A small flame erupted from the end of a match as it was struck across the side of a matchbox. A hand, darkened by the lack of light in the small corner, touched the tiny flame to the end of a cigarette. Lips, dried and coarse, sucked deeply on the other end causing the cigarette's flame to brighten and lazy spirals of smoke to curl up into the club air. More smoke wafted in his mouth and he blew it out from the corner of his lips. The music’s tempo began to speed up and the bass pounded in his head. The lights flashed and danced illuminating the women performing on the stage. He felt the first wave of a headache coming on. Tonight was a bust. He tapped the cigarette butt into the ash tray and reached out to grab his coat. At that moment, something caught his dark, heavy eyes. He sat up in his position on the couch and watched as a small group of women entered the club. A smile found its way onto his lips exposing the shiny whites underneath. Exactly what he was looking for.

A body came into his view and before he knew it he was staring at the navel of a young brunette girl, “You want the special?” She asked moving her hips to the hypnotic music. She moved in closer and bent down so he could get the best view of her breasts. The amount of clothes she was wearing would just be enough to floss with.

His eyebrow twitched and he tried to look around her. He had lost sight of the women. He growled and muttered something incoherent as he searched for the subjects of his attention.

“I’m right here,” She announced and seductively tried to push his face back into her line of view. He slapped her hand away and tried to rise in his seat. She pushed him back down and straddled his legs with her knees. She began to dance to the music again and used this brief victory to slide her hands onto his chest and whisper ‘sweet nothings’ into his ear.

He turned his head away and caught sight of a woman from the original group he had seen earlier. She was sitting on the lap of a guy whose face was glued to her neck. She rolled her head back and forth as the man planted kisses on her body. He watched as the woman slyly slid her hands into his pocket and came away with something shiny. Jackpot.

“Get off,” He ordered strongly. The girl pretended not to hear and continued to rub his chest. He didn’t have time for this. He grabbed the girl by the waist and pushed her to the side. The girl tumbled into the couch but quickly righted herself and stared at him with fire in her eyes.

He stood and began to take long strides towards the thief.

“Jesus! You a**hole!” She screamed after him.

He stopped in his tracks. His hands balled up into fists and his back was as rigid as a steel door. He thought for a moment then turned and faced the girl with an apologetic smile. His eyes, on the other hand, were as cold as ice.

**********************************************

Adara turned the key in the ignition. The engine cut off and silence ensued. She didn’t move except to stare at the two story house she had bought seven years ago. Sadness enveloped her and she rested her forehead on the steering wheel. She felt useless, more so than ever. Her vision’s never really helped much. She had never saved a life nor would she be able to save the ones being threatened in her dreams. What was the point? Why did she have this ability if all she could ever do was watch the people in her dreams die? Where was the fairness in it all?

Adara sighed, she was exhausted. Her eyes began to drift close and her body began to relax. Adara fought against the powerful draw to sleep. She didn't want to sleep. Nothing good ever came from her dreams. She clumsily wrapped her fingers around the key in the ignition and turned with all of her strength. The car jumped to life and Adara felt herself winning the fight. She fumbled with the buttons and managed to turn the radio on.

Music began to pour out from the speakers in her car. The song had a fast tempo that pounded the bass beats into her head. Instead of waking her up she found herself being pulled into sleep faster than she was before. She couldn't fight it anymore, she was just...so....tired...

It was dark where she was. She couldn't see a thing. Adara tried to raise her hand in front of her face but she could see nothing. Something tugged at her and Adara turned to follow the tug. All of a sudden she was blinded by lights. They were so bright and Adara wanted to cringe but she couldn't move. She couldn't get her bearings but she found herself spinning slowly to the ground. A hand came into her vision but is wasn't her hand. What was going on? A dollar bill flashed into view and was deposited somewhere she couldn't see. She did, however, feel the tug as it slid down her side and was stuck into her undergarments. She was in her underwear!

The pieces began to sink in, if not, a bit late. Adara wanted to vomit but she was not in control of her own movements. The woman stood and began to dance at the pole. Adara was dragged with her. It was at that moment that both Adara and the woman saw the same thing. A man violently pushed one of the girls who worked there onto the couch. He stood and the young woman screamed something but the sound was lost to Adara. Anger exploded through her body. She knew it wasn't her emotion she was feeling, but, if it was, it would have matched the woman exactly.

There was nothing she could do. She couldn't force the woman to go over there but it didn't matter anyway. The man had already turned back and was leading the young woman to the back of the club. A big read sign read 'exit'. The two disappeared into the night.

Adara wanted to scream. What was she going to do now? She was stuck on stage and she couldn't do a thing. Another spin gave her a glimpse at the couch the two strangers had vacated. Adara saw something but she couldn't identify what it was because the woman kept moving. Adara thought for a moment. What was the purpose of this dream? Was this the man? Was that his future victim?

Her questions didn't lead to any answers but if she had to pick the time where she would have to have complete faith in her dreams...it had to be now.

The lights began to dim and the woman ended upside down on the pole. Adara got a glimpse at the ceiling. Styx. It was the name of the club.