Mission accomplished

As Mike and Rachael almost approached Tina's house, they heard the sound of music. Tina's house is a majestic two-story building that exudes luxury and elegance. The exterior walls are painted a warm, creamy white, with large windows that sparkle like diamonds in the light. The roof is a deep, rich brown, with intricately designed tiles that add a touch of sophistication. The front door is a sturdy, dark wood with a gleaming brass doorknob and a heavy-looking iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head.

"Whoa! This place is stunning!" Mike marveled at the building' structure and beauty.

"It looks like a fairy-tale palace!"

Rachael looked at Mike and scoffed. "Oh, Mike, your exaggeration is so obvious. You're such a dreamer! Stop your palace's fantasy!"

"Are you sure we're gonna get what we came for?" Mike asked in anticipation.

"My instinct is telling me something feels off"

"Your instincts are always wrong, Tina's parents went on a business trip, so stop whining."

"Today might be right, you never know what will happen." Mike said and entered the house.

As they step inside, they're immediately struck by the grandeur of the high ceilings, adorned with intricate moldings and crystal chandeliers that refract rainbows of light. The floors are polished marble, gleaming like mirrors, and the walls are painted a soft, creamy color that seems to glow in the light.

The living room is spacious, with plush, velvet sofas and armchairs in a rich, berry-red color. The walls are adorned with expensive-looking artwork, and the coffee table is a gleaming slab of black marble. The room is filled with the sweet scent of fresh flowers, arranged in a stunning bouquet on the coffee table.

"Strawberry please." Rachael said and the waitress passing by handed over a cup to her. She took a sip and moaned softly in satisfaction.

"Dammit! That hits the spot!"

"Pineapple please." Mike said and took the glass from the waiter beside him. He took a sip.

"Hi Rachael!" Tina greeted as she appeared looking…

"So cute! You're dashingly jaw-dropping!" Rachael complimented.

Tina blushed. "Thanks, nice dress by the way. You look like the one hosting the birthday."

Rachael furrowed at Tina and burst into laughter. "You mean the opposite, right?"

"Well…" Tina's sentence trailed off, staring at Mike.

"Ohhh, meet my older brother, Mike. You might have seen him before in school." Rachael introduced.

"Yeah! Yeah! Who wouldn't know Mike. Christina's lov-"

"You might wanna keep it low!" Rachael cut in. "Before your birthday party into a boxing ring."

"What was that?" Mike whispered to Rachael who smiled back and shook her head.

"It's advantageous not knowing, or both of us might be thrown out of this party tonight, or perhaps worse"

"Whatever!" Mike said and raised up his head to see two people kissing on the upstairs. "Whoa!"

"You two really look alike, no one would easily believe you're not twins." Tina said and stretched her hand toward Mike who was lost in the view of the couple above.

"Mike!?"

"Mike!!?"

"Wh...wha... what!??" Mike stuttered. Rachael made eye contact with him to look at Tina.

Realizing it Mike stretched his hand and shook Tina.

"I'm Mike Smith. Nice meeting you."

"I'm Tina Edwards. The pleasure is mine."

"Over here Tina!" A voice came from the corner of the large sitting room. Tina looked up and waved.

"Mi casa es tu casa." She said and left to meet the person calling her.

"Gracias." Mike replied and turned to Rachael who was staring at him strangely.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"So you like my friend?"

The look on Mike's face suddenly changed and became intense. "Did I tell you that!?" He grumbled loudly.

"Sorry! Sorry!! Sorry!!! My bad!" Rachael quickly said before things got out of hand.

"What about the book?"

"Follow me!" Rachael replied and left for the upstairs after making sure Tina was occupied in the conversation with her friends.

Mike followed without asking anymore questions. They climbed up the stairs and got to the house corridor.

Rachael led Mike through it and stopped at the third room by the left.

Rachael forced open the door, turned to Mike and gestured to him to go inside. "After you."

"After who!? In this dark room!?" Mike sniffed in dismayance.

"The sooner you go in the sooner you get what you came here for." Rachael advised while Mike took slow steps into the dark room.

"Someone is coming!" Rachael whispered as she pushed Mike inside and shut the door behind her.

She sighed and growled at Mike. "We almost got caught because of you!"

"We are not caught anyway, let's just get what we want to get the fuck out of here!" Mike grumbled.

"And…..can't see a damn thing!"

Rachael switched on the light and Mike's mouth agape.

The library is a cozy, book-lined sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling shelves that seem to stretch up to the ceiling. The walls are painted a warm, honey-brown color, and the floors are covered with a soft, plush carpet that muffles your footsteps. The room is filled with the musty scent of old books, and the air is thick with the silence of a sacred space.

The overall atmosphere of Tina's house is one of opulence, luxury, and refinement, a true reflection of her family's wealth and status.

"Oh my world! Where the hell is this!? Are these people selling books? There's really a lot of books here!"

"This is their family library. I'm sure you'll get what you want here." Rachael replied and moved toward the book shelf in front of her.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Your name." Mike replied. "Someone's calling your name."

"Let me go take a look." Rachael said, reached for the door and turned back.

"You're now on your own, take whatever you want and get out of here. If you get caught, I don't know you."

"Sharrapp and get out!" Mike grumbled and continued scanning the books on the shelf beside him.

"It's your problem. Just don't get caught!" Rachael said got out of the room only to bump into Tina and her friends.

"Rachael!? I've been looking for you, why are you coming out of there?" Tina asked in curiosity.

"Ahhh….ummm...I'm looking for the toilet and I…..kind of get lost ....you know? Your house is so fucking big!" Rachael stammered.

Tina laughed. "The toilet is located over there." She pointed

"The last room by the right side."

Rachael ran off, while Tina locked the door and went downstairs with her friends where the party was going on.

After Mike had made sure there's no more sound coming from outside he stood up from his hiding place and rummaged through the shelf beside him. He found a book titled 'Big bad werewolf'. He found another book titled 'War on Griffins'.

His eyes captured a book on the top shelf,he stretched up and forced it out. The shelf bent and was about to fall when Mike rushed toward it and held it from falling,but eventually,the whole book fell and Mike had no choice but to let go of the shelf.

He quickly ran toward where he dropped his backpack and put the books inside it.

Few minutes later, the door creaked and opened, and someone came in.

"What is it?" A voice came from the outside.

"Come inside and take a look!" A voice which sounded like Tina's replied.

Three people came in and gasped. "How did the books fall down?"

"It's surprising, even a rat couldn't do that." Janet; one of Tina's friends said.

"But what are these books about? Too many books!" Lola said.

"It's a collection of legends and myths. My dad always warns me and my little sisters never to enter this room." Tina replied.

"Then why didn't he lock it?" Cara asked.

"He kept losing the keys and would have no choice but to break in every time," Tina responded.

"So my dad just warned us not to come in,let alone bring someone in."

"And here you are with a gang of three." Lola teased.

Tina hissed. "Let's just pack everything and leave at once!" She said and everyone set to work.

Mike squeezed behind the shelf at the back of the fallen shelf, holding his breath, and hoping the girls wouldn't discover him.

He was scared and sweating profusely.

After a while the girls finished arranging the books and prepared to leave when Tina sighted a book on the ground, right in front of Mike.

She walked toward it and bent down to pick it.

"What kind of box is this? It's so old!" Cara exclaimed, diverting Tina's attention away from the book and from seeing Mike who was hiding right beside her. Her eyes now on Cara, she picked up the book without looking at it and raced back to her friends.

"Drop the box!" Tina said, snatched the box from Cara and placed it on the shelf, right where it belonged.

"We must leave now!"

"Easy girl, we're not a threat!" Janet said, trying to remind Tina they're friends.

The girls left at once and Mike took a deep sigh of relief.

He staggered up and hit his sleeping legs severally. He noticed the box Tina snatched from Cara earlier and was enticed by it.

'What am I going to do with this? It's neither beautiful,nor useful and it looks old, I don't need it'

Mike thought to himself but couldn't help his curiosity about what lies inside the box.

He took it without a second thought and put it inside his backpack.

Mike stared at the door and shook his head. He didn't have the courage to go through the door.

How would he explain to Tina or anyone else what is in his backpack?

He opened the window and climbed down.

Christina was also invited to the party as she's one of Tina's friends. She came along with a friend; Hannah, in a black Jeep.

As both stepped out of the Jeep Hannah sighted a movement on the wall of Tina's house.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Oh yeah! It's so beautiful!" Christina exclaimed.

"What!?" Hannah squealed.

"The house of course!"

"Hell no! I mean that!"

Christina followed Hannah's gaze and saw the person climbing down from the wall.

"Ohhh….. that! I can see it. Who the hell is that!? Follow me."

"Hey you there!" Christina shouted as she approached the left side of Tina's house.

"What are you doing over there!?"

"What does it seem like I'm doing!?" Mike fired, he recognized Christina's voice,but the latter didn't recognize his.

Mike covered his face with the hood of his anorak and jumped down when he knew he's below safety level. As he landed, he left without saying anymore word.

"Who the heck is that dumbass!?" Christina said, staring at Mike as he left.

"The party is going on,let's go before we miss out." Hannah advised and both went off.

Rachael who was sitting in the sitting room turned her head by the familiar voice she heard and saw Christina.

She stood up and walked toward the entrance, averting her face from Christina who was talking to Hannah.

Rachael's phone rang, catching Christina's attention.

It's Mike calling to notify her of their mission success.

"Hey Rachy!" Hannah was the first to greet, then Christina.

"Hi!"

"Hi!" Rachael greeted back and waved. It's really awkward between the girls,but that's only for Rachael.

She doesn't like associating with girls like Christina.

"I heard of your suspension. I'm sure your brother is going to join you pretty soon." Christina said with a smile.

How can someone be so rude and at the same time showing a genuine smile!?

"Father-fucking bitch!" Rachael said and turned to leave.

"Whoa! I'm a virgin though. And I don't fuck fathers." Christina replied with a smile.

"Well…... .you might remain one for a long time." Rachael said.

"Since no guy in his right mind would approach you."

Rachael left, leaving Christina completely embarrassed.

On Mike's way home, he grinned, feeling triumphant about their mission. Little did he know, their adventure was only just beginning.