SOAP OPERA – Chapter 12: The Fall of the Twins
The Literature Theatre was nearly bursting at the seams. Every remaining contestant—Johnson, Raphael, Gift, Ella, Praise, and the twins, Mary and Martha—sat on the edge of their seats. The air was thick with tension, almost suffocating, as though every breath carried the weight of destiny. The previous eliminations—Promise and Tania—still haunted the room, and whispers of sabotage lingered like shadows in every corner.
Professor Nwagu stepped onto the stage, clipboard in hand, eyes scanning the audience. The hush that fell was almost holy. Even the scribbles of pens and nervous shuffles of paper ceased.
"Good evening, writers," he began, his voice calm yet cutting through the air like a knife. "The competition has now reached a critical stage. Some of you have risen, some have faltered, and some have… hidden strength that only now reveals itself."
He paused, letting the words sink in. The twins exchanged a brief glance, their fingers subconsciously twining together. Mary's lips pressed into a thin line, Martha's jaw tense. Their bond had always been their strength—but tonight, it felt like the weight of expectation was pressing down on them.
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"This round has been intense," Professor Nwagu continued. "The submissions displayed skill, creativity, and bold choices. However, the pressure has exposed cracks even in the strongest foundations."
He tapped the clipboard. The screen behind him illuminated with the names of the eliminated: Mary and Martha.
A collective gasp erupted. The theatre vibrated with disbelief. Some students even covered their mouths in shock. Whispers erupted like wildfire:
"No… they were so good!"
"The twins? How?"
"This must be sabotage…"
Mary's eyes went wide. Her hand flew to her mouth. "What… how…?" she stammered. Martha's face paled, a tremor running through her body. The twins had been confident, always calculated, always prepared—but tonight, something had gone terribly wrong.
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The camera-like gaze of the audience seemed to pierce the twins' thoughts. They had underestimated one factor: the subtle sabotage that had been whispered through the ranks. Perhaps it wasn't even intentional—perhaps it was their own small oversight—but the result was devastating.
"Eliminated," Professor Nwagu repeated, his voice resonating through the hall. "Mary and Martha, your journey ends here."
The twins looked at each other, a silent mix of disbelief and sorrow passing between them. They had been inseparable, their creativity intertwined, and now that bond had not been enough to save them.
Mary whispered, voice barely audible: "We… we were too sure of ourselves…"
Martha nodded, choking back tears. "And now it's gone…"
The theatre was silent except for the subtle sobs and whispered condolences of other contestants. Johnson, sitting a few rows ahead, clenched his fists under the desk, his mind already racing. This elimination was a warning: no one was untouchable, not even the seemingly strongest.
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The Winners of the Round:
Professor Nwagu's tone shifted slightly, now giving a glimmer of relief to the survivors.
Winner: Johnson Adeyemi
Second Place: Raphael
Third Place: Ella
The hall erupted with applause, but it was tinged with unease. Johnson had once again proven himself after his dramatic return in Chapter 9. Raphael, as always, maintained his cool and calculated aura. Ella's subtle brilliance earned her third place, a reminder that quiet persistence mattered as much as boldness.
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Outside the theatre, students whispered endlessly about the twins' shocking elimination. Some speculated sabotage. Others thought it was mere miscalculation. But all agreed: the competition had escalated into a brutal battlefield. Alliances had fractured. Rivalries sharpened. And the remaining contestants—Johnson, Raphael, Gift, Ella, and Praise—now knew that survival demanded cunning, strategy, and unrelenting focus.
Johnson walked past the theatre doors, eyes scanning his competitors. His voice was low, almost a growl:
"This is just the beginning. If Mary and Martha could fall… no one is safe."
Raphael nodded subtly from across the hall, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was calculating, always calculating. The next round would be more dangerous. More unpredictable. More… lethal for those who faltered.
And so, the stage was set for the next phase of Riverside University's most dramatic writing war yet—a war where talent, strategy, and sheer nerve would decide who survived and who would become another name etched in the history of SOAP OPERA.