Chapter 6 - When the Lights Returned
453 Words
When the Lights Returned
Screaming filled the ballroom.
Students rushed toward the exits while teachers tried desperately to control the panic spreading across Ravenwood Academy.
Someone called the police. Someone fainted near the staircase. Phones recorded everything.
But Adrian couldn't move.
He stood frozen in the middle of the ballroom staring at Celestine's body like his mind refused to understand what he was seeing.
"Celestine..."
His voice barely came out.
Damien quickly grabbed his shoulder before he could step closer.
"Adrian-don't touch anything."
Professor Cortez shouted at students to back away while Principal Villareal called emergency services near the stage.
The once beautiful ballroom now looked terrifying.
Broken glass covered the floor. Masks were scattered everywhere. Music still played faintly through the speakers before someone finally shut it off.
And in the middle of it all-
Celestine remained motionless beneath the chandeliers.
Seraphina stood near Damien silently covering her mouth in shock while students cried around her.
Everything felt unreal.
Like a nightmare nobody could wake up from.
Then suddenly-
another scream echoed from backstage.
Everyone turned immediately.
Noah Valencia stumbled out from the hallway looking terrified.
"There's blood backstage!"
Police arrived minutes later, forcing students to remain inside the ballroom for questioning.
Nobody was allowed to leave.
Rain poured heavily outside while flashing red and blue lights reflected against the academy windows.
Officers moved through the ballroom questioning students one by one.
Damien sat beside Adrian near the staircase while Adrian shook uncontrollably.
"I didn't do anything," Adrian whispered.
"I know."
"I swear I didn't."
Damien nodded immediately.
But across the ballroom, students had already started whispering.
Because everyone knew Adrian and Celestine had been fighting lately.
And unfortunately-
people loved easy answers.
Meanwhile, Seraphina sat quietly wrapped in a blanket provided by one of the teachers while Officer Lucia Reyes questioned her gently.
"Did you notice anything strange before the blackout?"
Seraphina hesitated briefly before shaking her head.
"No."
"Did Celestine seem upset tonight?"
"A little nervous maybe... but normal."
Officer Reyes nodded while writing notes.
Nearby, Rafael still hadn't returned.
At first, nobody noticed.
The ballroom was too chaotic.
Too loud.
Too distracted.
But Damien eventually frowned while scanning the crowd.
"Where's Rafael?"
Adrian looked up immediately.
The group fell silent.
For the first time since the lights came back on-
they realized Rafael was gone.
Professor Cortez quickly checked the bathrooms while security searched nearby hallways.
Nothing.
No Rafael.
Then one of the officers suddenly called out from backstage.
"Officer Reyes!"
Everyone turned.
Near the dark backstage hallway behind the ballroom curtains-
small drops of blood stained the floor.
Leading deeper into the darkness.
Celestine's death had already shattered prom night.
But now-
Rafael Zion Castillo had disappeared too.
- Writer
