Gemotions

The invitation sat, a shimmering rectangle, clutched tight in Elara's sweaty palm. Tonight! Her friends were finally throwing her the surprise party they'd been hinting at for weeks. A giggle bubbled up as she pictured their faces, the decorations, the cake… oh, the cake! She bounced on the balls of her feet, nearly colliding with a passing pedestrian. "Whoops! Sorry!" she chirped, the word spilling out like a song. She couldn't wait.

She skipped the rest of the way to the designated address, her bag swinging wildly. Butterflies performed acrobatics in her stomach. Inside, the usual pre-party jitters were amplified tenfold. This was going to be the best night *ever*.

The door was unlocked. A sense of wrongness settled over her, a chill that had nothing to do with the cool evening air. The house was dark, silent. Where were the balloons, the music, the laughter? A note, taped to the inside of the door, was the only welcome.