Simpler Things

Part 18: Mole-rats

        

                                The tunnels scared me. A lot. They a centimeter of dirty water, which was super fun to walk in. It sloshed beneath us. I shown my flash light around looking at the opening where we came in. My dad pulled out his cell phone.
"Really?" Snapchat can wait." I said.
"Snap... what? No, the signals, or lack there of." He said showing me the screen. We continues walking, the pipe continued straight, no end in sight. Finally the pipes split off in 3 directions. We stopped, the water slushed at our movement.
"We should head back, we don't know where we're going." My dad said, looking at me.
"I guess." I was curious to where this lead... but we really didn't know where we were going.

             My dad drove me back to my house and dropped me off. I went inside using my key. As I turned the lock I looked back at the old willow. I use to look at it with curiosity, love even. But now... it only seemed bitter.
The house was how we left it. I went up to my room, sitting on the edge of my bed. I just sat there. I tried to recount everything that has happened. Starting with James, ending with... would this even end. How long did he want to do this. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Megan,
Did you catch the bouquet?
I texted her back,
No. But I found a dead body
She responded,
Does that mean you'll be the next to die, you better not. There's a party tonight.
I texted back,
Do you want me gone?
She responded,
Nah, but I could use a wing women tonight.
I looked away from my phone. Maybe I should go tonight. With everything that's happened... my phone buzzed again,
It starts at 7. It'd be good for you. :)

                I just finished putting my earing in when the bell rang. I went downstairs and opened the door. I looked at my guest, Harley Quinn who looked back.
"What are you doing?" She said. She quickly came inside. "It's freezing out there."
"There isn't snow yet, so that's always good," I continued, "You aren't going to wear that, are you?" She looked at me.
"Yes, mom, I am." She said, and smirked. "Are you going to wear that?" I looked down at my outfit.
"Do I have to dress up?" I said.
"Yes." She grabbed my hand, and dragged me upstairs. "Where's your costume bin?" I pointed at the closet,
"I'm not being the Joker."

            We headed out the door and began heading towards the party. The moon was out, it's surface was almost glowing. I was dressed in a black dress, and, you guessed it, cat ears. Original. I know.
"Are you going to tell me where this is?" I asked.
"Nah." She said, smiling. We continued walking through the hushed town. "What time is it?" Megan said, looking around. I looked down at my watch and responded,
"Only 8:13pm." The silence gave me chills. Creepy. We headed north on Mark Avenue. The destination became clear.
"Is this Becky's party?"
"No!" She dragged the last syllable out.
"It is, isn't it?"
"No. And even if it was, bury the hatchet all ready-"
"No. It was traumatic. I am traumatized."
"You are going to enjoy yourself tonight. I know you are," she said. "Look, you're single,  in a nice dress, and going to a soc's party on the upper east side." I pulled her along.
"Ugh. Fine, but don't make any Outsiders references at the party. You'll get both of our asses thrown out of there." I said. We continued walking.
                I could hear the music from a few blocks away. The thudding of the electronic beat vibrated the entire house. It was packed, everyone had a drink in their hands.
"Do they know they're minors too?" Megan said as I pulled her through the crowds. We made it through and headed to the smaller room off side of the living room. We were the only ones in here.
"Okay. So..." Megan started.
"Oh... I just wanted a seat of my own. We just walked 8 blocks," Megan looked at the doorway, "Oh come on. Pop-a-squat." She did.
I began picking at my dress skirt.
"What do normal people do at parties this big?" She asked.
"I don't know... my parties are usually just me and Netflix."
"Do we go dance... or..." she said, and got up.
"Not so quickly." A voice sounded from the doorway. Both of our necks snapped in that direction. The hairs on my arms stood on end, as Becky glared at me from the doorway. "What are you... two doing here?"
"Why did you hesitate?"
"What?" She began tapping the wall with her acrylic nails.
"You hesitated, on saying 'two'. Why?" I asked.
"Why not? I didn't know if your geek squad had more to it." She smiled, showing artificially white teeth.
"Wasn't it come one, come all? I mean, you posted the invites on social media. I'm surprised there hasn't been any 40 year olds yet." Megan mumbled the last bit.
"So?"
"So, what's the problem?"
"Who said there was a problem?"
Awkward silence. Best of it, I took this time to look at her. Like, really look at her. My conclusion, she wasn't pretty. I mean, she was stunning, but so rotten, her beauty trickled away in the drain that was her personality.
                        The party was going to be eventful, even if I wasn't there. I knew that now. I knew all of those kids. Not personally, not even well. They had families, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Waiting for them to come home. There was over 300 people there, that number would only grow through out the night. 300 individuals. All would go home. All except one.

The only one that would die.