Phantom—no, that didnotwork at all—opened the door, the warm scent of old books filling the air as we entered. Inside, the room was dimly lit by a few golden lamps, the hushed atmosphere making everything more intimate somehow.
"Just a few books in here," he grumbled, eyeing the floor-to-ceiling shelves surrounding us.
I walked toward one end, memories flooding back... not the particulars really, like why exactly I'd spent a big chunk of time in this particular room, but the vibes, the smell, the scenery like something out of a familiar recurring dream.
If I remembered correctly, there was a children's area in one corner, and sure enough, the spines were different, more colorful, bright, and fun than the rest.
Letting my fingers trace the old books, I forgot about phantom man behind me, lost in the nostalgia of a time when my sisters and I were so young and naïve, a little trio of best friends in our gilded world, no clue that we were soprivileged or wealthy, each of us with our own pressures, mine always,alwaysmy stupid weight.
I'd despised being the fat kid, my mom harping on at every mealtime about making "healthy" choices, the focus forever on my expanding waistline and never my personality, the way I cared for others, or the intricate fashion doodles that filled every corner of my notebooks.
But not anymore. Not anymore. I was my own person now. Free to do as I pleased.
My eyes suddenly locked on the silver-etched cover of a familiar book. "There," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I could sense him close behind me without even turning, the electricity between us palpable. My skin tingled with awareness as I withdrew the book from its spot.
"The Snow Queen," his deep voice read.
I thumbed through the pages, knowing instinctively that this would be it, and sure enough, near the end, there was another clue. Holding up the piece of paper, I whirled around to beam at him.
"You literally found a needle in a haystack," he whispered in awe as I handed it to him.
This night, this whole experience, was truly meant to be. I could feel it.
"Step out where the chill meets the grand façade, and find the key where winter stands guard," he read. "Not quite the perfect rhyme, but they gave it a good effort."
I laughed. "So where do you think that is?"
"Definitely outside somewhere. But I doubt they'd send us out front or back. And we know the rooftop is off limits. So maybe a balcony?"
"Yes! That has to be it." I slid the book back into its place, along with the memories it evoked. Tonight wasn't about thepast, and it wasn't about the future. It was purely about the present. The now. And I was determined to make the most of it.
Phantom man—so freaking silly but maybe slightly better than mystery man—held the door open for me then did that hand on the small of my back thing once more, making me hot and bothered all over again. It didn't take much these days, which was a little pathetic.
But that was okay. Tonight, I'd scratch that itch and hopefully be good for a long while.
"Back to the ballroom?" I asked. "Maybe there's a balcony somewhere there."
"Sounds like a plan."
As we walked back down the long hallway, someone passed by us, heading in the direction we had just come from, and we exchanged a concerned glance. "Do you think there are a bunch of other hidden clues, and maybe different paths to get to the final prize?" I asked.
He thought for a beat before answering. "I suppose that would be the smart thing for them to do."
We made our way down the stairs, past a few people inspecting the banister. I wanted to gloat that they were very far behind us, but I couldn't be sure of anything tonight.
Once we reached the ballroom, I was parched and reached for another champagne glass, but my new companion abstained, I noticed.
He led me to the perimeter of the room, and we made a path around it, soon finding a set of doors artfully hidden behind glittering string lights. While he held them aside, as stealth as possible, I opened the doors to step outside onto a balcony.
"Well, what do you know?" he mused behind me. "A hidden terrace."
The balcony was super small with barely any room to maneuver, and I began to wonder if this was indeed where wewere supposed to be. I glanced behind me, and we both must have noticed it at the same time. Sitting on a tiny table in the corner was a snow globe, out of place and conspicuous on the otherwise empty balcony.
Mystery man strode toward it and lifted it, inspecting the contents inside, careful not to shake it. So I was the first one to notice a small envelope that had been concealed beneath it.
"Aha!" I said. "Another clue!"
A brilliant smile dazzled me momentarily—God, this man was handsome—until a noise from the other side of the doors prodded me into motion. I ripped open the envelope to find a key, and yet another clue.
