Story Excerpt

The line to enter the club was already a block and a half long when he arrived. Pounding bass emanating from the club rattled the windows of the autonomous limousine. He exited the vehicle at the end of the line.

"Welcome back, sir. Please go to the front door for immediate admittance," said a robot attendant.

Heads turned. Eyes boggled in recognition. "It's him! He's here! That's the guy who invented the last five viral dance moves," people murmured as they pointed.

A casual saunter as he passed admirers who reached out to brush their fingers across his custom-tailored Italian silk suit. Two beautiful, barely clothed girls stepped out to block his path. "We drove four hours hoping to see you. Please take a selfie with us."

He posed for the selfie but ignored the whispered promises of sex if he would take them inside.

Sorry, ladies. There are sure to be better looking women inside to satisfy those desires.

The head bouncer noticed him and waved him forward and through the doors. The other bouncers pushed back as the crowd surged forward.

Music crashed over him like an ocean wave. A sharp contrast to the relative silence outside. The place was dark despite being lit by the beams of dozens of neon spotlights and lasers. The incoherent babble of countless conversations fought to be heard over the music.

He wandered through the crowd like a shark on the prowl. His eyes scanned the room, looking for familiar faces. Looking for lonely faces.

Then he saw her.