The bass of the music thumped rhythmically in Alice’s chest. Normally, she would enjoy the sensation but tonight, it brought her no joy. Tomorrow was a workday but, a deal was a deal and so she found herself at Jess’ mercy. The bar she had picked was one of the busiest in the area but given that it was a Tuesday night, it was still relatively empty. She pulled nervously at her short black skirt, surreptitiously tugging at the bottom hem as though the action might magically lengthen it.

“What’re you having?” Jess asked in a loud voice to be heard above the music. She was already shimmying towards the bar, body keeping time with the music as the sequins on her short dress glimmered in the flashing lights.

Alice hesitated as she considered her options before settling on a decision. “O.J.” she called back, almost apologetically. She hadn’t had the chance to eat after work and the idea of alcohol on an empty stomach sickened her. She felt as though she were still recovering from Saturday night, though truthfully, she knew that to be an exaggeration. Jess’ reaction was less dramatic than she had expected. Double finger-guns before half dancing, half walking to the bar.

The corners of Alice’s mouth twitched in a hint of a smile. Maybe this will be good for me, she pondered.

It did not take long for Jess to return. Alice looked confused as a cocktail was gleefully thrust towards her. The eye-catching drink was an orange colour on top and changed to red at the bottom with an even gradient. A slice of orange and a pink paper umbrella decorated the rim of the glass. The fact that Jess held a twin of drink didn’t escape Alice’s attention either.

“You asked for orange juice, didn’t you?” asked Jess innocently, fluttering her heavily mascaraed lashes. Alice raised an eyebrow, her eyes flitting from her friend to the drink and back again.

Jess shrugged, “It’s mostly orange juice.”

“Please tell me that it’s a virgin cocktail.”

That earned Alice an eye-roll.

“Tonight’s theme is the opposite of virginity… remember?” Jess said snarkily. She beckoned Alice to follow her, “Come on. There’s seating outside.”

Together, they made their way through a short but narrow corridor and emerged outside through a set of double doors. Alice masked her surprise as she looked around at the cosy nook. Whether purposefully or by accident, the buildings around had formed an enclosed area of space that was left without a roof and therefore open to the elements. There were several wooden picnic tables with benches for seating. A cheap awning dangled precariously over some of them, potentially offering cover from the rain. It wasn’t a classy arrangement and the smell of cigarette smoke hung cloyingly in the air, but at least it was substantially quieter outside.

“It’s slim pickings inside so you better get your phone out,” Jess stated mysteriously.

“Huh?”

“Phone. Now.” Jess held out her hand like a child demanding a toy. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as Alice dutifully handed it over. They slide onto the bench at one of the tables and Alice peered at the screen curiously. Her stomach knotted over as she realised that her friend was downloading Tinder onto the device.

“Oh God…” she mumbled under her breath in horror, “Can we just… not?” She was suddenly very thankful that they were currently alone outside.

Jess cackled in delight, fiendishly ducking the phone away from Alice’s prying hands as she attempted to sabotage the download. “Come on. Just a bit of fun. You don’t have to message anyone unless you want to,” she offered with an exaggerated pout.

After one last failed attempt to recover her phone, Alice reluctantly agreed. “Fine. Just for a short while though,” she warned.

She hadn’t expected to enjoy the experience as much as she did. The pair of them giggled at the absurdities of online dating profiles and swiped repeatedly until Alice realised that at some point, she had finished her drink. The light had also begun to fade as the evening progressed.

“Go on! He’s cute!” Jess prompted, showing Alice some photos from the most recent profile they were viewing.

“It said he’s looking for someone outdoorsy!” Alice waved off her suggestion with a laugh, “I don’t even look outdoorsy if you squint.”

“We’re outdoors right now!” Jess said with a grin, gesturing to the area around them.

“I’m pretty sure this isn’t what he meant,” Alice replied, pushing herself to her feet, “This round’s on me. Please don’t message anyone while I’m gone!”

“No promises,” teased Jess, not even looking up from the screen.

The short walk into the bar reminded Alice of how loud the music was inside. Thankfully, few people stood at the bar and she was served quickly. The barkeeper was about the same age as Alice, roughly mid-twenties but with blonde spiked hair that reminded her of classic boybands from the nineties. She hollered her order of two more tequila sunrises, and he nodded, flashing her a wink as he moved further down to prepare the drinks.

While she waited, she gave the room a cursory glance and a man at the other end of the bar caught her attention. He was staring openly at her, glaring even, as though offended by her presence. She stood awkwardly averting her gaze, not wanting to be seen as staring back but also not daring to allow him out of her peripheral vision. She didn’t recognise him, which only made the situation more alarming. His non-descript dark denim jeans and hooded coat offered no reprise from her disconcertion. If anything, he reminded her of the many ‘stranger-danger assemblies that she had sat through at school. She doubted that this thug would approach with lures of candy or puppies in his vehicle though.

She stood nervously tapping her fingernails on the bar top as she waited for her order to be served. The feeling of being alone and exposed made her pulse race, despite the groups of people that stood chatting and dancing nearby.

It was a short-lived sense of relief when she had been given her drinks. From the corner of her eye, she watched the ominous stranger quickly finish his drink before beginning to approach her. Panic began to rise in her chest as she realised that he had been waiting in anticipation of this moment, timing his approach so that he might catch her somewhere quieter than directly in front of the bar itself.

She wondered whether she should stay where she was, eyes flitting from the dancers nearby to the man behind the bar. It felt as though she were invisible. No one looked in her direction. No one noticed her distress. She fled.

Her goal was to reach Jess before the stranger reached her. She rounded the edge of the bar and headed towards the door, narrowly missing a man in a blue shirt appearing from the door to the gent’s toilets.

“Woah! Watch it, Lady!” he uttered in shock as she whimpered, “sorry, sorry, sorry” in return. She didn’t dare look back to see if the man was still following and continued fitfully towards the seating space with her heartbeat thumping in her ears, punctuating her panic.

Jess looked up from her phone as Alice burst through the doorway, raising to her feet with a frown of concern creasing her face. With her tremulous grip on her composure quickly weakening, Alice strode in her direction, desperate for the comfort of her friend’s company.

A male voice shouting, “You!” stopped her in her tracks. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic, she froze, eyes wide with fear.

“Where the fuck is he?” The stranger demanded aggressively.

Unable to think clearly, Alice turned slowly to face him with her mouth agape. The stranger’s expression was both cold and furious. His steely, unwavering gaze was as unnerving as his oppositional stance. He reminded her of a bear, standing tall to assess and threaten the enemy in the moments before barrelling forward to attack.

“Where. Is. He?” he growled, punctuating each syllable with menace.

“Hey! Back off!” commanded Jess as she arrived at Alice’s side to provide support.

The stranger didn’t appear to be impressed by Jess’ brazen stance. He looked her up and down and sneered. “Piss off, Love,” he warned her before turning his attention back to Alice, jabbing an accusing finger in her direction. “I saw you with him you fucking whore. Where’s Austin?”

“You mean the arsehole that ditched her?” Jess snarled, “We don’t know. Why don’t you jog on?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” called a voice from the doorway behind the stranger. It was the man that Alice had bumped into earlier, as well as another taller gent beside him with crossed arms and an austere expression. They warily maintained a safe distance from the aggressor.

“Why don’t you and your boyfriend head back inside, dick lips,” was his contemptuous reply.

“Give it up, mate,” warned the taller of the two, calmly. “It’d be a shame if your night got ruined by a copper turning up and asking for a chat.”

The aggressive stranger ground his jaw, visibly frustrated by the thinly veiled threat. He turned to Alice and glared at her darkly.

“You’re a thieving, lying bitch!” He hissed, then turned and stormed away. He feinted an attack as he passed the smaller, blue-shirted man who flinched away in response.

“What was that about?” Jess whispered over her shoulder in a voice heavy with concern.

Alice realised she was still holding their drinks and hurriedly placed them down on the table beside them. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably as she turned to her friend, genuinely puzzled by the stranger’s statement. “I don’t…” she started before shaking her head in confusion, “I don’t know.”