• Chapter 4:
    Kim ducked, only a few seconds too late. Shaking, she stayed put under the window out of fear that she would be spotted. Ears perked, she overheard the conversation that progressed.
    "What is it Nana?” She didn’t recognize this voice.
    “I saw someone. I think it was that new girl.”
    “We should see if she’s ok. You have such a scare tactic about you Nana.” This voice belonged to Elliot.
    Their eyes! I would not have reacted if it had been only Elliot. All four of them have red eyes. What is going on?
    This is useless. If I stay here, I will not find out. Maybe I should just go down—
    The door closed and Kim could hear them enter and start to walk up the stairs, towards her. Still rooted to the spot, she was waiting for the red-eyed drag queen and the others to find her.
    “Aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!! Wha--? Oh, Kim. What are you doing here?!” Luke, who had evidently tripped over Kim, lay sprawled on the ground with a look of extreme distress. “You should go back to bed! Really, you shouldn’t be out here right now.”
    “Hey,” came an emotionless voice from the stairwell.
    Kim turned and saw a girl standing at the head of the stairs. She wore all black, except for a dark red headband and necklace. She stared down at Kim and Luke, who got up, his face red.
    “Umm…..great, you’re back.” Luke tried to smile, only to appear very distraught.
    “I don’t care what you say. I want to know why this….girl….was out at night.”
    The others appeared behind her. Elliot pushed his way to the front. He whispered something to the girl in black, who snapped at him.
    “I don’t honestly care, Elliot. Either you or Luke should have told her. You seem to like her, so why have her break a rule?”
    “Nana!!!!!” Elliot began whining. “Don’t be so mean!!! Since no one told her about…..it……she shouldn’t be in….”
    Luke shot a death glare at Elliot. He turned to Kim.
    “I guess you’re going to find out eventually. We might as well tell you instead of scare you out of your wits as you figure it out yourself.” Luke smiled.
    He helped her up then looked at Elliot and Nana. Elliot took her hand and led her downstairs. Nana went down the hall and disappeared into a room at the end. Kim and Elliot made their way down to the main room, where she first saw everyone.
    “Just sit down here for now,” Elliot said, pointing to a dusty old couch. “Try not to react too strongly. Some people here take offense when even the newcomers do that.”
    “What….what do you mean?”
    Oh god! What is going on now?? Am I in trouble? Was there a rule about being out after a certain hour? Like a curfew or something? If so, why were Elliot and those others out?
    Stop worrying. It will get me nowhere. Just stay calm.
    But what did Elliot mean by that? “React.” React to what? What is going on?