House of Secrets

Catalina

As I stepped through the bright front doors of Pi Alpha Nu, my newfound sense of belonging was instantly extinguished by the chaotic atmosphere that filled the fraternity house. Everyone was standing in a circle, some were crying, and some were embracing. I was engulfed by an eerie uneasiness that soon enveloped me.

I cleared my throat, my confidence slowly fading as I hesitantly asked, "Can someone please tell me what's going on?" My heart tripled, and my mouth suddenly became dry. All my housemates had their mouths agape as if their voices had been stolen away. Then Emily, the housemate who had revealed to me that Bex had gone missing, pointed upstairs. My curiosity was piqued and I quickly made my way upstairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, tension radiated from the room. It was almost as if I was being watched, like something lurking in the shadows was waiting for me to take the next step. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly stepped forward, and then, I saw