The Puppeteer

Chapter 2

The pulsing beat of the music reverberated through the club, a living entity that wrapped around me, drawing me deeper into its chaotic embrace. I sat at the bar, the neon lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors across my skin, and took a long, indulgent sip of my Piña Colada. The sweet, tropical flavor danced on my tongue, a fleeting reminder of the warmth of the sun and the carefree days of summer. But tonight, it was more than just a drink; it was a desperate attempt to drown out the shadows that clung to me, the weight of my father’s indifference still heavy on my heart.

Lily, my best friend, leaned closer, her vibrant hair catching the light as she eyed me with a mix of amusement and concern. “You know what you need?” she said, her voice barely audible over the thumping bass.

I raised an eyebrow, swirling the remnants of my drink in the glass. “What’s that?”

“You need to get laid. And hard.” Her grin was mischievous, her eyes sparkling with a challenge.

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep within me. “Yeah, right. Like that’s going to happen tonight.”

In response, I wrapped my lips around the straw and slurped the last remnants of my drink as deeply as my mouth would allow, the plastic pressing against my lips with a satisfying pop. The sweet liquid slipped down my throat, but I knew it was just a futile attempt to fill the void that had settled in my chest.

Lily’s brow quirked, unimpressed and impatient, as she watched me. I could practically hear her thoughts: Amelia needs a bigger mouth. More alcohol would fit in it. I didn’t say it out loud, but I could bet my left ass cheek that her follow-up response would be to suggest using it for a bigger dick instead.

I continued sucking on the straw, savoring the last drops of my drink, but Lily wasn’t having it. With a swift motion, she reached over and ripped the plastic from my lips, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement.

“Seriously, Amelia? You’ve been at the bottom of that glass for a solid fifteen seconds now, and you’re just sucking air.”

Heat prickled at the back of my neck, a flush creeping up my cheeks as I realized how ridiculous I must have looked. It was the most action my mouth had gotten in a year, and here I was, making a spectacle of myself in the middle of a nightclub.

“Maybe I just like the taste,” I shot back, trying to regain some semblance of dignity.

“Right,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re just avoiding the inevitable. You need to loosen up, Amelia. Let go of whatever is holding you back.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat as an unsettling feeling washed over me. I twisted in my seat, scanning the crowd for the source of my discomfort. It was as if a thousand eyes were boring into me, watching, waiting. But when I turned, there was nothing there—just the thrumming energy of the club, bodies moving in sync with the music, lost in their own worlds.

“Are you even listening to me?” Lily’s voice cut through the haze, pulling me back to reality.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, forcing a smile. “I’m just… distracted.”

“Distracted by what?” she pressed, her gaze piercing.

I hesitated, the truth clawing at my insides. I didn’t want to admit that I felt like a ghost haunting the edges of my own life, that the shadows of my father’s world had seeped into every corner of my existence. Instead, I shrugged, trying to play it off.

“Just the usual,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “You know how it is.”

Lily narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. “You can’t keep hiding behind your drinks forever, Amelia. You need to get out there and live a little. You’re young, beautiful, and—”