AURO (English ver)

CHAPTER I

Darkness. Probably one of my biggest fears since childhood. Since I have reason, I remember the darkness accompanied by my crying and my screams for help. Mom has tried her best to make me understand that nothing bad happens there; there are no monsters, no strange creatures coming out of the shadows. Still, I have always preferred the day, the sunlight dazzling my eyes, knowing that there is always a new beginning. However, there I was, in Monica's car, my best friend, heading to a party that promised to be so fun that it would destroy us till the end.

"My mom is going to kill me," I muttered.

"You told her you were going to stay over at my house, what's the problem?" The blonde says as she drives.

"What if she calls on my phone? That party is organized by the most popular boys in the whole fucking university. It will be a mess!"

"You won't answer because you're supposed to be asleep, duh. You better calm down, Zoe. Tonight seems to be good night"

I was so lost in my thoughts and watching the darkness of the night that I didn't even realize that we had already arrived to the place. We got out of the car slowly, unable to believe what our eyes were seeing. The place was just beautiful. It was a giant and luxurious mansion with large and colorful green areas. From the outside, you could hear the scandalous noise of dozens of teenagers having fun, and I was sure the music far exceeded the decibels allowed at a party.

"Who can live in such a place like this?" I heard Monica say as I continued admiring the beauty of the mansion.

"Only a mafia-type," I replied.

She snorted.

"You're kidding, right? You don't really believe all those rumors about Matthew, do you?"

We started to move towards the big front door, where of course, there were already a lot of drunk people.

"Matthew is terrifying. I don't even know why I decided to come with you," I resumed the conversation, watching where I stepped.

"Your stupid ex-boyfriend cheated on you and you're looking revenge by flirting with one of the most handsome and popular boys, that's why you're here"

I hated the way that sounded because it made me feel like a bitch, but it was true. A couple of days ago I discovered that Nick, my ex-boyfriend now, had cheated on me. I would liked to say that he cheated on me with a slut that seduced him, but it wasn't like that. Nick cheated on me with an ordinary girl, she was not a heartless bitch and she was not the most popular in the University either; the only difference was that she was pretty, or at least that was the only answer Nick could give me. I always considered that my self-esteem was good, I never felt ugly or insufficient, but that your five years boyfriend told you that he cheated on you because you are not pretty, it hurts and definitely ruins the self-esteem you can have.

Monica gave me the "fantastic" idea of ​​playing the same game as him. Despite the fact that I loved him, Nick was not the most handsome guy or the most popular, so Monica's idea was to hook up with some of the guys at this party and rub Nick's face that he was not the most handsome either. I agreed to do it because I was filled with hatred and I couldn't think of anything but revenge, then I analyzed things and regretted it, but there was no going back. I had to do it.

"What makes you think any of them is going to notice me? I mean, they have the whole institute licking their feet" I spoke.

"What makes you think they won't? We are fresh meat to them, they will run towards us like hungry lions"

Finally we reached the door where three big men were obstructing the entrance. Everything in this place was scary and made me feel like I was getting in trouble.

"Identify yourselves," said one of the men.

"We come with Matthew," Monica replied hesitantly.

Very surely Matthew didn't even know about our existence, so there would be a big problem if they called him, which they did. Monica and I exchanged panicked looks at the thought that these men would kick us out of there as soon as Matthew said he didn't even know us.

I spotted a silhouette scurrying through the crowd trying to get to the door, a tall man with some tattoos on his arms and neck and a brown hair as the that matched his skin. It was Matthew, there was no doubt and he was ready to kick us out of his mansion.