Love Will Kill Tonight Pt. II

Date Night
[7:45pm: Teams STRM and CRSE arrive at the Ever After Hotel and Resort.]

"...So, how are we gonna get in?" All eight teenagers on the rooftop next door were all thinking the same thing, knowing walking right in the front door was out of the question. There were security guards stationed out front, checking names off of clipboards that must've listed several guests attending the conference. Tara looked over to the others, waiting for some valid answer.

Saige sighed and crossed her arms. "Well, we could always grapple our way to the fire escape and then sneak in." It was possible. All the way down the building was a long ladder which led both to the ground and the roof. Then again, eight people climbing up or down would go easily noticed by anyone stargazing.

"How about the windows?" Emily scratched her head as she looked to one particularly large window on the top floor, exposing the not-so-private suite inside.

"I think they are bolted shut," Shark commented, adjusting his glasses with some form of disappointment.

"...We could fake an emergency and run in during the chaos." Raine had an idea, though not necessarily in the right direction. The others looked at him as he shrugged, stuffing his hands into his suit pockets.

"Canaan, do you have anything?" They all turned to look at the leader of Team CRSE, who was deep in thought with one hand pressed to his chin. He stared pensively at the building's parameters, before relaxing his stance and heaving a sigh.

"No..." he mumbled, turning away from the view of the hotel. He kicked his foot up, stirring up a few pebbles on the roof where they stood. The pebble arched through the air, before hitting something with a clunk. He looked up at what was before him. And grinned.

"I just don't see an easy way in," Ringo grunted. "It's an adults-only event, and the place is heavily guarded."

Clunk.

The seven people contemplating an infiltration scheme stopped when something long and wooden fell to the conrete roof with a thunk, clearing a path to the other side over the fifteen meter gap. Sure enough, they looked back at Canaan to find him holding the opposite end of a massive plank of wood with a smirk on his face.

"And you three wonder why I was made leader~," he scoffed. Team STRM stared at Shark, Ringo, and Emily with questioning looks on their faces.

Shark adjusted his glasses and stared back at Team STRM. "He blew open a Beowolf cavern during the initiation and nearly got us killed."

"And then tied their bodies together to build a bridge to the exit." Poor Ringo seemed more shocked than anyone back when it happened.

Canaan shrugged, still smiling as he started walking backwards across the wooden plank. "My blacksmithing instructor always said to make the best of what you have~. Besides, I had to be creative after Ringo knocked a big ol' Beowolf down through the original bridge."

"...He did what." Tara looked suspiciously at her brother as he scratched the back of his head, too embarrassed to say anything further.

"Can we go now?" Emily asked, tiptoeing ballerina-style behind Canaan across the large gap. Shark followed shortly after, and Team STRM could do nothing but follow. Saige and Ringo were the last to cross, before they made it to the other side and did a short jump onto the adjoining roof. They then opened the door to the stairwell and trotted down quietly, balancing on the balls of their feet as to avoid the noisy clacking of their heels and hard soles.

Finally, they reached the exit door to the second floor. "Alright, everyone clear on the plan?" Saige asked. The others nodded and looked to each other, standing in convenient pairs. "Don't forget: Act sophisticated. That means stay clear of the dining hall, Macy."

"Awww..." Macy twirled one stray lock of her hair in disappointment as she gripped Canaan's arm. "I just wanted to taste something fancy..."

"If it would so please you," Shark spoke up, "I can bake something for you when we return to Siren. Granted, it might be late, and cognitive function will not be at 100%, but I will do my best."

Immediately, Macy's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Shark~!" she chirped, dashing from Canaan's side to hug him. He merely patted her on the back before gently pushing her away and linking arms with Tara.

"Let's go." With that, Shark pushed open the door to the second floor landing and ushered everyone out in pairs.