The dorm room buzzed with life. It was late afternoon, and golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the white curtains, painting the room with a warm orange hue. The faint humming of a song played from a small speaker resting near the window.
Scarlett stood in the corner, her brows furrowed in concentration as she tried to perfect a new dance move. She swayed, twirled, and spun, occasionally stumbling but correcting herself quickly. Her short ponytail bounced with each movement, her sneakers tapping lightly against the wooden floor.
On the bed nearby, Riley sat cross-legged behind Evelyn, carefully threading sections of her hair into an intricate braid. "Don't move too much," she said with a chuckle, "I'm making a masterpiece here."
Evelyn giggled, glancing at her phone for a moment before putting it aside. "If this comes out weird, I'm going to wear a hat for the rest of the week."
"Then I better not mess up," Riley replied, mock-serious.
Autumn was at the far wall, a palette of paints beside her. She had pinned up a piece of paper with a rough sketch and was recreating the design on the wall itself. It was a blend of vines, constellations, and open eyes—abstract but beautiful.
"Autumn," Hazel called from the kitchen area, peeking from behind a counter, "does tomato sauce go with... pineapple and soy sauce?"
"Uhh... that's a crime against cooking," Autumn said, wrinkling her nose.
Hazel laughed. "That's why it's an experiment. Who knows—it might taste revolutionary!"
In the corner, Lemon sat on a soft, floral armchair, a thick paperback open on her lap. Her eyes danced across the pages, deep into a mystery thriller that had her hooked since the first chapter. The characters were chasing shadows, secrets were unraveling, and Lemon's mind was completely absorbed—until her phone vibrated.
Ding.
Riley coughed, loudly and theatrically. "I think someone messaged you, Lemon. You should check it. Could be... super important."
Evelyn joined in, laughing. "Yeah, Lemon. What if someone's heart is breaking on the other side of that screen?"
Lemon sighed, closing her book with a soft thud. "Shut up, guys." She picked up her phone and read the notification.
It was from Leon.
[Leon]: Lemon, I found a photo from the first year when I was in Maplewood.
She sat straight, suddenly alert. She tapped on the image, and a group photo filled the screen. It was taken in the old Maplewood courtyard, bright and sunny. Students filled the frame, laughing, posing, throwing peace signs. Lemon zoomed in, her eyes scanning.
Laven. Lydia. Luna. Georgia. Sophia.
Then her eyes stopped on a girl wearing thick glasses, her hair tied into a bun, a worn-out cardigan draped over her shoulders. She wasn't smiling. Unlike the others, she looked... lost. Blank. A shadow in a sea of light.
"Guys," Lemon said, her voice serious. "Come here."
The girls gathered quickly, curious.
"Leon just sent me this. Look—these are the six girls who... well, you know. And this girl—" she pointed at the one with glasses, "—this is the one who died in the first year."
Scarlett leaned in. "She looks so out of place."
Evelyn whispered, "Almost like... she didn't belong."
Hazel added, "Or like she knew something she shouldn't have."
Another ding.
[Leon]: I searched in my old yearbooks. Her name was Ellara. No surname. One of my friends once mentioned her, but I forgot the rest.
Lemon replied: It's okay. This is enough information for me.
She stared at the picture again, whispering, "Ellara."
Then, louder: "I'll find the truth."
The room fell silent.