The Masked Murder

chapter four

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Ethan Grey shakes his head as he watches his long-time friend, James Coldridge, hand the dazzling Scarlett Hansen a glass of spiked champagne. Ethan had always known James to be a bit egotistical and intense but tonight, he was going exceedingly far.

Ethan shook his head and walked toward the opposite end of the ballroom. He was supposed to have come here with Angela, but speculations had risen that she had been shacking it up with some other guy in the coatroom. Of course, Ethan shouldn't have immediately trusted those accusations, especially when the town was filled with lies, but he knew along with everyone else that it was probably true.

Angela Bowman was a goddess, an angel sent from above. She was also poison, a deadly flower that was so enchanting on the outside...but so dangerous on the inside. She could catch your eye in a second and make you feel unstoppable...and then knock you down the next and move onto her next victim.

Ethan knew all of this yet he was still crazy about her. She was like a drug, and he couldn't get rid of the way he felt about her no matter how hard he tried. She was malicious, she was compelling, she was--

"Hey, Ethan."

Ethan's thoughts subsided from his mind as he turned around to face Yasmin Oliver, the girl he had been trying to get away from all night. She had so obviously been crushing on him since the seventh grade and Ethan felt guilty that he didn't return the feeling. However, he was too kind to face her and simply smiled politely at her.

"Hey," he said. "Nice party, huh?"

"The best!" Yasmin exclaimed looking around the room. "Do you want to dance?"

Ethan shook his head. "I'm not much of a dancer..."

"Oh come on!" Yasmin insisted excitedly. "Its a slow song just for couples!"

Ethan drew his eyebrows together. "Yasmin, look, I really need to tell you that--"

"Oh there you are!"

An unfamiliar voice interrupts Ethan as a young girl about his age walks over to him, linking her arm through his. She smiles at him affectionately, her hazel eyes sparkling with adoration. Yasmin's expression falters.

"Who is this?" Yasmin questions tentatively.

"I'm his girlfriend, silly!" The girl exclaims. She glances over at Ethan tilting her head and Ethan finally catches on. He nods in agreement.

"Who are you?" The girl asks.

"Yasmin..." Yasmin replies, her expression not shifting. "Um...I have to go. Nice talking to you Ethan..."

"I'm Elena!" The girl introduces herself. Yasmin just looks at her warily and walks off into the center of the ballroom, into the crowd of guests dancing.

"Uh, thanks," Ethan says hesitantly as Elena smiles at him.

"No problem," she says, letting go of his arm. "Figured you needed some help. Well, I'll see you around." she runs off to the refreshment table.

He watches the strange girl, Elena, start to talk to another dark-haired girl. He can't help but smile, just a bit. He averts his gaze and looks into the crowd. And then he walks into it.

But not before an ear-piercing shriek fills the room, the buzzing of the masquerade coming to a halt. Ethan could recognize that shrill scream anywhere--it was Angela's.