Chapter 7 - The Boy Who Vanished
499 Words
Rain continued pouring outside Ravenwood Academy long after midnight.
Police officers searched every hallway, classroom, and backstage corridor while terrified students remained trapped inside the ballroom waiting for answers.
But Rafael Zion Castillo was nowhere to be found.
Not in the bathrooms. Not outside the academy. Not anywhere on campus.
Only the blood backstage remained.
And somehow, that made everything worse.
Students whispered nervously while officers questioned people one after another.
Some believed Rafael had been attacked.
Others thought he ran away.
A few students had already started posting theories online.
* What if Rafael killed Celestine? *
* What if Adrian and Rafael fought?*
* Somebody inside the Ravenwood Five definitely knows something. *
Rumors spread faster than facts.
Damien sat beside Seraphina near the ballroom staircase while police continued searching the building.
"This can't be real," he muttered quietly.
Seraphina looked pale beneath the ballroom lights, her hands wrapped tightly around the blanket resting over her shoulders.
"It doesn't feel real," she whispered.
None of it looked fake.
None of it looked forced.
She looked exactly like someone terrified after watching her best friend die.
Across the ballroom, Adrian argued angrily with Officer Lucia Reyes.
"You seriously think I had something to do with this?"
"We're questioning everyone, Mr. Monteverde."
"I was with people before the blackout."
"You were also publicly fighting with the victim."
Adrian looked ready to explode.
Meanwhile, students nearby pretended not to stare while secretly listening to every word.
Nobody said it directly.
But suspicion had already started turning toward him.
Near the refreshments table, Sofia Ramirez quietly updated the Ravenwood Confession Page from her phone.
" Rafael Castillo still missing. "
" Police searching backstage areas. "
" Students saying the blackout may have been planned. "
Within minutes, comments flooded the page.
Fear spread through Ravenwood faster than the storm outside.
By almost two in the morning, officers finally allowed students to leave campus one by one after questioning.
Parents crowded outside the academy gates beneath umbrellas while reporters had already started arriving.
Camera flashes filled the rain-dark streets.
The moment Seraphina stepped outside the academy, reporters immediately rushed toward her.
"Miss Navarro, were you close with Celestine?"
"Did you notice anything suspicious tonight?"
"Do you think Rafael Castillo is involved?"
Security quickly pushed students away before anyone could answer.
Damien caught up to Seraphina near the parking area while rain poured heavily around them.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Seraphina nodded weakly.
"I think I'm still in shock."
Damien looked toward the flashing police lights behind them.
"We're going to figure this out."
For the first time that night, Seraphina managed a small smile.
"Yeah," she said softly.
"I hope so."
As her driver opened the car door for her, Damien suddenly looked back toward the academy building one last time.
The ballroom lights still glowed faintly through the rain.
Police officers moved through the hallways like shadows.
And somewhere out there-
Rafael Zion Castillo had vanished without a trace.
- Writer
