Afraid of Nothing

TW:murder

Mike stood there, and soaked in the applause like a sponge. He gave some quick nods and “thank you”s as the clapping and cheering continued. The gallery of people that attended this party knew they couldn’t start the festivities without him, and now that he was here, they could pop the champagne and cue the music. 

Mike’s hair was freshly combed for this special event, and the single ladies couldn’t stop looking. He turned his eyes, radiant and sharp, towards them, giving them a wink in their direction. The girls turned into giggly messes, trying their hardest to keep their cool. Everyone else looked at him in awe, as if they’d seen a movie star. He was dressed in an outfit as formal as the venue, a button-down with a blazer and dress pants, everything expensive, everything designer.

Tables dressed with white cloths were surrounding the dance floor, a large space with room for a lot of people. The decorations were elegant, and the people were dressed well, for this was a high-class, exclusive event!

At a circular table under an ornate chandelier, he sipped his champagne while talking amongst his three peers. He talks to them in a friendly tone as they nervously agree with everything he says, hoping to impress Mike, the man that already sees them as friends. 

“And so I told Seth, I can’t do the deal, else my lawyers would kill me!” Mike said, leaning back in his chair. 

“Mhm, yup, sounds pretty bad,” Gerald said, finishing his sentence as fast as he could, sweating up a storm. 

“But then he got mad, like really mad. I told him I was sorry, and told him about antitrust laws, but he didn’t want to hear it,” Mike said. 

“He must have been really mad,” Jose said, leaning in. 

“Yup, he was alright,”

Two women approached Mike.

“Can we help you two?” Jose said. 

“We were just wondering if Mike could take one of us on the dance floor tonight,” one of the ladies said, “I’m Veronica, and this is my good friend Violet.” 

Mike had a hard time deciding. He noticed Veronica’s gorgeous hazel eyes, but Violet’s blue ones were equally as beautiful. Violet’s eyes reminded him a little of Seth’s blue eyes, the owner of a rival company that was trying to beat his own. Veronica was wearing a black dress, form-fitting but still classy, with pearls and her red hair in a neat bun, that could make any man swoon. Violet was wearing a little maroon number, with a broach that reminded him of Seth’s logo, wearing pearls as well. 

“I think I could take Violet for a dance, how does that sound?” Mike said. 

 “Wonderful,” Violet said, “One second, please.” 

Violet turns around, making her way towards the back corner of the room, where Seth was sitting. She whispered something in his ear, and then made her way back to Mike.  

“I’m ready,” she said, gripping Mike’s hand, taking him to the dance floor, and making their way around the crowd of people dancing.  

Mike placed his hand on Violet’s waist, and they swayed and stepped to the music playing in the background. 

“How has your night been?” Mike said, trying to make conversation. 

“It’s been well,” Violet said, looking deep into his eyes. 

“That is good to hear,” Mike said, “I saw you whispering to Seth, do you know him?” 

“We are… good friends,” Violet said, hesitating. 

“You know, Violet is such a pretty name, and it suits you well,” Mike said. 

“Why thank you, you are very charming,” Violet said, giving him a nice smile. 

“Well, obviously…” Mike said. Violet put down her smile. 

“Mike, are you afraid of anything?” Violet said. 

“No, not at all, why would you ask?” Mike said. 

“Just wondering if you potentially were,” Violet said. 

“I guess I can be afraid of spiders sometimes,” Mike said. 

“I’m not talking about those fears,” Violet said, looking sinister at him. 

“Well, uh, other than spiders, I’m not afraid of anything.” Mike said. 

“If you aren’t afraid of anything, you’d follow me into the back closet,” Violet said, letting go of him. 

“Violet, you are a very lovely lady, but-” Mike said.

“You weren’t afraid of anything, were you?” Violet said. 

Mike shrugs, and follows her to the back closet of the venue. It was spacious, with room for every table in the ball area, but dark. Dust was coated everywhere, and spiderwebs were in every corner.

“Michael Bruce, you are a liar,” Violet said with grit.

“What-” 

Violet pulled out a sharp knife and pinned Mike against the wall. 

“You are a coward. You are too afraid to complete the deal with Seth, but have the ego to dance with and go into a closet with a stranger,” Violet said. 

“Please let me go, I’ll do anything,” Mike pleaded, his heart racing at the sudden change in situation. 

“It is too late. The world should have gotten rid of you years ago. Filthy rich, entitled, and won’t even make a deal with my brother because of your fear,” Violet said, her words colder than ice.

“Seth is your brother?!” Mike said. 

“You will never learn. You must go,” Violet said. 

Before Mike could utter another word, his surroundings went dark, and his blood saw the outside. Violet took another stab, and he was dead, his weight on the floor, and his blood gushed into a pool. 

There was no more dancing for him, no more champagne, no more flirting. He may show off his wealth no more. He was now a body in the closet. A body in the dusty, dark closet. Will people find it? Maybe, but for now, and for the rest of the party, he will be gone from the atmosphere, his body swimming in a lake of it's own blood, and his soul in the land of nothing.

No wonder she was wearing a maroon dress. It was the color of blood.  

What a bad decision.