They could feel the throbbing bass spilling from some monstrous sound system. The vibe was enough to steal their breath when they stepped out of the car.
   Isaac shook his head slowly once. "Let's get in, and then out."
   They started forward and as he looked around cautiously he murmured, "Something wrong is definitely going to happen here tonight." The clenching in his gut was a big enough warning, but he knew this had to be done, and he doubted there'd be another opportunity anytime soon.
   Ten feet from the house, the ground was vibrating and you could literally see the dirt moving from the reverberations.
   From the corner of his eye, he saw Zac laugh, almost seeing the adrenaline rush he was getting off the beat of the music alone. While Taylor grinned and started to feel the music sinking inside him where all music seemed to stick and filter through the rest of his body.
   He stepped up to the front door and fought back the consciences to get him and his brothers back in the car and head for somewhere else.
   The door was open, and the trio crossed the threshold and seemingly stepped into the realm.
   Isaac drew in a deep breath; Here we go.
   "Split and see who finds who?" Zac yelled over the music.
   Getting ready to deny that, and tell them to stick by him, he saw Taylor nod and the two vanished into the swaying crowds filling the room.
   Groaning and knowing the odds of finding them before they found Grace just wasn't worth the extreme effort it would take.
   Giving in, Isaac started moving around, and trying hard to concentrate on the people's faces in the haze that the bright lights, cigarettes, and weed was making.
   Feeling his fingers fiddling with the hem of his coat, he stalked off in anger and when he found himself in the kitchen Isaac took another deep breath then fished out his own cigarette's from his pocket.
   Drawing off a very gratifying pull, Isaac released the smoke in a steady stream and questioned when had he ever been this nervous or agitated?
   The personal disgust he felt did not sit well, and while taking another drag, Isaac calmly stalked wandering and looking around. Finally taking the time to notice the pieces of artwork and pictures on the walls.
   "Not anything like a house in suburbia, is it?"
   Refusing to feel guilty or ashamed, Isaac turned slowly and congratulated himself for not falling over. "I've been to worse."
   The eyes hardened, "Kiki wouldn't appreciate that comment. But I bet you can't wait to get out of here, and take a shower to wash off the dirt you got on you just for stepping inside this house."
   Isaac smiled slowly, "It's good to see you too, Em."
   Emma shrugged, "Wish I could say the same." She laughed, "Actually, I don't wish that I could."
   Mimicking her shrug, Isaac didn't bother to try and understand why that bothered him. "Tay and Zac are looking for Grace. They want to talk to her about some… stuff."
   That got a rise out of her, "what stuff?"
   Turning his back on her, Isaac went back to looking at the décor. "You know, this artist that the owner's been using is quite good."
   Emma bit down hard on her acid remark before replying; "Jarek's great. He just got a college grant."
   "Oh?" Isaac asked carelessly, "where at?"
   Her teeth clenched, "Texas."
   "Hope he goes far, he does have a lot of talent."
   Pulling up her patience, Emma relaxed her muscles and smiled tiredly. "Grace is off with her boyfriend of the moment, Isaac." When he turned to look at her, she nodded towards a hallway. "Last I know, she was seen going down there, but what's happened since, I don't know."
   "Then I should go find Tay and Zac." Isaac responded in kind, though he didn't exactly want to do so that very second.
   Emma laughed, "Tay's hiding from me at the moment, I'm assuming."
   He lifted a questioning brow and she laughed again and shook her head. "When I saw him walk into the drinks room, I glared at him and he turned and ran out again."
   Isaac chuckled at that image as well. "You do seem to have that effect on people."
   Emma grinned proudly, "Yes, I know."
   They fell into a quiet gap, and Emma despised it. She nodded back to the hallway she had before. "Remember that's the hall you want."
   Turning on him, Emma started walking off when a loud commotion started breaking out, along with a high pitched female's scream.
   Jumping then facing Isaac, Emma nearly gagged at the idea of some Hanson teenybopper at this kind of party. Yet followed Isaac towards the scene to see if she was going to have to help kick someone out of "Kiki's" house.
   Pushing herself past him, and jogging carefully in her stiletto's outside, Emma could feel her stomach dropping painfully then rising in her throat when the site was before her.
   Grace, surrounded by Taylor and Zac, was swollen, naked, and bleeding on a bed sheet on the lawn.
   She stumbled and nearly fell when she felt someone's hands on her waist holding her up. Looking up, she noticed Isaac staring in horror at her best friend and roommate, and knew the same expression was on her face.