The Queen's Game

Chapter 11:First Taste of Danger

(Soleil's POV)

The night was supposed to be fun, you know? Just a simple party. Tiana had invited me, and she promised me it would be chill. But nothing about this place was chill. The energy was thick in the air as soon as we walked through the door. You could feel the weight of it in your chest, almost like you were being smothered. I didn’t know the people throwing this party, but Tiana swore it was going to be a good time.

“You good?” Tiana asked, her voice cutting through the loud music. Her hand was on my shoulder as she guided me through the crowd.

I nodded. “Yeah, just... different vibe, y’know?”

“Yeah, I feel you. Just stay close to me.” She gave me a reassuring squeeze, but I could tell she was feeling the tension too.

I looked around, taking in the scene. The house was packed, with people spilling out onto the balcony, drinks sloshing around in red cups, people laughing and shouting over the music. It was a typical Oakland party, loud and chaotic. But something felt off. Maybe it was because I was still trying to adjust to the city or maybe it was the sense of power that seemed to radiate from certain groups in the room. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but the air was thick, like something was about to pop off.

I grabbed a drink off the counter, just trying to blend in. I didn’t even care what was in it. I took a sip and made my way to the back of the house where the music was a little quieter, trying to find a little peace in the chaos.

“Yo, Soleil!” I turned around to see Maya and Kailani waving me over.

“Girl, where the hell you been?” Maya asked, her voice loud and cutting through the music.

“I was just exploring the place a bit,” I said, trying to sound casual. “It’s... different.”

“Yeah, it’s crazy. But you know how we do,” Kailani added, pulling me into a hug. “You good?”

“I’m fine, just getting used to it,” I said, then looked around the room. “It’s a lot, though.”

Before they could respond, a loud argument erupted from the kitchen area. I glanced over and saw a group of guys getting into it. One of them was throwing his hands up, pointing at someone across the room. People were starting to gather around, and the tension was building. My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t used to this—at least, not like this. I mean, I’d seen fights before, but this felt different. The whole room was watching, waiting for something to happen.

“Yo, chill, man!” One of the guys shouted, but it only made the situation worse.

I felt my body tense, and before I could process what was happening, someone pushed one of the guys, hard. He stumbled back and hit the table, knocking over drinks. That’s when it all went down.

“F*ck this!” The guy who’d been shoved lunged at the other guy, throwing punches like he was trying to tear the world apart. People screamed and jumped back. The music seemed to get louder, more intense, as if it was feeding the chaos.

“Sh*t!” Maya hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the door.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Kailani urged, her voice frantic. “Before they start shooting or some sh*t.”

I followed them out of the kitchen, but the crowd was already moving, and the whole vibe of the party was shifting. This wasn’t just a fight anymore. It was something bigger, something that could spiral out of control in an instant. My heart was pounding as we pushed our way out into the living room, trying to avoid the mess that was unfolding.

The argument was escalating, and people were starting to scatter. Someone was shouting, “Get outta here! This sh*t’s about to get ugly!” The guy who had been shoved was yelling about respect, and the guy who’d thrown the first punch was shouting back. It was a mess.