Jᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 25, 2024
Phillip is on a treadmill and Ryan is on a mat beside him; they are both chatting animatedly, in the crowded room of exercising teens. Alexa and Katya walks into the gym, a new part that was made available a few weeks ago, after a year long renovation.
"Hey, the girls are coming." Ryan whispers quickly, relaxing from his stretch.
Phillipeño slows down the mill before getting off and he turns to face their approach.
"Ready?" The brunette asks, emerald eyes dancing.
Phillip's face tints a light shade of pink as he makes out Alexa's figure, hips swaying. "Yea..." He replies airily.
"Guard up, Phillip. You look like a lost puppy." She says, slapping his firm chest when she comes up to him, with Katya giggling knowingly beside her. She then gives her attention to both the boys, announcing, "Tonight."
"Tonight?" Ryan repeats in question, mood flushing.
They all turn to him Alexa's eyes drink in his emotions he tries so hard to hide; the worry, the nervousness... She tilts her head a bit, watching him. She shouldn't care. She shouldn't— he's your friend, Alexa. She flinches.
Right. Friend.
"You'll be fine." Katya tells the boy, resting her hands on his shoulders reassuringly.
"Roof." Alexa's voice cuts sharply as she walks away.
Phillip stares after her, eyes open, but not actually looking; her footsteps are noticeable, so is the fact that something is wrong. He gestures for the others to follow, and soon, they're all in a rush to get to the roof. Alexa stands at the very edge of the building, on the ledge, looking down at the traffic 35 storeys below. The wind whisks at her hair and she steps down when it starts to get stronger, turning to her team.
"David Rosanna's daughter, Donna will be at a party. Her father wants her home for the ritual by 11pm." She begins sternly.
"How do you know all this?" Ryan shivers from the chilly air. The setting sun glares at them from the distance over the horizon, tainting the far away ocean orange.
"Shush." Alexa narrows her eyes at him. "Katya, you'll go to the party Donna's attending and drug her. Phillip and I will be at the main house. Ryan, outside on look out—"
"Please put us together, Alexa." The brunette speaks up again, "Katya and I are partners. We work best together."
"I would." She says honestly, "but, I'm leading, so I need to be at the death-site. Phillip won't be able to focus at a party and he can't be on look out. So that leaves you two. I need one on the look out and one at Donna's location."
Alexa sees that the boy is now trembling and it's not because of the cold. The thought of doing something alone is attacking his anxiety. It makes her wonder how he managed to survive the first few years when so many got killed.
Phillipeño rests a hand on his shoulder. "Believe in yourself, Ryan. Katya believes in you. So do we."