Roselle and Runebelle mingled with the other goths in the room, they felt a sense of acceptance and belonging. The atmosphere was both dark and alluring, with the various creatures and beings engaging in conversations and dance, creating an enchanting and unique experience.

The skeleton from earlier, who had accompanied them, approached with a wide grin and said, "You made it! Welcome to our world, the world of Goths." His bony hand gestured towards the festivities, inviting the sisters to join in the celebration.

Roselle and Runebelle, while mingling with the other Goths, noticed a group of Goth girls and boys at nearby tables. Some were engaged in deep conversations, while others were involved in dark and mysterious games. The atmosphere was intriguing, and the sisters decided to approach a friendly-looking Goth girl to strike up a conversation.

With a smile, Roselle made her way over and said, "Hey there, we're new here. Mind if we join in on the fun?"

The Goth girl, with a dark attire and makeup, welcomed them with a nod and said, "Of course! The more, the merrier. I'm Elvira. What brings you to our world?"

Runebelle, who often let Roselle take the lead in conversations, smiled warmly and introduced themselves, "I'm Roselle, and this is my sister, Runebelle. We've just become Goths, and we're here to experience everything."

Elvira’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, and she replied, "That's great! Welcome to the club. We're all about embracing our darkness and having a good time. Let's make this night memorable."

Elvira, with a knowing look, nodded in response to Roselle's introduction. "I see. Welcome to the realm of Goths. It's not every day that newcomers like you make it in here. Usually, Jayla or Chloe only lets in their friends, so you must have impressed one of them."

Roselle and Runebelle exchanged glances, realizing the significance of this insight.

Elvira gave them a smirk, "Well, we're a close-knit group, but I suppose Chloe does make new Goths every now and again. Just enjoy the night, and you'll see how special our world can be."

Roselle, curious about Jayla's absence, inquired further. "So, Jayla's not here right now? We were hoping to meet her. Any idea when she'll be back?"

Elvira's dark eyes held a hint of mystery. “I’m not entirely sure. Jayla tends to come and go as she pleases. You might want to ask Chloe for more information. Everyone wants to meet Jayla, after all."

Roselle turned to Elvira and asked, "We've seen Chloe here, but what about Jayla? When will she be back?"

Elvira shrugged. "I'm not sure. You might want to ask Chloe. Everyone here wants to meet Jayla, but her schedule can be unpredictable."

Roselle and Runebelle exchanged glances once again, their curiosity piqued.

As Roselle and Runebelle walked to another area of the party, Roselle leaned in closer to her sister and whispered, "Runebelle, we need to find Chloe again. We completely forgot to ask her about Jayla."

Runebelle nodded, her expression equally worried. "You're right, but finding Chloe in this crowd might be a challenge."

Just then, a sudden person from the side startled them. It was the Skeleton who had guided them earlier, and he had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He announced, "Oh, don't you worry, my dears. Chloe's going to be on stage for the main event soon."

Roselle and Runebelle jumped with surprise. "How long have you been there?" Roselle asked, still trying to catch her breath after the sudden scare.

The Skeleton merely grinned. "I've been here the whole time, keeping an eye on you two. Now, enjoy the party, and don't miss Chloe's performance on the stage. It's a sight to behold."

Suddenly, the music in the room abruptly ceased, and all eyes turned to a stage that had seemingly materialized out of the shadows. The spotlight cast a stark contrast between the deep darkness and the illuminated platform. Onstage, a few Gothic girls and one with a fierce mohawk took the center, with a rockstar personality that commanded attention.

With a confident, electrifying presence, the girl with the mohawk gripped a microphone and began to speak to the gathered Goths with excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're about to kick off today's main events in style!" Her words echoed through the room, drawing all eyes to the stage.

“If you’re ready for some excitement tonight, give me a ‘Hell yeah!”

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause with several responding “Hell yeah!” Goths of all kinds—dressed in their signature dark attire and adorned with various accessories—huddled closer towards the stage.

The Mohawk girl continued while moving around the stage. "I’m so thrilled to see all of you here tonight! I absolutely love this crowd. You guys know how to bring the energy, and that’s why we’re going to make this night unforgettable!"

She paused with her eyes scanning the enthusiastic faces before her. "Now, I know you’re all night owls, living for the dark hours, but I can’t let you go hungry. Not on my watch!"

A murmur of agreement and anticipation swept through the crowd. The Mohawk girl grinned. “That’s right! We’ve got a sumptuous spread of darkness prepared just for you. From midnight snacks to indulgent delicacies, we’ve got it all. Our chefs have outdone themselves, ensuring that even the hungriest of Goths will leave satisfied. Are you ready for the feast, my fellow Goths?!"

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The crowd’s response was a thunderous cheer. A sea of dark-clad figures shouted, "Hell yeah!" with unbridled enthusiasm. But the Mohawk girl wasn’t quite finished.

"I know you’re all hungry," she said with a teasing smirk, "but don’t let that take away your energy. Give me all you’ve got! Are you truly ready for this night?"

The crowd roared even louder, their voices merging into a powerful, unified declaration of readiness and anticipation.

Roselle, caught up in the infectious energy, joined the chorus. “Hell yeah!" she shouted, her with excitement.

Runebelle, standing beside her, gave a small, sorrowful smile. "Don’t forget why we’re here," she murmured.

Roselle turned to her sister. "I haven’t forgotten," she said softly. "But maybe... just maybe, this might not be so bad.”

Roselle was ready to enjoy herself, but that was short-lived when they saw Haras, or someone who appeared to be Haras, being presented in an alarming state. Haras looked pale. Her energy had been drained from her body. She was nearly lifeless.

The head of the Haras figure moved unnaturally. The sisters were horrified. Their reactions were met with screams and cheers from the audience, as some saw it as part of the show, while others were genuinely disturbed.

Undisturbed by the unsettling display, the Mohawk girl on stage announced, "Now, it's time for the Pinata games! Who's ready to see what Chloe has in store for us today?"

With a growing sense of unease, Roselle and Runebelle listened. "Whoever the spotlight lands on will get the first swing."

Roselle and Runebelle exchanged worried glances. They huddled together briefly, and Roselle whispered, "We need to find a way to stop this, Runebelle. What’s happening to Haras is not part of any game we want to be a part of."

Runebelle nodded in agreement. "You're right, Roselle. We have to do something."

The spotlight suddenly landed on the two sisters who were huddled up, making their presence known. The Mohawk girl, with a wide grin, pointed to them, announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, look who we have here! Two fortunate Goth girls who get the first swing. Let's see if they can break the prize!"

Roselle and Runebelle were now thrust into the center of attention. Roselle and Runebelle slowly made their way onto the stage. Each of them was handed a bat. The Mohawk girl shouted, "Come on, folks, let's give these two brave Goth girls a warm welcome! They're going to take the first swings and show us how it's done!"

The crowd responded with cheers and applause, adding to the pressure the sisters were feeling. Roselle frantically tried to think of a way out of this situation. “We can't fight them here," Roselle whispered to herself, "They outnumber us, and no matter how strong Kintovar made me, all of them are fairly strong, and that puts us at a huge disadvantage."

Anxious, she continued, "We don't even know what kind of powers these Goths might have. Trying to take them on here would be reckless."

Frustration crept into her. "Come on, think, Roselle. There has to be another way. We can't let Haras get get hurt any worse than she is now." Roselle closed her eyes momentarily. ”Think, think, think! We need a plan, and we need it fast!"

The group on stage noticed Roselle's hesitation, and one of the Goth girls spoke up, "Let them help, they're new here after all."

Roselle muttered, "I took too much time... Oh No!"

A Goth girl with dark pigtails stepped forward. She examined Roselle and Runebelle, taking in their tense postures and anxious looks.

With a dramatic sigh, the Goth girl said, "You two have certainly made quite the entrance. Delaying the games like this… how very typical. You must be newcomers. Let me tell you something, in our world, if you can’t play along, then you’d better not waste our time.”

Roselle’s heart raced. “Wait!” she called out “This… this isn’t right….”

The Goth girl’s remained cold. She adjusted the bat in her hands “I’m afraid you don’t get to dictate the terms here. Either you participate or face the punishment of Chloe for ruining the concert.”

Roselle’s resolve began to waver. She back at Haras, who remained lifeless and pale. She took a deep breath and wore a deep frown. “I’m sorry, Haras,” she whispered.

With a heavy heart, Roselle swung the bat at the Haras. The impact was more muted than she expected. Runebelle’s eyes held a deep sadness. She joined Roselle and swung at Haras.

To Roselle’s and Runebelle’s surprise it burst open like a pinata, revealing a surprising array of treats. Out poured black bean tacos, blood-red beet salad, and dark chocolate-covered strawberries, among other dark yet mouthwatering dishes. The crowd’s cheers erupted into applause and excitement, their earlier tension melting away as they flocked to the delicious spread.

Minutes later, Roselle and Runebelle were sitting at a table of their own. Roselle, still in a state of shock from the earlier events, sat there with a distant look in her eyes.

Runebelle, on the other hand, had started to eat a taco from the feast. She noticed Roselle's continued daze and said, "Roselle, you might as well eat. We only need to eat once a day, and this is a good opportunity."

Runebelle attempted to get Roselle's attention “Roselle?”

But there was no response. Frustrated by her sister's lack of reaction, Runebelle picked up the taco she was eating and moved it toward Roselle's mouth in an attempt to get her to eat.

As Runebelle brought the taco closer to Roselle's face, the shock finally registered, and Roselle fell out of her chair in surprise.

”Wah!”

Runebelle, concerned for her sister, asked, "Are you okay, Roselle?"

Roselle, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish smile, responded, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit stunned.”

Runebelle sighed and said, “It looks like they made a pinata in Haras’s image. The real Haras has to be still around here somewhere.”

Roselle responded. “We really need to find Chloe. We can’t just stay at this party. We need to figure out what's going on and help Haras if she's still in trouble.”

Right after discussing their plan, the Skeleton appeared at their table, startling them both. "I know a way you can see Chloe before her performance," he announced. His presence caught them off guard.

Roselle, in her surprise, tumbled out of her chair once again, letting out an "ow”. She then rubbed her head.

The Skeleton responded to Roselle's surprise with a shrug, "I don't know why you're so surprised. I told you I was following you to make sure you were having a good time."

Roselle, still rubbing the back of her head and feeling the slight sting from her earlier falls, wiped away a few tears that had welled up. She was eager to hear more about how to reach Chloe. "You mentioned you have a way for us to talk to Chloe. How can we do that?"

Runebelle looked at the Skeleton, her curiosity evident. "We can sense Chloe is still here. Where is she now?"

The Skeleton leaned in and explained, "Chloe is backstage. If you want to talk to her, that's where you'll need to catch her."

With gratitude expressed to the Skeleton, Roselle and Runebelle made their way backstage. Here, the atmosphere was slightly brighter, with a dimly lit corridor leading them to what seemed to be a more illuminated area.

The sisters found themselves in a space where various individuals were crowding about. The noises grew louder, and it became apparent that they had stepped into the midst of Chloe's fervent fans.

The fans, dressed in gothic attire and adorned with dark makeup, surrounded Roselle and Runebelle with anticipation.

Roselle sighed and said, “Oh boy..”