Isolating herself from her friends is a bad idea when Sara reminds herself that she has to go back to her room to take the vitamins, she takes every evening. She insists on going alone and gets it done quickly but doesn't think she'll hear screams on the way back that worry her.
She is afraid someone is being hurt, so she walks down the main corridor to make sure it's just a quarreling couple. Her heart stands still when she spots the General jerking a beaten Julia.
He pulls her out of the doctor's office by her hair, and when the girl screams louder and louder, then he slaps her in the face. Julia cries, and a doctor comes out into the corridor.
Sara has trusted him so far, so she doubted that he too might have ties to these people. She was sure that he was just doing his job, having no idea what was going on in the center, but the truth turned out to be quite different.
- You have to give me Julia by morning, because I asked her friend to come back here tomorrow. You don't even know how hard it was to get rid of that kid. He would rather not leave her alone. He seems to have sniffed something out," the doctor says, correcting the glasses on his nose.
- I will do what I want, if there are any problems with him as well, I will silence him accordingly. - The general smiles grimly.
- Your brother won't let you do that. You can't kill those kids. He has given you a condition that you must stick to.
- Do you think I'll follow his rules? I'll do it my way. Many years ago I succeeded, I lived under a false name, but now I'm old, so I don't worry about my life anymore. If I like, I will murder everyone," he announces.
Sarah gets weak.
Oliver is right. This man is mentally ill and no joke with him. He can do whatever he wants with them, because he no longer reckons with what awaits him when the truth comes out.
- I advise you not to do that. They are just kids. I know as much as you hate these people, but these are not the times of war when you could afford it. It's different now. Someone will eventually realize that something is wrong when they can't contact their child.
- Cut the crap. My brother called my parents and informed them about the situation that took place here. They know why their phones were taken away. Besides, they don't care about them at all, and there are some interesting people here. I'm eager to take care of them, because it's a destiny I have to take advantage of.
- I will not allow it.
Sara leans harder to see what condition Julia is in.
Before she knows it, the girl is looking in her direction. She sees in her eyes a plea for rescue, and although Sara wants to do something, she is afraid.
She can't face this man.
But what if she had been the one in her place? Maybe Julia wouldn't have rushed to her rescue, either, but Sara is always worried about others and very sympathetic to them, and for that reason, she is too good to people.
She bites her lip out of nerves and steps forward as the General speaks again.
- Among these kids is also the granddaughter of a woman medium. My nephew knows perfectly well who the girl is, but he keeps quiet.
Sara freezes. Instantly, she gets weak.
Is she the woman's granddaughter? There is unlikely to be anyone in the center who behaves as strangely as she does. She is the only crazy person who, since the accident, has discovered a sixth sense that allows her to contact the dead. All along, she has been wondering: what is the secret behind it?
Could it be that she actually inherited this gift from her grandmother? If so, she is in danger.
The doctor only now notices Sarah and, with a movement of his hand, orders her to flee.
How can he leave Julia in this situation? She has no idea what this man intends to do, but she guesses that he does not have friendly intentions towards her.
She hates Julia, but she's the girl her friend loves. Matthew tries to protect her and does everything to keep her safe, so how can she just walk away?
Although, she is shaking all over inside. She closes her eyelids and is already about to shout for him to leave Julia alone when she feels someone catch her around the waist, and put a hand to her mouth to keep her silent. He forcefully drags her to another corridor and pushes her against the wall, not letting her move.
Surprised, she lifts her face and looks at Oliver. He is furious and even mirrors her with an electrifying gaze.
- Are you crazy? What were you going to do? Did you want to save that mean viper and bring danger on yourself? Stay out of this, do you understand? I won't let you get hurt," he announces, looking at her face. - She doesn't deserve your help. Don't you remember what she did to you?
- I don't care that I was hurt by her. She needs help now, and I intend to give it. Julia is just a human being, just like the rest of us, and we should all be on the same page to get free as soon as possible. I also hate her, but I don't intend to be as selfish as you, so let me go, Oliver. - Perhaps her words are too harsh, but she is not going to care only about her ass when someone else is suffering in front of her eyes. Because of the situation here, she gains the courage she has always lacked. Now she is willing to do anything to help her friend.
Oliver moves away from her, so Sara runs to the place where Julia is. She hopes that the General hasn't taken her from there yet, but with sadness in her eyes, she looks at the place where the semi-conscious girl was a moment ago. The corridor is empty, and there is no trace of her or the General.
She begged Sarah to help her, and she did nothing. What if the General does her more harm? What if he kills her... This man is incalculable.
One thing is certain: she needs to find Matthew and the others as soon as possible to inform them of the situation.
- He took her away," speaks up Oliver, who stands behind his friend. She turns to face him and throws him a furious look.
- If you hadn't interrupted me, I would have dealt with the old man. I would have helped Julia, and now I don't even know where she is.
- You have changed. You're bolder, and you're also starting to be mean. - She is surprised by his words. - Or you've hung out with the wrong company," he adds more quietly. Sara senses a hint of malice in this. Does he by any chance mean Alan? - I guess where the General took Julia, but I won't tell you. There is no way you can pretend to be a heroine. I don't like it at all.
- You don't have to tell me, but the important thing is that someone will help her. Even if you would rather not do it, Matthew and Alan will go there to save her. - She looks at him with pleading eyes, hoping this will help convince the boy.
- Alan will definitely help her. Damn bastard," hisses Oliver, clenching his fists. He sees that Sara is watching his reaction, so he calms down and nods. - I'll tell them, let's go.
They hurriedly find the rest, from where questions begin as to why it took her so long to take vitamins. Oliver pulls the guys aside. He informs them about the situation Sara witnessed. She interrupts her speech when Matthew breaks from his seat, ready to look for Julia. Alan grabs him by the forearm, not letting him leave.
- I think your friend is going to say something else," he says to Matthew, and currently he feels the piercing gaze with which Oliver honors him.
- Once at night, I followed the General and saw where he was headed. I think this is where he took Julia to. I'll take you there," he adds hurriedly, feeling the blond man's distrustful gaze on him.
- Have you been following him at night? Do you suffer from insomnia, or do you secretly play detective? - he mocks, smiling under his breath. With evident reluctance, he glances at Oliver, who returns the favor.
Sara has been watching them the whole time and is bothered by Alan's behavior. He has a sinister look and when he notices that the girl is watching him, his face softens. He pats Matthew on the shoulder, then the three of them run to the place Oliver mentioned.
- I would be happy if this viper went to the sand, but they'd better find it. One doesn't wish death on even one's worst enemy," Laura says, all the while looking at Simon, who is talking to the girls. Sara gets the impression that he's doing it deliberately to make Laura jealous, and apparently it's working, because the brunette can't take her eyes off him. She nervously bites her lip and stamps her foot, displeased that her friend is embracing another girl. That one is clearly pleased with the interest the handsome boy has in her, and every now, and then she giggles under her breath. - I swear that if this maggot bares her teeth one more time, I'll give her such a slap that she'll never open her mouth again.
Sara seemingly listens to Laura, but is too nervous to talk to her. She prays that the boys will succeed in saving Julia and that no one will get hurt.
Biting her finger, she stares at the place where she last saw them. She hopes it won't take them long, and they'll be back here any minute.
*
An hour passes, and the clock strikes twenty-one, so everyone has to go back to the room. The teachers start circling, so the teenager hides behind a bench. She can't go to her room because they still haven't returned. She has to make sure everything is okay with them.
The teacher turns off the light in the corridor then leaves, so Sara gets out from behind the bench and stands by the wall. Laura had long since returned to the room, because Simon's behavior made her so angry that she couldn't think of anything else. Sara called out not to listen to her cursing at the girls there, so she decided to stay alone. Laura said anyway that the boys will manage and bring Julia back. Sara, unfortunately, is not of the same opinion. She is too worried about them, so she prefers to wait.
She looks hopefully from behind the wall as panicked voices reach her. Furthermore, she sees two boys supporting Julia. She runs up to them and only sees their faces up close. A worried Matthew is firmly supporting the unconscious girl, and Oliver seems concerned about something.
Where is Alan?
- Tell her everything, and I'll take care of Julia," Matthew says, taking the girl in his arms. He takes her to his room, and Oliver nervously rubs his forehead.
- What happened? Why isn't Alan with you? - She asks, looking at him closely. The light from outside coming through the window casts a light shadow on Oliver's face, so she can see his features.
- He was the one who got Julia out of there. I lied to them that I saw the General enter the password. Alan decided that he would go in there because he was untouchable, and we agreed. It took him a long time, so we decided that we would go inside, and then he brought out Julia. The General came out of the office, and Alan went back in there, and I saw them tugging at each other. He shouted that we should run out of there so he wouldn't see us, so we did, and when I looked over, I saw Alan hit the General.
- And you just left him like that, because he is untouchable? He helped Julia escape and hit the General! What about the fact that he is his grandson? This man is a monster. He has no heart! - she shouts, because she was upset by the guys' behavior. How could they just leave him like that? She is furious because she is worried about Alan. For the General, nothing else matters but achieving his own goals, so does he even know such a word as family?
- I know we did the wrong thing, but we were sure he would be fine. I understand that you're worried, but he'll be fine, Sara," says Oliver, and she bites her lip out of nervousness. She throws him an angry look, although seeing his sad gaze, she calms down. She can't be mad at anyone, especially not at her friends. Not at people she cares about.
- I'm just worried," she whispers quietly, closing her eyelids.
I'm worried because I love him, she adds in her mind.
Oliver moves closer, intending to hug her, but then she spots a tall silhouette heading their way. She recognizes him everywhere. Without a word, she evades Oliver and runs to Alan. She hugs him tightly. The boy is shocked and only after a while embraces her.
- I'm fine, but it's nice that you're so worried about me," he says with a smile on his face.
Standing behind them, Oliver closes his eyelids, feeling a strange pain in the region of his heart. He feels tears gathering under his eyelids, which he quickly chases away having no idea what is happening to him.
- Come on, Oliver. What are you doing? After all, you're garbage that no one will love," he whispers to himself, then walks away.
*
He sits with Alan at the door to the room, because Laura is already asleep, and they would rather not wake her up. She isn't concerned about the ban. Since Alan began to be important to her, she isn't concerned about the regulations or even that she is in danger. Only now, she has learned that love actually changes a person. It adds courage and makes a person ready to do anything for another person.
- Will you tell me what happened there? - She asks, surreptitiously glancing at him.
The blond man plays with his fingers, and a slight smile appears on his face.
- I think I did the right thing by not letting the guys go inside. They would only bring trouble on themselves, and after all, I am untouchable. - He shrugs his shoulders. - I went into the first room, having a good feeling, and Julia was indeed there. She was lying on the medical table, so I took her out of there. I gave the girl back to Matthew and stopped the General when he came out of another room. Finally, I couldn't stand it and hit him so hard that he fell over. He's old, so he didn't recover quickly. - His voice is amused. He looks like the situation is amusing him when Sarah is not laughing. She is worried about him, and he makes jokes. For the past few days, he has begun to behave strangely, different from before, but she turns a blind eye to it. She thinks this is how he unwinds the truth he learned recently. - He was fortunate that a psychologist came out of the office to help him get up. I think I made my grandfather a little angry, because he gave me away. His punch was even strong, the old man is not bad. I have a tough body, because he didn't leave any trace. I guess I inherited it in my genes.
- Are you sure you're okay? - asks the girl with concern in her voice, watching him carefully. The blond looks into her eyes, and then her face flushes. Alan still has that effect on her. Occasionally, she gets shy in his presence.
- And do I look like I need treatment? - He asks with a smile on his face. She immediately denies it, and Alan embraces her hand, which he strokes with long fingers. - They still harass you?
- What - Confused she blinks her eyelids.
- Ghosts," he replies, and she shakes her head.
- I've had peace for a few days, but I feel it's the calm before the storm.
- And the mark on your arm? Are you still in pain?
- No. I haven't been in pain at all since then," she says, recalling the words of the phantom who warned her about Alan.
To date, she doesn't know what the spirit meant when it said that the grandson is the same as the grandfather. She stated that Sara would unleash the monster in him, and then he would hurt her. This can't be true. The ghosts are trying to make her hate Alan at all costs. They want her to kill him because he is the General's grandson. They want revenge, and she is not going to believe them.
- Remember when I mentioned to you that I had strange dreams? Every night I had nightmares that looked so realistic, as if they were excerpts from the past. They have stopped since the General came to the center. Doesn't that seem strange? - he asks, but doesn't get an answer, because there is a noise on the stairs that disturbs them.
- I want you to find this little whore! Not only does she revolt my grandson, she's related to a psychic!
With frightened eyes, she looks at Alan when she understands that the General is talking about her.
The boy drags her to the back of the hallway because he knows full well that they will search the room first.
- Are you the granddaughter of a psychic? - he asks, puzzled, to which she nods slightly.
- I think it is. That would best explain the gift that was activated in me after the accident. But who told him? Did the psychologist finally speak up? Only he knew about it," she says quietly, but they look in their direction.
Alan presses Sarah against the wall and covers her with his body, and she prays that they won't see them. Even though it's dark, they can see the outline of a silhouette, and even though Alan won't let them hurt her, he's still panicky.