My suspicions were soon confirmed as my phone started to ring and Maddy’s name flashed across the screen.

I picked up my phone, ready to answer it and apologize for the mix-up, but then another thought came to me. I was in her car, going to a party that she had intended to go to. She had said it was invite only, so her name would have to be on the guest list. I felt a twinge of guilt in my chest as I put my cell back in my purse, but it wasn’t enough to make me ask the driver to turn around.

I’m no fun, am I? Well, perhaps it’s time that we switch roles, Maddy, and let the other Shadows sister have some fun for a change.

I settled into the seat and pulled out my phone again, uncertain of what else to do. I had never been one to make conversation with cab drivers, and also, as I noticed his suit, it was clear this man wasn’t working for a run-of-the-mill driving company. I didn’t know my sister’s world, or if I was supposed to engage with people such as this.

There was something about the whole situation that almost made me feel like a secret agent. The lights along the street flew past, as cars drove in the opposite direction and stoplights turned green in front of us.

I found it remarkable that this driver zoomed up the road so quickly with the potential for the stoplights to turn red at any moment, but he didn’t seem at all phased by the risk. In fact, there were several times when he reached the intersection as the light turned red, and didn’t slow in the slightest.

Feeling an adrenaline rush with each passing moment, part of me wondered if this was how my sister always felt. She exuded confidence in everything she did, even when she was just hanging out with only me. I wanted some of that.

I didn’t like always being the pretty nurse in the cartoon scrubs, making patients smile and comment on how cute I looked. I wanted to be the woman that turned heads—the one that caused men to get flustered and not know where to look.

Now was my chance, and I was going to take it.

* * *

Throughout the ride, I kept flicking from one emotion to another. I felt excited, then nervous, then worried, then excited again. I knew my sister had an exciting life—a life that was mostly a secret to me, let alone anyone else in our family—and I wanted a taste.

But there was also another voice that whispered in the back of my mind, reminding me that I didn’t know the kinds of people my sister hung out with. I wanted to believe that she wouldn’t ever get herself into a dangerous situation, but at the same time, I had to admit that it was obvious she probably did, due to her secrecy.

The car turned onto a side street I wasn’t familiar with, and before long, we were heading into the suburbs. It was a dark night—there was no moon. Though the stars became visible as we left the lights of the city, it was still much darker than usual, and it felt eerie.

The car zipped smoothly along, riding easily around the twists and turns in the road. I rarely did anything outside of my normal routine, so it was rare for me to be on that side of L.A. in the first place. However, I could recognize that we were in a wealthy neighborhood, and I imagined we were headed for one of the houses toward the end of the road.

I knew that there were a lot of mansions in this area, each one at the end of a long driveway that separated it both from the road, as well as from the other mansions in the area.

The driver glanced back at me through the rearview mirror every now and then, making feel a little uncomfortable. I gave him a nervous smile at first, but quickly reminded myself that Maddy likely wouldn’t have done that. Though she was nice enough, there was a reserve about my sister that I lacked.

Perhaps it was our careers that brought out the difference; perhaps it was the kinds of people Maddy spent her time with. Unable to decide which it was and refusing to allow myself to think about it any longer than I ought, I brushed the thought out of my mind.

“Where are we going?” I asked after half an hour in the car. The driver glanced back at me with a surprised look on his face, but didn’t answer. I waited for a moment, then tried once more. “Excuse me, sir? Would you mind telling me where we are going?”

There was a nervous knot in my stomach, but I forced a smile regardless. I didn’t want him to see how nervous I was, especially since he thought I was my sister. He glanced back in the mirror once more, then looked back at the road in front of us.

“I’m paid to drive, not talk, miss,” he replied.

Unsure of what to say, I turned my attention back out the window. There was something about the situation that thrilled me to the core, in spite of my nerves. For the first time in my adult life, I wasn’t jealous of my sister—I was exhilarated to be her.

The car continued for another fifteen minutes before it pulled off the main road and onto a smaller drive. It was too dark to make out many of the details in the area, though I could see that there were a lot of trees lining the road. There weren’t any other cars around us, and the soft hum of the tires rolling along the paved road was audible in the silence.

We continued up another short, winding road, then suddenly, a large house appeared in front of us. I was amazed that I hadn’t been able to see it before that moment—a house that size looked like it ought to be visible from space.

There were cars in front of us driving slowly up the hill, each stopping in front of the house and letting passengers slip out. When my turn came, my heart thudded in my chest as the man opened my door for me and motioned with his arm for me to step out…onto a red carpet.

My strappy stilettos sank into the carpet ever so slightly, and at the same time, I felt a shiver of excitement rush down my spine. The nerves were quickly leaving my stomach, and I was beginning to feel a surge of confidence like I had never felt before in my life. I held my clutch in front of me the same way I saw the other women carrying theirs, and I walked with soft deliberation toward the door.

I could feel heads turn as I walked past, but I didn’t have the guts to make eye contact with any of them. Men and women alike took notice of me, and there was a part of me that wanted to blurt out my mistake and turn around to go home.

Once at the door, I was surprised to be stopped by a man standing with arms crossed—a bouncer, I guessed. He wore sunglasses in spite of it being nighttime, as well as a headset. He was tall and muscular, with a no-nonsense look about him.

The bouncer held his hand up, motioning for me to stop, and I flung my hair over my shoulder, doing my best impression of a movie star.

I then noticed a second doorman on the other side, dressed completely identically to the first man. They both stood with their arms crossed and the same serious expressions on their faces, each looking as though they would have no problem at all telling anyone to leave—and to make sure that they actually did.

“Miss Shadows. Em—Maddy. Maddy Shadows,” I stuttered, realizing a fraction too late that I should use my sister’s name.

The man looked at me for a moment, lowering his sunglasses and clearly studying me. I felt uncomfortable—as though he was looking inside my very soul. I didn’t know how well these people knew Maddy, but I silently prayed that he would let me in anyway.

My stomach sank as he turned to the other bouncer and gave him a look. I didn’t know how these men communicated, or what their glances were saying to each other. I maintained the confidence I had so shakily built up, hoping they wouldn’t see through me.

Please, please don’t ask to see my ID, please just let me through, I frantically thought, in spite of the smile that was plastered on my face.

By a stroke of sheer luck, he stepped to one side, letting me past.

I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I squared my shoulders and drew myself up to my full height. He continued to study me as I walked past him and into a dark hallway. I was ushered along with the people who were spilling in through the door toward another door. I could hear the faint sound of music that was almost club-like, but with a different feel to it.

Another doorman let me into the room, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted me there. There was indeed club music playing over the speakers, though it was quieter than being in an actual club. The lights were dim and there were people everywhere. Everyone had a drink in their hand, and there were servers walking around offering hors d’oeuvres and champagne in small flutes.

The room was elegantly decorated, with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling and expensive-looking paintings and gently glowing light fixtures lining the walls. The floor was covered in a plush carpet, and I was surprised to see that the room was completely open. There was no furniture of any kind—perhaps it had been moved for the event?

There was another oddity that caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was intended for.

On the left side of the room there was a large stage. It was made of what appeared to be mahogany, with lights that could be focused toward either the stage or into the room, as they now were. There was a microphone in the center of the stage, but there weren’t any instruments or any indication that a band would play. I was incredibly curious, but I played it off as smoothly as I could and accepted a flute of champagne from one of the servers.

There was a bar set up on the other side of the room, filled with all kinds of liquors, and a man dressed in black from head to toe was mixing drinks. He had black hair and a short beard, and was wearing black eyeliner, as well. I had seen some interesting sights in my life, but that man really caught my attention. He looked up and made eye contact with me briefly, and I quickly looked away.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as I looked around, amazed at the sheer volume of wealth that was around me. Suddenly, my cocktail dress (which I’d splurged $100 on) felt cheap, and the gold necklace I had proudly boasted at the restaurant felt like a toy that came out of a fifty-cent vending machine.

Women with dresses worth thousands of dollars turned and glanced at me while men who looked like billionaires eyed me with a hunger that sent more shivers down my spine.

I reminded myself once more that I was supposed to be my sister, and I wondered if there was anyone in the room that I was supposed to know. I did my best to look like I belonged, though I was silently hoping no one would attempt to make conversation with me. I wasn’t sure how these people interacted with each other, or what they talked about.

I knew just enough about my sister’s career to be able to carry on a conversation, as long as there were no names involved. Sure, she’d mentioned names to me before, but I’d never bothered to remember any of them—they hadn’t mattered at the time. I locked eyes with a few people, though I found it difficult to maintain eye contact with anyone. These people were intimidating and incredibly wealthy—they came from a different world than I did.

A warm smile from a woman in the corner of the room offered me some reassurance, and I considered walking over to her and starting a conversation, but at that moment, all eyes were drawn to the stage.

A woman had walked into the center and held the microphone, calling for the attention of everyone in the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad to see so many of you have made it. I apologize for the delay, but I am pleased to announce that now that all the lots have arrived, we are ready to begin!”

The crowd cheered, and though I didn’t know what was going on, I clapped, too.

Suddenly, a man came up beside me and grabbed me by the arm. He was dressed the same as those who were guarding the doors, with dark sunglasses and a suit, and he began ushering me toward the stage. Part of me thought to resist and ask him what he thought he was doing, but I had to remind myself that I wasn’t me, I was my sister.

With a knot in my stomach, I allowed myself to be swept along with the man.

What is this, Maddy? What are you a part of?