ISLA

Éclipse is the hottest club in the city, a place where power and indulgence intertwine beneath flashing neon lights.

The moment we step inside—through the VIP entrance, of course—my nostrils are assaulted by a mix of smoke, sweat, and something sharp and unpleasant, like cheap cologne mingling with stale alcohol. The bass-heavy music vibrates through the air, a pulsing rhythm that seems to dictate the movement of the crowd below.

From the elevated VIP section, I glance down at the dance floor, where bodies are packed together, moving in chaotic harmony, lost in the beat like they have nowhere else to be. My heels click against the sleek black-tiled floor as we make our way to our reserved area, the dim lighting casting shadows that dance along the plush, moody interior.

Sophia leans in close, her lips brushing my ear as she teases, "You're already frowning, deary. Try to look like you want to be here."

I wince at her words, but say nothing.