CUT TO: ABANDONED LIBRARY WING – 6:10 PM
The group is still crouched behind the bookshelves, hearts pounding.
The playing card lies in Damien's hand like a loaded weapon.
SIENNA: (whispering) It's his handwriting.
Damien's jaw tightens, knuckles white around the card.
DAMIEN: (quiet) That doesn't make sense.
JAYJAY: (panicking) Maybe he's a ghost.
ZEPHYR: (deadpan) Or maybe you watch too many horror movies.
Theo leans closer, examining the card.
THEO: (softly) The ink's fresh. Whoever left this... was just here.
Cass grips her arm, eyes darting toward the dark corners of the room.
CASS: (whispering) Then we need to leave.
Damien stands, shoving the card into his pocket.
DAMIEN: (firm) Let's go.
They move as quietly as possible, tiptoeing out of the abandoned wing.
But Sienna can't shake the feeling of being watched.
CUT TO: SCHOOL COURTYARD – 6:25 PM
The group spills out into the open, gulping down fresh air like they've been drowning.
Jayjay dramatically collapses onto the grass.
JAYJAY: (groaning) I'm retiring from detective work.
Cass kicks his shoe lightly.
CASS: You were the one who wanted to ghost-hunt.
JAYJAY: (pointing) Yeah, but I didn't think the ghost would flirt with us.
Sienna sits on the bench, rubbing her temples.
Her head throbs, and her chest aches from holding her breath for so long.
Damien watches her, silently.
Zephyr cracks his neck, stretching.
ZEPHYR: Okay, game plan. We meet tomorrow and figure this out.
THEO: (nodding) We can try cross-referencing the symbol again.
CASS: (glancing at Sienna) Or... we take a break.
Everyone falls quiet.
CASS: (gentler) We've been running in circles. Maybe a reset will help.
Jayjay immediately lights up.
JAYJAY: (gasps) BEACH DAY?
ZEPHYR: (snorting) It's March.
JAYJAY: (dead serious) Hypothermia builds character.
Sienna chuckles, the sound brittle but real.
SIENNA: A break sounds nice.
Damien finally exhales, tension leaving his body.
DAMIEN: (soft) Then we take a break.
CUT TO: SUNDAY – SIENNA'S APARTMENT
Her room is a mess of textbooks, candy wrappers, and crumpled paper.
Sienna lies upside down on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
Her friends spam the group chat.
Jayjay: "Beach trip when?"Zephyr: "We're not going to the beach, idiot."Cass: "We could go to the arcade?"Theo: "Or the skating rink."Jayjay: "Or the graveyard."
Sienna snorts.
Her phone buzzes with a private message.
From Damien.
Damien: "Are you okay?"
She stares at the screen, heart skipping.
After a beat, she types back.
Sienna: "I don't know."
The typing bubble pops up.
Then disappears.
Then comes back.
Damien: "Want to go somewhere?"
She bites her lip.
Sienna: "Where?"
Damien: "Wherever you want."
Her chest tightens, but she smiles.
Sienna: "Pick me up at 3."
CUT TO: LOCAL ARCADE – 3:30 PM
The neon lights flicker, music blasting from the game machines.
Damien watches as Sienna aggressively plays a racing game, teeth gritted in determination.
DAMIEN: (teasing) You drive like a psychopath.
SIENNA: (yelling) SHUT UP, I'M WINNING.
Her car crashes into a wall, exploding spectacularly.
SIENNA: (deadpan) I hate this game.
Damien chuckles, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
They wander through the arcade, shoulders occasionally bumping.
Sienna presses her forehead against a claw machine.
SIENNA: (dramatic) Why are these rigged?
Damien steps up, sliding in a coin.
He maneuvers the claw with surgical precision — and snags a small plush rabbit.
It drops into the chute effortlessly.
SIENNA: (gaping) Are you kidding me?
He hands her the rabbit, a small smirk on his lips.
DAMIEN: (softly) For good luck.
Her cheeks burn.
SIENNA: (quiet) Thanks.
They linger there, the air warm and gentle between them.
And for a little while, everything feels normal.
CUT TO: SCHOOL HALLWAY – MONDAY MORNING
The bell rings. Students pour into classrooms.
Sienna opens her locker — and a folded paper flutters out.
Her stomach sinks.
She unfolds it with shaky fingers.
"I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR DAY OFF. I DID, TOO."
The message is scrawled in the same handwriting.
Damien appears beside her, frowning.
DAMIEN: (noticing her expression) What's wrong?
Sienna shoves the paper into her pocket, forcing a smile.
SIENNA: (lying) Nothing.
But her heart pounds against her ribs.
Because she knows, deep down...
They're still being watched.
TO BE CONTINUED...
YOU ARE READING
Between Bruises and Butterflies
Teen FictionSt. Augustine Academy is no ordinary school. It's a playground for the rich, a battlefield for the broken, and a maze of friendships laced with betrayal. When a new transfer student steps through its gates, she carries more than just her sketchbook...
