4 AM Forever

Sacred in the Sands

Olivia sped down the desert road toward town. She looks in the reviewed where Cherish is in the back seat with Kassie's head in her lap. She's only seen this happen once before durning exam week.

"How she doing?" She asks taking a left onto another road.

"Fine. She's still whimpering about finding someone." Cherish's voice cracked and Olivia knew she was scared.

"Just hang on, okay." Olivia didn't know who she was saying it to. Cherish? Kassie? Herself?

"Do you think-" Cherish begins but is cut off when Kassie's eyes flutter open.

"Kassie!" She says and Olivia slows down.

"God damn, Kassie! You scared the shit outta us." Olivia says as they come to a complete stop. She turned around in her seat. Kassie looks around, with a confused face.

"What the fuck guys?" Kassie says sitting up.

"You passed out at the fire." Cherish says, "like you started to have a panic attack." Kassie shakes her head.

"I think I'm fine.." She says sitting back in her seat. She then pulls out her phone.

"Guys you gotta see this." She says playing the video.

They watch as the video pans to the boy and his eyes reflect. He has a smile on his lips and then his eyes glow again as a firework is set off.

"What the hell?" Olivia asks furrowing her brow. Kassie shakes her head.

"He disappeared after that." She says replaying it. "I don't even know how we're gunna find-"

"Me?" A voice says from the open window. Both Olivia and Kassie gasps. The boy with the crazy hair stands at the window.

"What the fuck, dude! Why would you do that?" Olivia yells opening her door, "what's going on?" Cherish ask scrambling after her.

"Alright, alright. Calm down." He says backing up, putting his hands up. A door slams and Kassie is beside Olivia.

"Who are you?" Kassie says hold up her phone.

"Mikey. Mikey Clifford." He says putting his hands in his pockets. Cherish just looks confused as she watches her friends yell at air.

"What are you? And why can I hear you in my head?" She asks stepping forward. His smile is evil.

"Oh my dear, you'll know soon. Or perhaps you already know." He says, "you are definitely not a mundane."

"Mundane?" She asks confused.

"Seriously! WHAT is going on!" Cherish yells holding onto Olivia's arm.

"Unfortunately for her she is." He says laughing a little.

They both look at Cherish. She doesn't see him.

"So does this mean we're, like, supernatural or something?" Olivia asks. This whole situation was confusing and it didn't help Mikey wasn't telling them anything. He smiles again, "Follow me."

***

They pull up to what they thought was an abandoned warehouse, it was thumping with techno music and lights shined outside. Cherish who had protested this mission threatened to call the police.

"Seriously you guys are fucking crazy.." She says getting outta the car. "If we end up dying I swear to god I will kill you." She continues. Olivia rolls her eyes, "Oh I can't wait." She says walking behind Kassie. Mikey stands at the entrance with his arm arms crossed.

"Welcome Ladies to The Sacred." he says turning around to the big doors and pushing them open.

In full swing was a a neon blowout. People glow with bright colors, dancing and jumping to the song.

"New comers!" A girl yells at the door and takes Kassie's hand and drags her to a table, away from Mikey. Two others do the same with Cherish and Olivia and they get to work painting their bodies

"Off with the shirts." One says and they all obey. The girls paint their stomachs and bras and then set them free toward the dance floor.

***

Cherish found a notch in the dance crowd and is now dancing with two boys and proudly swinging her hips to the beat.

"This has honestly been a crazy ass night. And it's only 1." Kassie yells over the music.

"Seriously," Olivia yells, "and we still don't know what's going on!" She says.

"At least Cherish is having fun." Kassie says looking at her friend again. Mikey appears with his shirt gone and his torso is also painted, along with a beautfiul pattern on his face. He leans close to Kassie's ear. He says something and retracts with a smile. Kassie slowly stands and takes his hand, only looking back at Olivia for a second be fire disappearing into the crowd.

***

The beat vibrated through Kassie's bodies as they grind and dance. A few times Kassie felt Mikey throw his head back and pulled her closer. Olivia had joined the dance crowd with a guy who's face was covered with glow paint. As the music changed to a slow moving song, that included violins and a more soothing beat. The people around still dance to a fast beat. She presses closer to Mikey's stomach and chest. his forehead rests against hers and his hands are on her hips, slowing her pace, feeling his body rub against her. Tiny fires ignite in her stomach. He runs his hands up her sides and up her body. His fingers graze under her chin and tilt her head back as he brushes his lips against her neck. A chill runs down her spine and goosebumps erupt all over her body.

She moves her head back and looks at his eyes. They flash silver just as they did before."What are you?" She yells but he just gives her a smile and leans in, but is interrupted by a grumpy looking guy that tapped Mikey's shoulder and nods toward the other side of the room. She looks for Olivia and Cherish but they're gone from their places in the crowd.

"Come on." He says holding Kassie's hand and dragging her through the crowd to a red door.