Stella's POV
I was just about to step inside my dorm when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the message. The number was unknown.
Unknown Number: If you want to know, how about you come to the old storage room behind the gym.
I stared at the screen, my eyes widening. What really happened? What do this stupid message mean? And why send this to me?
I looked around, the campus was quiet and empty. It was late, and Zeus had just left after walking me back. I should go inside, lock my door, and forget about this weird message.
But curiosity was clawing at me, refusing to let go.
I thought about the music festival, the loud cheers, the excitement, and how Liam and his band had won that night. But I also remembered the rumors, the whispers about the scores being rigged. I’d never thought much about it, just silly gossip. But this message...
I took a deep breath, slightly as I typed back a response.
Me: Who is this?
Three dots appeared, then disappeared. They were typing but stopped. I waited, my heart pounding, but no reply came.
I looked back at the dorm entrance. I should go inside, sleep, and forget about it. But my feet were already moving in the direction of the gym, my mind racing with questions I couldn’t ignore.
The night air was cold as I made my way across campus, the shadows stretching long and eerie under the dim lights. My heart thudded in my chest as I neared the old storage room behind the gym. No one ever went there anymore. It was mostly used for broken equipment and junk that no one wanted to throw away.
The door was slightly ajar, a faint light flickering from inside. I hesitated, glancing around to see if anyone was watching me. But the campus was empty, silent.
I pushed the door open, and it creaked loudly, echoing in the dark. The room was dusty, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. A small desk lamp was the only light, flickering over a table covered in papers.
I stepped closer, my eyes widening as I recognized the papers scattered across the table.
They were score sheets from the music festival.
I picked one up, my hands shaking as I scanned the names. It listed all the bands that performed, including Liam’s band. But the scores... something was wrong.
Liam’s band had scored lower than I remembered. Much lower. But they won. How?
I picked up another sheet. This one showed the judges' individual scores, handwritten and signed. But there were corrections, crossed-out numbers, and new ones scribbled on top.
My stomach tightened as I realized what I was looking at. Someone had changed the scores. They rigged the contest.
I kept flipping through the sheets, my heart racing. Every record showed the same thing—Liam’s band wasn’t supposed to win. Someone made sure they did.
But who? And why?
I searched through the pile, looking for more clues, more names, but there was nothing. The sheets were anonymous, no signatures, no indication of who was behind this. Just altered numbers and scribbled corrections.
I was so focused on the papers that I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me.
A shadow loomed over me, and I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. But there was no one there. Just the dim light flickering on the walls, making the shadows dance.
I turned back to the papers, shoving a few into my bag. I needed proof. If this was real, if someone actually cheated the contest, people had to know.
But as I grabbed the last sheet, my phone buzzed again. I fumbled to pull it out, my fingers cold and clumsy. It was another message but what is strange is it is not from the unknown number I just recieved earlier. What the hell?
Unknown Number: Curiosity kills, Stella. Be careful what you dig up.
A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I looked around again, my heart pounding. I was being watched. Someone was here, hiding in the shadows.
I backed away, my legs trembling as I reached the door. I glanced back at the table, the papers scattered across it, proof of the rigged scores.
But no clues about who was behind it.
I ran out of the room, my chest tightening as I sprinted across campus back to my dorm. My mind was swirling with questions, my heart racing with fear.
Who changed the scores? Why rig the contest? And why warn me to stay away?
The shadows felt closer, darker, like they were following me. And I knew one thing for sure—whoever did this didn’t want me to find out.
But I already had. And now, there was no going back.
-------
I stumbled into the dorm room, slamming the door behind me as I leaned against it, gasping for air. My chest was tight, my heart still racing from the sprint across campus. Sweat trickled down my face, and my legs felt like they were about to give out.
"Whoa, who the hell chased you, a rabid dog?" Mia’s voice cut through my panic. She was standing by the mirror, patting her face with some sort of pink serum. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she wore a fluffy headband with cat ears. She looked at me through the mirror, one eyebrow raised.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat was dry, and my mind was spinning, replaying that message over and over again.
Curiosity kills, Stella. Be careful what you dig up.
I shook my head, trying to push the words out of my mind. I was safe. I was back in the dorm. Nothing could hurt me here.
Mia turned around, hands on her hips. “Seriously, what happened to you? Did you run a marathon or something?”
I tried to laugh, but it came out as a shaky breath. “Yeah... something like that.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“Or committed a crime,” Harper added from the couch. She was lounging with her legs propped up on the coffee table, her face covered in a bright green mask that made her look like a swamp monster. Her eyes were glued to the laptop screen as some action movie played. “If you did, just tell me now so I can come up with a good alibi.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to act normal. “You’re so dramatic.”
“Says the girl who looks like she’s about to collapse.” Harper didn’t even look away from the screen as she said it. “If you’re gonna pass out, do it somewhere that’s easy to clean.”
Mia sighed, grabbing a towel and tossing it to me. “You’re all sweaty. Gross. Take this before you drip all over the floor.”
“Thanks.” I wiped my face, my hands still trembling.
Mia watched me carefully, her sarcasm fading. “Seriously, Stell, are you okay? You look... I don’t know, freaked out.”
I forced a smile, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. “I’m fine. Just... ran a little too fast.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” Mia crossed her arms. “You suck at lying, you know that?”
“Leave her alone, Mia,” Harper called from the couch. “If she’s hiding something, she’ll crack eventually. She’s not exactly the queen of secrets.”
I shot Harper a glare. “I don’t have any secrets.”
Harper looked up from her laptop, her eyes peeking through the green mask. “Sure you don’t. And I’m the president of this school.”
Mia burst out laughing. “I’d love to see that. ‘President Harper,’ can you imagine? You’d burn this place down in a day.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’d be the best president.” Harper grinned, leaning back with her hands behind her head. “I’d let everyone do whatever they want. No rules. Just chaos.”
“You already do that,” I muttered, finally pushing myself off the door. My legs were still wobbly, but I managed to stay upright. “And no one wants more chaos from you.”
“You sound just like my parents,” Harper said with a dramatic sigh. “It’s almost like you care.”
I scoffed, trying to sound normal. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Mia looked between us, shaking her head. “You two never stop, do you?”
“Nope,” Harper and I said at the same time, then glared at each other.
Mia rolled her eyes. “You’re both idiots.” She turned back to the mirror, dabbing more serum on her face. “By the way, you missed out on movie night. Zeus hung around for a while, but then he left. Said he was walking you back. What, did you two get lost or something?”
My heart skipped a beat. I’d almost forgotten about Zeus. About the movie. About everything that happened before I got that text.
I hesitated, not sure how to answer. “Yeah... he walked me back. Then he left.”
Mia watched me through the mirror. “So why do you look like you ran from a murderer?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. I didn’t know how to explain it. The papers, the scores, the message... it was all tangled up in my head, too messy to make sense of.
“I... I don’t know. Just... got spooked, I guess.” I forced a laugh, but it sounded fake even to me.
Mia turned around, her eyes serious now. “Stella, what’s going on?”
My heart pounded, and I could feel the panic rising again. I couldn’t tell them. Not yet. I didn’t even understand it myself.
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing another smile. “Really. I just need a shower. I feel gross.”
Mia frowned. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Just... tired, I guess.”
Harper shrugged, her attention back on the movie. “Whatever. If you faint, I’m not catching you.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling a tiny bit of relief at her usual sarcasm. “I’ll make sure to aim for you if I do.”
Harper smirked. “I dare you.”
Mia sighed, rubbing her temples. “Can you two stop? My head hurts just listening to you.”
I managed a laugh, feeling a little more like myself. “Okay, okay. I’m gonna shower.”
I headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me as I leaned against it, my heart racing again.
The smile fell from my face, replaced by the fear that I’d been hiding since I opened that message.
Whoever sent that text knew something. And they were warning me to stay away.
But from what? The rigged scores? The band contest?
And who were they protecting?
I turned on the shower, the water rushing loudly as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes wide and scared.
I’d stumbled onto something I wasn’t supposed to see. And now, someone was watching me.
Someone who wanted me to stop digging.
I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me, trying to calm my racing heart. But the fear wouldn’t go away.