Little Dark One

sunshine hunter teaser

chapter 1

"Welcome to The Tomb," Kai grinned as he led me down concrete steps into the neon red underworld.

The vibration of the music infused my bones the further down we spiraled. I'd never experienced this sort of scene, the kind of place delinquents and drug lords called home. I was completely out of my comfort zone, but something in the air made me feel powerful as my heels clicked on the rough concrete and my body swayed subconsciously to the steady beat.

I gripped Kai's lean arm as we reached the basement floor and pushed through the padded steel door. We were immediately enveloped in a cloud of cigarette smoke or weed, likely a combination of both. I wasn't so sheltered that I didn't recognize the scent, but I'd never smoked. Not that I wasn't curious, I moved back to Amberwood to finally start living. I intended to make mistakes and learn from them or enjoy the outcome.

That's what tonight with Kai was all about. My first club experience, an introduction to Amberwood's nightlife.

"Where do we start?" I yelled over the loud bass, scanning the crowd of dancers circling the DJ on her own island in the center.

Kai brushed his blonde hair out of his eyes as he smirked down at me. "Shots."

He led me to a less crowded bar in the back corner of the room and ordered two shots of Patron. I couldn't keep the excited grin off my face as I bounced in my heels. I had missed out on so much of my youth growing up in isolation, I never went to parties or snuck out with my friends, I didn't smoke or make out with boys in the backseat of their cars. I wanted to, I just didn't get the opportunity.

I had dreamed of my first cigarette, first joint, first club, tattoo, all of it. I craved the reckless experiences that shaped teenagers for better or for worse. I've waited a long time for the freedom to simply live.

The bartender poured our shots and set down a plate of lime wedges and a salt shaker. Kai shot me an equally excited grin. "Have you ever shot tequila?"

I shook my head. "Nope, only whiskey," my uncle's favorite.

"Alright, just follow my lead," he licked the back of his hand and I cocked my head at him in confusion before tentatively doing the same.

He shook salt over the damp spots on our hands and we picked up our shots.

"So, you lick the salt, shoot the shot and suck the lime," he instructed, holding his little glass up to mine, holding eye contact. "Cheers!"

"Wait, don't move." I reached into my small purse and pulled out the film camera I couldn't live without. Kai immediately posed with his shot and I laughed at his effortless confidence as I snapped the pic and put my camera away.

I wanted to remember all these firsts.

We ran our tongues over the salt in unison and tossed back the tequila, both doing a little shimmy as the warm liquid coated our throats and spread warmth into our chests. I laughed as Kai's features contorted with the acidity of the lime. I relished the sour chaser. Tequila shots were officially my new favorite.

"That was fun," I clapped as the alcohol spread through me, immediately erasing the small amount of nerves I had. "I'll get the next round."

"Then we dance," Kai beamed, already bobbing to the beat. "Insider tip for your first club experience– shots of tequila are the only upper. Unless you're interested in another kind of upper." He raised a suggestive brow at me and I shook my head.

"Let's just stick to liquor, for now." I had enough to experience before I'd add drugs to the list.

I ordered another round and immediately felt the buzz beginning to develop as the second shot settled in.