CHAPTER SIX

Kelvin shifted uneasily, his eyes darting toward Cynthia, who gave him a calm, steady gaze.

"You really need to calm down," she said softly.

"Calm down? How can I?!" Kelvin snapped. "How do you people even know I'm… special? I didn't even leave my room last night!"

"Why was that?" she asked, her tone unwavering.

Kelvin hesitated. "Because… because I didn't, alright? Victor can back me up."

"Funny you should mention Victor." Cynthia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "What is it you said you'd tell him when he came to you last night?"

"ENOUGH WITH THE QUESTIONS!" Kelvin exploded, his voice echoing off the walls. "I thought you were supposed to give me answers, not interrogate me!"

"Alright, alright! No need to shout." Cynthia raised her hands in mock surrender. "How about this? For every question you answer, I'll answer one of yours. Deal?"

Kelvin hesitated, his distrust evident, but finally nodded. "Fine. Are you people the glowing circle?"

"Yes. But how did you know?" Cynthia asked, somewhat shocked

"I didn't," Kelvin said flatly. "That's why I asked."

"But where did you hear it? Did Victor tell you?"

"You've had your question," Kelvin countered. "Now it's my turn. What makes you people so special that you think you can fight... Mr. Whatever-You-Call-Him?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"You didn't answer my question," Kelvin said, his suspicion growing.

"Neither did you." Cynthia crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll give you something. Each of us has faced something… unnatural. High-level monsters, demons, call them what you will. Victor had his encounter with the Shadow. I faced Papa Ninja. Emilia's here because she's obsessed with the truth. And Jessica… well, she pretends not to believe, but deep down—"

"She's a witch, isn't she?" Kelvin interrupted. "And what about Nora?"

"Witch? No, Jessica just has a… spiritual background, but how did you know?" Cynthia more and more perplexed but how much Kelvin knew

"And you don't think that makes her a witch?" Kelvin shot back. "What about Nora?"

Cynthia frowned. "What about her?"

"What's her role in this little cult of yours?" Kelvin demanded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Before Cynthia could respond, Kelvin's gaze shifted behind her. His face twisted with alarm. "What is that?"

Cynthia turned instinctively. "What? What's—"

She didn't finish her sentence. Kelvin bolted for the door, his desperation giving him speed.

"Kelvin!" Cynthia yelled, spinning back around. "We're trying to help you!"

"It's you who need help," Kelvin retorted, his voice filled with disdain. "You and your friends with your twisted ideas. You all need therapy!"

Before he could escape, Cynthia slammed him against the wall, her eyes blazing. She leaned in, her face inches from his,she was just about his height.

"You think we're crazy?" she hissed. "You have no idea what it's like to live with a target on your back. To be terrified of walking in the dark, knowing that every year someone will be found with that smile—that horrifying, contorted grin—and a broken, lifeless body, Not knowing this year, it would be you? To know that if you survive this school then it's by luck?. Do you think I enjoy gambling my life on luck?."

Kelvin stared into her fiery gaze, trapped. Her breath was warm against his face, her closeness disarming. For a moment, he forgot his fear, noticing the beads of sweat glistening on her smooth skin. Then—

Smack.

"Ow! What was that for?" Kelvin exclaimed, rubbing his cheek.

"Don't look at me with those pervert eyes of yours," Cynthia snapped.

Kelvin blushed.

"You're not the timid girl who ran to Emilia for safety after seeing Papa Ninja," Kelvin said more calmly.

"That was a long time ago," Cynthia said, her voice softening. "When you face them, you'll know fear. And if you survive, only then will you know bravery."

Kelvin's mind raced, the pieces falling into place. "Wait a second. You set me up, didn't you? Emilia's stories, Victor's tales—they were all to get me to go out, weren't they?. Did any of those encounters even happen?"

Cynthia's expression darkened. "We've all faced them. That's how this group started. Stephen found us, guided us. Together, we created a way to fight back."

Kelvin took a deep breath, struggling to keep his voice steady. "What will you do if the ritual doesn't work?"

"It will work," Cynthia said firmly.

"But if it doesn't?" Kelvin pressed.

"Stephen will know what to do." she replied, her confidence unwavering.

Kelvin hesitated. "What if I could tell you for a fact that the ritual won't work?"

Cynthia froze, her eyes narrowing. "And how would you know that?"

Kelvin's thoughts screamed at him to stop. Don't trust her. They'll kill you.

But instead, he said, "What if we try something else? What if I go out tonight—with all of you?,"

"That's too dangerous," Cynthia said quickly.

"Why is it fine to risk my life, but not yours?" Kelvin countered. "If I'm so important to all of this, tgen seeing it will prove beyound all reasonable doubt."

Cynthia hesitated, then sighed. "I'll talk to the others." She unlocked the door but paused before leaving.

"And Kelvin," she said, her voice low, "we're the good guys. Don't forget that."

As the door clicked shut, Kelvin noticed a book among a pile of papers. The word SREWSNA was scrawled on its cover. He stared at it, a sense of familiarity gnawing at him.

Then it hit him.

Suddenly he heard a chilling, distorted voice:

"TONIGHT, I WILL MAKE YOU SMILE."