CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Riley recognized the familiar sound of Bricks and Crystal blasting out their grunge rendition of “Ring of Fire.”
It was night. The air reeked with odors of beer and cigarette smoke.
It took her a few moments to realize that she was sitting alone at a table on the patio at the Centaur’s Den. She was watching a crowd of young people thrashing to the music in the dance area.
But the dancers weren’t smiling and happy.
They all looked frightened.
Their movements seemed convulsive and involuntary, as if they didn’t want to be dancing.
She wondered what awful inner force was driving them.
Then the belting music began to get under her own skin. She felt the pull of the dancing, a powerful urge to join the others.
Don’t, she told herself. It’s dangerous. Don’t go out t
