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May the 22nd, Stonetown News Express

DON'T WATCH THE VIDEO

If you you still haven't watched the video of one very strange prom invitation, then please don't. Stay off the internet entirely if you can and DON'T go to that prom. It's dangerous. You WILL die. You will be safe if you stay inside and don't watch the video. If things go well, you will receive a very special material from us very soon. Stay save and stay tuned.

Mark Webber

*****

Candace knew he was coming and yet she still wasn't ready when she heard the doorbell. With her heart pounding loudly in her chest, she walked down the staircase, towards the front door. She could already see his stupid smiling face behind the curtain and she swallowed hard, her hands and legs shaking. Knowing what would happen, and what she would have to do, Candace hadn't been able to sleep or eat for the last two days.

Having seen that video, as blurry as it was, Candace believed that Yuli was the serial killer. Someone had to be, after all. But the whole thing about him being a vampire (and also a mermaid?) seemed very unlikely to her. Yes, Candace couldn't deny the fact that something very strange was happening in the town. People were crazy about Yuli, but to go as far as to say that he was some supernatural creature? She knew her mind wouldn't accept that until she saw it with her own two eyes.

Killing Yuli also seemed like an unnecessary measure but seeing the police officers also be very much in love with the boy, talking about him and him only when she passed them on the street the other way, convinced her that a phone call to the police wouldn't help much, if at all. It seemed like Carl, Mark and Candace were the only hope the town had, no matter how bizarre it all sounded.

Candace took a deep breath and unlocked the door. Once she was face to face with Yuli, the girl made an effort to smile back at him, but she feared that it looked more like a grimace of discomfort. Luckily, Yuli didn't seem to care as he didn't show that anything was wrong. The girl noted that he was wearing a white tuxedo, with pink elements and a bow-tie. In his hands, he was carrying a box with the logo of one of the most expensive boutiques in town.

She also noticed that behind the boy, there were a few men that Candace didn't know, wearing matching baby blue suits and grinning at her from ear to ear. It was jarring, uncanny. They looked like emotionless robots, programmed to smile at her in a way that didn't seem human in the slightest. Yuli's supernatural background didn't seem that implausible anymore.

"Hi." Yuli greeted her softly, his voice light and breath as he stared at her with some kind of uncertainty. It was weird seeing him behave not like an overly confident jerk. "You look beautiful."

Candace looked down at her oversize hoodie, yoga pants and bunny slippers. "Thanks." She said nonetheless. "What are you doing here?"

Yuli took a deep breath. "I wanted to ask you a very important question." Candace nodded, prompting him to continue. She wanted to act nonchalant, as though she was surprised and as though she didn't fear for her life and the lives of her parents.

Yuli half-turned and gestured at the men behind them. They started singing softly, harmonizing. They sounded good, like they were actual singers but Candace didn't recognize the song until Yuli started singing the actual words, or at least attempted to. He was singing La Vie en Rose. The girl liked the song alright, could appreciate the sentimental melody and the sweet words but what Yuli was doing with it, could not be called as such.

His voice was beautiful and enchanting as usual but he clearly didn't know French so it sounded more like a parody. Candace didn't speak much French either but she knew the song and knew how French was supposed to sound like. Yuli clearly wasn't conscious of his lack of ability to pronounce French as each word was uttered with such solemnity as if he was performing in front of the Queen of England. Despite the situation she wanted to laugh but she managed to keep a straight face and endure the ridiculous performance all the way to the end.