One Kiss Left

Chapter 33

Heaven's pov

The moment the announcer declared us the winners, a surge of pure joy and relief washed over me. We had done it. We had poured our hearts into this routine, and it paid off. Our team was in a frenzy of hugs, high-fives, and laughter. The energy was electric, and for a brief moment, all the worries about Valentina's mysterious threats were pushed to the back of my mind.

But then, in an instant, everything changed.

A sudden scream pierced through the celebration. I spun around to see the source of the noise, my heart stopping in my chest. Stephanie, one of our cheerleaders, was on the ground, clutching her leg in pain. Blood seeped through her fingers, and the horror on her face mirrored what I felt inside.

"What happened?" I shouted, pushing through the crowd to reach her. The sight of her injury made my stomach churn. It looked like she had been cut by something sharp, but how?

Gina was already kneeling beside her, trying to comfort her. "Someone help! Call 911!" she yelled, her voice strained with panic.

As chaos erupted around us, I quickly dialed emergency services, my hands shaking. "We need an ambulance at the competition venue, now! One of our girls is hurt—she's bleeding badly!"

I glanced at Valentina, who was frozen in place, her face pale with shock. I needed to stay strong for her, for all of them. "Val, grab some towels, anything to stop the bleeding!"

She snapped out of her daze and ran to grab whatever she could find. I focused on Stephanie, trying to keep her calm. "It's going to be okay. Help is on the way. Just hang in there."

The minutes stretched like hours until the paramedics arrived. They quickly took over, assessing Stephanie's injury and preparing her for transport. The rest of the team stood in stunned silence, the joy of our victory completely overshadowed by the incident.

As they wheeled Stephanie away on a stretcher, Coach Sanders gathered us around. Her face was a mix of concern and determination. "I know this is scary, but we need to stay focused. We don't know what happened yet, but we'll find out. For now, let's stick together and stay safe."

We all nodded, but the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. The excitement was gone, replaced by a lingering sense of dread. I pulled Valentina aside, needing to make sure she was okay. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, but her eyes were filled with fear. "What do you think happened, Heaven?"

"I don't know," I admitted, squeezing her hand. "But we'll figure it out. Just stay close, okay?"

---

Later, back at the hotel, the team was somber. We had all returned to our rooms, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about Stephanie and the horrifying scene at the competition. Who would do something like this? And why?

I was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, when Valentina walked in from the bathroom, her face still pale. "Do you think this has anything to do with... the messages?"

Her question hung in the air, heavy and terrifying. The thought hadn't crossed my mind, but now it seemed all too possible. I sat up, my heart pounding. "It might. We need to be careful, Val."

She nodded, sitting down beside me. "I'm scared, Hev. What if it happens again?"

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. "We'll get through this. Together. I promise."

The door burst open suddenly, making us both jump. Gina stood there, her face flushed with worry. "Guys, Coach Sanders wants to talk to everyone in the lobby. Now."