Emma POV

The room was huge, the bright olive walls reminded me of dad’s study room, the twin bed which was initially opposite themselves were now right next to each other, just as Lucia wanted. She said that being closer to me meant she was safe. After unpacking, not that I had much anyway, a letter came in under the door into the room. It was a black envelope with a red stamp on it. Lucia was too busy admiring the walk-in closet and shower to notice the letter, slowly opening it, I saw a white piece of paper written in a fine cursive that said ‘LET THE LIGHT REVEAL ALL TO YOU’. I stared at it again, turning the card to see if there was any other information written on the back. Nothing. It was bare and black. I sat down on my bed staring at the white paper and the card.

‘Emma, are you okay?’ Lucia asked, I turned to look at her when she walked back into the room with an orange towel wrapped around her body.

‘That was quick Lucia, I’m glad you’re warming up to the room quite well.’ I chuckled

‘It’s been a while I’ve had a nice shower, Emma, I’m not going to Miss out on the luxury,’ she bowed mockingly causing me to laugh at her.

‘What’s that? A card? Is it an invitation to a party....’ Lucia said coming closer to see the paper ‘.....a dark party. What does it say?’ She added

‘That’s I, Lucia, nothing...we’ll except for this white paper that says LET THE LIGHT REVEAL ALL TO YOU. What the heck is that supposed to mean?.

‘You know one thing Emma, you worry too much when you’re the smart one, just relax and be you cause you always figure everything out...somehow you do and that’s one thing I admire about you. You’re n a tight space, For the past 3 years, you’ve been doing a good job figuring something out, so a black card and some riddle isn’t enough to make you get on the edge. Trust yourself.’

‘Who are you and what have you done to Lucia, that was the most amazing pep talk ever!.’ I smiled at Lucia who was already rolling her eyes at me

‘Thank you, Lucia...’ I said ‘For having so much faith in me.’

‘Yeah whatever now solve that riddle while I sit in the hot tub.’ Lucia blows me a kiss and walks back into the bathroom.

LET THE LIGHT REVEAL IT TO YOU.

I lay down on my back and stare at the ceiling, I remember what dad used to tell me, when you’re in a tight spot close your eyes, block out the world and enter your light.

THE LIGHT REVEALS...... IT......TO..... YOU

LIGHT REVEAL!

That’s it, I got it. I stood up quickly and checked the drawers, I know I saw one here, where the hell is it? I pulled out the last drawer and saw the dark blue lighter. I removed it and turned it on and put it under the black card, moving it swiftly and slowly until I saw them.

The words in golden ink, it be was like the games my dad and I played, we called it Detective lIght answers, he would buy me a present, then write in colored cards as clues and put them in different places all over the houses and then I had to use the small pink lighter he got me to decode the messages until I found the present.

I smiled at the memory, the card in my hand now made sense, it was an address, inside the house. I grabbed my jacket and tied my hair up in a ponytail.

‘Lucia, I’m going out for a bit. I solved it.’

‘That was quick. Bye.’

I walked out of the room, following the directions on the card. The stairs seemed never-ending, it was a good thing I took tracks and field seriously in school. I was outside the mansion, it was colder outside, the trees sweeping the cool breeze everywhere, I zipped up my jacket and walked towards the garden. It was beautiful and contained all varieties of flowers. The door in between the wallflowers was hidden, it looked abandoned, when I pushed the door open it lead me to an elevator. When I got it the door closed and the elevator started moving downwards until it stopped and the door opened again. It was dark, I walked in a couple of steps, carefully waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The first thing you do when you’re in a dark room is, ‘Don’t ask whose there?’ Find a light switch swiftly. I used my fingers to find the walls and a switch.

I found a button and pushed it and the lights came on. The room was white and then I discovered I was in a box. An airtight box, I banged it, it was also soundproof I looked around hoping to find something that’ll get me out. Nothing. What do I do? Think Emma! I felt my shoes getting wet, I looked down and saw water pouring in from some hose, if I didn’t do something quick I was going to drown.

The intensity of the water increased by 3 fold, and it was already at my waist, remember when in trouble calm down- I told myself. Enter my universe, I stood still, closed my eyes, and waited a bit, I took a calm breath in and out, the water was at my neck now, just a few moments now, ‘make your subconscious your universe’ I kept telling myself that and then I felt the water overwhelming me. And then I was gone.

Lorenzo POV

‘Well, well, well, look at what the cat dragged in. If it isn’t Black Black Murphy.’ I teased the huge black guy that walked in the doors with a young girl who was probably my age, she tried to look confident amid the musky scent, huge men, and broken bottles.

Black black Murphy grunted and sat on the black couch pulling the young girl forcefully down with him, she let out a tiny Yelp as the man groped her. I could smell her fear. She was probably in Dept to Black black Murphy and he was using her as his mistress.

‘Lorenzo, it’s nice to see you again. I came to visit my favorite person and also give you the limited edition of my company’s wine as a thank you gift for eliminating the rotten hag.’

Black black Murphy nudged his mistress to pass the paper bag to Marco.

‘’White wine. You sure know what we like about Murphy. Marco comments after taking a quick look at the package.

‘What do you want Murphy? you said you wanted to pass on a message from Gill.’

‘Strip.’ Black black Murphy ordered his mistress

The girl slowly removed the sleeves of her ruffled top revealing her shoulder blades, it seemed that black Murphy had had enough of her sluggish act and tugged the upper bodice down forcefully ripping one side of it.

‘Turn the fuck around or I’ll slice off your little brother's tongue.’

The young mistress's tears poured out as she turned around for me and Marco to see. It was a message written in the tattoo ink.

‘Gill is throwing a party for his closest pals, next Friday at the Druber Malik hall by 7 pm. He wants you to be there.’

‘You should’ve just said that.’ I replied

‘You know Gill, how he likes to do his things.’ Black Murphy said ‘No turn around you twerp.’ He yelled at the mistress, her face was ready her black eyeliner running down her face, and her nose running with mucus.

‘Now that’s not a beautiful sight.’ He said, in a second he brought out his gun and shot her in the head, blood splattering on my Favorite carpet. Oh no, he did not.

‘Murphy, you know no shooting is allowed in here unless it’s Lorenzo doing the killing...or me.’ Marco said staring at Murphy sternly

‘Chill out Marco, the twerp was looking ugly....’

‘You should’ve done that outside.’ Marco interrupted him

‘Well, Marco since he’s done the deed it’s time to tell him bye.’ I smiled at my best friend knowingly. Marco laughed at what I said but understood clearly.

We brought out our guns simultaneously to look at Black Murphy’s scared face.

‘What are you guys doing?’

‘Something we should’ve done a long time ago, staining the carpet with your blood’

Black Murphy scream could be heard as we shot his both hands multiple times until we were sure he couldn’t shoot anyone again and most Importantly not think we’re pals and disobey me.

I dialed a number on my phone and put it on speaker.

‘Lorenzo, my man. You received my invitation?’

‘Oh yes, I did. That was creative by the way but I don’t think he’ll be any use to you anymore. Fucker shot a girl in my favorite room and on my favorite carpet so Marco and I got rid of his hands.’

‘Ah, I see. Well, Black Murphy is lucky you didn’t kill him.’ Gill hearty laughter filled the room

‘Soon, really soon.’