Inside the backseat of the cab, the atmosphere was tense.
Luna sat between Kylie and Clara her arms folded tightly, her eyes locked on the moving streets outside. None of them spoke for a long time.
The driver had the radio on — and the news kept repeating the same thing:
> "Student Jimmy Benson remains in critical condition after being shot during a school competition. A fellow student, Nelly Markcus, has been arrested as the prime suspect…"
Clara finally broke the silence.
> "Luna… what's going on? We didn't plan that."
Kylie turned sharply. "Tell me you didn't do something crazy behind our backs."
Luna scoffed. "Please. Don't be stupid. Why would I shoot Jimmy? I don't even care about that competition. I wanted her embarrassed, not dead."
> "But someone brought a gun," Clara said, voice shaking. "And whoever it was… they made sure Nelly looked guilty."
Luna leaned her head back on the seat, her jaw clenched.
> "This wasn't part of our plan. Scare her, ruin her image, yes — but this? A gunshot? That's not us."
Kylie's voice dropped low. "Then who the hell did it?"
They all looked at each other.
> "Someone's playing a bigger game," Luna muttered. "And they just turned me into a background character."
Clara glanced at her. "And framed her."
> "No," Luna said darkly. "They framed me too. Everyone thinks it's us."
Kylie shifted nervously. "What do we do now?"
Luna's eyes narrowed as the hospital came into view.
> "We find out who really did this… before it turns around and destroys us all."
AT THE HOSPITAL
The hospital parking lot was swarming with security.
Luna stepped out of the cab first, still shaken, followed by Kylie and Clara.
They rushed through the entrance doors, heading straight for the reception counter.
> "We're here to see Jimmy Benson," Luna said, trying to keep her voice steady.
The nurse glanced up, recognizing her instantly.
> "He's in surgery. No visitors."
> "We're family friends," Kylie added quickly. "We just want to see how he's doing."
The nurse shook her head firmly. "Doctor's orders. No one goes in until after surgery. Please take a seat or wait outside."
Luna clenched her fists but said nothing.
She turned away and took a seat beside the emergency hallway, her legs bouncing with frustration. Clara and Kylie hovered beside her, anxious.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Mr. Benson.
Luna quickly answered. "Yes daddy?"
His voice was calm but cold.
> "Where are you?"
> "We just got to the hospital. They won't let us in."
There was a pause, then—
> "Forget the hospital. Head to Sapphire Police Station. Now."
Luna exchanged glances with the girls.
> "What's going on?"
> "Nelly is being held there. She's the prime suspect. I've made sure the case is moving quickly."
> "Wait—what?! Nelly? But—" Luna lowered her voice. "We didn't do that. We didn't even bring a gun—"
> "I know," Mr. Benson cut in. "But the media's watching. Someone has to take the fall."
The call ended.
Kylie leaned closer. "What did he say?"
Luna stood slowly, her voice distant. "He wants us at the station."
Clara blinked. "Why? Is he turning on us?"
Luna's eyes narrowed.
> "No. He's turning on her. Nelly."
They stood in silence for a moment, each of them processing it differently.
> "So we just go and watch her take the blame?" Kylie asked bitterly.
Luna looked away.
> "I don't know."
But deep down, a storm had already started to rise.
---
The dim light inside the holding cell flickered slightly.
Nelly sat on the cold bench, her arms wrapped around her knees, her face swollen from crying.
She hadn't spoken since the door shut.
The metal bars felt tighter than chains. But what truly crushed her… was the news:
Jimmy was still in surgery.
And Mr. Benson had stripped her name from the award she'd earned.
The trophy was no longer hers.
A loud creak echoed down the corridor.
She looked up slowly.
Luna. Clara. Kylie.
The three girls strutted in, escorted by an officer, smirking as if they owned the place.
> "Well, well…" Luna drawled, folding her arms as she stood outside the bars. "Look who finally got what she deserved."
Nelly said nothing. She only stared at the floor.
Clara chimed in, leaning closer. "You thought winning a trophy would make you one of us?"
> "News flash," Kylie added with a smirk, "you don't even own that award anymore. Mr. Benson already pulled your name off it. Guess you'll need another miracle to fix that."
Nelly's lip trembled, but she didn't speak.
Luna tilted her head, pretending to pout. "What happened to all that fire, Nelly? You were so brave before. Where's your voice now?"
Still, silence.
But a single tear slid down Nelly's cheek.
> "She's crying," Clara whispered mockingly.
> "Poor Nelly," Kylie said with fake sympathy. "Lost the boy. Lost the trophy. And now? Behind bars like a criminal."
Luna leaned in closer, her voice colder now.
> "You'll always be nothing. Just a cleaner's daughter who got lucky for five minutes."
The girls laughed and began to turn away.
But Nelly finally looked up — her voice quiet, raw.
> "I don't care about the trophy…"
They froze.
> "You can laugh. You can mock me. But Jimmy… Jimmy might not wake up. And I was there. I saw him bleed."
Her voice cracked.
> "So keep the award. Keep the spotlight. But if he dies… none of this matters."
The girls fell silent for a moment, unsettled.
Luna quickly looked away.
> "Let's go," she muttered.
They walked off, their heels clicking down the hall, but their smiles had faded slightly.
Back in the cell, Nelly covered her face and cried quietly.