The final crown competition was about to begin.
The school auditorium buzzed with excitement, nervous laughter, whispered hopes, and jealous glances. Every couple taking part stepped into their positions on the dance floor, adjusting outfits, fixing hair, holding hands just a little tighter than before.
Chris stood beside Twilight, her fingers curled nervously into the soft fabric of her violet dress.
She wasn't nervous because it was her first dance.
She wasn't nervous because of the crowd.
She was nervous because she was competing against Lily and Henry.
Her best friend.
And her crush.
Her heart beat faster every time she thought about it.
Twilight, on the other hand, looked surprisingly calm. Too calm.
He stood tall, shoulders relaxed, eyes steady, as if the outcome was already decided. In his mind, he could already see it—standing on stage with Chris, crowns on their heads, smiling for photos.
Years later, telling their children about that night.
"That was the night your mother and I won prom king and queen," he imagined himself saying.
The thought made his lips curve into a soft smile.
Teasing & Tension
Lily leaned closer to Chris, lowering her voice with a mischievous grin.
"You know," she whispered, "my date is your crush."
Chris shot her a sharp look.
"Lily!"
Lily laughed quietly, enjoying every second of it. "Relax. I'm just saying."
Chris crossed her arms, trying to act unbothered, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Meanwhile, Henry stood beside Twilight, adjusting his cufflinks.
"So," Henry said casually, "how's your date going?"
Twilight glanced at Chris, who was currently pretending not to listen.
"…Good," Twilight replied. "Really good."
Henry nodded, smiling, but there was something unreadable in his eyes.
The countdown began.
Two minutes.
The air felt heavy—like something important was about to happen.
Elsewhere – The Masked Man Moves
Far away from the bright lights of prom night, the masked guy stepped out of a narrow street and paused on a rooftop.
Below him, the city spread endlessly—neon lights, distant sirens, shadows moving between buildings.
He looked over the city slowly, carefully.
Then—
He jumped.
Blending into the crowd below, disappearing among people like he had never been there.
A few steps.
A turn to the right.
Another dark street.
The lights dimmed.
The noise faded.
He walked deeper into the shadows.
Then he stopped.
His body stiffened.
The world around him went unnaturally silent.
No wind.
No footsteps.
No sound.
His grip tightened around the sword.
Something moved.
Slow. Heavy.
His eyes locked onto the darkness ahead.
The Dance Begins
Back at prom, the lights dimmed.
A soft, dramatic melody filled the auditorium.
The final dance had begun.
Couples moved gracefully across the floor, trying their best to stand out—to be remembered. Spins, smooth steps, confident smiles. Everyone wanted the crown.
Chris took a deep breath and placed her hands on Twilight's shoulders.
"Don't mess this up," she whispered half-jokingly.
Twilight smiled. "No promises."
They began to move.
Twilight led gently, careful not to rush her, watching her expressions more than the steps. Chris followed, her nervousness slowly fading as the music wrapped around them.
She laughed softly when he twirled her a second longer than necessary.
Lily and Henry danced nearby.
Henry was focused, graceful, almost serious—while Lily danced effortlessly, her laughter bright, her movements natural.
They looked perfect.
Chris noticed.
And her chest tightened.
Eyes on the Floor, Hearts in Conflict
Twilight noticed Chris's distraction.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded quickly. "Yeah. Just… don't drop me."
He chuckled. "I won't."
But inside, he could feel it.
Chris wasn't fully here.
Her eyes kept drifting—not toward him—but toward Henry.
And that realization hurt more than he expected.
Dark Street – Something Awakes
The masked guy slowly stepped forward.
The shadows ahead twisted, forming something tall and wrong.
Another monster emerged—bigger than the last, its body shifting unnaturally, claws scraping the ground.
The masked guy exhaled slowly.
"…So it followed me," he murmured.
His eyes glowed brighter beneath the mask.
The street trembled.
The Dance Floor – Almost Perfect
Back in the auditorium, the music swelled.
The crowd cheered louder as couples gave their best moves.
Chris spun gracefully, her dress flowing like violet smoke.
For a moment, she forgot everything.
For a moment, she smiled genuinely at Twilight.
And Twilight's heart skipped.
This, he thought, this is enough.
Lily caught Chris's eye from across the floor and winked.
Chris rolled her eyes but smiled.
Henry noticed that look.
And something inside him stirred—something confusing, something he wasn't ready to admit.
Two Worlds Moving Toward Collision
The masked guy raised his sword.
The monster roared.
At the exact same moment—
The music at prom reached its climax.
Two worlds moved at once.
Light and darkness.
Joy and danger.
Crowns and claws.
And none of them knew—
This night would change everything.