El's voice cracked as she answered the phone. "Hey, what's up?"
Gem's concern was palpable. "You don't sound too well. Are you okay?"
El mustered a weak response, stifling her coughs. "Just a little under the weather..."
Gem's disappointment seeped into her voice. "Oh no, you too? That's a shame. We were looking forward to your presence at the birthday night-in tonight. But don't worry, just focus on getting better, okay?"
"Thanks," El replied, guilt weighing heavily on her conscience. "I'll make it up to you. Talk to you soon."
"Laters," Gem said, her tone a mix of understanding and disappointment.
As El hung up, she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. How had she become so skilled at deception? The lies had become second nature, and the weight of her double life pressed upon her shoulders.
In a packed Halloween party, El observed the creative costumes that adorned the crowd. Witches had undergone a modern transformation, vampires possessed power books, and Frankenstein's monster resembled a Picasso painting. The festive atmosphere stirred a bittersweet nostalgia within El, a reminder of the carefree times before she became entangled in a world of secrets. Occasionally, she missed the simplicity of those days.
Though Seth was nowhere in sight, a sense of unease still lingered. If he truly was The Chosen, he would surely be drawn to Liz's outspoken nature. Yet, the absence of his presence failed to alleviate El's mounting apprehension.
Liz, dressed as a less-than-innocent bunny, commanded attention with her drunken antics. El couldn't help but sigh, realizing that Liz's inebriated state made her vulnerable.
Approaching her intoxicated friend, El struggled to maintain composure and prevent Liz from losing her balance. "Hey, you should take a rest," she urged.
Liz protested, her slurred words filled with defiance. "No way! We're having so much fun!"
Concern etched across El's face as she tried to reason with Liz. "You need to conserve your energy. Let's..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Liz's words took a dark turn. Her voice grew louder, drawing the attention of nearby students who dismissed her drunken ramblings as a joke. But El knew there was a dangerous truth hidden within Liz's intoxicated proclamation.
Fearing for Liz's safety, El scanned her surroundings for a solution. Her gaze settled on a nearby drink stand. Acting quickly, she grabbed a cup and accidentally spilled orange soda onto Liz's costume.
"Oops!" El feigned shock. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Urging Liz into the safety of the school building, El hoped her friend would find solace in the locker room. She silently pleaded for Liz to stay there and remain safe, shielding her from the impending danger.
But as El turned to leave, she froze in her tracks. Seth's voice sliced through the air, tinged with confusion and concern. "El!"
Her heart raced as Seth approached, his eyes filled with hurt. "I was looking for you," he confessed.
El stood protectively in front of Liz, her voice laced with suspicion. "Why? How did you know I'd be here?"
Seth stumbled over his words, his confusion evident. "I heard... I heard you would be here, so I came to find you. If you want, I can leave."
"Please do," El urged, her heart torn between the person she cared about and the truth she desperately sought.
Seth's hurt deepened, etched across his face. "Why are you being so hostile? What did I do wrong?"
El's voice wavered, a mix of emotions intertwined. "Nothing, Seth. I just hope you haven't done anything."
"This makes no sense," Seth muttered in disbelief. "If you're going to be like this, I'll leave you be."
"Like I said, please do," El replied, her heart heavy with conflicted emotions.
She watched as Seth turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat. A heavy silence enveloped the space, broken only by El's deep sigh.
Entering the locker room, El's eyes immediately fell upon Liz. Her friend lay motionless on the ground, a crimson pool surrounding her lifeless body. The truth she had feared was now a haunting reality before her—another victim, pale and lifeless, with a stab wound to the chest and the telltale mark on her neck.
El's mind raced, her thoughts consumed by questions and the weight of her double life. How had she become entangled in this web of deceit and danger? And could she ever find a way to untangle herself and bring justice to those who had fallen?