And Then There Were Fewer…...
Chapter 1: The Invite
"Stupid map" muttered Lia Perez as she tried to read the directions to Spaventoso Mansion.
She had been quite surprised to find a letter addressed to her saying that there was a dinner party being held in her honor. She was also surprised that it was sent by an unknown person.
"Ugh!" she threw the map down on the seat beside her. She had just turned a corner when she hit the breaks.
There infront of her was a woman in a big fur coat, waving some sort of object in her hand. Lia pulled over.
"Oh, thank you so much!" said the woman as she climbed in the car.
"No problem, Where you heading?"
The woman pulled out a piece of paper and read "Er, Spaventoso Mansion"
"Really? Let me see that." Lia took the paper from the woman and read it carefully.
"Wow, that's weird. Im also going to a dinner party."
"Yeah but I don't know who the sender is. I guess we'll find out soon" the woman said.
Lia continued driving down the curvy road.
"So, what's you're name?" asked Lia
"Samantha. Samantha Ramirez. And you?"
"Nathalia, but call me Lia."
They drove for another twenty minutes in silence before a huge, dark building came into view.
They both stepped out of the car and into the pouring rain. Thunder boomed in the distance and lightning lit the night sky.
Samantha rang the doorbell and waited with Lia patiently. The door was almost instantly opened by a short, pale woman.
"Hello, I am Veronica, the maid. Enter" said the short woman. She stepped aside to let the two ladies enter.
Lia and Samantha stepped into the large mansion and the maid led them to another room.
A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling and a warm fire crackled in the corner. By the fireplace was a circular glass table. There were four gleaming white couches and the marble floor was shined to perfection. In the corner of the room was a bar with all sorts of glasses and the best wine and champagne.
"Would you ladies like anything to drink?" asked the maid
"Um, I'll have a glass of Verdi please" said Samantha
"Me too." Said Lia. The maid walked away.
"Do you think we're the only guest here?" asked Lia
"Maybe" said Samantha as the maid came back with their drinks.
"Well" said Lia "Cheers to-" she was cut off by the sound of the doorbell.
Veronica went to open the door and in walked two woman, holding two men's hands.
"Oh I thought we we're the only ones that were going to be here. I'm Michelle" said the black haired woman "And this is my husband Frank"
"And I'm Mariah. This is my husband Paul" said the brunette haired woman.
Both women were dressed very fancy. And so were their husbands.
The curious guest sat on the white couches while sipping their drinks.
So uh.." Lia said, breaking the silence "I'm guessing you guys got the same type of invitation we did."
"Yes, we did. I was working on my new book when I got the letter." Said Michelle
"And I was playing with my two adorable children when I got mine. It's a dinner party being held in my honor" said Mariah
"I already told you a million times Mariah, its being held in my honor!" said Michelle
"No, mine!" exclaimed Mariah
"Ladies! We don't know who the dinner party is being held for" said Frank. Paul nodded in agreement.
Ding Dong
The sound of the doorbell rang through the house.
Veronica opened the door and a tall, blonde woman walked in.
Lia gasped. "Annabeth!?"
The woman looked shocked "Lia?!"
"What are you doing here, Annabeth?"
"Well, if you must know" started Annabeth as Veronica also gave her a drink "I'm here for a dinner party being held in my honor"
Lia scoffed "Oh please, all of us got that same invitation. So don't feel so special"
Annabeth rolled her eyes and held her hand out to Michelle and Mariah.
"Hello. I'm Annabeth Garfield. Best lawyer in the state" Annabeth boasted.
"Wow, really fascinating.." said Lia in a sarcastic tone
"Jealous, Lia?" said a smirking Annabeth
"You wish" said Lia. Samantha giggled.
"Well I'm a really talented singer!" said Samantha
"Pfft, oh please. I'm one of the best writers in New York" said Michelle in a challenging tone.
"Hmph, I'm the best mother than any of you. And that's much better than a writer, lawyer, or a singer" said Mariah
As, the women got into a heated discussion about who was better, the men silently sipped their drinks.
Suddenly, everyone went silent as they heard the sound of heels against the marble floor.
"Oh, ladies, calm down." Said the person as they walked into the room. Everyone gasped at who they saw. "Now is not the time to argue about who is better" the person said with a sly smile. Lia dropped her glass on the tile.
"Its..you.." muttered Lia
"Yes, its me"
To Be Continued…