𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 (on hold)

| 𝟏𝟒 |

The club's lights bathed the car in a neon pink glow. Matthias had pulled up outside, and now I was psyching myself up.

He had an arm around my shoulders as I shut my eyes and took deep breaths, thinking through my plan of action.

"Juniper. You're going to be fine. I believe in you."

I heaved in another breath, beginning to panic,
"I'm guessing he can't know my real name.. what name should I give him? Will he ask for my name? Should I give him a name?"

Matthias shrugged, pursing his lips,
"You can give him a name. It's up to you what you say, though. Be creative."

I ran a hand through my hair,
"God, I'm so bad with names. It needs to be a hot name, right? It should turn him on?"

Matthias chuckled,
"You've got tits— anything you do will turn him on."

I shook my head,
"Just pick a name. Please."

He looked out of the window as he thought,
"Uhhh, I don't know. Maybe like... Darla?"

I nodded,
"Okay. What about a last name?"

I could tell that I was panicking from the fast pace at which I was talking. I always spoke quicker when I was scared, and it was no different now. I would have to calm myself down before I went inside, else I would give myself up immediately.

Matthias spoke as he pulled a box from his pocket and began unbuckling it,
"You don't need a last name. Tell him he needs to earn it or some shit."

"Okay."

Matthias unclipped the box and pulled out a small, almost bean shaped object. I frowned, confused as to what it was.

"Earpiece."

I had a weird sense of deja vu from the previous day, with Xavier. Matthias picked out a slightly larger, black earpiece and slid it into his ear, clicking a button on it.

Then, he handed me mine. Mine was a peachy colour, and smaller. Matthias answered my unasked questions as I pressed it into my ear,
"Yours is designed to be hidden, whereas mine is designed to be practical."

I nodded, and the earpiece didn't budge. It felt pretty sturdy. Matthias leant over and clicked a button on mine, and I jumped when I heard his next words straight into my ear,

"You're all set."

He grinned at my response, and then gave me a nod with a sense of finality,
"You ready?"

I forced my shaking hands to steady themselves, and reduced my breathing to the normal amount. It took effort, but within seconds I felt almost normal again,
"As ready as I'll ever be."

Matthias gave me one last smile before I swung the door open and stepped into the night. I barely had a chance to shut the car door before he was driving away, and I was left alone.

I had no phone, no ID, nothing. The only support I had was my earpiece. I approached the bouncer on the door, widening my eyes and pouting my lips.

I went to step past him, and he stopped me with an arm on my stomach. He was lucky I didn't break his wrist. Being a doctor, I knew almost every way to break a bone— both cleanly and... less cleanly.

But all I did was frown up at the bouncer, speaking in a tone that made me want to punch myself in the face,
"I'm sorry?"

He blinked down at me,
"Ma'am I'm going to need to see some ID."

I sighed, repeating the line that Matthias had taught me in the car,
"I'm here to see Hades, sir. He requires we don't carry ID."

The bouncer hesitated for a moment, but then slid open the door and gestured me inside. I flashed him a smile and strutted straight in.