The night sky over Bellmont School was thick with clouds, as if it, too, was hiding secrets buried deep within the school's history. Only half the hallway lights were working; the rest flickered dimly, casting an eerie and suspenseful mood.
Rossie took a deep breath, standing beside Liam behind the pillar near the archive room. The clock on the wall read 10:37 PM. They had been sneaking around the main building for almost an hour, with one goal: to find the missing script of a 1999 play—The Silent Bell.
"There must be something they're hiding," Rossie muttered while scanning one dusty shelf after another with her flashlight. "My mom… she once stood on this stage."
Liam turned to her, his expression serious but calm. "And now it's your turn to find out why she was erased from all the records."
Rossie nodded. Her hands were trembling, though she wasn't sure whether it was the cold air… or the growing shadow of her mother's presence.
Suddenly—
CLAK!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. A security flashlight swept across the archive door.
"Night guard," Liam whispered. "Come with me."
They hurried down the left hallway and ducked behind a faded curtain, opening a small door labeled "Costumes & Props Department."
The door clicked shut just in time. Rossie was panting. They were safe—for now.
The room was dark and musty, filled with racks of old costumes, masks, and theater props. Dust danced in the air. The scent of old wood and fabric clung thickly.
"This feels… like a miniature museum," Rossie whispered, sweeping her flashlight around.
Liam opened an old wardrobe in the corner. Inside hung several vintage stage costumes, including a faded white lace dress. A worn label stitched on the shoulder read: "Alya – The Silent Bell, 1999."
Rossie froze. "Alya… that's my mom's name."
Liam looked at her intently. "If this really belonged to her, then she was the lead actress… before everything was erased."
Rossie stepped closer, gently touching the dress—as if touching the past. Behind the fabric, she found a thin envelope. Written in black ink:
"Scene 12 – Revised. Do not tell Alya."
"This…" Rossie opened it.
A page from the script. The final scene of The Silent Bell, but the lead character was named Victoria—not Alya.
Liam pulled out a folder from a pile of props on top of the wardrobe. Inside was the full script, neatly typed, but the cast list had been crossed out and rewritten by hand.
"Look at this," Liam said. "Alya's name was crossed out and replaced with Victoria. But the handwriting is different. Two types of ink."
Rossie stared at it, slowly understanding. "Someone erased my mom's role… but why? And who is Victoria?"
Liam pointed to a small note scribbled in the corner of the page:
"Alya is too dangerous to remain in the show. Protect the school's name."
Rossie sank to the floor, her mind racing. Bellmont was hiding something big. Even a school play could become a conspiracy?
Suddenly, footsteps echoed again. They exchanged a look.
"Through the side window," Liam whispered.
They escaped through a narrow window that led to the back garden of the art hall. Rossie collapsed onto the grass, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Alya wasn't just an ordinary student. She was the star of Bellmont's stage. And now… her name is gone."
Liam gently touched her shoulder. "Then you're the one who'll bring it back."
Rossie looked at Liam, and for the first time since they met, he didn't feel like just the mysterious guy she roomed with—but a partner in the fight. Someone who knew what it meant to lose something.
⸻
The next day…
In the dorm cafeteria, everything seemed normal. But from across the room, Sienna was watching Rossie and Liam sitting closer than usual.
"She used to be just the scholarship girl," Sienna murmured to Nichole. "Now she's close with Liam and got into the drama club. Isn't she leveling up a bit too fast?"
Nichole looked down. "She's… not that bad, actually."
Sienna turned sharply. "What?"
Nichole fumbled. "I mean… she's just… different."
Sienna narrowed her eyes. "You've changed since you followed her to that stage basement, Nich. Don't let yourself get dragged in."
Nichole stayed silent.
At another table, Rossie scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Audrey, who was sitting alone. Unlike usual, Audrey didn't look smug or distant. This time… she looked like she was hiding something.
Rossie stood and walked over.
"If you know something about that script… why didn't you say anything?" Rossie asked directly.
Audrey looked up sharply. "You think people here can just speak freely?"
Rossie didn't reply.
Audrey continued, her voice low. "Be careful, Rossie. The closer you get to that secret, the more people will want to shut you up."
⸻
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
An old man stood in front of the drama club's bulletin board, studying the list of new members. In his hand, he held a torn photo of a girl in a white dress, smiling sharply.
"Alya…" he whispered. "Your daughter has finally returned to Bellmont."
He walked away, his footsteps slow… leaving behind traces of a past that was slowly resurfacing.