The Essence Of The Darkness
Episode 4: Enter the Trap

"We cross infinity with every step. We meet eternity in every second"

Charles, the manager of a hugely successful luxury nightclub, becomes the destination for jet zets and celebrities to have fun spending the night sitting behind his desk. He read the results of the security report about last night's incident.

The Mogul, the fearsome Akram Night, decides to beat up the traitor he found in this place last night with his own hands, then let his men throw the enemy's body somewhere. That's good, because there's no evidence left at the club, otherwise Charles would have to deal with the police about the crime at the club.

After all, Akram Night's men have been very professional in dealing with traitorous cockroaches that must be eliminated quickly. They are also very good at clearing up traces of their cruelty without ever being traced. That means, even though Akram Night decided to kill people in this place, Charles can still escape the suspicion of the authorities.

Charles has studied cctv camera footage showing the horrific scene when Akram beat people up that night mercilessly, leaving his blood splattered on the floor and walls of the men's toilet. He could not help but think how foolish the person who dared to betray Akram Night was with full consciousness. Really, for anyone who knew how cruel Akram Night was, it was better to just dodge and hope not to have to deal with the man's anger.

The door of his room suddenly opened wide, making Charles raise his head from the report he was studying. His forehead creased as he looked at the group of bodyguards wearing tidy black suits standing in front of the door of his room.

Charles' consciousness immediately knocked on his brain, making him instantly be able to guess who was coming.

Staggering, Charles stood up from his seat and prepared to welcome. And it was true, Akram Night himself came. As soon as he stepped foot into Charles' room, the terrifying aura of Akram Night instantly dominated the entire room. His body was tall and sturdy, wearing an armani black-and-black suit specially sewn for him. No one would doubt Akram's charisma and power if they had to come face to face with him. Even with just a sharp look in his eyes, Akram can make the heart of the poor person who has to deal with him shrivel.

Charles stopped his steps a few steps from before Akram, knowing to keep a little further out of reach because he heard that Akram Night did not like being close to other humans. He still loved his life, for that was why he did not want to offend this powerful man before him.

"What brought Mr Akram to visit my office tonight?" Charles bowed his body respectfully in a humble manner to his superior. Yes, he called Akram his superior. That's all because this club is one of hundreds of entertainment venues owned by Akram Night.

Akram may only consider this luxury nightclub with billions of dollars in revenue every month as one of his petty possessions. Because, Akram has hundreds of companies engaged in other fields besides entertainment, such as financial companies, IT even to weapons technology companies.

All of those companies flooded Akram Night with trillions of rupiah profit which is much more profitable than the club tonight, so it will make the club tonight look small and trivial in comparison. Akram Night has only been to the club a few times tonight to spend time with his women, but never one of his arrivals aims to discuss work. He never even wanted to leave the time to come directly to every shareholder meeting that determines the strategic policy of the company, only representing all the affairs of his assistant.

So, what business is it that brings Akram Night to his office tonight? Charles was only able to wonder inwardly, without daring to voice it.

Akram looked at the club manager that night with his cold, sharp eyes.

"Close this club for the night" he ordered unequivocally.

Charles frowned, but of course he did not dare to argue let alone question Akram Night's decision.

"Ready, Sir. I'll carry out your orders." he replied quickly obediently.

"Tell all your employees not to come tonight. Except for one man you're gonna have to make sure you come." Akram signaled Elios, the Assistant who was already standing behind him. Elios stepped right past Akram and handed Charles a file.

Charles accepted it and frowned deeply. In front of him there is employee biodata attached close up photos that look plain and unattractive. A nineteen-year-old girl, a new employee at this place, just started working overnight....

A toilet cleaner?

Charles raised an eyebrow as he read the caption in front of him, unable to contain his surprise when he finally finished reading the entire bio of the employee.

What does Akram Night have to do with a toilet cleaner? Did Elios accidentally give him the wrong biodata paper?

Unsure, Charles repeated reading the employee's biodata in his hand carefully, and in a moment, remember her that this toilet cleaning girl is the figure that yesterday appeared on the cctv camera when Akram Night was beating his enemy there. Charles did not even think that the girl was still alive until now, considering that the girl's presence last night had clearly interrupted Akram Night's pleasure in punishing and chastising the traitor who was his enemy.

Is the new Akram Night going to teach the toilet girl a lesson tonight? But, just for a toilet-keeper girl, why close their fancy nightclub and waste the chance to earn hundreds of millions in turnover overnight?

"You have to make sure only that girl comes tonight. And he had to come," Akram emphasized on the word 'must' that even until it was spoken twice, implied to Charles that he would receive a terrible punishment from Akram if he did not succeed in carrying out his orders.

"Good, Sir." Charles answered quickly while bowing his body nervously. He had to contact Karel tonight to make sure the girl's arrival was at Akram Night's request. In addition to being in charge of employees in the Cleaning Service section, Karel is also in charge of all employees at this club.

And the girl was said to have just worked yesterday? It's a danger, the girl is not a full-time employee and it's likely that she won't return to work again tonight given that last night's incident was terrible enough for her.

What if the girl doesn't come back?

Then it is the same that Charles did not succeed in carrying out Akram's orders. That means he could have lost his life. Thinking about it all, Charles paled so much that he barely heard the command given by Akram to him.

"Sorry sir, may you repeat again?" Charles asked quickly in a frightened tone.

Akram squinted, obviously dislikeful as Charles ignored his previous orders, but then Akram decided not to extend the issue as there was something else more important.

"Main room above. Prepare the main room above. I'm gonna wear it tonight."

After giving the order in a cold tone, Akram turned his body, followed by Elios leaving with the stiff-faced bodyguards who followed them.

Meanwhile Charles was still stuck there getting more and more confused.

Why did Mr Akram ask him to prepare the main room at the very top of this club?

The room was a luxury VVIP class room built very grand and spacious, almost one floor above this club. Akram Night once took some of his women to sleep in the room to satisfy himself, but very rarely, maybe only once a year. For the rest, the room was never used and was always locked, only periodic cleaning and maintenance left the door of the room open before.

Perhaps the main purpose of Akram Night closing his club door is to have fun with one of his women. It had absolutely nothing to do with the toilet cleaning girl.

Maybe when Akram Night has fun upstairs, his men will handle and take care of the toilet guard girl.

Yeah, that must be so. Charles almost hit his own head because he had filled his mind with various tangled conjectures that were almost impossible.

"What?" Karel answered Charles' phone in a surprised tone. The boss called frantically tonight, hastily explaining the wishes of their powerful club owners. "They ask us to close the club and make sure only Elana gets in?" he then asked in a tone of disbelief.

"You have to make sure, Karel! Otherwise I'll lose my life!" Charles shouted on the other end of the phone, his breathing gasping as if terrified of losing hope for life. "He just worked yesterday, didn't he? You know who brought him to this place?"

"Sachi took her," Karel replied briefly. "There's Elana's address in the employee's biodata, but her house is on the outskirts of town, and it goes into a small alley. It will be very difficult to find him. I'll call Sachi to find Elana's house. Yesterday Sachi invited Elana to come here, so I'm sure she knows Elana's address."

"good. Do immediately. Mr. Akram said he was coming here at eleven in the evening, and by then, we had to make sure Elana had really arrived at the club. When he arrives at the club, do everything as planned" Charles' voice humbled with horror. "Don't fail, Karel. You know how cruel Akram Night is, we're betting our lives tonight if it fails" he insisted.

Akram Night wants Elana to come to the club?

Karel did hear the incident last night when Akram beat his enemy in the men's toilet, but he saw for himself the cctv footage of how Elana handled everything so well, do not panic and keep cleaning the toilet until really all traces of blood and brutality Akram before was exhausted.

What's wrong with Elana? Why is Akram still after her until now?

Karel shook his head in confusion. He found no answer to that question. But, that can be thought of later. Now he has to execute Charles' orders, making sure that Elana really has to come tonight.

Elana's fate may end up unfortunate because it has to intersect with Akram Night, but that is not her business. He must know which ones to interfere with and which ones to ignore if he wants his life to be safe.

Quickly, he pressed the call to contact Sachi.

Elana made it out early tonight. He decided to put on his dry uniform and cover it with a loose black jacket. His pace was light, ready to work again tonight, he just had to wait for the public transport at the front stop and hope the time was enough so he could get to work without being late.

As Elana treads out of the alley connecting the large road with her house, a black car parked at the end of the alley suddenly honks her horn. Elana frowned, staring at the familiar-looking black car vigilantly. His steps stiff, a little bit away.

He had seen the black car, but where?

The dark glass of the car was suddenly lowered, and Karel's familiar face instantly appeared there, leaving Elana agape in shock.

"Hi Elana," Karel greeted kindly, his smile wide friendly.

"Hai as well," Elana said quickly. But his forehead was wrinkled deep. The area of his house in the suburbs is quite far from the nightclub in the middle of the city where he works, right? What is Karel doing here?

"I had business with Sachi at the supermarket where you worked," Karel pointed to the supermarket not far from their current location. "Then Sachi said you had no one to drive, so I decided to stop by and drop you off, because we're one way." Karel reached out from behind the wheel and opened the passenger door for Elana, "Let's get on, otherwise we can be late."

For a second Elana was glued, confused as to what to do. But Karel is completely harmless, isn't it? This man is her superior, after all Karel picked her up at Sachi's request.

Slightly burdened with doubt, Elana finally stepped into Karel's car, closed the door and turned to Karel awkwardly.

"Te. thank you," said Elana stammered later.

Karel nodded his head, smiling widely. Somehow the man looked so happy when Elana got into his car.

"Pair up your seat belt, I'm going to speed up a little bit tonight" said Karel cheerfully, then began to run his car through the crowds of the road.

When Karel's car reached the parking lot, Elana stared in confusion at the empty parking lot. There were only a few black cars parked there, quite the opposite of last night where the spacious car park seemed crowded.

"We're parted, because it's still quiet. After all, the Club seemed to be open late tonight," Karel gave a brief explanation when opening the door for Elana, then sighed at Elana's steps to follow her towards the front door of the club.

"We... not through the employee's door?" Elana asked worriedly as Karel stepped into the club's large and luxurious lobby. Unlike yesterday, Sachi brought him into the club through the employee door in the basement, he said the front door was reserved for guests carrying special pass cards that were checked by guards at the front door. Not everyone can enter this luxury club, they must have an exclusive membership card that has a fairly expensive price.

"The club hasn't opened yet, so we can enter through here," Karel's smile suddenly disappeared and his expression turned nervous as he opened the door. Elana frowned while studying Karel's face.

Why did Karel turn as if frightened? Afraid of what?

The door of the club opened, and lay before them a pitch-black view of the quiet club room. Elana looked around confused. Why isn't there even one person? Even the employees, bartenders, barmaiders who were supposed to set up the club before it opened were also nonexistent.

Elana turned her confused head towards Karel, about to ask him. But, Karel's expression that was staring at her made her stupefied. Karel's eyes looked at her sharply, from head to toe, as if judging Elana closely.

Then before Elana could open her voice, Karel pushed Elana's body to fall to the floor.

"I'm sorry Elana. You're the one who put yourself in trouble" Karel said softly, then suddenly the man turned his back on Elana, came back out the front door and closed the door from behind.

Elana turned her head towards Karel's departure in confusion, her eyes staring at the door that was now closed tightly, she quickly tried to get up, trying to chase after Karel to find an explanation, and she was looking for an explanation, but the sound of footsteps heard behind her made Elana turn her head back towards the source of the sound.

His eyes widened when he found a familiar figure, dressed in a black-and-black suit with some of his men wearing the same dark full suit behind him.

It was the criminal who beat up the guy yesterday in the men's toilet...?

The black-clothed man with a powerful menacing aura signaled a finger towards his men, and suddenly, some of the men in black clothes instantly moved towards Elana.

Elana limped trying to stand up in panic, trying to escape. But free, his weak footsteps were clearly defeated by the strong men who had suddenly surrounded and subdued him.

"Wait first! What's the matter? Why are you doing this?" Elana shouted, trying to thrash as hard as she could to save herself.

"Take him to the upper room," the dark-faced man gave the order, and Elana's body was helplessly dragged up the stairs towards the top floor of the nightclub.