I slipped off my black mask, my fingers lingering on the edges of the fabric as the atmosphere of the underground ball enveloped me. Kai, Michael, and Damon flanked me, their expressions varying shades of indifference, intrigue, and amusement. This was their domain—a world of chaos and beauty tangled together under the heavy hum of Nirvana’s “Come as You Are.”

The air was thick with laughter and conversations, a crescendo of human energy that clashed with the haunting song. My black, cold eyes scanned the space, drinking in the surreal surroundings. Catacomb walls, ancient and weathered, stood defiant against the flashing red lights that pulsed in sync with the music. The faint glow of moonlight bled through small windows above, casting eerie beams that streaked across the crowd.

Bodies moved in rhythm to the music, a collective sway that blurred the line between dance and ritual. The warmth of it all—the heat of life thrumming through the room—was almost foreign. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so suffocated by humanity yet intrigued by it at the same time.

Kai leaned toward me, his voice low and edged with a smirk. “Looks like our kind of place, huh?”

Michael scoffed, adjusting his cuffs. “A little predictable. I was hoping for something… grander.”

Will chuckled, his sharp eyes already hunting for mischief. “Give it time. Nights like this always have a twist.”

I said nothing, letting their banter fade as I took another step forward. My gaze locked onto the centerpiece of the chaos—a raised platform bathed in crimson light where a figure stood, commanding the room with a mere presence. I couldn’t make out their features, but something about them drew my focus like a magnet.

As I moved closer, a shiver ran down my spine. The air shifted. Something was about to happen—something that would make this night unforgettable.