‘What kind of clothes?’ I grit my teeth.
‘I’ve already done too much. You’ve got to be able to do something yourself, Maddy.’
And he’s right, I suppose– for a moment I forgot that he too has stakes in this game that we’re playing. If the roles were reversed, I probably would have let him flounder for the six months and easily claimed that job for myself. But for some reason– perhaps pity or utter boredom– he’s decided to throw me a somewhat terrifying bone. So, I whip out my phone, take a picture of the paper and send one vaguely threatening text to the FGA.
Saturday. 9.30. If I’m going, so are you.
Nudge 16
The Sex Club That Isn’t a Sex Club
Aiden sabotaged me. I can already tell, as I stand in this alleyway of urine and crushed dreams. And in front of my girls, no less, as some sort of sick, twisted joke.
‘I think we’re here.’ Raina stops us in our tracks as we crowd around the desolate-looking door.
It’s tall and ominous, perhaps once dark green in colour, but now a chipped mess of peeling paint and scribbled graffiti. There’s no one in sight and nothing to hear, just silence and a unified air of regret.
‘And you’re sure that—’
‘I already asked. He promised it is not a drug thing or a sex club,’ I say.
‘Do we trust him?’ Kimi asks. ‘Because this really looks like a sex club.’
‘Jury’s out right now. And how do you know what a sex club. . . ? You know what, never mind.’
‘We really need to rethink this whole herd-mentality thing,’ Devi mutters.
Our gazes stay fixed ahead, taking in the dubious door. Where have I taken them? Or better yet, where has Aiden made me take them?
Raina speaks first. ‘There’s a ringer.’
‘I’m not touching that,’ Kimi immediately replies.
I’m not close enough to state it with an absolute certainty, but I can just tell in my gut that the buttons are going to be sticky.
‘I have hand sanitiser!’ Raina says.
Devi shudders. ‘Not enough.’
‘You’re up, Mads,’ Kimi says, hand on my back as she lightly guides me to the front of our huddle.
I get it, I do– my suggested plan, my fingers on the sticky icky call bell. But that doesn’t make me any more willing to do it– maybe we’re all better off turning around and going home.
‘We’ve come this far.’ Raina is clearly reading my mind. ‘There’s nothing stopping us from at leastseeingwhat’s behind the door.’
‘So, press the bell then,’ Devi says, doubt still peppering her voice.
I can feel all three sets of eyes on me as I inch forward, the soles of my trainers gracing the dubiously speckled step by the door. My friends catch their breath in unison as my hand lurches forward, mere inches away from the button ahead.
‘Girls?’ I pause, looking back at them.
They’re huddled tighter than before, gripping on to each other as they cower two metres from where I stand.
‘We believe in you! I’m sure it’s not dangerous!’ Raina says.
Devi nods. ‘We’re just gonna wait back here till we know you’re OK. . .’
I can’t even be mad at them. I’d be doing the exact same if I weren’t the one responsible for bringing us to this godforsaken place. I turn back to the door, holding my own breath as I reach for the bell a second time, this time actually pressing. The quick buzz fills the air, short and sharp, before a muffled speaker crackles to life.
