Surrounded by the darkness of the past

When Laura wakes up, it's late in the evening and Sara still hasn't returned. She's worried about her roommate, especially since she hasn't given any sign of life since she arbitrarily went to the psychologist. Her cell phone lies in her room, and everyone knows perfectly well what kind of person this man is. He can make mush out of a student's brain, and Julia is a perfect example. Since she came back from his therapy, she has changed a hundred and eighty degrees. She doesn't resemble at all the arrogant, mean girl who oppressed her peers from the beginning. Since she has calmed down, Laura has no worthy rival with whom to argue, especially since now that she has become closer to Matthew, she wants nothing more than to rub his ex-girlfriend's nose in it. However, she doesn't get the opportunity to do so, as Julia entirely ignores her. She gives the impression that she doesn't care about anything.

The brunette rises from the bed and writes a message to Matthew and Alan to inform them of Sarah's lack of response. They are also worried about her and told Laura to write if her roommate didn't return for the night. Despite the late hour, they make arrangements to meet in the main hall. They can't just fall asleep when their friend might be in harm's way. After what they've learned, they can't trust anyone anymore. Danger lurks in every corner of this building, and they must be careful that no one discovers that they know the truth.

- Oliver is also not in the room, which worries me. It hasn't happened yet that he has ever slipped out. - Matthew is the first to speak when the three of them meet in the hallway. Alan looks at him with concern in his eyes, to which Laura snorts under her breath and waves her hand dismissively.

- I beg to differ. Oliver is a naughty boy who has probably finally started secretly dating some girl. Where else could this arrogant asshole go," she says, looking around the lobby to make sure no one is around.

- You're talking about my best friend, watch your mouth, Laura," Matthew says sternly, which surprises the girl, because ever since they started secretly meeting he has been nice to her.

- Relax. I didn't mean to offend him.

- Can you please shut up? We didn't come here for you to argue. We have to find Sara, because I have a bad feeling. I think she is in danger.

A smile appears on Laura's face.

- Do you have any common bond? It's romantic and sexy at the same time. - As she speaks, the blond man pierces her with his eyes.

In his eyes, she's not bad, especially since she's worried about her roommate, but that doesn't change the fact that she sometimes irritates him with her behavior. He feels like saying a few words to her honestly then, but he would rather not be rude to the girl. Hurting women is something he hates the most. Many times, he has watched his father oppress his mother in a cruel way. He is a prime minister who is respected by the community, but no one really knows what kind of man he really is.

Alan's life has not been strewn with roses since birth, and his father was just waiting to get rid of him from home. The boy repeatedly felt that he was just a child out of wedlock for him, when his older brothers from his first marriage always had what they wanted. Alan never felt fatherly love, he just had money thrown at him from a young age instead, for holy peace of mind with which he could do whatever he wanted. No one was interested in him, even his mother didn't show him much affection so as not to irritate his father. His home had always been a big swamp, and his father a heartless beast. He had suffered enough over the years because of this man.

- So what do we do? Where should we go first? - asks Matthew, ignoring the stares from Laura, who pretends to be hurt by his earlier answer.

- I think we should find the man's office, and if Sarah is not there, then the underground remains," says Alan, which gives Laura goosebumps. After her roommate's stories, that's the last place she wants to go, especially since the corpse is hidden there.

Although she shows undeniable courage daily, when it comes to going down to that place, her legs are like cotton wool.

- Where do you think the psychologist's office is located? This building is huge, and although I know it by heart, there are places I've never been before. Should we start with them? - She asks, looking at the boys.

- One of them definitely belongs to this psychopath," mutters Matthew in response, and with a nod, orders Laura to lead the way.

*

All the places turned out to be wrong. Only one remains, and Matthew is increasingly nervous and takes out his anger on the girl. Laura feels offended, especially since she did nothing wrong, but apparently the boy sees it differently. He judges her for having misled them, and because of this, they lost a lot of time. The brunette tries to defend herself, saying she wants to help, but nothing gets through to him. He looks as if he's been looking for a hitch all along.

- I've had it up to my nose with you guys. If you keep shouting like that, they'll catch us faster than we can get to Sarah. Can't you work together in harmony for even a moment? This is about our friend, so shut your mouths," says an agitated Alan, unable to stand their argument any longer. They're acting as if they're in kindergarten, or even worse.

- Why are you so nervous?

- Look at what you're doing," he replies to the boy, when the latter throws Laura a waspish look.

- It's all her fault. She drives me crazy. We could have gone without her.

- Mine? I'm just trying to help, so please.... maybe you can suggest the location of this psychopath's office! - She raises her voice, and Alan mutters under his breath, unable to stand it any longer. He knows that any minute someone will catch them and this whole search will end in failure.

- Shut the hell up! You two go check the last place, and I'll go to the underground. With you two, it's rather impossible, because they'll catch us faster than we'll manage to open the door," he says with irritation in his voice. - I can do better on my own than with your noisy two.

- And you'll end up like those kids. Just because you're someone doesn't make you a hero. There were boys among those three, too, and what, now they're dead.

Alan disregards his friend's words and turns his back on her.

- I'll be fine," he announces, then walks away and leaves them alone. Laura wants to run after him, but Matthew prevents her from leaving.

- He said he could handle it. Don't make a bid for him.

Laura finally relents and lets Alan go, although she doesn't like the idea at all, given what's going on at the center. No one is safe here, and certainly not those trying to discover the truth.

Matthew unexpectedly grabs her hand and leads her behind him as he hears footsteps heading in their direction. Laura mutters under her breath as she feels pain because the boy does it too forcefully and violently, but is silenced. He puts his hand to her lips.

- Be quiet, because someone is coming," he whispers, so the brunette immediately falls silent. She tilts her head with interest, but she is not given to see anything, as she is drawn back to Matthew. - You seem to like getting into trouble," he purrs, tightly embracing her around the waist so that a stupid idea doesn't accidentally enter her head. Their attention is drawn to the moving shadows on the floor.

Someone is behind the wall.

- Are you sure the girl isn't awake yet? - speaks the man, whom Matthew and Laura immediately recognize by his voice.

He is the director.

The girl looks with panic at the boy, who looks badly shaken. Until now, they had no idea that the director was also involved.

- She was given a strong dose of a sedative. It's impossible for her to regain consciousness so quickly," the psychologist replies, to which the director nods.

- We need to take Alan's blood to make sure he is who we think he is. However, this will be difficult since he also knows the truth.

- We will manage. I'll let Stefan know. He's indispensable with dealing with dirty business. I always thought math teachers were abnormal.

- I wouldn't be so sure about that. The boy has a character, and it's difficult to convince him. If he really is his grandson, then he doesn't only resemble him in appearance," he says quietly, and then he grunts. - I'm counting on you, son. I hope you will sort this out.

The last sentence, spoken by the director, makes Laura cover her mouth with her hand in shock. She didn't expect this. She didn't know that this terrifying man was the director's son!

The men enter the corridor that Laura and Matthew had planned to check out.

- And now what? I think that's where Sara is. What did they do to her? Why do they need my roommate's blood? - she asks, clearly panicked. She looks at Matthew as if demanding an explanation from him.

- They want to do the same with Alan. Do you think they want to check if he is really the General's grandson?

- It looks like it, which is why we have to warn him, but what about Sarah? How do we get her out of there? After all, we won't leave her alone.

Matthew sighs deeply.

- Damn. Alan went there unnecessarily. I have a bad feeling about this.

*

The blond man descends into the underworld. He knows he's taking a risk and willingly pushes himself into the lion's mouth, but he has no more idea of the girl's whereabouts. He can't let her come to any harm, especially since he took a liking to her when he first met her. She is definitely different from all the rest. Her shyness is adorable and every time she blushes she gives the impression of a little girl. She is innocent, entirely different from the girls she knows. Maybe this is what makes him feel like getting to know her better and getting closer to her, which in a way he succeeds in doing, because he understands she feels extremely safe in his company.

He runs down the stairs to the underground, carefully looking around.

If Sarah is not here, then where did they take her?

He carefully examines all the bars to make sure that the girl is not exactly there. He prefers to make sure, because in this place anything is possible.

Furthermore, he stops when he hears a noise coming from another corridor. He hears someone's voice and can swear that he recognizes Sarah's voice among them. He goes in that direction, but is not provided the opportunity to go further, as he suddenly feels a severe headache.

Furthermore, he is hit by something, so he loses consciousness.

- The headmaster will kill me for hurting you, but you're a strong guy, so you'll be fine," mutters the teacher under his breath. He bends down and tries to lift the boy, but it is much more difficult than he thought. - Damn, you're too heavy. How can I lift you?

He curses under his breath as the sound of a text message resounds again in his pocket. He reads the message and angrily kicks the unconscious boy.

- Damn it, how did she escape? After all, he put her down. Several idiots. They can't handle a stupid teenager. I always do all the work for them. - He looks with indignation in his eyes at Alan. - I didn't like you from the beginning. You are lucky that you are untouchable.

*

Laura pulls Matthew by the sleeve of his sweatshirt, not letting him go to that place. She knows it's a one-way ticket and there's no chance the boy will come back from there all right.

- Are you crazy? We will find another solution. This is dangerous. I won't let you do it," she claims, however the boy finally can't stand the tugging and pushes her away. The girl falls with her back against the wall and looks at Matthew with pain in her eyes. - You could have hurt me.

- You should have let me go. You're acting like an idiot.

- Idiot? I'm just worried! I don't want you to go there, because you won't come back. You see for yourself what's going on, so why do you want to play the damn macho? - she asks reproachfully.

Matthew throws a furious look at her.

- Don't play caring, because we're not even together. Besides, you are starting to get on my nerves. Can't you see that something bad is going on here and Sara could be in great danger? I won't let anyone hurt her. I promised to protect her. She is the only girl in the center who deserves it. All the rest are jerks. - With this statement he makes Laura's heart break into a million pieces.

Just like that, he said, they are not together. She guesses that officially they are not a couple, but all this time she thought they had something in common. She thought he was also starting to like her. So what? Is she just a comfort girl?

- How could you just say that? - she asks regretfully, feeling tears coming to her eyes. Never before in her life has anything hurt her as much as his words did at this very moment.

- Are you going to be dramatic now? You knew perfectly well what you agreed to. Did you think we were together? What kind of world do you live in? I would never get involved with you, that's obvious. You are not a girl with whom to think about the future," he says with derision in his voice, which hurts her even more. He is a monster that doesn't even consider her feelings. He is well aware of how long she has been waiting for him to finally pay attention to her.

- How can you? - she asks, quickly wiping away a tear running down her cheek. Matthew looks at her out of the corner of his eye, but the pain written on her face can't soften his heart. He feels nothing for her. She is just a rebound. He didn't do anything wrong if she wanted it herself. He didn't think Laura would take it seriously, especially since she is a person of character.

- If there was something between us, then we wouldn't be hiding. I thought you wanted it yourself. A simple game, right? - He shrugs his shoulders, pretending to be indifferent.

Laura clenches her teeth in anger and, like any wounded woman, slaps him in the face.

- Screw you, Szczepanski.