Chapter 10 - Shadows Between Us
527 Words
The following Monday, Ravenwood Academy reopened under tighter security.
Police officers stood near the academy gates. Bag inspections happened before classes. Parents complained online about student safety.
But nobody transferred.
Nobody left.
Because deep down, everyone wanted to know the truth.
Or maybe-
they just wanted to watch what happened next.
Rain clouds still covered Valencia City as students slowly filled the hallways that morning.
The atmosphere felt quieter now.
More careful.
Even the Ravenwood Confession Page had become darker overnight.
" The killer is still inside Ravenwood. "
" Watch your friends carefully. "
" Nobody is innocent."
Damien closed his phone with a frustrated sigh while leaning against his locker.
"People are seriously losing their minds."
"Can you blame them?" Adrian replied coldly.
It was Adrian's first day back at school since prom night.
And everyone noticed.
Students stared openly as he walked through the hallway. Some whispered his name immediately. Others moved out of his way completely.
Like he was dangerous.
Adrian noticed every single look.
"I swear if one more person stares at me like I'm holding a knife-"
"You probably shouldn't say that out loud," Damien interrupted quickly.
Adrian rolled his eyes.
A few lockers away, Seraphina quietly organized books inside her bag while listening to their conversation.
"You okay?" Damien asked her gently.
She nodded with a small smile.
"Just tired."
"You barely slept, huh?"
"None of us did."
That part was true.
For the first time in years, Ravenwood Academy felt afraid after dark.
As students headed toward first period, Sofia Ramirez suddenly rushed down the hallway holding printed papers.
"You guys need to see this."
Damien frowned. "What now?"
Sofia handed him a copy quickly.
It was a printed photo from one of the ballroom security cameras.
Blurry. Dark. Distorted from the blackout.
But visible enough to show one thing clearly.
A figure standing near backstage moments before Celestine died.
Adrian's expression hardened immediately.
"You've gotta be kidding me."
The figure's height and build looked similar to his.
Not exact.
But close enough.
"That's not proof," Damien argued instantly.
"I know," Sofia replied quietly. "But people are already sharing it."
Students nearby had already started whispering again.
Adrian grabbed the paper angrily before crumpling it in his hand.
"This whole school wants me guilty so badly."
Seraphina carefully took the wrinkled photo from him.
For a brief second, her eyes paused on the blurry figure.
Then calmly-
she folded the paper neatly.
"It's too unclear to prove anything," she said softly.
Damien nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
The conversation ended there when Professor Cortez suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.
"All students inside your classrooms. Now."
Everyone quickly scattered.
As Seraphina turned to leave, something small slipped from her notebook onto the floor without her noticing.
A black masquerade ribbon.
Damien picked it up quickly.
"You dropped this."
Seraphina looked down before smiling softly.
"Oh. Thanks."
"It looks familiar."
"It came with my prom mask," she explained casually while taking it back.
Then she walked away toward class.
Damien watched her disappear down the hallway before shaking the strange feeling from his head.
Probably nothing.
Just a ribbon.
Right?
- Writer
