Finally a break.

Two months of running around this dirty city, trying to find a renegade Lycan. I’m craving some serious time off. And finally it’s coming tonight.

My go-to place is a nightclub, The Capricorn. A sleek spot filled with deep bass and pretty girls. Their drinks are good. Pricey, but good. And generally my favourite seat is free. A dim corner, facing the dance floor. From there I can watch the Plainfolks abandon themselves to the low pulse of the electro music. It’s such a mood. Their bodies coming together, the rays of light illuminating their faces briefly as they move in a trance. It’s almost hypnotic and it puts me at peace.

Riding my bike to the place, my mind is already there. The rain is slamming against my helmet, the city lights are getting distorted through the drops, and some already drunk drivers are getting in my path. But I don’t care. Tonight, it’s going to be me-time. No one and nothing is getting in the way.

Not even the long line of rich kids waiting to enter.

They talk about stratagem on how to get, I quote: “pussy”. A very elaborate plan involving several players. When really, you just need eye contact and a smooth one-liner. The moment she reacts and laughs, you know you’re not going to end up in a cold bed.

Simple.

Efficient.

Like all my hunts.

On my last hunt, for example, I was the only Neutralizer. And as always, it was one of the cleanest solo job the Equilibrium Network ever had. But enough work talk, it’s time for me to sit back and relax.

The transition between the outside world and The Capricorn is like entering a vortex. Sounds from the busy streets fade out elegantly while muffled and deep vibrations invade your inside. I can’t stop the light smile on my face, I missed this so much.

The group of young men with an elaborate “pussy-hunting” program are leaving their expensive jackets to the coat check. A freckled arm receives them. Since when does Chris have freckles? It’s usually more of a layer of fur. Pretty hairy for a Plainfolk but definitely not a Lycan. I made sure to check that. Two bright and vivid green eyes are on me as soon as I stroll and stop in front of the small counter. I can’t help it, but notice her striking red hair. She seems startled by something but quickly puts on a very cute smile and her eyes slide to the black helmet tucked under my arm.

“Good evening! May I take your helmet miss?”

Such a pleasant voice. I give her my best smile, cool and confident as I drop my helmet on the counter.

“Good evening. You must be the new coat check here because it looks like the charm just got an upgrade.”

She blinked several times, more confused than anything else. Then a cute little snicker.

“New face, yes! Ahm…Chris quit one month ago. And hu…here I am! Here is your number, miss.”

“You can call me Hana, we’ll probably see each other often. And what’s your name?” I ask, pocketing my number.

“Casey.” She replies hesitantly, almost with a question at the end of it.

“Well Casey, it’s a real pleasure meeting you. Pretty sure my helmet is in good company.”

She lets go a suppressed snort, and looks at the clients behind me. My cue to leave. I wink at her, my final deadly move, and walk away.

“Enjoy your night, miss!”

I look back at the ginger for an instant.

“Call me Hana!”

The music welcomes me inside, drowning the frustration of the two past month.

This is going to be a good night.

Commuting to work by bus on a Saturday night is a terrible idea.That moist and stinky bus is full and this guy got literally glued to me. The air is stale with a pungent mix of unwashed clothes and strong cologne. Lucky me, he is as awkward as I am. No groping this time. Thank goodness.

It seems the driver is as desperate as me. The bus is swaying wildly due to his erratic driving. I feel so dizzy. I really hope I don’t empty my stomach on Mr Reeky here. In fact, better on him than on me. This new uniform the boss offered me needs to stay pristine for tonight. Plus, it looks very expensive. My whole pajama collection is probably a fifth of its price.

Oh no! That’s my stop! People are grunting and throwing annoyed looks at me as I push my way out of the bus. Even the quick “sorry” and apologetic smiles I throw don’t seem to take any effect on them.

I quickly run through the rain to the back entrance of the Capricorn. The metallic door is freaking heavy and the rain decides to pour stronger on me. I get desperate and whine as I push it.

“Open yourself ! You stupid door! I’m getting wet here!”

The door abruptly opens and I stumble forward. My ridiculously tiny scream gets suddenly interrupted when my whole face bumps and buries itself in an awfully. soft. surface.

“My, my, Casey! Good evening to you too, dear.”

Seraphine’s voice. Seraphine. My boss. My head on her-

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! The door opened so fast and I didn’t have the time to realize and my weight sent me to-“

One of her hand lands gently on my shoulder and I freeze. Her warm expression sends waves of calm through my panicked system. I realize I was not even breathing through my pathetic explanation.

“Breathe Casey. No one got hurt.” She smiles, so softly.

“I’m sorry, boss…” I sound like a scolded puppy.

“ Seraphine, or Sera. I already told you. Come on, we have a nightclub to run.”

The boss..no, Sera is such a nice manager. Her club is one of the fanciest in the city but she makes sure all the staff are well taken care of, no extra time. She always smells so lovely and she wears the most expensive clothes too. I don’t think I’ve seen her wear the same uniform twice in my first month working here. I wish I was like her. Chic, elegant and successful in life. Even my mum doesn’t know what else to do with me. Nineteen and already kicked out of school. The accounting course I’m taking during the day is the only hope she has for me. How sad is that…

The small coat-check booth is waiting for me. The cozy little corner is starting to grow on me. I decorated the back of it with some pictures of my favourite horror movies, and with no customers to attend, I watch movies on my phone. Unfortunately tonight, no cinephile session for me. Saturday nights are brutal. The line outside is already visibly long. I see the eager faces of clubbers all waiting in front of Samuel. The fortified wall keeping me safe from weirdos trying to enter. He turns to me and gives me a thumbs up with a shy smile. That’s the signal. Here they come.

Fancy coats, fluffy jackets, designer bags, they’re all keeping me company tonight. The numbers are flying, I’m already at the number 73 when I hear familiar voices.

I sigh.

The five entitled jerks. Always making me uncomfortable. A gang of insistent show-off with no tact.

“Hey! Isn’t that our favourite ginger bread? How are you doing tonight cutie?“  that’s the first one. That one always takes the lead while the others giggle in the back.

“Good evening sir, may I take your coats for tonight?” Forcing on my best professional smile. One of his lackeys approaches the counter.  He looks at me with -what he thinks is- an inviting smile, but is just creepily unsettling.

“Wanna hang out later, babe?” He slides his overly cologne-scented coat on the counter.

“Thank you sir, here is your number. And hu- I have work to do, as you can see. But have an excellent night!”.

“Damn, she is no fun that one.” They grumble between themselves some more but my attention is not on them anymore.

Jasmine and leather.

My nostrils flare up without my consent at the bold and intoxicating fragrance. I feel my body snapping straight. My eyes urgently trying to identify the source of my unexpected trigger.

I see her.

My heart skips a beat. The scent intensifies.

What is going on? Am I getting sick? I shake off the weird feeling and regain composure.

I greet the new face. I’ve never seen her before, I’d remember her perfume. The smile she welcomes me with is confident. Not douchy-confident, no. More like, I know my worth-confident.

“Good evening. You must be the new coat check here because it looks like the charm just got an upgrade.”

Did she just-

I’ve never had girl hit on me so direct. This is very confusing, but I keep it professional.

Chris, the colleague that was here before got transferred to another club in partnership with the Capricorn. He was the prior coat check. So this girl has been here before if she noticed I’m new.

Her black helmet joins my collection of fancy attires in exchange for a number.

She decides that me calling her miss was not an option. Hana is her name. And of course she asks for mine! Why am I not getting annoyed like with the flock of cocky peacocks from before?!

“Casey?”

Yes, Casey, that is your name, you idiot. Good, my voice didn’t betray my confusion as she keeps on playing with a “real pleasure to meet you” and a “my helmet is in good company”. And here I am, staring at her dark slanted eyes, as black as the stylish leather jacket she wears. Jet black straight hair framing her smirking face. And - Casey what the hell?! The people waiting behind her are the escape my sight needs. But these backstabbing eyeballs go back on her. Traitors. She winks.

Of course she has to wink as she leaves.

My professional goodbye line just deflates itself when she tells me to call her by her name.

Hana.

My eyes are on her until she’s out of sight. I receive the new coats and bags almost mechanically. My body moves on its own as my thoughts are on Hana.

My days and nights have been the same since last month. I’m trapped in a relentless cycle of boredom. Struggling to break free from the grind of my repetitive routine. The accounting course. The weirdos in the bus. My mum reminding me of the failure that I am. At least Seraphine is nice.

 But then, Hana showed up. Introducing a welcome break in my repetitive schedule. For that reason, I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting her again.

Nothing wrong with that, right?