My heart was pounding in my chest so hard I worried other people would be able to hear it as I approached the entrance of Club Desire. It looked a bit odd in the afternoon sun, like when the moon is visible in the daytime. I took a deep breath to steady myself. This was a momentous occasion. My first solo show from booking to performance and I wanted every moment to be right.
There was a woman wearing a perfectly tailored suit standing in front of the massive door. She was holding a tablet and had a smile plastered on her face. As I approached, the grin widened. “Name?” she asked. “N-Naya,” I stammered, cursing the nervous squeak in my voice.
She slid her hand over the tablet screen and nodded. “Welcome to Desire, Naya. My name is Alma. I’m the event coordinator. Let me show you inside.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
She opened the door and ushered me inside. The cavernous space was brightly lit, showing just how massive the Halloween Party was going to be. I looked around with interest at the crews of workers adding a spooky twist to the sumptuous decor.
We passed a tall man addressing a group of people. There was something about his commanding presence that snared my attention. Alma noticed my interest. She said, “That’s Gabriel. He’s leading the security team today.”
“Is there that much of a need for increased security?”
Alma shook her head. “We’re not expecting anything to happen, if that’s what you mean. But the party is a big, well-publicized event. And of course Halloween brings out the ghouls sometimes.” She laughed.
I joined her, pushing out a sound I hoped sounded amused, but goosebumps burst out on the bare skin of my forearms and it wasn’t from the air conditioning.
Alma led me to a dressing room with my name written on a whiteboard on the door. She showed me how to use the key code to unlock it. “If you need anything, staff will be around all afternoon and evening. Just ask.”
I glanced around the small space – vanity, clothing rack, mini fridge. Everything I’d need.
“Any questions before I leave you to get settled?” Alma asked.
I shook my head, words failing me. Alma smiled. “Your band’s here already, unloading equipment. Join them onstage when you’re ready.” She checked her tablet. “And remember, the rehearsal schedule is tight, so all the acts get a turn. We may have some extra time tomorrow if anyone needs it, but don’t count on that.”
“Got it. And thank you,” I said earnestly. Alma left, and I tried to calm my jittering nerves in the silence.
The moment Alma closed the door behind her, I exhaled a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The familiar lingering traces of hairspray, perfume and sweat hung in the air, making the room feel like home.
“Come on, Naya, you’ve got this,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves. My fingers fumbled as I unpacked my makeup kit, setting each item carefully on the vanity table. Gazing into the mirror, I touched up my eyeliner and lipstick, dark and bold against my smooth brown skin. With each stroke, I felt stronger, more sure of myself. War paint for what I hoped wouldn’t be a battle.
I moved to the clothing rack, my hands shaking only slightly as I hung up my angel costume. The wings I had crafted from wire, iridescent lace, and glitter shimmered softly under the lights, and I couldn’t help but smile at my handiwork. This outfit embodied my desire for empowerment and freedom, a testament to the new chapter I was determined to create for myself.
Taking a deep breath, I picked up the printout of my revised set list and the folder of sheet music, steeling myself before stepping back out into the main club.
I headed toward the stage area. A group of three people stood chatting – two men and a woman. The woman spotted me first and waved me over. She was tiny and bubbly, practically bouncing while standing still.
“Naya, right?” Her smile was bright and friendly. “I’m Cookie, and this is Alex and Larry. We’re your band for the show.”
“Nice to meet you all.” I hoped my voice sounded steadier than I felt.
Alex was tall and thin, the picture of a rocker, all long legs and stringy black hair. Larry was his opposite. Massive with a shaved head, but a kind smile.
“We listened to some of your recordings earlier. We love your sound,” Cookie said.
I grinned. “Thanks. And I appreciate you guys jumping in last minute. I’m kind of flying solo now, just trying to get things going, you know?”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re used to quick turnarounds,” Cookie reassured.
Alex and Larry murmured agreement. I felt myself relaxing a bit in their easygoing presence.
“Shall we head up and get started?” I motioned toward the looming stage. Shadows danced across it as the overhead lights flickered erratically.
Cookie followed my gaze. “I guess the lights think we’re taking too long,” she joked.
I laughed, pushing away a strange unease. We climbed onto the stage and I handed out copies of the set list, pointing out a few changes I had made recently.
“By the way, I added a new slow, sexy song for the end of our set,” I explained, passing them the sheet music. “It’s a bit different from what I usually do, but I think it’ll be a great way to close the show.”
Cookie said she’d left her keyboard in the dressing room and sent Larry to grab it. While we waited, I closed my eyes, centering myself. The familiar pre-show nerves tingled through me, sharpening my senses. This was the only place I never doubted myself. On stage, under the lights, I became someone else, someone fearless.
I was about to start vocal warm-ups when Larry returned, confused. “It’s not in there,” he said with a shrug. Cookie and I exchanged puzzled looks.
“That’s weird. I know I wheeled it in earlier,” she said.
“And I definitely saw it in there a moment ago when I hung up my costume,” I added.
“Oh shit, costumes,” Alex added. “We gotta get on that for tomorrow.”
Cookie giggled. “The rest of us do. You might as well be a vampire already.”
“I’m glad someone stole your keyboard,” Alex replied. “Shame they didn’t take your mouth, too.”
We all laughed, even Larry, who’d been quiet and stoic behind the drum-set so far.
It was nice to shake off the stress for a minute, but I was anxious to make the most of our limited rehearsal time. I wanted at least a rough run through of every song.
“We’ll make do without it for now,” I said decisively. “Let’s just dive in.”
We launched into the upbeat opening number, my apprehension disappearing as the music took over. Alex’s guitar riffs were tight, Larry provided a steady backbeat, and Cookie improvised fills on her bass. I closed my eyes, swaying, finding the groove. This was it. This was everything.
We were halfway through the second song when an earsplitting shriek suddenly burst from the sound system, drowning us out. We froze, stunned, as hushed whispers followed, echoing eerily through the club.
My skin prickled with goosebumps. What the hell was that?
Cookie shook her head. “Some kind of weird technical glitch?”
“Sounded like a banshee or some shit like that,” Alex replied.
I glanced around nervously. All the workers and other musicians were also looking around in shared confusion. No one seemed as freaked out as I felt, though.