Page 1 of Make Me Learn
MyheartracedasI looked at the invitation in my hand. Quickly closing the door behind me and locking it, I looked at it again. I could see the shake in my hands as I held it in front of me.
I never thought I would ever see this particular invitation. And it had looked so innocent just lying on the floor inside my door. A pretty black envelope with just my name in gold script. And the invitation itself, when I pulled it out, was beautiful. It was black with swirls of beautiful different colors and gold writing.
If I hadn't spent so long on applications and medical appointments and waivers in an attempt to try to get one of these invitations, it would have been almost deceptive to see how pretty it was.
But then, I guess that was the point, right?
Miss Amelia Ross,
You are cordially invited to attend The Masquerade.
This invitation will allow entry for your first time where you will then have the option to obtain a return bracelet at the end of the night, if you so choose.
Your mask will be delivered within 12 hours of the event and within that box will be the name you are to go by for the event.
A car will arrive at your residence at the designated time.
Remember anonymity is key.
And so is consent.
Welcome to The Masquerade.
Holy. Fuck.
My heart continued to race as I kept staring at it.
There was a date and time listed on the bottom of the invitation; it was the next evening.
Was it possible to die from receiving an invitation?
My heart certainly felt like it was.
I had so much to do with so little time. I needed a hair salon. I needed a manicure. I needed to wax.
Well, let's face it, at least one of those could possibly be skipped. And it wasn't the last one on that list.
I quickly picked up my bag and my new textbooks from where I had dropped them on the floor when I saw the envelope and placed them neatly on the table, noting that one of the textbooks was now a little damaged along the spine and might need a repair. Fuck.
I had already heard stories about how strict my professors were and knew that would not be looked at favorably. This was not going to be a good start to university. I already felt like I was going to be the odd one out for starting older than everyone else, since I had taken care of my dying mother for five years first. It would be just my luck to be singled out and picked on by the professors too.
Sighing, I looked back at the invitation. At least there was something to look forward to before the university year started next week. And if I wanted to, I could keep attending to help give me something good to counteract the amount of miserable studying I would need to do.
Leaving the invitation gently on the table beside my textbooks, I pulled out my phone and went to work trying to get a last-minute salon appointment. I did already have one scheduled for the weekend, with starting at University next week, but that appointment was a day too late.
As I scrolled through my contacts, I couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement building up inside me. The Masquerade was a legendary event, talked about in hushed tones amongst certain circles in the city. It was known to be a place of decadence and debauchery, where the only rule was to keep your mask on and your identity hidden. I had always dreamed of attending, but I never thought I would actually receive an invitation.
Finally, I managed to book an appointment at a high-end salon that could fit me in for a full treatment first thing in the morning.
That night, I barely slept, and when my alarm sounded in the morning, I quickly gathered my things and headed out the door, my mind racing with anticipation for what the night ahead would hold.
As I sat in the salon chair, getting my hair and nails done, I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. The Masquerade was shrouded in mystery, and I had no idea what to expect. But at the same time, I couldn't deny the thrill of the unknown. The thought of immersing myself in a world of luxury and intrigue was intoxicating.
After my appointment, when I was fully buffed, waxed, and polished, I rushed back to my apartment to wait for my mask to arrive.
Just as I was starting to think that the mask would never arrive, there was a knock at my door.
I raced over to answer it and found a small black box sitting on my doorstep. Excitement and anticipation coursed through me as I brought the box inside and opened it up.
