Chapter 9 - The Perfect Witness
489 Words
By the end of the week, Ravenwood Academy no longer felt safe.
Students jumped whenever their phones buzzed. Parents waited outside campus gates longer than usual. Teachers whispered behind closed office doors.
And everywhere-
people talked about the murders.
The Ravenwood Confession Page had completely exploded overnight.
Adrian Monteverde definitely killed Celestine.
Rafael disappeared because he knows the truth.
Somebody else is helping the killer.
Rumors spread through the academy faster than classes could start.
Even teachers looked nervous now.
Inside literature class, Professor Amelia Cortez tried continuing lessons normally while rain hit the classroom windows softly.
"Nobody submits their essays late," she said firmly while writing on the board.
But nobody was paying attention.
Not when two seats inside the classroom were now empty.
Celestine's.
And Rafael's.
Damien sat beside Seraphina quietly staring toward Rafael's desk.
"You think he's alive?" he asked softly.
Seraphina looked down at her notebook before answering.
"I don't know."
"He wouldn't just disappear."
Before she could respond, Sofia Ramirez suddenly rushed into the classroom late holding her phone tightly.
"You guys-"
Professor Cortez immediately frowned.
"Miss Ramirez, you're interrupting class."
Sofia looked pale.
"They found another body."
The entire classroom went silent.
Nobody moved.
"Nurse Beatriz found him this morning near the parking building," Sofia continued nervously.
"Found who?" Damien asked.
Sofia swallowed hard.
"Mr. Villanueva."
A shocked murmur spread across the room instantly.
Mr. Hector Villanueva.
Ravenwood Academy's security supervisor.
The same man reviewing surveillance footage from prom night.
"How did he die?" someone whispered.
Sofia lowered her voice.
"They said he fell down the stairs."
But nobody looked convinced.
Not anymore.
After class dismissal, students flooded the hallways talking loudly while police officers moved through the academy again.
Another death.
Another investigation.
Another reason for Ravenwood to panic.
Near the courtyard, Damien caught up to Adrian while reporters crowded outside the gates.
"You okay?"
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"Does it look like I'm okay?"
Students nearby immediately looked away pretending not to listen.
"I swear people already think I'm guilty," Adrian muttered.
"They're scared," Damien replied.
"They want someone to blame."
A few steps away, Seraphina quietly stood near the academy gardens watching rainwater drip from the fountain edges.
Her phone rested loosely in her hand while conversations echoed around campus.
For a brief moment, she noticed something dark near the sleeve of her uniform.
A small stain.
Probably ink.
Without thinking much about it, she rubbed it away before slipping her phone back into her pocket.
Then she looked up and smiled softly as Damien walked toward her.
Everything about her still looked completely innocent.
That night, the Ravenwood Confession Page posted anonymously again.
" First came fear. Then came blood. Who's next? "
The post spread across the academy within minutes.
Students stopped sleeping peacefully after that.
Because deep down-
everyone at Ravenwood Academy started realizing the same terrifying thing.
Celestine's murder wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
- Writer
