DMN

The pills were gel capsules, half red and half black. There were six of them in the pink palm of Aisha's hand.

"DMN?" Lois said, not sure she had heard correctly."

"D-M-N. Like, demon," Maria said. "Hallucinogens. Like LSD, except instead of seeing dragons, you feel like you've turned into a demon!"

Aisha smirked. "Not just feel like it...you take enough, you might actually grow horns or a tail! This is the real shit, Joanne!"

Lois blinked. "Grow horns and a tail? How can a drug do that? I don't believe it."

The two women looked at the reporter...and there was something in their eyes. They smiled, almost in unison.

"You should take these," Maria said. "After all, you sucked off the dealer. It'll be your reward."

Lois backed up, but the two crowded in on her. Aisha's grin spread, the black transwoman uncomfortably close now.

"Don't be scared. We'll be with you. We just want you to relax...have fun...you are a party girl, aren't you? Because if you aren't..."

The reporter felt her shoulderblades touch the grimy wall. The landing at the bottom of the stairs was small, and there was only the one light overhead. She was trapped. If she just said no to drugs, her investigation might end here and now...but if she took the pills...no. Not if. When she took the pills. Lois had come too far to back down.

What will happen to me? Lois thought.

"Be a good girl and take your drugs," Aisha said as she picked up a red-and-black capsule and moved it toward the reporter's lips. "Then we can really party?"