I stayed on the couch long after the clock ticked past midnight, my legs curled up to my chest, and my eyes glued to the door. Every creak of the building made my pulse spike. They had been gone for hours. I couldn't rest, not with my stomach twisted into knots and the words The Order echoing in my head.It was nearly 2 a.m. when I finally heard the faint sound of the lock turning. My head shot up while my heart was hammering. The door creaked open, and the triplets stepped inside in their cold face. I stood immediately. "What happened? Are you guys okay?"Tyler was the first to answer. "We didn't find him. Not even a trace. It's like he vanished into thin air. And..." he glanced at his brothers before continuing, "we couldn't smell any rogue in the whole of Dresen tonight."Jason dropped onto the couch with a sigh while running a hand through his hair. "That's what's also bothering me. If the rogues were here, we should've picked up something. But nothing. Yet bodies keep showing up
When we arrived at the abandoned building, the whole place was already crawling with students. Everyone was droning with whispers while their voices trembled between fear and curiosity.I caught my breath as the ambulance pulled up and its sirens cut through the murmurs. A few men in white uniforms rushed inside and after a few seconds, they already came back carrying the girl's body. It was already covered.Lily clasped my hand tightly. I squeezed back even though my stomach twisted violently.Then after a while, I already spotted Ethan, Tyler, Jason, Gabriel, and even Maxine pushing through the crowd. Maxine's eyes found mine almost instantly."Sarah! Lily!" she called while hurrying toward us. "What happened? Did you see anything?"Lily shook her head quickly. "No. We just came when everyone started gathering."Maxine bit her lip and gaze darted to the stretcher. "This is insane, another one died."I just kept quiet.The crowd hushed suddenly when a tall man stepped forward. It was
I arrived at Blakefield so early in the morning even though I felt exhausted from last night’s party. It was actually better this way. If I came early, I wouldn't risk running into Ethan back at the condo."Finally. You're awake enough to think straight."I nearly dropped my sandwich. "You again," I muttered under my breath. “I told you not to talk to me when I’m at school.”"Don't sound so annoyed, Sarah,” the guy inside my head teased. "I've been waiting. So, tell me, how was the party last night?"I bit into my ham sandwich and scowled. Ignore him, Sarah. Just ignore him."Oh, come on," he drawled. "Don't be like that. You won Pair of the Night, didn't you?"I froze. "How do you know that?"He faintly chuckled. "I listen. You forget I'm always here. Now quit dodging what happened?"I sighed while lowering my sandwich. "Didn't I tell you already? Don't talk to me when I'm in school.""Yeah, yeah," he replied while completely ignoring me. "But seriously, Sarah, I missed you."I chok
The bass thumped through the decorated gymnasium as the after-party slowly came alive. Everyone was literally enjoying themselves and dancing. But me? I just sat back at our table with my untouched glass of juice sweating in my hand.I should've felt happy. I had just been named Pair of the Night. People congratulated me, smiled at me, and even cheered for me. But instead, there was this odd heaviness pressing on my chest."Sarah!" Lily's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She plopped down beside me.. "Congrats again, girl! Pair of the Night with Ethan! Can you believe it?"I forced a smile. "Thanks, Lily."Lily tilted her head at me. "Why do you sound like you just lost instead of won? The after-party starts in a few minutes. You should enjoy yourself, dummy.""I know," I murmured while staring down at the condensation dripping from my glass. "I want to... but I just feel strange tonight."Her brows furrowed and she leaned closer. "Strange? Like how?"I didn't answer right away. My
The music pulsed through the decorated auditorium and the strings of the fairy lights shimmered like stars above us. The Y2K theme was everywhere. There were glitter stickers on cheeks, low-rise jeans, butterfly hair clips, and even oversized tinted sunglasses hanging from collars.Gabriel stayed close beside me, ever the gentleman, but my eyes kept darting toward the crowd while searching unconsciously for someone else."Relax, Sarah," Gabriel uttered while smiling at me as if he read my nerves. "You look amazing. Just enjoy the night."I tried to return his smile. "I'll try."Before I could say anything more, Jason came barreling toward us with Lily in tow. His shirt was shiny silver and he wore tinted blue glasses like he was some kind of Y2K pop star."There's my favorite pumpkin!" Jason grinned while pulling me into a side hug. "You look like a Bratz doll, pumpkin. In the best way."I laughed while shaking my head. "Jason, you're literally glowing. That shirt is blinding.""Exact
I stood in front of my mirror while smoothing down the lilac Y2K crop top I paired with a low-waist denim skirt and platform sandals. I had never worn anything like this before, not in my entire life. The rhinestone butterfly clips on my hair sparkled under the light, but all I could think was: Do I look ridiculous?It had been a week since I was invited by Gabriel to be his partner and tonight, the acquaintance party will finally happen. My palms were sweating when a knock came at the door.I jumped. "C-Come in," I uttered while gently tugging the edge of my skirt.The door creaked open, and Ethan appeared. His tall frame filled the doorway and his eyes flickered over me from head to toe."You're taking too long," he muttered. "The acquaintance party is in an hour."My throat went dry. "I—I'm already done," I stuttered while twitching with my butterfly necklace. "I'm just waiting for Gabriel to fetch me."Ethan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then hurry. Don't keep him waiting." W