Moon

7

By the time we pulled up to the mansion, it seemed that the party was already in full stream. Pounding music could be heard on the mile long driveway and out into the vast fields surrounding the property. Huddles of teenagers were scattered all over the lawn, either dancing or making out in the moonlight. 

"You ready to party?" Shannon yelled over the music as she climbed out of the nearly shaking car.

I shrugged, digging my hands deeper into the hidden pockets of the sweatpants I was currently wearing.

"Hey look! I think Mark and Dane are coming over this way right now!" 

I squinted through the neon lights, and caught sight of the two figures making there way towards us. One of them waved and Shannon waved back, she blew me a kiss before disappearing into the crowd.

"Yo! Elis!" Dane walked up to me and patted me on my back. "Thanks for making it!"

"No problem!" I shouted back, hoping he could hear me.

Mark grinned, "Dude, I'm supposed to say that, but yeah! Thank you!"

I shrugged, possibly for the third time today. 

"I'll see you around soon at school, yeah?"

I nodded. Mark than flashed me another smile before following in suit and disappeared inside the house. I slipped out my phone to text Chris and see where he was at, but there was no signal. I frowned, what type of rich family don't have signal or wifi at their house/mansion, because from the looks of it they sure can afford to buy a whole carrier.

I slowly made my way into the house, the air reeked of alchohol and sweat. I counted to three in my head, hoping I wouldn't lose my cool, I found two bottles of unopened water and drained them. Immediately I began to feel a little better, but the stuffiness wasn't exactly helping. 

"Elis!" someone exclaimed from behind me, and I turned to see Chris's grinning face.

"Hey!" I replied, holding my water bottle up in a salute.

He laughed, "Dude, you're too sober for this party..wanna go outside real quick though? It's really, really hot in here."

I wasted no breath in rushing past sweaty bodies to get to the door that led outside. Chris stumbled behind me.

Chris let out a breath and fanned himself as he leaned against a tree, his face beet red.

I chuckled at his appearance, "You look like you've been cooked."

Chris scowled, "It's not my fault we're-the air conditioning isn't working."

"Are you kidding me?" I gestured towards the house, "You can't tell me they can afford all this, but can't even fix a damned a.c?"

For a moment Chris seemed to be caught off guard. "It just broke, right when the party was actually getting started."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, whatever. This is why I don't like parties."

"Dude, but this is where you get all the girls!" he whined.

I raised my eyebrows, "I thought you said they're thirsty as fuck at school, how hard can that be?"

Chris guffawed, "Dickwad, Mark has connections outside of Lunville, his parties are when people from the outskirts of the town come. That's what makes them above good."

"Outskirts?"

"Just people who live in the woods that aren't really a part of Lunville, but aren't any closer to other towns around us."

"Oh," I twisted the empty bottle and chucked it into the nearest bin. "Well, you seem sober enough, want to go take a hike in the woods?"

Momentarily the look of panic registered in Chris's eyes, before he shot me a desperate look. "Please."

A few minutes later we were deep into the neck of the woods. There was the faint pounding of the bass in the distance, but otherwise, it was completely still and black.

I shivered, "The temperature just dropped from it being above 100˚ to below zero degrees."

Chris sighed, "But it feels so nice." 

I looked over at him, surprised the chilly, night air didn't affect him. In the faint moonlight his eyes shone a dim yellow, I blinked. It was gone. "Is it safe out here?" I suddenly wandered out loud.

Chris looked around, straining as if trying to hear something. "Yeah, for now it is."

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, "So, one more week of school for you guys?"

"Yup, summer break here I come!" he mocked in a high pitched, girl's voice.

I laughed, all of a sudden Chris's eyes went wide and before I could even think or speak, my vision went black.