Use my bathroom," Penny said, gesturing toward the door. "You need to get cleaned up."
Auriella nodded numbly and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
She turned on the shower, letting the water heat up while she peeled off her filthy, torn dress. When she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she stopped.
The scratches covered her arms, her legs, even her collarbone. Some were shallow, already scabbing over. Others were deeper, angrier, like she'd been dragged through thorns.
She shook the thought away and stepped into the shower.
The hot water stung against her wounds, but she welcomed the pain.
She scrubbed at the dirt caked on her skin, watching it swirl down the drain in muddy streaks.
Her mind drifted .
What happened last night?
She remembered running. The security guard chasing her.
And then... nothing.
Just darkness.
When she finally stepped out of the shower, her skin was pink and raw, but clean. She wrapped herself in a towel and stared at her reflection again.
The scratches were still there. The evidence of something she couldn't remember.
A knock on the door startled her.
"You okay in there?" Penny's voice called.
"Yeah," Auriella said, her voice hoarse. "I'm fine."
"I've got clothes for you."
Auriella opened the door a crack, and Penny handed her a simple blue dress and a jacket .
"Thanks," Auriella said.
She got dressed quickly, then rejoined Penny in the main room.
"Better?" Penny asked.
"Yeah."
"Come on. Let's get some breakfast. Maybe food will help."
The campus café was quiet on Sunday mornings. Only a handful of students sat scattered at tables, most of them nursing coffee and scrolling through their phones.
Auriella and Penny grabbed trays—scrambled eggs, toast, fruit—and found a table near the window.
For a few minutes, they ate in silence.
Then Auriella's fork clattered against her plate. "What if Celeste was caught?"
Penny looked up. "What?"
"Last night. The party." Auriella's voice was tight with worry. "What if she got caught by security?"
"Auri, she's fine," Penny said calmly. "Celeste is way too smart to get caught."
"But we don't know that," Auriella insisted, her anxiety rising. "We don't know where she is. What if—"
"Hey." Penny reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Stop. You're spiraling. Celeste knows this campus better than anyone. She's been exploring for weeks. She's probably just lying low or something."
Auriella wanted to believe that. But the knot in her stomach only tightened.
"I never should have agreed to go to that party," she whispered. "I knew it was a bad idea."
"Don't do that," Penny said gently. "Don't blame yourself. We all made the choice to go."
Auriella shook her head, guilt flooding through her. She'd known better. She'd felt it in her gut that something would go wrong.
They finished their breakfast in uneasy silence.
It was Sunday, so there were no lectures. No classes. Just the looming dread of whatever came next.
And then the speaker crackled to life.
The same smooth, professional voice from orientation filled the café.
"Attention all students. There will be an emergency assembly in the Grand Hall at two o'clock this afternoon. Attendance is mandatory. I repeat—attendance is mandatory."
The speaker clicked off.
Auriella's face went pale. "Emergency assembly."
"It might not be about the party," Penny said, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.
"Of course it's about the party," Auriella said, her voice rising. "What else would it be?"
"Auri—"
"We need to find Celeste." Auriella stood abruptly. "Right now."
Penny sighed but stood as well. "Okay. Let's go maybe she's in her room"
They hurried back to Ravenwood Hall and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Celeste's room—243—was at the opposite end of the hallway from Penny's.
Auriella knocked urgently. "Celeste?"
No answer.
She knocked again, louder this time, her panic building. "Celeste, are you in there? Please answer!"
Still nothing.
Penny tried the handle. Locked.
"She's not here," Auriella said, her voice breaking. "Oh god, Penny. What if she was caught? What if she's already been expelled?"
"Auri, breathe," Penny said, gripping her shoulders. "You don't know that. She could be anywhere. This place is massive."
"But what if—"
"Stop," Penny said firmly but kindly. "We'll find her, okay? Let's check the campus. The library, the lounges, anywhere she might be. But you need to calm down."
Auriella took a shaky breath and nodded.
They spent the next hour searching.
The library was nearly empty—just a few students studying quietly at tables. No Celeste.
The student lounge in the main building had a handful of people watching TV or playing pool. No Celeste.
They checked the courtyard, the dining hall, even the chapel.
Nothing.
"Where is she?" Auriella's voice was getting more frantic with each empty space they checked. "She's not anywhere, Penny. She's just... gone."
"She's not gone," Penny said steadily. "This school is huge, remember? There are a million places she could be."
"But we've looked everywhere—"
"Not everywhere," Penny interrupted. "There's still the academic buildings, the gardens, maybe she's in someone else's room. You're jumping to the worst conclusion."
Auriella felt tears prick at her eyes. "I just... I have a really bad feeling about this."
"I know." Penny's voice softened. "But panicking won't help her. Or us."
Auriella nodded, trying to steady her breathing.
"Maybe we should ask Lincoln," Penny suggested. "He's been here longer. Maybe he's knows something."
Auriella hesitated. "But we can't tell him about the party. Celeste said he couldn't find out."
"We don't have to tell him why," Penny said. "We just ask if he's seen her. That's it."
"Okay," Auriella said quietly. "Okay, let's find him ,but where do we find him.
""The park ,his always there right .""
"Right. "
They walked to the park , spotting Lincoln.