Midnight Summons

POV Hazel

The bass drops. It rattles my ribs and vibrates right through the soles of my sneakers.

I throw my head back and swallow another shot of cheap tequila. The burn slides down my throat, masking the taste of bad decisions and quiet desperation. The liquid fire settles deep in my stomach.

I am standing in the middle of the most crowded downtown club I could find on a Thursday night. The