Three Masked Men

"I asked you to make this a strict on invitation-only party, but you wouldn't listen because of your generosity. Anyways, three terrifying masked men are here, thanks to you." "Masked men?" Dorathy exclaimed, and her powder brush fell off her hands. The look on her husband's face wasn't good, so she had to go see for herself.

It was her first time hosting a party in honor of her husband, and she didn't expect anyone outside her circle to attend. Worry flooded over her as she packed up the makeup kits, buckled the straps of her heels, and walked out of the room, her husband fuming behind.

With each step she took, her legs wobbled, depicting her fear. She had never included masks in the party's theme. Upon reaching the hall, it was filled with elegantly dressed guests. Soft music played in the background as guests mingled, enjoying drinks and food. She paused at the threshold and scanned the large hall, trying to spot the masked men her husband spoke of.

"Mom?" Her three-year-old tugged at her dress. Her heart sank as she lifted the child. "Those masked men over there asked me to be their friend," she said, pointing in the direction of the men. They were all dressed in black suits and had the physique of bouncers. "Did they give you the mask you have on?" Her husband trembled as he spoke. "Yes," she responded, adjusting the mask to fit her face properly.

"Did they mention who they are?" "I asked, and they said they're the three friends," the little girl replied to her mother. Mike, Dorathy's husband, was already in a panic. He had just won the local government council election and was cautious about who entered his house. Threats had come from far and wide, and seeing masked men at a party with an unmasked theme terrified him.

"Fix this!" He whispered in her ear and walked away with his daughter. "Should I call the police?" She mumbled, her eyes moistened with tears. She knew her husband would never forgive her if anything went wrong. "I should have listened," she sobbed and dabbed the tears that were almost ruining her makeup with a tissue.

"Hey Dora, you look amazing!" her best friend, Jasmine, exclaimed when she saw her. "I'll need to speak with you after opening this ceremony," Dorathy whispered into her best friend's ear and made her way to the stage. The spotlight followed her, and each step she took was graceful. The glow of the light made her sequin gown shimmer, her hair in thick, wavy curls bouncing with each step. Everyone gasped as she stood tall on stage, her chest rising and falling. She found the courage to pick up the microphone and address the crowd but made sure not to lose sight of the three men.

Her speech was short but full of wit. She raised a quick toast but, for a brief moment, tried to spot her best friend and noticed she was nowhere to be found in the hall. Taking her gaze back to where the men were seated, the seats were empty. She played it cool until she was off the stage to avoid alarming her guests. She took off her heels and went outside in search of her best friend, her phone ready to dial the police emergency number.

The lights outside the house shone brightly. It had drizzled, leaving small puddles on the ground. Dorathy walked barefoot, not minding the wet ground, and kept calling her best friend's name. She checked the guest car park and saw four shadows in the dark. The movements of the shadows made Dorathy's heart sink. She approached carefully to ensure nothing was amiss before making an emergency call. Her fingers trembled, but they were poised to tap the call button when one of the men grabbed her from behind, causing her phone to fall from her hands.

Dorathy immediately switched to defense mode as she struggled to free herself from the grip. "Hey, calm down," he said, and the other three stepped into the light. "Who are these people, Jasmine?" She asked, almost in tears. "Remember the three friends from high school?" Jasmine asked, emphasizing "three friends" with air quotes. Just as Dorathy was about to reminisce, the men removed their masks, and Dorathy immediately recognized them.

"Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed and hugged each one of them. "How did you find me?" Her face flushed as she realized how dramatic she acted. "We scared you, didn't we?" One of them asked. "Errm, was this why you looked tensed earlier?" Jasmine asked, and Dorathy nodded. She was still in shock about how they had found her, so she asked again, "how did you find me?" "Oh, that. Facebook. I found your profile and shared it with the boys, and somehow, we heard about your party, so we decided to surprise you," another responded, while the others nodded in confirmation.

"Please, let's get back inside," she said with a relieved smile on her face, motioning for them to go first. "I was so surprised to see them," Jasmine said as she walked side by side with her friend. "We were so close back then until we all graduated and went our separate ways," Jasmine added, and they chuckled as they crossed the threshold into the hall and joined the lively music.

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