♥ Chapter 2 ♥

Axel Norvelli.

21:30 '' Nightclub. '' Valdoria.

After a few hours of getting everything ready, I finally hear the sound of the doors opening. The nightclub begins to come alive, and the amount of people entering is always a spectacle in itself. Every time it happens, I'm surprised by the volume of customers who show up. The music starts to play louder and louder, pounding with an intensity that reverberates through my bones. The smell of cannabis wafts through the air, mixed with the strong perfume and the scent of alcohol that permeates the room.

I see groups of people arriving, some with loud laughter and others with discreet glances, but all with the same expectation of a lively evening. They start heading towards the bar, and my routine changes abruptly. The movement begins to intensify, and soon I'm immersed in orders and conversations.

''One martini, please!'' shouts a customer, a man dressed in a suit, with a confident smile.

''Two tequila shots!'' A young woman exclaims, jumping up and down a little, clearly excited about the night ahead.

The pace of the work accelerates, and I struggle to keep up. Every minute, more people approach the counter, and the orders become more varied and frequent.

'' Here's a Bloody Mary! '' says a man with a frown, tapping the table impatiently.

'' Hurry up with that beer! '' Complaints to a group of friends, who seem to be getting more and more upset. ''We've been waiting for ages!

An out-of-focus customer shouts over the music, trying to be heard.

''A gin and tonic, now! '' He lets out a hysterical laugh and grabs the counter, rocking back and forth.

'' Faster! '' Shouts a woman in a bright dress, bumping into another customer as she tries to lean over the bar. ''I've got a bet to win!

'' This is taking too long! '' Protests a man with an angry expression. '' I want my drink now!

I concentrate on preparing the drinks, trying to stay calm despite the growing excitement. The pressure is mounting with every order that comes in, and I need to make sure that every drink is perfect. The customers seem to be in a state of euphoria, and this increases the speed at which I have to work.

As I mix the ingredients and serve the drinks, I can't help but notice the organized chaos around me. The music is deafening, and the flashing lights create a vibrant, yet disorienting atmosphere. Every order is a race against time, and I strive to serve everyone with efficiency and a discreet smile.

''One more for me,'' asks a man with a dragon tattoo on his arm, pointing to the empty glass in his hand. ''And quickly, before I lose patience.

I nod and prepare the drink with precision. The constant flow of customers keeps me busy, and the chatter and laughter become an almost constant background noise. Trying to keep control of the situation is like being in the middle of a sandstorm, where the only thing I can do is keep working and not get disoriented.

The atmosphere in the nightclub is filled with an energy that, on the one hand, is exciting, but also leaves me feeling like I'm sailing on a turbulent sea. Every customer that comes in, and every order that is placed, is a reminder that I'm in the middle of something much bigger than myself. However, I remain focused on my work.

I finished preparing the last orders and rested my hands on the counter, trying to catch my breath. The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, and I took advantage of that brief moment of calm to look around the nightclub. The atmosphere was boiling, and the sound of the music was almost deafening. My eyes wandered around the crowd, observing the dancing of the lights and the swaying of the people.

That's when I saw her. She was on the other side of the club, in the VIP area. The first thing I noticed was the contrast between her presence and the surrounding bustle. She was wearing a long coat, the coat seemed to wrap around her body in an imposing way, and the combination with the tight blouse and black pants shaped her silhouette in a sophisticated way. Her hair was long, straight, and black as night, falling in loose waves over her shoulders. Her expression was serious and cold, a look that seemed to freeze the surrounding air. The light from the nightclub created shadows and reflected in such a way as to hide the exact color of her eyes, but I could feel the weight of her gaze even without seeing them clearly. She was undoubtedly a beautiful woman, with a presence that made her stand out as if she were a model out of place, but perfectly at ease in the middle of that hectic setting.

I sighed and looked away, thinking that a woman like that would never know I existed. After all, who am I compared to someone so impressive? I turned my attention back to the bar, trying not to lose myself in thoughts about her strange beauty.

Some time later, a coworker approached me.

''Hey, Axel, you look exhausted. Go take a breather, you deserve a rest.

I nodded, grateful for the chance of a brief respite. I decided to go into the alley, where I could get some fresh air. The noise of the nightclub became distant as I walked away, and I took a moment to breathe deeply.

Then something made me stop short. On the other side of the alley, that woman I had seen earlier was standing there. With one hand in her pocket and the other holding a gun, she stood in an imperturbable posture. The shock paralyzed me. My heart raced as I saw what was happening. She was shooting a man who was lying on the ground, and the scene was brutal and without any remorse.

The fright was so great that I could only take a step back, but then two men appeared, held me tightly, and threw me to my knees in front of her. My body was shaking, and my fear was palpable. I looked up, finding her silhouette in the dim light of the alley. The glare of the lights didn't allow me to see the exact color of her eyes, but her intense, cold gaze seemed to pierce my soul.

'' Well, what have we here? A curious little mouse? Her voice cut through the air, cold, and sharp.

Fear almost left me speechless. I couldn't answer, I just stood there, trembling, as she approached. The sound of the gun clicking as she pointed it directly at my face made my stomach turn. She pushed aside the strands of my hair, revealing my face completely to her. The sinister look in her eyes made me swallow dryly, my heart pounding uncontrollably in my chest.

''Please don't kill me,'' I begged, my voice almost breaking. ''I won't tell anyone, I promise. I won't say anything to anyone.

She continued to watch me in silence, her expression unchanged. Fear made me lower my gaze, but then I felt a cold pressure on my chin. She lifted it with a firm gesture, forcing me to face her again. Her eyes, a deep blue, penetrated mine, sending a chill down my spine.

''Interesting.'' Her voice sounded even colder, almost icy. ''Can I really trust your words?

Anxiety made me agree quickly, trying to convey as much sincerity as possible.

''Yes, yes, you can. I won't open my mouth to anyone.

She watched me with a small smile on her face—a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Finally, she spoke, her voice cold and merciless.

'' Very well. Go back to the bar and continue serving drinks to the customers. But if you open your pretty little mouth, I'll come after you.

Those words were like a blow to my chest. I agreed quickly, almost without thinking, and stood up, my legs wobbly and my heart almost bursting out of my mouth. With one last glance at her, who still remained unperturbed, I ran back into the nightclub. The fresh air of the alley now seemed far away, and the deafening sound of the music enveloped me again, but in a very different way.

I returned to the bar with the feeling of being watched, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Shock and fear mixed with a sense of relief at still being alive, and I knew that from that moment on, my life would never be the same.