Chapter 38

Alan knows that today is the final day, so it's time for him to stop pretending, because it doesn't make sense anymore. While in the principal's office, he decides to find the students' cell phones that were taken from them last year. The landline has been out of service for quite some time, as the cable was cut by the General so that no one would have a chance to contact the family.

The boy searches all the cabinets, anxiously looking at the doors, lest he be discovered. He can't pinpoint where they might have been hidden. He has no idea.

And that's when his attention is caught by a picture of the school principal hanging over his desk. Usually, such places are used to store things or money. He knows this because his father uses something like this in his office. The boy discovered it when he was a child, for which he got a leather strap across his ass at the time. He will never forget what a pain it was.

He grabs the frame and pulls the painting, which he expected would serve as a hiding place. In addition to a black commercial that hides cell phones, there are also documents and money.

Alan smiles sourly.

He takes out a commercial and takes the first phone in his hand. He turns it on. Furthermore, he is attacked by thousands of messages that have not been read for a very long time. He types in the emergency number and presses the green receiver. He glances nervously toward the door, fearing that he will be covered.

A man answers.

- I am located in the "Lightning" correctional center. All students are in danger. There are people here who are planning to kill us, please.... - He moves the cell phone away from his ear and hides it behind his back, when the General unexpectedly enters the room. The teenager hears the man on the other side of the handset asking him questions, but is unable to answer them. With horror in his eyes, he watches the General, who looks around the interior with curiosity. His gaze finds an open picture, and a moment later, a commercial with cell phones.

He reaches for the bag with which he returned after several days of absence. Alan's mouth goes dry as the old man pulls a gun out of it. The boy opens his eyes wider and lets the phone out of his hand.

- It was worth it," he announces, smiling sultrily. He points the gun straight at his grandson's heart. - I have suspected you for a long time. I am not an idiot. I know that you got rid of many people during my absence. This is how I wanted to test you. There is more of your grandmother's blood flowing in you. You are a traitor, just like her.

The boy looks to the side and then forces a smile.

- I think you're right, because if I were like you, I wouldn't suffer internally if I killed people. You are a monster, but you can be proud because my father is exactly like you. Apparently, I did not grow into this family. And that's fortunate.

He walks closer to the General, disregarding the gun pointed at him. Since he wants to kill him, he can do it at any time. The man looks surprised by his courage as the teenager stands in front of him, himself pressing the gun to his chest.

- Since I'm a traitor, pull the trigger. And so you will get rid of everyone one by one. I can be the first.

Moments later, a shot rang out, echoing throughout the building.

*

Sara moves restlessly as a disturbing noise reaches her. She plunges a frightened gaze into the General's men who are standing over her. She can't move. Fear paralyzes her body. In a similar state is Laura, who is trembling.

The girls sensed that it was the end. The worst day of their lives has arrived.

- Will you continue to insist that you don't know where the uranium is? - She measures the built man, who exudes such hatred from his face that she gets the impression he will kill her any moment.

- She is not clairvoyant," Laura interjects, which only angers the man unnecessarily. He grabs her by the hair and tilts her head back.

She closes her eyelids because it causes her pain.

- Should I slit your throat for a test? Are you the first to want to go to hell?

- To hell, it is you who will go. May you forever fry your ass there. - Sara feels anger surging through her body like a wave of fire. Nothing can give her more fighting spirit than to protect her friends.

The man lets go of Laura and becomes interested in her friend again. He puts a knife to her throat.

- This is your last chance. Talk about where the uranium is, or say goodbye to your life. The general gave me a free hand. He stated that he doesn't need you anymore anyway if you don't know anything.

- What if I know and don't want to tell you? - she mocks, knowing full well that this way he won't kill her. He will try to get information out of her at all costs. - I have been there. It's a very cozy place.

The man is so furious that he even breathes fire. He wants to take her life, as his hand is twitching all the way to do it, yet he fiercely restrains himself.

- Are you that brave? - he asks, pressing the knife too hard against her throat. He cuts the skin, and because of this, the girl begins to bleed. Despite the pain, she is not going to give up so easily. If they extracted information from her, then they would kill her without a second thought. She is not stupid.

- This little one is strong. Now I know why the General's grandson lost his head for her. Too bad he turned out to be a traitor. What do you think, the General has already killed him?

Her heart rises to her throat.

- The gunshot unequivocally let us know that the boy had lost his life. Too bad, right? - turns to the teenager, smiling sultrily. - How does it feel to lose love at such a young age? Maybe you will meet on the other side of the world?

Laura can't stand it and, in defense of her friend, spits on the man's shoes.

- You had to be born human and love someone, then you would know what it feels like, reptile.

- I'm starting to like her. - The other man points a knife at Laura. - Just look at her... pretty.... it's a shame to kill her.

The brunette wrinkles her eyebrows as he walks up to her and captures her chin. She tries to jerk away from him, but he intensifies the embrace.

- I'm the prettiest one, dung. - Sara opens her eyes wider as Julia emerges from behind him. With the heavy object she holds in her hand, she hits the man in the back of the head. If it wasn't a life-threatening situation for them, it would probably look like a thriller comedy.

Matthew jumps up to the man and during the struggle is wounded with a knife. The General's man cuts his hand. Despite the pain, he does not give up. He orders the girls to run away.

- I never would have guessed that it would save your ass. - Julia turns to Laura, pushing her outside. - And I hope you will finally forgive me for that accident. - She closes the door behind Sara and jumps to the man, trying to help the boy fight back.

The girls run to the brothers when they spot them in one of the corridors. They both look concerned. Oliver takes Sarah into his arms and hears her let the air out of her mouth with relief.

- I was so afraid that something bad had happened to you.

- It has already started... Julia and Matthew helped us. They locked themselves in a classroom with the General's people. We have to do something. They will kill them.

Oliver puts his hands on her shoulders.

- We will help them, but you hide well. Take care of yourselves, understand?

Sara nods and watches for a moment as the siblings head toward the classrooms. She is concerned and afraid that something bad will happen to them, but they must help them.

- Laura, I need to see what's going on with Alan. I'm worried about him. Will you look for him with me?

A teenage girl nods. They hide behind a wall when they hear voices.

- Outside is full of police. We are trapped.

The girls are surprised.

- Who could call the police? - Laura shrugs her shoulders in response. - Could ... could it be Alan? - She runs towards the office, followed closely by her friend.

Sara jumps to the door and rushes inside without a second thought. She puts her hands to her mouth when a shocking sight appears before her eyes.

Her heart rises to her throat.

With horror in her eyes, she observes the dead General lying on the floor. A stream of blood is flowing from his wound. Alan sits at his desk, with a gun held to his head. The blood drains from her face. Her knees are like cotton wool, and she falls to the floor. Laura grabs her by the shoulders and crouches down beside her.

- I was waiting for you, Sara," he speaks, and his eyes glaze over. - I wanted to at least see you one last time, to see your face before I left.

- What are you talking about? - Her voice is trembling so hard that the words are not quite understandable. - Put it down, please.

But he doesn't seem to be listening to her.

He presses a button at the desk with which he opens the gates. The girls look in the window and see the police running inside.

- It's over now. I freed you from this nightmare. I'm sorry that you stopped believing in me and didn't trust me when I assured you that you were the most important thing to me and I would never betray you, but.... I decided that despite everything I would finish it and free you from this hell. I had to do it because I love you. - Tears flow in streams down her cheeks. She struggles to take in air. She chokes on her crying.

- Stop it! - she yells unexpectedly, hoping he will listen to her. - The police are already here. The worst is behind us.... we will leave here. Each of us will return to a normal life.

- You do, I don't. I don't even have anywhere to go back to," he interjects in her sentence, and his lips tremble. - I've killed many people, Sara.... I will never be able to live a normal life again. It's killing me from the inside. I fought it for a long time, but I can't do it anymore. I am a murderer," he whispers desperately. - Nothing can clear me of this. I can't live anymore. I can't.

- I beg you to stop.

- If you care about me then believe it's for the best," he claims, to which she hastily shakes her head.

- Not at all. You can handle it in an entirely different way," she announces, looking at him pleadingly. - You can't do that to me. You can't...

She hears shouting in the hallway. The police are already there. They catch the perpetrators and help the people who are trapped.

- Let's get out of here, please. Everything will be fine. I'm going to help you deal with this, you hear?

He does not take his eyes off her. Unexpectedly he gets up from his desk. He walks over to the girls and opens the door. He pushes them outside, but Sara fights back. She grabs his hand and holds it tightly, unable to let him lock himself in the room.

- If you love me, don't do it. You will do me the worst harm.

- Be happy, Sara. - He sees in her eyes a shrill fear; anxiety as well as helplessness. - You are my first love. The only one. Remember this.

With one jerk, he pushes her outside and closes the door behind her. Sara starts screaming, calling for help so loudly that she immediately pulls the police under the office. However, no one can react, as one final shot rings out in the room.

Alan takes his life.

Sara blanches. She begins to whirl before her eyes.

Faint.

*

She opens her eyes and realizes that she is glaring at the whiteness. She looks around inside for a moment and only then recalls the recent events. Furthermore, she rises from the bed and, as if in a trance, begins to pull the needles out of her hands, under which the IV is connected.

- Alan," she whispers, rising from the bed. - Alan," she repeats, with which she begins to attract other people's attention. She checks all the beds, as if she is hoping that a boy will be lying on one of them. She acts as if she is in some kind of trance. - Alan, I know you are here somewhere. You didn't leave me...

Someone embraces her so tightly that she can't move.

- I beg you to calm down, Sara. - She hears Oliver's voice. Still held by him, she sinks to her knees. The boy presses his face into her hair. - I'm so worried about you.

- Alan," she whispers again, looking around the hospital. They sit in the middle of the corridor, being the center of attention. - Oliver, tell me, where is he? He's fine, isn't he?

But the boy doesn't answer. He presses his lips together, afraid to confess the truth to her.

- Do you know where he is? Will you lead me to him? I need to see him.

- Sara... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he says in a breaking voice, fearing her reaction.

She curls up on the floor and starts crying, and he can't stand it. Her tears are so painful for him that he hugs her back and eventually pours out all his grief. From the very beginning he hated Alan and considered him a traitor, and in fact it was he who saved their lives.

They owe so much to him.

*

Sara gets sleep medication. She can finally rest. Her father doesn't leave his bed, blaming himself for sending his daughter to the place where she survived the worst of hell, while he lived happily alongside his new family.

This is the first time this man has sincerely cried.

Walking down the corridor, Oliver glances at Laura. The girl is sitting with her parents in the waiting room. She cries on her mother's shoulder, telling her about Simon. Her heart aches when she recalls the despairing faces of his parents.

A few chairs away sits Erik. His arm is bandaged. Oliver smiles at him and assures him that he will be back shortly. In one of the rooms lies Julia, who fiercely defended the boy she loves. Thanks to her, Matthew was not badly injured. Both of them were very brave.

- May I? - The teenage boy lifts his head and looks at his friend. They used to be very close, but recent events have contributed to their distance from each other.

Matthew nods and asks his parents for a moment of privacy so he can talk to his friend. Oliver greets them as they leave the room. He sits down by the bed.

- It's over, huh? - he begins, looking at him uncertainly. - You were very brave.

The boy smiles slightly.

- You could say that. I've been scratched with a knife a couple of times and if it wasn't for you and especially Erik, it could have ended badly for me.

- It's true.

- I am full of admiration that you managed to discover the place where the uranium was stored, as well as the jewelry. I noticed that you were the one who led the police to the underground.

Oliver nods.

- I had to. The right people should take care of it.

- Our conversation is quite stiff. It's strange. We have always felt comfortable in each other's company. A lot has changed. - Oliver nods in agreement. - Do you think there is a chance for us to fix this in the future?

- Of course you do," he announces, rising from his chair. She puts her hand on his shoulder. - But first recover and get a lot of strength. I think we will soon be able to organize some alcohol. Laura is irreplaceable in this.

*

Oliver is sitting next to his brother when Laura approaches them. The girl is sad and barely on her feet. She takes a seat next to Eric.

- I heard that you are good at fighting. You threw them like flags," she turns to the older boy, who laughs at these words. - I value strong guys.

- I finally gained respect in your eyes.

Oliver looks at his colleague.

- Did you point out to them the place where Simon was buried?

The girl closes her eyelids.

- Yes. They will take care of their son's body. They will arrange his funeral," she says in a stifled voice. Tears are glazing in her eyes. - And how do you feel?

- Bottom line. Matthew and Julia are also recovering. I'm most worried about Sara.... She is in the worst mental state. I think her father will have to provide her with treatment. - Laura nods her head.

- What we saw then.... For her, it must have been particularly traumatic. Alan was one of the most important people in her life. - Oliver nods in agreement. - I didn't think he was so mentally weak. I would never have thought that he would be able to commit suicide.

- Usually, people who outwardly pretend to be tough and mask their emotions are the weakest mentally. And he couldn't stand it. It broke everything in him. Everything he experienced throughout his life," Erik interjects.

Laura and Oliver lower their heads.

- We should be happy that we are finally freed from this hell, but why don't I feel joy at all?

- Because each of us lost a part of ourselves there. The walls of the building there have seen and remembered so many moments over so many years: the joyous, the macabre, and the unexpected, like a first kiss.

Oliver breathes out nervously, which makes Laura finally smile.

- Although this place has caused us a lot of pain and suffering, it will also be the one place we will remember forever. For the rest of our lives.... - he announces, looking at one point. - Now each of us will be hiding some dark secrets of the past.