Chapter 1

Year 2029

A happy Leon looks at his parents, unable to believe that he has just entered the gates of "Gilbert", a prestigious boarding school that many students in Poland dream of.

Local legends speak of a horror that took place here over twenty years ago, but everyone has long forgotten about it. Now this building is known for the best high school in the country. Only wealthy parents can afford to send their child to this place.

Leon comes from a wealthy family, but so far, he has not particularly flaunted it, maybe because he was born in Sweden and lived there as a child? He has never felt better than others and could not understand the children of rich people, who at every step tried to prove to others that they were better.

His parents raised him to respect everyone, regardless of status or appearance, which is why he never chose or discriminated when making friends. Anyone he got along well with became one.

He looks around with joyful eyes, realizing that the building has retained its dark appearance. The gates surrounding it, behind which there is a dense forest, complete the mysterious aura of the darkness of the past.

This is a wonderful place.

- Son, we hope that this is not just your whim. Studying here costs a lot, so you have to respect the money and endure three years, no matter how hard it is for you. We believe in you - the father says, placing his hand on Leon's shoulder.

- I will not give up this school, no matter how hard it is for me. I promise you. - The mother strokes her son's hair, looking proud.

- But remember that regardless of the time, you can always call us.- The sixteen-year-old nods in response.

- Thank you for fulfilling my dream. I will do everything not to disappoint you - he states.-

- All the formalities are already taken care of, do you want us to take you to your room? God forbid - the sixteen-year-old denies, terrified by this thought. He loves his parents and of course he is not ashamed of them, but at this age he does not deserve to be escorted by them to the door. - I am a big boy now, I can handle myself.

The woman gives him a kiss on the cheek, and the man pats him on the shoulder.

- Remember, you can call us at any time! - his mother reminds him as she and her husband walk to the car.

- Yes, mom, I will remember that.

Holding his suitcase in his hand, he heads towards the building, still admiring the surroundings. He cannot stop admiring how wonderful this place is. His head keeps popping up with articles he has read about the horror that happened here over twenty years ago.

It is difficult to believe.

A cry of admiration escapes his lips as he enters. It appears that this place has been renovated, but it still has the aura of war walls, the atmosphere of old times.

Looking around, Leon thinks about where he should go to find his room. His attention is drawn to a boy standing nearby, who looks as lost as he does. The sixteen-year-old would like to approach him and talk, but he is afraid of his reaction. He has a mean expression on his face, and although he shouldn't judge people by their appearance, he's afraid that he'll scold him "good morning".

He quickly turns his face in the other direction when he catches him looking.

- And what are you staring at?

Leon was right. The person isn't very positive about making new friends.

- Sorry - he says, raising his hand. - I just wanted to chat, I thought you were wondering where to look for a room too.

- I can only look for happiness here - the teenager grumbles under his breath. Holding a black suitcase, he heads for the stairs, hoping to find the boys' rooms there. Leon quickly follows him, ignoring his sulking face when he turns to face him on the stairs. - Why are you following me?

- You seem like a smart guy. I'm counting on you to get there faster.

- You're annoying - he mutters in response.

Leon smiles under his breath. The person is annoying, but sincere.

***

The teenager glances at his roommate sometimes as he unpacks his suitcase. He's been having a laugh ever since it turned out they shared a room. His expression was priceless when, after seeing the name on the door, he followed him inside.

- You can't escape your fate - Leon says, guessing that these words will make him even angrier. - Will you at least tell me your name?

- The people I plan to treat like air don't need to know my name.

- Ouch, that hurt - the sixteen-year-old replies, putting a hand to his chest.

- Shut up already, or I'll ask for a room change.

The boy isn't friendly towards his peers and doesn't seem like he wants to make friends with anyone.

Or maybe it's just Leon that he doesn't like?

- But you do realize that I know your name? - The boy doesn't intend to let him off the hook. - I saw your name by the door, Mr. Nathan?

- What an annoying asshole - the boy growls in response, throwing his sweatshirt at him. This anger at him Leon's face is amused. The sixteen-year-old bursts out laughing loudly, causing his sulking roommate to become infected with his positive energy and finally take off his "mean man" mask. - Damn you. You've screwed up my role as a cold asshole.

- Dude, there's no one who wouldn't like me - he declares, approaching him. - Maybe it's official, I'm Leon - he adds, extending his hand to him. The roommate reluctantly returns the handshake.

- Nathan. For you, though, Mr. Nathan.

The boy who owns the third bed enters the room.

- Hello, puppies. I'm Sebastian and I'm your senior. I can be your father in this place, though.

This one seems completely detached from reality.

- I think calling myself an older brother is more appropriate. - Leon replies jokingly.

He likes this place more and more.

- I have a feeling I'm going to have problems with you, puppies. You look like a nuisance - he says to the Swiss, then moves his finger to Nathan. - You look like a nuisance, an introvert.

- Are you sure this isn't a mental institution? I feel like I'm among the nutcases - the sixteen-year-old mutters under his breath, once again maintaining his cold expression.

Leon has already gotten used to his peer's cold nature, so he ignores his words, but the senior perceives it in an entirely different way.

- Unmannered puppies whine the most - he says to him, crossing his arms over his chest.

- And I thought they growled the most, even biting. - This answer amuses Leon. They are now behaving rudely towards Sebastian, but in this way they show that he will not step on their heads, even though he is the oldest in the room.

- There will be no hierarchy, I won't win against you puppies, even though I am a big dog - the seventeen-year-old declares.

The younger ones high-five. They quickly feel a connection like kindred spirits. As if they had met after years...

***

Nadia looks at the dejected faces of her parents as they take her to the boarding school. It took her two years to convince them to apply to this high school, knowing what had happened here and that her parents had been through hell here.

They are not happy that their daughter insisted on this place, even though it is now the best school in the country and graduating from it provides a better step towards prestigious universities. They still think that this place has a dark aura and that it is not safe here, even though the Nazis who ruled here have been dead for over twenty years.

Furthermore, they feel distaste and fear related to this place, but eventually, they respected their daughter's decision, who assured them that nothing would threaten her now, and they took the old nightmare with them in their memories.

- When you feel bad, when you suddenly change your mind, all you have to do is call, and we will take you away from here, do you understand, Nadia? - Her mother touches her face, looking at her with concern in her eyes. - I don't want anything bad to happen to you, especially in this place.

- Since you survived terror here, our daughter will endure hard school and annoying teachers even more - Oliver says, standing with his arms crossed on his chest. For a moment, fear appears in his eyes as he observes the building, and memories of the old years return to him at a striking speed.

Sara feels the same, but tries to chase away the bad thoughts.

- Is it a curse that we came back here? That our daughter insisted on this place? - The woman is still panicking.

- Honey, Nadia will manage. She's stronger than both of us at her age - Oliver reassures her, putting his arm around her.

- It's good that you mentioned it, Dad. There's a reason they called me the devil's spawn in middle school.

- I hope they call you that here, too.

- Oliver! - Sara admonishes her husband, telling him to behave like a father. All that was missing was for their daughter to be the darkness of this place. - You're acting strangely, I think this place has a bad influence on you. I'm saying goodbye to you, and I'm running my way - the sixteen-year-old declares, hugging them goodbye.

Dragging her pink suitcase behind her, she runs to the school entrance, and Sara raises her face and looks at her husband.

- Since we're here, should we go to this place for a moment? - she asks. The man understands what she's talking about, so he nods in agreement.

He puts his arm around his wife, and together they head behind the building. They are amazed to see with their own eyes that the pond and the tree are still there intact.

Sara touches the trunk, her fingers running over the names carved on the tree. Tears well up in her eyes, which she can't control. The names of her friends make her start to cry like a child.

Laura - the crazy roommate who became her best friend in this place. Ever since she met the Norwegian and left with him for his home country, their contact broke off a long time ago.

Simon - the boy who died in this place in at a very young age. A teenager who cared for his friend, even after death.

Mathew - Oliver's best friend. From the very beginning, he was the most helpful and kind towards Sarah. This man, full of energy and charisma, died five years ago in a car accident.

Looking at his name, even Oliver's eyes fill with tears. They were friends until the day he died.

Sarah turns to face Oliver, feeling a terrible pain in her heart when she looks at the name of the boy she loved in her teenage life. He also sacrificed himself for them and died so they could leave this place.

Alan...

The man hugs his wife, and she looks into the pond with tearful eyes. She could swear that after many years, after a very long time, she sees ghosts that are still circling there. They swim in circles, as if they were happy, as if they wanted to tell her something...

- Are you okay, honey?- Oliver looks at her face and wipes the tears from her cheeks. She nods, and her gaze is drawn to the two boys who are heading towards them. One of them is talking enthusiastically about something and pointing at the pond. The other is walking glumly, listening to his colleague casually.

They have the aura of Matthew and Oliver.

Sara begins to feel uneasy as the apparitions become increasingly insane. As if in a frenzy, she shifts her gaze to the boys, and her heart sinks. She gets cold shivers when she sees the terrifying, black shell of a demon with the face of the General behind one of them.

The enthusiastic boy has no idea about the darkness resting on his shoulders, and as he walks past her and Oliver, their eyes meet.

An unfathomable feeling of longing appears in her heart, recalling memories of an old love.

- Oliver, let's get out of here, please. I feel bad.

- What's going on, honey?

- I think there are too many ghosts here, draining my energy.

The man nods and leads his wife to the front of the building. The woman looks back at the pond one last time, meeting the boy's gaze again. He looks at her, and the darkness lurking around him looks pleased.

At this point, she would like to take her daughter away from here, but she knows she can't talk some sense into her.

This place is still terrifying and dangerous, and especially that boy...