ARGON

"Three more minutes to go, " I muttered to myself, glancing at my wristwatch while pacing below the staircase.

This was just three minutes to eight, and I was already waiting for Brielle, so we could head out.

Since the time I stepped out of my room and passed hers, I didn't see a sign of her getting ready for tonight's date. In fact, I couldn't tell if she was going to show up or not.

Her room was as quiet as the graveyard when I ...