The limo pulled up to the entrance, and if it weren’t for the crimson glow of CLUB DUSK cutting through the darkness, we might have missed it entirely. Nestled between two ancient brick buildings, the club was nearly invisible—swallowed by shadows, tucked away like a secret. 

Large, ancient wrought iron gates stood tall at the alley’s entrance, black as night and open inward towards the alley, as if in invitation. There was no grand façade, no flashing marquee—just a narrow alleyway and the restless line of partygoers stretching down its length, their anticipation the only sign that something existed beyond the gloom. 

At the alley’s end, stone stairs plunged downward, disappearing into the earth like a passage to something forbidden. The entrance, framed by an archway of weathered stone, bore carvings that time had worn but never erased. Instead of angels, grotesque demons sneered from above, their hollow eyes following each willing soul’s descent. The iron-wrought gates stood open, an unspoken invitation from the underworld itself. The whole structure was like a mausoleum misplaced in the middle of an alley, a doorway to something that had been waiting far longer than we had. 

Buzzing strips of light lined the stairway, flickering at unreliable intervals, offering just enough glow to guide the eager and the inebriated alike. Fog curled at the edges of the steps, slithering around the ankles of those making their way down. My breath hitched. The swirling mist—it looked just like the wispy tendrils from my vision. My limbs stiffened, heart pounding in my ears. 

No. Don’t be silly, Elena. I forced the thought away. It was just a fog machine. A dramatic effect. Nothing more. 

The red neon sign pulsed defiantly against the aged brick, its glow painting the crowd in hues of sin and indulgence. For fleeting moments, faces shifted—desire, excitement, recklessness—before they vanished into the dark heart of Dusk. 

Yet, as I stared down into the depths of Club Dusk, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t just stepping into a nightclub. 

We were about to descend into something far older. Far darker. And it was waiting. 

“C’mon, Elena, this way,” Val said, pulling me from the red glow of the sign. Her voice made me jump. That’s when I realised, she was guiding me away from the entrance. It was only then that I remembered the long line of people waiting to get in. 

We trudged through the cold, biting air, having left our jackets back at my house in the mad rush to catch the limo. We huddled close, trying to hold onto each other in a desperate attempt to fend off the chill. 

It wasn’t until we had circled the block, reaching what I assumed was the back of the club, where the faint thrum of music echoed, that we finally reached the end of the queue. 

"Ugh, the queue’s so long… I hate waiting like this," Val sighed, crossing her arms. She glanced at the line, muttering, "If only there was a way to speed things up."

 Iah’s eyes practically lit up. She stood on her tiptoes, eager to whisper, "What if there was?” 

Val raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "I’m sorry darlin, would you like to repeat that?" 

Iah smirked, clearly enjoying the idea she had just come up with. "What if we did try to sneak in? There must be a- a- back door or a delivery point or something—all clubs have one!" 

I couldn’t help but raise my hands in alarm. "Woah, Iah, we could get kicked out and barred!" I loathed the wait as well, but I wasn’t going to get myself in trouble for the sake of a queue. 

But Iah wasn’t fazed. Whatever was in that rosé had given her the confidence of a mastermind—but the senses of a drunken frat boy pulling a prank. 

Val wasn’t convinced, though. "Iah, it would ruin our night if we got caught. Elena’s been waiting forever to get in there." 

Iah scoffed, rolling her eyes. "She is waiting forever to get in there." She folded her arms and turned away from us in a huff. Val and I exchanged glances hopeful that the subject was dropped. 

We shuffled forward in the queue, but just as I was about to get distracted by the thought of Iah’s plan, I saw a guy emerge from a back door, carrying an empty crate of bottles. He tossed it into a large bin before heading back inside.

 That was when Iah groaned, her discomfort suddenly evident. 

"Iah, are you alright?" I asked, turning to her. 

"I REALLY have to pee!" she hissed, now hopping from foot to foot. 

Val scrunched her nose in mock disgust. "Really, Iah? Do we need to know about every...bodily function of yours? Surely you can spare us the details until we’re inside." 

But Iah wasn’t having it. "NO, I can’t wait, princess! You practically drowned us with all that rosé. It has to come out at some point, you know!" 

Val was visibly affronted. 

I glanced around, trying to find somewhere safe for Iah to relieve herself. But every spot seemed even dodgier than the last. 

"I can’t take this anymore!" Iah suddenly declared, before bolting off toward some stacked crates behind the club.

We watched stunned as she disappeared into the shadows, a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity hanging in the air. We heard a few muffled giggles nearby, though it was impossible to tell if they were about her or something else entirely. 

The queue crept forward, moving excruciatingly slow. Then I caught sight of Iah again—this time, she was quietly walking towards the back door. 

"No!" I whispered, my heart dropping into my stomach. 

Val glanced at me, confused. "Pardon?" 

I grabbed her arm and subtly pointed toward Iah, who was trying the door. Val’s eyes widened and she gasped in horror. 

Iah hesitated for only a moment before gripping the handle. The door creaked open, a whisper of invitation. She glanced back at us, a wicked grin spreading across her face. 

With a cheeky wave, she slipped inside without a second thought. 

“FUCK,” I whispered trying not to gain attention. Without missing a beat, I pulled Val forward, hoping we could catch up with Iah before we all got into trouble. Maybe we could make up some story, apologise, and beg our way back into the queue. 

We reached the door, and I hesitated. My hand hovered over the handle as doubt crept in. Despite seeing Iah walk through without issue, something in me resisted—like the door itself was pushing back. After a beat, I reached out again, and to my surprise, the door opened easily. 

I couldn’t understand why I’d ever thought it wouldn’t. Before I could process it, Val had already shoved me through. 

We were met with stark, light grey concrete walls and a staircase descending below, modern neon lights hanging overhead in harsh contrast to the aged, weathered brick outside. The air reeked of stale alcohol, a cocktail of scents that stung my nostrils and made my head spin. I felt lightheaded and nauseous, craving fresh air, but Val shoved me forward and whispered anxiously, "We need to find Iah, fast, before she does something impulsively stupid." 

I muttered under my breath, "Like this wasn’t?" 

As we neared the bottom of the stairs, a long hallway stretched ahead, with faint music drawing us forward. As we inched closer to the end, the music grew louder—a mix of punk and dance beats, perfectly crafted to pump up the crowd for the themed night. I could feel the beat thudding in my chest, and instinctively, I placed a hand over my heart to steady the strange sensation. The hallway began to splinter into others, with doors leading in every direction. We searched desperately for Iah, hoping she was close by. 

Then, we spotted her standing in front of a door where the music was the loudest. She looked frustrated, and impatient, her arms crossed as we approached. 

“Iah, what the hell were you thinking?” I spoke in a normal voice, knowing she wouldn’t hear me otherwise, but I wasn’t about to shout. 

“Relax, Elena, there’s no one around. This door leads to the club. We’re in, baby!” she said, bouncing on her toes with excitement. 

Val pointed a finger at Iah’s chest, her face a mix of frustration and anger. “Iah, do you have any idea—any idea—what would’ve happened if we were caught—” 

But Val’s tirade was cut short. She froze mid-sentence, her violet-blue eyes widening as she stared past us.

The door in front of us swung open abruptly.