A MIDNIGHT GAME

The night air was crisp as Tasha, Collins, Lina, and Naomi tiptoed through the dimly lit corridors. The school had an eerie stillness at this hour—no chatter, no footsteps, just the distant hoot of an owl outside.

"Why do I feel like we're characters in a horror movie?" Naomi whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

"Relax," Collins said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "If this were a horror movie, I'd be the handsome main character who survives till the end."

Lina snorted. "More like the first one to die because you'd try to make jokes with the killer."

Collins placed a hand over his chest, feigning hurt. "You wound me, Lina. Truly."

"This is stupid," Naomi whispered, glancing around as if a teacher would pop out of thin air.

"No, this is thrilling," Collins corrected, flashing a grin. "Besides, if we get caught, I'll take full responsibility."

Lina scoffed. "And do what? Flash your charming smile and hope Grimshaw swoons?"

"Obviously," Collins said, flipping his hair dramatically. "It works on everyone else."

Tasha rolled her eyes, but a small laugh escaped her. Moments later, they slipped into the library. The heavy wooden door let out a tired groan as they shut it behind them. The lanterns on the walls cast long shadows across the towering bookshelves, and the familiar scent of aged paper and dust filled the air.

They settled on a large, plush rug near the center of the library, away from the windows where anyone passing by might see them. Collins sprawled out like he owned the place, stretching his arms behind his head. "Now, what do we do? Discuss the meaning of life? Summon ghosts?"

"Play a game," Lina suggested, plopping down beside him. "We're already risking detention; might as well have some fun."

Collins snapped his fingers. "Truth or Dare."

Naomi groaned. "I knew you were going to say that."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Collins said, smirking. "Come on, Naomi, live a little."

Tasha chuckled. "Fine. But no stupid dares."

"Define 'stupid,'" Collins teased.

Naomi rolled her eyes. "Nothing that'll get us expelled."

Collins placed a hand over his heart. "I promise to only traumatize you emotionally."

Lina smirked. "I'll go first. Collins—truth or dare?"

"Dare, obviously."

A wicked grin spread across Lina's face. "I dare you to tell us your biggest secret."

Collins gasped dramatically. "That's not a dare. That's blackmail."

"Still waiting," Lina said, crossing her arms.

Collins sighed, then sat up, suddenly serious. "Fine. I secretly...think Grimshaw has a crush on me."

Naomi threw a cushion at him. "That's not a secret. That's a delusion."

Collins dodged it effortlessly. "Alright, alright. My actual biggest secret? I once stole a whole tray of cookies from the cafeteria and blamed it on a random freshman."

Tasha gasped, feigning horror. "You monster."

"The real crime was that I had to share with Lina," Collins muttered.

Lina shoved him playfully, then turned to Tasha. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"

Tasha hesitated. "Truth."

Lina's grin turned mischievous. "Who do you have a crush on?"

Tasha's heart leaped. Her eyes flickered toward Collins before she quickly looked away. "I—uh—pass."

"No passes!" Naomi sang.

Collins leaned forward, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yeah, Tasha. Who is it?"

Tasha groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "I hate you all."

Lina clapped. "Alright, moving on. Collins, you're up."

Collins cracked his knuckles. "Tasha—truth or dare?"

She sighed. "Truth."

"Coward," he teased. "Fine. If we were stranded on a deserted island, which one of us would you eat first?"

Tasha gave him a deadpan look. "You."

Naomi burst out laughing. Collins put a hand to his chest. "Why me?"

"You'd probably make the dumbest decision that gets us stranded in the first place," she said, smirking. "Might as well get rid of the problem early."

Collins pouted. "I'm hurt."

"Your turn, Tasha," Lina said.

Tasha exhaled. "Fine. Collins, truth or dare?"

"Dare," he said without hesitation.

Tasha grinned. "I dare you to sit still and be quiet for five minutes."

Collins gasped. "Torture."

"Do it," Naomi challenged.

Collins crossed his arms and dramatically mimed zipping his lips. It lasted two minutes before he blurted, "I can't do this! My soul is dying."

"Pathetic," Lina said, shaking her head.

They played for a while longer, the game growing more ridiculous. Lina had to read a random passage from a dusty book in a dramatic voice, Naomi had to walk like a penguin for a minute, and Collins had to hold a plank position for thirty seconds (which he failed miserably).

Then Lina grinned wickedly. "Tasha, truth or dare?"

Tasha eyed her warily. "Dare."

Lina's smirk widened. "I dare you… to kiss Collins."

Silence.

Tasha's stomach flipped. "What?"

Naomi burst into laughter. "Oh, this just got interesting."

Collins, however, leaned back on his elbows, smirking. "Well, well. Looks like I'm finally getting what I deserve."

Tasha glared at Lina, but her face was already burning. "This is dumb."

"A dare is a dare," Lina sang.

Collins raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Tasha. It's just a kiss. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything," she shot back.

Collins grinned. "Then prove it."

Tasha's heart pounded as she slowly leaned in. Collins didn't move, just watched her, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The room felt warmer, her hands clammy, her breath uneven. She was so close she could feel his breath against her skin. Just before their lips met—

The door creaked open.

A gust of cold air blew through the room, making the lantern flicker.

All four of them froze.

Tasha turned slowly, her pulse hammering. The door was slightly ajar, revealing nothing but the dark hallway beyond.

Naomi whispered, "Did… did someone just open that?"

Another sound—a thud from the far side of the library.

Collins stood up, grabbing the lantern. "Alright. If this is a prank, I swear, I'll—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

The others followed his gaze.

Beyond the bookshelves, lying in a grotesque heap, were Alexander and Celeste.

Their eyes were wide open. Their throats slit. Blood pooled beneath them, seeping into the wooden floor.

And carved into their flesh, smeared in deep, dripping letters—

THE DEBT IS BEING PAID.

Naomi clamped a hand over her mouth.

Tasha felt her entire body go numb.

"We tell no one," Collins whispered, his voice steady but hollow. "Not a word."

We should get going , let's go

Collins was the first to move. He turned away from the bodies, stepping between the others and the grisly sight as if shielding them from it would somehow erase the horror from their minds. "Alright," he said, voice steady despite the sharp edge of tension beneath it. "We're leaving. Right now."

No one argued.

He blew out the lantern, plunging them into near darkness, save for the slivers of moonlight slipping through the high windows. With careful, measured steps, they backed away from the crime scene, their ears straining for any sound in the library's depths.

Tasha's breaths were shallow. Naomi clutched Lina's wrist so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Collins, ever composed, glanced over his shoulder. "Listen to me," he whispered. "When we walk out of here, you do not run. You do not scream. You do not act suspicious. Got it?"

Lina swallowed hard. "Collins, we just—"

"I know what we saw," he cut in. "And we're not talking about it. Not to anyone."

Naomi's voice trembled. "But—"

"No buts." Collins placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. "This school has been standing for centuries. The principal will handle this. We won't get involved."

Tasha found her voice. "And if someone finds out we were there?"

Collins exhaled, thinking. "Then we play dumb." His usual smirk flickered, but it didn't hold its usual lightheartedness. "We're just four students who went to sleep like normal. Right?"

Naomi hesitated, then nodded.

Collins patted her cheek lightly. "Good girl. Now let's move before someone else walks in."

With careful precision, they retraced their steps out of the library, their nerves stretched thin. The air outside the library was too quiet, as if the entire school was holding its breath.

By the time they reached their dorm, Naomi was still shaking. Lina slumped onto her bed, exhaling sharply. Tasha stood frozen near the door, her mind replaying the bloody words over and over.

Collins shut the door behind them and turned, arms crossed. "Alright," he said. "One last time: we didn't see anything."

Lina sat up, rubbing her temples. "Collins, do you even hear yourself? Two people are dead."

"Exactly why we don't get involved," he said smoothly. "If we talk, we'll be pulled into something way over our heads. You think the police will care that we just 'found' the bodies? No. They'll start asking why we were there in the first place."

Naomi bit her lip. "But what if we're next?"

Collins walked over, ruffling her hair. "Then I'll heroically throw myself in front of the murderer while you all escape."

Lina rolled her eyes. "Not funny."

"It's a little funny," he said with a wink. Then, more seriously, "Look, just stay quiet.Grimshaw isn't stupid. She'll figure this out. But if we act weird, people will start asking questions."

Tasha sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. "I don't think I can sleep after this."

Collins knelt in front of her, tilting his head. "You can. And you will."

She didn't argue, but her eyes were glassy.

Collins sighed and stood. "Alright, bedtime. Everyone, tuck yourselves in like good little kids."

Lina huffed but pulled her blanket over her head. Naomi curled into a ball, her breathing unsteady but slowing.

Collins turned back to Tasha, who still sat motionless. He exhaled and slid onto the bed beside her. "Lie down."

She shook her head, a quiet sniffle escaping her.

Without hesitation, Collins wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her head to his chest. "I got you," he murmured.

Tasha tensed, then melted into the warmth of his hold. Her sobs were soft, muffled against his shirt.

Collins stroked her hair absentmindedly, his voice softer than usual. "Everything's fine. Just sleep."

Tasha clutched his sleeve, eyes fluttering shut. His hand never stopped moving through her hair, slow and soothing, until eventually, her breathing evened out.

Collins leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.

He didn't sleep for a long time.

"It's okay Collins, you saw nothing, keep mute, you're moving out tomorrow, there's no reason to be tensed" he reassured himself and left for the Dreamland