Behind That Locked Door

Nowhere Man

The building is old, pristine as it can be in a city like New York. Paul, John, and you all look at one another before you step inside of this medieval cathedral, while Lori stares straight ahead, a look of determination on her face.

You grab her hand, giving it a squeeze, but she doesn't respond.

"This is it?" John says, underwhelmed.

Paul shuffles up to your side.

"It's so. . ."

"Weird." You finish for him.

Lori begins to move up the white steps, and you follow, though a little hesitant.

The boys clamber behind you, watching as Lori knocks on the wooden doors in an odd rhythmic pattern.

You turn to her, about to ask how she knew to do that, but the door opens before you can get a word out.

A man who looks to be about fifty years old stands before the four of you, dressed sharply in a tuxedo. He's balding, with big, slightly bulging eyes and a too-wide smile. 

"Lori!" He says, arms wide. "You made it."

His gaze slides over to you and the boys, and you feel a shiver of unease trace up your spine under his eyes.

"And you've brought your friends, how lovely."

Lori nods, eyes slitting to you and then back to the man.

"We were glad to receive your invitation, Mr. Roberts." She gestures the the three of you. "This is -"

The man- Mr. Roberts waves her off.

"I know very well who they are, Lori. I may be old, but I'm not an idiot." He jokes, though it lands flat.

"Please," He says, stepping aside. "Come in, we've been waiting for you."

Paul and John share a look of trepidation, and you grab the skirt of Lori's dress before she steps inside.

Having always been intuitive, you can't help but feel as though you aren't supposed to be here.

"Lori, are you sure this is alright?"

She looks at you as if seeing you for the first time.

"Y/N, you're my best friend. Do you think I'd really take you somewhere dangerous?"

You think about that for a second. Lori is your oldest friend, and you'd follow her through fire and back again.

You release her skirt, look back at the boys, and move to enter the building.

The hall you enter is white marble with blood red carpet, glittering light fixtures handing above you like something out of a silent movie.

Mr. Roberts closes the big, heavy door behind the four of you with a thud, then gestures over to a table on the side of the hall. On it lay four different Mardi Gras-esque masks, two lined with gold thread, and the other lined with silver.

"Gold for the girls and silver for the boys."

John looks over your shoulder, looking from the masks to the man.

"What kind of party is this, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mr. Roberts wears that same, too-wide smile, eyes falling onto John.

"Just a little gathering of talented individuals." He offers the mask up to John. "If you please, Mr. Lennon."

John looks at Lori, who has already settled the mask over her eyes and nose.