Once semi-safely behind closed doors, Maya let out a long, exasperated sigh and rested the back of her head against the solid door behind her. Andrew seemed nice enough. Polite and cordial…
normal, despite the curious predicament they were both in. Then again, she considered herself pretty average, and she was still here… so maybe the other guests were no different. They were just a bunch of normal people, stuck in a very unusual situation.
Her lids opened and Maya’s chocolate eyes began to scan the ceiling that her head was angled up towards. Were there cameras? Just how paranoid did she have to be in this seemingly beautiful house of horrors? Not having noticed anything out of the ordinary, Maya began to take in the rest of the room. The decor was tailored perfectly to her taste, more so than her own bedroom back home — most likely because these people had the money to truly decorate, while she did not. Gorgeous hues of reds, oranges, and golden yellows painted the bedspread, curtains, and walls. Maya loved the colors of a brilliant summer sunset, and this room embodied that aesthetic.
Despite how creepy it was that it seemed like this room had been designed
specifically for her, the decor was soothing. Maya found herself breathing out a relaxing breath, and then two, and three. Eventually she made her way to the bed and sat down on it to pull her clothing and other belongings out of her luggage. Before unzipping the suitcase, a box on the end table beside the bed caught her eye. She reached over and opened it to reveal an extravagant navy blue
mask adorned with shining crystals and peacock feathers. There was a note indicating that it was meant to be worn to the welcoming party at seven. A masquerade? She’d always wanted to attend one, but… perhaps under different circumstances. Like voluntarily, for example.
Maya set the mask back on the end table for a moment and went about settling herself into her new home away from home for the week. She unpacked her undergarments and pajamas and stored them in the dresser drawers, along with some of her more wrinkle-resistant casual and sportswear. The rest of her clothing was hung up carefully in the spacious walk-in closet, including the minimalistically simple designer
dress and fabulous shoes that she intended to wear to tonight's party. Paid for on the Wolfe’s dime, of course. The red dress was elegant but muted, because Maya wanted the aztec print shoes to do all of the talking.
Following the sorting out of clothing, Maya set her jewelry and make-up out on the mirrored vanity desk. There was a separate work desk in the room were the student arranged her art supplies — storing the sketchbooks and color media in the desk drawers away from sunlight, and placing her pencils and ink pens in the decorative jar atop the work surface. With that, the finishing touches were complete. If she set aside all of the background that got her here, Maya could almost pretend this place was a super classy dorm room. It could
almost feel like home.
Feeling much more comfortable and at peace, Maya set about getting ready for the party. She took a deep long soak in the tub located in her en suite bathroom. A tub with jets, mind you, because this place wasn’t extra enough. It wasn’t until Maya’s head bobbed off in a doze and her skin was pruned that she startled awake and finished her bath. She continued her coiffing by drying and setting her hair in big, soft, romantic curls and crafting a sultry brown and gold
smokey eye with winged eyeliner sharp enough to kill a man. A barely there nude coral lip and a set of shining gold bangles polished off the look and she was finally party ready.
Tying the navy peacock mask on, Maya realized she probably could have done without the makeup, but at least she would still look good if it came time to take it off. Without any idea for what might come next, Maya headed down the flight of stairs to the designated meeting area for the party. There were far more guests than she expected. With their masks on, Maya hardly recognized anyone from earlier, but she assumed that the smaller group standing by an apparent staff member offering champagne might be them.
Maya took a place standing by them and nodded politely when the waiter offered her a glass of bubbly. She graciously took a flute in one hand but did not immediately take a sip. It might be on account of all of the seminars she had to attend in college, but Maya wasn’t keen on drinking a beverage that she didn’t pour herself nor watch being poured. Plus, she hadn’t ruled out this whole thing being an elaborate sex trafficking ring yet, so the drink really could be roofied. Better safe than sorry.
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