"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming."
— Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

----

Maya stared in the mirror as the hairstylist finished arranging the last few curls. The mirror’s light bounced off her, and for a second, she let herself enjoy the transformation. Her dress hung nearby, a soft, shimmering blue that sparkled under the light, catching her eye and hinting at the excitement that lay ahead.

As if on cue, her sister Kylie strolled in, an amused grin on her face. “Okay, Queen Charlotte,” she teased, taking in Maya's reflection with a dramatic bow. “Who knew you had this level of fabulosity?”

"I mean, Farmer George would instantly run mad if he saw you," Kylie chuckled. "He wouldn’t need that doctor to make him mad."

Maya laughed, rolling her eyes, brushing off the compliment, though a thrill rose at her sister’s reaction. “Wait till you see the dress,” she replied with a smirk. “You look fabulous yourself, by the way. Done with your hair already?”

“Already,” Kylie said, lifting a section of perfectly sleek hair. She wore a deep green satin dress that hugged her curves, a look that was equal parts elegance and edge. “But unlike you, I don’t have a whole glam team here at my service.”

Their butler, Thompson, appeared at the doorway, her presence warm and reassuring as always. “Girls, don’t forget to be down by eight. And Maya, the car will be here soon, so please — no last-minute changes.”

“James, we’re not twelve,” Kylie shot back, though her eyes softened. “But duly noted.” He chuckled and left the room.

Their mom, Clara, walked in, holding a little velvet jewelry box. She raised an eyebrow at the playful back-and-forth between her daughters. “Girls, save the teasing for later. Maya, this is for you,” she said, holding out the box with a soft smile.

Maya opened it to find delicate diamond drop earrings that glimmered under the light. “Mom… they’re beautiful.” Her heart tugged, seeing the quiet pride in her mom’s expression.

“You look beautiful,” Clara said, brushing a stray curl from Maya’s forehead. “But don’t spend all night by the mirror, or you’ll miss your own dance.”

Across the room, Mila and Jake hovered just outside the door, wide-eyed as they watched their older sisters getting ready. Ethan, hands stuffed in his pockets, looked particularly unimpressed.

“You look like you’re about to be in a movie,” Mila declared, stepping in for a closer look.

Maya knelt down, tapping her little sister’s nose. “When you’re my age, you’ll be going to dances, too.”

Kylie smiled at her. “And you’ll look even better at your own dance.”

Mila’s face lit up. “Can you do my hair like this then?”

Clara chuckled, ruffling Mila’s hair. “By then, Mila, you’ll be asking for styles I won’t even know about.”

Jake, standing with his hands tucked in his pockets, shrugged. “It’s alright. You look good, I guess.” But his nonchalant expression faltered as he shot her an almost shy grin.

“Thanks, Jake,” Maya said, smirking as he tried to pretend he didn’t care.

“Girls, we need to get moving!” Clara reminded. “Your car is waiting outside.”

Finally, as they descended the stairs, Maya felt her nerves spark again. She couldn’t help but worry. She had been so paranoid, but to be honest, the dance had helped her calm down a little.

Just a little.

When they climbed into the sleek black car waiting outside, Maya and Kylie slid into the backseat, both admiring the city lights as they sped toward the venue. The dance was held at Riverside Hall, a grand space with tall, arched windows that let in the moonlight, casting a soft glow across the gardens outside. Inside, chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the hall was decorated with elegant drapes and bursts of florals, transforming it into a scene straight out of a movie.

As they rode, Maya couldn’t shake a prickling sense of foreboding. Kylie was chatting about something funny that happened last week, but Maya found herself only half-listening, her mind wandering to the cryptic texts she’d been receiving, trying to connect the dots. Was it the same person who appeared to her at the mall? Or the one she’d seen from her window?

Gosh, her head was in a spiral.

She remembered the letter. They’d warned her about today.

"You're getting closer, but time is running out. The dance will bring more than celebration—prepare yourself."

That’s what was written. Would something happen today?

Kylie leaned over, pulling up a playlist on her phone. “Alright, what are we feeling — classics or full pop vibes?”

“Pop all the way,” Maya laughed, glancing at her phone. But her gaze lingered as a familiar number popped up on her screen—a number she’d been seeing far too often, sending messages she couldn’t quite decipher. She quickly put the phone away, deciding to keep the cryptic texts out of her mind. Tonight was supposed to be a happy night.

A very happy night. She was going to try to enjoy it.

Kylie didn’t miss the small frown that passed over her face. “Hey, earth to Maya? You good?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” She forced a grin, nudging her sister. “Just thinking about the big moment. You know, queen coronation and all.”

Kylie snorted. “Whoever wins queen, I’m definitely telling her to use her powers to change the school colors. Those ugly uniforms need to go.”

They both dissolved into laughter, and for a moment, Maya relaxed, letting herself enjoy the easy chatter.

Everyone was trying to move forward from everything that had happened recently. After all, tonight was the dance.

But she was still worried. What if something did happen today? After all, Tessa had just gone missing, and she’d been getting all these texts.

If she was next, it would be today, right?

She kept her phone close, her eyes flickering to the screen occasionally, almost expecting another message. But none came. Instead, her mind circled back to the feeling that tonight was more than just a dance.

Definitely more than just a dance.

The venue was decked out in sparkling lights and elaborate floral arrangements, a scene that felt almost too perfect for a high school dance. Still, this was Riverside, and they always went all out. Inside, Maya spotted her friends almost immediately—Ava, Jayda, Layla, and Eleanor were gathered near the entrance, all looking as glamorous and thrilled as she felt. Ava wore a bold red gown with a thigh-high slit, Layla shimmered in emerald green sequins, Eleanor in deep purple velvet, and Jayda in classic black with a sheer overlay.

As Maya stepped out of the car, her friends ran up, gasping and complimenting each other on their outfits. They exchanged hugs and playful compliments.

“You’re stunning, Maya!” Layla squealed, hugging her. “But that’s no surprise.”

“And the hair?” Maya did a little twirl, letting her friends admire her look.

Eleanor crossed her arms, playfully pouting. “Ugh, you’re making the rest of us look basic. Who let you come looking this good?”

Maya laughed, nudging her. “Blame my stylist.”

Ava looked a little more radiant than usual. “Tonight’s the night,” she grinned. “Might as well start practicing the queen wave.” She started doing the queen’s wave to everyone passing.

“Are you actually doing that, Ava?” Layla chuckled as people passing by smiled at them.

“Why not?” Ava pouted, continuing.

“I’m starting to consider why I call you guys my friends,” Jayda added, and the girls laughed.

“Because you have no one better, duh,” Ava rolled her eyes.

Ava flashed a smile as she scanned the crowd, leaning in. “Anyway, wish me luck. I’m in full queen mode tonight.” Her excitement was contagious, and Maya couldn’t help but get swept up in it.

“Good luck, Queen Ava,” Eleanor said, and Ava responded with a confident little wave.

But just as the laughter bubbled up, Maya noticed a strange van parked a little too close to the venue, with a logo painted on its side. Something about it seemed off.

What would a van with that logo be doing here? She’d seen it before. It was so familiar. Too familiar.

She brushed it off. It was probably the catering service. Maya, calm down, she told herself.

Before she could linger on it, her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see an unfamiliar message.

“Stay inside. Don’t look outside.”

A chill ran down her spine, and she tucked her phone back into her purse, deciding to keep this one quiet—for now.

As they moved deeper into the dance, music thumped around them, and Maya found herself dancing, laughing, and losing herself in the energy of the room. But a shadow kept tugging at the edge of her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching her.

Then she spotted it. The same black van, now parked closer to the rear entrance. Her mind raced, but she kept her face neutral, not wanting to alarm anyone. She tried to focus on her friends, on the warmth of the dance floor, on Ava’s excitement as the announcement for the queen came up.

But in that split second, as the announcement for the queen came up, Maya’s focus slipped. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the back entrance, where the black van was now idling in a dimly lit spot. The door creaked open, and a tall figure in a hoodie stepped out, glancing around as if searching for something—or someone.

"Are you okay, Maya?" Layla's voice cut through her trance, and she forced a smile, nodding quickly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous," Maya lied, her voice lighter than she felt.

The principal's voice echoed through the hall, calling for attention as the lights dimmed slightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here tonight. It’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for—the announcement of this year’s dance queen and king!"

Ava bounced on her heels, practically vibrating with excitement as she squeezed Maya’s arm. “If I win, we’re throwing a huge after-party at my place. Everyone’s invited!”

The crowd quieted as the principal cleared his throat, pulling out a gold envelope with a dramatic flair. “This year’s queen, as chosen by all of you… is Ava Lawson!”

The room erupted into cheers as Ava covered her mouth in delighted shock. She hugged her friends, tears of joy glistening in her eyes. “I can’t believe it!” She rushed forward to accept her crown, waving graciously to the crowd.

As Ava made her way to the stage, Maya clapped along with everyone else, doing her best to stay focused on her friend’s big moment. But her gaze kept darting toward the back of the room, where the figure was no longer standing by the van. Panic fluttered in her chest. Where had they gone?

A hand gently touched her shoulder, and Maya flinched, spinning around to find Kylie looking at her with a puzzled frown. “Maya, you’re so jumpy tonight. Are you sure everything’s alright?”

Maya hesitated, opening her mouth to confide in her sister when her phone buzzed again. She glanced down to read the message: “Find the queen’s crown. It’s in danger.”

What was this? Did they think she was Sherlock Holmes?

Her heart raced as she reread the words, trying to make sense of them. “Find the queen’s crown?" What did that even mean? And who was sending these messages?

Layla’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “Maya, seriously. What’s going on?”

Maya met her friend's eyes, debating whether to tell her the truth. But before she could decide, a sudden crash from the back of the room drew everyone’s attention. A hush fell over the crowd as heads turned, whispers breaking out. Maya’s eyes darted to the commotion, where two security guards appeared to be struggling with a figure dressed in black—hood pulled low over their face, trying to push past them.

The figure broke free, darting through the crowd. Maya’s pulse quickened as she saw them make a beeline toward the stage where Ava was standing, crown glittering on her head, still lost in her own celebration.

Without thinking, Maya grabbed Kylie’s hand and sprinted toward the stage. She didn’t know who the intruder was or why they were targeting Ava, but she couldn’t let anything happen to her friend.

The figure jumped onto the stage, reaching toward Ava’s crown with one swift, determined motion. But Maya was faster. She charged forward, tackling the intruder just as their hand grazed the glittering crown. The two of them tumbled to the ground, and Maya scrambled to her feet, throwing herself protectively in front of Ava.

Ava gasped, clutching the crown to her head. “Maya, what’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” Maya replied breathlessly, keeping her eyes locked on the intruder, who was now slowly getting back up, their face still obscured by the hood. “But I think it has something to do with this.”

Before she could say more, the figure lunged at them again. Maya braced herself, ready to defend her friend. But just as they reached her, a team of security guards swarmed the stage, grabbing hold of the intruder and pulling them back.

The room was buzzing with shocked murmurs as the guards led the figure away, their head still bowed, their identity hidden. Maya and Ava exchanged a stunned glance, their hearts racing in sync.

“Are you okay?” Maya asked, steadying her friend with a hand on her shoulder.

Ava nodded, looking a bit dazed. “I think so… but what was that about?”

Maya shook her head, a mixture of relief and confusion swirling within her. “I have no idea. But whoever they were… they really wanted that crown.”

The principal quickly stepped forward, addressing the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the disturbance. Everything is under control. Please enjoy the rest of your evening, and remember—tonight is a celebration.”

As the crowd slowly settled down, Maya felt her phone buzz once more. She glanced down to see another message: “You did well, but this isn’t over.”

A shiver ran down her spine as she pocketed her phone. She knew, deep down, that this night was only the beginning of something far bigger than she could have imagined. And whatever it was, it had only just begun.

Before she could recollect her thoughts her phone buzzed again.

“You shouldn't have gotten involved. It’s safer that way.”

Her heart raced as she turned away from the scene, determined to keep her friends safe by keeping her distance. But deep down, Maya knew that whatever was happening tonight was only the beginning.

She was lost in her thoughts, confused. That was all the messages right? What did they even mean? God. Her thoughts were invaded again by her phone buzzing again. It was another text.

Another one?

"Enjoy it why it lasts, remember I said you'd be alone. After all I warned you about the dance. It'll have been better if you hadn't come"

Her heart stopped.

----

And we have chapter 12! I wrote this on the plane tbh and I kind of enjoyed writing it!

And thanks sm for 600+ reads! Love you guys!

So what do you guys think? Let's here it in the comments!

Don't forget to vote and share to your friends!

Also add to your library!

See you guys soon

Muah💋!
~Rhoda