Chapter 8 - Funeral Flowers
597 Words
By Monday morning, Ravenwood Academy no longer felt like a school.
It felt like a crime scene pretending to be normal.
Police cars still waited outside the campus gates. News reporters crowded nearby streets. Students walked through the hallways whispering instead of laughing.
And everywhere-
people talked about Celestine.
White flowers covered the front entrance of the academy beneath a large framed photo of her smiling brightly at last year's winter formal.
Candles surrounded the memorial. Handwritten letters filled the table beside it.
Some students cried while passing by.
Others secretly recorded videos for social media.
At Ravenwood Academy, even tragedy became gossip eventually.
Seraphina stood quietly in front of the memorial wearing her black uniform neatly pressed despite the exhausting weekend.
Beside her, Damien placed a white rose near Celestine's photo.
"I still can't believe she's gone," he said quietly.
Neither of them noticed Sofia Ramirez secretly taking photos from across the hallway for the journalism club page.
Adrian hadn't returned to school yet.
According to rumors:
he got into a fight with investigators
his parents pulled him out of school temporarily
police found evidence connected to him after prom night
Nobody knew what was true anymore.
Only that everything felt different now.
Professor Amelia Cortez entered the hallway moments later, her usually strict expression softer than normal.
"All students are dismissed after lunch today," she announced gently. "Counselors are available in the library for anyone needing support."
Nobody responded.
The silence around Ravenwood lately always felt heavy.
As students slowly headed toward class, Seraphina remained near the memorial a little longer.
"She would've hated these flowers," a voice suddenly said beside her.
Damien.
Seraphina looked at him confused.
"She always said white flowers looked boring," Damien explained quietly.
For the first time since prom night, Seraphina laughed softly.
Small.
Brief.
But real enough to make Damien smile too.
"She really did say that," Seraphina admitted.
For a moment, the sadness between them felt lighter.
Until whispers suddenly spread down the hallway again.
Students turned toward the academy entrance nervously.
Officer Lucia Reyes had returned.
And she wasn't alone.
Behind her walked two officers carrying evidence boxes from the ballroom investigation.
Everyone watched silently as they disappeared into the administration office.
Fear spread instantly through the hallway again.
"They still haven't found Rafael," one student whispered.
"What if he's dead too?"
"What if he killed Celestine first?"
Damien frowned hearing that.
"No way Rafael would do this."
"You sound pretty sure," Sofia replied from nearby.
Damien immediately looked irritated.
"You're seriously turning this into entertainment now?"
Sofia crossed her arms defensively.
"I'm reporting what people are saying."
"No. You're making things worse."
Before the argument could continue, Seraphina quietly stepped between them.
"Can we not do this right now?"
Her voice remained calm, but both immediately stopped arguing.
Sofia awkwardly looked away while Damien sighed frustrated.
The tension disappeared almost instantly.
Later that afternoon, rain began pouring again as students prepared to leave campus early.
Seraphina stood beneath the academy entrance waiting for her driver when her phone suddenly buzzed.
Unknown Number.
" Some people should've stayed buried. "
Her stomach tightened slightly.
For the first time since the messages started-
the text actually scared her.
Before she could think about it longer, Damien suddenly walked beside her holding an umbrella.
"You shouldn't stand in the rain alone," he said casually.
Seraphina quickly locked her phone before smiling softly.
"Thanks."
Neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street watching the academy entrance.
Or the person inside quietly observing them through the rain-covered window.
- Writer
