An envelope too big for the mailbox was quite hard not to notice. Efra grabs the envelope, checks the addressee then enters the house.

"Hi, mom!" She shouts then head straight for her room. She closes the door, puts the envelope on her dressing table, drops her schoolbag, takes off her school blazer and throws herself on the bed. She sighs, then gets up after a while.

She looks at the envelope then goes to the kitchen. She opens the fridge, sees a soda and pours some in a glass. After a while, her older brother comes into the kitchen from the outside. She greets him and he frowns at her, "Weirdo" then leaves out the front door. She rolls her eyes then finish the soda.

She goes to her room and undresses, showers in the bathroom then puts on pajamas. She goes to her mother's room, knocks on the door then enters. "Hi, mom."

Her mom working on her computer lowers her reading glasses and nods, "Have you eaten?" she smiles, "yip." her mom looks at her pajamas, "exams are around the corner. study well." she goes in and hugs her mom then leaves again, "good night mom" she closes the door before her mom could say it back.

Efra enters her room, takes out her books and start studying. After two hours, she yawns again and again. Rests her head on her arms then remembers the envelope and picks it up.

**

Efra Snow

**

She flips the pink envelope and rips it open and pulls out the sky blue paper invitation.

**

Bruh, you're invited to my party.

Crib:

Dolce Amor Mansion

Divine Rd.

Time:

2025 - 06 - 10

12:00 - 12:00

don't be salty

Deadass. no extras

**

She puts it down then picks up her phone and enters the GC (group chat).

_the girls_

Efra: hey guys, you have plans for next week?

Sara: I have an appointment with my mom 🙄

Hannah: Nahh. *sticker

Luna: I'm going to a party. *gif

Sara: party!? Agh! I'm so jelly.

Efra: where?

Luna: a guy I met online invited me to it.

Hannah: sketchy af! 💀 Stranger danger bih.

Sara: is it at his house?

Luna: I don't think he knows the rich brat.

Efra: I got an invite from that house too.

Luna: "pretty sure, he's trollin'. Anyone who shows up at that mansion will be mistaken for workers.

Sara: Sounds as messed up as that other party.

Hannah: that was crazzzzyyyyy! No way they'll hear from me again. Ngl.

Efra: are you going?

Luna: to the dam?

Sara: the dam? Why there?

Luna: duh! It's D.(olce)A(mor).M(ansion).

Hannah: smh

Efra: let's go shop Friday.

They chat some more then Efra leaves the group.

She looks at the invitation then focuses on studying again. After two more hours she gets up and goes to the kitchen, opens the freezer takes out a pre-made pie, heats it in the microwave then eats it while sitting by the kitchen counter. After cleaning up, she makes some hot chocolate drinks it then makes another cup and goes to the lounge to watch a movie.

**

_girls_

Luna: mom texted. date's cancelled.

Hannah: Fr?

Luna: on God.

Efra: you're obV joining?

Luna: and slayyinggggg!

Efra: Sara?

Sara: man's 100% sus. Homebody-ing this one out.

**

They all meet up at the local dam, Luna and Sara arrived in a taxi service and Efra's brother dropped her off after a lot of begging and negotiating. There's a small group of approximately 20 students standing around in circles talking to each other and texting. The girls spot each other and run to greet.

Another car stops and someone in a bright pink motorcycle helmet climbs on with a box, he doesn't greet or talk, he puts it on the ground, gets in the car and drives off. Some mumble amongst each other then everyone walks towards the box, one of the girls open it and sees lots of small folded papers.

A few of the surrounding students each pick up a paper, unfolds it and reads it.

Efra looks at the paper, "Behind the library toilets"

She looks down and in fine print, there's a camera icon and a phone number."

She sighs then looks at Sara, "What did you get?"

Sara frowns, "Under the keyboard of the last PC in the internet cafe. How am I suppose to get there? We're literally three blocks away.. I hate exercise."

Efra switches hers with Sara then greets them and starts jogging. Some of the students complain about the locations, others have already gone. Sara and Luna go on their own as well.

Efra takes a right and right next to the snack store the internet cafe flickers their open sign.

She opens the door and greets the worker, "hi, my buddy left something here of mine. I'll be quick." She nods and Efra rushes to the last PC. She looks at the paper on the screen. 'Out of order's

She lifts the keyboard and finds a screwdriver underneath. She picks it up and heads for the door.

She greets the girl and leaves for the dam.

On her way back, she takes out her phone, snaps a picture of the screwdriver and sends it to the number. When she arrived most of the others had also returned. Everyone had something different, the one had pliers, a girl had a hammer, another guy had measuring tape, the theme seemed to be Handy Many or Bob the Builder.

Luna runs up to Efra, "hey, whatcha got?" Efra points it Luna, Luna reveals a paintroller from behind her back.

The same car arrives again and the helmet guy steps out, takes off the helmet and smiles.

"Hi guys, my name is Shaun. I'm the host for this round. Almost all of you found your items. One of you however found the special item."

Efra smiles at Luna, "Sara."

He continues, "The special item is the welcoming gift. I hope you enjoy it. Oh and by the way, every item you collected is connected to something so you can all feel special too."

He smiles then turns around, gets in the car again and drives off.

**

_the girls_

Sara: update Hannah. Party's not bussin.

Hannah: wdym

Efra: Treasure hunt. host had zero rizz.

Sara: still waiting for Luna to come back.

Efra: low budget game. Ngl.

**

They talk then spot Luna running towards them looking very uncomfortable and grossed out. Some of the other players gather to find out what the special item was, Luna then tells everyone that the special item was the body of a junkie. She couldn't take a picture of it, it was too nasty.

Some players looked at her with suspicion, others with worry, some with fear, Sara takes the paper from Luna and whispers under her breath, "This is a new low."

One of the guys starts getting angry, takes out his phone and starts dialling the police, "I'm not dealing with this." The operator picks up.

"What's your emergency?" "Good evening, I'm Gregory and I'm calling about a body you need to recover." He calls Luna closer with the paper, he walks towards her and takes it, "It's behind the gas station." The operator asks more questions to gather information to which he provides.

Efra looks at Sara, "So, that means the party is over..?" Luna pouts, "Can I sleep over at one of you guys please? I told my mom I would after the party."

Efra shakes her head, "My mom is working from home this weekend too. How about we all sleep over at Sara and let Hannah know?" Sara nods, "Let me ask my dad real quick?" She texts back and forth and soon enough they order a taxi and leave.

**

New group messages

"_DAMn this group_

Admin: "Players Luna and Gregory have broken the unspoken rules and will therefore face punishment."

Some of the members try to leave the chat group, but are soon added again. The admin changes the setting so players may interact with each other.

Greg: "Finna jail Shaun."

Linny: "r u fr. admin givin CEO rn."

Connor: "dude trippin."

Greg: "bruv be trolling too much."

Connor: "u is ops now!"

Cindy: "mad BS"

Linny: "yeet the elder Gen"

Greg: "Nahh fam. Chills."

The Admin sends a message:

"First Game plays off after school Monday."

**

Sara, Luna and Efra check their phones before entering the house, they stare at each other awkwardly then go in. They nod-greet Sara's father and go to her bedroom.

Inside they all get comfy, throwing themselves on the bed, they text Hannah to come over and she agrees. While Sara fetches chips, popcorn and drinks from the kitchen. Luna and Efra arranges the room so they'd be able to lay and watch movie.

After almost 20 minutes or so, Hannah arrives and join them. Sara increases the volume of the movie so they can talk about what happened earlier.

Sara leaning in towards Hannah who sat down next to her under the duvet, "so yeah. Like we said the whole treasure thing happened. Everyone found some 'item'" she brackets the word in the air. "it was all tools related then the host guy Shaun said there's a special item. Guess. A body." Hannah pulls a face, "Are you kidding me right now?" Efra nods desperately, "mad af. No?" Luna reaches for her phone to show the group chat. Hannah looks up, "punishment?" Luna sighs. They're all trying to figure out different scenarios of how things could turn out seeing that the police is involved. Luna fears being killed by Shaun for breaking the rules, but is reassured by Sara that they'll take care of her.

They let go of the topic, lowers the volume and watch the movie, Sara and Hannah fell asleep first then Efra. Luna switches off the television, closes her eyes too, hopes to calm herself down enough to sleep peacefully.