It was early morning when Alicja got out of bed, clearly frightened. She tripped over her slippers on the floor, which woke her roommate.
Nadia rubbed her eyes and looked at her with a confused expression, noticing how pale and terrified Alicja was.
"Are you okay?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbow. The brunette ignored her, pretending not to hear. "Hey, I'm talking to you. What's going on?" The teenager threw off her blanket and got out of bed. "Alicja?"
The sixteen-year-old, pacing nervously around the room, unable to find anything, finally locked eyes with her.
She closed her eyelids as if struggling to utter the words that filled her with such unease.
She pressed her hands to her face and rubbed it, trying to calm down.
"We're in danger, Nadia. The hell I feared has come," she said in one breath. "Leon fell into a trap."
Nadia stepped closer to her roommate, furrowing her brows.
"What happened during the night? What did you see?"
Alicja took a deep breath and opened her eyes, focusing her gaze on her peer's face.
"How do I explain it... I'm scared to go to the boys' room to see what state Leon's in. Last night he was completely overpowered by the General. He made a decision with no way out."
Those words were enough to make Nadia uneasy. Without caring that she was in pajamas and barefoot, she ran out of the room in just her socks, heading toward the boys' room.
Alicja bit her lip and ran after her, not caring about her inappropriate attire.
The girls didn't worry about being caught by a teacher or supervisor as they stormed up to the boys' floor and rushed toward the door, behind which their friends were.
They barged in without knocking. Nadia scanned the room, her gaze landing on the sleeping Leon.
Sebastian started shouting, covering himself with his blanket, but the girls ignored him and shut the door behind them.
"What is this? This isn't a public room, you little brats!" he yelled. "Get out! Shoo!"
Natan sat up in bed, frowning at the sight of the girls.
"Why are you here so early in the morning?" he asked. When he saw their worried faces fixed on Leon, he realized something was wrong.
The boy slept like the dead. Not even his roommate's shouting woke him.
"Is he alive?" Sebastian asked, suddenly concerned. He peeked at him from his bed, eyes wide. "Shaman girl, did you have a dream?" he said to Alicja.
Nadia sat on the edge of the bed and touched Leon's cold face. He still didn't respond, so she placed her fingers under his nose.
She exhaled in relief when she felt him breathing.
Suddenly, the boy opened his eyes violently—too wide—causing Nadia to jump in fright and clutch her chest.
Alicja watched him closely, wondering if he was truly okay.
"Did I scare you?" Leon asked in an amused tone. "Did you think I'd kicked the bucket?" He smacked his chest with his fist as he sat up. "I'm fine. Alive and well."
"Yeah, that's obvious. And in a great mood too," Natan said, giving him a disapproving look. "But we don't find those kinds of jokes funny. This is a serious situation."
Leon rolled his eyes.
"You have no idea how scared I was when Alicja made a scene this morning and told me you were in a hopeless situation," said Nadia.
Alicja felt Leon's eyes on her and couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Even though he acted normal, like himself, there was something unsettling in his demeanor—something she couldn't put into words.
It was simply impossible that nothing had happened to him after walking into the General's trap.
The sixteen-year-old swallowed hard, tension growing as Leon smiled at her. He looked completely normal, yet triggered a deep unease in her gut.
Could it be that she was starting to lose her mind?
"Can you explain to us what happened last night that made Alicja wake up in a panic?" Nadia asked, grabbing Leon's hand. He followed her gesture with his eyes, then looked at her face.
His eyes sparkled with something inscrutable—and only Alicja seemed to notice. Why didn't the others see it?
"It's true, I fell into a trap," he admitted. "I was being chased by a bloodied doctor who wanted revenge. I suspect it had something to do with a past life. At some point, the General appeared and gave me a choice. I could let the doctor kill me and fall into a coma... or seek refuge with him. I chose the second option. I thought of my parents."
"And? What happened?" Natan asked, nervously biting his finger.
"I walked with him into a dark room and..." He trailed off, frowning. "All I remember is him saying he would protect me as his precious grandson," he added after a moment. "And that's it. I remember nothing else. I woke up... as myself. And that's what seems most disturbing to me, because I still remember Alicja screaming not to do it. She was terrified."
Alicja went pale, her eyes widening in shock as everyone looked at her.
"It's true," she confirmed quietly. "I was sure it was a trap. I really thought we lost him..."
Leon pursed his lips, clearly amused, and looked at her with a strange gleam in his eyes.
"I don't give up that easily," he said. "No one's getting me served on a silver platter."
He got out of bed and, passing by Alicja, flashed her a cheeky smile—one only she could interpret properly.
There was definitely something wrong with Leon.
***
The friends sat at the same table, silently eating their meal. Alicja kept watching Leon from the corner of her eye, who looked delighted during breakfast. He looked around the cafeteria, chewing his food with visible satisfaction. His eyes sparkled with such joy that, at that moment, he resembled a madman.
Why was she the only one who saw it?
At one point, his gaze landed on Nadia. The girl didn't notice, focused on serving vegetables onto her plate.
Alicja shivered. Leon's stare was deep, dark, and disturbing—so much so that she couldn't take another bite. She put down her utensils, drawing the others' attention.
"What's wrong?" Nadia asked, looking at her roommate in confusion. "No appetite? Do your back still hurt from the fall?"
"I lost my appetite watching Leon," Alicja replied dryly. "He's so happy at breakfast I feel full just looking at him."
Natan wrinkled his nose.
"Does it bother you that someone's happy while eating?"
"I'm wondering why he's so happy," Alicja said sharply. "Last night he fell into the General's hands. Walking into that room, he looked like he was heading for execution. Where's this sudden joy coming from, when just days ago he woke up screaming?"
"What's your problem?" Leon looked at her in disbelief. "I'm happy I made it out unscathed. When I entered that room, I thought it was over for me. I'm just glad to be alive and that I made the right decision. Why are you so hung up on me? Don't you trust me? You think the General possessed me?"
Natan flinched at those words. He gave his roommate a warning look.
"Alicja, maybe you really should let it go? Leon is himself—he's just in a good mood," Nadia said, looking from him to her friend.
Alicja lowered her head and laughed quietly. At that moment, she looked like the one losing her mind.
The other three exchanged concerned glances, getting the impression that Alicja was the one possessed.
"You want my help, but you don't even trust me," she hissed through gritted teeth. "You're pathetic."
She stood up abruptly and headed toward the exit.
"Alicja's been off ever since she got out of bed this morning," Nadia admitted, looking at the boys. "She's acting strange."
"In a way, I get it," Leon said with a sigh. "She saw me walk into the room with the General. But seriously, I'm fine. If anything had happened, I wouldn't hide it from you. You're my support."
Natan nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know. I think I'd be the first to spot a monster in you, considering I'm terrified of demons."
Sebastian and Roksana walked up to their table.
"Leon, we're meeting at three. We'll be discussing preparations for the Halloween party," Sebastian announced.
"I hope you'll present something interesting," Roksana added with a smile.
The sixteen-year-old crossed his arms, clearly pleased.
"I love being appreciated. I give you my word—you won't be disappointed."
"I'm not really in the mood for a party," Natan muttered after the older students left. "Don't count on me showing up."
Nadia gave him an offended look.
"You'll go. Even that possessed lunatic will be there. We'll stick to our group and have fun to forget what's coming."
Natan furrowed his brows.
"You know what? I'll be thinking about it even more at that party. What if someone gets possessed and it turns into a bloodbath?" he asked, glancing sideways at Leon. "I'll feel safer in my room."
"Living with him, you'll never be safe," Nadia replied.
Leon looked at him with offense.
"You'll go to that party if you want to live," he said with a smile.
"What?" Natan looked at him with alarm, but then burst out laughing when he realized it was a joke. "Organize it properly first, then we can talk about participation. None of us even know if we'll make it that far."
"I adore you, Natan," Leon replied, nudging him playfully in the shoulder. "And I've said it from the very first day we met."
His eyes drifted to Nadia. She gave him a warm, effortless smile—one he returned with equal ease, though something unreadable flickered behind his gaze.
There was a hunger in him now, quiet and steady.He couldn't wait to make her his.