Luciana

          A hue from the windows sprinkled the hallway with warmth, but the temperature of the house left a chill caresses against Nino’s sharp cheeks. It’s still early; an arrest had been made hours before, the minute attention his father had gotten for almost getting shot disappearing away into the deep depths of darkness as Emilio Athanas stole the headlines. When the news broke out, his father had accused him with his eyes for something he hadn’t done before he locked himself up in his office angered that his memorial honoring Vidal Athanas was ruined; leaving him here to stand amidst grandeur decor and lucrative silence. Nino is no stranger to the Athanas house, neither the people that lived in it. He may be uninvited, but all his life, he has been made to feel that way, even in his own home. But here, he is not to be judged. He is here to pass his judgment. 

Leaning against the entrance door, as if he is withholding anyone from entering or leaving the House on the Hill, he regards the passing person, his claim is the exhale in the silence; “The rumors can finally rest.”

Luciana dried her hands, after cleaning up the kitchen. In times of stress some people shopped, some people overate, some people even did outrageous things, she on the other cleaned. She cleaned and organized anything and everything. The light spilling into the hallway caught her eye, did someone leave the door open? Shrugging her shoulders she waltzed over to the door, to her surprise someone was standing at the entrance. His words struck her by surprise. 

“I’m sorry, what rumors?” she asked. 

“I don’t believe we’ve met, my name is Luciana. You are?” she asked.

@orienexpress

Luciana sucked her teeth in frustration, naturally, her phone would die in the middle of a conversation and of course during a blackout in a strange place. Sweat pooled at the nape of her neck, not because of the darkness or the pain from bumping into hard furniture. There was something rotten in the air, something wasn’t right. Hopefully, Orien received the message before her phone died. 

She let out a slight sigh, attempting to find her way towards the front door. She remembered the mini-flashlight on her keys, although it was terribly dim it was better than nothing. Luciana unlocked her car, the bright flashinglights provided her with a route outside. 

“I fall in love every day” 

Orien: Wow

Orien: I need to talk to you about some pretty serious stuff. Although maybe it'd be better when the power or light of day returns.

Luci: :)

Luci: Serious? Anytime you need, do you want to come with me to get the lights out of my car?

Cassia was aware that one of their siblings was most likely the murderer.  They were also aware that almost all of their siblings were at the event.  Not to mention the fact that Cassia couldn’t get the memory out of their head that someone had been standing over them in the middle of hte night and left Ace’s doll’s head to prove it.  

So there was no way that they were taking any chances. 

They had kept the small can of mace with them ever since then, just in case something happened.  And the blackout definitely counted as something.  Their anxiety was on edge as they held the can out in front of them, and stayed huddled in the corner because they figured it was better to stay in a room with people than go off on their own. Because nobody was going to try and hurt them if there were witnesses….right?

The thoughts were spiraling through their head when they sensed someone was in front of them, and without thinking Cassia yelped and sprayed them with mace, not really caring if they meant to hurt them or not. 

Thank the heavens Luciana heard the small yelp and took a step back otherwise she would’ve been sprayed by whatever and just been shot her way. 

“Jeez! Why’d you do that for? And what was that?” 

It’s dark and Adina’s heart hasn’t stopped racing since the lights went out. She knows what it means — now the killer can roam free amongst them. Every noise nearly makes her jump, but in a brief moment’s exhale, she remembers that in her bag she’s got a flashlight. She had packed it for a later small investigation of her own, but right now, she’s more than glad that her lists make her overprepared. 

She turns a corner, shines the light in someone’s eyes and tries to prepare again for what might come next. “Hello?”

Luciana sucked her teeth in frustration, naturally, her phone would die in the middle of a conversation and during a blackout. Shrugging her shoulders, she attempted to find her way towards the front door. She smacked her forward when she remembered the mini-flashlight on her keys and with the sound of my car she’d be able to easily find the exit and return with the lantern and flashlights. 

“Eep!” the sound escaped her as quickly as the bright light flashed her. She shielded her eyes with her palm. “Hi, would you mind lowering your light please,” she said. 

“Thank you,” Bluebell said, her words probably very clearly insincere. She snapped her shot, and a few more after that. She gave a tight, small smile toward the other girl. “Bluebell. Pleasure to meet you, Luciana. Should I assume you’re another of the children, or an outsider like myself?” She put her phone down in her lap. “Not necessarily. Just aesthetics, really.”

“Oh no problem,” she said with a flick of her wrist. Luciana smiled warmly completely oblivious of the tone of the other. “ The pleasure is all mine, but I am somewhere in the middle you could say, I’m one of the cousins,” she responded.

“How do you know everyone?” she asked.

“None. I don’t have a reason to be.”