OCTOBER 16TH.
ORION ACADEMY:
SPORTS' EQUIPMENT HIDDEN ROOM

"OH, MY GOD. It's real!" The blonde girl squeaked, a wide smile spreading across her face.

Karan arched his eyebrow as his eyes narrowed, staring at the two girls who had completely ignored his introduction and didn't bother to give theirs.

Maybe that's why he prefers men.

He tried to figure out the expression layering their faces in the dim light when one of them spoke.

"What is?" The Asian girl asked, completely clueless like he was. Karan mentally sighed--glad to know that he wasn't the only Asian in the room. Who knows, maybe she moved here recently too. They could bond over how bizarre some traditions are or how different things are done here. Maybe he'd have a friend other than these two guys.

"Just a few students who go here know about The Black Hole. It is...well, um. It is a secret society of Orion Academy. They say that every year, they choose their successors from a bunch of newly admitted first years as the forth years graduate. Guess who's in luck," She explained with a wink.

An eerie silence filled the room.

"How do you know about this?" West questioned, passing a skeptical look on his face. Well, considering that it's his normal expression, it's hard to tell if it's pointed at her or not.

C'mon, Karan. At least give a point to West for asking the right question.

"I'm a legacy. My elder brother is a student here and he was obsessed with The Black Hole rumour. It was his dream to get in but he didn't, unfortunately."

"And we should believe you, why?" West stood beside Karan. "Who even are you? And how did you get an invitation to this non-existent party? Do you even go here?"

The tall girl rolled her eyes. Or did she just look away? It's hard to tell when there's no light. "Quit being so doubtful." She groaned. "I was invited by a friend. And I'm not here with any murderous intentions. Although, that might change if you continue to raise your ridiculous speculations."

It most likely will change especially when...gah! I can't hold my thoughts. It's so tough to tell the story without giving out some juicy intel. Ugh.

Lex sighed. "He doesn't like social interactions and therefore, sucks at it. All he wanted to ask were your names and if he should trust you," He defended West. Karan wasn't sure if West and Lex were best friends but taking into mind that Karan and Lex share a room and West is almost always there, he didn't consider assuming that they weren't.

"Say that next time. I'm Aphrodite." She gestured at herself and then next to her. "And she is my roommate, Yumi."

Karan nodded. He turned around and walked closer to the wall. He brushed his finger against the red linings. He sniffed the thick liquid smeared on his index finger. "Are they what--calling us five strangers for an initiation night?" Karan said as he turned back to them.

"The address marked below is outside the campus. Freshman and Sophomores aren't allowed to leave the academy after 6 p.m. without the Headmaster Salvatore's permission." Yumi frowned. "They're asking us to break a rule on the first night itself. I'm not doing it."

Says the girl who--oops, can't say that right now. Sorry.

"C'mon, Yumi! What's the worst that can happen," Aphrodite cheered. She smacked her slender arm while giving her a let's do this look.

Anything can happen, sweetheart.

"Has anyone considered the possibility that it could be a silly prank?"

Everyone chose to ignore Lex's speculation.

Aphrodite's blue eyes met his. Her shoulders slumped as her smile disappeared. She looked at Karan and West, expecting them to say something convincing.

Karan deciphered her message and being an adventurer himself, he couldn't say no--especially since he has been in his parents' control for so long. "There's only one way to find out. Let's go there."

He is a free bird now. He is ready to fly.

•••

Yumi was a lot more stubborn than Aphrodite thought she'd be. It took all three of them--Karan, West and Aphrodite--thirty minutes to convince her to come along. On the other hand, Lex stood there without bothering to participate in the conversation.

"Fine." When this word had left from Yumi's mouth reluctantly, a burst of cheers washed all across their faces. Aphrodite jumped and hugged Yumi. The latter squirmed under her tight embrace but I wouldn't say she disliked it.

Of all people, even Lex's mouth twitched upwards.

They spent another ten minutes looking for a way out. After successfully finding the button that opened the door, they walked out of the dark room with a smile lingering on each of their faces and a rush of adrenaline pumping through their veins.

Aphrodite followed Lex as he walked out of the sports room. Yumi, West and Karan followed them. Suddenly Lex took a step back and pushed Aphrodite back in the room along with the others.

"What's wrong?" Aphrodite questioned. Lex shushed her. A sound of footsteps passed through the hallway. The security in-charge walked past the sports room.

"If we want to sneak out, we have to be more careful," Lex whispered. He peeped out of the room, looking to his left and right before gesturing to them to come out. They rushed out of the Grand Quarter.

Yumi tugged Aphrodite's arm and leaned to her ears. "I'm nervous. I don't want to get expelled." A dry chuckle left from her roommate's mouth.

"Chill, man. As long as you're with me, you don't have to worry about getting caught. I'm the mother of getting away with things." Aphrodite flipped her blonde hair.

Show-off.

"I don't think that's a good brag," Yumi muttered as they walked on the pathway which led them to the main entrance. Lex, Karan and West were in front of them, whispering and chuckling something to each other.

"It is for me."

"Hold up, guys," Karan said, pausing midway. He spread his arms to both of his sides, stopping West and Lex from walking any further. "There are two guards on the gate. We need to come up with a plan."

"Okay, um. Let's..." West paused and scratched the back of his short neck with his head cocked down, thinking.

"One of us needs to distract them," Lex said with a roll of eyes as if the others were dumb to think about anything else.

"How?" Yumi answered.

Oh, my God. These people are so darn dumb. Just yell for help and hide. As soon as, the guards leave, you can--

"West, go to the guards and tell them that the Headmaster has been calling them for the past fifteen minutes and that he is extremely mad at them for not coming on time."

Well, that works too.

"Why me?" West countered.

"Simple--you look like you're in your twenties."

Oh, wow. I didn't even notice that. Aphrodite has better eyes than I do. Maybe she is not as dumb as I thought she was.

"I do?"

"Get going, man. Do you wanna be late?" Karan questioned. West let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders while walking unenthusiastically towards the Main Entrance. In the meanwhile, the others hid behind the trees close to them.

After a few minutes, they saw the two guards running towards the Grand Quarter. The newbie Black Hole took it as their cue to leave. They ran out of the academy and hired a cab to go to the address that was painted on the wall.

The cab stopped one block away from the house of Luna March. The team got down the cab and walked towards the house in silence.

"Now what?" Karan whispered.

"We jump off the fence." Aphrodite took her phone out. The bright screen lightened her face in the serene darkness. She checked the address again from the picture of the wall that she had taken. "We probably have to break into the house since it says that we have to go through the basement."

"Break in?" Yumi whisper-yelled. "The night gets worse and worse. When will this end?"

Little did they know, the night was far from over. Trust me, I'd know. I'm a wise omniscient narrator. Well, I don't know if I should say wise since I am a teensy bit judgemental but...whatever. Anyway, back to the soon-to-be Black Hole. Where was I?--oh, right--upon Yumi's buzz kill statement, Karan nudged her.

"Let's see what the night has to offer."

Lex and Karan were the first ones to jump off the short fence, followed by West, Yumi and Aphrodite. Lex helped Aphrodite to get down which made her pulse quicken. But like every other teenage girl, she mistook it for adrenaline.

Stupid Gen Z generation.

They walked to the back of the two-storey house, looking for an entrance when West's eyes fell on an inclined door on the ground nestled between two huge thickets. He pointed it to Lex and the others followed him. He crouched down and used his bare hands to brush the dry leaves away from the door. He found a metal latch hanging in the centre and tried to pull the door open.

"It's locked," He declared.

Of course, man. Do you think they'll keep it open for intruders such as yourself?

"Anyone know how to pick a lock?" Lex questioned.

Silence.

C'mon, Yumi; speak up, girl.

Silence.

Yumi?

Silence.

Yumi sighed. "No one will ever talk of this again." She removed two bobby pins from her hair and sat beside West who watched her intensely. She inserted one end of the bobby pin and twisted the other. A clicking sound spread in the air and Yumi pulled the door open.

"Yum--"

Yumi cut her. "Don't."

She stood up. West flashed the light from his phone and saw a staircase leading them down to the basement. After a short debate about who should go first, Lex huffed and led the group with his torch. Once reaching the steady floor, Aphrodite's hand reached for a switch.

She switched the light on. Their eyes closed momentarily at the sudden illumination. Aphrodite looked around in amazement. She expected a dark dusty room. Instead it was an empty room with nothing but bright lights, white painted walls and tiled floor.

"Where's the black hole?"

All of their phones buzzed. They took it out simultaneously and stared at the message that was sent to them on an Instagram group made by the username @theblackhole.

The message said:

NO ONE BAILED WHICH LEAVES US QUITE IMPRESSED.

BUT TO GAIN OUR TRUST, YOU HAVE TO PERFORM A THEFT.

STEAL A BLUE SOAP AND A GOLDEN STAR BRACELET FROM THE HOUSE YOU'RE IN,

BE CAREFUL; YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN.

~ the black hole

•••

Told ya. The night is far from over.

header image by Greg Panagiotoglou

what do you think? as you may have noticed, I changed the voice of the book. and yes, I edited the first chapter as well. I hope you like the judgy pov!

I had planned to write a few chapters by the end of the month but with increasing college assignments, I think it's gonna be difficult ugh

anyway, would you break into a house to join a secret society? I would if I'm not alone lmao

do you have any favourite character? mine is the narrator haha

[ don't forget to vote and comment! ]