"You may die." Her mom is weeping from the other side of the phone while Ida's intentions were keen on doing what needs to be done.
Ida was stuck for a moment hearing those words from her mom while a lonely tear from her left eye fell on her cheek...
Ida was thinking whether to ask about the lie or to enjoy the dance. She was already mesmerized looking at him smile at her. She wanted to ask about it and went for it.
"Explanation?" Ida asked, folding her hands.
"Um- You remembered," Dannon gave her a frowning smile.
"Yeah. I do. Tell me."
"Okay. I wanted to talk to your dad about something. So, I lied that it was about the paperwork."
"But, please don't ask me what was it about," Dannon said in a pleasing way, looking at her.
"You'll surely get to know about that," he said.
"You told me that you've to take me somewhere," Ida asked him.
"Hey, is everything okay here? Doesn't seem so," Liza came with grape drink in her hand.
"Don't start, Liz. I'm going to tell her," Dannon said.
"Oh! Talks aside. It's play time," Liza said, playfully.
"Liza, why are you doing this? Is it so important now?" Dannon questioned.
"It's my birthday and I want something normal on MY day," Liza said.
"Let's take her after the party," Liza whispered to him.
"Guys, what's going on?" Ida was puzzled.
"I've already told you. It is Playtime," Liza said, walking to the mic placed at the centre of the backyard.
Pensy went home early saying that she has some work. They had planned for a game of hide and seek that evening. Ida said that she was not going to take part in it, but then Dannon made her join them. But Sarah was very sleepy and did not play with them. She slept in the guest room.
Everyone at the party gathered in the living room to start the game. Liza had written everyone's names in small paper parchments. And she took a parchment from it.
"It's Dannon," Liza shouted in a joyous voice.
"Me?"
"I told you that it'll be you," Liza hushed.
Dannon got sight of the guy who he saw pushing Ida down the stairs. He told Liza about the guy and made sure that she would keep Ida safe from him.
"Go hide everybody. Dannon will be coming to get you," Liza said, putting her hands up in the air. "I'll take care of it. You go to the dorm and check on the girls."
Ida went near the stairs and was leaning on it, thinking about what was happening around her.
"Hi, Ida," Santner whispered from behind.
"Oh. Hey."
"Come. Let's hide," he took her to the porch.
"Oh. Not here," Ida said as she looked around the open place.
"The decorations are beautiful, aren't they?" he smiled at her. "Feel the breeze, Ida," he said, lifting his hands across his body.
"It's beautiful. But, it is easy for us to get caught here. We'll- go somewhere else," Ida said, looking at the bushes which seemed to be rustling.
Dannon asked Liza if she's going to take Ida now or not as she's in threat. Liza told him that she'll take her safe and the guy can't even get near her. They started walking into the lawn.
"Where is it?" Dannon asked Liza in a husky voice.
"What?"
"The portal?"
"Oh! I left it in the dorm," Liza said disappointingly.
Dannon stopped behind her, "What will you do now?" he whispered, raising his brows.
"All hope's on me," she said walking.
"Gonna do it yourself? You can't even do it alone-properly," Dannon lilted.
"I can," she said. "I'll take her. You go," she told him and ran to Ida.
Ida and Santner were walking to the lawn to find a place to hide. Santner was complimenting Ida about how beautiful she looked in that outfit. He told her that he should've danced with her rather than standing with hesitation. Ida was smiling at him as they reached the lawn.
"Hey, Ida," Liza said, looking around the lawn.
"Hey."
"Um-- Hey, Robert was looking for you. He might be upstairs," Liza said to Santner.
"Oh- Okay. I'll look for him," he walked away.
"Let's hide."
Liza was taking Ida into the woods to hide.
"Liza, I don't know what you're playing," Ida sighed.
"C'mon, Ida. You know it's Hide and Seek."
Ida asked Liza to stop making fun of it and asked her to tell what she and Dannon were talking about earlier. Liza asked her to wait until the party's over. But, Ida was adamant that if she didn't tell her, she would go home then. The trees afar from them were rustling, not because of the wind. Liza borrowed a couple of minutes from her lying that she has to use the washroom. Go hide. Or you'll get caught and know nothing from me.
"Okay. I will hide."
Ida was walking fast to hide. Within second, she heard someone standing behind her.
"Ida, RUN," Liza shouted from a distance, running to wards her.
Ida ran wildly like she might fall. While, Liza managed to fight the mysterious guy who has been following Ida.
"You duffer!" Liza hit him hard.
"Huh- I'll get her. If not now, one day," the guy smirked and ran away.
Ida went into a hollow tree trunk and hid inside. That was the widest tree in the woods.
"Ida," Liza was searching. She was looking out to make sure that the guy is gone and not waiting to get to Ida.
"I'm here," Ida said.
Liza joined Ida inside the tree trunk and was looking into Ida's eyes keenly.
"Liz, I'm not into girls," Ida said as the moment seemed quite steamy.
"What? Me neither, little girl," Liza said making Ida grumpy for calling her a little girl.
"Ouch! My foot," Ida screamed huskily as Liza stepped on it and started counting, "3-2-1".
Then, there was a sudden beam of light inside the tree trunk which made Ida faint as she had the fear of sudden lights(Photophobia).
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