Free Predator by Kartik Iyengar Page B

now. Give her time. By the way, where’s Chris?’ asked Chief looking around, hoping to spot Grace with him.
    Hound glared at Chief and Goose guffawed, nearly oversetting the precarious mountain on his plate. Derek scowled.
    The College Reunion Party: 10 P.M.
    The party was picking up. While Derek wandered off to pick up the threads with Salmonella, Goose and Chief went to meet and mingle, and, oh yes, stuff their faces. Hound had fixed the entranceway with an unblinking stare. This had been festooned with balloons and lights and streamers. A few more minutes of his basilisk glare and some balloons were likely to go pop.
    Prince’s crew took over the stage and the music got even louder. They were warming up the crowd before the big act by Prince himself.
    Hound spotted an irate-looking Chris striding in. He was alone.
    He spotted Hound and made his way over to him. He was clearly agitated, ‘Man, she’s doing my head in, your sister. I waited at her doorstep for over two hours and she didn’t show. Her phone says “out of range”.’ He thrust the red rose he’d been holding at Hound. ‘Here! Stuff this in your bouquet and give it to her when you see her. She’s ruined my evening, Dude!’
    ‘Shut up, fool, or I’ll break your teeth! I won’t stand for trash talk about Grace. Go and find Salmonella. Now!’ hissed Hound.
    Hound was getting worried. He could see his friends enjoying themselves. Everybody seemed to be having a good time. ‘Damn, I hope she’s alright,’ he kept saying over and over in his mind. ‘God! I’m not a man of faith, but if you truly exist and are up there, please keep her safe. I should’ve kept in touch more,’ muttered Hound. He was beginning to panic.
    Salmonella and Chris ran up to him. Derek had rounded up Goose and Chief, and soon all of them were with Hound.
    ‘What do you mean “out of range”?’ said Salmonella. She looked at her own phone. ‘It’s ringing. She’s not picking up the phone!’
    The music got louder and the strobe lights flashed their blinding beacons, like sporadic searchlights, over the crowd. Wine and other beverages flowed freely. The crowd was also getting louder; they danced and laughed, and yelled to make themselves heard over the din. Another ten minutes and Prince would take centre stage and rock the party.
    They moved to a better-lit area, the loos were behind them. ‘Relax, guys! Maybe, she’s just been delayed at the hairdresser’s or something. Here, let me try again.’ Salmonella intently keyed in messages on her phone. She was trying every available option on the Internet. Hound was gradually growing more frantic, and Goose put a soothing arm around his shoulder.
    Derek’s mind had moved into overdrive and was conjuring up horrific images. Chief was worried too, but he seemed calm on the surface.
    Chris seemed to be having a nervous breakdown. He was quietly getting increasingly plastered on Merlot, and then accidentally smashed a bottle as he stumbled and tripped on a guy rope.
    ‘Control yourself, you freak, that’s not how you drink wine!’ yelled Salmonella. ‘I told you not to do the pills or snort! You’re bloody going insane. Get a grip, asshole!’ A bouncer came over and helped Chris get back on his feet.
    ‘Take you bloody paws off me, you bastard! You’re all my father’s slaves. Leave me alone!’ slurred Chris. He shoved the bouncer away and staggered into the restroom.
    Salmonella knew he was crying. She felt for him and her heart wept. Everything seemed to be coming to a head – his mother’s sudden death, his father’s pall looming over him, his unreciprocated love for Grace, and now his sister losing her rag with him.
    Salmonella closed her eyes.
    Salmonella also sensed that Chris was snorting cocaine in the loo.
    Chris’s loneliness, she shared. They shared the same father as well. They shared the pain.
    The College Reunion Party: 11 P.M.
    The lights went out and suddenly there were loud explosions