Chapter 5

It was night in Drevanmoor, and the field glowed under harsh floodlights, casting long shadows across the pitch. The seafall cheerleaders performed first, their red uniforms gleaming like fire against the dark. They danced with bright smiles and perfect rhythm, their voices ringing clear, the crowd applauded and cheered for them.

Then came the drevanmoor squad, dressed in midnight blue. Their routine was slower, sharper, and less showy, more edge. Face blank, movement precise, they didn't smile. They didn't need to. Their presence alone quieted the field. The crowd that was loud just a moment ago fell into an uneasy hush, watching unsure whether to clap or hold their breath. Every movement seemed to both dazzle and disturb. And then, Mindy stepped forward, Mindy was perfection with her long platinum blonde hair, her bright smile and piercing eyes seemed to sparkle with an inner light drawing attention wherever she went. She was confident and her popular status was evident In a way that she commanded the stage as a cheerleader. With a radiant complexion and a fit physique, Mindy was the epitome of beauty and had the whole school wrapped around her fingers.

Mindy stepped forward, Ruby, and the rest of the cheerleaders stood behind her. It was time for her solo. Her solo was fluid and haunting. One final spin, one sharp landing. No applause followed just breathless silence, then slowly the claps came not wild, not forced but genuine.

All this didn't excite Aurelia; she was sketching on her book with a short pencil. The game between drevanmoor and seafall was intense, with seafall players dominating the field in its early stages. They scored two goals, leaving Drevanmoor struggling to keep up. But as the game continued, Cole took center stage showcasing his impressive skills on the field, and he scored two crucial goals. The crowd erupted in cheers, with Layla screaming in excitement. Aurelia, despite her initial reluctance, found herself caught up in the thrill of the game. Kai, who arrived mid game, sat down next to Aurelia, exchanging a nod with her before turning his attention to the game. Aurelia barely acknowledged him.

The tension was concrete as both teams had scored two goals. The coach made a strategic move by adding Jaylen into the game. The crowd held its collective breath as Jaylen prepared to take a penalty kick. With precision and skill, Jaylen scored the winning goal, and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Aurelia's eyes widened in shock as she watched her brother bathe in the adoration of the crowd. Cole lifted Jaylen up, and the rest of the team swarmed around them, celebrating their victory. But as Jaylen's moment of triumph seemed to reach its peak, a sudden commotion caught everyone's attention.

A student stumbled upon a lifeless body inside the school, and her screams echoed through the hallway. Panic set in as she ran wildly desperate to escape the clutches of the unseen killer. A swift attack left her injured, but she managed to stumble onto the soccer field, where the students were still celebrating Jaylen's winning goal.

Her cry for help wasn't heard by the crowd, but as she collapsed onto the pitch, the crowd's attention shifted. The killer seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving behind a trail of confusion and fear. Moments later, another body dropped, and this time, the entire school witnessed the horror. Havoc broke out as students screamed and ran for their lives, the earlier celebration forgotten in the face of tragedy.

Earlier, Aurelia had excused herself to use the bathroom, missing the celebration and the chaos that followed. When she emerged form the school building, she was met with panicked students and screams. Before she could process what was happening, she was pushed, and multiple students stepped on her while trying to escape. Someone quickly pulled her up and it was Cole, who she followed immediately. "What's going on?" Aurelia asked, her voice shaking. "Someone got killed," Cole replied, his face girm.

Aurelia's eyes widened in horror. Where's Layla she asked, realizing she was leaving Layla behind. Cole grip on her tightened as she tried to break free. "We can't go back there," he warned. But Aurelia was determined she wrenched herself free and ran back into the chaotic crowd, Cole followed behind, trying to stop her. She passed Kai and Ruby, who were shaken but unharmed. Kai must have gotten Ruby to safety when the chaos started and left Layla behind. The thought of it made her stomach drop. When Aurelia got to the middle of the field, she found Layla standing, and for a moment, she felt relief washed over her. But then Layla's eyes went wide. She gasped and looked down at her stomach, and blood began to dribble from her abdomen, and Aurelia world froze. "Layla!" Aurelia screamed, her voice piercing the chaos. Layla's body began to crumple, and Aurelia rushed to her side. Before she could reach her, Layla's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.