Somewhere unknown.
The world was silent. Cold. A damp smell of mold and rust filled the air, seeping into every breath. Water dripped slowly from the ceiling, echoing through the pitch-black basement like a clock marking their doom. Chains clinked faintly in the distance.
Elena's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred. A sharp pain throbbed in her wrists where the rope dug into her skin. The floor beneath her was icy concrete, rough against her cheek. Her heart pounded as reality sank in.
"...Aira?" Her voice cracked as she struggled to sit upright. "Where are we?! What… what happened?"
From the corner, a faint voice answered. Weak but steady.
"I'm here." Aira slowly lifted her head, her hair messy, her lip bleeding from a struggle. Her wrists were bound tightly behind her back, cutting off circulation, but her eyes remained fixed on Elena. "You're awake… thank God."
Elena shifted, the ropes biting deeper. Panic surged. She tugged desperately, but the knots only tightened. "This… this can't be real." Her voice broke, rising into a sob. "Why are we here? I don't understand—what is this place?!"
Aira swallowed hard, forcing her voice to remain calm even as her own chest trembled. "Celeste," she whispered bitterly. "She knew. She knew we heard her phone call. She knew we saw."
Elena's eyes widened. "So she… she kidnapped us?" Her voice cracked in disbelief. "This is insane… she's insane…"
Aira's throat tightened, but she nodded, lowering her gaze to hide the fear threatening to overwhelm her. "I should have stopped you from following. I should've…" Her breath hitched. "Now we're here."
Tears rolled down Elena's cheeks as she whispered the question neither of them wanted to face. "Aira… are we going to die?"
For a moment, silence. The dripping water echoed louder.
Aira bit her lip until she tasted blood. Then, pushing aside her terror, she shuffled closer, the ropes scraping her skin raw. She leaned forward until her forehead touched Elena's.
"No," she whispered fiercely. "We're not. I'll protect you. I promise." Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her voice did not break. Even if I'm terrified too.
Meanwhile…
The Langford Mansion glittered with celebration, oblivious to the darkness brewing outside. The golden chandeliers still shone. Glasses clinked. Guests laughed, music swelled, and waiters moved gracefully between tables. To anyone watching, it was perfection.
But beneath the surface, unease had begun to spread.
Mrs. Langford looked around, her eyes scanning every corner. "Where's Elena?" she asked, her tone sharp. "I told her not to linger in the washroom too long. Guests will begin leaving soon."
Mr. Langford glanced at the clock, frowning. "And Aira's not here either. Mira, wasn't she with you?"
Mira shook her head quickly. "She said she was going to the car to get something. I thought she'd be back by now."
Lily scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Aira never knows how to behave. Always disappearing, always ruining important moments."
Before anyone could respond, Celeste stepped forward, her expression painted with perfect worry. Her voice was soft, almost trembling. "Oh dear… maybe they just went for a little walk. You know how close they've gotten recently. Probably just some girl talk."
Rayen leaned lazily against the table. "Or maybe Aira ran off to cry again. As usual."
Sana smirked, swirling her drink. "Maybe she finally realized she's nothing but a shadow at this party."
But Alec's frown deepened, his chest tightening. He glanced at the main doors, then the back hallway. Something felt wrong. His instincts screamed at him.
"Mira," he muttered lowly, "something's off."
She blinked, concerned. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know…" Alec shook his head slowly, unsettled. "Just… a strange feeling."
Mr. Langford's voice cut through, calm yet heavy. "Do not ignore your instincts, Alec. Aira would never simply vanish. Not without telling someone."
Celeste forced a laugh, though her knuckles turned white where she clutched her glass. "Isn't this a bit dramatic? They're probably just outside. Fresh air, you know?"
Mrs. Langford's eyes narrowed, sharp and cold. "My daughter is not shy. Something's not right."
Jayden crossed his arms. "So what, you think they just ran away for fun?"
"No." Alec's jaw tightened as he moved toward the back hallway, recalling the moment. "I saw them go that way earlier. But they never came back." His heart sank. "I should have stopped them."
Mr. Langford stood firmly. "Enough. We search the property. Now."
A hush fell over the nearby guests. The joyous music no longer masked the tension creeping through the room.
Celeste's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching. Panic flickered in her chest, though she quickly buried it beneath fake tears. "Oh—fine. If it makes you feel better… I'm sure it's nothing. I must just be stressed from the party."
Mrs. Langford touched her arm. "Go rest. You've done enough already."
Celeste nodded, biting her lip, playing the perfect role. But deep inside, her pulse raced. If they find anything…
Back in the basement.
The door creaked open. Harsh light cut through the dark. Heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Aira's body tensed as shadows appeared at the edge of the light. Elena's breath hitched, her tears drying in sudden terror.
Someone was coming.
And the game was only just beginning.