Outside, the rain was coming down in sheets. Riley Walker approached the security guard, her eyes wide with hope. "It's really pouring out there. Could I just hang out here a little longer?"
The guard grumbled under his breath but finally gave in, letting her stay. Riley rushed out a quick thank-you.
She started across the stage in her ballet slippers when a dull thud from the storage room made her freeze. Unease prickled down her spine, and on instinct, she moved toward the sound. But just as she reached the door, the noise stopped.
Riley hesitated, then tapped softly. "Hello? Someone in there?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper. After a long pause of silence, she started to wonder if she'd just imagined it. Just as she was about to turn away, a faint sound reached her again.
Acting on impulse, she twisted the knob and found Judge Chapman on his knees, scattered thumbtacks everywhere, pain twisting his features.
"Is it your low blood sugar again?" she asked, dropping down to pry his clenched jaw open. She slipped her last piece of chocolate inside.
Slowly, Judge Chapman's blank stare sharpened, and his trembling finger pointed to the inside pocket of his suit.
"I'll find help. Just stay with me—don't fall asleep!" Riley urged.
In the live stream chat, the comments exploded.
"See? She totally slipped him something. Why else would Riley take off so fast?"
"Said she was getting help, but bet she was really warning the others."
"This whole thing's probably a setup to cover their tracks."
The scene cut away abruptly.
Not long after Riley left, Cleo slipped into the storage room. When she saw Judge Chapman struggling, there was no pity in her eyes—just a cold smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Thinking Cleo had come to help, Judge Chapman reached out a hand. But instead of taking it, Cleo crouched down and pulled a small box from her pocket. Inside, a few gold bars gleamed under the dim light.
With a soft smile, Cleo said slowly, "Judge Chapman, my sister Riley asked me to give you this. She's already gone to get help for you."
"What?!" Judge Chapman's eyes went wide with shock as he took it all in.
Cleo let out a deep sigh, playing up the reluctance. "I tried to talk her out of it, but she's so determined to win the competition she went down this road anyway. I..."
She shot a sidelong glance at Judge Chapman and, seeing the confusion on his face, let a tiny, secret smile slip. Before he could shove the gift away, Cleo tucked the box into his suit pocket.
"I'll go check if my sister's had any luck finding help," she said, and walked out just as fast.
Ten minutes later, the storage room door burst open. Judge Chapman sat in the middle of the mess, his face gray. Riley dropped to her knees beside him, breathless and frantic. "Judge Chapman, I couldn't find anyone. Should I help you get out of here?"
"Get away from me!" he roared, shoving her hand aside with a fury that came out of nowhere.
Caught off guard, Riley stumbled into a shelf, a thin line of blood beading on her forehead.
"Stop acting all sweet and innocent!" Judge Chapman spat, yanking the box from his pocket and throwing it at her.
"Did you scatter those thumbtacks, too?" His eyes blazed, pinning her with an accusing glare.
Before Riley could get a word out, he went on, "I never thought you'd sink this low—bribing a judge. Your family really is rotten to the core."
Staring at the scattered gold bars, Riley stood frozen, whispering, "Bribe? I didn't... This isn't mine..."
"The cameras caught everything," Judge Chapman sneered, jabbing a shaky finger at the camera in the corner. "It's all on tape. You still want to deny it?"
"You said you were getting help, but this was your plan from the start, wasn't it?" He grabbed her collar, fingers digging in. "Even if it costs me my job, I won't touch this filthy stuff!"
Riley's pupils shrank.
She remembered seeing a shadow—Cleo—slipping through the hallway.
"It wasn't me. It was Cleo!" she blurted as the truth crashed over her. "She set me up!"
"Where's your proof?" Judge Chapman let out a dry laugh, looking at her like she was dirt.
"Everyone knows Cleo's sweet and pure-hearted. She was just trying to help you..."
He let go with disgust. "An adopted impostor, eaten alive with jealousy—nothing's beneath you, is it?"
Right then, footsteps sounded outside.
Cleo came in with school officials right behind her, tears already gathering at the corners of her eyes. Her voice cracked with fake emotion. "Judge Chapman, are you okay? How could my sister do this just to win a competition?"
"I tried to stop her earlier," Cleo said, turning to Riley and grabbing her hand. "Just apologize, sis! It's not too late to own up!"
Riley glared at the woman gripping her hand, sharp pain stinging where the fresh nails dug into her skin.
"Let go of me," Riley shot Cleo a deadly look through clenched teeth.
Cleo stumbled back, cradling her reddened wrist as tears spilled over. "I was only trying to help, sis. How could you..."
"Enough!" The principal stood to the side, watching the whole scene with a cold stare.
"Riley Walker, your spot in the competition is revoked. Leave the premises now!"
The dance studio at night felt like a freezing tomb.
Riley Walker stood barefoot on the icy floor, staring at her own reflection as she practiced one punishing turn after another.
By then, her toes had blistered and split, smearing streaks of blood across the wooden floor.
"Five, six, seven, eight..." she counted through gritted teeth, only to crash down hard during a leap.
Her reflection showed her everything she'd lost. "How did it come to this?"
Clutching her chest, nails carving into her skin, she had no clue how long she'd been there when the door swung open.
"Oh, still at it so late?" Cleo leaned against the doorframe, twirling a USB drive between her fingers.
A knowing smile curled her lips. "WCleo know what's on this?"
Riley barely threw her a glance, cold as ice.
Seeing she wasn't getting a rise, Cleo went on, "It's the surveillance footage of you bribing the judge. All I have to do is click..."
