James Hackett

At the graduation Ball last week, Kayla and Rhonda made a spectacular entrance, only to be upstaged by Keston, who had three hotties draped all over him. Meanwhile Adrian and his ragtag posse of night creatures prepare to storm the festivities.

Crushed. Kayla was totally crushed. Her golden-brown skin reddened. Keston and the girls went inside the party. Kayla could not believe it, she stormed after them. Rhonda followed close behind knowing the girl well enough to fear for what she may do. Inside, Rhonda noticed David was with his girl Jihan. It pained Rhonda to see him in the arms of another woman.

Trying to take her mind off it, she turned her attention to Kayla, who stood with a serious screwface off the end of the party. Young bodies moved to the music, celebrating their freedom, their minds at liberty and their bodies a physical reflection of that. Rhonda could not help but feel the energy that was around and was glad she attended. At the bar Rhonda purchased two drinks and gave one to Kayla who finished it in one gulp.

“Girl you have it bad.”

Kayla pierced Rhonda a wicked cut-eye. Rhonda tried a different approach. “Look, he may have three girls with him, but they ain’t nothing compared to brains AND beauty.” A smile started to form at the corners of Kayla’s mouth. “Men are stupid. You have to give some encouragement or they will never notice you.”

“You know what… I have to find out something.”

“What? Kayla what you going to do?”  Rhonda asked, worried that she caught something in Kayla’s eyes that she had never seen before-aggression.

“Keston too smart to get caught up with some gas brain and she friends. I think that there is something more to these girls.” That’s when Rhonda noticed that Kayla ha taken out some blue from her purse. Now she knew what Kayla was up to.

“Aye. But nah man it can’t be.” Rhonda looked at the three girls – they all had the same tattoos, the same freaky brown eyes. “Stupid,” she thought  I should have known.”

She took out a piece of blue also, broke it in two, and rubbed it against her hands. They headed toward Keston. “Keston was telling me that they could read minds so is best we don’t do anything again.”

“What? You… or okay.” Rhonda had caught on.

“So Kes boy, the party going good?”

Kayla asked eventually. Keston was dreamy eyed, his voice slurred, but he had no alcohol breath. He was drunk on something other than alcohol.

“I dey. The vibes cool and I have GREAT company.”

“Well introduce we to your friends nuh.”

Both girls held their hands out.

Keston introduced Small and Darkie to them. Darkie screamed in pain as Smallie reeled in horror. The girls were just who Kayla suspected – the same three that had confronted Anton a couple months ago. Reds, seeing her partner’s pain, was about to attack when some boys on BMX bikes crashed the party. The other students, whose attentions were drawn to the little fiasco with the girls, broke into frenzy by the sudden intrusion. The bikers chased them around terrifying the screaming mass of kids. Some girl knocked Reds over in her frantic efforts to escape. Taking her cue, Rhonda grabbed Keston and followed Kayla out the back way and through the kitchen. Unwilling to relinquish her prey, Reds gave pursuit. Rushing out rhe backdoor the trio nearly ran into each another group of bikers – Tania and the Twins. Desperate, they dashed back into the kitchen only to see Reds tossing aside two of the caterers. Rhonda, Kayla and the groggy Keston hid behind a counter, trying to edge out past Reds towards the door.

‘Keston you okay now boy?” He was still entranced but the action had shaken him out of most of it.

“Yeah I good.”

“Then go for it.” Keston ran first, Kayla followed after and Rhonda was almost at the door when reds dove into her path. She raised her hands to hit Rhonda.

Adrenaline pumping, Rhonda reacted swiftly, slapping Reds with the other blue pasted hand. Bits of flesh gave way as Reds’ face glowed bright blue. Rhonda ran into the empty main hall. Everyone had left save for Darkie and Smallie. They had recovered and their eyes glowed in the dark dance hall. It was a tight situation and Reds was coming behind them as the other 2 blocked the front exit.

Rhonda looked out the balcony they were a floor up. Without time to explain she pointed: “Balcony! Quick!” On the balcony they looked over the hotel’s pool. They had no time to think of the consequences, the three La Dia Blesses were behind – they jumped feet-first into the pool. Hurriedly, the trio headed for the tent only bounce into Adrian.  He easily scooped up Rhonda and raced off on his bike. The BMXers followed him. “They got Rhonda!” Kayla shouted.

Kicking one boy viciously off his bike Kayla jumped on and gave chase. Keston was joined by David, they both stood transfixed as the weird bunch made their way through the carpark to the street.

Realising Kayla was facing tremendous odds alone, Keston dashed off behind the last straggling biker. That seemed to have gotten David back to himself as he also joined the frenzied chase into the darkness.