An Audience of One

CASSIA

My heart pounded a frantic, bruising rhythm against my ribs as I followed Marcel away from the safety of the main club. We walked down a long, dimly lit hallway that felt worlds away from the thumping bass and crowded dance floors of the public areas. The transition was jarring. Out there, it was a sea of sweaty bodies and cheap perfume. Back here, the air was thick, silent, and heavy with