Station, стр. 21

Hadder opened his eyes, unsure of when he had closedthem, and saw that the Ophidian had already slithered to Sunrise,presenting her with its ephemeral gift. Once Benny had completedhis turn, the Ophidian slinked back into its hole, which closedsoon after that. The five residents stood in unison on wobbly legs,each giggling in euphoria. Looking around, many new faces hadentered The Soiree Noire, and the beginnings of a realcelebration seemed to be present.

As usual, Reena was the first to break the silence."Now, let's fucking party!"

Hadder's mind buzzed like pre-cable Channel 3 aftermidnight, a mashup of colors and sounds. The remainder of theHaela, when recounted later, played like Pulp Fiction on acid, aseries of haunting scenes and images loosely tied together underthe umbrella of The Soiree Noire.

Hadder recalled more residents filing in as theyfloated through the Bar, the large room starting to reach thatoptimal occupancy level that maximized reveler experience. Reenalaughed loudly when she caught Hadder staring mouth agape at anelegant Amazonian woman whose evening dress flashed translucentevery few seconds, revealing a tanned athletic body underneath thatappeared carved from smooth wood.

Hadder recalled that the party shifted dramaticallyevery hour, with the walls depicting new locations that set thetheme. One shift placed The Soiree in space, synthwave dancemusic blaring from invisible speakers. Holograms of comets,asteroid belts, stardust, planets, and suns careened through themain room. Many of the drinks taken from server manikins,especially the transparent and bubbly Number 3, induced psychedelicvisions, causing Hadder to see long colorful trails behind eachhologram, adding to the "space on drugs" vibe. Later, the entireparty shifted to 1980's Times Square, scored by the best music ofthe decade. Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Guns N' Roses thrummed inHadder's ears as the logos of Coke, Pepsi, and MTV floated aboveheads. The last shift Hadder could remember took everyone toMoscow's Red Square, where 90's Hip Hop complemented the coldRussian environment. Each theme transition renewed the room'sfestivities, a call to alter dance moves, trade-in dance partners,and try a new cocktail or two.

Hadder recalled fleeting meetings with strangersthat were to become his makeshift family. While everyone he spokewith was beautiful or handsome, a few stood out and fought throughhis drug-addled brain to find permanent residence in his memory. Ayoung black man named McKintosh Reed had eyes that perpetuallyshifted colors and dreadlocks that moved of their own accord like anest of snakes. He used these to great effect as they were adept atsnagging dancing women and pulling them towards their owner'sbeckoning arms and thrusting hips.

Yasmin Dash drifted down from The Soiree'shigh beams on white wings that sent white dust into the air behindher. Wearing only a white cropped halter top and white shorts, shestole the attention of the entire party as she glided down onundetectable currents, circling the party many times to ensure thatall could admire her milky six-pack abs and taught legs. As sheexecuted a perfect landing onto the shoulders and back of a waitingmanikin, Hadder commented at the quality of the prosthetic wings,to which Reena laughed and said something that Hadder was unable tomake out over the congratulatory shouts. Yasmin and Hadder shared amoment late in the Haela as her wings pulled him in painfully for adeep kiss that resulted in a fast-dissolving pill being depositedon his tongue. For the next fifteen minutes, Hadder could only layon one of the leather couches as the world melted around him,Reena's fingers combing his hair his only tether to reality.

Hadder recalled Monty the Mod making the rounds, theOphidian draped over his shoulders like an accessory. He dancedfrom one group to the next, offering each the Ophidian and throwingdark looks at those who turned down his gift. Eventually, Montysauntered over to Hadder's trio as they took a break from dancing.He nodded to Reena and Jonny in turn but spoke to Hadder. "So, I'vebeen expectantly waiting all party, young man, for you to find me,introduce yourself, and maybe pay your respects. But I can't waitany longer as I'll soon be completely out of my mind, and I want toremember this meeting."

Hadder immediately felt embarrassed for his lack ofparty etiquette and tried to formulate an appropriate apologythrough his haze. "I'm so sorry, Mister…the Mod. I thought you'd bebusy managing the party, and I didn't know where you were, andthere's so much to take in, and I don't know what this stuff is I'mdrinking now and…" Words spilled from Hadder's mouth, launched andaccelerated by the unique combination of a dozen chemicalcompounds. He grew more flustered before Monty, Reena, and Jonnyall fell into fits of laughter.

Monty turned to Jonny and Reena. "Oh, he's adorable.Wanting to be a real gentleman in such a state; that shows trueclass." Back to Hadder, "Don't worry, my dear boy, I'm just playingwith you. As you know, I'm Montgomery Walls. But that's sobourgeoisie, please call me Monty, leave the "Mister" with that olddevil Rott. And you are?"

"I'm Hadder, Marlin Hadder."

"A real pleasure to meet you, Hadder." Montymotioned Hadder in for a hug, but when Hadder obliged, Montyaggressively grabbed ahold of Hadder's head and angrily whisperedin his ear, "Are you the Harbinger of the Fall?! Is the LastJudgement upon us already?! Goddammit, tell Rott I'm notready!"

Before Hadder could even register what was beingsaid to him, Monty had separated, and the Ophidian was in Hadder'sface, billowing smoke blinding him while infiltrating his nose andlungs. Hadder closed his eyes before the torrent of smoke. When heopened them, gone was the Ophidian, and Monty the Mod could be seenwaltzing his way to another group of residents.

Jonny's arm on Hadder's shoulder startled him."Don't worry, old chap. Monty's a funny one. Been here as long asanyone, they say. Your appearance probably just stirred up some oldsuperstitions. Have you met Stevie Coolota? You have got tosee his third eye; it moves independently of the others."

Finally, Hadder recalled the specialty rooms off ofThe Soiree Noire's main chamber. As Haela deepened and theparty began to thin, Hadder noticed residents pairing off orgrouping together and moving towards the back of the main space.Along the back wall,