Chương 3: Lost and Found

(Lena's POV)

Standing and holding a fine-looking man with a moustache, I had on me a yellow armless ball gown. The ball was a whirlwind of laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. I was having the time of my life, sipping on champagne and flirting with the handsome men who approached me. It was so different from my college days when I was the shy girl in the corner. Now, I was the life of the party.

But then, my eyes caught sight of a lone figure in a corner. A young woman, clearly drunk and looking miserable. Concern washed over me and I excused myself from the man to approach her.

"Hey there," I said gently, trying to keep my voice steady despite my own intoxication. "You okay?"

She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I... I don't know," she stammered.

I sat down next to her, putting an arm around her in a comforting gesture. "It's okay," I reassured her. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to."

As I looked closer, recognition dawned on me. It was Kelly, my best friend whom I hadn't seen in years.

"Kelly?" I gasped, shock washing over me. "What are you doing here?"

Kelly tried to respond, but her words were slurred and barely comprehensible. She was way too drunk. Seeing her in this state broke my heart. This wasn't the Kelly I remembered. This wasn't the strong, vibrant girl way back in college who had been my rock during our college years.

I knew then that I needed to help her, to get her out of this place and away from the toxic environment that had led her to this state. But first, I needed to sober her up.

"Come on, Kelly," I said gently, helping her to stand. "Let's get you some water and get you out of here." I was determined to help my friend, no matter what it took.

As I was helping Kelly to her feet, my phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was an important call I had been waiting for. "Just a moment, Kelly," I said, gently guiding her back onto the seat.

I moved to a quieter corner of the mansion to take the call. It was a brief conversation, but by the time I returned to where I had left Kelly, she was nowhere to be found. A quick scan of the room revealed that quite a few other people who had been around us were also missing.

A sense of panic started to rise within me. "Kelly?" I called out, hoping she had just moved to another part of the mansion. But there was no response.

My mind started racing with worry. Where could she have gone? And why did the others disappear as well?

I walked to every corner of the mansion, my heart pounding in my chest. I even ventured outside to the parking lot, hoping to find Kelly there. But she was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it!" I exclaimed.

I had just lost my best friend whom it had been years since we last saw each other.

As I stood there in the parking lot, I noticed two men not far from me. They were inhaling cocaine, their eyes wild and unfocused. One of them was injecting something into his arm, shouting incoherently and two curvy bitchrs were with them, rubbing their chests and laughing.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the scene. It was a dangerous event that Kelly and I had somehow found ourselves in. I couldn't help but wonder where Kelly could be and what state of mind she was in. Was she scared? Was she looking for me as I was looking for her?

I took one last look around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but to no avail. With a heavy heart, I turned away and made my way back inside the mansion. The music and laughter were a stark contrast to the worry gnawing at me.

Despite my worry for my best friend, I decided to continue having fun at the ball. I was alone when a handsome man with a big chest and slippery lips approached me. His confident stride and charming smile immediately caught my attention.

"Hello, beautiful," he said in a smooth voice. "I'm Ethan."

His pick-up lines were cheesy but somehow endearing. "Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?" he asked, winking at me.

I found myself laughing and falling for his charm. He invited me to have a drink with him, and I accepted. One drink turned into several, and we found ourselves lost in conversation, laughing and sharing stories.

Before I knew it, we ended up at a lodge. The details of how we got there were fuzzy in my mind, blurred by the alcohol and the whirlwind of emotions. But one thing was clear - this night was turning out to be more eventful than I had ever imagined.

The lodge was cozy, with a warm fire crackling in the fireplace and soft music playing in the background. Ethan led me to a plush sofa, where we continued our conversation. His stories were fascinating, and his laughter was infectious. I found myself drawn to him, his charm undeniable.

As the night wore on, we shared more drinks and more stories. The worries of the evening - the party, Kelly's disappearance - seemed to fade into the background. At that moment, it was just Ethan and me.

But as the night turned into early morning, reality started to creep back in. A flash crossed my mind, like a daydream. In it, I saw Kelly, my best friend who had vanished at the ball, tied up and her mouth sealed.

A pang of guilt hit me. I was here, enjoying myself with Ethan, while Kelly could be in trouble.

And so, I excused myself from Ethan, promising to be back shortly. I stepped outside the lodge and pulled out my phone, searching for Kelly's number that I had stored. After a few minutes of searching, I finally found it and called Kelly.

But all I got was her voicemail. The worry returned, stronger than before.

I knew then that I couldn't ignore it any longer. I had to find Kelly.

Even though, for now, all I could do was hope that she was safe. With a heavy heart, I returned to the lodge, ready to face whatever the next day would bring.

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