Maki |12:15 am

I’ve been wandering around the party, stopping to talk and greet people, looking, and scanning. I know he’s here somewhere. Nicholas said he decided to come when he heard Jo was going to be here. I laugh. He'll come here for Jo but not me?

When I reach the top of the stairs, I search the upstairs hallway and the line to the bathroom. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out quickly in case it’s a party-related text from one of my friends helping me monitor this mess.

The party went a little overboard. I admit that. I only ever get to do this when my parents take trips together, and this was the first time since summer, so I went a little crazy with the invites, plus Nico wouldn’t come unless I let him invite some people too. Who those people are, I actually have no idea. Giving all my friends free range over the invites was not smart on my part.

I see a text from Nico and tap it open.

Nico

Bring me my hoodie from your room, and I’ll tell you where Harua is hiding.

Holy shit.

This is it.

A nervous energy comes over me, and I type back as fast as I can.

Maki

Where are you?

It doesn’t take long for him to respond, and I turn, running down the hallway to my room. Whipping the door open, I skid across the hardwood floor until I reach Nico’s bag sitting on the floor. I dig around in it furiously, reaching the bottom where the hoodie is and snatching it out.

Standing up again, I dart across my room, slamming the door closed behind me. I go back the way I came and run back down the stairs—like it's a race I’m determined to win.