— How do you think Eric knows so much about you? — The peer crouching in front of her, his body possessed by the supposed Steven, makes the 16-year-old unable to move. Paralyzed, she stares at him with wide-open eyes, mentally begging Lucas and Veronica to hurry. — I am the source of all gossip. I love conflict.
— Why is the Scott family cursed? Why do you hate them so much? — asks Miranda in a fearful voice.
The demon in the body of a teenager, straightens his legs and walks away from the girl. He walks around the room, holding her phone in his hand. The flashlight is still on, making the room partially illuminated.
— Kid, do you know what this place was before the school was built here? — The terrified girl shakes her head in response. — It was hell, it is hell, and it will be hell forever. — Chills again gather around her neck and run down her spine. — For a hundred years I have been wandering the earth, unable to find peace, and why? Because I was murdered here, so in Horace Mann I possess the greatest power.
Her eyes well up with tears as more minutes pass and there is no trace of Lucas and Veronica.
— Does the Scott family have a connection to this murder, since you've been tormenting them for generations?
— That's right, kid, and the longer this goes on, the more vicious I become.
— So what do they have to do to break this curse and help you leave?
She was not convinced that with these words she would cause the demon to go berserk. Being in Eric's body, he grabs her by the neck and lifts her up, suffocating her.
— Don't be nosy... — warns her, then cruelly throws her to the floor. Miranda bursts into tears, feeling pain in every part of her body. — I had a great time with this family for many years, taking on different characters and names. And only one person in this family gained my sympathy because she was cruel and in no way pretended. I protected her and will protect her forever....
— Veronica and Eric are also cruel, and yet you hate them.
The demon bursts into mad laughter.
— Their cruelty is just a mask they put on. I thought maybe something would grow out of Veronica, but that redheaded bitch betrayed me.
— Did you kill anyone in their family? — asks the 16-year-old in a stifled voice, deep down feeling sorry for her siblings that they are stuck in a curse.
— Great-grandfather, grandmother.... with the mother did not succeed, although she lost her mind — the demon enumerates on his fingers, looking amused. — Now it's time for the children. — He sits down in a Turkish position opposite Miranda, making her even more uneasy. — Do you know why I dislike these children the most? Because they are even imbued with a curse.
It's strange that a teenage girl is talking to a demon in a scary room, using the body of her peer to do it. Another moment and she will also go crazy.
— What do you mean? — She asks in a whisper.
Ghost rests his cheek on his hand and looks at her with frantic eyes.
— Their mother has infected blood, but their father was raised by a woman with infected blood. This is the generation that must be eliminated before they multiply.
The girl couldn't be more terrified already.
Fortunately, just then she hears the voices of Lucas and Veronica. They both rush into the room, the 17-year-old fearlessly slams the door behind her and steps forward. She glares at Eric, whom she shines the phone in his face.
— So this is your nest where you tormented my mother, and now you're bringing my brother here? Quite cozy. — Her voice sounds sharp. — I guessed that you wanted to invite me too, so I stopped by for a cup of tea. I like lemon tea. — The redhead crosses her arms over her chest and sits down on a dusty pouf. — But before you brew it, get out of my brother's body, you bastard.
Lucas watches his friend, being full of admiration that she does not show fear at all, yet he tried to kill her!
The demon bursts into mad laughter.
— Don't play hard because inside you are all trembling with fear.
— It's not the fear, but the feeling of anger that's blowing me apart from the inside.
Miranda rises from the floor and, feeling her legs trembling, intends to run past the demon and hide behind Lucas, but Steven grabs her hand and pulls her close. Keeping his hand on her neck, he smiles sultrily at Veronica.
— I can make your brother a murderer. Do you want to visit him behind bars for most of your life?
The redhead wrinkles her eyebrows, being disturbed by his words.
— What do you want? What do you want me to do to make you forgive Eric? You destroyed sixteen years of his life, so now transfer all the anger to me. — Saying these words, she closes her eyelids. — I ask.
She is afraid, but if this is the way by which she can protect her family, she wants to hold this battle alone.
— Are you sure this is what you want? — The 17-year-old opens her eyes. — You've ignored your brother's suffering all your life, and now you're trying to prove how much you love him? — His taunting gets on her nerves, yet she doesn't respond. — It's funny that you try to play the heroine.
Only Veronica can see the demon leaving her brother's body. A black glow rises in the air, and the unconscious Eric falls to the floor. A frightened Miranda hides behind Lucas' back as she realizes that she can't open the door and leave this place.
They are trapped here.
The demon takes the form of a hooded person, moving closer to Veronica.
— What's going on? — The blond turns to his friend, focusing his full attention on her. He ignores the fact that Miranda is hiding behind his back, too much, sticking her fingers into his hand.
— He stands facing me.
Who would have expected that for sixteen years she had been friends with a vengeance-hungry demon? Allowing herself to be manipulated and causing a misunderstanding with her brother, and now she stood face to face with him, fearing that he could kill her at any moment.
— How do you want to defeat me, Veronica? You are unable to do so, and why? Because I am the curse of your family.
The redhead smiles under her breath.
— Are you sure about that? As far as I know, my mother unknowingly defeated you several times, and what was her weapon? — Although she is trembling all over inside, she does not show it from herself, intending to fight the demon at all costs. — She began to be happy, that's why you disappeared. And I will do literally anything to transfer this happiness to myself and Eric. We will defeat you.
Watching from the sidelines, Lucas and Miranda might have thought Veronica was a crazy person talking to herself if they didn't know she was in contact with a demon.
— Lucky? — Steven pretends to be amused by her words, although his voice betrays that he is concerned. — You people will never be happy. Your life is covered with darkness, so I have power over you!
A scream escapes the girl's lips as she feels her body inside begin to burn. She gets the impression that fire covers all her insides.
Lucas can't bear her suffering, so he runs up to her and hides her in his arms, believing that this will protect her.
And it does, as the seventeen-year-old, embracing him tightly, breathes a sigh of relief as the physical contact with her best friend makes it all disappear. The pain subsides and there is no trace of the demon.
Breathing hard, she clings her face to Lucas' chest feeling the solace that is her salvation. His proximity makes her safe.
— Let's get Eric out of here as soon as possible — she says in a whisper. — I'm getting closer and closer to finding a way to give us and our family eternal peace.
The 16-year-old strokes her hair, still holding her in his embrace.
— And I will do everything to help you.
You have to because you are my safe haven, Veronica thinks.
*
Miranda can't focus on her lessons. She is still shaken and thinking about what happened in the cursed room. She sits in the bench with joined hands, watching the teacher the whole time, however, she does not listen to what he says and has no clue what the topic is about. In addition, the whispers of her peers, make her irritable. They look at her with a sneer on their faces, considering themselves superior, since she is trash accepted at the mercy of the principal.
Eric again fails to participate in lessons. Since he passed out in the haunted room, he was given permission to rest.
And it is he who brings Miranda back to the world of the living when he unexpectedly appears in class. Lucas, who has so far slept with his head placed on a teddy bear, is also interested in the appearance of a colleague.
— I heard what happened. Tell your parents to buy you better iron at the pharmacy, anemic. — The teacher's voice sounds cynical. — It will get to the point where you will start skipping all your lessons.
The sixteen-year-old, who is not in the mood because of being possessed by a demon again, faces the insolent teacher and smiles mockingly.
— I have come to the conclusion that I don't need to attend your lessons, since I learn everything from books. Do you bring anything new to our learning? You read out entire topics from a textbook while half the class is asleep. — The students look pleased with Eric's attack. — You'd better get a grip before the students report to the principal about your course of instruction. At Horace Mann, we are the ones with the power, and at the same time we have the demands, since the parents are paying fat money for it.
— One person does not pay, so you can teach them individually! — speaks up ridiculously from a girl sitting on the second bench. Lucas turns to face her and taps his finger on his forehead.
— To you, empty head is even the best teacher will not help, so sit quietly. — He stands up for Miranda, which brings a smile to her face.
Eric finds his bench mate with his eyes and tightens his lips when he notices her glittering eyes staring at his roommate.
The teacher grunts back, embarrassed that the student has ridiculed him in front of the entire class.
— Scott, sit down at your desk and get on with the lesson.
Following his instruction, he sits down in his chair, not taking his eyes off his female colleague, who takes the seat next to him.
— You are sweet because even though everyone discovered your secret, you kept vigil with me when I was possessed. — He moves so close to her that the girl is pressed against the wall. — Are you secretly in love with me? — His black eyes mirror her face as she finally looks at him.
— I only did it because Lucas asked me. For mines, it was the demon that could kill you, at least I would have peace of mind. — The sixteen-year-old snorts under her breath. — Secretly in love with you? Good for you. With your despicable behavior, you certainly didn't make me fall in love with you. I have no taste for psychopaths. I am of sound mind.
Her words drive him crazy, or maybe it's more the fact that she only took care of him for the sake of Lucas? He grabs her by the chin and squeezes her tightly, causing whispers among her peers. Nevertheless, the teacher pays no attention at all, not wanting another confrontation with Scott.
— You're lucky the idiot didn't kill you. Next time, don't get involved in matters that involve my family.
— And vice versa — she replies, boldly looking him in the eye. — Don't meddle in my life. It's my business that I can't afford to pay my tuition at Horace Mann, and I'm here solely because of the kindness of the principal.
The brunet smiles mockingly.
— Horace Mann is for the elite, so I had to spread the word. As you can see, people didn't like the presence of "Pauper".
— If Horace Mann is for the elite, I don't understand why they include a piece of trash like you in this community? You are so hopeless that no one loves you. Even your sister has hated you all these years. You are a miserable boy who lives only to be a vessel for a demon.
These words are like a hard slap in the face. Eric rises from his chair and, with one last fulminating glance at Miranda, heads for the exit. Disregarding the teacher, who only watches him, he leaves, slamming the door.
— Probably couldn't stand the smell of the poor girl. I feel so sorry for him... — speaks up, the girl sitting on the last bench.
Lucas sighs loudly and, fed up with the constant bickering, falls face down on the plush dog, intending to sleep through the rest of the lesson.
*
A depressed Veronica sits on the windowsill, ignoring the stares of curious people as to why Princess Horace Mann is without company for the first time.
She shuffles her feet, looking at a single point on the floor. She ponders the solution to her family's problem. It's a long lunch break, but she doesn't feel like eating, so she sits alone in front of the classroom where she begins her next class. For a moment, though, she can collect her thoughts and think about whether her lonely battle with the demon is a good idea, or should she stop hiding the truth from her parents and reveal everything to them?
— I can't worry my mother. She will break down if she hears that we are in danger — she whispers under her breath, putting her hand to her forehead. She pulls her hair back and sighs loudly, and then her attention is caught by Kevin, who is heading towards her with a quick step.
She guesses that he won't let her alone.
— A while ago I heard from your friend what happened. Why didn't you tell me? I get the impression that you don't take me seriously at all. Lucas is with you everywhere, and he is the only one you ask for help.
Veronica is not in the mood, so Kevin chose the wrong moment to attack.
— Lucas is my best friend, so regardless of the situation, he will always be there for me, whether you like it or not. — Her answer is covered in needles, but she is not going to listen to the pretensions of a boy with whom she has recently been in a relationship.
The 18-year-old looks depressed.
— I don't understand... why did you give me a chance if you would rather not be with me, Vera? I see indifference in your eyes. You don't care about me at all. — His voice sounds sad. — Did you do it sympathize or boredom? Or did you want to cause a daily sensation so that everyone would talk about you?
The girl forces a cynical smile.
— Maybe you're right. I think I actually took pity on you because I don't feel anything when you are next to me. I'm not ready for a relationship, I wasn't and won't be anytime soon, so I made the biggest mistake of my life. — When she's not in the mood, she's sharp as a razor blade and doesn't pay attention to the feelings of others, she just says whatever comes to her tongue. — You've known me for over a year, you know I'm selfish, so why did you even bother courting me? My life is the bottom, I am the bottom, so a relationship with me is a total bottom. I have so many things on my mind, so many worries, that I'm overheated in dating.
Kevin is shocked to hear cruel words from the girl he is in love with up to his ears.
— You cannot be in a relationship with someone because you have no heart at all. — Tears glaze at the corners of his eyes, but he tries to remain firm. — You treated me like a dog.
— I treat dogs with love — Veronica says, not even thinking about the fact that she is ruining their friendship.
— I guess I needed that honesty. — The eighteen-year-old snorts under her breath. — I only wish I had heard it sooner before you gave me the chance. And you're right with your saying. You're not even a beast because a beast at least knows some mercy.
Looking at her with pity in his eyes, he turned on his heel and walked away.
The demon, standing in front of her, laughs out loud.
— My girl. Keep doing this, and you'll be left alone like a finger. Great...
She can't stand it and grabs the book lying next to her, then throws it at the demon in a rage.
— Get out of my life, motherfucker! — she shouts to the whole corridor, and then Steven dissolves into thin air.
The students look at her, wondering if she's okay. In their eyes, at that moment, she looks like a crazy person.