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The air in the Brighton Wisdom School's back area was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood. This was a place of neglect—a messy yard bordered by old, cracked concrete walls and overflowing bins.
In the center of this grim arena, the battle was clearly over. Raina, Selina, and Ronnie were barely recognizable. Their school uniforms were torn, smeared with dirt and dark, drying blood. Wounds crisscrossed their faces, and bruises bloomed darkly on their exposed skin. They were beaten, broken, and kneeling in the dust, unable to move even an inch.
Around them, a huge crowd of students stood silently. Moments ago, this whole group had fought ferociously against the three, but now, they only stared, their eyes wide with shock and a strange kind of satisfaction. The Silverstorm trio were about to faint from exhaustion and injury.
A path opened through the silent crowd. Into the clearing stepped Gabriella, her steps deliberate and slow. She looked pristine and untouched, a stark contrast to the destruction around her. Trailing behind her was Lara, her expression guarded.
Lara's eyes fell upon the defeated trio. When she saw the extent of Ronnie's injuries, her face tightened for a fleeting second before she closed her eyes, taking a sharp breath. When she opened them, her gaze was cold again. Ronnie met her stare, a flicker of pain in his eyes, then instantly turned his head away, rejecting her silent acknowledgment.
Gabriella stopped in front of Raina. She gestured around the dusty, grim space.
"Do you remember this place, Raina?" she asked, her voice calm and dangerously low.
Raina bit her lip, trying to hold back a furious tremor. The surrounding students looked confused by Gabriella's odd question.
Before Raina could answer, a student from the crowd stepped forward and shoved her hard. Raina, unable to balance on her battered legs, pitched forward and fell with a grunt. Her face landed right against the perfectly clean, dark leather of Gabriella's shoe.
Gabriella didn't move. A slow, chilling smile spread across her face. She slightly lifted the tip of her shoe and gently traced the side of Raina's cheek with the sole.
"And do you remember this scene, Raina?"
Gabriella moved her foot back just a little. As she did, the current scene faded, and Raina's mind was instantly flooded with a flashback.
She saw Andria kneeling, just as she was now, defeated and close to fainting. She saw her own self, arrogant and cruel, standing over Andria. Raina remembered how she had done the exact same thing—touching Andria's bruised face with the tip of her Royal blue shoe.
Raina snapped back to the painful present, her body trembling with realization.
Gabriella bent down, her head lowered until her mouth was right next to Raina's ear. Only the two of them could hear the chilling whisper.
"Everything is the same, Raina. Only one change. We have switched places. Where I was before, you are now. Where you were, I stand."
Gabriella straightened up and let out a light, satisfied laugh.
"I am satisfied," she announced to the crowd. "Are you guys?"
A resounding "Yes!" echoed from the students.
Gabriella looked down at the three again, narrowing her eyes. "Where are the other two Silverstorm members?"
A few students spoke up. "We couldn't find them! Should we search for them now?"
"No," Gabriella said dismissively. "Not necessary. I will handle them later. Today, I am already satisfied."
She took out her phone, tapped a few buttons, and put it to her ear. "Hello, I need you to arrange a party. A big one, for all my schoolmates. They are on their way to Moonlight Restaurant. The whole of Brighton Wisdom is coming. Arrange everything luxurious before they arrive."
The students erupted in cheers. Gabriella ended the call and gave a short wave. "Bye," she said.
The victorious students cheered again and began to stream out of the back area, excited by the promise of a lavish party. Gabriella turned and walked away, followed by Lara.
Left alone in the dusty wreckage, the three wounded figures struggled.
"I won't forget you," Selina whispered, her voice raw.
Ronnie slammed his fist onto the dirt floor in pure frustration.
Raina didn't move. She just stared at the ground, biting her lips until she tasted blood. "I won't leave you," she whispered, her voice trembling with murderous intent. She saw a small, broken piece of glass nearby, snatched it, and clutched it tightly in her palm. Her hand bled instantly, the red a sign of her burning vengeance.
School Entrance
The main School Entrance was quiet, the last echoes of the student body fading as they left for the party. Only Gabriella remained, a sleek black backpack slung over one shoulder, about to leave.
"Are you satisfied, really?" a familiar voice asked from behind her.
Gabriella froze and slowly turned. "Auntie Fiona," she whispered.
Fiona stood there, an imposing and elegant figure. She wore a sharp, black slit gown under a tailored black coat. She stared at Gabriella, her expression unreadable.
Gabriella managed a wide, bright smile. "What are you talking about?"
Fiona came closer, her black heels clicking softly on the polished floor. "You know what I'm talking about, Gabriella." She leaned in and whispered, "Don't try to fool me like others."
Gabriella's smile turned into a dangerous smirk. "Did you see everything?"
"Of course," Fiona replied simply.
"Is that anything wrong I did?" Gabriella challenged.
Fiona smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her tone was cold. "Not what you did. But you are forgetting yourself while revenging them. Look what you made yourself."
Gabriella paused, the easy confidence briefly leaving her.
Fiona continued, her voice softening with emotion. "You are not Andria. We knew the loveable girl, the daughter of Roselette. You've changed."
"Not me!" Gabriella's control snapped. Her voice was loud and angry. "They made me like this!" She narrowed her eyes at Fiona. "And one more thing," she said, mocking. "You don't remember the old Andria. How should you know her?" She smirked again.
Fiona smirked back. "You're right. Of course I didn't see her." She smiled, but then her voice turned cold again. "But I heard a lot about her from... your Mother, Roselette. So, I know her heart. But the one I saw back there is completely different. Her eyes are full of revenge. She can't see anything else."
Fiona approached, placing a caring hand on Gabriella's head. "Listen, my dear. Revenge isn't the only path. You need to focus on yourself. It's not time for revenge."
Gabriella violently shoved Fiona's hand away. Her eyes were red and furious. "Are you telling me not to revenge them?" she challenged. "Are you sad because I punished them?"
"No, but—"
"You couldn't even watch how I punished them, but you forget one thing," Gabriella's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I was also bullied by them, in the same way, and more than that! They destroyed my face, too!"
Fiona moved to comfort her, but Gabriella quickly stepped back. She turned cold instantly, wiping the lone tear before it could fall.
"I am not that Andria now. I am Gabriella. I won't let them go. I will revenge them."
Fiona was shocked by the finality in her voice. Gabriella stared directly at her.
"You don't know. I am not only revenging them because they bullied me," she paused, her eyes turning dark with pure vengeance. "It's more than that."
She turned and walked quickly toward the street. Fiona watched her go, then followed to the entrance gate, but before she reached it, Gabriella was picked up by a passing cab and disappeared. Fiona was left looking out at the empty road.
Moonlight Restaurant - Rooftop
The Moonlight Restaurant was the biggest and most famous in the city, a towering structure of glass and steel. All the floors were crowded with the cheering, celebrating students of Brighton Wisdom.
Up on a secluded, private rooftop area, Gabriella and Dona were enjoying their drinks. Gabriella, in a stunning silver short gown that glittered under the moonlight, was clearly happy, her face radiant with victory. Dona, however, in a simple purple short gown, looked troubled.
"Why are you upset?" Gabriella asked, swirling the ice in her glass. "Are you upset like Lara because I punished them?" She paused, leaning closer. "Don't tell me you like that playboy too."
Dona looked genuinely shocked. "What? No! I don't."
"Then what is it?"
Dona hesitated, her eyes flickering. "Is it true... is Raina really a murderer?"
Gabriella's eyes widened. "You... you watched the pendrive, didn't you?"
Dona nodded miserably. "Not intentionally. My movie pendrive was right where I kept yours. So..."
Gabriella set her glass down with a quiet thud. Her tone was cold and laced with warning. "Don't say anything to anyone. Forget what you saw. Promise me you won't say a word."
"Promise," Dona said quickly. "Are you still thinking I'm not your friend? Why are you doubting me ? "
Gabriella took a sip of her drink. "Of course. You are my friend,But I know you'll spit this out in fear."
Dona's eyes widened. "Don't say that! I'm not that foolish!" She turned away, hurt.
Gabriella smiled faintly. Dona turned back.
"Who was that person Raina killed?"
"It was Kevin."
Dona gasped. "What? Your bestie? The one you said died? Oh no... is he murdered?" Dona realized her voice was too loud.
Gabriella's palm instantly covered Dona's mouth. "Lower your voice," she hissed.
Dona nodded, and Gabriella slowly moved her hand.
"Then how can you let a murderer walk free?" Dona asked urgently. "Give that evidence to the police. They'll arrest her!"
"No," Gabriella said coldly. "Do you think the law will truly punish her? It's in her hands. She won't truly get punished."
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I revenged her today for what she did to me. But I am going to do more than that," Gabriella stated, her voice icy. "She can't even imagine it. I will use this evidence at the right time."
Dona stared at her, mesmerized by her dark resolve. "And..."
"What?"
"How did you win the Election?" Dona asked.
"I'm still in shock, honestly," Gabriella replied, looking genuinely confused. "What happened? How did I win? "
"Really, you don't know? Tell me, did you do something right?"Dona asked
"I didn't do anything," Gabriella admitted. She thought for a second. "Maybe... maybe really some students wanted me to win as School Representative, so they voted for me, I guess."
"Yes!" a boy's voice suddenly cut into the silence of the rooftop, startling both of them. "We wanted to win you as School Representative!"
Gabriella and Dona turned back instantly, their eyes wide in shock.
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