MICHAEL

Smack!

The sound shakes through the room like gunfire.

For half a second, no one breathes.

Aliana’s hand is still up when I complete my turn, her chest rising and falling heavily as her eyes burn brightly. The guard is stumbling back in shock, his hand placed on his swollen cheek.

“What are you talking about? Someone picked my son?” she screams.

“How could you let someone pick a kid by himself on a party night?”

The room is filled with noise.

Chairs scrape, heads turn, gasps are audible, swear words are muttered, security staff start to make their way, their radios bursts of sound. mayhem spreads like grass...