Paige's Club.

After the customers were gone and Paige's workers had dismissed for the night, she locked the bar entrance door, slid the glass closed, and walked down to the passage leading to the washroom where she stood in front of a large mirror on the wall to gaze at herself as usual.

She was a young, gorgeous, tall, and slim lady in her late twenties. Obsessed with her dazzling green eyes coated with massive lashes, thick arched brows coupled with a pointed nose, and thin red lips, she smiled in satisfaction at how stunning she looked. She unclipped her hair and it cascaded alluringly to her waist.

She heaved a sigh of distress as she viewed the thin lines that rested between her brows. Today was damned hectic and had been a very long day for her.

Still gazing at her reflection in the mirror, the thought of taking a shower crossed her mind but as the weather was cold, she immediately crossed the thought out of her mind. In her light

short sleeveless gown, cold struck her hard as the breeze blew from one of the open windows causing goosebumps on her skin and she shuddered.

She quickly grabbed the parcel of cigarettes that lay close to the faucet in front of her, pulled a stick, thudded the parcel, and grabbed the lighter. Blowing open the window, the cold wind blasted in like a dancing samba and knocked out the flame she wanted to use to lighten the cigarette.

F*ck!

The more attempts she made to lighten the cigarette, the wilder the wind blew into the passage. Feeling paranoid and craving to smoke, she tossed back the cigarette and lighter on the faucet.

Damn!

She felt her whole organs longing to smoke. Gosh! She needed the damn thing! She glared at the cigarette.

Sighing, she gave up and was about to retire to bed when she heard a strange sound coming from behind her. Her eyes flickered as she turned back, in search of whatever it was she heard.

But as she was listening, she was only hearing rustlings, whistles of the wind, and the swinging window.

Once the drizzling and whistling wind had ceased, the place became as quiet as a graveyard. She considered this dusk; downbeat and weird, and for reasons she couldn't articulate she had a pretty negative vibe about tonight. She had the feeling she wasn't alone. The place was thick and unusual.

But who could it be?

All her workers were gone and there was no one else in the club so the chances of having someone else here with her were very low.

Not that she didn't have a home, but as a single lady who didn't owe anyone her attention, she often spent some nights at the club.

However, she'd never felt so nervous until now. Maybe she had drunk so much liquor and needed to rest. Maybe she was intoxicated, she thought.

The sound of footsteps intruded on her thoughts again then she veered around instantly. She was damned sure of hearing that footstep. Her heartbeat accelerated and was romping violently in her chest. Then she lifted her gaze to the wobbling curtain.

The wind was blasting colder and stronger and the continual twirling of the transparent curtain ignited more fear in her while the window swung back and forth with a long creak.

Due to this chaos, she couldn't hear the footsteps anymore even though she was trying her hardest to pay attention.

Since she didn't hear the footsteps anymore, she assumed that it was just imagination or the fact that she was having a bad night as she was stressed.

Soon she heard something crashing against the wall like a tumbler or glass. She fidgeted and leaped to her feet upon hearing the sound. The dread in her eyes was very visible and her voice quivered as she spoke. "Who is it?"

In response, what she heard was the showers and thunderstorms from outside. It was now raining.

Although startled, she laid an expectant gaze on the curtain as she grasped a small gun from the top of her bedside table.

Her hands were trembling as she slowly raised the gun and pointed it at the curtain. She swallowed very hard, summoning great courage as she took a step forward.

Her heart slammed against her chest gingerly and she wasn't sure her feet could carry her body for long as she felt it weaken from beneath her.

Arriving a few steps away from the curtain, she stopped, contemplating if to proceed when she suddenly heard another glass crashing and hasty footsteps approaching.

At this point, her heart felt like it was going to swoop out of her mouth. She could hear her heartbeat thumping right inside her eardrums.

Overwhelmed by fear, Paige fidgeted so much that the gun flew out of her hand upon hearing a thunderbolt.

Once she had recovered from the shock, the first thing she felt was a very terrible headache in her left forehead.

"Who the hell are you?" She let out a shout in terror. "Show your freaking self, you asshole!"

Still, nobody responded and as she lifted her head, she saw a figure behind the cream-looking curtain but when the wind twirled the curtain she saw that there was no one.

Due to the pain at the left corner of her forehead, Paige was having difficulties standing as she bent, crawling to where her gun lay.

As she approached the spot where it was, she was about to grab it when she caught a glimpse of a figure running past the room where she was.

Was it real? She wasn't the only one in here!

The curiosity restored her energy somehow and she was now having a mixed feeling of fear and energy. She clasped the gun so hard that her wrist began to hurt.

Stepping out of her room into the corridor, she trembled and her breathing became unsteady as she kept pointing the gun into the air.

Suddenly, she heard many more tumblers crashing against the floor behind her. "Who are you?" Whirling, she said breathlessly.

She had always loved the glittering red illumination in her bar but she felt the red light wasn't helping at the moment because it was blocking her sight and preventing her from seeing whoever it was who was trespassing in her club.

However, before she could make any other move, a strong hand grasped her right shoulder such that it hurt bitterly and unfortunately before she could pull the trigger, the gun was violently pulled from her trembling hands.

****

It has been a few months since Paige's death. Still, Clayton Milton has not been himself because, in every of his quiet time, the memory of Paige's corpse always flickered in his mind. Each time this happens, his heartbeat accelerates to a violent bang against his chest.

The champagne sparkled and frothed as he was filling the wine glass in his left hand. Then he listened to the relaxing fizz and pops produced by the eruption of bubbles. He was sitting on a fluffy sofa in his wide, well-furnished, and luxurious living room waiting for his sister, Lucinda, to arrive so that he could take her to Paige's club and show her around.

Since Paige died, her club has been shut down for six months. Within this period, Clayton had discussed with Lucinda, telling her to manage the club which she agreed on. Well, there was something she didn't know.

He picked up the wine glass from the small stool beside the sofa and sipped the drink.

"Hey, Clay!" Lucinda's gentle voice vibrated his eardrums.

Lucinda was his younger sister, but each time he saw her he was fascinated by her beauty. She was standing behind him, looking hot in her short, sleeveless body hug gown. Her scanty brown hair swung forward as she looked down at him with her blue eyes. Her red lips pulled in a smile.

"Hey, Lucinda," He smiled. "Coming here took you forever."

She took the drink off his hand and said, "Busy with kids, you know. You should be glad that I've finally made it here." Then she sipped it.

***

Clayton slowed down the pace of his car as they arrived at Paige's club. He heaved a sigh and looked at Lucinda who seemed comfortable with the environment. Driving slowly, he parked right in front of the club.

It was a very cloudless day. Various vehicles honked and rumbled as they drove to and fro on the sterile two-lane road. Some streetlights were mounted in a single file on the long pavement that divided the road in the middle.

"Do you like the place?" Clay asked while leaning against his car.

Smiling and darting her eyes, she said, "I love this place!" She imagined how the place would look at night when the streetlights illuminate the road.

Lifting her blue gaze, she read the graphic design inscription above the entrance of the building– Paige's Club.

"You're gonna change that name, I guess," Clayton said but didn't know if she answered or not because he was already lost in his thoughts. When Lucinda read that name earlier, his heart had begun to slam against his chest, and fear gripped him terribly, such that he didn't dare to look at those inscriptions for a second time. Something was terrifying about that name.

"Clay!" Her sharp voice intruded on his thoughts. Initially, the voice sounded like Paige's. He blinked as his consciousness propelled in his head. Fighting inwardly to wave those imaginations off his mind, he stepped forward and swatted a few numbers then the door parted open at once.

The club was glamorous and glassy. Lucinda admired the settings of the chairs and the shelf concocted with assorted expensive drinks. The shelf was enclosed by transparent glistening glass. She turned and saw a large TV that was mounted on the wall and the home theaters that surrounded it. All were SONY products.

Wow!

She saw another shelf where tumblers, wine glasses, rock glasses, and mugs were kept. She just loved everything about the bar.

Walking a few distances away into an open space where a Snooker was, she looked forward and saw a stage. Beholding a huge glimmering ball slowly swiveling over her head, she could tell this was the dance floor.

Standing a few distances away and crossing his arms, Clayton smiled while watching the way Lucinda idolized everything.

"Any other place to show?" She beamed.

"Of course," He replied and felt the pressure of his rapid heartbeat. "Will you be spending some nights here too?"

"Did she usually sleep here?" Lucinda raised a brow.

"Often." He replied.

Once they got to the passage that led to the washroom, curiosity struck Clayton and fear engulfed him so hard that he instantly began to feel a whirling sensation in his head. But Lucinda didn't notice as she was busy admiring the place.

Pointing at a door behind, she asked, "What's that place?"

"The washroom." He replied.

The day Clayton discussed the club with her, he'd told her that Paige traveled for an important program that she was carrying out in North Carolina, so he wasn't sure about her return. "How could she have left such a warm and beautiful place?" She turned to the large mirror on the wall.

"She might come back," He said. "Or maybe not. So, are you gonna change the name of the club?"

"That's not necessary then," Lucinda replied. "As you have said, she might come back...or maybe not." She didn't know Paige, but she liked her already. How magnificent this place is! During her conversation with Clayton, he'd told her that Paige was generous and could give her the club permanently. God! That would be thrilling!

Breathing unsteadily, Clayton placed his trembling hands on the washroom door knob. He was feeling a strange pressure soaring inside of him and his head was void. This is where they found Paige's bloody corpse six months ago...and now he was about to push the door open!! He thought dreadfully.

Gosh! What if her body was still lying there...waiting for him?

Taking a deep breath he pushed the door open, and his blue eyes widened; he was expecting something dreadful. He thought he would see Paige standing right in front of him. He latched his eyes instantly but when he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the shiny bathtop...not Paige. Oh, thank god!!

"See how the washroom..." He gasped in shock when he turned and saw blood sliding down Lucinda's cheeks like tears, then his lips dropped. Wait. What's going on? For a while, he went dumb. "W...what happened to you, Lucinda?" With curiosity gleaming in his wide blue eyes, confusion coated his voice when he asked.

Staring directly into his bewildered eyes, Lucinda said, "I'm fine. Just follow me to the mirror."

Her voice seemed to echo in his ears, and she looked weird this time. But he followed her as she was walking ahead of him slowly. Feeling he was compelled to move, he was in total perplexity. It took a few minutes before he lowered his gaze, and then he noticed that her legs were not touching the floor.

Christ!

Her legs were floating in the air and he could hardly see her feet.

***

"Look in the mirror", Lucinda said behind him.

Why?

He had not recovered from the shock of seeing her legs floating in the air and the way her voice was echoing in his ears propelled more bafflement in him. Then he tightened his lips and raised his head slowly. Casting a puzzled look at the mirror, he saw a figure behind him and blinked in doubt about what he'd just seen.

Was it not Lucinda who was standing behind him a few seconds ago?

The figure was black, faint, and transparent such that he saw through it. Facing downwards, its thick, black, and lengthy hair covered its face. He watched in terror as the figure began to raise its head slowly. To be sure he wasn't dreaming, he turned to confirm what he was seeing but found nothing.

Suddenly a ghastly face erupted in the mirror; its eye sockets were empty and blood was gushing out profusely while gnashing its teeth. At this point, Clayton didn't know whether he should scream or not because the pressure on him was extreme. Cold sweat began to slide down his back while his heart slapped violently against his chest, aching. To his greatest shock, a bloody hand broke out of the mirror, choking him at once, and pulled him brutally until his head banged against the mirror and blood sprouted out of his forehead instantly. Meanwhile, he was screaming and struggling all along.

Clay!

" Clay!" Lucinda's voice echoed in his head, intruding on his imagination.

Terror sparkled in his eyes when it opened and he realized in amazement that he was sitting on the floor which contradicted his experience. Then he cast a confused speculating gaze upon her. "Lucinda?!"

"What's wrong, huh? My phone rang, and then I realized I left it at the bar so I went to pick it up." Lucinda said, standing and gazing down at him.

Nah, she was telling a lie! A damned lie! What he'd seen was bløody real. He rubbed his forehead with his fingers and looked back at them but there was no blood stain as he expected. Wait. Were all those scenarios only an imagination?! He then raised an intense speculating gaze at Lucinda again and said, "I...I thought you were bleeding..."

"Bleeding?"

"Yes," He asserted. "You asked me to look in the mirror..."

"Mirror?" She asked with a puzzled look. "I never said that." She paused briefly and said, "I don't understand, Clayton. Why are you suddenly looking so weird?"

This made his gaze upon her more fierce, and curious. "Your legs were floating in the air...and you were bleeding in your eyes."

Though his gaze sparkled with some strong expressions, she couldn't comprehend their impressions because when they were kids, Clay usually tricked her on several occasions and was fond of frightening her. "You must be kidding, Clay."

Glowing with disbelief, his eyes trailed from her head down to her toes. Her feet were not floating this time...and-Jeez! He didn't know what to think.

***°°°**

Lunasha, Lucinda's first daughter, was lying on a couch in the living room and munching rice crispy when she heard a bang on the door. She paused the movie she was watching, walked to the door with the packet of rice crispy in her hand, and opened it. "Mom!"

"Hey, darling." Lucinda tilted and pecked Lunasha's cheek and got inside. "Where's Elise?"

Mouthful of rice crispy she said, "She's been sleeping over an hour now."

Lucinda thudded on the sofa and exhaled. "Is your dad..."

"Where the fuck have you been?" Ryan's irate voice interrupted her.

Lucinda was startled by hearing his voice so suddenly. She glanced at him; he was in raven shorts and a ruddy cardigan and was standing a few distances away by the stairs with both hands in his pockets. The way his hair spread around his face and his grimace notified he was still mad at her.

Before she left for Clay's home they had a momentous argument and she had gotten her husband angry so she didn't inform him before leaving. "I'm sorry, Ryan..."

"Sorry be damned!" Ryan snapped.

He jeered at her until she couldn't condone it anymore and another series of arguments began. Lunasha watched them while blocking her ears with her fingers. Sometimes her parents lived like enemies and she hated it when dad lost his temper with mom. She thought innocently.

She was still watching her parents when a shadow emerged on the wall. She wondered if it were Elise...but Elise was only a five-year-old and wasn't this tremendous. And she could see that the figure had massive, long hair and was wearing a short gown-she guessed. She then turned slowly to the stairs where it appeared the figure was standing.

Each step Lunasha took was as though the figure was adjusting backward such that she couldn't get close to it. "Elise?" She called cautiously. As she got to the flat floor before climbing the next stairs, she couldn't find anyone. In a second, she heard a door creaking, then she climbed the stairs quietly.

It was a three-story building and here on the second floor had several doors. When she stepped there, she was expecting to see a door open, but all the doors were shut. So, which door creaked? They were the only people in the house and Elise was the only one up here. "Elise?" She called again.

Standing outside Elise's room, she grasped the knob and opened the door. "Elise?" Elise's bed wasn't dressed and she wasn't lying on it either. Lunasha got in and looked around. "Elise?"

The door creaked softly as she pulled the knob, then she shut it mildly. Elise was a crazy fragile kid sister and could do wonders, but where have her wonders taken her this time? Lunasha began to open each door, calling on her sister but there was no response.

When she opened the study room, she ran into Elise who was holding up a knife. Initially, Lunasha didn't see her. "Christ! Elise, you scare me!" Fixing her curious blue gaze at the glittering knife Elise was lifting, she exhaled and said, "And why the hell are you with that?"

Her eyes darting bewilderedly, Elise's tender voice quivered as she said, "I was hearing footsteps."

"Footsteps?" Lunasha echoed her sister and hesitated. "That was me."

"No," Elise quibbled. "It wasn't you. I saw it on the wall...it wanted to take me."

"What wanted to take you?" Lunasha raised her brown scanty thin brow.

"It's gigantic and gloomy...and" Elise began to sob.

Looking down at her little sister, Lunasha could see the fear glistening in her bulky brown eyes while tears welled up, then she pulled the knife off her hands gently and drew her closer. "Nothing's gonna take you, okay?! You've got Mom and Dad... and you've got me."

As the girls got out of the study room, the door banged itself and they fidgeted. Cuddling each other, they turned, gasping in fear as they saw that same shadow behind them...close to them, stretching its huge terrifying hands toward them, and covering them with its gloomy shade.

***°°*