Apocalypse (The Ward Z Series Book 3) Read online

  Setting her items on the desk, Judy waited while the prices were added up.

  “Is that all you're buying?” Merrie asked. “Tampons, water, sun-cream, chocolate bars and bags of nuts? Where's your booze?”

  “I'm sure there'll be plenty at this Apocalypse club,” she replied, handing over some money before bagging her purchases. “I'd rather save myself for then, rather than having some big pre-party.”

  “You're not going to embarrass me, though, are you?” Merrie asked, craning her neck to look back along the aisle to see if Kay and Gemma were on their way yet. “These are my friends, and I told them you'd be fun to have along. Just meet me halfway, yeah, and at least try to have a good time?”

  As they headed out into the street, Judy stopped and slipped her sunglasses over her eyes. Looking up, she saw a large white villa perched high on the hillside overlooking the town.

  “Who do you think lives there?” she asked.

  “Someone with a lot of money,” Merrie replied. “Wouldn't mind finding out. Maybe we can ask and see if we can get invited to a party up there. Oh my God, wouldn't it be the most amazing thing ever if we got to go to, like, a private party at a millionaire's house or something like that?”

  “It looks so isolated,” Judy muttered. “Imagine being up there and looking down at us. What kind of person would want to shut themselves off from the world? It's like -”

  “Are you ready?” Kay shouted, hurrying up behind them and putting her arms around Judy and Merrie's shoulders. “Girls, are we going to party, or are we going to party?”

  ***

  “The rules are different out here,” Merrie said a few hours later, as she leaned closer to the bathroom mirror and applied some thick red lipstick. “It's almost like we're not the same people as when we're at home. What happens in Mallaca, stays in Mallaca. Unless it's chlamydia, in which case I guess you have to take it home and get a cream for it.”

  “We're the same people,” Judy muttered, smoothing the front of her dress down. “Unfortunately.”

  “But don't you feel different?” Merrie asked. “More free, more adventurous? Hell, it's almost like my actual body's different!”

  Judy allowed herself a faint smile, but at that very moment she felt a brief streak of pain in her belly, as if something was reminding her not to get carried away.

  “Do you want some make-up?” Merrie asked.

  Judy shook her head.

  “Come on, just for once.”

  “I never really use that stuff.”

  “Exactly. So you should start now.”

  “No. Thanks, but -”

  “Oh, come on,” Merrie replied, stepping over to her and grabbing her shoulder. “I'll give you a proper make-over, it'll make you feel a thousand times better.” She paused. “Not to pry too much, but when's the last time you got laid?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “It might clear your head.”

  “Merrie, please -”

  “You trust me, don't you?” She tried to drag Judy toward the mirror. “I'm your sister, I'd never steer you wrong. And you need some attention. Maybe not a shag, if you don't want, but you at least need to flirt with someone. Let's get some slap on your face, and then find a guy for you in the club tonight.”

  “I don't want make-up. Or a guy in a club.”

  “Well, I'm going to force you!” Holding Judy's arm, she tried to force her across the room, only for Judy to grab hold of the towel rack. “Come on!” she shouted with a laugh. “Live a little for once!” She gave Judy another tug, finally pulling her over toward the sink. “Let's just -”

  She stopped as she saw a fine spray of blood coming from Judy's mouth.

  “Woah,” she said, taking a step back, “what the hell just happened?”

  “Nothing,” Judy replied, grabbing a towel and wiping blood from her chin, before starting to clean the sink and mirror.

  “That's not nothing,” Merrie pointed out, clearly shocked, “that's blood! Did I accidentally hurt you somehow?”

  Judy shook her head.

  “Then why the hell are you bleeding?”

  “I bit my lip.”

  “Show me.”

  Turning away from her, Judy tossed the bloody towel into the bath and headed to the door. “I thought you wanted to meet the others soon?”

  “I do, but -”

  “Then let's get ready,” she said firmly, making her way into the bedroom. “Maybe you're right, maybe we just need to get drunk so we can forget our problems.” Tasting more blood at the back of her mouth, she grabbed one of her sister's bottles of Jagermeister and took a swig.

  Chapter Seven

  “It's not like that,” Ruth replied, trying to find a way to explain the situation properly, “it's just... I really need to move on and get a job that has... Well, a future. You understand, don't you?”

  “Of course,” Javier replied dismissively, barely even looking up from the appointments book. “There is no need to apologize. I wish you well.”

  “I'll still be around,” she continued. “It's not like I'm going to disappear off the face of the planet or anything like that. I'll be living up at the Velucci mansion, but -”

  “You'll be living there?” he asked, clearly shocked as he turned to her. “What about your apartment?”

  “I'll give that up,” she said with a shrug. “I never got used to the cockroaches, anyway. Those traps you got me didn't always work. This new job is a really good opportunity for me and I think it could lead to even better things. I couldn't spend the rest of my life sitting behind this desk, could I?”

  He stared at her, before shaking his head. “No. No, of course you couldn't.”

  “And this place will always be with me, in spirit,” she continued, before tapping the tattoo on the side of her neck. “I remember when I first came in here. I was always so self-conscious about my scar, and you designed this to cover it up completely. I'll never forget that, Javier. You gave me my confidence back.”

  She waited, but now he was looking through some documents, as if he had no interest in anything she was saying.

  “So you're happy for me?” she asked.

  “Of course.” He turned to another page in his appointments book, and then he furrowed his brow as he saw that no-one was booked in for a tattoo the following week.

  “So I was thinking,” she said after a moment, “that maybe... I mean, to mark the end of an era, we could go and get a drink some time?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I don't mean in one of the bars on the strip. I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere nicer? Somewhere a little... classy?”

  “Maybe. I'll ask Colin and see when he's free.”

  “Oh.” She paused. “Colin's fun, but I was actually thinking we could go together, you and me, alone.” She paused, nervously waiting for a reply. “Maybe one evening? Just because I won't be working here anymore, that doesn't mean we can't hang out, does it? In fact, now you're not my boss, it might even be better? In... certain ways?”

  “I'm busy most evenings,” he replied turning back to the beginning of the appointments book, “and Colin might feel left out if we don't invite him.”

  She opened her mouth to reply, before forcing a smile. “Sure,” she said, stepping back from the counter. “It was just an idea, we don't have to do it. I'm going to be crazy busy anyway, this Velucci guy seems majorly intense and I don't even know half my duties yet. I think I'll be, like, organizing his diary and making sure everything goes like clockwork. Kind of like what I did here, in a way.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  She paused. “So I'll see you around, then?”

  “I don't get out much.”

  “No, sure.” She waited a moment longer, as if something was on the tip of her tongue, before turning and heading to the door. “Bye, then,” she added with a frown. Not even hearing a reply from Javier, she headed out to the tattoo parlor's forecourt, where giggling teens were flipping through the sample f
olders, trying to pick out tattoos. Stopping, Ruth turned to look back inside, but she saw that Javier was already checking something on his laptop, and she didn't really want to disturb him.

  Sighing, she made her way along the busy strip, quickly disappearing into the crowd of tourists.

  ***

  “I can't leave him in the lurch,” Colin said, sipping at his beer. “Javier's a good mate, he gave me a job when times were tough. I can't walk out on him now.”

  “This is a proper opportunity,” Greg replied, holding up a stack of leaflets. “Apocalypse isn't just some ordinary club, it's the club. They're expecting to get fifty thousand people through the doors in the next thirty days alone, do you have any idea how massive that's gonna be? There's five floors, each with a separate DJ, there's bars so long you can't see one end from the other, there's girls who're gonna be out of their minds on cheap booze, and most importantly of all, there's a job opportunity right in the middle of it all, a job opportunity with your name on it.”

  “I can't, man. I just can't.”

  “You can,” Greg told him. “I can swing it with the boss, I can get you in. He trusts me. Listen...” Turning, he looked around the bar to make sure no-one was close enough to hear. “I shouldn't tell you this,” he continued, leaning closer to Colin, “but this next few days is gonna be big for Apocalypse, even bigger than they're letting on. I don't know exactly what the boss is planning, but it's gonna be something huge. Like, a whole new concept in the nightclub world.”

  Colin turned to him.

  “Now I've got your attention,” Greg continued with a smile. “Whatever they're planning, it's gonna change everything, and I for one wanna be in at the start. There are parts of the building that I'm not allowed to access, they've got all this high-tech security. Obviously they don't want their competitors to find out what they're doing until they're ready for the big night.” He finished his beer and waved at the woman at the bar for another. “And when I'm riding high on this success,” he added, nudging Colin's arm, “do you know what I don't wanna see? I don't wanna see you still slumming it at Javier's tattoo parlor, when you could be living it well large right alongside me. You've done your time with Javier, it's time to move on.”

  “Ruth quit,” Colin admitted.

  “Exactly. So the old gang's already breaking up.”

  Colin stared at his beer for a moment longer. “This exciting new concept, then,” he said finally, “what is it exactly?”

  “All I know is that the boss has had the place completely fitted out. I'm talking new electrics, even new plumbing. Plus, he had workmen in the back a while ago, digging proper deep under the club, like beyond the foundations.”

  “Why?”

  Greg shrugged. “Velucci's got more money than anyone else around here. Whatever he gets in his head, there's nothing stopping him from doing it. Say what you like about the mad old fool, but he's an original thinker. I wouldn't mind betting that he's got something amazing up his sleeve.” He waited as the barmaid set two more pints down, and he kept quiet until she'd gone back to the bar. “Come and do one shift. Javier doesn't even have to know, and if you don't like it, you can go back to that ratty little parlor for the rest of your days.”

  Colin picked up one of the beer-mats and turned it around for a moment. “Alright,” he said finally, with a sigh. “I'm in, just... This had better be something amazing. Whatever they're planning at Apocalypse, I hope it's gonna be big.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Girls,” Kay said, as the lights from the front of the club filled her eyes, “may I present to you... Apocalypse! The greatest nightclub in the world!”

  The four of them were standing on the pavement, staring up at the huge neon sign. Flashing pink, yellow and green against the night sky, the Apocalypse logo showed a palm tree with what looked like dark red balls hanging from the leaves, while the word Apocalypse itself was just about legible amid the mass of bright, flashing tubes. All around, tourists were flocking toward the main door, where several bouncers in black jackets were checking ID and either waving people inside or, in a few cases, turning people back.

  “What's it like in there?” Gemma asked, with a hint of apprehension in her voice, almost fear. “I looked online, but apparently they don't allow photos.”

  “There's cheap booze and hot guys,” Merrie replied. “What more do you need?”

  “Music,” Kay pointed out. “Lots of music. But there's, like, five levels so that should be taken care of.”

  “Are we ready, then?” Gemma said, swallowing hard as she turned to the others. “Girls, we're going in. I'll see you all on the other side, if we all survive. If any of us goes home with someone else, we have to send the others a text so we all know everyone's okay. And watch your drinks, 'cause you know there's always pervs around.”

  “Let's do this,” Kay replied, holding out a clenched fist for the others to bump.

  “I've never been so ready for a night out in my life,” Gemma replied with a grin.

  “You with us?” Merrie asked, turning to Judy. “Sis?”

  “Sure,” Judy replied, clearly not quite so enthusiastic as she put her fist in the middle of the circle with the others. “Sounds great.”

  ***

  “I said,” Kay shouted at the top of her voice, “I can't hear a word you're saying!”

  His face bathed in flashing green and red light from the rigging above, the guy grinned and put a hand to his ear, as if to indicate that he still hadn't picked it up.

  “Never mind,” Kay continued, putting her arms around his neck and leaning closer to kiss him. As soon as their lips touched, their tongues reached into one another's mouths, and she pushed him back against the rusty old cigarette machine.

  “She's quick!” Merrie shouted, nudging Judy's arm. “I swear that's the first guy she's talked to all night!”

  “Maybe she really likes him!” Judy shouted back.

  Rolling her eyes, Merrie took another sip from her cocktail, while looking around at the sea of people dancing near the bar. At the far end of the huge room, beyond the chandelier, a DJ was working furiously at the decks, while several scantily-clad women were dancing in cages suspended high above the dance-floor. For a moment, all Merrie could do was stare in awe at the scene, reflecting on the fact that it was bigger and more intense than anything she'd ever seen back home. Finally she turned to look over at Kay, and to her shock she saw that not only was she still kissing the guy, but that he had a hand up the front of her skirt.

  “Oh my God!” Merrie said, blushing as she turned to her sister. “You can call me a lot of things, but that's something I would never do.” She smiled. “Well, maybe on the last night.”

  Frowning, Judy took a sip of the mojito she was nursing. Having initially decided to try getting drunk in an attempt to loosen up and forget her worries, she'd quickly found that alcohol made her stomach feel heavy and uncomfortable, and she was hoping that so long as she always had a drink in her hand, no-one would really notice that it was the same one all night. Still, she had to take a sip occasionally when Merrie was watching, so that her sister wouldn't start nagging at her to have fun.

  “I can't believe she's doing that,” Merrie continued, wincing with embarrassment as she saw Kay still making out – and more – with the guy at the bar. “Actually, scratch that. I can totally believe it. I know you think I'm a bit of a slut, but I'm nowhere near as bad as her.”

  Glancing toward the crowd, preferring not to look at Kay at all, Judy suddenly realized that amid the vast sea of dancing, shouting, laughing, drinking people there was one face staring at her. She blinked, convinced that the face was some kind of optical illusion, maybe a trick of the light and shadows, but a faint chill danced up her bare arms and onto her shoulders as she realized that the figure was standing completely still in the middle of the dance-floor, and that its dark, cavernous eyes were focused entirely on her. She squinted slightly, trying to see the face better, trying to work out if it
was male or female since the harsh flashing lights of the club made it difficult to pick out much detail.

  “What the hell?” she whispered, as squinting only made the face look more unusual. Its eyes were like dark holes, and the contours of its cheekbones seemed particularly pronounced. After a moment, she realized that it seemed to be baring its teeth, or...

  She felt the skin on the back of her neck turn cold.

  A skull.

  The figure's face was a skull. Twisted a little, warped, but recognizably a skull.

  And no-one else on the dance-floor seemed to have noticed.

  “Do you see that?” she stammered, before turning to Merrie and nudging her arm. “Hey, do you see that guy?”

  “What guy?” Merrie asked, clearly already drunk as she looked out across the crowd.

  “Over there,” Judy continued, not wanting to point directly at the figure that was still staring at her. “You can't miss him, he's tall and... Don't you see him?”

  “I don't have my glasses,” Merrie pointed out, squinting and then shrugging. “I don't see anyone, but if he's hot, you should totally go and dance next to him.”

  “He's not hot,” Judy replied, feeling another shiver as she continued to meet the figure's gaze. “He's... He must be wearing a mask. I thought masks were banned in this place.”

  “They are,” Merrie said, between sips of her drink. “There was a sign on the door. No masks, no weapons, no cameras.”

  “Well that guy managed to sneak one in,” Judy continued. “He's giving me the creeps. Can you seriously not see him?”

  “Sorry, babe. Come on, lighten up. You've barely touched your drink.”

  Judy paused for a moment, before setting her glass down. “I'm just going to go to the bathroom.”

  “Again?”

  “I just want to freshen up. Do you want to come?”

  “I think I'd better stay here and keep on eye on Kay,” Merrie replied. “Looks like she's doing things at the start of the holiday that most people only do at the end, if you know what I mean.”