Sara kneels by the pond, absent-mindedly gazing at the dark surface of the water, swathed in curled nenuphar leaves.
She is so close to leaning forward and forgetting all the worries that have left her body devastated. She wants to finally have peace and freedom from the nightmare that is this place. Furthermore, she longs to forget her painful love, the death of a peer and the thought that she will soon be forced to watch the morgue when it finally comes to claim her friends.
The teenager can't take it all, she is too weak to cope with such immense pain, so in an act of desperation she decides to give up.
She closes her eyes and listens to the silence, her body swaying dangerously over the water.
This moment could have ended dangerously for her if not for the voice echoing in her head.
- This is not an escape from problems. - She lifts her eyelids and plunges her puzzled eyes into the apparition she sees on the other side of the pond. - Your soul will be trapped here for all eternity, and you will never have peace.
She lowers her face, overwhelmed by the thought that this is not her grandmother. The phantom that takes her form has sent her somewhere far away, intending to mess with the girl's head.
- Don't you want our death? Do you not desire my destruction?
- It is not about your death, but I need to lend your body," she declares, gliding over the muddy ground. - I need your help to exact my revenge.
- On Alan? - she hastily interjects, concerned that he is in danger. Although their relationship has been complicated for a long time, Sarah still cares about him and intends to protect him.
They have too much in common for her to give up on him so easily. Despite how much he's changed, she tells herself that it's the General's influence, so she intends to fight for him. Even if their relationship has suffered and no longer looks the same as before, or maybe even no longer exists, she won't let him or anyone else get hurt.
In a brief moment, her unexpected fighting spirit is awakened.
- If this boy continues to live, it will lead to many tragedies. - The phantom's eyes are terrifying, which is why Sara is trembling. - Listen to me before it's too late....
- Why should I?
- Because I know what the future holds for you.
An uncomfortable shudder runs through her body, but she doesn't let it be known that these words are making her afraid.
- I want to know why you wanted Alan dead from the very beginning.
The phantom circles the girl, and her silence seems to last too long.
- I have a reason.
- I also have a reason to protect him.
She closes her eyelids, feeling a penetrating chill.
- By protecting him, you will squander your chance to escape.
The phantom's eyes seem darker and even more sinister since she mentioned the General's grandson.
- If you protect this boy, then you will all die.
In front of the girl's eyes, there is a terrifying vision in which she sees the dead bodies of her friends. She takes a deep breath and puts her hand to her chest as the scene makes her heart ache.
- Free yourself from him while you can do it. He loves you obsessively, and this will lead to a giant tragedy. You can stop it as long as it is possible.
- Why are you trying to warn me? - A shadow of anxiety runs across her face.
- I will prevent everything, but I need your body," she declares, hovering above the ground. She faces the girl and extends a snow-white hand towards her. - Just let me do it.
Sara is shocked by all this. With panic in her eyes, she looks around the dark area, but there is no one nearby.
She requires help.
How can she become the vessel of a spirit that wants Alan dead? Her grandmother warned her about this phantom, informing her that it would try its tricks to get its way, so Sara must not let it.
She shakes her head to communicate to her that he doesn't agree.
The phantom touches her neck and squeezes it with frighteningly cold fingers, and then the girl wakes up in her bed. Breathing heavily, she looks around the room, stopping her gaze at her friend, who is writhing restlessly and crying in his sleep.
She gets off the bed and crouches beside the boy, her hand touching his inflamed skin. He gasps and then opens his eyes, with a shaky look on Sarah's face.
Suddenly, he gets off the ground and throws away the blanket, running to the other end of the room. The girl's attention is drawn to his hands, which are shaking with fear.
- Oliver? - She asks uncertainly, watching as he covers his ears with his hands. He looks around the room anxiously and jumps in place, as if he heard some shrill noise.
- What's wrong with him? - Sara turns her attention to her sleepy roommate.
- I have no idea, but I'm starting to worry about him. It's impossible for Oliver to behave like this....
She opens her eyes wider as he hurriedly starts talking under his breath. She tries to catch individual words and eventually manages to put the sentence together.
- They are monsters.... They are coming. We have to hide. They will kill us.
- Oliver, what are you talking about? What monsters?
The boy is unresponsive. He looks as if he is not in touch with reality, as if he is still stuck in a nightmare.
Then she recalls a conversation with Eric, who mentioned to her that Oliver had witnessed something cruel as a child, and the recurring memories of that time could hit him with double the force.
And that's where it started.
- Laura, I know you can't stand Eric, but right now, you have to go after him. There is something wrong with Oliver and I think he will be able to do something about it. I beg you.
She doesn't have to ask her any longer, because the girl sees with her own eyes that Oliver has gone mad. The boy needs help, and since Sara says Erik is needed, she intends to run for him.
The teenager girl approaches Oliver, noticing his frantic eyes. Cowering in a corner, he peers around the room, unable to see what's in the room; he creates his own images in his head that drive him to such a state.
- Oliver... - The boy does not react to her words at all.
- Mom, Dad," he says tearfully, shedding tears. - Don't go away from me. Don't leave me alone. I'm so scared," he whispers, drawing his knees to his chest. - I'm afraid of these people. They want to hurt me.
Sara looks thoughtfully at his pale face, wanting him to come to consciousness, but is afraid to do anything.
She prefers to wait for Eric.
She lifts her head as the boy rushes into the room, leaving Laura behind. Furthermore, he crouches down beside Oliver and puts his hand on his shoulder.
- Oli - turns to him in a soft voice, which works because the teenager stops crying. He stares at one point, and a sense of relief can be seen on his face.
- Brother?
- Yes, I am with you.
Sara opens her eyes wider, looking at her older colleague with evident amazement.
Did Oliver just call him brother in his dream?
- Brother, get me out of here. They will kill us," he speaks in a trembling voice, taking Eric's hand.
- I won't let anything happen to you. I will protect you, young one.
Laura blinks her eyelids, looking equally shocked. She thought nothing would surprise her again in this building, yet the appearance of the psychologist's right hand, lifts another shred of mystery.
Erik is Oliver's older brother.
- We can't wake him up now, because it could end dangerously for him," he turns to Sarah, who is crouching next to him.
- So what are you planning? He is suffering in this dream.
- This is no ordinary dream. Oliver begins to remember everything, the entire past. However, when he wakes up, he will forget what the nightmare was," he explains, looking at his brother with clear concern. - It will return gradually until he finally remembers what happened to him as a child.
- Do we have to wait until he wakes up?
Erik nods.
- He calmed down because he heard my voice. In the dream he remembers it, he knows it is mine, but when he wakes up, he will forget it again. You can't tell him anything, do you understand? - He plunges his gaze into Laura, who nods in agreement.
- I don't meddle in family affairs, but now at least I know why you are both knocked up. You probably inherited it from someone.
- Laura," her friend admonishes her, so the girl puts her hands out in front of her, ensuring that she doesn't say another word.
- I can't now, but I'll get you later, baby," announces Erik, and there's an irrepressible glint in his eyes.
Laura wrinkles her nose and mindlessly hits Oliver with a pillow. She puts her hand to her face as the boy starts screaming hysterically, as if someone is skinning him. Erik reflexively embraces his brother, trying to alleviate his pain. Oliver stops jerking, and then Sara notices that his body has stiffened.
He is breathing heavily.
The boy begins to wake up. With dazed eyes, he looks around the room and delves into his friend's face.
Only after a while does it occur to him that someone is embracing him.
He pushes Eric away from him, looking at him with clear disgust. He looks severely confused when he realizes that he doesn't remember anything since he went to bed.
Furthermore, he puts his hand to his forehead and feels the sweat on it. He is wet and shaky on the inside.
- Why am I here? What has happened?
Sara looks at Erik, as if searching for an answer she can give him.
- I came because the girls couldn't deal with you. Apparently you were possessed by one of the ghosts your friend sees," he lies, winking at the girl.
- What," he struggles to croak out, swallowing his saliva harder.
- Never mind, Oliver. It's all right now.
- I'm not going to sleep in the same room with you anymore, if he is possessed," he says in a trembling voice, rising from the floor.
He shakily walks to the door and hesitantly grabs the handle, recalling his earlier dream. He senses that something bad is beginning to happen to him, but prefers to keep it to himself.
The boy leaves the room, so Erik closes his eyelids and massages his forehead.
- He guesses that something bad is happening to him, so he returned to his home to be alone.
- How do you know about it?
- I just know it. Who better to know him than big brother?
Erik heads for the exit, but doesn't leave the room, just looks back at Laura, who is sitting on the bed with her eyes wide open, pressing a pillow against herself.
He looks like a frightened child.
It is no secret to anyone that this is the only young man that this brave girl is afraid of.
- What was I talking about earlier? Ah, yes. I warned you that I would get you," he announces, pointing at her predatory.
- Can't you see that your brother needs help? - she defends him, shouting. - Go take care of him, not sneak up on me like a leopard.
Sara shakes her head because their behavior is childish, but Laura requires one since she lost Simon. Matthew couldn't make her laugh. There is no chemistry between them, and Laura's infatuation was temporary and undoubtedly misguided.
They have nothing in common. And he can confidently say that by looking at his colleague's behavior. At first, he was there for Laura and cared about her, but now? When he noticed that she had recovered, he stopped being interested in her.
Matthew had changed beyond recognition and no longer resembled the wonderful boy who had helped Sarah so much in the early days.
He succumbed to change just as Alan did.
And the worst part, however, is that the two have become friends with each other, casting Oliver aside. He no longer has a buddy he can count on. Matthew eventually replaced him with Alan.
- Let me go, you perverted scoundrel! - screams Laura, hanging onto the boy's arm. He pats her on the butt, advising her to calm down, but this agitates the teenager even more. - If you don't put me on the floor in a moment I warn you that you will bitterly regret it.
Erik ignores her words and, leaving the room, turns to Sarah:
- I'm going to administer her punishment," he announces and stretches his lips in a wide smile. - Your roommate will be back soon.
Laura yells at him, not caring that it is the middle of the night and the building at this hour can be particularly dangerous. She is furious and intends to prove it to him, disregarding the fact that the General may be hiding behind the wall.
Sara squats on the bed, carefully looking around the room. Although she has been left alone in it, she senses a presence; she is convinced that someone is accompanying her.
A woman emerges from a dark corner. This time she reveals herself under her form, no longer intending to take advantage of her grandmother's appearance.
- Did you realize that it won't help you at all? - she asks her a bold question, disregarding her stern look. - You take many forms, scaring me from the very beginning, demanding Alan's death. I'm sick of it, do you understand?
- You will experience the desired peace when you agree to my conditions. The general is not a threat to you, it is his grandson who is. He must die. And that's today.
Sara gets off the bed and shakes her head.
- Do you think I will let you do that? This is about Alan!
- You no longer have the same affection for him as before. He hurt you, but you don't allow it to yourself. You don't want him to cease to exist for you so suddenly, because he is your first love....
- Are you trying to get to me through silly talk? - Sara is furious. - Do you think that when you manage to talk sense into me, I will agree to be your vessel?
- Human life depends on it. Your life and the lives of your friends depend on it. This boy must die.
- He will certainly not die by my hand. I will never let that happen," she stammers through his teeth.
She wants to leave the room, but the phantom does not allow her to do so. She slams the door in front of the girl's nose, preventing her from leaving. Outraged, she turns to face it and her heart rises to her throat as she faces the ghost.
- Since you won't cooperate with me, I will take over your body by force. Today is the final day, and I can no longer wait for that, even if I cause you massive pain," she threatens, penetrating her body, and then a shrill scream comes out of Sarah's mouth.
*
Erik nods right and left, teasing the girl, whom he continues to prevent from leaving. He presses her against the wall having a laugh as she playfully wrinkles her nose and tries to nail him.
- Are you that horny for me? - purrs Laura, looking at his face. The boy puffs out his lips as if he wants a kiss from her, but she pushes his face away.
- Where with the slimy mouth?
However, he is relentless and grabs her chin with his hand, forcing her to kiss him. The teenager girl opens her eyes wider, and a million thoughts run through her head. Most of them are ways to kill the pervert. However, she doesn't use any of them, because her attention is caught by Sara, who — with her hair strangely arranged — is walking down and heading for the main corridor.
Laura pushes Eric away and points her finger at her roommate.
- I'll put it to you later. Something is wrong with my haunted friend.
The boy turns his attention to Sara and crinkles his eyebrows when he notices how strange her steps are. She walks as if she is paralyzed and her hair covers half her face.
- Don't you think she looks as if she's possessed? At this point, I would dare say it's Samara if the TVs were working. She's got some kind of connection to ghosts, right?
Laura slaps him on the forehead with an open palm and wordlessly runs after her roommate. Erik keeps pace with her.
- It happened many times that Sara walked in her sleep. She even ended up in the underworld without remembering how she got there.
- See, she goes to the bathroom. Maybe she just wanted to pee and hence the strange gait?
The girl disregards his silly remark.
Sara enters the bathroom. Laura is curious about what she's doing there, but pauses to join her when she hears her walking back in. She raises an eyebrow in surprise when she notices a rubber pusher in her hand. Erik can't stand it and parries with a loud laugh, and every blow Laura inflicts, she can't silence him as he laughs even louder.
- Is she going to strangle someone with it?
- Pushback.
Her hair stands up as Sara looks over her shoulder, however, at this point it is not her roommate, but something that has taken over her body.
She ignores the teenagers following her. Her attention is drawn to the principal's office. She presses the handle and goes inside, slamming the door behind her.
It completely blocks them.
Laura puts her ear to hear anything, but the only sound she catches is a melody.
- Can you explain to me why she needs a rubber pusher? - Erik repeats the question, putting his hand to his mouth to keep from laughing.
- He probably intends to strangle the General with it," replies the girl, throwing him a contemptuous glance. - This stops being funny. I don't understand what is happening to her and why exactly she entered this room. I feel that this could end badly....
*
Sitting at his desk, the boy lifts his face and removes his legs from the countertop when he notices a visitor who unexpectedly appeared in the office.
He examines the teenager, measures her figure, and keeps his gaze a moment longer on the pusher she brought with her. He understands that there is something wrong with his girlfriend.
- Sara?
She puffs out her lips when she notices that her hair surrounds half of her face, making her look like she has risen from a coffin. Her pale complexion and blue lips indicate that something has taken over her body.
The girl puts the pusher down on the desk, to which Alan looks on with evident distaste.
- Why did you bring it?
- Because you're shit," she speaks, smiling mockingly. That smile is definitely not Sarah's. - Shit that needs to be eliminated.
- I'm curious which phantom shines with such intelligence.
- The one who wants to protect her child from you," she declares in a callous voice, pulling scissors from under her blouse. - Do you remember that? Do you remember stabbing a man with them?
The boy massages his forehead, then crosses his arms, watching the girl with obvious weariness in his eyes.
- I have a good memory.
- You'll do it again. - Alan crinkles his eyebrows. - You'll kill another man, but I won't allow it. I will protect him.
The boy snorts under his breath, but there is concern in his eyes as the phantom applies the scissors to her neck.
- I know how much this girl means to you, so kill yourself, or I will kill her.