Trust Me

A small envelope sat on top of the round glass table. A young girl stood in front of a mirror, her dull grey eyes lingering on the envelope. There was ink scratched across the front of it, cursive letters forming her name: Marissa Smith. Her invitation to the ball. She wasn't sure about it at first. The opportunity of a lifetime was just delivered at her doorstep, and yet, she was hesitant to accept. It wasn't until she spoke to her childhood friend, Lucian, that she was completely convinced.

"I got invited too! Isn't this great?" Lucian had asked passionately.

"Actually... I haven't accepted yet."

"What? Why not?" He seemed shocked by her response.

"I just have a bad feeling about it. When I saw the envelope on my doorstep, a raven was standing next to it. It's a bad omen."

"You're going to pass up this opportunity just because of a bird? That's ridiculous, Marissa."

"Well..."
"Trust me." Lucian's bright blue eyes shimmered with excitement. "It's going to be great."

One thing led to another, and now here she was, preparing herself for the ball. She pulled up her silky black hair into a ponytail. Marissa stared at herself in the mirror. The person who gazed back at her was a stranger, the face of a fragile porcelain doll hiding behind a mask of makeup. She wore a long black dress, held together by a white ribbon tied around her torso. She was covered in jewelry and pearls, the finishing touches to her outfit for the ball.

Marissa snatched the envelope off the table, holding it tightly in her hand. She hurried outside, fast and graceful despite her heels. A carriage was waiting for her, its doors swung open like welcoming arms. She leaped into them, smiling softly. The inside was comfortable and cozy. She was nervous, but the thought of Lucian greeting her at the ball eased the butterflies in her stomach.

The carriage began moving as soon as the doors were shut. It wasn't long before they reached the castle. It was smaller than she imagined, but that didn't take away from its magnificence. Marissa exited the carriage, walking towards the large doors. Flowers bloomed all around the castle, a single path leading her through the field of colors.

Once she was at the entrance, she stood there, staring up at the doors. Wind combed through her hair and cooled the sweat on her forehead. The thought of Lucian greeting her when the doors opened brought a smile to her face. Her heartbeat slowed as she took a deep breath. She thought of the way Lucian would smile once she entered, how his face would light up. They would talk and laugh, maybe even dance, and Lucian's promise would be kept. She would look back on this night fondly, never having any regrets. Suddenly, her nervousness melted away.

However, it didn't last long. Marissa swung open the doors and walked inside, holding her head up high. Lucian was waiting there, just as she expected, but it wasn't at all like she imagined. Instead of a smile, he had a terrified expression on his face.

"Marissa, hold the door!" he cried, stumbling forward. Everything happened so fast, Marissa could hardly comprehend what was happening. The door slammed shut behind her, and immediately after, the click of a lock echoed through the ballroom. She whirled around, breathing heavily.

"What just happened?" she asked in disbelief. The entire ballroom was almost empty.

Lucian was trying to remain calm, although the trembling of his hands told her that it wasn't working. "We're trapped."

"But where is everyone? This is the ball, isn't it? I don't understand."

"I'm not sure. I just came here and the doors locked until you came. I think... maybe this was a trap."