From shadows to light

Now that everything was ready to be served, everyone stood in line to collect their food. After collecting their food, they took their respective seats, but no one touched their food.

Celine: Why aren't they eating?

Celine asked Briony, who was there talking with her friends.

Briony: We don't eat until everyone takes their seat, including the chefs, except the guards.

Celine: Okay.

Briony: Oh, meet my friends Lily and Nina. They are 23 and 24. I have a good relationship with all the people here, but we do the same job.

Celine: Oh, nice to meet you. I am Celine, a doctor.

Nina squeezed her cheeks and said, "You are so cute and beautiful. Look at your skin glow. I am jealous."

Lily: You idiot, you are making her uncomfortable.

Nina: Oh, sorry.

Celine: It's okay. I don't mind.

Nina gave her a plate and asked her to come with them.

Oberheuser: You should go, Celine. Don't worry, I am right behind you. Enjoy...

Celine to herself: Not again.

She then stood in line with them and sat with them as well.

Briony: Hi Celine, didn't I tell you about the guy who shared similarities with you? It's him.

The guy she was talking about looked calm and innocent, and every other male present was trying hard to make him smile.

After everyone took their seat, Johan sat in front of Celine. Nina, who sat to the left of Celine, gave her a glass of juice.

Celine: Thanks.

Nina: It's alright.

Celine noticed that Johan looked at her first, then at the glass, after which he smiled and went back to eating. Celine was unable to understand and lifted her glass for a sip, but she felt that the surface of the juice was a bit shiny. She started to swirl the glass before drinking. Now that everybody had finished their food, it was time for Briony to perform on the stage. As she was walking up to the stage, everybody started cheering her on, so Celine put her glass down and did the same. Since Nina was sitting to the left of Celine, Celine used her left hand to tap Nina's left shoulder from behind without getting noticed by Nina and without leaving her own seat by extending her left hand. When Nina looked left, Celine exchanged her juice glass with Nina's. Those who noticed started giggling, but nobody told Nina about it. Eva (22) was sitting to the left of Nina.

Nina asked Eva, "What happened?"

Eva: What? Nothing.

Nina: Didn't you tap my shoulder?

Eva: What are you talking about? I didn't.

Nina turned back and looked around and figured out it was a prank. She looked at her dessert plate and, to her surprise, everything was there. She was even more shocked and looked at Celine, who was drinking her juice. At that moment, Briony had already reached the stage and was ready to perform. Nina thought to take a sip from the glass before Briony started singing, but when she tried to take a sip, nothing came out even though the juice was there. In excitement for the performance, she bent her head more, but instead of juice, the whole gelatin solid came directly to her face. Instead of pranking, she realized that she was pranked, and everyone started smiling.

Eva: Hey, don't laugh at her. She is going to cry alone in her room.

Nina: Oh yeah, you brat, talking like a grown-up and still can't sleep alone in the room. Wait, I will perform a blood ritual inside your room tonight.

Eva (22, female): Don't get angry, I was only joking.

Noah (24, male) stood up from his seat and put his hands on Johan's shoulder and said, "Maybe you should do that in Johan's room."

Johan: Hey, keep me out of this. Hey, you know I heard that people who act tough are more scared inside.

Noah: Oh, you mean I am a scaredy cat. How about we do a competition tonight?

Mateo (23, male) silently pulled Noah's chair away. When he took his seat, he fell hard, and again everyone started smiling.

Katrin: Enough, everyone, it's about to start.

Briony started rapping:

Momma left quick, said Dad was too poor,

Left me in his arms, love he gave me more.

Fed me cow's milk, princess at the core,

Worked day and night, our future he swore.

Every day to school, saw her in the crowd,

Knew it was my mom, but I couldn't speak aloud.

Tears in her eyes, guilt was profound,

Wished I was a stray, roaming free, unbound.

She begged for mercy, Dad took her back,

Thought peace had come, then war attacked.

Took all my joy, left me in the black,

Alone in the ocean, felt my world crack.

Prayed to the sky, is happiness a crime?

Despair in my heart, running out of time.

A hand reached out, pulled me from the grime,

Found a new fam, now I'm back in my prime.

Pops never wavered, never left my side,

Raised me with love, in him I confide.

Momma's tears flowed, guilt she couldn't hide,

But now I'm in Iceland, where love abides.

---

Celine had a Pikachu face after listening to her, but she understood her pain, and everyone started cheering her.