It had been weeks since the events of that strange day. Zoe had avoided using the stone, mostly. She now found herself standing outside the large house of Sarah McMillan the school's head cheerleader.
Zoe was waiting on her friend Athena. Zoe and her used to be close. That was until a couple of years ago when Athena decided she wanted to be a Goth. Zoe had nothing against her friend being a Goth but over time they found themselves drifting further apart as there seemed to be little common ground between them. Eventually all contact was lost.
Zoe had been shopping one day a few weeks ago, when she bumped into Athena again. After a few pleasantries, Zoe discovered Athena had dialled back a bit on the Goth culture and was now more into the occult. It was another culture Zoe didn't have much interest in. As they talked it seemed to her that Athena regretted the split she'd caused in their friendship. Athena told her she had felt isolated being a Goth and she was keen to reconnect with old friends as well as making new friendships.
In Zoe's case it certainly worked, with what seemed like a more emotionally mature Athena. They regularly met up and chatted about old times, the years of no contact disappeared between them. They had become such good friends again that Zoe even told her about the stone. Being into the occult Athena was obviously interested in the mysterious stone. Zoe warned her against using it and for her to keep it a secret. Athena had agreed.
The biggest surprise about Athena was that she was actually friends with Sarah McMillan. Zoe found this incredibly unlikely. Athena explained that Sarah had spotted her reading a book on palmistry. Jokingly the older girl had stuck her hand out and asked Athena to read her fortune. Athena had done so and Sarah had laughed at her predictions and walked away.
Sarah came up to Athena a few days later, admitting certain predictions had came true and she wanted another reading. The readings became a regular event and the two girls had developed a friendship from there.
Zoe personally thought Sarah was a class-A bitch but she said nothing as she didn't want to upset Athena.
On the way home from school tonight, Athena asked if she could pop in and see Sarah as she'd asked for a reading. Zoe agreed but said she would stay outside, not that she was likely to get an invite in anyway, she thought.
It had been nearly quarter of an hour, the sun had set and Zoe was getting cold and bored. She walked up and down a little to stay warm.
Just then a flash of light appeared from ground level at the side of Sarah's house. Curious, Zoe walked through the garden and round the side of the house. The light was coming from a small basement window. Going from curious to nosy, Zoe decided to peek in the window.
The window was covered in grime, so she couldn't see much from her vantage point. She did see what looked like a large cage. She considered it was a weird thing to have in your basement. She spotted some movement coming from the cage. She thought maybe Sarah had some big vicious dog or something. She looked more carefully and to her horror and saw it was a person. A human being in a cage. She could see lots of pale skin and chains. She put her hand in her pocket. She was going to get her phone and call the police when the person turned to face her.
She recognised who it was immediately. Zoe was thoroughly confused as to how that person could be in Sarah's basement. She pulled her hand out her pocket, leaving the phone in there. The light was turned off and the room was plunged into darkness.
A few seconds later, she heard voices, to avoid suspicion she quickly ran back to the front of the house and nonchalantly leaned against the wall. She didn't see Sarah but Athena came out and the door which shut behind her.
"Sorry," Athena said, "Sarah was planning a slumber party on Saturday night and she wouldn't stop talking about it."
"Sounds like fun." Zoe said her head still spinning from what she saw in the basement.
"Guess what?"
"What?" Athena smiled.
"I got you an invite too. She says you can bring a few of your friends if you want."
"Cool." Zoe said as she realised that the party might be the opportunity she needed.
The two girls continued walking home. Zoe knew she had to make plans.
