “that’s why you’re still single.”
Zuri rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. She wasn’t going to touch the champagne until she knew it was strictly just a friendly gesture.
She looked at her iWatch, it was just after nine and as exhausted, as she felt earlier, all that she wanted to do now was hit the dancefloor and dance until her feet ached. She emptied the last of her ginger ale since she didn’t drink and anointed herself designated watcher of her friend then swayed unto the dancefloor with Ari right behind her.
They danced for what must have been at least an hour, by then her feet were killing her, so she tottered back to their table and was ready to head home. Ari seemed to have her fill as well and was ready; they paid their tab but decided to sit for a while until their feet felt better. It was around eleven when they finally left the club since they were far from where Ari lived.
They decided to walk so Ari could get rid of some of the alcohol in her system.
Zuri nudged, “Thanks for getting me out the apartment today.”
“No problem, what are friends for,” Ari linked arms with her as they continued to walk, and they stopped for ice cream at Zuri’s request.
“You know, you really should think about maybe going on a date or two.” Ari said.
Zuri groaned, “Not this again, I’m fine really.”
“I’m not talking about sex, Zuri,” Ari stressed. “Just meeting new people and getting out of your comfort zone.”
“I like my comfort zone besides I still have that dating app you put on my phone,” she said
“And I’m certain you’ve never used it. What are you looking for Zuri maybe you need to figure that out, Romi’s not going to be a kid forever then you’re all alone!”
“I would be all alone, I’ll have you,” Zuri nudged her arm before taking another bite of her ice cream.
Ari shrugged, “I may not always be around, what if I leave, get a job offer somewhere else or something. I just don’t want you being lonely.”
“I don’t know what I’m looking for,” she sighed, “Sometimes I feel like no one fits but then I’ll look out into the night and I feel something there calling to me.”
Ari looked at her strangely, “Never told me that before.”
“Cause I’m weird enough as it is, Ari.”
“Well, I don’t think you’re that weird,” she smiled, “Zuri, I…you’re more than you think you are but this darkness that you feel calling you just don’t listen ok? Darkness is never good.”
“Umm ok but it’s not all bad either.”
Ari looked like she wanted to say more but didn’t. Once they reached Ari’s apartment, they hugged goodbye with Zuri promising to call when she got home herself. She waited until Ari was inside before she began walking, she thought about taking an Uber or Lyft, but something told her the taking the train would be better.
Zuri had a tendency of always listening to the voice inside her. It always took her down the path she needed to be whether she saw it or not. Besides this was New York City, the city that never sleeps and the weather was nice. Why not enjoy it for the summer while she had the chance. She walked towards the subway and thought about what Ari had said. That was a strange thing to say, she thought.
The darkness was never a bad thing to Zuri, she always thought even as a kid that it held mystery and wonder. It kept things that only existed in the imagination and kept all the things that went bump in the night safe within its grasp. It wasn’t just the light that kept them safe, she always believed it was both.
Minutes later, Zuri was standing on the subway platform waiting for the train as the music that streamed from her air pods had her humming along to the soulful words. It was then, that she felt the change in the air it was as if everything had quieted as an eerie stillness took over and the subway had become unnaturally darker. She fumbled to shut of the music and looked around but saw nothing, but something drew her eyes to the darkness coming from the subway tunnel, something that had her body screaming for her to run! Without taking her eyes of where she was stared, she slowly back away, I have to get out of the subway, she thought.
Her legs felt heavy and she struggled to move against the fear the threatened to freeze her where she stood. That was until white eyes peered out of the darkness at her, “Don’t run.” A calm feminine voice said to her, but it was laces with a predatory under tone that make her do just the opposite. She ran.
Zuri instinctively turned, her feet already moving to propel her towards the steps, her mind saw nothing but her son as she knew if she didn’t get away, she would never see him again. It happened as if in slow motion at least that was the way it felt to her. She ran towards the stairs but felt arms slamming into her that sent her flying sideward toward the concrete tiled pillars.
She slammed into the pillar hitting her head against it before she fell to the ground. Don’t pass out, she thought, her mind was beginning to cloud and her eyes began to darken. Don’t pass… were her last thoughts as Dimitra strutted towards her with a sickening snare on her lips.
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