Welcome to the Innocent World

*Step… Step…* My boots thudded slow on the staircase, Lyra's heels clicking right behind me as we headed down, the rusty metal door creaking shut above us.

Each step echoed in the tight space, the air getting thicker and cooler the deeper we went. Then, faint at first, the thump of music started creeping up—low bass vibrating through the walls, growing louder with every second, like a heartbeat waking up.

"Damn…" Lyra muttered, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement as she brushed her hand along the wall. It was rough but kinda cool-looking, lined with old-fashioned lamps stuck into the stone, their dim orange glow flickering over her fingers. She hooked her other arm through mine, squeezing a little as we kept going. "This place is giving me creeps and excitement at the same time."

"Same," I said, keeping my hands shoved in my pockets, my eyes flicking around the narrow stairwell. The music swelled, thumping harder now, and I could feel it in my chest—something wild waiting for us down there.

The stairs finally opened up, spitting us out into a huge hall that hit us like a punch. Neon lights flashed everywhere—pink, blue, purple—streaking across the walls and ceiling, bouncing off a sea of people swaying and dancing.

They all wore half-masks, the kind that covered their eyes down to their noses, shimmering under the lights, leaving their mouths free to laugh and shout.

It was like stepping into some secret underground club, hidden beneath the shore, alive with heat and chaos.

"Whoa…" Lyra breathed, her eyes going wide as she let go of my arm, spinning a little to take it all in. "Another club down here! Are you kidding me?" She grinned, her red dress catching the neon glow as she craned her neck, trying to see everything at once.

The place was nuts. Over by one wall, giant glass tubes stood tall, each one holding a fully naked woman dancing slow and sultry, water pouring down over their bodies, dripping off their skin like liquid light.

The crowd cheered, some tossing coins that clinked against the glass. Off to the side, on a beat-up leather couch, a man and woman were going at it—fucking right there in the open, their half-masks shimmering as they moved, too caught up to care who watched.

The hall split into multiple lanes branching off, dark tunnels leading who-knows-where, pulsing with more music and shadows.

"Check this out," I said, nodding toward a group near us—people grinding on each other, masks glinting, drinks sloshing in their hands. "This is some next-level shit."

"No kidding," Lyra said, stepping closer to me, her voice buzzing with excitement. "What even is this place? Like… a secret party spot or something?"

"Guess we're about to find out," I muttered, my eyes scanning the crowd, taking in every detail—the masks, the naked dancers, the way the lanes twisted off into the dark like a maze. I didn't know what I was looking for yet, but it felt like we'd stumbled into the heart of something big.

Then, out of the chaos, a woman came over, her long boots clicking loud against the sticky floor.

She was naked except for a pair of black panties and a half-mask that sparkled over her eyes, her boobs bouncing free as she carried a tray piled high with more masks. Her dark hair swung loose down her back, and she flashed me a big, cheerful smile, like we were old friends.

"Heyy, hi!" she chirped, stopping right in front of us, her tray tilting a little as she held it out. "New faces, huh? You guys need masks—can't join the fun without 'em!"

Lyra laughed, leaning in to check out the tray—shiny masks in gold, silver, red, all half-sized, leaving the mouth free.

"Oh, these are cute," she said, picking up a red one that matched her dress, twirling it in her fingers. "What's the deal with these?"

"House rules," the woman said, grinning wider as she shifted her weight, her boots squeaking. "Keeps it mysterious, you know? Everyone wears 'em—guests, dancers, whoever. Pick one and dive in!" She winked at me, nudging the tray closer. "Come on, big guy, grab one. You look like you'd rock the gold."

I smirked, reaching for a simple black one, running my thumb over the smooth edge.

"Alright, why not?" I said, slipping it on, the mask settling light over my eyes, cool against my skin. "Guess we're part of the party now."

"Hell yeah, we are," Lyra said, tying her red mask on, her grin peeking out beneath it as she struck a little pose. "Let's see what this place is hiding, huh?"

The woman with the tray leaned in a little, her long boots creaking as she shifted, her smile still bright and easy. "Please wear the masks here at all times," she said, nodding at the pile on her tray. "It's mandatory—keeps the vibe going, you know?"

"Ohh, we will, don't worry," Lyra said as she stepped back, planting her hands on her hips, striking a pose under the neon lights. "Ehehehe… how do I look? Mysterious, right?" she said, tilting her head with a big grin, the mask covering her eyes but leaving that smile wide open.

I smirked, adjusting my own mask—it felt light, cool against my skin, the black shimmering faint in the club's glow.

"Yeah, you are," I said, giving her a once-over. The red mask matched her dress perfect, making her look like she belonged in this wild, hidden world.

"Have fun! Bye bye!" the tray girl chirped, waving a hand as she turned to go. Her hips swayed hard as she walked back toward a counter tucked in the corner, her bare skin catching the light with every step, the tray bouncing a little in her grip.

"Bye!" Lyra called after her, waving back cheerful, her voice bouncing over the thumping music.

She spun to me, her eyes lighting up behind the mask, practically buzzing with excitement. "Heyy, let's grab some drinks and dance, Austin!" she said, glancing around the hall, her head moving to take in the naked dancers in the glass tubes, the couples grinding on the floor, the neon flashing everywhere.

"This place is insane—I wanna jump in!" She said, jumping around.

"Yeah, let's—" I started, forcing a smile as I nodded, ready to play along. But something nagged at me, a little itch in the back of my mind that wouldn't quit.

*This place is just another club?* I thought, my eyes drifting over the crowd. *There's tons of spots like this up top like the one I went with Afa in the morning—so why keep this one so secret? Hidden under the shore, guarded like a fortress?* It didn't add up.

The masks, the guards, the basement vibe—it felt like more than just a party spot, like there was something else simmering under all the noise and lights.

Lyra waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of it. "Hello, Austin! You there?" she said, her voice cutting through the loud bass, her grin teasing as she leaned in close, her mask glinting pink under a passing neon streak.

"Yeah, I'm here," I said, shaking it off with a quick laugh. "Let's dance—" I grabbed her hand, ready to pull her into the crowd, but then my eyes flicked to the corner of one of the lanes branching off the hall.

Three guys, all wearing the same half-masks—silver, shimmering—caught my attention. They were hauling a woman over one of their shoulders, her arms dangling loose, her head lolling like she was out cold or too drunk to fight.

They moved fast, disappearing down the dark tunnel, their boots scuffing the floor as they went.

"Whoa, hold up," I muttered, my grip tightening on Lyra's hand, my smile fading as I stared after them. "You see that?"

"What?" Lyra asked, following my gaze, her brow furrowing under her mask. "What's over there?"

"Those guys," I said, nodding toward the lane, my voice dropping low. "They just took some girl down that way—didn't look right."

She squinted into the shadows, the music thumping around us, then shrugged a little. "Maybe she's just wasted," she said, but her tone wavered, like she wasn't totally sure. "This place is wild—people probably get carried off all the time."

"Maybe…" I said, but my gut twisted, telling me it wasn't that simple. "Let's check it out."

"Seriously?" she said, tugging my arm playful, her grin creeping back. "We just got here, and you're already playing detective?"

"Just for a sec," I said, flashing her a smirk to keep it light. "Then we dance—promise."

"Fine," she sighed, rolling her eyes but sticking close as I started toward the lane, the neon lights fading behind us as we stepped into the darker stretch of the club.