Chapter 5

The roads darkened as they sped deeper into the heart of suburbia.

The stops and turns grew more frequent, and all that became visible in the deep darkness outside the window were flashes of light from homes nestled deeply behind lines of trees. She could make out the full outline of a few houses every few minutes thanks to the bright Christmas lights draped over their sides. She felt more out of place with each passing home, all bigger than any she’d ever seen, all bigger than the last.

The car slowed into a turn, and Sloane felt it begin to climb a slight incline.

“About 2 minutes,” Lisa announced. She pulled out her phone to touch up her makeup. Sloane pulled out her phone to do the same, though she wondered what she would do if something were awry, with her makeup back at home.

The car rolled into a stop, and Sloane looked out the windshield. Bright headlights shone on a black gate, slowly opening between two thick stone columns. The car advanced up what Sloane assumed was the driveway, though no house was visible.

Her eyes widened as the house came into sight, impossibly large and ornate.

“Am I a surprise guest on one of those Netflix shows about incredible homes?” Sloane joked.

“Well,” Lisa snorted, “don’t judge, we’re re-decorating.”

The car swooped around alongside the house’s entrance and came to a slow halt. Charles chauffeured them out of the vehicle and made his way back to the driver’s seat.

The front door of the home opened as the two approached, a short and stubby figure casting a silhouette in the warm light behind.

“Thank you, Vance,” Lisa spoke as they broke the threshold. He collected their bags and quickly shuffled off into another room.

Sloane stood stunned in the home’s entry. Modern furniture and decor filled the great expanse of the room next to her, every piece seemingly having its purpose in completing the room. The ceilings felt impossibly high, and the walls were stamped with art that made Sloane feel too poor to even look at.

The warmth of the home hugged Sloane’s chilled calves and cheeks as she reached down to remove her shoes.

“Ah-ah,” Lisa broke in. “Shoes on. Loud and confident. Let him know we’re here.”

Lisa confidently strode up to Sloane. In the warm light of her home, Sloane further appreciated Lisa’s incredible skin and the cool confidence in her face.

“You won’t hurt the floors,” she whispered, taking Sloane by the arm.

The vast house echoed as they stomped their way through. Lisa led Sloane through the end of a wide hallway, and down a flight of stairs into another sprawling room. At one end, an electric fireplace was lit in front of a luxurious leather couch, below the largest TV Sloane could imagine mounted on the wall. On the other end of the room was a stone bar, big enough to host 10 guests, next to a number of leather chairs and small tables.

Lisa led Sloane between the chairs to the bookcase behind them and pulled at a book, slowly opening a false door to the side.

“You’re joking…” Sloane whispered. Lisa did not respond.

She led Sloane through the door to another staircase, lit with dim lights on the way down.

Before they descended below, Lisa turned to face Sloane and grabbed both her hands. She shook her body as to shake off her nerves and grinned as she stared into Sloane’s eyes.

“This is it,” she whispered. “This is your time. I’m gonna turn around, and we’ll head down the stairs. When we start walking down, you can say your lines.” Lisa’s shoulders shrugged up to her ears in excitement. “Let’s have some fun.”

Lisa turned and began her way down the stairs.

Sloane felt a fire begin to build in her gut and burn through her limbs. As if the devil broke free of her shackles and took control of all operations, her lips snarled as she stomped on the first step, and then the second, sending echoing shocks down the staircase. Through red matte lips, she shrieked: “hope you’re ready, TUBBY!”