CHAPTER NINE
872 Words
The auditorium erupted into chaos.
Students shot to their feet, voices overlapping as teachers hurried toward the stage.
“What was that?”
“Who put it on the screen?”
“Who’s Daniel Cross?”
The principal’s face turned pale.
“Everyone, remain calm!” he called into the microphone. “This is an unfortunate prank. Please return to your classrooms immediately.”
A prank.
Amelia glanced at Oliver.
His jaw was clenched, and his eyes remained fixed on the now-black projector screen.
He didn’t look convinced.
Neither was she.
By the next morning, the academy had returned to its usual routine.
Or at least, it tried to.
The words “They Lied About Daniel Cross” had become the only thing anyone talked about.
“Do you think it was true?”
“I’ve never even heard that name before.”
“My brother said something happened years ago.”
Rumors spread through every hallway.
By lunchtime, another announcement echoed through the school.
“This Friday, St. Victoria’s Academy will hold its annual Autumn Festival. Attendance is mandatory for all students.”
A wave of excitement replaced the whispers.
“The festival!”
“I’ve been waiting all year!”
“There’ll be live music!”
“And the basketball challenge!”
For the first time since arriving at St. Victoria’s, Amelia saw genuine excitement on everyone’s faces.
Even Chloe bounced in her seat.
“You have to come with me!”
“I don’t know…”
“No excuses.”
Chloe grinned.
“You’re going to love it.”
That afternoon, colorful banners appeared across campus.
Students hurried between classrooms carrying decorations, lights, and stacks of supplies.
The usually strict academy suddenly felt alive.
Amelia smiled as she watched volunteers hang lanterns from the oak trees.
“It looks beautiful.”
“It always does.”
She turned.
Oliver.
He stood beside a ladder, carefully hanging strings of white lights across the courtyard.
For a moment…
Neither of them mentioned Daniel.
Or the East Wing.
Or the mysterious messages.
Instead…
Oliver held up two lanterns.
“Red or gold?”
She looked between them.
“The gold one.”
He nodded.
“I thought you’d say that.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You know me that well already?”
“No.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“But you always choose the quieter option.”
Before Amelia could reply, Coach Daniels called from across the courtyard.
“Hayes!”
Oliver sighed.
“Duty calls.”
As he walked away, Amelia found herself smiling.
She quickly stopped.
“What am I doing?” she muttered.
The festival arrived faster than anyone expected.
The academy had transformed overnight.
Rows of food stalls lined the courtyard.
Music drifted through the air.
Students laughed as they played games and won prizes.
For the first time since transferring…
Amelia forgot about the notes.
The mystery.
The fear.
She was simply eighteen.
Enjoying a school festival.
Chloe dragged her from stall to stall until they reached the basketball challenge.
A crowd had gathered.
At the center stood Oliver.
“Three shots,” the announcer called.
“If Captain Hayes misses even one, everyone in line wins a free drink!”
The crowd cheered.
Oliver spun the basketball once before taking his first shot.
Swish.
The second.
Swish.
The third…
The ball bounced off the rim.
The crowd gasped.
Then….
A hand reached out from the front row, catching the rebound before it hit the floor.
Liam.
He laughed and tossed it back to Oliver.
“Looks like you’re human after all.”
Oliver rolled his eyes.
“Barely.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Amelia.
Oliver glanced toward the crowd.
His eyes found hers.
For a brief second…
Everything else disappeared.
Until….
“Amelia!”
Claire’s sharp voice cut through the noise.
Claire approached with folded arms.
“I need to talk to you.”
The smile faded from Amelia’s face.
“What about?”
Claire looked around before lowering her voice.
“If you really want to know what happened to Daniel Cross…”
She slipped a folded piece of paper into Amelia’s hand.
“…meet me behind the chapel after the fireworks.”
Before Amelia could ask another question, Claire walked away.
She unfolded the paper.
It contained only one sentence.
Don’t tell Oliver you’re coming.
That evening…
The festival reached its final event.
Fireworks.
Students gathered on the school lawn, looking toward the night sky.
The first explosion lit the darkness with brilliant gold.
Everyone cheered.
Amelia looked at Oliver.
He looked back.
Neither of them noticed the hooded figure standing beneath the old clock tower.
Watching.
Waiting.
As the final firework burst overhead, Amelia quietly slipped away toward the chapel.
She never saw the figure follow her.
The path behind the chapel was empty.
“Claire?” Amelia called softly.
No answer.
Then she noticed something lying on the stone bench.
Claire’s phone.
Its screen was cracked.
A fresh smear of blood stained the edge of the case.
Just as Amelia reached for it…
A hand clamped over her mouth from behind.
A voice whispered into her ear.
“You should’ve stayed at the festival.”
- Writer
