Surprisingly…no one called the cops on us. Actually, this was the fastest I’d ever been able to walk through the city since everyone on the sidewalk went to great lengths to get out of our way. I made a mental note to dress like a crazy person more often. Because I hated crowded sidewalks. And other humans in general.
“We’re here,” Nigel said, abruptly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
Huh?I stared at the building next to us. “The entrance to Club Onyx is through a Starbucks?”
“Mhm. This way,” Nigel said and opened the door to Starbucks.
“I should have known the entrance would be somewhere so basic,” Chastity said and walked through the door. “No one would ever even look if they didn’t know.”
“The entrance to Club Onyx is really through here?” I asked.
Nigel nodded without making eye contact.
That seemed like a yes if I ever saw one. I also didn’t like to make direct eye contact with people.
Nigel ignored the line of customers and went straight to the restroom. “In there,” he said and opened the door for us.
“Oh, I don’t need to go,” said Chastity. “And even if I did…I wouldn’t use a public restroom. I’d stop by one of the finance buildings and flirt with a guard so I pee in luxury.”
“It’s the entrance,” said Nigel.
“Really?” Chastity frowned. “I don’t remember smelling coffee or pastries or pee the first time we went to Club Onyx.”
“That’s because there was a bag over your head.” It kind of looked like Nigel was contemplating bagging her again.
“Come on,” I said and grabbed Chastity’s hand. “We don’t have time to dilly dally.” I pulled her into the bathroom.
She stepped over a piece of loose toilet paper and shuddered.
And then the door slammed shut behind us.
We both spun around. Nigel was not standing behind us. And then we heard the click of a lock. Which made no sense because the lock was on this side.
“Nigel!” I yelled and grabbed the doorknob. But the jerk had somehow locked us in. I turned the lock back and forth, but it did no good. “Nigel, what the heck? You’re supposed to be showing us how to get into Club Onyx!” And I had a feeling this was definitely not the entrance. Chastity was right. I would have smelled pastries through a bag over my head. I could always smell baked goods. It was a blessing and a curse.
“You’re not allowed in Club Onyx. You’re in time out!” he shouted through the door.
“Nigel, let us out!” I yelled.
“Never!”
Did he seriously just lock us in a random bathroom to prevent us from finding the real entrance to Club Onyx? And was he serious aboutneverletting us out?
“Nigel, let us out right now,” Chastity said.
“No!”
“Yes!” Chastity yelled back.
“I don’t even know who you are, Chastain!”
“Chastain?” Chastity laughed. “You know that’s not my name, Nigel!”
“No I don’t. Now silence! I’ll be back once I find Tanner. Until then, you two stay put.”
“Nigel!” I banged on the door. “Please don’t leave us in here! I’m claustrophobic.” I’d never been diagnosed or anything, but the walls were definitely closing in on me.
“I’m sorry there’s no bath in there to calm you down! But I had to think fast!”
