For two weeks it is remarkably quiet, as if nothing was going to happen. Sara knows it's a matter of time when the General will unexpectedly attack. He is planning something, and they are waiting in readiness to defend themselves.
The teenager is even more afraid of the man after her grandmother introduced her to the past. She already knows why she is planning so feverishly to find her and Julia. They are related to women who have messed up a lot in the past. They hid something valuable, and the General is anxious to find it. He needs them because he is sure they know the location of the thing. Just why has he gone quiet so suddenly? After all, he wants to get Sarah, he can do it at any time, so what is he planning? This is what scares her the most. This stillness, as if he unexpectedly intends to do something cruel. At the very thought of it, she gets chills. She has Alan, who promised to protect her, but after all, she can't just count on him. He, too, will be left vulnerable in an emergency. They are dealing with mentally ill people who have kept few people in the center. Among them are them — people who have been implicated in a past situation, as well as several other students. She doesn't know the specific reason why they didn't release the students there, but she speculates that they might be the ancestors of the people who also messed up the General's life. Although this seems unrealistic to her, because how would he find out about their kinship? In the case of her and Julia, it's different, because he was looking for girls at all costs.
Or did he simply choose his victims to be mere students to create appearances? In the end, most of the youths who were able to return home with the permission of the psychologist left the center.
This is what seems most real to her.
This is the first time she hates Christmas. Although she has not been fond of Christmas for a long time because of the atmosphere at home, she celebrates it with indifference. She doesn't enjoy presents or family reunions. Ever since her mother died, everything has changed. So has her father.
However, today is the worst day. The father called the director to merely convey her wishes. He didn't even insist on asking his daughter to call. He doesn't care to at least hear her voice. The girl guesses that the director would not have let her on the phone anyway. He would have presented her father with a plausible lie, as this was the case with other students whose parents wanted to wish them in person.
Sitting in the office was Oliver, who clearly heard everything.
No one is safe here.
Her relationship with Alan is gaining momentum. He is still by her side because he is afraid that something bad could happen at any moment. He tries to protect Sarah, and because of this, she increasingly rejects the idea that he could turn out to be like her grandfather. They are clearly different, and even the resemblance she perceived between them in their youth cannot convince her of this. Alan is different. She trusts him and knows that he is the only person who can protect her.
Oliver is not happy with her faith in Alan, as he keeps telling Sarah to stop, but she doesn't accept it at all. Laura claims that Oliver is jealous and thus trying to separate Sara from her boyfriend, and she believes it.
Things began to settle down between Laura and Simon. The girl finally could not stand the indifference with which her friend treated her and apologized to him for his behavior. Although they talk, Sara unfortunately sees that the boy still holds a grudge. However, he tries to stay close to her through the situation at the center. He wishes to protect her.
*
The first snow. Sara stands in front of the building. Dressed in a warm sweater and wrapped in a wool scarf, she watches the white flakes falling from the sky. The only thing that makes her happy in the morning. Not Christmas, but snow. That's what she loves most about winter. Others would say they wait all year for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but she is clearly different from most people.
She sighed loudly and crossed her arms, rubbing them with her palms. For that brief moment, she manages to get cold, but she doesn't want to go back inside. She's comfortable here, and watching the snow, at least for a while, she can forget about what's going on in the center.
She would like to close her eyes and just wake up from this nightmare, but the only thing keeping her from this dream is Alan. She wouldn't stand it if it turned out to be a mere illusion, and she never really met him. He is her biggest support in this place, and right after him are her friends.
He wants to protect them, but what can he do in this situation? Nothing. Only wait for the bad guys to make a move, and only then defend himself.
- Why are you here alone? I asked you to always be with someone. - She hears Alan's worried voice behind her. The boy takes off his jacket and puts it over the girl's shoulders. - And dress warmer when you go outside. At this time of year you can catch a cold pretty quickly," he says, embracing her from behind. He puts his chin on her shoulder. She smiles because she loves it when he does that. Then she feels that he really cares about her, and that's very nice.
- I'll be fine.
- Nevertheless, I insist," he says just above her ear, and she smiles again, feeling a pleasant tickle. - You're not going to contradict me, are you? Especially when I'm seriously worried about you.
- All right. I'll do it for you," she replies as he kisses her on the cheek. He embraces the girl even more tightly, and she puts her hands on his arms.
- Merry Christmas. I want to wish my grandchildren a lot of health, because that's the most important thing, right? - She freezes when she hears the General's voice. She looks around and spots him standing in front of the stairs.
- Grandchildren? - repeats Alan and moves away from Sarah, piercing the General with his eyes.
- And why not? After all, I can already call Sarah that. Unless you don't plan any wedding in the future. - He laughs bitterly, slowly heading up the stairs to the entrance. - However, I am worried about whether your child will be born healthy. Well, you know, being psychic means that a person is not quite normal," he announces, with a flick of his finger showing her that he has problems with his head. The girl opens her eyes wider, and inside she is boiling all the way.
- I am not the one bullying and murdering innocent people. I think it is you who has serious mental problems and should report to your nephew for treatment! - She raises her voice, even though her body is trembling. Alan grabs the girl by the shoulders and admonishes her to calm down; however, she is so filled with anger that she feels like exploding.
Why should she keep quiet? This man is planning something, so she is in danger anyway.
- I'm not your grandson, so all the more reason not to call Sarah that. You have no right whatsoever to insult her. Besides, you are abnormal yourself. - Alan stands up for his girlfriend.
- I like your character, but address me with respect," the man warns him, to which the teenager laughs under his breath.
Sara notices that the General's eyelid is twitching. He is angry that his grandson is behaving disobediently toward him.
- With respect? I beg you, old man. I have more respect for a stray dog than I do for you," he says boldly, but the smile comes off his face when the General raises his hand. He slaps it away.
The 17-year-old moves restlessly, with fear in her eyes watching Alan's reactions. The boy is quick to get angry, which is why he fears what he will do.
The teenager snorts under his breath.
The girl watches his face carefully and senses that he is about to do something ill-considered. He can't let that happen. He has already killed a man once, even though he did it in defense of a friend. She doesn't want her boyfriend to become a monster. He can't let the ghosts be right.
- Let's go back inside, please," she speaks up, catching Alan's hand. The boy stares at the General for a moment with visible hostility on his face, but finally shakes himself off and glances at her frightened face.
His face softens, so the girl breathes a sigh of relief.
- Exactly, go back inside. Sara is so tiny, she can quickly get cold. Take good care of her. In our family, men take care of their women. - The general smiles falsely at her, and the girl squeezes Alan's hand harder. - Enjoy the holidays. Spend a lot of time with each other, as if every moment should be the last one. You never know what might happen.
His words clearly worry her. They sound like a threat. As if he were warning them to make the most of the time they have left.
- Exactly. At your age, you never know when death will unexpectedly knock on the door. You'd better be prepared for it, old man. - The general has been planning something for a long time, so this calm is just the calm before the storm.
*
The director laid off many of the teachers because they were no longer needed after most of the students left the center. He left only two of them, and as it turned out, they also work with them. The people who left here knew full well that the center would be closed by the end of the school year. The director announced that he was retiring, but it was all nonsense. He planned this from the beginning and kept people who, in his eyes, were not fully cured by the psychologist, which is simply a lie.
- I have a problem. Supplies are running out. Where will I get alcohol and cigarettes from? Simon and I were supposed to enjoy life and get decently drunk, but I only have two bottles of vodka left. That's not enough," says Laura, who has been sitting on the bed for a long time, thinking intensely about something.
Sara looks at her and pats her forehead with an open palm because of her stupidity. I don't think anyone has problems like her.
- Did you want to get drunk on Christmas Eve? Especially when we are in this situation?
- Yes. We decided that, at least for a while, we would forget about everything. Since we can't have a normal Christmas, at least we want to have fun. Is that a bad thing? I think you guys should join us too. After all, this may be our last fun. After all, we don't know what they are planning against us and when they will attack. Do you want to spend your last moments breaking down? I'm not going to, since we're not going to escape from here anyway. One should take advantage of freedom while we have it.
- You were never normal, were you?
- Of course not. Otherwise, my parents wouldn't have locked me in here.
- Correct answer.
Simon enters the room and takes out two bottles of whiskey from under his sweatshirt. Laura claps her hands with happiness. She looks like a small child who was happy to see a lollipop.
- You're not the only one with supplies. I also have something left," he announces, twirling the bottles in front of her face, which are immediately snatched from his hand. He sits down next to the girl. Sara glances at them with a smile on her face. She is happy that things are going well between them again. They are both stubborn, so it took them a long time to reconcile, but Laura finally broke through and reached out to him first.
Sara lowers her gaze and looks at the bottles that stand on the floor. She is curious about what alcohol tastes like. She has never had the opportunity to drink liquor. It never even crossed her mind to do so. She was afraid to expose her father, because if he smelled alcohol from her, she would be screwed. And there was another problem. She had previously been an antisocial person, so she didn't even have company.
Should she let such an opportunity pass now? This could be the first and last alcohol in her life.
- Screw everything. It's time to forget about this place," she says unexpectedly, giving the company quite a shock. She rises from the bed and takes Laura a bottle of pure vodka. She opens it and takes a sip, nearly choking on the sharpness of the taste.
The liquor is downright scorching. She gets the impression that it is eating her gullet. Croaking, she caps the bottle and glances at her roommate's astonished face. She stares at her friend with wide-open eyes, not believing what she has just done.
- You've definitely gotten giddy," she whispers, and a wide smile appears on Sarah's face.
- I will drink with you, but on the condition that they are drinks. Purely, I can't handle it," she announces, at which the brunette blinks her eyelids. She slaps Simon on the shoulder, and when the boy doesn't react, pushes him off the bed.
- Get the drinks.
- As if from where?
- Go to the guys' room. They have adequate supplies, and when they also want to party, take them with you. On the way also stop by to pick up Sarah's man. Someone needs to watch over her. - Simon reluctantly heads for the door and leaves the room, looking at the brown-haired woman from under his eyes.
He is angry that he has to go after the boys.
The teen feels uncomfortable when she returns moments later in their company. Only Alan is missing, but Simon announces that he will join them soon.
- You won't believe what happened! Sara had a drink of pure vodka! It was her first time, do you understand? She had never drunk alcohol before! - Laura is so excited that she announces it to them at the very beginning.
Feeling intimidated, the girl smiles slightly and tucks her hair behind her ear.
- Sara, you are losing your innocence. What a dramatic change," Oliver says as he sits down next to her. She bites her lip because she is afraid that at some point Alan will walk in and there will be an argument between them again. She is generally afraid of the two of them in the same room, especially when there is alcohol on the table. - What, are you afraid that your lover will get into a rage? Maybe you'll finally see his true face and get over him," he whispers so quietly that only she can hear it.
She smiles nervously when Laura glances at them. She keeps saying that Oliver is trying to separate her from Alan.
She's right.
- Oliver, stop slandering him. I know you are prejudiced against him because of his kinship with the General, but you would give it a rest. I've managed to get to know Alan properly, and he is an entirely different person from his grandfather. He cares about me, and besides, he can protect his colleagues.
- He definitely is. He can even kill a man," he announces with clear derision in his voice, and Sarah's body shakes with chills. She hesitantly looks at Oliver and notices a mischievous smile on his face. - Remember that I still have to cooperate with them. That night, someone saw you, so they realized that Alan killed the teacher. However, his ass is protected, so they didn't give a damn. It's a matter of time when he will go to their side, but you don't believe me. Of course, you don't.
- Stop. Alan did it in defense. Otherwise, this man would have killed an innocent girl. Think how he must feel," she whispers quietly, surreptitiously glancing at the rest of the company. Laura explains to Matthew that she is fed up with the argument and wants to be friends with him.
- Somehow there was no sign of remorse from him. He walked around as if nothing had happened, as if he had never killed a person," he claims, and she swallows her saliva harder. - A normal person can't live with this, even if he does it in defense, he is plagued by remorse. He can't sleep at night because he keeps reminding himself that he killed a man, but him? You yourself should know this best. You spend the most time with him, so recall his behavior after that night.
- You don't know what you're talking about. He is suffering, his soul is suffering. He is simply masking himself. He would rather not show after himself that something like this took place," she says in a trembling voice.
- I infer from your voice that you yourself are beginning to have doubts. Remember, you will know by something like this who has a heart and who is a heartless monster.
She doesn't answer him. His words make him tremble. She rises from the bed and pours himself a small amount of vodka. She mixes it with apple juice and then drinks it all. Crooking, she puts the glass down and looks over her shoulder.
Oliver stares at the door.
She follows his gaze and spots Alan. As usual, he looks handsome. How could he turn out to be a monster? This is unacceptable. Her heart would break into a million pieces.
Oliver is talking nonsense. He wants to separate them at all costs, and she can't let that happen. She is not going to listen to anyone.
She walks up to Alan and wordlessly embraces him. He puts his hands on her waist. A sincere smile appears on his face. She is bolder after drinking alcohol. The girl only now realizes that percentages really change a person. She has never had the opportunity to experience this before.
- Stubborn as a donkey. Nothing gets through to her," says Oliver aloud, without taking his eyes off them.
He tilts his glass. Sara can see that he is furious, and watching her at Alan's side makes him exude anger.
- I don't know if staying in the same room with him is a good idea," Alan says, to which she snuggles tighter into him. She doesn't intend to let him go. She doesn't want him to give up on a good time because of Oliver.
- So what? Will you leave me alone? - she asks in the voice of a fretting child. She gets the impression that she is behaving differently than usual, but it doesn't bother her at all. She feels good, even too good.
- I would be foolish if I left you alone with this jerk. Especially since you're drunk, and he could take advantage of that," he announces in her ear, and she lifts her head and looks into his eyes with a sad look.
- Don't you trust me? - She asks, batting her eyelids childishly.
- I trust you, but not him. - There is a wide smile on her face. She presses her face into his chest, and he strokes her back.
He intends to speak to Laura, but she is busy with the boys. She gets into a discussion with them, pouring them vodka occasionally.
Sara looks over her shoulder and notices that Oliver still doesn't take his eyes off her. Holding a glass of drink in his hand, he rides his fingers over the glass, and when he sees her looking at him, he drinks it all in a stranglehold.
- I think your friend will not realize if we leave the room for a while. - Sara nods without thinking.
It doesn't matter where he wants to go. He desires to be by his side.
They head for the door, and Oliver watches them carefully. He squints as Alan grabs Sarah's hand and leads her out of the room. He wants to follow them, but is stopped by Laura, who suddenly jumps off her seat and blocks his passage.
- You, my friend, are not going anywhere. You're staying with us and drinking. Those two are going to spend some time alone with each other, so don't disturb them, understood? - She looks at him investigative.
Brunet is furious and bites his lip out of nerves. He wants to push Laura away and leave despite this, but at the last moment he restrains himself. Mumbling insulting words under his breath, he sits down on the bed and, nervously moving his leg, does not take his eyes off the door.
At one point, he can't stand it and, ignoring Laura's screams, leaves the room, slamming the door.
*
- Where are you taking me? - Sara asks, laughing under her breath. She gets the impression that everything around her is spinning, but happiness fills her from the inside, making her unable to hold back her giggles.
Alan stops in the corridor and pushes the girl against the wall, which she particularly enjoys. He rests one hand just above her head, while the other strokes her face. Under his touch, she tilts her head, cozying up to him like a pampered kitten.
- I wanted to spend some more time with you. As far away from that jerk as possible," he replies, not taking his eyes off her.
She cackles and shakes her head, feigning indignation.
- Oliver is my friend, so you can't call him that. You can't," she declares, twirling her finger in front of his face.
The blonde captures her hand and looks at her with laughing eyes, while with his other hand, he grabs the teenager around the waist and pulls her close.
- Or has he started to take an interest in you? - He asks, to which she shakes her head. - Surely you don't like me as much as before?
She hangs her arms around his neck and smiles innocently.
- You are the only one I like.
He laughs, then tilts his head and whispers in her ear:
- So surely I'm the only one you like?
- Only you," she replies in a whisper and feels his warm breath on her neck as she laughs quietly.
- Are you sure?
- Not really," she says quietly, trying to tease him. He looks at her surprised, but seeing her smile, he understands that she is purposely trying to make him angry.
- Liar. Do I have to prove to you that you can't see the world outside of me?
She closes her eyes and takes a sharp breath as his lips touch her neck. He kisses her lightly, just below her ear. Everything begins to whirl before her eyes. She feels fantastic.
He slowly moves his mouth to her ear and whispers:
- And how? Are you sure now?
- Not yet," she announces with a laugh. She hopes she knows what she's thinking about and will do it again, because she liked it like hell.
He smiles, then brings his lips closer to her face. He kisses the girl on the cheek and then traces a trail to her ear with kisses.
- And now?
She doesn't respond. Instead, she captures his face in her hands and kisses him on the lips. She does it gently, and when he pulls away, he takes the initiative and puts his hand on her waist, kissing her far more boldly. This is not a simple kiss, but a passionate one — the kind that most often takes place in fairy tales for adult audiences.
When he finishes, her knees bend from the sensation, and the state she is in makes it difficult for her to maintain proper posture.
Alcohol is only now hitting the girl's head.
She is drunk.
- I think I've turned a corner," she says with palpable amusement in her voice.
- Is it from my kiss or from excess alcohol? - The blonde asks, and she shrugs her shoulders.
This answer clearly pits him against each other.
- Your kiss," she replies quickly. - After all, I'm not drunk.
- Of course you're not. - He supports Sarah around the waist in case she suddenly loses consciousness. - It would be better if I take you to your room and go to sleep. I'm worried about your well-being tomorrow.
- I'm afraid of that, too. I've never had a hangover. - She giggles under her breath, not even paying attention to where they are going.
- Do you realize that you won't be sleeping in your bed tonight? Your roommate rather intends to party until morning, and I don't want you to sleep in the presence of this jerk," he announces, and she lifts her hand up and shouts her approval.
Alan puts his hand to her mouth to keep her silent, so the girl takes advantage and bites his finger. The boy hisses, and she smiles broadly.
- They are long and taste like finger foods. It's been a long time since I ate them," she whispers with sadness in her voice. She misses the taste of some snacks. There is nothing in this place. Lately, they have started feeding them the worst food, claiming that they should be happy that they are not starving.
- I will take you to my room. There you will be able to sleep.
She doesn't even deny it. Although she's drunk, as they walk up the stairs, she looks over her shoulder and notices that someone is watching them from hiding. At first, she's sure she's delusional, as her eyes have begun to triangulate, but eventually, she tells herself it's another ghost lurking in the darkness.
Alan puts her on the bed and covers her with the sheets, and she closes her eyes and snuggles her face into the pillow. She realizes that he is sitting by her side and waiting for her to fall asleep. He strokes her head, which makes her feel safe thanks to his closeness. Even more than in the room she shares with Laura.
In her sleep, she hears someone banging on the door. She is sleeping so well that she does not intend to open her eyes. She feels Alan let go of her hand and walks away. She turns to the other side as the boy leaves the room.
She doesn't know how much time passes, but after she falls deeply asleep, a loud crash awakens her. She opens her eyes and looks unconsciously at the figure standing by the bed. Her first thought is that Alan has returned, but the outline of the figure disagrees. This man is definitely shorter and slenderer.
- So once again: happy holidays, Sara. - It is enough that she hears his voice and then understands who this person is. She opens her eyes wide and looks more carefully at his face. The general looks at her with a stern look on his face, and she prays that this is a nightmare. - Take her away," he turns to his men, who, without listening to her protests, forcibly drag the girl out of bed. Not only does she feel bad, but the General has unexpectedly caught up with her. She can't do anything.
Where is Alan?