It was the morning of what would end up being Diana's biggest break.
Or that's what she hoped, at least. For months, the build up to her birthday brought shivering hands and consuming grins. Friends mentioned how excited they were for the big twenty-one. It was to be the biggest party that anyone had ever seen, a house rented out to friends and loved ones with balloons, cakes, drinks, and music to die for.
Today also meant the end of preparation. Although it was her big day, she had a part in it just as much as any other planner. Her parents hadn't been open to the idea, seeing as the house was known for wild events. News discussions on one renter bringing an entire zoo, another filling the house in ice cream, and some neighbors even complaining of a large costume ball filling out and into the neighborhood homes. She had to listen to them, of course, since they paid for a percentage of the party, yet nothing would stop her from renting. Nothing would bring an end to such an exciting time.
Diana stretched the last of her muscles as her jaw ached and nose sniffled. She had spent a night in the place, friends staying as well, and it felt as though her allergies were acting up more than usual. No matter, she thought. There were pills for everything in the cupboards, previously stocked by the mysterious home owners.
She had been told that the person who held the lease was a man in his seventies with history in animation, party planning, and even working some of the biggest circus shows. Ringling Bros.? He had a hand in it. Disney? Owned a decent sum of that, too. Whenever the news brought up his home, placed high in the hills with a sprawling driveway and theme park sized grounds, he never appeared, and a woman claiming to be his spokesperson promised good things.
And that's when the news asked where the party goers had all simply vanished to.
Things had to get done, though, so Diana headed downstairs, hearing the sounds of her friends working hard. She turned the corner to see what was waiting. She hoped that whatever she saw would be a precursor for the night.