Carnival Nights: Carnival #2 Read Online Free Page A

the situation, I’m not loosening my grip either. You have to scan the area, see the people. You have to feel like you know those you’re surrounded by before you can trust.
    There’s a humongous bar all the way to the left along the length of the wall. It looks as if it was put together in a rush, like a carnival ride. It’s made out of former shelving units, and nothing separates the bartender except for easily-passed bars of metal.
    It’s too loud to hear anyone speak, so I continue to take in the surroundings. Shane stops in the center of the floor, stuck at an impasse of a thick gathering. Beside us, four young men stand in a circle. Like some kind of lets-do-it-together pact, they all slip pills of ecstasy into their mouths at the same time. At least they’re drugging themselves and not some unwilling participant.
    If the police come, and they always seem to show up, it’s going to get ugly in here.
    Finally, we make our way to a less crowded area of the warehouse and slip around a corner to a row of still-standing floor-to-ceiling shelves. It’s like the spookiest library you’ve ever seen. But instead of books, they’re filled with decades old goods. The thick layer of dust is enough to send your allergies into overdrive.
    The five of us make our way further into the dark columns until we’re finally able to hear each other. A man in his boxers and a woman in nothing but panties run past us, laughing.
    “We need to make a plan,” I say, addressing all four of them.
    Shane balks at that idea and steps a foot so that he’s in the center of us all. “How about we just party? Go with the flow?”
    Ignoring him, I continue, “We don’t know anyone here, so if you get separated from the group, just walk back to the corner.” I point behind me to the corner where we slipped into the row of shelves. “If you get lost, we’ll find you there.”
    “You need to relax,” Shane says. “Let loose, drink some juice and take some drugs.” He places a hand on my shoulder, a gesture that tends to be reserved for friends only. “You think too much.”
    “I think most people would say I don’t think enough.”
    “They’re wrong.” He winks.
    And just like that, I’m starting to like this guy. Minus the whole emotional warfare thing Gina told us about. But if she’s not concerned—and she doesn’t look it—then I’m not either. “Fine.” I throw my hands in the air. “Let’s party.”
    Cookie hollers in agreement and we head toward the crowds and toward the blinding neon lights.

CHAPTER FOUR
    BLUE
    I n a perfect line, our five shot glasses slam against the industrialized metal bar. At the bottom of every glass are remnants of the mysterious green concoction we just threw back. Tasted like ecstasy perfected. Charlie shakes off the burning in her throat and turns to me with fire in her eyes. A fire I haven’t seen in what feels like forever. Here at the bar, we are free to speak, albeit in a yelling manner over the pounding techno tracks.
    “I miss this.” She turns and rests an elbow on the slick bar.
    “Drinking?”
    “Freedom.”
    “Yeah, we’ll have to do it more often.”
    “I’ll let you know how I feel about that in the morning.”
    “Don’t remind me,” I say, already dreading work tomorrow. I dread it every day, even when I’m not hung over. So tomorrow is basically going to make me its bitch. “Do you want anything?”
    The way she smiles is contagious. My own smile widens as I wait for a response. “I could use another drink,” she says.
    I purse my lips. “That’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
    Her eyes lock with mine. She doesn’t even need to say anything for me to know she’s in absolute agreement.
    “I left everything at the motel, so I’ll have to find something here.”
    “Great.” She groans and swipes a finger at her nose. “I’m not sure I’m in the mood to get roofied by some stranger.”
    “You don’t need to worry about that.” I reach forward