Bad Girls Club [Editing]

[3] Crimson Chin

Thanks to much to the always talented @holliehannah for the teaser! 

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Alora and Charlie paraded away from an uneasy Gemma and Willow, their steps in synch. Skirting the bend, they discovered Bentley at the end of the hall. Once he saw that they were closing in, he continued on around the corner. Alora and Charlie were additionally alert when it came to retaining their distance, even though they were one hundred percent sure he knew they were right behind him.

Bentley led them down a final elongated hallway, disappearing into the room at the end. Alora took hold of Charlie as they drew near.

"This is obviously a set up . . . We shouldn't both go in," Alora honestly remarked, the courageous gleam in her eye implying that she should be the one to bear the burden. Charlie was fighting a resilient internal battle: her heart versus her brain

Her brain knew this was a trick. It knew Alora was right, as she always was. Defying her wishes was something Charlie had never done. She admired Alora and saw her as a mother figure.

On the other hand, Charlie's emotions could have cared less about logic. All her heart knew was that Charlie needed to protect her family and she very well couldn't do that with one of them gone.

"This is my fault." Much to Charlie's dismay, her voice came out small. She cleared her throat, choosing to side with her emotions as they were so much stronger. "He wants ME to follow him. He was at the bar last night, he talked to me. He could be the key to finding Hayden and . . . and I'm not about to pass that up; even if it's a trap."

Charlie tried once more to journey to the door, Alora faltering her a final time in a last ditch attempt.

"You can't find her if you're dead." Charlie flew around Alora, trying to shove her voice of reason aside. Charlie was so insanely desperate to find Hayden safe and sound she was prepared to toss herself in front of anything; including a procession of bullets.

Charlie thundered after Bentley, the trip to the door feeling like it was a thousand miles long. When she finally came to her destination she grasped the knob, briefly lacking the force carry on. She discerned, deep down, that she didn't want to die.

Yet, in this second, she could have cared less. Charlie was fearful, but not for herself.

She tugged the door wide open, squeezing her eyes as she anticipated something to happen.

"I'm right behind you," Alora whispered in support. She dared to unfasten her eyes and the two patrolled the scene.

They treaded into the hotel's presently unoccupied dining hall, the door swinging shut. All of the tables, which were enclosed with white table cloths, had been gathered against the walls. The carpeting was a dull red and the drawn shades uncovered the cosmic amount of dust as it glistened in the sunlight. Their shoes clacking against the wooden planks of the dance floor reverberated all through the room.

"You know," Bentley's voice carried. Charlie twirled around, noticing Bentley at one of the tables near the door. He was tilting back in his chair, feet propped up on the table. "You never told me if you liked your drink."