LJ Idol, Topic 13: “Fan Death”

Feb 08, 2020 01:09

Beatrice sidled her way through the crowded dance floor to the corner of the bar.  She was hot and sweaty from exertion, but damn she was having fun!  It had been a long time since she’d last gone out clubbing. After a few minutes of hand waving, she finally attracted a bartender’s attention, and eventually succeeded in getting an overpriced Rum & Coke.  She took a sip then pushed her thick auburn hair off her forehead and held the cold glass to her overheated brow - the condensation felt so good!

As the rhythm and the ‪Friday night‬ crowd intensified, Bea drained the rest of her drink in one long swallow then sashayed back into the throng of dancers.  Arms above her head, she let the thrum of the music control her body.  She closed her eyes for a moment and hummed along to the familiar tune.


Bea turned and swayed unsteadily as a handsome dark-haired dancer dressed all in black bumped boldly into her.  He smiled and shrugged apologetically.  Bea smiled back and let her hips do the talking - she’d taken belly dancing classes, and knew how to make good use of her skills.

“You look like you’re lots of fun,” he sang along with the music, his baritone voice carrying over the beat.

Bea opened up her loving arms and they danced on.  “Want some?”

* * *

It was nearly eleven when Cecilia and Deidre finally arrived at the bar.  It was 80’s night, their favorite.  Both had teased their hair to new heights and had dressed for the occasion in tight jeans and off-the-shoulder neon shirts - Cici’s was bright pink while Dee’s darker skin looked fabulous in bold yellow and orange.  The bass was thumping and the dance floor was brimming over with party goers.  “Let’s get a drink first,“ Cici said, and Dee readily agreed.

Each ordered a light beer with a tequila chaser.  By the time the third or fourth song started they were relaxed and fully ready to party.  “Come on, let’s do this!”

Cici grabbed Dee by the hand and they moved out onto the floor. Several large silvery disco balls spun and sparkled overhead.

“This DJ is phenomenal,“ Dee shouted.  Cecilia nodded in agreement and gave her friend a thumbs-up.  They danced and spun around and around, dizzy with the frenetic beat.

“Watch out, here I come,” a deep voice yelled through the crowd, followed closely by a fellow dressed all in black. Cici chose just that moment to spin right around, and the two collided. His hands cradled her upper arms and pulled her closer.

“I got to be your friend now, baby.”

“And I would like to move in just a little bit closer,” Cici replied, running her fingers through his shoulder length hair.

Dee rolled her eyes at this exchange. “I’m going to the ladies room,” she told Cici. “Be back soon.”

* * *

Two uniformed policemen stood guard outside the entrance to On The Record nightclub. One of them nodded as Detective Burns approached. “She’s waiting inside for you,” Officer Lever said.

Burns thanked him and entered the nearly empty club. The medical examiner was taking notes as she examined the three emaciated bodies that had been left on the abandoned dance floor - a tall redhead who appeared to be in her mid-30’s, a guy with long dark hair who was maybe in his mid to late 20’s, and a young blonde in a neon pink top.

“What happened to them?” Burns asked, quickly scanning the corpses for clues.

“I’m not sure yet,” Percy replied. She put her pen in her jacket pocket, removed her blue gloves, and stood up. “But there’s a witness... of sorts. Follow me.”

They walked to the back of the club, and Percy pushed open the door of the ladies room. A dark haired woman in a neon orange and yellow shirt sat hunched under the sinks, her arms tightly holding her knees close to her torso, rocking back and forth, murmuring to herself.

“Spin me... right round... round like a record... right round round round....”

Percy crouched nearby, but not too close. Burns leaned against the doorframe, pen and pad in hand.

“Hey there. I’m Mia Percy. Can you tell me what happened this evening? Can you tell me your name?”

Dee shuddered. “You spin me... right round, baby... right round round round...”

Detective Burns spoke up. “I recognize that song. Was it playing when the murders happened?”

Dee nodded. “I left. She... Cici... was dancing with some guy.... I’d had too much to drink, got overheated and sick.” A sob cracked her velvety voice. “When I came out... the club was deserted, and Cici, that guy, and some other person were lying on the floor, just... like, desiccated? Dried up, somehow. I don’t know what happened....”

“What did you do next?” Burns inquired.

“Ran back in here and puked my guts out,” Dee said. She took several deep breaths. “Can I go home now?”

“I’ll need your full name and contact info for my report,” Burns told her, “but yes, after that you can go.”

The three left the restroom. After obtaining the information and getting one of the officers to escort Deirdre home, Percy and Detective Burns watched the corpses get bagged up for transport to Percy’s office for a more thorough post mortem exam.

“I hate 80’s night,” Burns stated. “The only way out of this club is Dead or Alive.”

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Video here: https://youtu.be/PGNiXGX2nLU

lj_idol, fiction, fandom

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