Chapter 9 I Already Tried to Stop Her
“The rain’s coming down way too hard out there. Can I just stay a little longer?”
The guard grumbled but stepped aside.
Elsa quickly thanked him..
Wearing her dance shoes, she crossed the stage–only to hear a heavy thud from the storage room.
Something felt off.
She instinctively walked over.
When she reached the door, the noise had already stopped.
Elsa raised a hand and knocked lightly. “Is someone in there?”
No reply.
She waited a moment longer. Still nothing.
Maybe I imagined it, she thought, about to turn away—
-but then a faint noise echoed from inside.
She hesitated, then turned the knob.
There on the floor, surrounded by scattered tacks, was the judge, his face twisted in pain.
+8 Pearls
“Is it your blood sugar again?” Elsa rushed forward, prying open his clenched jaw and slipping her last piece of chocolate into his mouth.
The judge’s eyes slowly regained focus. He pointed to the inner pocket of his suit.
“I’ll go find someone–don’t fall asleep!”
Viewers watching the livestream were already losing it.
“Pffi, that’s when she slipped him the bribe! Look how fast she left!”
“Come on, she clearly used the ‘finding help‘ excuse to go alert someone else.”
“Whole low–blood–sugar thing looks staged to me. Like they planned it together.”
Then-
The memory continued.
Moments after Elsa left, Quinn slipped inside.
She stared at the judge sprawled on the floor. No concern–only a cold smile.
The judge, thinking she was help, reached out his hand.
Instead, Quinn knelt and pulled a small box from her pocket.
Inside were several gleaming gold bars.
She smiled faintly. “Mr. Steve, this is from my sister Elsa. She told me to give this to you. She’s gone to get help.”
“What?!”
The judge’s eyes went wide in disbelief.
Quinn sighed with well practiced helplessness. “I tried to stop her. I really did, But she was desperate to win the
Chapter 9 I Already Tried to Stop Her
competition…”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Seeing his reaction, her smirk returned–subtle and smug.
Before he could speak, she shoved the box into his inner jacket pocket.
“Mr. Steve, I’ll go check how that help is coming along.”
And just like that, she turned and walked away.
Ten minutes later-
Bang!
The door burst open. The judge sat slumped on the floor, white as a sheet.
Elsa rushed in, panicked and breathless. “I couldn’t find anyone! Let me help you out of here-”
“Get away from me!” the judge roared. He flung her hand aside.
Elsa stumbled into a shelf. Blood beaded instantly at her temple.
“Don’t pretend to care!” The judge ripped the box from his pocket and hurled it at her face.
“Were you the one who laid those tacks?!”
Elsa was frozen.
Gold bars spilled across the floor, catching the light.
“What bribe? I don’t know anything about this! This isn’t mine”
+8 Pearls
“There’s surveillance!” the judge sneered, pointing at the security camera. “Audio too. You think you can talk your way out of this?”
“Said you were going to get help, but all of this–you set it up!”
“And now you come back trying to play savior?”
He yanked her by the collar. “Even if I lose my title, I’m not accepting this filth!”
Elsa’s pupils contracted.
She remembered–she’d seen Quinn sneaking around earlier.
“It wasn’t me! It was Quinn!” she blurted. “She framed me!”
“Where’s the proof?” the judge barked a bitter laugh. “Everyone knows Miss Quinn is sweet and kind. She only helped because she cares about you.
He shoved her back, disgusted. “An adopted fake, jealous and dirty–you’d stoop to anything.”
Footsteps echoed outside.
Quinn entered with the school officials.
Her eyes were red, voice choking, “Mr. Steve, are you okay? Elsa.. how could you do something like this? I told you not to…”
She turned to Elsa, clutching her hand.
“Apologize now It’s not too late to make this right.”
Elsa Mared at her.
12:25 PM P
Chapter 9 Already Tried to Stop Her
Quinn’s manicured nails dug into her skin–so deep they almost broke it.
“Let go,” Elsa said coldly, trembling with fury.
Quinn stumbled back, holding her wrist and sobbing. “Elsa, I tried to stop you! Why-”
“Enough.”
The principal’s voice was frigid.
“Elsa, your eligibility is revoked. Leave the stage. Now.”
+8 Pearls
The dance studio was like a freezer.
Barefoot, Elsa stood on the hardwood floor, repeating spins before the mirror. Again and again.
Her toes had already blistered and bled, leaving smears on the wood.
“Five, six, seven, eight..” she gritted her teeth, counting aloud–then leapt and crashed to the floor again.
The mirror reflected her bruised, crumpled figure.
“How did it end up like this…” she whispered.
She clutched at her chest, her nails digging into her flesh.
Time passed.
The door creaked open.
“Well, still practicing this late?” Quinn leaned against the doorframe, twirling a USB drive between her fingers.
A smirk played at her lips. “Want to know what’s on this?”
Elsa didn’t respond. She glanced at Quinn with cold indifference.
Unbothered, Quinn continued, her tone slow and deliberate. “It’s the footage of you bribing the judge. And all it takes is one click….”
