Simon Wilcock, heir of the Wilcock estate, stood at the doors of his family's manor, welcoming guests in his golden, beaked mask. Not real gold, of course. You'd think that because my family was so rich, that they'd be a bit less stingy. Nope. He looked across the threshold, remembering the conversation he had with his father an hour ago.

"Remember son, you are our prized possesion." His father reminded him, stern. "Possession?" Simon asked, eyebrow raised. His father glared at him. "Focus! Now go get ready for the party, boy." Of course, he doesn't see me as his actual son, does he? Just a useless little child. Simon clenched his fist. Of course he didn't. He saw him as an asset. A piece of his grand scheme.

Simon sighed. Maybe tonight could be fun. He might even meet a girl. For now, he had to welcome everyone older than him. "Just a bit longer, and I can go inside."

@DriveEMOut

Mary walked up the stairs with help from her parents. She was a bit paler than usual, so her skin was a snowy white. Coupled with her black hair and dark brown/black eyes, there was huge contrast in her appearance. She was between her parents as they walked toward the boy greeting everyone else. Unlike most women she was wearing flats, as she could not walk very well in her current condition.

She hated gatherings. She looked to her side, her father's head lifted in a manner that would have one think he were BORN into high society. Mary resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The only reason they were even here was because her father was exceptionally good at gambling. So they were wealthy as it was. Now they were at the door. The boy's mask caught her eye. She could tell almost immediately that it wasn't true gold, but she digressed. She looked at her father.

Now, the last fight with his parents had been mere two hours ago, and yet the boy was standing in front of that huge manor, obviously ready to enter it. Aidan was quite obviously not the typical kind of boy born into high society. Despite his father's wealth and his mother's effort, the young adult was not at all fond of this whole 'Let me show you how much money I have'-stuff. In fact, despite getting everything he wanted so far, he was rather averse to gatherings like that; and yet he had decided to come, sneaking out of the house, and finally bribing his father's personal driver to get him here. It was a childish action, really. Not at all respective of his actual age.

When Aidan reached the front door, he waited until that sickly pale looking girl went inside with her parents. In fact, he inwardly spited her already. How old was she? Fifteen? Wasn't she allowed to go out on herself? And if she was too sick, why didn't she just stay home? Aidan didn't feel any sympathy for her or her apparent reasons for attending to this party. In fact, he didn't seem to feel any sympathy at all. He wasn't even exactly sure why on earth he had decided to come. Probably to make sure that he still disliked humanity and its society like nothing else.

When his predecessor finally entered the manor, Aidan followed. Hands buried in his tuxedo's trousers' pockets, he simply ignored the young lad at the door. He didn't particularly care about the greeting ceremony. To be honest, he didn't even fully know that this guy was the son of the host of this little party. Probably due to the golden mask concealing the main factors of his face, but most definitely rather because he didn't care enough to inform himself properly about the attendants of said gathering. Oh, hopefully they offered a buffet of some sorts. Aidan had purposefully skipped dinner at home in order to evade his father...

Simon tried to keep his boredom hidden away. "Hello. Welcome to the Wilcock's twelfth annual masquerade party." He droned on, before noticing that there was actually someone his age. He smiled. "I'm Simon. Arthur Wilcock's son. Enjoy the party." He tried to keep his smile from reaching creepy proportions. Maybe this party won't be so bad after all. Just as he thought it, a man strode past him. Simon shrugged, and looked at his watch. "Time to enter the party." It was 9:15, meaning everybody else was either coming later or just a bit late.
As Simon stepped into the threshold, music, food, and laughter greeted him. He pushed past most and walked to the large banister. Instead of his father organizing the party, Simon had, and he was pretty proud. Once he reached the top of the banner, he tapped on the microphone placed there. As all turned to him, he swallowed hard. "Welcome to the Wilcock's annual masquerade party. Just a reminder, but this party will go until six o'clock in the morning. Have fun, everybody!" A cheer could be heard as everyone went back to their drinking. Simon walked down the banister and leaned against the wall near the punch.

@Nikki Moonlight@choraki

@DriveEMOut@choraki

Mary could practically hear the smile in the boy's voice as he greeted her family and her lips twitched slightly into a tiny smile. Then once in she left her parents' sides and went off alone. She waited till she could no longer see her mother and father before sitting down and sighing softly. She truly hated these kinds of things...

She noticed another young man, in his mid-twenties judging by his height and build, in a...strange mask. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. She kept avoiding her parents, sitting in a shadowy corner of the ballroom. Those two, since she was diagnosed schizophrenic, would not let her out of their sight. Honestly, her parents irked her. She preferred instead to speak to her hallucinations, one of whom was sitting beside her. She conversed quietly with him, stopping whenever someone came toward her within earshot.

Simon sat in the corner of the ballroom, scrolling through his phone. Curiously, the cell service shut off at around the same time. Eventually, he heard the first slow song come on. "I guess I have to set an example." He sighed as he walked to the dance floor. Many people had already partnered up, but he mostly just walked imposingly. A couple people wanted to dance with Simon, but they were a lot of the time thirty-year-olds. Which kinda set him off. After about a minute and a half, he just starting walking back to the punch stand, but then the girl his age caught his eye. He strode over to her. "May I have this dance?" He asked, making his voice as deep as possible, before changing it mid sentence into his normal pitch.

@Nikki Moonlight

@DriveEMOut

Mary was surprised, to say the least, that she was asked to dance. Despite herself she could hear herself say, "You may..." She took his hand, a light pink flush on her white cheeks now, despite her having told herself that she wouldn't dance. "Forgive me in advance for my two left feet, I am afraid when one is in my condition, we do not dance well..."

Cassandra stared blankly out the passenger-side window of her limo, more than a little aware that she was going to be late for the festivities tonight. Sighing deeply, she pictured what her father would say if he had any idea that she had left the house less than thirty minutes early; especially for such a prestigious event.
How could she possibly have left any earlier though when her favorite romance novel was nowhere to be found? Having been searching for it all the way up until fifteen minutes before the party, it was almost as if the little pink book she now held in her hand was determined to not be read that night.

The road became bumpier as they approached a turnpike in the road, transitioning from rough gravel to a very long, clean-looking driveway. Cassandra lifted her head from admiring the fine, golden borders of her book to look outside. The Wilcock Manor was a magnificently large estate and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by its sheer size alone.

The limo stopped at the end of the driveway and she heard her door open as her escort offered his hand for her to take in getting out. She politely accepted the offer, the other hand holding onto the bottom of her long, lavender colored ball gown. Her father always told her that appearance is everything, so to arrive at a ball with a mere speck of dirt adorning her would be simply unforgivable in her father's eyes. She nodded at her limo driver, signalling that it was okay for him to leave now, and watched the bright white car make its way back down the long, winding driveway.

She trudged awkwardly up the steps, nervousness eating at her like a parasite in her stomach. Never before had she attended such an important event in the place of her father, so to be here alone was deeply nerve-wracking. Clutching her book to her chest, she took a deep breath and started walking up the steps. The door to the house was incredibly intimidating, and she wasn't entirely sure if she was supposed to knock, so she simply opened it and stepped in.

Immediately what most have been twenty different sensations hit her at once. From the tantilizing aromas of food cooking in the kitchen, to the quaint, upbeat music in the background; there was no doubt that a party was being held. All around her people were chipping and chattering on about their livelihoods, each person seeming to want to outdo the other in some pompous game of wealth. However uninteresting and honestly; self-degrading, these topics felt to her,however, she knew that as the daughter to the owner of Welsh Enterprises she wouldn't be able to avoid this particular conversation topic.

She had only attended the Wilcock's Masquerade party once before, and even then her father did most of the talking so she was able to just sit quietly with her book and read the whole night. Now she had to actually talk to people and-- she shuddered at the thought-- socialize. The Wilcock's and Welsh's had known each other for years now and it was important that she made a good impression in her father's absence. Anxiety once again bit into her stomach, discomfort leeching its way into her when she realized that she was just standing in the middle of the entrance hall.

Cassandra quickly collected herself as she noticed that there were a small group of older-looking people staring at her in what must have been obvious distaste for her late arrival. She smiled and bowed her head cordially to them before quickly making her way towards a crowd more her speed. Walking directly past the dance floor, she noticed a boy and girl around her age talking to each other. It appeared as though he was asking her for a dance. She stared on at them for a few moments longer, wondering why they seemed so familiar, when realization struck her. Of course! It was Simon Wilcock, son to the prestigious Wilcock estate and whom she presumed to be host tonight. Embaressment flushing her face as she realized she had been looking at them for well over a minute she quickly pulled her lavender colored mask out of her purse and lifted it to her face. Hopefully that would hide some of the red.

She took a seat near the dance floor, tucking her dress underneath of her as she sat down before pulling out her little pink book and eagerly delving into its pages.

As soon as Simon saw Cassandra Welsh, his mind went blank. But he managed to turn to the other girl and squeak this out. "I have to do something...Apologies." He practically sprinted to where Cassandra was sitting. He made sure that the other girl was out of eyesight, then tapped Cassandra on the shoulder. "Cassandra Welsh. I presume you know who I am?" He asked, trying to fend away the awkwardness from his voice. He had, as his father said, 'taken an interest' in Cassandra.

@Bria The Human@Nikki Moonlight

@DriveEMOut

Mary shrugged and went back to the shadowy corner were she sat, not really bothered by his abrupt disappearance. After all, most men shied away from her. Even those her age. That was the norm for her. She leaned back and closed her eyes, sighing, annoyed at her parents for dragging her to this stupid gathering. Mary, in all honesty, was feeling ill. It bugged her badly. She kept out of sight, actually heading away from the punch stand, weaving through the crowd and away from the ballroom/entrance hall, into the sitting room, sinking into a seat, letting loose a cough.

@DriveEMOut

Having just barely made it two pages into her book, Cassandra quickly refocused her attention as Simon approached.

Now was her time to make a good impression.

Still holding her mask to her face she smiled politely at him and nodded her head in response to his question. "Why of course, it's Simon Wilcock correct?" Her voice was quiet and she hoped dearly that it didn't sound forced as she tried her best to maintain eye contact. She noticed the girl he had left on the dance floor was once again sitting by herself and she couldn't help but feel a small twang of envy towards her. It wasn't that Simon was difficult to converse with, but more so that there was a lot of unnecessary pressure weighing on her shoulders to make sure she represents the best image of Welsh Enterprises. When it comes down to it that was why she was here.
"So how has the party been so far? I do apologize for my late arrival; I had.. matters to attend to."
The last bit of that sentence came out a little less composed as she realized that trying to find her favorite book wasn't the best excuse for showing up late to a night like this.

"I don't know who's who here, bruh. But I met this girl named Natalie, says her father is a board member for Morgan Stanley." Tristien Naviscone urinated in a stall while his friend Randall Rothschild checked his face and hair in the mirror. "Choose wisely, bro. We're ditching as soon as we lock in with the girls and going to my lakehouse." Tristien snickered, zipping up and adjusting himself. "You and Francisco do this every time you come to these?"

"Uh....yah." Randall answered with a matter of fact tone. "What else would I be here for?"

Tristien strolled out the stall and wet his hands before lathering with soap. "Network? I can meet a big wig CEO." The West Indies native eyes glazed over the golden faucets and pristine condition of the bathroom. "Look at this place, it's pouring with money. I get buddy buddy with the right man or woman. I'm innit."

"My parents are gross rich I can just have them--."

"I can do my own thing." Tristien shot him a smirk in the mirror, while removing the lathered soap from his hands. "Preciate it though, Randy." Tristien left Randall alone in the bathroom and beelined for the main floor where he left Natalie.

"Tristien!" Randall sniped, poking his head out the bathroom and wearing his golden mask. "Put your mask back on."

"Oh yah man." Tristien quickly returned his Epa mask onto his face and resumed to the main room.

@Bria The Human

Mary had left to explore the house when she saw Simon with another girl. Her lips twitched. They'd make a cute couple, she thought. A small voice in her head thought, though, in a casket... She shook her head, sitting close to the bathroom.

@XLR8R

Mary suddenly heard two boys in the bathroom, and she blinked at what she heard. She scoffed. Were most men ruled by their genitals? She let loose a small cough, then she saw a young man come out. She leaned back in her eat, her eyes closed. Mary was definitely a goth, somewhat. She liked the dark aesthetic. In all honesty she would have worn a black dress tonight, but one of her 'friends' insisted that she'd look better in a red dress. This friend was also a goth. This friend was also one of her hallucinations. But this dress showed off her tattoos perfectly. She had huge raven wings on her back and vine tattoos going down her arms. With a red rose on the top of her hand. She watched this guy go and she sighed happily as she was once again alone.

Simon smiled at Cassandra. "That would be correct. And the party has been marvelous." He then frowned. "Hey, what do you say we stop talking like our parents for a second? It honestly makes me feel like a slave. And how about we get out of this room, at least. That way my dad won't give me his trade mark 'you're a failure' scowl." Ever since Simon had entered the world, his father was disappointed. Even once he started helping him with business, inventions, etc. Still disappointed. As always. As he would ever be.

@Bria The Human

It was evident from the surprised look on Cassandra's face that she wasn't used to such bluntness from someone else like her. Gulping, she nodded her head. "I think that would be nice." Shyness had managed to perpetrate her once cool exterior as she rose up out of her chair. As she stood up she blinked in surprise. Tilting her head upward she stared up at the tall, dark-haired Simon. She hadn't realized what a height difference they had between them and once again a light rose color seemed to brighten her cheeks. "Let's go shall we?" Almost rushing, Cassandra walked away with Simon heading into the next room where it seemed to be a bit more toned down. She wasn't exactly sure what room this was for as it had considerably less people within its confines and didn't seem to be too exciting. Part of her wondered if maybe it was a more private part of the manor she shouldn't have visited. Nonetheless, being in the calm of a more silent room seemed to lighten a little bit of the anxiety Cassandra had been feeling before. Smiling softly she looked over at Simon, hoping that he was enjoying the quiet as well and wasn't simply bored.

She thought about what he had said before about his father's "You're a failure" scowl. She had never really had much of a relationship with her father, seen only as a "prized possession" of his to show off to company. Letting down her mask, she turned her head toward Simon.

"Sometimes its nice to get to sit quietly with another person. To just get to be normal for a little bit you know? No expectations or standards to be upheld."

Simon followed Cassandra. When she finished her bit about not having responsibilities, he smiled. "Yeah. Thankfully, I do have some friends among the staff, so I can always find someone to talk to." Just as he finished talking, the lights went out, and a killer began their spree...
***
The metallic sound of the knife cutting through skin made the killer shiver with glee. They could almost taste the blood, the sorrow. Those pigs thought they were invincible. But everything is going wrong for them tonight. A scream is heard from a man who can see the body. Most of the adults ran out, and the killer grinned. Now the little kiddies could have some fun. They disappeared into the shadows, content for a while. But only for while.

@Nikki Moonlight@choraki@Bria The Human@XLR8R

@DriveEMOut

Mary ran toward the scream and she saw the body. The side of her that wanted to kill others surged in delight, while the other side of her was more shocked. She frowned. Who had let the killer in?! She knelt down and looked at the corpse. She touched the still barely warm body. Hr mother and father saw her touching the corpse. "Mary, get away from the corpse!!!" Mary, for the first time, snapped at her parents, "I'm trying to see what happened!!!" Her mother feared her because of her schizophrenia. The look of horror and confusion on her mother's face told her what she already suspected. Her mother blamed her for this person's death. Mary stood. "Mom, I didn't kill the person....Have you ever known me to kill anyone?!" Her mother looked away, not wanting to see her daughter. Mary's fists clenched and she stormed away, going angrily right past Cassandra and Simon.

"Bloody....hell..." Tristien gasped under his breath, looking on at the brutalized body. His brain started ticking options. His first was to leave the party. That was too easy. Too incriminating. The cops would arrive and put the entire manor on lockdown. No one could leave until the authorities gained more information and control over the situation. "Ah, crap." Randall Rothschild griped behind his golden mask."We're gonna be stuck here all night." Tristien shrugged at him, focusing more on the pale girl examining the body. The dead body was evidence and she put her fingerprints all over it. It was an odd thing to do. He watched as an episode exploded between the girl and her parents before she stormed off from the scene. "Awkward." Randall commented with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll be right back." Tristien said, walking the direction the girl strut off to in a fit.

"I'm gonna go call the cops." Randall said roaming away from the noise of shocked people.

@Choraki @DriveEMOut @Bria The Human @Nikki Moonlight

@XLR8R

Mary sank down into a chair, staring off into space, when she heard someone approaching her. She recognized the boy from the bathrooms. "What do you want?" She said in a nearly feral tone. Her black eyes were full of angry tears. "I'm REALLY not in the mood for patronization." She folded her arms over her well-endowed chest, her light pink lips pursed in anger.

Violet had been so ingrained in her notebook that she didn't realize there was a murder until the voices of those around her rose in volume. Her green eyes focused on the body and she turned her head away quickly, horror and fear coursing through her body. She closed her notebook, got to her feet, and quickly made her way to the opposite end of the ballroom, trying to put as much distance between herself and the horror as she could.
When she sat down in a new chair her hands were shaking.