Finding Célia

Chapter 3

Célia mustered all of the power within her not to cry. She gripped the edge of her seat tightly and hung her head down in shame, refusing to believe what was happening to her. Spooky simply looked at the road ahead with an icy stare, completely indifferent to how she was nearing the midst of a breakdown. No matter how hard she tried to take her mind off of it, the cruel man's words echoed in her mind over and over again like a broken record, torturously reminding her of her newfound reality.

"She's cute, Spooky. I think she'll be of some use."

"This isn't the last you'll see of me. I'll come to visit you very soon."

From their brief encounter, the suited man with cold blue eyes had already left a mortifying impression, and she knew his intentions with her were anything but good. An infinitesimal sliver of courage worked its way through the sea of anxiety flooding her, and urged her to ask the question that had been plaguing her for the entire car ride.

"W-what's going to happen to me?"

"You'll see." Absolutely no trace of emotion left his lips.

"He must be used to this," Célia thought. "He must be used to sending girls like me to their deaths."

After an agonizingly long car ride that seemed to last decades, they stopped in the parking lot of an establishment called "Las Rosas". Spooky exited the car and quickly ushered her out of her seat. He pushed her to enter, following close behind in case she made the foolish decision to try and escape. Célia entered and was bewildered by the opulence of the place. Las Rosas was a nightclub, and an extravagant one at that. The massive dance floor was the highlight of the first level, and it was accompanied by a bar that had shelves lined with countless bottles, a wide stage with an empty DJ booth, and the whole room was illuminated by pulsating neon lights. But it was completely vacant. Which was to be expected, as night hadn't fallen yet.

"What am I doing here...?" She whispered. She would have never stepped foot into a nightclub on her own volition unless she was with Vivian, but now she was in one at the order of some creepy criminal whose silence was deafening. She stood there, dumbfounded, until the entrance of two ladies demanded her attention. They were both undeniably beautiful. The one on the left was clad in a fiery red dress, which could barely restrict her curvaceous body. Her dark skin was the color of rich caramel and she sported wavy brown locks that cascaded down her back. The one on the right was less striking, but she had a mysterious allure. She donned a simple black dress that suited her shapely figure, and her raven-colored hair was short and fashionably styled. Her sand-colored skin sharply contrasted her dark and enigmatic eyes.

Their presence commanded the room and immediately made Célia feel minuscule.

"Sabrina. Marisol. This is Célia. She's your new recruit."

The lady on the left smiled jubilantly.

"She's gorgeous! She won't have any trouble being successful here. I'm Sabrina!"

She extended her hand politely, which Célia hesitantly shook.

"You're right, Sabrina," The other girl added. "She's cute. Let's hope the other girls don't eat her up."

Célia's eyes instantly widened, but she offered a small smile and extended her hand as well.

"I'm Marisol."

"Nice to meet you..." Her shaky voice was barely detectable.

"Train her well," Spooky chimed in. His deep and booming voice was always a shock to Célia, as it rarely ever graced her ears. "Teach her about mafia life and all that shit. Omertà too. The usual."

"M-mafia?" Célia's thoughts echoed. As soon as the word left his lips, it was all she could focus on.

"You got it. You know never to expect anything less of us." Sabrina responded.

"Send Simón our regards," Marisol added, and with that, Spooky left.

Sabrina and Marisol quickly turned to her new recruit with eager faces.

"Okay, get ready for a long process, sweetie. You're going to be drowning in cash by the end of the night."

Despite their alacrity, Célia could barely pay attention. Everything they said went in one ear and out the other. She could think about one thing, and it was terrorizing her.

The mafia. It couldn't be. There was no way. She was part of the mafia now.

~

Vivian indignantly waited at the airport's exit with crossed arms. She repeatedly checked her phone for any notice and scanned the plethora of travelers to see if any were him. No luck. She huffed in disbelief at what she was doing. A flurry of anger overtook her whenever she thought about their past, but she repeatedly tried to calm herself down, reminding herself that this was all for Célia's sake. As she pulled out her phone once more to ask him where he was, she noticed him approaching.

He was impossible to ignore. His tall and built physique attracted plenty of eyes, and his own were a captivating icy blue. The eyes that had once stared at her with so much admiration. She was face-to-face with the only man in the world she harbored so much undying resentment towards, and now she depended upon his help.

"Vivian Thomas... Huh, it's been ages since I've last seen you."

"Toni Mahfud. I'm disappointed. Our streak of 'pretending the other doesn't exist' has to end this way."

"Can't say the same. You're always a delight to see."

Vivian rolled her eyes.

"Let's cut the bullshit. We've got a missing girl to find."