The Trap

An Invitation

I relocated to Queens, New York, leaving behind a monotonous bank teller job in Chicago. Three years ago, during the country's toughest times, I discovered my true passion. The pandemic, while isolating, was a pivotal moment for my career. Being the more adventurous and creative twin, I thrived.

I'm genuinely pleased with my flourishing social media presence as an influencer. Despite the internet's eccentricities, my followers appreciate my distinctive outlook on life and all its facets.

My musings were interrupted by an elegant invitation on lacy white paper, adorned with a red ribbon and splattered with red paint. I eagerly opened it, contemplating a live session with a fuchsia nail resting on the envelope.

Grinning, I scurried around my home studio, setting up my camera and arranging wine, cheese, and dark chocolate on a plate. Midnight—the ideal time to rouse my followers.

My 700,000 followers relish my live sessions, and tonight would be no different.

I swept back my thick locs, applied red lip gloss, and powered up my iPhone, casting a glow on my audience.

With an exuberant voice, I exclaimed, "What's up, Shay Shay Fam! It's your girl Shiyala!"

As the virtual room filled with faces and usernames, the comments began pouring in.

"Yass Queen!" tyron90 exclaimed.

"Girl, you look so bomb today," Shayala praised.

Settling into my comfy chair, I brandished the envelope excitedly.

"Settle down, fam! I see you all—thanks, tyron90 and Shayala!"

With a lip bite, I tore open the letter with a flick of my nail, declaring, "We've got something exciting planned for this weekend, so let's dive in!" As I watched more followers join the virtual room, I pressed a finger to my lips.

"Are you ready?" The flurry of comments amped me up even more.

I was taken aback to see my sister Shayala in the chat, so I brought her on live.

As she appeared, heart emojis flooded from the men. She stood tall, her long box braids complemented by black-rimmed cat glasses that suited her perfectly.

With a delighted gasp, I opened the envelope and exclaimed, "It's a party!!! An invitation to an exclusive, dark, and haunting party at a secret Long Island location." I paused, locking eyes with Shayala's dark gaze, and declared, "We're going to a party, Shayala."

"Oh snap!" She giggled, her light voice resonating as she clapped her hands joyfully.

"It's going to be epic!" I declared, sipping my rich red merlot and licking my lips, convinced this could boost my following significantly.

"You definitely need to go live, sis," Shayala encouraged me. Grateful for her support, I asked, "So, are you coming with?" I swiveled my head, anticipating her response, ready for the long weekend ahead as I ended the live stream.

(c) 2024 by Mocha Sistah