Chapter 13 - The Bracelet
531 Words
The photo spread across Ravenwood Academy before first period even started.
Students zoomed into screenshots during class. The Ravenwood Confession Page reposted it instantly. And suddenly-
everyone became obsessed with the silver bracelet found near Sofia's body.
Because people recognized it.
It belonged to Celestine.
"I'm telling you, that's her bracelet," Patricia Gomez whispered nervously near the lockers.
"She wore it all the time."
"But how did it end up backstage?" Noah asked quietly.
Nobody had an answer.
Rumors exploded immediately.
Maybe Celestine fought the killer before dying. Maybe the bracelet was planted. Maybe Sofia discovered something connected to prom night.
Every theory somehow made things worse.
Inside literature class, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual while rain tapped softly against the windows.
Even Professor Cortez looked distracted.
"No talking during lecture," she warned sharply after hearing whispers spread again.
Nobody listened.
At the back of the room, Damien quietly leaned toward Seraphina.
"You saw the bracelet too, right?"
Seraphina nodded slowly.
"It definitely looked like hers."
Damien frowned.
"But why would it still be backstage after all this time?"
Before Seraphina could answer, Adrian suddenly spoke from across the classroom.
"Maybe because police missed it."
His voice sounded colder lately.
Tired.
Like he hadn't properly slept since prom night.
And honestly-
he probably hadn't.
During lunch, students crowded around the cafeteria televisions watching another news report about the investigation.
Reporters called Ravenwood Academy: "The school of secrets."
Parents online demanded the academy shut down temporarily.
But Principal Villareal refused.
"Canceling classes would only spread more panic," he announced publicly.
Unfortunately-
panic had already spread.
Near the cafeteria windows, Damien sat across from Seraphina while scrolling through comments online.
"People seriously think there's a serial killer at school now."
Seraphina looked down at her untouched lunch quietly.
"Maybe people just need someone to blame."
Damien sighed.
"At this point everyone's blaming everyone."
Before either of them could continue talking, Noah Valencia suddenly approached their table looking uneasy.
"You guys heard about Patricia?"
Seraphina looked up slightly.
"What about her?"
Noah lowered his voice immediately.
"One of the janitors said she was backstage during prom night."
Damien frowned.
"Why would she be backstage?"
"She's in theater arts," Noah replied. "Apparently she helped with decorations before the blackout."
That single sentence spread through lunch faster than wildfire.
Within minutes, students were already whispering Patricia's name.
"She was backstage?"
"What if she saw something?"
"What if she's hiding something?"
Across the cafeteria, Patricia immediately noticed people staring at her differently.
Fear crossed her face instantly.
"I didn't do anything," she whispered to nobody in particular.
But nobody at Ravenwood trusted innocence anymore.
Especially not after three deaths.
That evening, heavy rain covered the academy windows while students hurried home before dark.
Inside the theater hallway, Patricia quickly shoved books into her bag while glancing nervously around.
Every sound made her jump now.
Every whisper felt directed at her.
As she turned the corner near backstage storage room B-
she suddenly froze.
A black masquerade mask rested on the floor beside the wall.
The same kind used during prom night.
And taped across it-
was a small handwritten note.
" Stop looking for answers. "
- Writer
