Chapter 4

The students look excited as they take their seats at the empty desks, eager to get started. The noise they make irritates Nathan, who glares at everyone as he pulls out a chair next to his roommate.

Nadia looks disappointed when she shows up too late and realizes she won't be sitting next to her crush. She's left to comfort herself on the bench directly behind him.

Sixteen-year-olds girls whisper and make fun of the girl who arrives last in class. They've already come up with a few nicknames for her. Maybe Nadia would feel sorry for her roommate if she were nicer to her, but after what she did on her first day, she's on her blacklist.

"A crazy lunatic," one of the girls says, laughing wickedly as a pale-skinned teenager takes a seat in the last row against the wall. "I feel sorry for her mother, for having to give birth to such a weirdo and raising her for so many years..."

- I'd like to say the same to your mother - Nathan mutters under his breath, piercing his peer with a sharp gaze, but the girl doesn't hear him.

"Possibly, she's the ghost of one of the victims here? Go touch her, see if she's alive," another teenage girl says, dramatically putting her hand to her mouth.

- I think your words are inappropriate. A little respect for the victims who died here - says Nadia, glaring at her.

- I admit you're right, you overdid it. - Leon looks at the girls who are picking on their pale-skinned peer. - Besides, she didn't do anything to you, leave her alone.

A teacher enters the classroom. It's wonderful how chaotic students become model students in a matter of seconds. The room is so quiet that the only sound is the clicking of the woman's heels.

- Wow, I could have sworn I thought I was in a bizarre a moment ago. I could hear you on the other side of the building. - Teachers like to exaggerate. - And now I'm looking at quiet mice - she adds with a smile.

She stands behind the desk and rests her hands on the counter. She looks at each student, as if trying to read their faces to see what their personality is.

- My name is Caroline Novak. I am your teacher and also your guardian. You can come to me with any problem, I will listen to you and find a way to help you.

- Does this also apply to heart issues? - asks one of the guys.

- Only in terms of health - the teacher replies. - I think your priority should be studying, not dating.

- I think my heart is already broken. Will you help me? Leon asks, dramatically placing his hands on his chest.

- I have to admit that this year I got a pretty interesting class - says the woman, smiling at the students in a friendly way. - Maybe you could introduce yourselves so I can get to know you better? Let's start with you. - She points to the girl sitting in the first row.

The students introduce themselves in order, and when the teenager in the back row turns up, everyone seems interested in her.

- My name is Alice Bednarek - she says shyly, nervously playing with her fingers.

- ... and I'm a ghost! - the girl who had teased her before interjects.

- Please be quiet! - the teacher says. - You will start speaking when it is your turn. Do not interrupt your classmate.

- I'm Alice... and I lead a sad life every day - adds the girl from the last bench.

The teacher seems concerned about her words and intends to observe her. At first glance, it is clear that she is rejected by her peers.

When the loudmouth girl's turn comes, she straightens up in her chair and happily announces:

- My name is Marta Więckowska...

- ... and I'm an idiot - Nathan butts in. The teacher scolds him with a look, and so does his outraged peer.

- Please don't say some words out loud - the woman admonishes him.

- My name is Marta Więckowska and I plan to be the best in my year - the sixteen-year-old girl finishes.

- So far, you've proven that you're the stupidest. - Nathan speaks up again before he bites his tongue. This time, the teacher doesn't pay attention to him, looking like she shares his opinion.

Leon looks amused as he watches his roommate. He pats him on the shoulder, sensing that he'll warm up even more with time.

***

He ignores Nathan and runs out of the classroom when he notices that the girl from his dream hastily left the room. Even though all the classes are in this classroom, he wonders where she is going since she bypassed the bathroom and headed towards the main exit.

He wants to talk to her, ask her if she remembers anything from last night, is there a chance they had the same dream? He would like to do this, even if she thinks she's crazy.

Furthermore, he is surprised when he sees Alice sitting down by the pond. She pulls her legs to her chest and wraps her arms around them, looking at one point.

Leon sits down next to her, wondering how he should start the topic.

- Why are you following me? - the brunette girl asks, sensing his presence.

- Sorry, I wanted to ask you something.

- Well, no one will approach the weirdo in public. It's best to do it here, where no one can see us - she says in a sour voice.

- You didn't let me talk to you in class. You ran away from there so fast I had to chase you - he replies to her.

Alice finally looks up at him, her expression still somber.

- This place is hopeless, the people are even worse.

- So why did you want to study here? - he asks with interest. For the first time, she smiles from the corner of her mouth.

"I didn't want to. My mother sent me here to be as far away from home as possible. She hates me," she says, looking at the pond. "But it doesn't matter. What do you want from me?"

Leon clears his throat nervously.

"I feel idiotic that I have to ask you this..." he drawls, scratching his head.

"You mean the dream from last night?" she asks, searching his face. The boy's eyes widen, clearly surprised by her words.

- How do you know?

- Somehow I found myself there, I don't know, maybe because I remember certain things, and my enemy was there?

- Your enemy? - Leon is staring at her now, mouth agape. But she's narrowing her eyes and watching the spot over his shoulder.

- Yes, the damn General who targeted you.

The boy smiles nervously.

- Why would he target me?

"You don't remember the whole dream, idiot?" she asks him dispassionately, piercing him with her gaze. "Then why are you bothering me?"

- Sorry, I put the sentence together wrong. I must be nervous, I still haven't recovered from when I woke up.

"If you're that weak, he'll possess you faster than you realize. You could become his vessel at any moment." Her intense gaze makes Leon swallow harder in fear. "Can you guess why? You heard him call you Alan perfectly."

- Is this about the boy who killed him?

- Yes, he was his grandson, and you are his reincarnation - she replies. Cold shivers run through his body, he feels as if he has been electrocuted.

- What are you... this doesn't make any sense - he says nervously. - Who are you really, Alice?

- A damn medium who sees all these weird things...

***

When Leon returns to class, he is unusually pale. Nadia looks at him with a concerned look, guessing that he is not feeling well.

"Is everything okay?" she asks him as he sits sideways in his chair. Nathan raises his eyebrows at his roommate acting strangely.

- What about you?

- Nadia... you said your parents were here twenty years ago, right? - he asks the girl, who nods in response. - Do you know practically everything that happened here?

- Maybe not everything, but I heard part of the story from them when I decided to join this school.

"Did they ever mention Alan to you?" he asks, and Nadia, watching his face, notices that his lips are trembling.

- No, I've never heard of this man. Why do you ask about him? Is it about the dream where you were named after him?

Leon nods.

- I think there's something wrong with me.

- If you're going to mention any possessions, don't do it in front of me - says Nathan.

"We should look up some articles online, right?" he asks, pulling his phone out of his pants pocket.

They look at him with interest in their eyes as he types "Gilbert's Past" into the search engine. Unfortunately, a lot of information is classified, since there is not even a mention of the alleged Alan.

- It's strange. All the pages only refer to the general tragedy, but there is nothing specific.

- I think that the people who experienced it would rather not reveal the details. If we want to find out something first-hand, the only way is my parents. They know everything, since they experienced it - says Nadia.

- Don't ask them anything for now, just tell me everything you know about the massacre that happened here twenty years ago.

Nadia glances at her watch and notices that there is one minute left until the end of the break.

- Let's meet sometime this afternoon, after all classes are over. I'll tell you the whole story, I know.

The boys nod their heads in agreement.

***

The girl sits on a windowsill in the main hallway, swinging her legs as her friends approach her. Leon sits down next to her, and Nathan stands opposite her with his arms folded.

"Twenty years ago, this building was something like a facility for troubled youth," she begins, watching their faces carefully. "My mother came here, innocently accused by her foster sister. She was my age. My father, on the other hand, was locked up here for many years longer. He came here as a child. Blackmailed and intimidated, he had to do whatever the Nazis told him to do..."

Nadia tells them the entire story she knows from her parents. Leon listens attentively, while Nathan looks terrified when she mentions the ghosts her mother saw.

- They never said anything about Alan, but they mentioned the boy who sacrificed himself for everyone and helped them escape from this hell.

"Do you think that's who they were talking about?" Nathan asks.

- Possible.

"I wonder what's worse... being here with the General alive, or seeing him dead in my dreams," Leon says.

"Definitely seeing him dead," Nathan replies, looking nervously around as if he were afraid an evil spirit was lurking behind them.

Nadia observes Leon's profile for a long moment, then asks him a question:

- Why did you want to join here?

The boy glances at her for a split second, then stares at the wall on the other side.

- I had a strong desire to study here. I was excited when I first saw this school online.

- It's strange, but I had a similar feeling. I wanted to be here at all costs, I felt like I had to join here, like I had unfinished business here, like I wanted to finish what my parents couldn't do - says the sixteen-year-old girl. 

- It's fascinating because I was sent by force to this hopeless place. My father said he was unable to stand me at home any longer because I was unbearable - says Nathan.

- It's a pity he didn't think of us. Now we have to deal with you, especially me - Leon states in an amused voice.

Nathan gives him an offended look.

- Nobody's forcing you to hang out with me.

His roommate ruffles his hair, irritating him even more.

- I know we've known each other for a short time, but you'll get used to my jokes pretty quickly.

Nadia, meanwhile, watches Leon the whole time, smiling at the corner of her mouth. It seems to her that with each passing moment, she is becoming more and more enchanted by him.

It works like a drug on her.

- Do you like soccer? - the girl asks unexpectedly, making them look surprised. - What? I'm clearly different from other girls our age. I love playing soccer.

- Where will you get the ball? - asks Nathan.

- How come? From the office in the PE classroom - she answers enthusiastically. - So what? Are we going for some fun?

The boys nod. The three of them leave, and Alice, watching them from behind the wall, looks even more depressed. On the one hand, she doesn't like seeing them together, on the other hand, she feels sorry because they managed to become friends so quickly, and she's all alone in this place.

It's sad that she doesn't even have anyone to spend her spare time with.