Midnight Masquerade

Chapter 10 Unraveling Secrets Part 1

June 21

Age 18

Adriana

"Trapp, Brandon." The principal calls Brandon stands up and walks to receive his diploma. As he's walking back to his seat his eyes scan the audience. Everyone's done that so far. Except Travis. Even I looked over to where my parents would've been sitting, Caleb and Calliope are sitting farther back in the audience. The only one that didn't was Tiffany but she didn't even bother showing up. So I guess that doesn't really count. I don't know any of the students sitting around me. I guess being Travis's girlfriend has downsides.

"We'd like our prom court to come to the stage." The vice principal says. How would you prove you're part of the prom court? I wonder.

Tiffany appears loudly and makes her way to the stage dragging poor Ben along with her. "I wasn't even in the court McIntire."

"Of course you were, you were my date." She says.

"I wasn't at the dance." He admits, but I can tell he's lying. His wrist rotates at his side and his expression is blank.

"We have all the pictures of the court."

"It was a masked ball, you don't know who any of us are." One of the girls cries in objection, "Any one of us could walk up and claim to be a person in the pictures."

"But not everyone has the ribbons and crowns." The vice principal says.

"Who'd bring a crown and ribbon to a graduation." Another student yells.

Bzzz. Bzzz

Travis: Don't move. It's a trap.

Me: How do you know?

Travis: Do you trust me?

Me: Yes.

"Come on, we want pictures of the court." The principal says.

Everyone starts standing up looking around for people on the court which is impossible because everyone was in masks! The begin heading to the front. I start looking around and I see Travis stand up I catch his eye and he nods his head just enough for me to catch it signaling for me to get to him.

I slowly and carefully make my way to him not to draw attention to myself. As soon as I do he grabs my hand. "I don't know what's going on, but we have to get to the Nordstroms and get out thank goodness my bike is at the complex and Caleb picked me up; now we've gotta go." He sheds his gown and hat. I do the same and we manage to make it to the audience section. Our diplomas hidden in his coat pocket. Blending in with the audience.

"Ready?" Caleb asks quietly. I nod and Calliope and he lead us out. We all get into his van.

"What about the others?"

"This is about finding you." Caleb says. "You won the prom crowns, I think this is about finding you Adriana."

"Me?" I ask, "Why does everything have to happen to me?" I ask no one in particular.

"This guy that attacked you, it wasn't a freak accident, this psycho is a methodical man trying to keep you." Calliope says, "We haven't figured out who he is, but he knows you, he knows you too well. He probably even knows you would be at prom, and made sure you won queen. Just for this kind of thing to happen."

"I guess having a doctor and a psychologist at a precinct as family comes in handy." I tell them, "Thank you so much for taking me in."

"It's our pleasure." Calliope says, "Let's get you home."