Masquerade
The song in the last two chapters is in here as it is finishing up in here.
Who is this woman and what are her motives? The mystery of the Masquerade delves farther than ever. It's now up to Sara and Nick to figure it all out before time runs out. Can they find their friends before anything happens? Or will everything and everyone be lost forever?
Chapter 7
Nick entered the masquerade ball as he got there late because he was seeing his parents for a little while earlier. They stopped by and he hung out with them for a while then his brother and sister came as well. They were at his place for like three hours until he told them that the police department was having a masquerade ball and that he has to go. They were sad to leave but happy to see him at the same time.
Nick looked around hoping he could find his co-workers DB Russell, Julie Finlay, Greg Sanders, Morgan Brody and Sara Sidle. He looked around the room and couldn't find a single silver-white hair of Russell's. There were quite a few blondes and well Greg he couldn't even tell what Greg looks like behind a mask at all. But he did notice Brass and Henry Andrew's together talking apparently about a case as they were in hush-hush monotones at the moment.
He then turned around and saw Hodges talking to the snack table as he has no one else to talk to. It was typical Hodges to do that. He is probably one of the craziest people he has ever met and worked with at the same time. Nick sighed and ended up walking over to the snack table over by Hodges.
"Ah Nick you're here. What took you so long?" said Hodges out of the blue "Nice mask."
"Family." answered Nick right there, as he continued to look around through his red mask "Where are the others?"
"Well I saw Greg and Morgan earlier and now they're gone. I do not know where they even went. Russell is gone as well as I think he went chasing a ghost. Then Finn left to go find Russell." Hodges exclaimed
"Great everyone is here but gone missing." said Nick
"Yeah well it's just you and me here." said Hodges as he ate something Nick didn't even recognize
"Do know what Brass and Henry are talking about?" wondered Nick
"It's some case that Brass is working on. He has not even come to me at all about it." Hodges complained
"Yeah yeah." muttered Nick right there "Look Hodges don't get your underwear in a bunch and don't worry about it."
"I'm not I just can't believe that Brass went to Henry and not me. I mean I'm likeable and a great guy and he knows that." said Hodges right there taking his worries out on Nick
"Stop worrying Hodges." replied Nick
"I mean really. This is me we're talking about." Hodges continued ranting on
"I'm leaving." said Nick as he walked away from Hodges right there not wanting to continue to listen to him. He was already annoyed when he first went over there and by spending one minute was one minute to long.
"Bye Nick. I can find someone else to talk to." said Hodges
"More like bore them to death with how much better you are over Henry." whispered Nick to himself
There's no wonder why Hodges can get under his skin, anyone's skin for that matter. He doesn't know how he got that way sometimes or for that fact that some people actually find Hodges appealing. But he's part of the CSI family and he loves him like a brother anyway.
Nick decided that what he was going to do was to find his co-workers on the dance floor or around it. They have to be here somewhere and he just can't see them at all. It happens with everyone and he knows it. He just got here after it has been going on for about an hour and a half already. He kept going around the room.
Now I'm convinced that you're disturbed
I'm underwater and I can barely breathe
Why can't I let the fire drown right into me?
So disturbed I don't know
But can I get out of this on alive
I'm coming up for air so don't be disturbed
Walking right through the fire
And not getting scathed or burned as I'm disturbed
And I can't escape
Sara got out of a cab as she got a cab ride to the masquerade ball. It took her some time to get ready but not a ton. She went to see her mother earlier that day for quite a bit of it. Her mother is still somewhat dealing with the Basderic thing even though it happened like a year and a half ago. Plus she is still going through her alcohol dealings.
Sara looked down at her dress with it being mystic maroon a color that was more, her than light blues, pinks and yellows. She wears more, darker tone colors than anything. Then there is, her silver short heels that she found. She didn't want anything to high as she isn't a fan of high heels.
She walked over to the building knowing that she can get a ride back to her place from a co-worker. She really didn't feel like driving all that much. So she can just deal with carpooling back. She thinks that Russell, Finn or Nick will volunteer to do it.
She opened the door to the building and went in and found the place happening and filled with people all around. She saw all the different masks and saw some that were really out there and some were just simple. She was glad with her choice of a silver and mystic maroon intricate design for her mask. It was simple but still elegant at the same time.
She looked around the place hopefully she could find her co-workers around there. She was just arriving at the place. She knows they are probably around her somewhere but she isn't quite sure where anyone could even be. She kept on looking around as well as walking around. She couldn't find Greg Sanders, DB Russell, Morgan Brody or Julie Finlay anywhere. She did see Captain Brass and Henry Andrews talking for some odd reason. She shrugged and just thought it was for a case. She continued on walking around the room.
Eventually she stopped and saw Hodges over at the food and drink table talking to it. He was weird but she decided to let him be. She doesn't want to interrupt whatever he is doing at the moment. She continued to look for the others but she couldn't find any silver-white hair of Russell's anywhere. If you can find Russell then you can find Finn. But they were nowhere to be seen.
Sara sighed knowing she should just give up her search for her co-workers and stopped walking for a moment. She decided maybe she should just stop and catch her breath. She has had a busy day and she doesn't want to waste her whole time at the masquerade ball searching for everybody.
I'm not crazy, I'm not disturbed
I'm not disturbed, disturbed
I'm coming up for air so don't be disturbed
Walking right through the fire
And not getting scathed or burned as I'm not disturbed
And I can't escape
Nick looked around the place as he couldn't find any of his co-workers anywhere. To him it was like you blink and you're gone. But gone can't be totally gone can it really? He can't believe this at all as he kept on searching. He then stopped as he saw a figure of a woman. He smiled and he walked right on over.
"Sara." said Nick as he went over to her
"Nick thank god I found you." said Sara
"When did you get here?" Nick wondered
"Just now. How about you?" responded Sara
"Uh ten minutes ago. I came late as some of my family came over." said Nick
"I went to see my mother, before I got ready to come here." said Sara as she stood there and looked around "Where are the others?"
"I don't know I've looked everywhere but I can't even see Russell's gray hair at all." said Nick
"I only see Captain Brass, Henry Andrews and Hodges here." said Sara pointing at each of them
"I talked to Hodges." Nick exclaimed
"And?" wondered Sara
"Nothing he doesn't know where they even are. He saw Greg and Morgan earlier and said that Russell was like he was chasing a ghost. Then he said that Finn left to go find Russell. So those guys could be gallivanting anywhere at the moment." said Nick
"Why do you think they went off then?" replied Sara
"Not sure but we need to find them ask them what is going on." responded Nick
"I know so where should we go." said Sara
"You go to the stairs go up them and down them and I will go over to the curtain through there. Maybe I can figure something out. We will break for a time and we will meet back here at let's say eleven forty-five." said Nick as he looked at his watch
"Alright. See you later Nick." replied Sara
Nick saw Sara leave and sighed knowing that things are even more, weird now. They need to figure out what is going on here. There have been so many disappearing acts plus the vibes he keeps on getting. It's like there was something that he was missing.
