"Alright, I'll take it," Sarah finally declared, her voice shaky as the crowd hushed in anticipation.
Simon clenched his fist discreetly, the thrill of his plan unfolding just as he had expected. Every piece was falling into place.
Now it was his turn. Sarah opened the box slowly, her face betraying nothing except a flicker of uncertainty. "So... are you going to take it?" she asked, her voice strained. It was impossible to tell if what was inside was good or bad.
Simon drew it out, savoring the suspense. "Hm... let me think..." He already knew the answer, but he played along for effect, his tone measured. "I'll... pass."
The crowd groaned, a mix of disappointment and eager anticipation. Everyone who hadn't had a turn yet was desperate to see the contents of the box. Their curiosity intensified as Sarah walked to the large table in the center of the room.
"Here we go..." Sarah said, uncertain but committed, as she pulled out a perfectly prepared lobster, resting elegantly on a silver plate.
"Wooooo!!!" The room exploded in a mix of cheers and envious groans. Several people who had been forced to pass the box on further, now kicked themselves for missing out.
Simon approached Sarah, laughing softly. "Dang, I wish I had taken it... I'm starting to feel hungry, and there's not much left besides the usual snacks."
"Hah, you better feel jealous," Tyler chimed in, wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulders. She smiled and fed him a bite of lobster, their closeness not lost on Simon.
"Well, well, how cute," Simon said with a seemingly genuine laugh, though his eyes flicked to Tyler with a faint glimmer of calculation. He always had a way of seeming happy for others, but there was a different undercurrent beneath his words.
As the party began winding down, people started to leave in groups, the laughter and music fading into the evening air. Just as Simon had predicted, Tyler and Sarah were among the last to remain.
Then, out of nowhere, Tyler's phone rang.
"Hello?" Tyler answered, his expression slowly shifting from casual to alarmed. His face paled, and his hands trembled as he stammered into the phone. "W-What?! No... no way...!" His reaction was visceral, the kind that only comes with truly devastating news.
Simon, watching intently, didn't miss a beat. "What's going on, man? Something wrong?"
Tyler didn't answer. He simply blurted out, "Y-Yeah, right away!" before hanging up, shoving his phone into his pocket, and bolting for the door. "Sorry guys, I've gotta go. I can't stay to help clean."
"Whoa, Tyler, wait—what happened?" Simon asked, but Tyler was already gone, his footsteps disappearing into the night.
"I should go after him..." Sarah said, concern creeping into her voice.
Simon shook his head. "No, let him go. Whatever it is, it's bad enough that he probably wants to be alone. You wouldn't be able to catch up with him anyway."
Sarah hesitated but nodded. "Yeah... I guess you're right."
Twelve people remained, helping Simon tidy up the place. He glanced at them with a knowing look—they would all leave in groups, as expected. Everyone except Sarah, who would head home alone.
When only a handful of people were left, Simon gently suggested, "Sarah, you should get going. Rest up. I'm sure Tyler will need someone to talk to later, and you should be ready for that."
"Yeah, I guess... Thanks, Simon. The party was fun, despite everything." She forced a smile, her mind clearly on Tyler as she waved goodbye.
"Glad you enjoyed it," Simon replied, his words dripping with something darker than warmth.
Five minutes after Sarah had left, Simon told the remaining guests, "I've got the rest handled, guys. You can head out."
They said their goodbyes and left, leaving Simon alone in the now-empty house, as his grandparents were sleeping. His smile twisted into something far more sinister. Everything was falling into place perfectly.
Meanwhile, Sarah walked down the dark, quiet streets. The night was calm, almost too calm, as she made her way home, her mind still on Tyler and what might have happened.
Then, without warning, everything went black.
Sarah collapsed, her body hitting the pavement with a dull thud.