Demonic Angel (New version)

Chapter Three

Maddison parked her bike out the front of Club Hell; scanning the surrounding area as she climbed off the bike. The Warehouse District the club was in was known for its violent crimes, it had a reputation as being one of the most dangerous areas in the city.

Maddison walked down the small strip of red carpet leading to the entry of Club Hell. The club itself was in the centre of the warehouse district. The three story stone building stood out amongst the steel warehouses that surrounded it. It wasn't the only club in the district, but it was the only one that wasn't built in an oversize shed. It gave off a money vibe that made Maddison wipe her sweaty palms on her jeans. She probably should have cleaned up a bit before coming to a place like this.

The gold polls, with red rope lining the walkway reflected the sunlight into her eyes. If it were any later the surrounding buildings would have blocked out the sun. She block the bright light with an arm and blinked to clear the spots from her vision. When she could see, she stopped.

. A giant man stood before her. The bouncer. Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans she pulled out her driver's licence proving she was twenty two. A neon sign flashed Club Hell in red. A little devil perched on top of the word Hell.

'Cute sign.'

'Remove your jacket and, lift up your sleeve,' the bouncer said. His deep voice rumbled through her. She stared and he sighed impatiently. 'Hurry up, I haven't got all day.'

She took a step back from the giant, squeezing her license in her hand. 'What?'

'Remove your jacket, and lift up your sleeve,' he said glaring.

Was he playing some kind of joke on her? 'Why?'

Pointing his thumb behind him, he asked, 'You want to get in?'

'I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't.' She bit her lip wishing the words back. It wasn't his fault that she didn't want to be there. He was just doing his job.

Maddison watched as his black shirt stretched to the point of almost ripping as he crossed his bulging arms across his chest. 'Then show me your arm. If you have the right markings, you will be allowed entry.'

Confused, she removed her leather jacket. She wasn't sure if she was doing it because he scared her, or because she was curious. She guessed that the tattoos on her arms that appeared on her sixteenth birthday could be classed as marking. She had never shown them to anyone before and was a little nervous to be doing so now. But she needed to get into the club to find Benjamin, and if that meant showing one of her tattoos then it was a small price to pay.

She was a little worried about why this club would be so different and want to see her arm. If she wasn't in such a hurry to get into the place she would have questioned him more.

Benjamin's life was more important, so she bit her tongue to keep herself from asking. As soon as her jacket was removed she rolled up the sleeve of her shirt revealing her flame tattoo. Yellow, red and orange blended to make a small flame on her upper arm.

The bouncer briefly glanced at the tattoo and stepped aside without another word. She opened her mouth to say something, remembered Officer Ryan's' comment about how getting into the club was impossible, and thought better of it. She had done the impossible and been given entry to one of the most exclusive clubs in the city. Closing her mouth she pulled her jacket back on before walking past the giant and into Club Hell.

The first thing Maddison noticed upon entry was the amount of people there where in there. It was the middle of the day and the place was as packed as any club on a weekend at midnight. People were bumping and grinding on the dance floor to some face paced techno music that she had never heard before. She could just see the bar, surrounded by patrons wanting service. She had expected the place to be empty, as most clubs were this time of day. She hadn't paid any attention to the amount of people that were here when she had tracked Benjamin. She walked across the busy dance floor squeezing through gaps in the crowd when they opened up. She was jostled to the side when one crazy dancer started jumping around on the spot, waving her arms to the beat of the music. Maddison never really liked the club scene. She thought her dislike had more to do with the fact that the two times she went out, she went alone. She didn't really have friends; high school had ruined that for her. She was a twenty-two year old with no friends and never had a boyfriend. The closest she has come to having a friend was Officer Ryan, that's strictly a business friendship. She knew she seemed pathetic, hell her classmates had drummed that into her for years, she didn't really see herself that way. But those two times she went out clubbing by herself she finally started to believe it.