Lorenzo

The night after exams promised to be noisy, but I preferred the quiet of the dorm to the parties. Everything changed when I found an envelope under my door: "Masquerade Ball: Vampire Night. Masks required. "Journalistic curiosity won out. Donning a lace mask, I drove to the edge of the park. A Gothic mansion appeared through the darkness. The crowd in costumes reassured me: it was just a regular party. Inside, the house was adorned with antiques. By the fireplace, I spotted a pale man in a gray mask. "Are you looking forward to the show too?" I asked. “You shouldn’t be here,” he answered hoarsely and disappeared. Suddenly, a game of "Victims and Vampires" was announced. In the corner, a girl sank her teeth into her partner's neck, and scarlet blood dripped onto the parquet floor. The guy closed his eyes in bliss. Blood ran cold: these weren't props! I jerked toward the exit, but a figure in a red mask blocked my path. Hissing and flashing fangs, it lunged at me. Knocking over a candlestick, I dashed out into the street. A guy in a gray mask stood by the stairs. I hid behind him. My pursuer jumped out after me, but he stepped forward: “Enough,” he said with such chilling force that she retreated into the darkness. He took my hand and led me through the park. His palm was cold, but he felt safe. At the edge of the illuminated street, he let go of my hand. — From now on, you're on your own. And never answer such invitations again.