Locked Up With Lies
By: Hiral Singum
Tags: Short Story, Masks, Fiction, Party, Hidden

This is part 3! “Locked Up With Lies” is a story I’m doing with a friend that is a work in progress. Thanks, Fusion of Horizons for being such a big supporter. Miss ya, Pepper 🌶! If you want to catch up just click my green name after this to be sent to my profile. You’ll find the other stories there by scrolling down. Hiral Singum!

You shake the image from your mind. Don’t get distracted... That gets you killed, you think. With that mantra in your head, you try to focus. Analyzing your options you see that you could go back, but facing the crowd and Ms. None-of-your-business and her gang makes you shiver. The other doors just lead out and you decide you want to find Andrew. If he killed the cello player, he must be here, you reason. The other places in the auditorium were backstage or going on the stage; the latter seems like a bad option as there is a dead woman sitting there. You watch your shaky breath until you calm down and then slip into the right backstage door. You could have gone through the other door but you hoped you would luck out. It was a dark hallway and there was a lot of yelling.

Luckily, you chose the right door, or you would have been close enough for the people there to see you right away.

“What’s wrong with you?” You caught Andrew’s voice and tried quietly going towards the end of the hallway.

“Ugh! I hate you people. Just let me plot my revenge. This place is messed up enough on its own.”

There was movement but you weren’t close enough to see.

“Augh.” There was a thud and you gasp and bite your lips. Shoot.

“Who’s there? Show yourself- you coward.” The person had a gun and he shot randomly. The sound burned your ears and you tried to be as silent and still as possible. They missed and you let out a small breath out you didn’t realize you were holding. “Stay there then… if you’re still alive.” He laughed.

“Kathleen?” There was a weak voice, but hopeful.

“You know her?” The gun was pointed elsewhere.

“Yes.” He struggled and I could tell the other man with the gun was smiling, just by the way he spoke. Then you catch on! Andrew was buying you time with the discussion! As the man with the gun turned his back to you, you remember the dagger in your shoe. In a second grabbing it, you run at the man in the dark.

If Andrew can use a knife on someone, I can use a dagger, you think but wince as you do so. The closer you are the better you can see what’s going on.

You stuck the dagger into the man’s neck, like a blink of an eye, and even for a second, you didn’t even know you’d done it until you heard the sound of cutting skin.

“Ahh! Son of a-” He hollered as blood covered everything. You shove him down and pin him down with your elbows. Closer you can tell he has blond hair, blue eyes, and is taller than you.

While you're distracted he grabs your arm and you kick him in the stomach. Instantly from pain, the man let go.

“Augh!” You grab the gun from the floor that he dropped and aimed it at the back of his head and backed away. As you did he pulled the dagger out like a band-aid and covered it with his coat. You didn’t cut him deep enough you conclude but it doesn’t matter. He’ll bleed out.

“Fine!” He held one of his arms up. “Who are you?” He didn’t seem to care of the pain as much as you would think until he tried getting up. He slid back to the ground. His voice was filled more with curiosity than dread.

You keep an eye as you walk over to Andrew. He was beaten up on the floor, blood dripping from his face, and a knife in his hand. It seemed that he couldn’t get up either.

“Kathleen! I swear I didn’t kill her.” He pleaded.

“Yes, he did. What a liar.” The man laughed. Irritated by his indifferent laugh you shoot his leg.

“Hey! What makes you think that’s ok!?! I’m Veronica’s brother. Marcus. The heir of the company. I can murder your family and get away with it!” He threatened and revealed the knives while he grabbed one, from his inside coat pocket, and you recognize it from the cello player and the one Andrew was holding. It seemed he was done messing around and stumbled up, ready to attack soon.

“Who do you believe, Kathleen the Stranger In The Dark,” Marcus questioned.

It seems you figure out, that he wants the answer to your question first. Andrew was the only really trustable person you knew from the beginning so you think that if Andrew is going to betray you then it was destined to happen anyways.

“Andrew.” as soon as the word escapes your lips you shoot him multiple times while he throws his knife at you but you duck and it hits the back of the stage wall. He collapses onto the floor. He’s dead, you realize. You killed someone. There’s no time to just stand you think and grab Andrew’s arm and he dropped the knife. You support him in standing up.

“Ha-ha. Good choice. You scared me for a second there.” He laughed it off.

“Right.” You roll your eyes and then double check, “He killed his sister.”

“Yeah, and I can’t believe you killed Marcus.” He continued, “We’ve been trying to know where he would be… how to kill him. We kill with darts and sometimes with our fists but never weapons unless it’s necessary. It’s never been like this. You better keep this all quiet. We could both lose everything.” He laughed a shrill shocked laugh and you shook him.

“I’ll be quiet. Where do we go? Where would anyone else be?” You inquire.

“All I remember is that… Jack is at the parking lot where Samuel is and Lilianna is in the karaoke station.” It came to your attention that he couldn’t focus on anything he was looking at.

Your head is still throbbing and you conclude that Andrew can walk just not well and super slow.

Hoping the karaoke station is closer you put Andrew’s arm over your shoulder and grab him by the side so it’ll be easier to travel that way. But it definitely looks like he’s been through a brawl. Wiping the blood from his face you go into the backstage supplies and find a mask. One of those masquerade ones.

“People are gonna look at me weird.” Andrew retorted but you think you know what you’re doing.

“It’s fine just act drunk.” You reassure, “Trust me. I’ve done this with my brother before.” He raised an eyebrow in response but you deem it a story for a different time and place. Then you get an idea to be more convincing. Opening the fridge in the breakroom you discover some rum and wine, but that’s basically all you can tell. You never really were a party person back in the day. You pour a little bit in a glass and hand it over.

“What? Are you actually trying to get me drunk?”

“No! Your breath will make it more believable. Remember we won’t just be fooling all the guests and people at this party. We also need to fool the rest of the group into thinking you didn’t get into a fight. And for Marcus being dead; they’ll figure it out eventually anyway.”

Nodding he takes it and drinks it and then you think that it’s as ‘fool proof’ of a plan as you guys can make it.

“I think we’re done here.” You comment and he nods so you stumble out.

“You’re going to have to find them I really can’t tell things apart right now.” He says as you stand, debating things in your head.

“Alright.” You answer.

The two of you advance through the center (first) auditorium door. You have chosen a super busy hallway, with lots of shoving and pushing, and don’t know if that’s a good thing yet. There is a group of girls with champagne, gossiping, two teenagers cursing each other out, and many trying to get to the concessions. Luckily it’s not the same concessions so at least you aren’t presented with any people you don’t want to be dealing with.

“If you don’t know where to go you can talk to someone but be careful. Sometimes it’s best to wing it.” Andrew advised as he whispered into your ear.

You take his advice into consideration as you turn left down the hallway. You try to not be caught in anyone’s attention as you scramble down the hallway. You notice the hallways not getting wider like where you were before, the karaoke station is most likely near the dance floor. Instead, you smell deserts being made! Distracted by it, you continue forwards until you identify that it is, indeed, the kitchens. Then with sudden regret, you notice someone familiar talking with someone down the hall so you hide behind a pillar.

It’s Melissa and Ms. None-of-your-business lady. It is clear to see who has power over the conversation.

“What? How did someone like that get in? Are there any more of them?” The business lady exclaimed. The lady in this light looked way older and had interesting green eyes. Other than that she seemed pretty regular in a mermaid gold dress.

“I don’t know. I just wish I had- I mean we had gotten her before she fought her way away. It looked like she was looking for the other one- tall with brown hair. Stop staring down on me like that it’s intimidating.”

“It’s on purpose. You know you work for me and therefore we aren’t equals. Keep watching out for her and bring her to me. I want to know her business here.”

You almost scoff at that comment because of the irony but remind yourself to stay quiet.

“Of course. Will do.” Melissa nodded but then they started to walk down the hallway. If you don’t make a decision now they’ll totally have the both of you in their sight!

Speedily hiding in the nearest door you back up against the wall. It seems to be the bakery as you smell it and hear the hum and chatter of the workers off in the distance. Leaning against the door you listen to what the two of them have still yet to say but it seems though that they left. Taking your chances you peer out but it isn’t someone from the outside that catches you.

“What are you doing here? Who are you?” She had a thick accent of some sort and leaned in far too close and by instinct, you clutch Andrew tighter.

“Who’s he?” She pointed at Andrew and your head started to throb. Now is not the time! you think. The group of people similarly dressed like her, hair in a hairnet, aprons, and simple clothes underneath started gathering and murmuring about the situation behind her.

“This isn’t any place for any party-goers.” She exclaimed, “This is for bakers and workers.” You start shaking and try to turn around and just run away but the woman grabs you and won’t let you go. A guy comes up behind her and starts asking the same questions. You notice nobody here likes letting things go under the radar. With a shaky breath, you try to figure a way out of this.

“There was a murder, I came in here to hide. I know I’m just being paranoid, I’ll leave. Sorry to disturb your work.” You reply and the guy speaks up once more.

“Fine. But, you can’t leave without telling us your names. We keep records of who comes and goes.” He held a clipboard.

“He’s Taylor Princeton and I’m…” the business lady clearly controls the place and knows your name. You decide to go with the next best option.

“… Zena.” You swallow hard hoping they’ll let you go and with a few scribbles on that same clipboard you are shoved back into the hallway.

“Enjoy the party.” The lady with the accent shoots back and the door slams. Picking up the pace you head back to where you first were. Clearly going down that path wasn’t a good idea.

Trying to keep a steady pace and not appear like nervous wreak you start speed walking right. The hallways became larger and you relax as you see many more people chilling with drinks, having a good old time. Next, the entrance to the dance floor was there. The music made Andrew lift his head up and look at you with what you hope is a smile. It seems that Marcus wasn’t any average fighter, you were lucky to catch him with the element of surprise. Suddenly you bump into a wave of people backing up to the sides of the hallway. Following the movement of the people you and Andrew press your backs to the wall and let a giant group of bodyguards pass with a tall broad man in the center of it all. Everyone was on edge and speaking of how nervous they are and questioning his presence.

“He’s Marcus’ father. We might have screwed up by going off plan but at least we can prevent ourselves from being caught.” He tells you.

“Yeah.” You respond and start walking forwards again as everyone leaves the walls and start their bickering. Then you continue walking and find the entrance to the karaoke station. With a race of relief and excitement you speed towards it but the lack of people and singing concerns you. The door is barricaded and there are guards standing in front.

There is a bench nearby and you carefully set Andrew down. It seems like he is passed out or something, but you didn’t give it much thought. I’m so close to finding Lilianna!, you desperately think. He’ll be fine… he’ll be fine…you tell yourself and hope it won’t be a lie. You wander past the two guards, taking your time of course, and catch their conversation.

“A supposed crazy woman shot down the chandelier and the music speakers that started a fire and then she injected something into Nilsa in the middle of her last song and people rumor she’s dead. There was an incident in the auditorium as well.”

“Yes, I know more about that one, supposedly a knife was thrown into the back of Veronica while she was playing too. She’s certainly dead as people saw her limp body on stage but there are many rumors on who it is. Some say it was indeed her brother in disguise or her brother’s helper because who else would kill like that with a knife? Yet some just say it’s a tall man with brown hair and a sharp jaw-line.”

“You don’t say it’s them?”

“Nah. Besides, they know better than to show up. And it’s how it normally runs around here anyways. People die, and next year there is another family in charge and their kin die. It’s just sort of wild this year.”

You swerve behind this water fountain and manage to sit for a few seconds before continuing to walk. You don’t want it to seem as if you’re trying to listen in.

With your heart racing, you take a turn back to hear the rest but then one of the guards notice your weary steps.

“Hey, pretty lady. Are you lost at this party?” They laugh and one holds their gun pointed to your feet.