Blackmailing The Untouched

A Night To Be Anyone

I wake up on Halloween morning to a light snowfall, I peel the curtain away and watch as the sunlight casts down upon the falling snowflakes making them glisten. My breath dances on the glass and fogs up the window. Ice shimmers in the corner.

There's a knock at my bedroom door. "Ready to go to your first nightclub?" Sally is anxious to get the festivities started. "I've even done you a favor and picked up a costume for you to wear."

Oh, boy. I can just imagine it now. A sexy Nurse, a dirty Cop, or a Naughty school teacher is awaiting me somewhere in the apartment. "Sally, I'm not as easygoing as you. I'm not going to walk around in a damn pair of underwear!" I warn her with a clenched fist as I throw open my bedroom door.

She stands there with her arms folded over her chest with a satisfied grin on her matte red-painted lips. "Relax. It's nothing too revealing." She shrugs. "You said you wanted to be a Flapper with me."

"Where's the costume?" I sigh with caution.

"Now before you say anything, it is a two-piece." She begins and I follow her down the hall until I see fabric of silver and gold draped over the counter in the Kitchen.

Sitting on top of the pile is a beautiful masquerade mask with royal blue gems that make it sparkle. I set the mask aside to inspect the rest of the costume. I pick up the top made of silver and gold; it appears to be a crop top with long fringe that covers the stomach. The skirt is thigh length but also has the same fringe that drops a few inches lower. A pair of high royal blue strapped high heels is inside the box next to it. The costume is beautiful. A little racy for my taste, but it is Halloween after all.

She reads my face, dark brown eyes dancing over me, "Do you hate it?" She flinches and gets prepared for me to tear it down.

"No, I think it's stunning. It's beautiful." I breathe as my fingers drag across the soft material. "The shoes look hellish, though."

"It's not too much? I know the top is a little short and the skirt too, but I thought the fringe covered up enough." She lets out a deep breath. "I think you're going to look amazing!"

It takes us almost three hours to get ready for the party, during which, Sally tries five different makeup styles and eyeshadow colors before finally deciding on the basic dark, smoky eye. She insists I wear heavier makeup because I don't usually dress up and probably won't ever again. She applies a shimmery blue to my eyelids and dark black eyeliner and mascara, fully equipped with a winged cat eye. She paints my lips a bright red color that pops in contrast with my ivory skin. She curls my long, brown hair and leaves it in soft, waves that cascade down my back.

She straightens her short vibrant hair and sticks a black flower pick behind her ear. I carefully pull the top of my costume on, making sure not to smudge the makeup that has transformed my face. Once I have the top on, I notice how small it really is. The bottom of the bra piece hits just below my bust line. The silver and gold fringe covers my belly button but just barely. As I slip into the skirt the fringe prickles as I slide the material up my legs. Once Sally zips me in I take a hard look in the mirror on the back of her bedroom door.

I don't even recognize myself. My lips are dark and plump. My hair lays wild on my shoulders, cascading down my back like a waterfall. When I move, the fringe tassels sway back and forth, exposing my midriff and thighs. The heels make me look taller, makes me appear more feminine.

Sally is sitting atop the toilet seat, bent over fastening the strap to her red stilettos. Her dress is black metallic with a deep slit in between her breasts. The hem is long with uneven shimmering gold. The back is crisscrossed with dozens of straps.

When we arrive, night has fallen at the nightclub and the parking lot is full of vehicles. Sally is lucky enough to find an empty spot beside a white Dodge GT. We do some last-minute primping before exiting the car and stepping onto the concrete. The sound of our heels crushing the dry autumn leaves echoes in the night.

"This is going to be a night to remember." Sally squeals as we walk towards the large glossy black building with bright neon lights that dance from side to side. The logo is plastered atop of the large double doors in purple neon; it says "Psyche" The doorway has a scary, large spider web draped across the opening so that guests must duck when they enter the club.

Inside the tall, open space is a big dance floor full of monsters, superheroes, TV characters, and people dressed up in different occupations. The loud music comes from a huge DJ booth that sits atop a small stage at the back of the room. Three shiny poles frame the stage. Rays of blue and purple lasers flicker and pulse across the dance floor as flashes of dancing clubgoers jump to the beat.

We walk along the small balcony, down the steps and as the music gets louder and the people start to come into focus, I feel a bubble sensation begin in my veins. "This is pretty cool!" I lean into Sally and exclaim. We walk on, passing a hairy werewolf and a Vampire Goddess dressed in an extravagant white wedding gown that has been splattered with blood. Her veil is a tattered mess on top of her glossy blond hair. We also pass a Frankenstein, a Yeti, a Yoda, and numerous movie characters, until finally stopping for a rest against a gold bar towards the VIP section.

"I'll go get us some drinks. What do you want?" Sally says in my ear as she looks over to where the bar is glowing red.

"A martini," I say with excitement. "While you're gone I'll call Toby and see what's taking him," I add with a teasing flutter of my eyebrows.

She squeals with an added jump to her step as she parts ways and walks up the stairs. I turn and face the VIP section, leaning against the golden bar above a booth.

I remove my cell phone from my silver wristlet and dial Toby's number. After four rings, I'm sent to his voicemail. I wait until after his cheery voice tells me to leave a message at the beep, "Tobe, Sally, and I are here at the club. Where are you? I'm wearing a skimpy Flapper costume-Sally's idea. It's gold and silver. Sally is wearing a metallic black dress."

With a heavy sigh, I disconnect the call. The couple in the booth before me catches my eye and I feel voyeuristic as I watch the Zombie lean in to kiss the Mermaid. Her bright green hair falls down her shoulder and her laugh fills the booth. I notice the bottle of champagne chilling on ice in the middle of the red velvet table. After a few more stolen moments, another couple is seated in the booth next to them; A mime and a shirtless construction worker. The two men cozy up, their hands quickly disappearing beneath the tabletop.

I know I should turn away from this private moment, but I can't. I watch as the Mime's face tightens with pleasure from the hidden strokes of the construction worker. His teeth clamp down on his lip, stifling the moan that is plastered on his face.

While I'm watching the couple, my hands wander to where my mask is tightly secure over my eyes, making sure that my identity is protected from this horrible voyeurism.

But my breath catches in my throat when my attention is taken by a tall man in a crisp black and white tuxedo as he walks down the stairs to the dance floor, my eyes flickering to the white mask that shields his identity from me.

As he gets closer, my skin prickles and my heart stops. My body moves on its own accord and I turn at the waist, following his every step.

He captures my stare when he passes by, eyes dark and mysterious, blond hair a tousled mess but perfectly styled.

Zach?