Despite there being live footage, hundreds of videos, and eye witness accounts, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Event so named by internet trends as #GobbleGate was believed by most of the world to be an elaborate government hoax. Yet, amongst the scrutiny and the attempts to disprove the videos and accounts, people's imaginations ran wild.

Parody music videos, memes, and the occasional end of the world rant fueled the minds of the young and old. Aliens were a popular topic across social media. Many calling the event the first contact with an unknown cosmic race. The President even made a formal address ensuring the world that the news was fake and nothing appeared in the skies over New York. And like with all strange occurrences that had no meaning in rational thought, those present during the event began to doubt their own experience, some coming forward saying they imagined the whole thing. Perhaps, they did believe what they saw but that type of thinking never made anyone famous. It only made you crazy.

Marcus parked his car in a gravel parking lot somewhere in downtown Beaumont. The radio host had a caller who claimed to be at the event that morning.

"So you were there?" said the radio host. "What did you see?"

"I saw the same thing everyone else saw. Nothing but blue skies."

"But what about all that shattered glass and all the video footage? Surely that is proof enough something happened."

"Nope. Fake news. I hear some people were paid to scream and run to create mass hysteria."

"That seems unlikely," said the radio host.

"You know what also seems unlikely," said the guest sarcastically, "the sky opening up. That's crazy talk. I was there."

Marcus turned off the radio. His finger hovering over the button as if waiting for it to turn back on. Nancy sitting in the passenger side seat glared out the window and winced at the place around them.

"There is nothing nice about this part of the city. Old, dingy, and falling apart. Why did we come here again?"

Marcus sighed and turned off the car engine.

"Because, Nancy, this is the location Brice said to meet for the SOC party. You want to learn more about what's going on do you?"

"Yeah, yeah," she snorted. "I still can't believe I agreed to this adventure. To think I could be shopping with my friends or going to the movies. Instead I'm going to some lame party to meet with a bunch of nerds."

Marcus shot Nancy an irritable look.

"You need to get off your high horse and start taking this seriously. You saw what happened this morning in New York. You heard what everyone is saying."

"They are saying it was a hoax."

"It's real, Nancy, and you know that." Marcus grabbed his sweater from the back seat. "It's the same thing that's been happening here and that time in Los Angeles. Whatever Hope started is affecting everywhere. This is big and it's just gonna get worse."

"And unfortunately for us, we are caught in the middle of it. I just want to forget about it. Go back to our old lives." Nancy dropped her chin to her chest. "I knew I should have taken the shortcut that day. If I never saw Hope disappear I wouldn't know about any of this. I'd be safe at home with no crazed secret agents chasing after me."

"I consider it to be luck," said Marcus checking the time on his phone. "It's a chance of a lifetime. I mean... we got to learn that magic is real."

"Yeah," said Nancy rolling her eyes. "What a treat."

Suddenly a hand knocked on the passenger side window. Nancy shrieked and flailed her arms. It was Jorge and Laura. Nancy opened the door and jumped out.

"You two scared the crap out of me!" she cried.

"Sorry about that," said Laura pulling at her overalls and white t-shirt. Her long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. "We were waiting for you."

"I'm surprised your family let you come here," said Marcus exiting the car. "The way your mom talked, we were never supposed to hang out again."

"Well," said Jorge placing his hands on his hips. "We technically lied to get here. Aunt Barbara thinks we are going to the movies."

"Mom was reluctant to let us go, but she trusts Jorge," said Laura pulling her long yellow socks. "She said as long as we get back by midnight we could take her car. If not she was going to call the police."

"That's a few hours from now," said Jorge checking his watch. "We have plenty of time."

Marcus smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm glad you could make it. Shall we go. I think the party already started."

The group of four slowly made their way down the street. The sun had begun to set, and streetlights flickered to life. The industrial smell of car exhaust, rust, and overflowing garbage wafted into their noses. A faint blaring of an ambulance and melodious piano tunes conflicted with one another in the distance. The birds made one final flight of the day before settling in the trees and bushes.

Jorge glanced at the map on his phone and pointed to a red building with gold trim and a curved roof on top. Two foo dog statues stood guard by the front door. Their stone jaws open and ready for an attack. A series of large brass knockers rested in place of doorknobs across the thick oak doors. Above the doors blinking on and off was an octagon shaped sign with the words, The Chinese Mirror Restaurant, in blue and green neon.

"Really," said Nancy dumbfounded. "A chinese restaurant. The party is in a chinese restaurant?"

"Let's go inside," said Marcus pulling open the front doors. The group was greeted to a vast room with low hanging rafters and exposed beams. The dark wooden walls absorbed the dim light emanating from the paper lanterns. On each section above the dining tables hung an octagon shaped frame with a round mirror in its center. The group stood in silence until an elderly Asian woman with short grey hair, a grey sweater, and black slip-on shoes arrived from a dark doorway.

"Hello," she cried grabbing an armful of menus. "How many?"

"I"m sorry but we are not here to eat," said Marcus.

The elderly woman appeared hurt and shocked. "No eat today? It's thanksgiving. You must eat."

"We are here for a party," said Nancy butting in front of Marcus. "A SOC party. Ever heard of it?"

The woman looked down at everyone's colorful knee high socks.

"Oh, socks!" she said, smiling and motioning them to follow. "You are Wang Wei's friends. Come. Come." The woman flipped a switch illuminating a long hallway deeper into the restaurant. The group gave each other a confused look.

"Do you know a Wang Wei?" asked Nancy to Jorge. He shook his head.

"Nope."

The group followed the elderly woman down the hall filled with the same octagon mirrors. Laura curiously stared into each one she passed.

"What's with all the mirrors?" she said aloud. The elderly woman glanced over her shoulder at Laura.

"Keep out evil spirits," she answered. "Very good to have Chinese feng shui bagua mirrors in home."

As they rounded a corner and climbed a switchback staircase, the restaurant's facade began to fade revealing a home hidden in the back. Brice was standing by the entrance; his eyes staring at his watch.

"You're late," he said flashing his rainbow socks. "We were about to start without you."

"Forgive us," said Jorge.

"Yeah, whatever," said Brice turning on his heels. "Come in and take off your shoes." Everyone stepped inside and placed their shoes on the rack by the door. "Wang, the new members are here!"

"Oh goodie!" came a high pitched voice of a young Asian boy in a tank top. He rose from the floor and hurried to our side. His socks were covered in various movie monsters. "Hello new S.O.C Members," he cried joyously while shaking his hips. "Please make yourself at home. I'm Wang and this is my family's living room and kitchen. My parents own the restaurant." He waved his arms at a table full of food. "Help yourself to the food. My mom made egg rolls. Dahlia brought the pizza. Brice brought the chips and soda. Thaddeus brought the hand sanitizer. And Mercy brought the cupcakes."

"Don't touch my cupcakes," came the deep voice of the large girl with green hair highlights seated on the floor by the TV. She rushed from her spot and snatched the cupcakes off the food table. On the cupcake tin was a passive aggressive note with the words, Touch the cupcakes and Mercy will show no mercy. The girl flipped her hair to the side and hugged her dessert. Her socks showed a host of donuts, cupcakes, and other sweets. "It may be a potluck," she sneered, "but I bring these for me and only me."

"That's Mercy," said Wang. "As long as you don't touch her cupcakes she's harmless." He stretched his neck and waved at the other girl seated by the TV. This girl was dressed in a black leather harness over a white shirt with a skull, fingerless gloves, gauges in her ears, and heavy black eyeliner. Her socks shown black and white sugar skulls. Instead of waving back she snarled and turned back to her phone. "That delightful person over there is Dahlia."

"I hope you like veggie pizza," she called out. "Otherwise don't talk to me." She coughed.

"Ugh!" screamed the young African American man hiding behind the chair across the room. He had on a surgical mask and blue plastic gloves. His socks shown a bright teal. "Why did you invite Dahlia?" he whined. "She's sick. You know how afraid I am of germs."

"She's only doing it to mess with you," said Brice kicking Dahlia playfully with his foot.

"But what if I am sick," she said glaring at the frightened boy. She coughed aggressively in his direction.

"Someone make her stop!"

Wang smiled uncomfortably before turning back to the group.

"And that germ fearing guy behind the chair is Thaddeus," he said. "Don't be offended if he never shakes your hand or gives you a hug."

"Charming," said Nancy gritting her teeth. She turned to Marcus and whispered. "I think we should go. It's a circus in here."

"No, Nancy," snapped Marcus. "Just give them a chance."

"So take a seat wherever," said Wang grabbing a slice of pizza, "and we can get started."

Jorge and Laura sat together on a large pillow. Brice still at odds with Jorge over their past breakup sat as far away as possible. Nancy stuck with Marcus until Dahlia saw her chance and scooted in between them. She gave Nancy a wink and a smirk; her hand unnervingly close to Nancy's thigh. Thaddeus crouched behind the chair spraying disinfectant on the area around him. Mercy remained by the TV, a cupcake in each hand. And finally Wang stood in the center, a laptop in his arms.

"Welcome, welcome everyone," he said, "to the 108th meeting of the Society of Cryptid Secrets. First let's introduce our new members. Tell us your name and a bit about yourself." The whole room looked at Jorge.

"Guess I'm going first," he said. "Hi, everyone. I'm Jorge Mendoza and this is my cousin, Laura Martinez. We are originally from here. I know Brice."

"Knew," corrected Brice. "We don't talk anymore." Marcus was next.

"Hey. I'm Marcus Bennett. I'm also from here. I go to Preston High. That's about it." Nancy was next.

"Nancy is my name," she said staring at the ceiling with her arms crossed. "I'm just here. Whatever."

"Well that was totally not thrilling," snickered Mercy while grabbing another cupcake. "You people are boring as hell."

"Anyway," said Wang trying to move the conversation away from conflict. "Welcome. I appreciate all of you for complying to the rules of the SOC party. We pride ourselves on secrecy and above all else, fashionable socks." Wang brought his laptop over to the TV and plugged it in. "Tonight's agenda was going to be about my personal favorite subject, the terrifying myths and truths of North America's original man eating beast, the Wendigo. But after the bizarre happenings in New York this morning, that agenda has changed."

"Aliens," shouted Mercy, wiggling her fingers through the air and whispering creepily, "ooooo."

"No," argued Dahlia. "It's clearly a rip in space time. The past is trying to come through to the present."

"Perhaps," said Brice, "But after speaking with our new members the other day, I think we have something bigger going on." He nodded at Wang. "I prepared a presentation."

"You did send it to me, right?" asked Wang.

"I sent it to your email."

"Oh yes I see it." Wang clicked a few things. "Mercy can you change the input on the TV.

"Ugh, why do I have to do all the work." She reached over and pressed a couple of buttons on the TV. The screen lit up with the words, The Edge Oblivion Project, and the image of a scale.

"The EO Project, really," said Thaddeus from behind the chair. "That's the biggest and oldest conspiracy out there. Everyone knows about them. "

Dahlia gave Thaddeus a look of utter disdain. "Thaddeus, if you're going to keep interrupting instead of letting Brice talk I'll cough on you some more."

"Dahlia," said Wang. "You're interrupting too."

"Hmpth," responded Dahlia crossing her arms. "Whatever."

Brice cleared his throat.

"As I was about to explain for our new members who may not know, today's presentation is about the Edge Oblivion Project."

Wang hit a button on a remote and all the lights in the living room dimmed.

"Thank you, Wang," said Brice, his voice becoming soft and mysterious. "For as long as there has been mankind to tell and record history there has also been secret histories. Histories of strange people, hidden places, powerful beings, and even unexplainable events. Yet as wondrous as these secret histories go some people believe they are too destructive for the world to know. As such, they are locked away and many times forgotten. Long ago when mankind was young a group of individuals discovered the source of magic and if harnessed, they could rule the world for all time. The group gained the name Occulto, the first secret society."

A picture of people in dark hoods standing in a circle appeared on the screen followed by a series of images of ancient hieroglyphics and texts. Brice continued.

"They protected the source, nurtured it, and fed off of it. But regardless of where they came from or their intentions the Occulto's influence was strong. That is until the source became uncontrollable and something leaked into the world. With their power source scattered, followers of their sect broke off into other secret societies. You may know some modern ones such as the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the Priory of Sion, and so on. But apart from the many thousands of societies born from this defusion, a small core of members remained."

Blurry images from World War I, the Cold War, and even colorized images of the Civil War flashed across the TV. Each one zoomed in close to show a pair of blurred figures dressed in all black with purple glowing eyes.

"That's them," whispered Nancy. Everyone looked at her.

"You've met them?" asked Dehlia. "You've seen the Balancers!"

"They came to my house," cried Nancy.

"And to my school!" added Marcus.

Brice breathed deep.

"Indeed," he said, flipping to the next image. A picture taken from a security camera showed a man and a woman dressed in black suits with purple sunglasses walking through a mall. "They showed up for coffee not long after you left," said Brice with a worried look in his eye. "The Balancers as they are now called have come to our side of Texas."

"Impossible," chuckled Thaddeus. "There is nothing special here."

"Wrong," said Marcus, shaking his head. "I think they have come for the source. And I think I know what, or who it is."

"Hope," whispered Laura.

Suddenly a purple light burst from the outside windows and fell upon the group. They stared silently on as the light faded away. Mercy jumped to her feet and rushed to the windows. She peeked through the blinds at the street below.

"Ugh, guys!" she shouted, stamping her feet in anxiousness. "There are two people exiting a black car. They are wearing purple sunglasses at night." She squealed in fright. "It's them!"

"What?" said Wang joining Mercy at the window. "Jesus, it is them. And they are headed to the restaurant front door."

Nancy broke out in a panic; her hands shaking violently.

"Oh what do we do?" she cried. "We have to get out of here."

"Is there a back entrance?" asked Jorge.

"Not really," said Wang, his face flushed with shock. "They have us trapped."

"We can't go downstairs," cried Thaddeus. "We have to find another way out."

"Well someone better think of something quick," said Dehlia. "I am not about to be snatched by a secret organization. Who knows what they will do to us."

While the whole group argued by the window over the next course of action, Laura crawled to the television. She ran her hand over the screen; the static shocking her fingers. She looked deeply into the image of the Balancers. Their digital faces seemed to come alive and shift. Then suddenly the television turned off, and in place of her reflection was that of a horrid beast with horns and fangs. Laura twisted back in terror and shrieked at the vision on the screen. Before anyone could see the reflection the beast smirked, vanished, and the glass on the TV cracked.