1 1 9 5

5.0 ; M i c h a e l .

I like you.

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M i c h a e l

I open the glass doors and hold the cold metal bar in my hands. I turn around to see if Lauren would catch up, but when i turned around, they were driving off...

"Uh..where are they going?" Kaysi asks me.
"I don't know. Lets just go." i walk ahead and into the confetti filled hall. Kaysi follows along and tries to step over the streamer and torn banners.
"Ugh, its like a gang of monkeys came through here" she whispers, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and maneuvering through the mess.
"You mean high schoolers?" i hear Kay laugh as i open the french doors leading into the chapel room and stare in shock and confusion.

"What...? Wh- where is everyone?" i ask expectantly.
"I knew it was too quiet in these halls. Im calling Lynn." Kay announces and walks back into the hall. I walk in and take everything in. Everything's set up...

I look to my left and watch the projector screen flash bright with the words: Homecoming cancelled.
I frown in realization.
"Omg, Thank you so much Lynn. Yeah. We'll be waiting." "Gordon Clifford!" i hear Kaysi push through the doors and look up at the screen.
"Oh yeah i heard. C'mon Cliff she's coming to pick us up."

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"But if you think about it...they can"
"Kaysi you are...you are something--"
"But its true!! Their tail is long enough" she says giggling.
"You know what, you remind me of a kitten" she admits.
"Im not sticking my dick into my asshole anytime soon, thank you and goodbye"
"that's not what i was saying" she loses her sentence in her laughter.
"Well she's here, so lets go" i grab her hand and take her around to Lynn's car.

I hop into the back and sit towards the middle as i watch Kaysi sit in the front next to Lynn.
"Omg girl hayyy!" i roll my eyes as the girls exchange greetings. Only girls.

She drives off as i watch the trees pass and road signs warn. I still don't know where Lauren is, but i hope she's okay. I'm kinda pissed. I got dressed for no reason. No reason at all. I look at Lynn and notice that she's dressed up just like the rest of us. Where did she come from?

"I was just there and there's this hot guy-ugggghh Kaysi you would love him" Lynn says excitedly.

Yeah no, Kaysi isn't into guys.

"Wait, what are you talking about? What happened, where are we going?" i ask confused.
"Woah woah woah calm down there buddy" Kaysi taunts.
"Well, since no body showed up, the school cancelled the dance--" i cut Lynn off.
"Well where is everyone?"
"Michael, honey, she's getting to that" Kaysi smirks taunting me, once again.

"They cancelled the dance because a lot of students from our school and other schools are going to this low-key building. But no ones knows though, so don't tell a soul. It's kinda like a hotel except the rooms aren't locked. You guys will see, its absolutley amazing."

Is this where Lauren is?

I lean my elbows on my knees and intertwine my fingers together listening closely.
"And where is this place again?" i question.
Lynn parks the car in this huge field with a view of tall shiny buildings and trees. All open and inviting, except for the other half of the grassy lot, which the is exact opposite. A dark cold Forrest with skinny to huge fat tree trunks, filled with random holes and ditches.
"You can't tell anyone." i nod slowly locking with Kaysi's eyes which are mirroring mine, along with her facial expression: pure confusion.
Lynn's eyes look serious, and the wrinkles around her mouth from smiling are faded.
She opens her mouth, about to speak when a whisper falls from her lips.
"Paradise falls".
(its a movie reference lol)

Kaysi starts laughing immensely as Lynn joins with her, laughing at my face of disappointment and unamusement.

"Guys im serious" i whine wanting to know all the information i can. Is Lauren okay?

Lynn takes her keys out of the ignition and stores her phone in her bra smiling from the remaints of laughter stored in her lungs.
"Its nothing Michael. Its not called anything. Some call it the Black Tower but other than that its nothing." she says as Kaysi and herself get out of the car.
I step out along with them and follow along as they start walking towards the woods.

As we get closer and closer,"I don't feel to good about this." i admit skeptically.
"Oh calm down Mike, who knows, you might get laid." Kaysi nudges her elbow into my side and wiggles her eyebrows at me. I just don't know though. All these twists and turns are confusing me. One more hill and i wont be able find my way back to her car.

We walk up to this Black Tower shit or whatever and i can definitely see why they call it that, and why Lynn thought it was a hotel. Because it really looks like it. The skinny trees around, the all black building, the snow all around, it makes everything look so grunge. Kaysi uses her phones backlight to peer at the square hole in the door. I knock and wait for a response.

"Hey guys its around the back. Most people who can't get in don't know how to. But since I know the password, I've you guys saved".

Ugh. There's a password? What is this, middle school?

We walk around to the back and down a little cranny by the building.
"Wow" i sigh. "I'm gonna need Jesus to help me find a way out of this place."
"Oh puh-leese it is not that hard to get here." Lynn states.
"Not hard to get here my ass! This place is a maze. Maximum security." Kaysi counters.

Me and Kay watch as Lynn does her magic. She slides a card under the door and waits for a few moments. The door unlocks and a bright white strobe light comes into play. The light immediately causes us to squint our eyes and cover our faces. A guy with green hair, red lips, and spiral printed clothes answers the door. His neon green eyes widen and his smile fills his entire face.

"Why why why, welcome! To the Black Tower."

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