Priana's POV
The morning light felt cold, filtering through the dormitory window like a warning. When I opened my eyes, I saw Lufa sitting frozen on the edge of her bed. In her trembling hand was a sleek, black invitation card. The way she stared at it, her face pale with dread, told me everything I needed to know.
I sat up, my heart sinking as I moved beside her. "What is it, Lufa?"
"It... it's the invitation," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "The Verdict."
I took the card from her. The embossed silver letters glinted mockingly: Attendance is mandatory for all students. My nightmare from the previous night was no longer just a fear—it was becoming my reality. Is this the day my life ends? I thought, my chest tightening.
"I don't know whose fate is sealed today," Lufa said, pulling a black dress from her drawer. "Do you have a black dress, Priana?"
"I do," I replied, confused. "But why?"
"It's the rule," Lufa explained, her eyes fixed on the mirror. "You have to wear black. You have to look your best. Formal, elegant, and perfect."
"I understand the dress code," I said, a frown deepening on my face. "But why the makeup? Why the effort?"
Lufa turned to me, her expression hauntingly serious. "Because that is the most twisted rule of all. You must never stop smiling. No matter what happens—even if you are chosen as their 'Assistant' and your life is turned into a living hell—you must keep that smile on your face. You cannot show fear. You cannot show pain. You belong to them, and they only want to see your joy."
Her words felt like a cold blade against my throat. In this school, even your emotions weren't your own. You had to laugh while your world burnt to ashes.
Following Lufa's lead, I put on my best black dress. I did my hair and makeup, looking like I was headed to a royal ball instead of my own execution. As I walked out toward the hall where The Verdict was to be held, I forced my lips into a practiced, empty smile.
The masquerade has begun, I thought. But behind this smile, I am screaming.
When Lufa and I entered the hall, I was breathless. The room was bathed in brilliant light, yet everything was draped in an oppressive black theme. Despite the knot of fear in my stomach, a stray thought took hold of me: If I do become their Assistant, maybe I can finally uncover the truth. Maybe I can find out what really happens to the students here.
"Priana," a voice whispered from behind. I turned to find Elisa standing there, her eyes scanning me with an unreadable expression.
She stepped closer and began to stroke my hair in that strangely intimate way of hers. "You look breathtakingly beautiful today," she murmured.
"But listen to me... if you are chosen as the Assistant, it might be the best thing for you. You'll see the reality of this school. Wouldn't you want to help The Rebels? Our goals are the same as yours. Don't be afraid; I'm always here for you."
With a cryptic smile, she vanished into the crowd. I stood there, unsettled. She knows something I don't, I thought. Something dangerous.
Suddenly, a roar of excitement filled the room. The Elites were making their grand entrance. The atmosphere shifted instantly—a mix of adoration and sheer terror.
As Anrio Castillo stepped into the hall, his gaze swept over the crowd until it landed squarely on me. He froze for a split second, his dark eyes burning into mine with an intensity that made my heart race and my breath hitch. I couldn't look away. His eyes seemed to be screaming a thousand secrets that his lips couldn't utter.
They took their places on the stage. Just then, Principal Madam Andrika entered. It was my first time seeing her. She was hauntingly beautiful, with a graceful, motherly aura that somehow made my skin crawl. Why is she so unsettling? I wondered, my fear doubling.
But as I looked at the stage, I noticed something shocking. The Elites—the powerful, untouchable boys—weren't actually happy. Their smiles were as hollow and practiced as mine. Beneath the bravado, I could see the tension in their jaws, the coldness in their eyes. They didn't just dislike the Principal; they seemed trapped by her.
If everyone says they are working with her, then why do they look like her prisoners? What is the secret they are forced to keep?
Madam Andrika took the microphone, her voice echoing through the silent hall. "As you all know, today is a momentous occasion—a day that defines the very essence of our institution."
A wave of nausea hit me. A momentous occasion? To her, destroying a student's life was a celebration. It was sick.
"Today marks The Verdict," she continued, her smile never wavering. "We shall select the one who will serve under The Elites, the one whose every breath and decision will belong to them. I now invite Anrio to the stage to announce the chosen name."
Anrio stepped forward, taking the mic with a slow, predatory grace. His eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk until they locked onto mine. My hands began to shake violently; the oxygen seemed to vanish from the room. I knew. I felt it in my bones.
"The new Assistant of The Elites," Anrio announced, his voice smooth as silk but sharp as a blade, "is the new student of Grade 11—Priana Reyes."
For a moment, the world went silent.
Even my own heartbeat seemed to disappear.
A haunting, twisted smile spread across his face. Suddenly, a blinding spotlight hit me. The students around me scrambled back as if I were a plague, leaving me standing alone in the circle of light. Their forced, practiced smiles felt like thousands of tiny needles pricking my skin.
Anrio stepped down from the stage, his boots clicking rhythmically against the floor. He grabbed my arm, his grip bruisingly tight, and dragged me toward the stage.
His touch burned through my skin, leaving behind a mark I knew I wouldn't forget.
It wasn't an invitation; it was an abduction.
As I stood on the platform, my eyes met Elisa's in the distance.
She was smiling—not with fear, but with a strange, knowing satisfaction. Did she know? I wondered, my blood running cold. Did she plan this?
"Welcome to the world of The Elites, Priana," Anrio whispered near my ear, his voice laced with the scent of looming vengeance. He looked at me as if I were a trophy he intended to break.
Beside him, Oscar was staring at me with a look of intense realization. My heart skipped a beat. He knows. He recognized me from last night.
One by one, the members introduced themselves, their eyes filled with dark amusement. Diego leaned in, a condescending smirk on his lips. "Hi, Priana. How does it feel? A new life is waiting for you... I hope you're ready for what's coming."
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to look him in the eye. "I am ready for everything," I retorted, my voice steadier than I felt. "I fear nothing."
Diego let out a chilling laugh. But internally, I was crumbling. Am I really this strong? I asked my reflection in his cold eyes. Can a shadow like me truly survive a war against The Elites?