Chapter 18

It might not have been a threat, but Alan's nearness made her heart beat dangerously fast. When she rested her head on his torso, she could clearly smell the perfume that drove her wild. It was delicate and sensual all at once.

Closing her eyes, she completely forgot about the danger looming over her. Only the sudden slam of a door and Alan's abrupt movement pulled her back to reality. He grabbed her hand just as a drunken boy stumbled out of the room across the hallway. A full-blown party was underway in there, and only when the door opened did the voices of chattering youths reach them. Without thinking, they slipped inside, trying to disappear into the crowd.

The room belonged to the girl who had spoken to Simon earlier. Laura. Sara had seen the fire in her eyes and knew she wanted to scratch hers out. Laura was clearly jealous of her friend. Maybe she wasn't even aware of it yet or simply didn't allow herself to consider the possibility, but lately, Sara had noticed her roommate was beginning to feel something more for Simon. Perhaps she was finally starting to realize that she'd been too caught up in her obsession with Matthew to notice her feelings for someone else.

Maybe it was for the best that Laura didn't know about the party and was asleep in her room. Given her temperament, she would've turned this party into a living hell.

"In a moment, they'll come looking for you," Alan said, scanning the room. "They'll start clearing everyone out to find you, so you need to hide." Without another word, he pulled back the bedcovers, motioning for her to crawl underneath. Seeing her confusion, he gave her a nod, urging her to hurry. Simon watched them silently, saying nothing, just observing as the girl hesitated before ducking under the bed.

Alan crouched and, biting his lip, tried to squeeze in next to Sara. Her eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. Several people had turned to look at them with interest, and a few were already giggling under their breath, watching the tall blond man—nearly six-foot-three—awkwardly try to slide under the narrow bed.

It must have looked ridiculous.

"Don't look at me like that," he whispered once he managed to squeeze in beside her. "I have to hide too. If they find me, they'll know I was with you."

She was pressed against the wall, struggling to breathe. The space was painfully cramped. Fortunately, she wasn't claustrophobic.

"Aren't you suffocating?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she lied, silently praying the General's men would just barge in and break up the party already.

"I hope no one here gives us away," he muttered, and only then did she consider that possibility. Still, lying next to Alan, she didn't feel afraid. On the contrary, she felt oddly safe, like nothing bad could touch her. She just knew—instinctively—that he wouldn't let her get hurt.

"I think I've lost feeling in my leg," he groaned. "Being tall has its drawbacks." He shifted slightly, accidentally bumping her with his elbow.

She winced and mouthed an "ouch." She meant to massage the sore spot herself, but Alan, noticing her discomfort, did it for her.

Her cheeks burned. It was his touch—always his touch—that did this to her. She had thought that after the kiss, nothing could make her flustered again. And yet... she still got shy around him.

A battle she couldn't win.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," she murmured, embarrassed.

He smiled faintly and withdrew his hand from her stomach. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart was pounding again, and even in this tense situation, all she could think about was whether he'd kiss her again. They were in danger—but when someone is in love, rational thinking tends to go out the window. She could tell by the way her mind had suddenly filled with inappropriate thoughts.

Then the door opened, and a noise erupted in the room.

The math teacher had arrived.

The students froze in place. He was the one they feared most. The man who taught mathematics always instilled the deepest dread. They were right to be scared—but they didn't know the half of it. He was far more dangerous than they realized. He had murdered orphans... and smiled as he did it. Sara would never forget the glint in his eyes as he handled their lifeless bodies, fascinated by his own cruelty.

Aside from the General, he was the one she feared most.

"Enjoying yourselves after hours?" he asked coldly. "Then tomorrow, I'll enjoy watching you scrub this entire building spotless before you leave the resort."

A few students tried to slip away, but the General appeared behind the teacher. His presence silenced the room. No one moved. They didn't know that this man—calm and quiet—was a psychopath who had tortured and killed innocent people years ago. He loathed anyone from Poland, and he took perverse satisfaction in tormenting them.

The old man scanned the students carefully, exchanging a glance with the teacher. He shook his head.

"I don't see the girl."

With one last glance, the General withdrew.

The math teacher grabbed a piece of paper and pen from the room's owner and began writing down names. One by one, the students gave theirs, grimacing as they realized the punishment awaiting them.

Simon was among them, shooting a glare at the girl who had invited him to the party. His expression made it clear: he blamed her for everything.

The room emptied, leaving only the roommates behind. One of them was so drunk she could barely stay on her feet. Eventually, she collapsed onto the bed—directly above where Sara and Alan were hiding. The boy was so squeezed beneath the mattress that he let out a croaking sound as she landed on top of him. Sara got the impression he was struggling to breathe.

"I don't know how you manage to get alcohol, but starting tomorrow, all visits are over. No one will be allowed near the gate anymore. Vodka, cigarettes—it's all ending," the teacher declared, watching the redhead carefully. She glanced at him surreptitiously with frightened eyes, swallowing hard as a mocking smile curved on his lips. "Unless, of course, we settle it the same way as last time. I'll pretend you weren't part of the party, and you'll get out of the punishment," he added in a whisper, capturing her chin.

He leaned in closer and abruptly shoved her onto the bed. He pushed her too hard—Natalia slammed her back against the wall. Her eyelids snapped shut, and she hissed in pain, a jolt running up her spine. She trembled when she saw the man climb onto the mattress, unbuckling his belt with a twisted smile on his face.

"Your roommate's drunk. We can settle this quickly. But first, tell me—was Sara here? The girl who's always with Alan. You may not know her, but surely you know who he is."

Natalia stared at her roommate's bed in panic, remembering that they were hiding there. Alan subtly lifted the bedsheet to assess the situation. Seeing the girl in danger, he looked to Sara, silently asking if he should intervene.

She nodded. She had to do something. She couldn't let that disgusting man hurt Natalia. This had gone too far.

Natalia shook her head, signaling that neither she nor Sara had attended the party.

"I... I'll take the punishment like everyone else," she said, her voice trembling as the man removed his shirt. She gripped the blanket, looking in Alan's direction with pleading eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and when the teacher grabbed her and tried to tear off her clothes, she screamed. He slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Shut up, or I'll kill you," he hissed.

Alan silently slid out from under the bed.

Sara bit down on her finger, nerves eating her alive.

Alan stood and grabbed the teacher by the shoulders, pushing him off the bed. The man hit the floor hard, his eyes dazed. Before he could react, Alan was already beside him, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him against the wall.

"You're scum," he growled, causing the teacher to smirk.

Natalia curled up on the bed, watching in horror. She hadn't expected Alan to stand up for her. But she didn't know the truth about the facility—that Alan was the General's grandson and, therefore, untouchable.

"At least I'm not a hypocrite like you," the teacher said. "You protect that little freak because you're in love with her. But behind her back? You don't even know what side you're on."

"Stop lying. You say that because you know Sara is hiding here. You're trying to make her doubt me, but you won't succeed," Alan retorted, eyes blazing. "She trusts me. I'll protect her. I won't let you hurt her—or anyone."

"Stop pretending you're the hero. You're just like your grandfather, hiding your real face. It's only a matter of time. Didn't the General lose it after your grandmother betrayed and ran from him?"

Sara felt a shiver crawl up her spine. Why did this always happen? The same dread she'd felt when the ghosts warned her. But she couldn't believe it. Alan wasn't like the General. He cared for her. He wouldn't hurt her.

"I'm not a monster. I'll never become one," Alan stated firmly.

In that moment, he loosened his grip slightly—just enough. The teacher took advantage of it, landing a hard slap across Alan's face, knocking him off balance. He seized Natalia by the hair, yanking her from the bed. She screamed.

Alan wiped the blood from his lip. The teacher turned toward the bed.

"Get out from under there, or this innocent girl gets hurt," he threatened, yanking Natalia again. Alan shouted for Sara to stay where she was, and she obeyed. Although terrified for Natalia, fear kept her frozen. She had once been brave enough to face the General for Julia's sake. Now, all that courage vanished.

"Leave Sara alone, or I won't be responsible for what happens," Alan warned.

The teacher scoffed. "What about her? Can I take her instead?"

Alan stepped closer and muttered, "Do what you want with her. I only protected her because Sara asked me to."

Natalia's eyes widened in shock at his words. The teacher laughed bitterly.

Sara crawled out from under the bed, her face pale, disbelief in her eyes. She had heard his words.

"And look who we have here. The General is looking for you, sweetheart. Lucky you weren't in your room," the teacher sneered, glaring at her. "He knows you're the granddaughter of a medium. You don't even realize how much he hated that woman."

"Alan," she whispered, locking eyes with him.

Why had he said that?

"Sara, why did you come out? Don't you trust me? I wouldn't let him hurt her."

"I think you meant what you said," the teacher mocked, pushing Natalia away. She stumbled onto the bed, and Alan immediately positioned himself between the girl and danger.

"Don't touch her, or I swear I'll kill you."

"Funny. You say you're not like your grandfather, yet here you are, threatening murder."

The teacher tried to lunge again. Alan's attention caught on a pair of scissors on the table. He grabbed them.

"Careful. You might hurt yourself," the teacher taunted.

Sara clung to Alan's shirt, her legs like jelly. She felt faint.

Suddenly, the teacher lunged and grabbed her wrist. She cried out. Natalia jumped off the bed, rushed to the door, but hesitated. She couldn't leave them. They had protected her.

She turned back, spotted a lamp on the desk, and grabbed it. She smashed it against the teacher's head—but it wasn't enough.

He turned to her, furious.

"You little bitch," he snarled, choking her. Seconds passed, and she began to suffocate.

And then Alan did something that shocked Sara to her core.

He picked up the scissors and rammed them into the teacher's neck.

Blood gushed out.

Sara covered her mouth in horror. Her knees buckled. She collapsed.

The teacher released Natalia, stumbling back. Alan backed away, horrified at what he had done.

"There really is a monster inside you," the teacher gasped, swaying. Natalia coughed, rubbing her throat. Despite the pain, a grotesque grin spread on the teacher's face.

He dropped to his knees, then hit the floor, face-first.

Natalia screamed.

Sara stared wide-eyed. Someone had just died before her eyes.

"Is... is he d-dead?" she stammered, trembling. Alan wiped his face, panic flickering as he saw Natalia's roommate stirring. The girl had witnessed everything, unaware until now.

"Do something with her!" he shouted. "We can't let this get out!"

Natalia rushed to her friend, trying to convince her it was a dream, that she was just drunk and needed to sleep.

Alan turned back to Sara, who stared blankly at the body.

He knelt beside the corpse, checking for breath.

"He's dead," he confirmed.

Those words echoed in Sara's head.

"No one can know," she said.

"Exactly. This stays between us."

"I'll never turn you in, Alan. You saved me," Natalia said, then looked at Sara.

She felt sick. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Alan crouched beside her, gently taking her hands.

"I did it to protect my friend. He would've killed Natalia. He wanted to hurt you too. I couldn't let that happen."

She looked into his eyes. He was telling the truth. He had acted in defense. The man had been trying to kill them.

Her lips trembled. She hugged him tightly, tears running down her cheeks. She was done with this place.

And in the morning, when most of the kids left and only a few remained—hell would truly begin.

Because the General wouldn't stop until he had her.

*

Sitting curled up on the floor, Sara stared at Alan, who, with Natalia's help, was wrapping the body in the sheet the girl had pulled off the bed. Sara was still so deep in shock that she didn't even try to assist them. The horror of what had happened had left her paralyzed.

"You'll have to help me," Alan said as he hoisted the wrapped corpse. "I'll carry the body, but you two check if anyone's around. We have to go down to the basement. Sara, do you remember the way?"

He wanted to make sure the girl wasn't too far gone mentally to be useful.

Sara nodded uncertainly, then slowly pushed herself up from the floor. Her legs felt like cotton, her insides heavy and cold, but she knew they had to get rid of the body.

They stepped out of the room. Sara cautiously looked around, scanning the corridor for any signs of life. Her heart pounded so hard it echoed in her ears as they descended the stairs. She silently prayed they wouldn't run into anyone.

But her prayers weren't answered.

On the landing, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she bumped into Laura.

"It's the middle of the night, and I've been looking for you!" Laura exclaimed, visibly distressed. "The General's men were in our room. You have no idea how scared I was that they caught you!"

Only then did she notice that Natalia and Alan were with her.

"What are you two doing? And why is that stupid monkey with you?" she added sharply, raising her voice. Sara immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Laura, do you really want to get into a discussion now? Go back to your room. Sara will be there soon," Alan said tensely, glancing around.

Laura's eyes narrowed—then widened as they landed on the large, sheet-wrapped bundle Alan was carrying over his shoulder.

"What's that? Are you carrying out a corpse?" she asked sarcastically.

No one responded.

Her gaze dropped to the floor, where a trail of blood was slowly dripping from under the sheet.

"Sorry, Laura. I'll explain everything later," Sara whispered, then quickly moved on with the others.

Alan, still clutching the bundle, turned to Laura one last time. "Wipe up the blood. If you can."

Sara leaned toward Natalia as they walked, speaking softly. "She's my roommate. She won't say anything. I swear."

They breathed a sigh of relief once they reached the basement level unnoticed. Descending the final set of stairs, Natalia stopped, startled, when she saw the metal door that led to the underground tunnels.

"What is this place?" she asked, her voice full of concern as she looked at the barred rooms beyond. A chill went down her spine, and she rubbed her arms instinctively.

Sara had reacted the same way when she first came here.

"You have no idea what's really going on here," she said. "There are people worse than the math teacher. At least we don't have to worry about them calling the police. Trust me—they won't."

Only Alan understood the full meaning of her words. Natalia was still in the dark about the truth behind this place. She didn't know the extent of the horrors that happened inside this facility.

Sara had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning. Dread settled in her chest as she imagined the next day. She feared returning to her room, lying in bed, and waking up in the morning to face what came next—especially once the rest of the students left the center. Because then… true hell would begin.

The thought of what the General might do when he finally caught her made her nauseous. Alan couldn't protect her forever. Sooner or later, that cruel man would catch her. And she had no doubt what would happen then.

And even though she now shared yet another terrible secret with Alan, what worried her more was Natalia. She didn't know this girl. Could she trust her? Or would this entire nightmare come crashing down because of one mistake?