Chapter 3: The shadow of doubt

Rita woke the next morning feeling more tired than rested. She'd dreamed of glittering crowns and cheering crowds, but also of half-formed shadows that whispered warnings she couldn't understand. Shaking off the lingering unease, she headed for the kitchen, where the smell of freshly brewed cocoa greeted her.

"Morning, Rita," her mother said gently, setting a steaming mug on the table. "You're up early."

Rita managed a small smile. "Couldn't sleep much." She sank into a chair, the warmth of the cocoa soothing her nerves. "Any mail for me?"

Her father, flipping through a small stack of envelopes, shook his head. "Not today. But I'm sure you'll hear something soon."

Rita nodded. Deep down, she hoped for another message from Sunshine Pageantry. Yet a part of her dreaded what it might say.

That afternoon, she met her friends—Pamela, Faith, and Deborah in the school courtyard. The sun shone brightly, but a restless wind tugged at their uniforms.

"Any updates from the pageant?" Faith asked, trying to sound casual but betraying a hint of curiosity.

Rita shrugged. "They want me to send more details, like my measurements and a brief bio." She hesitated. "But I keep hearing weird rumors online—like people paying more than they expected. Or contestants getting locked out of the competition if they question something."

Pamela frowned. "That doesn't sound good, Rita. Maybe it's just gossip, but you should be careful."

Deborah crossed her arms. "Have you asked the organizers about it?"

Rita shook her head. "I…didn't want to seem suspicious. I'm still new, and I don't want to mess up my chances."

A thoughtful silence settled over them. Finally, Faith spoke up. "Maybe do some research, see what other people are saying. If anything feels off, trust your instincts."

Rita nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety twist in her stomach.

Encountering Rumors

Later that evening, after homework, Rita opened her laptop and typed in "Sunshine Pageantry complaints" into a search bar. She expected to find the usual handful of disgruntled posts—no competition ever pleased everyone. But what she found made her heart pound.A small forum thread caught her eye:"I paid the registration fee, but they asked for even more money. Now they won't answer my emails. Is this a scam?

"My cousin participated last year. She never got the prize they promised. They kept delaying announcements, then blocked her.

Rita's chest tightened. Could these be isolated incidents? Or were these the first real red flags?

A Confession to Kwame

Unable to keep her worries to herself, Rita peeked into Kwame's room. He was sprawled on his bed, phone in hand, eyes glued to a video game.

"Hey, little bro."

He paused the game. "You never come in here. What's up?

Rita hesitated, then sank onto the edge of his bed. "I found some negative stuff online about Sunshine Pageantry. People saying it's a scam. I don't know if it's true."

Kwame shrugged. "I told you to be careful. Did you already send them money?"

Rita nodded, staring at her hands. "Yes, GHC 500.

He whistled softly. "That's a lot. You gonna ask for a refund?"

"I don't know. What if it's still real? What if these people online are just exaggerating? I don't want to miss my chance."

Kwame patted her shoulder awkwardly. "Look, I tease you, but I don't want you to get hurt. Maybe talk to Mom and Dad again?"

Rita swallowed hard. "I will

if things get worse." She forced a small smile. "Thanks, Kwame.

Mixed Message

The next morning, Rita woke to a bright, chirping alert on her phone. A new message from Sunshine Pageantry:

"Dear Rita,

Thank you for submitting your intro video! We absolutely love your energy. Please complete the next step by sending a short talent showcase video. We'll be announcing finalists soon!

- Sunshine Pageantry Team"

Her heart soared. The words "we absolutely love your energy" were exactly the encouragement she needed. And yet, she couldn't forget the warning posts she'd read the night before.

Gathering her nerves, she decided to message them back: "Thank you so much for the opportunity. Can you clarify the total fees? I've seen different amounts online and want to be sure.

She hit send, half-expecting a quick reassurance. But no reply came that day or the next.

A Quiet Afternoon

Two days later, Rita found herself in the school library, trying to focus on her assignments. The quiet hum of the ceiling fans did little to settle her nerves. Every so often, she glanced at her phone, hoping for a response that never arrived.

Eventually, Pamela appeared at her table, her eyes kind but concerned. "Any news?"

Rita shook her head. "Nothing. I even checked my spam folder."

Pamela bit her lip. "Could just be a delay. But you might want to think about a backup plan. In case this goes sideways."

A heavy sigh escaped Rita. "Yeah. I guess so." Yet she couldn't help the ache of disappointment. The dream that had once felt so bright now carried a faint edge of dread

A Growing Uncertainty

That night, Rita lay in bed, her phone resting on the nightstand. The city lights glowed beyond her curtains. She thought of her family's cautions, her friends' worries, and the ominous forum posts she'd read.

She remembered the initial excitement—how Sunshine Pageantry had seemed like a golden ticket to stardom. Now, all she felt was a gnawing uncertainty. If the pageant was real, why wouldn't they answer such a simple question about fees?

Staring at the ceiling, she whispered to herself, "I just want the truth."

For the first time since she'd discovered Sunshine Pageantry, doubt outweighed her excitement. Yet she resolved to find out—one way or another—what lay behind the glittering promises.