[EVE]
"Alright, that's enough," the President's sharp voice cut through the growing whispers, her tone brokering no argument.
She stepped forward, clapping her hands twice to get everyone's attention and dispel the tension hanging in the air.
"Let's not turn this rehearsal into a circus," she said, her eyes briefly flicking between Sophie and me before landing on Lily and her giggling group.
The laughter died down immediately, leaving only a murmur of awkward coughs.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her glasses before turning to me. "Eve, why don't you take a quick break? Actually, we need a fresh pair of glass slippers for Sophie—hers got damaged in the fall. Could you head to the storage room and fetch a new set?"
I hesitated for a second, feeling the eyes of the entire cast on me, some curious, others still wary. I knew it was her way of getting me out of the spotlight for a moment, giving everyone a chance to cool off.
"Sure," I muttered, nodding as I turned to leave.
As I walked toward the exit, I could hear the low buzz of voices behind me, the whispers barely hushed as people exchanged theories on what had just happened.
"Did she really push Sophie?"
"Maybe it was just a mistake, but still . . ."
"Who knows? I mean, Sophie did fall pretty hard . . ."
"Come on, guys, Riri has a point. Maybe she's just being a wimp?"
"Or maybe it really was a ghost that pushed her," someone else added with a laugh.
Ignoring the comments, I slipped out of the auditorium, the door swinging shut behind me with a quiet thud. It was a relief to step away, even if only for a few minutes.
I could still feel their stares on my back, but at least this gave me a moment to compose myself before returning to the stage again.
I made my way to the storage room behind the theater, but to my frustration, there were no spare props in sight. Sighing, I knew I had no choice but to head to the other storage building—a separate facility a few hundred meters away from the main theater.
The sky was darkening, thick clouds rolling in as the sound of distant thunder rumbled, announcing an impending storm.
The cold air bit through my clothes as I hurried across the field. The rain hadn't started yet, but the atmosphere was tense, like the world was holding its breath.
By the time I reached the second storage building, the first few drops began to fall. I slipped inside and flicked on the lights, casting a dim glow over the rows of shelves and lockers. I needed to be quick.
This storage building, like others on campus, was dedicated to specific activities—sports, theater, music, each having its own section. The organization was a godsend, and I immediately made my way to the section marked for the current production. The lockers were secured with a state-of-the-art system that required a student ID to access. I scanned mine, and with a beep, the locker for
Cinderella
props clicked open.
I retrieved the glass slippers, noting how the inventory system automatically logged the missing pair under my name. Just as I was about to leave, the door behind me slammed shut, and a sudden downpour began outside, the rain hammering against the roof.
"What the hell?" I muttered, spinning around. Enjoy new chapters from empire
I rushed to the door, but it wouldn't budge. It was locked from the outside. My pulse quickened. The automatic lock could be accessed by students during school hours, but the heavy barrel bolt on the exterior was only used when the storage wasn't in regular use—usually on weekends or holidays. That meant someone had intentionally locked me in.
"Perfect," I grumbled, glancing back at the dimly lit room. My phone and bag were still in the theater, and without them, I had no way of calling for help. I quickly scanned the room for another way out. The only window was a small one near the ceiling, far too high for me to reach.
Taking a deep breath, I sank down onto an old wooden crate, trying to make sense of what just happened. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this wasn't an accident. Someone had locked me in here on purpose.
But why? And who?
I smirked to myself, shaking my head. If this was someone's idea of a prank, they clearly hadn't thought it through. Cole would notice my absence soon enough. We had a set time to leave, and if I didn't show up, he'd send his hidden guards searching for me. His spies were everywhere, even when I wished they weren't.
I glanced at the ceiling, listening to the roar of the rain. The storm was in full swing now, and part of me was oddly relieved to be stuck here. It gave me an excuse to skip the rest of the rehearsal. I leaned back against the crate, allowing myself a rare moment of quiet contemplation.
With nothing but the sound of the rain and my own thoughts for company, I started to plan my next steps. I had several high-profile events coming up—parties, galas, charity auctions. My current wardrobe felt outdated. I'd worn most of my dresses at least once already, and in the world of high society, that was unacceptable. Wearing the same outfit twice could land you on the front page of gossip sites for all the wrong reasons.
I made a mental note to go shopping soon. It was time to update my collection, maybe donate the old ones. Despite the wastefulness, it felt better to pass them on rather than let them gather dust.
Just then, I heard a faint clink of metal. My eyes snapped toward the door, my heart beating faster. The sound of the bolt being lifted echoed in the quiet room, followed by the shuffle of feet outside.
The door creaked open slowly, light spilling into the dim storage room. I didn't even need to look up to know who it was.
A figure stepped into the doorway, casting a long shadow across the floor. It wasn't Cole, nor one of his bodyguards.
Instead, it was Daniel, drenched from head to toe, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
"Eve, are you alright?"