Soon after, the song changed and we were ought to change our partners for the time-being. Austin twirled me around and I moved forward to a new partner. I hit someone's chest, but I could hear the stranger chuckle, "Much lost in head?"

The voice seemed familiar and  instinctively I lifted my eyes to see the person. He had one sort of a familiar heart-shaped face with peculiar  potruding eyes, which as well reminded me of another pair of little 6 year old eyes in flashback.  Casper.

"What're you staring at? Oh is it my hair?" he moved his hand  to run the fingers across his silvery quiff hair, "It's not messed up, yet. Right?"

Silence filled the air, and not a word escaped my lips as we continued swaying to the rhythm of the music. Meanwhile, my mind was preoccupied with the task of unraveling whose face he reminded me of.

He snapped his fingers and I quickly  tried to remember his question, "Uh n-no. Your  hair is quite fine." I managed to say.

He returned back the smile and we continued the promenade dance, but I couldn't let my eyesight go off his chestnut eyes.

"Comment tu t'appelle, belle?" he suddenly asked in French, which surprised me. As to being polite, I replied gravely, " Rebecca Lopez."

Once again he gave his meaningless yet sweet smile, as I asked more, "But how did you know I speak French?"

He slowly leaned towards my ear and whispered, "We'll meet soon, Reccy."

My rate of my heart slowly increased and my eyes widened to what he called me. Reccy? Well it was only one person or thing I say, that called me by that nickname. I parted my lips to ask his the most obvious question- about his identity. But for my dear fortune, I had to switch the partner for the song change as he pushed me to another guy's reach.

"Back to where we were, aren't we?"

I turned back only to see Austin holding my waist and smirking proudly. But at the moment, all I cared about was the camouboy and the silver-haired boy. I removed myself from his touch and looked around for him on the crowded dance floor. I could hear Austin call my name from behind in the commotion, but I got distracted as soon I caught that silver-haired young boy's eye.

Once our gazes locked, the pandemonium in the musical stage turned to a complete silence. He was smiling at me like usual, prior to the menacing look he gave later. He gritted his teeth and instantly a clangour of god knows what, made me go deaf as a post. I raised both of my hands to press my ear, praying for the siren noise to go away. I squeezed my eyes, and it turned out to be a plus point for him to get away from my sight. It worsened and the painful feeling increased, making my knees drop down to the ground.

After a while of agony, someone placed his hand on my shoulder and instantly I reacted standing up to face the person. Soon enough, I was able to hear the normal background noise.

Without knowing who stood before me, I instinctively enveloped him in a tight embrace, seeking solace in the midst of my confusion. I had never experienced such a mix of emotions before. The intensity of his gaze, with its unsettling intensity, left me trembling with fear. Yet amidst the chaos, his embrace, which seemed both powerful and comforting, provided a sense of stability that allowed me to regain my composure. It was only then that I realized it was Austin, of all people.

"Woah girl. Didn't expect you to throw yourself at me so easily, but however I can say I'm glad."

I immediately got away from his touch, took a few steps back and had a  downward gaze in self shame. What had I done?

"I didn't mean to do that."

"Of course."

The recent events weighed heavily on my heart, filling me with a deep sense of despair. As if that wasn't enough, Austin's actions added to my frustration, pushing me into a state of intense frustration and agitation , "Just leave me alone! If I said I didn't mean it, means I didn't! Just believe me, or leave , you lousy insolent goofus!"

I furiously left the hall and went to search for Clay, to tell him everything. I really needed someone to share these with.

"Clayton!" I yelled as I trudged throughout the whole prom hall, with Austin chasing me.

"Rebecca, what are you doing?" He shouted from behind.

"I can't find Clay."

"I hope Clay is doing okay," he said, matching his pace with mine as he noticed me slowing down.

"Oh please, as if you care." I replied.

"What did I do this time? Quit bullying me!" he retorted with a playful frown, trying to inject humor into the situation. But his attempt didn't succeed in eliciting a laugh from me.

Ignoring his vexatious presence, I searched through every possible rooms.

"Why are you so tensed? Your dear boyfriend  would be  wandering_"

"He does not leave anywhere without letting me know, especially between this huge bunch of walls!"

"Oh ok, chill." He said while putting his hands in the air.

"Let's check the garth."  He broke out, again.
Roling my eyes, I agreed.

As we entered the garden area, for a brief moment, my attention was solely captivated by the magnificent evening view.: the translucent water of the glamourous piled fountain bottom, was glistening to the wintry dark night's tiny lights. Along with that stood historical statues and verdant bluish bushes beside;
It felt like a scene straight out of "Cinderella" with the prince in the garden. Well, almost. Definitely not with Austin, that's for sure. I despised him, as well as anyone who betrayed and played others like he did.

As we began to trudge around the garden hall, someone...something stuttured my name repeatedly and my knees began to shake, "Did you just call me?" I asked Austin.

"I always do my queen." He jeered.

"Its goddamn  serious !"

Rolling my eyes, I slowly went towards the dark bush where the sound was coming from. I swarmed through the bushes by moving the pricking leaves with my struggling hands. Was there some Narnia behind these bushes?

But worst serves me more.

While walking past the bushes, a chilling sight caught my attention—a crimson liquid seeping from the ground. My heart skipped a beat. To my horror, I discovered a lifeless body sprawled on the ground, clad in a distinctive Prussian dark suit that unmistakably identified the victim as a fellow student from our school. And as far as I remember, there was only one person whom I knew with that. No, no way.

"Oh no Clay?! Austin! No!" My only reaction was to let out a piercing shriek, unable to contain my fear and revulsion. I frantically tried to turn away, not wanting to see any more blood. I had already witnessed enough, and the sight had left me feeling weak and drained.

I searched for the head, hidden beneath a layer of blue-green leaves. Carefully, I reached out to remove the foliage, hoping to uncover the face beneath. However, my attempt took a horrifying turn. As the leaves were pulled away, I was confronted with a ghastly sight that I couldn't bear to fully see.

"Aaaaaaaaaahhh, Austin!"

Curses.

The head had been brutally decapitated, its severed neck spewing crimson blood, almost revealing the gruesome muscles beneath. It was a repulsive and gruesome sight that made my stomach churn.

"Oh my god Rebecca!" Austin came hastening from behind, and stood dead after seeing the beheaded murdered body.

As I stared at the body, all of my pretty moments with Clay created a movie.

I fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as my great tremor poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears.

"Rebecca, are you alri_ I mean who is thi-this?"

"Clay-Clayton. He wore this same cloth. Its_" I could not complete, I was lost in crying my eyes out.

"Oh no no! Clay ? No, no! He _" surprisingly his knees plummeted to the ground with a horrified look, "I'm so sorry Clay....I should have_"

"He is back, it is back. " I widened my eyes, listening to my own words .

"You mean, that mysterious murderer in-in New Cas-Castle? Here?"

"Yes." I wiped my tears off, "We need to warn them."

"Hey Rebecca, its okay_"

"No its not! I lost my best friend!" More tears welled  up  in my eyes, as flashbacks formed a movie inside my head continuously.

"I ju-just can't regard this shit to be true but...I, I'm sorry Rebecca. C'mere."

He moved towards me, and almost dragged me to stand from my almost dead position.

"Let's go there." He then pointed out to the bench beside the glorious fountain. But I wasnt ready .  It was a joke right? I mean just a while, he was happily dragging me . It was impossible. Fours years of friendship can't end with some serial killer murdering my best friend.

Despite my denial, he again forced me there pulling my arms slowly. Even though I was paralyzed with melancholic mental emotions, I could somehow see Austin barely controlling his tears.

Without giving me a chance to utter a word, he engulfed me in a tight, yet fervent embrace. His arms wrapped around me, creating a warm and secure cocoon, providing solace and comfort amidst the unexpected turn of events.

We stayed in the same position for maybe more than a minute before that unknown voice cracked out but in his hushed tone, "Dont jump into conclusions Reccy. Get out from his arms, dang it!"

Again ignoring his warning voice, I stayed silent , until, "Rebecca. Austin?."

I instanty bounced from the bench, and looked behind. "Clay! You are_"

'Really Beca? With Austin? Goddamn him you are going out with? You knew what he did to me!"

"No Clay, this is not_"

"Its fine Rebecca, I understand.  After all of this, you need freedom from." He paused, while he glared and widened his eyes at Austin, "especially from a deserted and intolerable piece of junk."
-

I stared at the  oak sculpted ceiling that stood above my lying body, and kept twirling the little pieces of my bangs. Clayton.

It had been 2 days since the prom night, yet Clay restricted himself from talking to me, as well as camouboy, for god knows why. Except on mornings and nights , he would greet me with tow or more jokes for my laughter. But then again, I had many things to worry about. Surprisingly on Monday again, when I went to school, I was called to the principal's office. That frightened me more. Now what had I done?

Filled with horror, I cautiously stepped into the principal's office, uncertain of what awaited me. To my surprise, the principal promptly handed me a peculiar-looking crown without uttering a single word.

"I have been disappointed by you leaving the prom, but must be personal. So here you go. Your  prom queen crown."

I shot her a slack expression and asked, "What did you say again?"

"You won, darling. Get over it, take this and leave." he demanded. Still unable to digest his words, I took the crown and set on leaving until one question stopped me on my tracks.

"Who became the king?"

"Oh, even we couldn't find Lucas. You know, the silver haired guy."

Oh. So Lucas was his name. I couldn't forget him as well, but at the moment I needed to talk to Clay.

Even in the crowded hallway, as he strolled alongside his group of friends, he would cast me a distant, indifferent glance, as if I were a complete stranger to him. And just like that, I would be left to navigate the hallways alone, isolated and unnoticed.

As I walked through the corridors, the three popular girls glared at me which I gracefully ignored. Up until , Brittany purposely spilled her stinky mint juice all over me. I parted my lips to protest but she interrupted.

"Oops, didn't see you there. After all you are such a rare avis." I didn't really say anything as it was not really worth it. What she said was anyway true.

The girl beside utterd gleefully, "Aw, seems like she is out of guardians, isn't she? Back to where she was."

Lastly the third one said, "Hope you know your standard, OK?"

Right then I just hated that Austin, even though I found Clay because of him, it was also because him that I lost my one and only best friend.

I motionlessly stood as they turned their backs on me to leave, before I heard camouboy talk insolently, "Wow, can't you just come with a comeback? Look what they did to you?"

"I'm used to it." I replied in a low tone.

"This is not you, Rebecca. Do what your mind wants to do with them."

To some extent, there was truth in his words. Each word they spoke pierced deep into my heart, fueling my anger. Yet, contemplating the validity of their statements prevented me from reacting in the moment. Their words struck a chord, causing me to pause and reflect instead of immediately responding.

"Why? They are right. I am invisble and_"

"And weak? Well that's what it is. Face it Rebecca, you are so weak and vulnerable that you can't even come with a comeback for your self-respect, you can't even persuade your best friend to be with you, you can't even stop dancing with someone whom you don't wanna be with. And guess what?You are so weak that you will even let anyone violate your honor just like that_"

"STOP! I'm not weak!" I yelled and he was wrong. Completely wrong. At the outset, I only felt a flicker of irritation but then molten anger ran through me.

I could perceive the girls stop in their way and turn their backs.

And everything they did to me did a flip in my memory.

I proceeded towards them, and the perfume bottle in Brittany's opened bag caught my eye. I snatched the perfume and lifted it towards Brittany. I instantly removed the lid of the bottle and without any further ado, I confidently spilled it all over her.

"What now, pop tarts? Got popped by your own smell? Well yeah, I hope you still have the nose to face it!"

Disregarding their grunts, I swiftly departed from the location, fully aware that all eyes and attention were still fixated on me.