Sara had been certain the boys would be punished—the teacher's overconfident swagger suggested he was already scheming some cruel reprimand. But she hadn't expected the headmaster to be so lenient. Instead of harsh sanctions, he issued a warning: any further disruptions would bring far less mercy.
Perhaps the director didn't want to raise suspicion or feared what the teacher might do. After all, only a handful of people knew the truth about them—and for everyone's safety, silence was essential.
Sara's worry for Oliver was growing. Since the psychologist's interview, he had become even more withdrawn, quieter than ever. She sensed they knew Oliver had helped her escape, but since she wasn't the girl they sought, they had let him off. Still, they punished him—for the mark and swelling on his cheek. He lied to Matthew, claiming a fight with some boy, but Sara saw through the excuse. She forgave him; he'd suffered enough.
Alan was changing, too. Ever since Sara revealed the truth about the General, he avoided her. She hadn't done anything wrong—she just wanted him to know. She was trying to protect him, especially now that they were plotting against him. But sometimes, she thought it wasn't fear—he was ashamed of his family, haunted by the bloodline linking him to a monster.
Yet, every time she saw him, she smiled—quiet reassurance that it didn't matter to her. After all, he was not the General. He couldn't choose his heritage. Still, she could see the pain it caused him. And she wondered—if she were in his place, how would she feel?
"Here you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." Matthew's voice startled her from her thoughts. She turned and saw him settling beside her on the grass, back resting against the tree trunk.
Sara often came to the pond to clear her mind. Her roommate's constant noise filled the room, and though the pond held bad memories, she still hoped to find answers. Why had strange, terrifying things started happening since she'd escaped death?
At first, the ghosts hadn't seemed so threatening, but now they grew aggressive, demanding she kill the General's grandson. And since the General appeared at the resort, their frenzy had intensified. Only Sara could see and feel them, and they took advantage of that. She suffered, though she was inno
"Do you resent me for what I did to Laura?" Matthew asked suddenly, drawing her gaze.
He gave a small, rueful smile. "Not anymore. At first, I was angry to see her suffer—she cried all the time. But Simon's presence helped her get back on her feet. He's a good friend, and he took care of her right. So don't hate him for hitting you. You knew you deserved it."
Sara nodded slowly.
"I didn't want to hurt her, but I can be spiteful. I needed to get back at her. I know Laura liked me for a while, but I broke up with Julia because of her. Julia's games were cruel—I wanted to treat her the same way. Now I see how childish that was, but at least she hates me and knows there's nothing between us."
Sara's eyes softened.
"I noticed you still think about Julia. Would you want to try to fix things between you two?"
Matthew shook his head firmly.
"It's too late. No chance anymore. But Julia's always important to me. That's why I wanted to talk."
"Is something wrong?"
"Not yet. But I have a bad feeling. I think Julia's in danger. Those bastards keep watching her. The principal even told her to see the psychologist. That worries me—she hasn't done anything wrong. Something's wrong," he said, voice low.
Sara froze.
Could Julia be the girl they were after? From what she'd heard, the target caused trouble—and Julia had visited Matthew once before. Why hadn't Sara realized earlier? Why had she assumed it was herself? What was really going on?
"Where is Julia? We can't let her go there. We have to stop her—even if we have to force her," Sara said, panic rising as she pushed herself up.
Matthew's eyes were full of concern. Without hesitation, they ran toward the building.
Sara darted to her room, but Julia wasn't there. She sprinted to the hallway, eyes darting, desperate. Though she disliked Julia, Sara refused to let anyone hurt her.
She bit her lip, aware of curious gazes. A boy shoved her shoulder roughly, sneering—but Sara didn't react. She was no longer timid, but still lacked the courage to fight in public. She didn't want to become a laughingstock.
Suddenly, she noticed Alan sitting on the windowsill, watching her intently. He put down the book he'd been reading and sprang off the sill. Alan marched toward the boy who'd shoved her and grabbed him by the collar, embarrassing the smaller boy.
"You think you're tough, bullying innocent girls?" Alan's voice was fierce, the word innocent ringing in Sara's mind. Was that really how he saw her?
"Like to terrorize women? Want me to show you what happens when you mess with them?" Alan pushed the boy backward—too hard, and the boy fell to the floor.
Some girls giggled nervously. Sara scratched the back of her neck, uncomfortable with the attention. She hated being the center of it—but she needed to find Julia, and Alan was helping.
Alan pressed his foot against the boy's chest, chuckling.
"Will you apologize to your friend, or do I have to make you?"
The boy glanced around at the amused onlookers.
"I didn't do anything. Nobody likes that little freak anyway—she looks like crap," he spat.
Tears sprang to Sara's eyes. She had always known she was disliked—different from the others, an outsider. Julia had said horrible things about her. She'd overheard cruel whispers more times than she could count.
She had done nothing wrong—and yet she hurt.
"What did you say, idiot? What did you call her?" Alan growled, shoving the boy against the wall with brutal force. The boy groaned. Before he could rise, Alan's fist connected hard with his face. Blood poured from his nose.
Sara's eyes widened as Alan shoved the boy toward her. The brunette collapsed at her feet, and Alan grabbed him by the shirt, forcing him to kneel.
"Apologize to Sara," Alan commanded.
The boy spat blood and saliva but said nothing.
"I won't say it twice. When someone ignores me, I get unpleasant. You don't want to find out how unpleasant, asshole."
"Alan, stop," Sara whispered, voice trembling. "I don't need his apology—they mean nothing to me. Please, stop. We have bigger problems. I need your help."
No one noticed the elderly man watching from behind the wall, a mocking smile twisting his lips. His eyes narrowed as he studied his grandson.
He had to bring the boy to his side—and now he had the perfect way to ensure he wouldn't refuse.
He had found a solution.
*
During the incident in the corridor, when Alan stood up for Sara—approaching it too emotionally—Matthew managed to find Julia. He talked to her and asked her not to go to the psychologist, but the girl hadn't intended to go from the beginning.
After her last visit, she had decided that she would never return, so Matthew promised her he wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
"I knew that this cow was still important to him. I was just a toy, a plaything. So what was I hoping for?" Laura snorted under her breath as Sara explained the situation with Julia.
At first, the brunette wished Julia all the worst and said she deserved to die, but Simon, who was sitting next to her, quickly called her to order. Meanwhile, he kept reminding his friend that even the worst enemy shouldn't be wished dead, so Laura finally relented.
"I hate the bitch. She probably inherited her genes from that grandmother who allegedly tried to kill the General."
"Matthew will try to keep an eye on her, but then what? They tower over us, so if they want to, they will still get her. I just wonder why they need Julia? After all, she's not guilty of anything—it was her grandmother who attempted to kill the man. The General just wants to relieve himself by killing her granddaughter? I don't understand any of this," Simon said, and Laura crossed her arms.
"I think he just gets satisfaction from watching someone's death. He's not a man, but a monster," Sara said as a knock sounded on the door. Oliver stepped inside and, with a nod, called her over. Surprised by his sudden visit, she approached him.
Laura and Simon watched them with obvious curiosity, so they stepped out into the corridor. Sara looked around to make sure no one was nearby.
"Is something wrong?"
"You were right. Julia is in danger. I accidentally overheard their conversation. The General won't rest until he gets his hands on her. He sometimes said he hated people from Poland and couldn't stand looking at us. I don't know what he's planning, but we have to be careful. This man is unpredictable, and as you can see, he doesn't care about anything, so we're all in danger. We have to stick together." His words made Sara's face blanch.
Oliver watched her closely as she leaned against the wall.
"So what? Is he planning to kill us?"
"I'm afraid it's about something else. He knows very well that since we're locked up in this center, no one cares about us. It's like a correctional facility, so I think he's trying to take advantage of it." The girl shivered, feeling chills down her spine. She sensed Oliver was thinking the same thing.
Was that why the spirits were trying to warn her? But then, why did they want Alan dead? He wasn't guilty of anything. Was this their way of seeking revenge?
"Do you mean to say he wants to do it again?" she asked in a trembling voice, and Oliver only nodded as a schoolgirl walked past them.
"I'm just guessing, but it seems most obvious to me. He really can't stand people from Poland, and that means he's not sane."
Shocked by the news, Sara returned to her room. She hid behind the closet when she noticed Simon trying to kiss Laura. He almost succeeded, but the girl suddenly turned her face away and got up from the bed.
"I can't, Simon. You're my best friend. I'd rather not ruin our relationship because I really care about you. Besides, I'm still healing my broken heart. It's not easy after how Matthew treated me," she said quietly.
Simon got up and walked closer so he could see her face.
"You still like him, don't you? You have hope. It's pathetic, Laura. You're a nobody to him, and you see him as the eighth wonder of the world. I don't understand how you can't see that I've had deeper feelings for you from the start. I care about you and would do anything for you, but you still prefer that idiot who treats you like trash. It hurts. It really hurts," he said, his voice brittle, then left the room, slamming the door.
"Simon," she whispered, wiping tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry, but it's really hard."
Simon was right. He truly cared for Laura and would do anything for her, but she still blindly looked up to Matthew, for whom she meant nothing. How could she still have hope when he treated her so cruelly? She had a boyfriend who really loved her, and she couldn't appreciate it.
Laura suffered because of her foolishness.
Sara stepped out from behind the closet, and though she shouldn't interfere, she couldn't bear to watch anymore.
"You're making a huge mistake, Laura. I talked to Matthew, and I know he still loves Julia. You should let him go because you'll only suffer unnecessarily. Simon really cares about you."
The brunette looked at her roommate but said nothing. Sara was sure she would yell at her, yet she remained silent.
Did she understand? Sara hoped so.
Another night was a nightmare for Sara. The phantoms whispered terrifying words into her ears as she lay in bed with her eyes closed, praying they would finally stop. She pressed her lips together, trying to hold back tears gathering beneath her eyelids as the ghosts repeated that they would kill her if she didn't comply with their request.
She buried her head in the pillow as the bedclothes slid off, landing at the other end of the room. She felt an icy hand grab her leg, trying to pull her off the bed. She clung to the railing, unwilling to be hurt again.
But she failed to hold on and was pulled down, painfully falling to the floor. She bruised her hand as she tried to defend herself, but an unknown force dragged her across the room. She reached out to grab anything but couldn't.
Suddenly, the door banged open, and the phantom dragged her out of the room.
Despite the noise, Laura did not wake. Only Sara could hear it.
Fearful, Sara saw the ghost dragging her toward the stairs. With panic in her eyes, she grabbed the first rung and refused to let go, knowing how painful falling would be. The phantom suddenly released her, and Sara heard voices coming from the lobby. She ran downstairs and looked from behind the wall.
"I don't know how you'll do it, but you have to bring the boy, even by force. No one can know I'm talking to him, so it has to happen at night," said the General, staring fiercely at the math teacher. "What are you waiting for?"
"The boy won't listen. He hates me. Besides, the kids lock up at night, so I won't go inside," the teacher replied, frightened, cowering as the General slapped him hard across the face.
Sara hid behind the wall to avoid being seen.
"Are you disregarding orders? You're supposed to bring my grandson, right now!" The General was planning something, and Sara knew she couldn't let Alan meet him.
Without thinking, she ran to the boys' section where the rooms were. She frantically knocked on the door, ignoring the sleeping students.
"Alan, open up. I'm begging you," she whispered, occasionally looking back for the teacher. When she heard the lock click, she breathed a sigh of relief and saw the boy standing in the doorway. He wore only boxers, so she quickly covered her eyes, cheeks burning with embarrassment, but she had no choice. She had to warn him.
"Someone's coming for you soon. Hurry. I heard the General wants to see you. It can't be good, so you have to hide. The director definitely has extra keys to our rooms, so you can't stay there."
She froze when she heard footsteps on the stairs and looked to Alan for support. The boy grabbed her hand and pulled her deeper into the hallway. They hid behind a wall and silently watched as the math teacher approached Alan's door. He grabbed the handle carefully, glanced around, and was surprised to find the door open. He went inside, and Alan and Sara seized the moment to run downstairs.
Alan pulled Sara toward the girls' rooms. He hesitated when his gaze caught the cantina next to the stairs—the same room where Sara had gotten stuck after the party at Simon's house and where they first met. It was from there Alan had freed her when she snapped.
Ignoring Sara's shaking head, he pushed her into the room, then went inside himself and slammed the door behind them.
"You made a mistake. They only open from the outside. We fell into a trap," Sara whispered in panic.
The cantina was minimalistic and dark, but she felt Alan's presence clearly. Her heart pounded, and her breathing quickened. At first, she thought it was fear, but she realized she was wrong when the boy moved closer.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
"Are you all right? You're shaking," Alan said, causing Sara to swallow hard. She couldn't tell him the truth—it wasn't fear, but something else. She would sooner sink through the floor than admit it.
"They're here again. That's why I'm scared," she whispered, widening her eyes as Alan grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close.
Startled by his sudden touch, she didn't react. Her head rested against his chest, her arms hanging limply at her sides, unsure what to do. She couldn't embrace him; her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest. Besides, he was shirtless, which made her even more uncomfortable.
She wanted to pull away, but he held her tighter.
"At least let me do this for a while, Sara. I'll protect you," he said softly.
His words calmed her, and she slowly wrapped her arms around him, finally relaxing.
Suddenly, a knock on the door startled them. Sara immediately took a step back and looked at Alan with a frightened expression.
The math teacher's voice was heard from the other side.
"Alan, open up."
Sara was silent. Alan looked at her and gently held her face in his hands.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise," he whispered.
She closed her eyes, trying to believe him.