Stars, Secrets, and Lies

Parties, Clues, and a Bigger Problem

This is the part I've been waiting to get on paper for months, maybe since July. I'm sorry this has taken so long... for one I was a perfectionist, then gave up because I just wanted to post. Hope you guys like it! As always, comment and vote!

June 21, 2016: The Solstice.

We walked up to the house together. After the threats from a few days prior, we had considered not going to the party; but we didn't have a backup plan. So, Sylynn and Vesper had went to work covering up everyone's runes with tons of makeup. It was an effort at having less chance of being recognized, and potentially killed. We had the Institute locked down as best we could, and had searched every inch for our stalker. Every trace and theory said the only reason he or she had made in was because we had let them, and that they had disappeared off the grounds. We knew leaving the Institute unguarded was a terrible idea, but justified our absence by saying no one could get in without the gates being opened for them.

Everyone was coming. Our chances of finding anything were far higher if everyone was searching. Mae was on my left, arm in arm with Seth, and Daniel was on my right. Skylar, Vesper, Sylynn, and Jacques were in a line behind us making gagging noises and remarks about couples. Together, we walked down the street surrounded by other people dressed similarly: dark clothes that showed a little too much on some people. The building loomed ahead of us, music blaring from inside the gates.

"Is that a bank?" I asked Mae, taking in the grandness of the building. It seemed like a mansion, pristine white and so massive and complex I would probably get lost in it.

"Okay, everyone knows the plan right?" Skylar asked from behind us. It seemed to be her role to keep the missions running smoothly out in the field.

"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it about a thousand times," Seth complained.

"I don't care. We can't risk anyone messing up," Skylar shot back. "We're going in to find the identity of Gennaia's killer so we can eliminate the threat to us, the program, and put that creepy girl in the basement to rest so we can all sleep at night. We are not killing anyone," she put emphasis on this and looked at Vesper, Seth, and Daniel. "We are simply getting the clue, meeting back at the gates and leaving. We'll come up with our lovely murder plot later."

"Wait," Jacques said, analyzing the plan in his head. "If we're looking for the identity of the person or people who killed Gennaia, because we're at risk of them killing us, why are we going to their party? Doesn't that seem like we're walking right into their hands?"

"Well, we're here now," Daniel said over his shoulder.

He was right. We walked into the entryway, which opened up to a giant crowded room, which was dark and could have passed for a ballroom. The only lighting came from the glass ceiling overhead, which let the moon shine in. There were also flashing neon lights, which were harsh in comparison to the pale natural light. I saw Daniel melt into the crowd, and had already lost the four people who were behind me moments ago. I kept pushing forward, sticking close to Mae. We were supposed to split up to cover more ground and be less noticeable, but I wasn't ready to go out on my own yet.

"BAE!"

I jumped and looked to the source of the yell. Unsurprisingly, there was Haiden pushing his way through the crowd, bug eyes glued on Mae.

"Shit... Hide me..." She muttered, trying to hide behind me and Seth. It was too late. Haiden came up in front of us, and started to talk to Mae over me and Seth.

"You made it! And you brought your friend... Hey, where are those sexy runes?" He noticed, looking her up and down.

"What did you just say?" Seth asked, looking at the spangly boy trying to hit on his girlfriend.