SHADOWS OF DECEIT

Chapter 20

The rhythmic thrum of bass-heavy music vibrated through the floor, pulsing beneath Joshua's feet as he sat in the shadowed corner of Light A Flame. The neon lights that laced the walls like liquid fire flickered in hues of deep red and violet, casting erratic patterns over the room. It was crowded, suffocating, filled with smoke and sin. 

Drinks, half-empty and dripping condensation, sat on the small, round table in front of him, their amber contents gleaming like liquid gold under the dim lights. He glared at Samuel, who was already a drink or two deep, his face flushed with the soft blush of intoxication.

"I asked you to take me out for a drink, not drag me into a fucking brothel, Samuel," Joshua said, his voice low and cutting.

Samuel, tipsy and grinning like a mischievous child, pouted as he lifted his glass, the ice clinking softly. "Come on, hyung. It's not like you're not drinking here." He punctuated his words with a wink before throwing back another gulp.

Joshua scoffed, running his tongue over his teeth as he glanced around the room, taking in the scene that surrounded him. The haze of cigarette smoke blurred the edges of everything, creating a surreal, fever-dream effect. 

Half-naked bodies tangled together, limbs intertwined like snakes in a pit. At the table beside theirs, a woman laughed, her voice high and breathy as she bent over, naked breasts spilling forward and tipping the glasses on the table. 

The man beside her didn't miss a beat, his fingers vanishing beneath the hem of her skirt as he sipped his drink with his other hand, eyes cold and detached.

Joshua exhaled sharply, the image searing itself into his mind. Without a second thought, he picked up his glass and downed the whiskey in one go, the burn trailing down his throat and pooling warm in his chest. 

If he was going to survive the night, he needed a buffer between himself and the suffocating weight of the room's depravity.

The alcohol dulled the sharp edges, numbing him just enough to blend into the noise. He set the empty glass down with a clatter and looked over at Samuel, who was staring across the room at an empty corner table with a polished "Reserved" sign propped up on its surface.

Joshua's brow furrowed as he shook Samuel's arm. "Yah, are you really waiting for someone? Planning on some action tonight, huh?" 

His voice was mocking, but it held an edge of weariness. He couldn't stomach the idea of getting dragged into any more chaos tonight.

Samuel turned to him, giggles bubbling out of his throat as he tipped his head back lazily. His eyes, glossy from drink, sparkled with mischief. 

"Oh, I'm waiting for someone, all right. But as for 'action'..." His grin turned sly, his gaze shifting back to the empty table. "That depends on what the other decides when he gets here."

Joshua smacked the younger man on the back of the head, earning a playful yelp. "I have a shift tomorrow, idiot. I need to get back to the hospital."

Samuel's laughter softened into a small, fond smile as he fumbled in his pocket, pulling out the car keys with unsteady fingers. He pressed them into Joshua's hand, his touch warm and fleeting. 

"You can go home on your own if something happens. I'll catch up later. Don't worry, hyung."

Joshua's fingers closed around the cold metal, the weight of the keys feeling oddly grounding. He sighed, leaning back in his chair as the sounds of the club washed over him, drowning out the conflict that stirred in his chest. 

His eyes drifted to the reserved table in the corner, an unsettling feeling creeping up his spine as he wondered just who Samuel was waiting for—and what kind of night was truly unfolding around them.