The next day, Westbridge High buzzed with a darker energy, the fallout from the play and Cassian’s public humiliation fueling whispers and schemes. Brielle, emboldened by Cassian’s agreement, decided it was time to end Elara once and for all. She gathered Zara and Chloe in the girls’ bathroom during lunch, her voice cold as she laid out her plan. “We lock her in, destroy her stuff, make her regret ever crossing me,” she said, her blue eyes glinting with malice. They slipped a mild sedative into Elara’s water bottle during gym class, knowing she’d drink it after running laps, her guard down in the chaos of the day.
Elara, still reeling from the play, the confrontation, and Cassian’s words, felt the dizziness hit as she entered the bathroom to wash up. The door clicked shut behind her, lock
