Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 25

Meadow stepped out the room with a heavy sigh, the hallway was now surrounded by people. She struggled to squeeze past a few people before suddenly knocking into someone's shoulder which knocked her back against the wall. She groaned as her shoulder knocked against the wall.

"Shit!" She groaned as she rubbed her shoulder, stepping back as a tall figure approached her. She glanced up at them, their face covered by a purge style mask that was flashing its lights on and off. His dark black hair was brushed back. She could just make out their bright green eyes peaking through the eye holes of the mask. The chain hanging from their torn worn out black jeans jingling as they approached her. They stood over her with their hands slid inside their jeans pockets.

"Sorry about that, it's crowded up here." They apologised, their deep voice muffled behind the mask as they leaned down slightly to get a closer look at Meadow. Meadow backed herself against the wall, still rubbing at her shoulder. She was fixated on their eyes as they stared back at them.

"I..It's fine." She stuttered back, quickly avoiding eye contact from them. They chuckled to themselves under the mask as they began to step back from her. They turned their head towards the room full of people downstairs as they then turned to walk downstairs.

"Watch out next time." They chuckled before disappearing into the crowd. Meadow watched in silence as they vanished into the crowd before turning her focus towards Keegan as she emerged from the room, adjusting her jacket as she approached Meadow with a pleased smile. Meadow smiled back at her as they took each other's hand, Keegan leading the way downstairs to the party. Meadow caught a quick glance of Jade and Heidi sitting on the sofa. Heidi was sitting on Jade's lap, Jade's hands locked on her waist as they made out. Meadow chuckled to herself as Keegan led the way towards the kitchen as she then suddenly stopped from seeing Harper and Aidan engaged in a conversation. There was a stern look plastered on Harper's face as Aidan stood with his arms across his chest. Keegan let go of Meadow's hand as she approached them, Meadow quietly following behind her.

"What's going on?" Keegan asked, raising an eyebrow at them both as she stood in front of them. Harper swiftly turned to face her, lightly pulling her in closer.

"We have a fucking problem." She whispered as Meadow stood a few inches away from them, still able to hear a few words here and there. She turned to look over at Aidan who was handing a can of coke towards her. She smiled back at him as she took the can from his hand. He gently pulled her in towards him as groups of people began to enter the kitchen.

"What type of problem?" Keegan quired as she leaned in closer. Harper exhaled deeply as before answering. She rubbed her temple in frustration before turning their focus towards Heidi and Jade entering the kitchen. Jade's arm thrown round Heidi's shoulder proudly.

"What's going on?" She asked as she took a quick swig of her beer. Harper groaned slightly as she gestured everyone into a circle. Keegan gently pulled Meadow towards her side as Harper leaned back against the counter, folding her arms across her chest.

"We have a problem, one of Damien's men are here. I'm not sure on where they are now but they're here. There's a high possibility they're armed." Harper announced as there was a moment of stunned silence. Meadow holding the can of coke tightly in her hands as Keegan's eyes darted round for a moment as she thought to herself.

"What do they look like? We need to get everyone out before anyone gets hurt." She declared as Aidan and Jade nodded back at her in agreement.

"They didn't come in costume only a purge mask." Harper announced as Meadow suddenly found herself frozen on the spot, her heart fell to her stomach as she looked back in horror. Keegan turned to glance at the pale white expression on Meadow's face.

"Babe, what's wrong?" She asked in a worried tone of voice. Meadow swallowed for a second before answering, placing her drink down on the counter.

"I..knocked into them earlier. After I left the room I was trying to make my way back towards the party and he knocked into him.." Meadow stuttered nervously as Keegan looked back over at Harper with a stern look.

"We need to get everyone out of here now!" She demanded as everyone nodded back in agreement.

"I'll set off the fire alarms." Aidan suggested as he pulled his lighter from his pocket and hurried away. Keegan grabbed Meadow's hand tightly as she led her back towards the party before the music suddenly stopped from the loud screeching sounds of the fire alarm. Everyone began to hurry out the house in a panic. Meadow found herself pulled into the large crowd as she was dragged away room Keegan by the crowd before suddenly being pulled out swiftly. She was frozen on the spot as a hand covered her mouth before being pulled into the corner of the hallway. She was pushed up against the wall, her mouth still covered. It was the same man from earlier. The one her friend's were worried about. She stared back in fear, tears already filling her eyes as he raised his index finger to the lips of the mask. She nodded back slowly as he began to remove his hand from her mouth, reaching behind his back as he pulled out his pistol. A small gasp escaping her lips as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Where's Keegan?" He questioned, Meadow too frozen in fear to properly form an answer. He slammed his hand against the wall, pointing the end of the gun against her chest as he leaned in closer.

"I..I don't know. W..We got separated.." She stuttered, trying to stop the tears from filling her eyes. He tilted his head slightly before slowly pulling the gun from her chest.

"Damien's had his eyes on your pretty face for a while." He added, running the end of the gun slowly across her cheek. Meadow threw her hands up in fear, turning away and closing her eyes tightly.

"P..Please, I..I don't know anything.." She cried. He chuckled to himself as he pressed the end of the gun under her chin, turning her head to face him. Meadow stared back at his green eyes.

"Damien has some plans for your family. Not to mention you, you could be useful to us so do us a favour princess and keep your mouth shut about this." He demanded, pulling the gun away from her face. Meadow nodded back in agreement before he pulled her from the wall, pushing her back into the crowds of people still hurrying out the house. She stumbled out the house, quickly catching herself against the wall. She swiftly wiped the tears from her face. She jumped back slightly from a sudden touch on her shoulder, turning round to see Keegan standing behind her. She dived into her arms, pressing her close against her. Keegan returned the embrace happily as Meadow pulled away to look back at her for a moment before searching round for everyone else.

"Where is everyone?!" She asked in a panic as Keegan then turned to see Harper and Aidan hurrying towards them.

"Where's Jade and Heidi?!" Keegan asked. Meadow clung to Keegan's arm tightly as Harper and Aidan searched round in a panic. Meadow helped search before they all stopped from hearing the sound of heels heading towards them. They turned to see Heidi and Jade walking towards them. They smiled happily, Harper taking a step forward before suddenly stopping on the spot. The smiles already fading from their faces as they watched Heidi help Jade out the house, her arm round her shoulder to keep her up as Jade kept her hand pressed on her left side, Heidi's hand on top of hers. The left side of her costume was already soaked in blood as she struggled to keep her balance. Meadow covering her mouth in horror as Harper rushed to her side as Heidi slowly sat her down against the wall, keeping her hand in place. Keegan rushed beside her, cupping her face in her hands.

"What happened!?" She asked in a panic, Jade trying to flash a week smile as she panted. Heidi keeping the pressure pressed on her side.

"There wasn't just one of his men. There was two of them.." Jade panted. Aidan gently placed his hand on Meadow's back, turning her round so her face was buried in his shirt. Meadow closed her eyes tightly as she wrapped her arms round him. He softly stroked the top of her head for comfort.