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Ideal Lost, Part One: The Shrikes

Page 94

by J.T. Wong

The crowd erupted with cheers. Snowy and Kana turned back and waved at them as they went. Once they got behind the set, their smiles disappeared.

Alex, Hal, and Ken trailed the girls down the cramped hallway as the noise from the crowd died down. They reached a corridor with three doors.

Snowy unlocked the door that had her name wedged into the glass and slipped in first.

Kana followed, then Alex. Ken caught Hal’s arm before he could enter. “Keep an eye out.”

Hal rolled his eyes with a grunt as he grabbed the doorknob and shut them in.

Snowy stood by the dresser, the mirror reflecting her long hair swaying back and forth. “So what is going on here?” she asked through clenched teeth and fists. She slowly turned to Ken. “Why are you here?”

“Lin,” said Ken, throat bobbing. When he reached out a hand, she stepped back, her back bumping into the dresser. “We’re just here to ask some questions. Just cooperate and then—”

“You are the last person I wanted to see,” she muttered. Snowy glanced between Ken and Kana. “Are you two in this together?”

“Not exactly,” Alex spoke up. He pushed his way in between Kana and Ken and walked towards the frowning pop star. “But apparently, there’s some conspiracy going around, and you’re at the center of it.”

“What are you talking about?” Snowy threw her hands up, exasperation sharpening every syllable.

“Where’s the Durden?”

Snowy squinted. “What?”

Alex pulled up his phone, scrolled through the group chat, and found Jun’s photo of the drugs when he placed it on the vanity. He shoved the screen in her face. “Look familiar?”

Snowy eyed the three of them, then glanced behind her, the mirror reflecting her scowl. “That could be on any kind of desk.”

“My sources say that it’s here with a note addressed specifically for you.” He lowered his phone and locked his gaze on Snowy. “And a smart girl like you would probably hide it, huh?”

Snowy rolled her big eyes, long spidery eyelashes fluttering at the ceiling. “And where would I possibly hide it?”

Alex twirled his finger. “Turn around.”

Snowy’s brow furrowed, her head pulling back like he’d spoken another language.

“What are you doing?” Kana questioned.

Alex winked at her, hoping she could trust him. He turned back to Snowy. “Turn around.”

Snowy scowled but did as she was told. Alex could feel Ken’s eyes searing into the side of his face.

“Now, open the drawer, one by one, and take out whatever’s inside.”

Snowy froze for what it felt like forever. Alex was about to push her aside when Ken said, “Lin, if you don’t want to open it, let me—”

Snowy yanked the drawer forward and pulled out two glass vials filled with a pink liquid. “There. You happy now?”

Click.

No one moved. Snowy stood frozen, vials in hand, the photo already taken. Then her face twisted.

“Delete that!” she screeched.

Alex laughed as he stepped back and stared at the picture on his phone.

“Hell no, lady.” He waved the low-quality picture of herself stunned with the glass vials in hand. “This is gold right here. With a couple of taps, I can upload it on the internet for free, and everyone will see you ain’t hot shit.”

Snowy lunged, almost crashing into Kana before Alex stepped in front of her. Ken caught Snowy’s wrist mid-swing, the vials inches from Alex’s forehead.