Soulless

Chapter 1: Neon

The floor shakes as hundreds of various colored lights flash in every direction. They pulsate along with the blaring music. The bass is so massive and intense that every time it hits I can feel my entire body vibrate. The sheer volume makes it impossible to think of anything clearly like my brain is being repeatedly slammed against the inside of my skull. Perhaps the only reason I don't helplessly fall over is because I'm surrounded by hundreds of others who hopped in this mosh-pit before I could escape. The combination of music and the constant pulse of lights mesmerizes me. It's almost as if I'm seeing everything in a much slower frame-rate than usual and the movement of my peers seems even more erratic than it really is. Nonetheless I'm being thrown around like a rag doll in my attempt to get out of this ocean of seemingly possessed trippy people.

I suddenly feel someone grab my arm. Instinctively I swing around, prepared to defend myself before realizing that it's my friend Dax. He seems to be enjoying himself more than I, as made evident by the huge grin painted on his defined features. I notice several colorful bracelets present on his arms that weren't there when we first arrived and he's dripping in sweat but then again so is everyone else.

"C'mon!" he mouths to me or maybe he's speaking out loud, I honestly can't tell. He begins to forcefully make his way toward the back of the room, pushing through wave upon wave of ravers. He's still holding my arm but I grasp his wrist just to make sure I don't lose him again. 

There's no real way to describe the appearances of those who surround us as we push by. Some look like any teenager you'd see on the street but others are dressed in some of the most ridiculous outfits I've ever seen. Pretty sure I just saw some guy wearing the mask of the alien from the classic movie "Predator" with the addition of some red neon lights to accent it. 

"Hey babe, you wanna grind?" Some clearly wasted guy yells at me over the noise as he runs directly into me, nearly knocking me over.

I shake my head as my eyes widen, "Uh, no thanks! I was just leaving!" Hopefully he won't take it offensively.

The guy laughs it off, "All good, babe! I'll be here if you come back!"

After what feels like forever, we finally reach the back of the venue and exit through the swinging double doors leading outside. A sudden burst of cold air hits and feels amazing after being stuck in that sweat-fest for the last few hours. It's dark out, probably around midnight and only a few other rave-goers are out already.

Dax lets go of me and turns around looking ecstatic. "That was insane. Best show I've been to in awhile. Hope my live performances are half as a good as that. Damn." He laughs before reading the look on my face. "You didn't like it, huh?" His expression changes to that of disappointment.

I half-smile and my gaze drops. "It's not that... I'm just not used to it, I guess. Next time I'll probably be more into it."

That smile and his one dimple return to his face as he replies, "They grow on you, I swear! Maybe I'll bring you to something a bit more chill next time. More vibey. Not so much bass to the face." I can tell he's already starting to think of possibilities.

"I'd like that. Speaking of-"

I got cut off by a voice behind me, "You guys looking for some Synth?"

Turning to face the speaker, I notice she's one of the girls we saw inside. Her dark hair is covering part of her eyes but I can still make out that they're bloodshot. 

"Nah, we don't want any knock-off shit."

The girl looks at Dax, "Hey, knock-off shit is all some of us got so don't fucking disrespect it." Shifting her attention to me, she continues, "What about you? Want any Synth or nah?"

"No thanks," I reply, making sure not to say anything that might tilt her further.

"At least you have some manners. Better put your boy in line before someone does it for you." She scoffs at us and proceeds to walk toward the next potential buyer.

***** To be continued, this chapter isn't finished yet! *****