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"I'm sorry Eve. You know I would show up for your birthday, but I work."

It was Taylor on the phone. I know she would blow off my birthday. She was going to her new boy toy's place. I just knew it.

I shouldn't have been surprised by this. I should have seen it coming.

"I understand. It's fine, I didn't even have anything planned for tonight." I told her. It was your job best 'friend', I told myself.

This was Taylor though. Herself first before others.

I was her best friend for the past four years and still, Taylor never fails to be selfish.

"It's your 21st birthday. You've got to go out and get your first legal drink!"

"Taylor this would be my first drink ever." I reminded her. I was never much of a partier.

"Well damn. Go to the club and met someone. You can't stay single forever." Taylor said beeping the horn at someone.

"I can damn well try. I'm not ready to met anyone."

"Shut up!"Go out and do something other than studying all night long. BITCH! If you don't stop staring at me!" Taylor screamed.

"Alright, Taylor I gotta go I'll think of something. Drive safe and be careful."

"I am being careful."

"I was talking to the other driver."

"No! This woman is literally going 55 on the highway." Taylor said angrily. I could just see the fume coming out of her ears.

"Taylor the speed limit is 55 on the highway dumbass." I couldn't help but laugh.

"So! People need to be rule breakers."

"Alright, whatever I'll see you when you're free," I said petting Bastet, my pet cat, who was at the foot of my bed.

"Goodbye and I'll make it up to you I promise!" Taylor said. I hung up leaving the conversation as it was. She sounded sincere but the reality was she picked the guy she was recently seeing over my 21st birthday.

Meow

I looked down at Bastet.

"I guess somethings just never change," I told her. She rubbed her head against my knee as she moved to curl up on my lap.

Her black-tipped ears were huge with black hairs extending from the very tips. Her paws were massive but nothing compared to the length of her legs.

"Well Bastet, I guess it's just gonna be me and you tonight. Happy BIrthday to myself." I said trying to be enthusiastic. There was not much to be enthusiastic about. I was turning 21 and to celebrate I was staying at home with my cat. "I guess I'll be ordering take out."

The time was dragging. There was nothing to do. The couple that lived above me were screaming at each other and the old lady across the hallway was talking to her dead husband again.

I couldn't live in a more annoying apartment building.

"Wanna watch Whose Line is it anyway?" I asked Bastet as I picked up my Chinese food and moved to the living room.

She chirped and followed me rubbing my legs as I went along.

Turning on the tv I sat down sharing the food with Bastet. Do not ask me why but Bastet always wanted whatever it was that I had to eat. If I ever didn't share with her I wouldn't hear the end of it.

There was a sudden knock on my door. Getting up I walked to the peephole and saw none other than Roy himself.

Now let me explain something to you all real quick. Roy and I go way back to freshmen year in college. We dated on and off and then he broke my heart hence the reason why I don't talk to anyone. So seeing that this man found out where I live was beginning to make me uncomfortable.

I hesitated to open the door. I opened it enough to peek my head out.

"Eve." He said with a little smile. I didn't know what he was doing but when I looked at what was in his hands I realized why. There were roses in one and several ballons that said 21 in another. This man did not just show up at my new apartment thinking that we were miraculously going to get back together, or did he?

"Roy," I said back pressing the door until it was almost closed. "How did you find out where I live?" He looked put off as if that question wasn't going to be asked.

"Can't I wish you a happy birthday? You turned 21. I thought maybe you could use someone to celebrate with." He said sounding genuine but I knew him better than that. I knew him best.

"Cut the shit Roy and stop pretending. Why'd you come over here? If it was to try and get back together, well, I'm sorry to tell you that I am not interested." I told him. I was beginning to get heated and looking back up at Roy I remembered all too clearly the reason why I left him. He was raging with anger. A storm constantly brewing with bursts of thunder and untamable wrath.

Trying to hurry and close the door I was thrown back by the door swinging open. I stumbled back running to the kitchen for a knife or something hard to defend myself with.

Looking around I found a metal cookie sheet lying in the dish strainer. Two more steps and I would be there.

I was almost there when I was pulled by my ponytail and thrown to the ground. I hit forehead against the tile floor cutting the skin on my brow bone. I winced trying to get myself up in a daze.

"Do you think you are funny? You're not much of a comedian Eve." Roy said circling around me. "I come over here to wish you a happy birthday and all you can do is insult me?"

He kicked me in the gut making me double over. My groan of pain grumbled from deep with in as I coughed in an attempt to suck air back in to my deprived lungs.

"Roy," I grunted. "-please. I just wanted-"

"I don't care what you wanted I was just trying to make you happy and all you can ever do is make me feel awful, you selfish bitch!" He pushed me down on the ground and wrapped his fingers around my neck. He was chocking me with a grip meant for death. I tried kicking but to no avail.

As dots of blackness invaded my sight and I was on the brink of passing out a flash latched onto Roy's face. He released his grip and I took that moment as my chance to escape.

I ran out of the apartment with a stumble and made my way down the hallway, past the old lady that was talking to the wall, aka her husband, in all of this. I hit the elevator button but I heard Roy yelling from down the hallway.

I was never going to get in the elevator in time. I turned and pushed the staircase doorway and started running down the steps. My racing footsteps echoed down the column of the stair case.

The moment I reached the ground level I barreled through the metal door hearing it clang against the wall.

Don't look back I told myself.

A shiver ran down my spine at the chilly air but I ignored it knowing it meant nothing compared to the monster after me.

Focusing back at planning out my escape I looked for a door that was open. When I finally did I ran inside locking it behind me.

I took this time to catch my breath while I leaned against the slightly rusted door.

This is why I broke up with him. Roy was abusive. I use to leave his place with bruises in places people couldn't see and handprints on my wrists from him squeezing them when I ever got smart or "talked back".

"Oh, honey are you alright?" I looked up to see a half-naked woman walking over to me. She had a Sepia complexion and was tall with long black hair. She was wearing a sparkling corset and a sheer thong with platform black heels.

Furrowing my eyes I took a moment to look around and then it dawned on me, I was in a strip club. I guess I did end up going to a club for my birthday after all.

"Yo Tanya, get Mr.Chan over here we got a girl that looks like someone busted her up!" The woman yelled. She helped me over to what I thought might be the seating area. She was nice enough to seat me in a booth away from everyone else and gave me a jacket.

I looked awkward being that I was nearly the only woman in this club that was not in high heels and a thong.

I kept scanning the room for Roy as I tried not to panic. I wanted to go home but now knowing that Roy knew where I lived made me sick to my stomach. Thinking about what may have become of Bastet made me even sicker.

This wasn't how my twenty-first birthday was supposed to go.

"Hello." A voice said. I looked up to see a man that looks of Asian descent. "I am Mr. Chan. Diamond told me that you came to the back of our club. Did you get into a fight or something?"

I starred at the man for a while. I didn't know him and I didn't owe him an explanation. I just wanted to call someone up and have a place to stay. I wanted to feel safe.

"Mr. Chan I thank you for your concern but I really must be going." I stood up and began to walk away when I realized I had no phone on me. I cringed turning around. "Do you have a phone that I can use?"

He smiled seeming relieved that I was using his help.

"Yes, I do it's behind the bar. I'll walk you over to it." He told me leading the way. He was a fairly short man and a bit stocky too.

As I studied Chan for a while I noticed a different face. A face sculpted by an artist, and I couldn't seem to look away.

This man's face was pure gold. He looked as though he had been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. He had jet black hair and piercing blue eyes. His jaw was chiseled to perfection with a nicely short trimmed beard that further sharpened his perfect features.

By the time I realized I was gushing over this man I noticed he was staring at me the whole time too. The lump in my throat bobbed in apprehension as I tore my eyes away. Great, my abusive boyfriend was out there hunting me down and I'm here checking out a man at a strip club.

Ex, ex-boyfriend Eve, I reminded myself.

I quickly looked away trying not to draw any more attention to myself than I already was.

Reaching the phone Mr.Chan left telling me if I need anything to not hesitate to find him. I smiled and started dialing my sister. Waiting for her to pick up I looked over again.

I didn't know why I found this man fascinating. I didn't even know him nor seen him in my life. This time though when I looked at him he looked mad.

Did I offend the man?

"Hello, Hello?"

I snapped out of it. I heard Aurora's voice on the other end of the line.

"Aurora? It's me, Eve." I said relieved that she answered. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the chiseled guy get up from his seat.

Stop overthinking Eve. I kept telling myself. He doesn't know who you are or even seen you before. Maybe all he wants is to say hello. He's probably just leaving the club.

"Are you alright? I haven't heard from you in a while." I heard crying on the other line. I almost forgot I had a niece.

"I need a place to stay for a couple of days." I tried to keep the details to a minimum.

"But it's your birthday. Aren't you with anyone? Not like I won't pick you up. You know I will in a heartbeat."

I scanned the room again searching for the black-haired, blue-eyed man. There wasn't a sign of him and the other men that he was with weren't there either. They must have left with him or something.

"Can you please come and get me?" I begged scared Roy would storm in this place at any second.

"You're not okay. I can tell but I'm leaving now. Where can I find you?" I could hear her grabbing her keys and daughter.

"I'm in the strip club near my place."

"Eww, that dump? You must really need help. I'll be there in a couple minutes stay safe I'll be there soon."

"I love you thank you!" I said feeling relieved. I hung up the phone and turned to find the booth I was at, at the back of the club.

I started wondering why he even showed up. Worse I was beginning to wonder how he found out where I lived to begin with. There was no way that anyone that was close to me would tell this insane man where I lived.

"Can I help you with a drink?"

I looked up to see the same beautiful woman with long black hair. Her corset was accentuating her curves even more. She looked flawless.

"No Th-"

"The drink is on the bar." She said cutting me off before I could say any more. She looked persistent. Persistent for what I could not tell you.

"Yea sure umm..." I wasn't sure what to order I hadn't ever gone out to drink and I didn't go to parties so I was clueless as to what to order.

As if sensing my innocence the women smiled.

"Is this your first time coming out to drink?" She asked with a little chuckle.

"I guess you could say that. Today is my birthday. I just turned twenty-one."

"Oh Jesus! You're an alcohol virgin. Let me get you something. I'm pretty good at reading people and knowing what kind of drink they'll fall in love with." She touched my arm in a reassuring way as she walked away to the bar and placed my order of whatever she thought I would love.

I wish I had my phone.

I kept looking at the front door of the club. I was waiting for Roy to storm through the doors demanding anyone who had seen me show him where I was. The thought of that possibility made my hand sweat. I don't want this to become a reality.

It is a reality though. One that I wish never had happened.

Stop thinking about him, Evelyn. Stop thinking about the worst, for all you know Aurora will be walking through those doors any minute now telling you that everything would be alright. I tried telling myself over and over again.

"Here this will relax you." The girl said coming back to the table and placing a wine glass in front of me.

"I don't think I need much relaxing," I told her picking up the glass.

She sat down across from me placing the tray in front of us. I stared at her confused. Why was she sitting with me?

"Sure you do. I heard what happened. Nothing in this place goes unnoticed." She said looking around for someone.

"Are you looking for someone?" I asked brushing off the nothing goes unnoticed comment she said.

I cautiously took a sip from the wine taken aback when I actually liked the taste.

"No." She told me, looking like she was having trouble concentrating. "But listen," She looked at the door this time. "When I say so get up. Don't ask any questions just get up and go to the dressing rooms where you came in. Walk until you get to the door that says VIP only, push the door open, then go upstairs you'll be safe there. If anyone questions you just say Naní sent you. Now go!"

And just like that the front doors slammed open and men with heavy machine guns walked in. I took Naní's advice and swiftly made my retreat to the dressing rooms.

I didn't know who those men were or if they were even here for me but I continued to the back.

As I opened the door to the dressing room the tacky smell of perfume hit me like a wall. I'm allergic to perfume.

My head began to throb and nausea was building up. The overwhelming smell was making it hard for me to think.

I have to get to that VIP door.

I forced myself to focus. I don't think that those men were here for me but I can't help but feel as though I was being chased.

I looked at the tags on the doors as I rushed through the room. Half-naked women were busy doing their makeup or counting their money. A few stared confused but said nothing.

I found the door that said VIP there was no one at the door, thank god. I pushed the door open and was met with a staircase that led upstairs. There wasn't anywhere else to go so I started up the stairs. I heard yelling from behind me in the dressing room. I took that as motivation to hurry.

Hurry for what these men weren't here for me and Aurora would be here any minute.

I heard a gunshot which made me run the rest of the way up the stairs into a room that was dark and lit by only candles.

What the hell?

The door clicked shut behind me. I looked around scared that I was led to a trap. There was no way out from here. Naní trapped me in this room with men with guns on my heels.

I started to panic and look around for a way out. There was a balcony. I ran to it only for it to be locked.

"Great!" I screamed. There has to be something to break this glass door.

As I looked around the room I noticed someone sitting on the sofa. I hadn't noticed them before, I don't know how I missed the fact that it was the chiseled man that was there at the club earlier.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to go home. Now. Tears started to well in my eyes as I felt I was just moments from death.

"Where am I ?" I crooked. I was trying not to panic. How could I not when I was trapped in a room with men following me armed with guns and a random guy that looked like a god.

"You're scared." He said narrowing his eyes at me.

"Well yeah, I don't know you and we should seriously get out of here. There are guys with guns coming up the stairs." I told him. He didn't seem to care about the armed murders coming.

"So, they aren't going to do anything to us." He said, his voice smooth like cream.

"What? I don't know who you think you are but I know for sure that I am not superhuman and you aren't bulletproof. They could kill us. Why are you just sitting there?!" I screamed. Searching once again for an exit.

The door to the room was kicked down revealing the four men that walked in earlier. All of them were armed with multiple guns and weapons.

I backed against the glass door of the balcony. No, no, no! I was supposed to live a good and long life not be murdered at twenty-one and of all days my birthday!