had to fight back an urge to cover her ears. Eve had put Claires hair up in little pigtails, and she missed having it over her ears to block out the roar. I need earplugs! she yelled in Eves ear. Eve mimed a What did you say? Never mind!
The Epsilon Epsilon Kappa fraternity house was trashed. Claire suspected it was usually trashed, but this was extra specialplastic cups everywhere, drinks soaking into carpet, a chair broken in the corner, and drunks sleeping on the sofa. And this was just the foyer. Two guys stepped into their path and held out their hands in the universal gesture for Dont even think about it; they were big, muscular guys dressed in white face paint with black T-shirts that said UNDEAD SECURITY on them. Invitations? one of them yelled. Claire exchanged a look with Eve.
Ian Jameson invited me! she screamed back. Ian Jameson!
The security guys had a list. They checked it, and nodded. Upstairs! one yelled. Last door on the left!
She didnt intend to find Ian, but she nodded anyway. She and Eve pressed between the two security guyswho were maybe a little too closeand stepped over the threshold into the wildest party Claire had ever seen in her entire life.
Not that her experience was wide, but stillshe was pretty sure Paris Hilton would have classified this as wild. Despite the fact that alcohol was banned on campus, she was also pretty sure the punch that was being ladled out of gigantic coolers was alcoholic (it also had severed hands, eyeballs, and assorted plastic gross-outs floating in it, and was bloodred). A lot of the people at the party already showed the telltale signs of being wastedstumbling, laughing too loud, making wild gestures. Spilling drinks all over themselves and others, which really didnt seem to bother people because, hey, zombies! Not neat freaks. Everybody wore white makeup, or had some kind of rubbery disgusting mask (though that was mostly the guys).
The main room was kind of a dance floor, people pressed up against each other and swaying. Claire stood in the doorway,frozen with sudden dread. It looked like a room full of dead people. Worsedead, drunk, horny people.
Come on, Eve yelled impatiently, and grabbed her by the hand. She plunged into the crowd without hesitation, craning her head to look around. At least hes a redhead! Because most of those at the party were wearing black wigs, or had dyed their hair like Eves. Claires had suffered a temporary blacking from some kind of spray-on stuff Eve had assured her would wash right out. Claire tried to shield herself from unnecessary body-to-body contact, but it was pretty much useless; she was closer to a whole bunch of guys than shed ever been in her life.
A hand tried to go up her skirt as she pressed through the crowd. She yelped and jumped, moving faster. Somebody else swatted her on the ass.
Faster! she yelled at Eve, who had slowed down to get her bearings. God, I cant breathe in here!
This way!
Chapter Twenty-five
Claire felt filthynot just from getting groped, which continued to happen, but because she was sopping with other peoples sweat by the time Eve squirmed them through to a small clear space on the other side of the room, next to the stairs. It must have been the Wall-flower Corner; there were some shy-looking girls, all dressed in mock-Goth finery, grouped together for comfort and (Claire suspected) protection. She felt an instant sympathy for them. Great party! Eve screamed over the pounding beat of the music. Wish I could enjoy it!
Any sign of Sam?
No! Not in here! Lets try the other rooms!
After the chaos of the main dance room, the kitchen felt like a study hall, even though it was still filled with people talking too loud and gesturing too much. More punch-filled coolers in here, which was driving Claire crazy; she was thirsty, but no way was she adding being drunk to her problems just now. Too much was at stake.
Her ears were still ringing. At least, in here, there was room to breathe. Claire reflexively searched for her cell phone, remembered it getting crunched under the wheels of the white van,and cursed under her breath. What time is it? she asked Eve, who consulted her own black Razr (decorated, of course, with skulls).
Ten, she said. I know. We have to hurry.
Somebody grabbed Claire by the arm, and she recoiled in fright, but then she recognized him under the makeupIan,