It was the main show.
The auditorium was packed — students, teachers, parents, and even a few important guests from the city filled every seat. The lights dimmed, the stage curtains glowed under bright spotlights, and the energy in the air was electric. The pre-show had been a warm-up; this was the real event everyone had been waiting for.
Backstage, the cheerleading squad was in final preparations. Amy paced in front of the mirror, adjusting her uniform and barking last-minute instructions. Sera stood beside her, calm on the surface but with a cold glint in her eyes.
Isla sat on a bench in the corner, the heavy mascot costume draped over her lap. The big blue-and-white wolf head with floppy ears rested beside her. She stared at it, her stomach twisting with dread. She didn’t want to go
