Fates Intertwined

21. | In Your Head

 Inside was loud. There was chatter, machinery noises, and music. Purple accents were everywhere. How Deep Is Your Love played in the background as the five looked around at the surroundings.

"Totally not intimidating..." Nara murmured, scratching at the base of her scalp.

"Okay, first," Aurora turned to face them. "Don't eat anything. Don't drink anything. Don't even touch anything. Who knows what could be in here."

"Why?" Eric asked.

"People come in here expecting to party, but don't realize that they're signing their lives away. Most people who come in here, never return." She explained.

"And we just waltzed right inside. How clever." Lina remarked.

"Just don't eat anything, don't drink anything, don't touch anything, and you'll be fine." She reiterated. Then she turned and looked around at the large open area. "We need to find the Unaffected, but this place is huge."

"Let's split up." Zyran suggested.

"Yes. Uhm, Lina and Nara." She pointed. "And you and Eric."

"What about you?" He asked, brows furrowed.

"I'll be fine on my own." She assured. "Now come on."

"Wait," Lina called, the five of them staying rooted in their places. "How will we even know who the Unaffected is? We don't know what he looks like."

"You'll know." Then she was walking away. Lina threw her arms up.

"Come on, Lina." Nara said, dragging her off and leaving just the two brothers.

"Let's get this over with." Zyran sighed, and they ventured off inside. People crowded almost every corner making it hard to walk through. Zyran glanced at Eric, finding a smile playing on his face. "What are you smiling about?"

Eric's grin grew no matter how hard he tried to hide it. "You were hoping to get some alone time with little miss Aurora."

"I was not." He grumbled.

"Oh, you totally were." He grinned. "It's okay to like her; she's pretty." He was setting a trap.

"I don't like her just because she's pretty." And he fell for it.

"So you do like her." Eric teased.

Zyran sighed. "I barely know her."

"Gee, I just said you liked her, not that you loved her." He rolled his eyes. "Then what do you like about her?"

Zyran shrugged. "When I talk to her, it feels like I've known her for my entire life and it feels like no time passes at all. I like how she laughs, and her smile. I like her personality. How she's kind even when people are cruel."

"People like Lina?" He offered.

Zyran nodded. "It's a miracle she hasn't lost her cool yet. I mean, being trapped for over a century just to escape and face scrutiny. It's astounding."

"Yeah." He mumbled. They fell silent, Zyran watching as Eric navigated through the crowd. Zyran paused, watching as his brother continued on. His brows furrowed. "Eric?" He called.

Eric stopped. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"What?" Now, Eric was confused.

"You keep moving." He stated.

"Yeah. I'm trying not to hit these people." He stated.

Zyran glanced around. "What people?"