Surrounded by the darkness of the past

Sara is concerned because Oliver knows all the nooks and crannies of the building. In the room where they were hiding so far, he found a passage leading to the underground. She doesn't like this idea at all, but if they waited there a while longer they would surely be caught. Escaping through the underground is the only solution.

All the way, Oliver carries her in his arms, as the girl still hasn't recovered. She is grateful to him for his help, which does not change the fact that she gets the impression that the boy hides some dark secret. Oliver caught her attention from the beginning because his behavior was different. Although he is friends with the most popular boy in the center, he doesn't care at all. He would rather not talk to anyone, he's reserved towards everyone, and when he does speak up, he's unkind.

From Matthew, she learned that Oliver has had a rough past, which is why he is so cold towards people. Sara doesn't know exactly what happened to him, but the brunet intrigues her more and more. He is definitely hiding a dark secret, and she could cut her hand off that she guessed right.

- Once we are in the corridor, then we are safe. They exclusively harm people confined. They don't want anyone to know about it, so after each visit, students are intimidated. You saw for yourself what happened to Julia. It would be the same with you if you stayed there until morning," says Oliver, still carrying the girl in his arms. She is not at all light, and it is hard for him, yet he is not going to put her down.

- How do you know about it?

- I would prefer you to remain in unconsciousness, but.... - he breaks off, and then she notices that his lip is trembling. She gets the impression that he thought something terrible, so for a moment, he seems terrified. - For many years my life has been a bloody hell, and since I got here it's even worse. You guys have families, so they can hurt you, but not kill you. With me, it's different. I'm like those kids you found in the underground. I'm an orphan like them," he confesses. This is something she didn't expect. She didn't think Oliver might not have a family. - I know what you're thinking," he adds and helps her sit on the floor. He needs to rest. He crouches down opposite her and rubs his face with his hands. - I have never been in an orphanage. My father went crazy and killed my mother in front of my eyes while I was playing hide and seek with her. He wanted to do the same to me, but I hid in the closet and watched the terror from there. We were left without money. He couldn't find a job, so he concluded that we would be better off dead. - After these words, the girl freezes. She covers her mouth with her hand, looking at Oliver in shock as he sheds a tear. This is the first time she has seen him cry. She wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand, not wanting to show weakness, but it's normal for her to suffer after something so shocking. - I managed to escape. My father committed suicide, and I wandered the streets trying to find some shelter. I was afraid to go home, I knew what was going on there. That's when I met our director, and he promised to provide me with a home. In addition to me, there were kids who had died. We had one condition to live here. We had to be on their side, do everything they told us. I had no choice, I was afraid, and I couldn't escape from here. The three there rebelled and began to discover the center's past. They tried to persuade me to join them. They wanted to put an end to it, but they were unable to because they were caught. Furthermore, they decided to kill them and hide their bodies in the underground. No one asked about it because they were orphans from the street, so they easily covered it up. By helping you, I just rebelled for the first time. I couldn't let them hurt you. I had previously informed them about everything. Furthermore, I was the one who said that you and Alan were in the underground. I'm sorry I ratted you out, but I was just scared.

Sara is not angry. She sympathizes with him. What he has experienced is terrible. He has no choice, so he has to report everything to them. If he doesn't, they will get rid of him like those kids. Every day he wakes up with fear, thinking whether he will still be needed by them. Not only did he go through something so cruel in the past, but now he's going through hell. That's why he is so cold towards people.

Sara now understands the reason.

- Sometimes I think it would have been better if my father had killed me that day, too," he confesses, and the girl looks at him with tears in her eyes. She shakes her head energetically, and Oliver hides his face between his knees. - I'd rather die than be tied to those beasts," he says, and she can't let him think that, especially since he's in danger now. When they find out that he was the one who helped her, then they can do him harm. Oliver is Matthew's best friend, and now he has also gained her trust. She can't spurn him after all she has learned. He has no choice, that's why he does it. He wants to be safe.

- Am I the only one who knows the truth? - she asks uncertainly, and the boy lifts his face and nods.

- Matthew only knows about my past, but he thinks I was sent here by my aunt, who couldn't raise me. I only told you because I think you deserve the truth after all I did to you.

She smiles to show him that she is on his side. Oliver is not a bad boy, he does all this out of compulsion because he has no choice.

She feels sorry for this boy and would do anything to help him get out of this mess, but she is as powerless as he is. They are all mere pawns in their sick game.

*

After a short rest, they manage to leave the underground. The boy only puts her down in front of the room she shares with Laura.

The 17-year-old begins to worry about him. She is even afraid to get him safely back to his room. Oliver is in danger, and if they find out that he helped her, then it could end badly for him. He is the only one with the card for the door that leads to the psychologist's office.

Brunet wants to leave, but the teenager grabs his hand. She doesn't know what's driving her, but since she's been in the center, she's getting bolder every day, especially with the opposite sex.

- Stay in my room. At least I'll be sure you're not in danger," she offers, before it occurs to her what he's really thinking about. This is completely unlike her, but his safety is at stake here. - Please," she insists, although she doesn't have to wait long for his consent, as they hear someone's voice and hide in the room with all speed. She slides the door shut and looks at Oliver with concern in her eyes. - Good thing I didn't let you leave.

Someone tugs on the doorknob, and she grabs the brunet's hand. She fears it's one of the teachers or the principal.

She breathes a sigh of relief when she hears Laura's voice. Only now does she notice that she is not in the room.

- Sara, are you there?

Without thinking, she opens the door and her roommate throws herself into her arms.

- You don't even know how worried we were about you. We went looking for you, where have you been? - she asks, looking closely at her face. - Why are you so pale? You look like you're about to faint. Are you feeling well?

- Laura, it's a long story. I promise to tell you all about it tomorrow.

The girl only now notices that behind her roommate's back is hiding Oliver. Surprised, she blinks her eyelids, as if disbelieving what she sees, and then shifts her gaze back to the brown-haired girl.

- He helped me and I wanted him to stay with us that night. - With this answer she clearly surprises Laura, because the brunette opens her eyes wider, not sure what she is thinking. - I guess what you're thinking about now, but I really don't have the strength to explain myself to you. I can barely stand on my feet.

- Alan and Matthew are also looking for you. Your blond boy has gone to the underworld, and I'm a little worried about him," she says, but Sara doesn't pay attention to the word "your". She is concerned about the fact that he went there without any cover.

- Alan is untouchable, so he is safe," Oliver speaks up, thus wanting to let Sara know not to worry. Yet, a small part of her feels apprehensive because he went there alone, even more so in the middle of the night.

- I have to lie down because I'm exhausted. - Her knees buckle under her. Oliver helps her reach the bed. Sara feels Laura's gaze on her. She is interested in their relationship.

It only takes a brief moment, and Sara falls asleep. The drug that the psychologist injected her with is still working, which is why she is so weakened.

Oliver steps away from the bed and shifts his gaze to Laura, who has been watching him suspiciously the whole time. She squints her eyes, as if she is thinking intensely about something.

The boy rubs his forehead.

- What do you want to know? I just helped Sara. The most important thing is that she is safe.

- And am I saying something? - she asks, shrugging her shoulders. The boy heads for the door, but stops in mid-step when Laura speaks again. - You can be happy, because between me and Matthew, everything is over. I don't know what I saw in that nasty asshole," she adds through clenched teeth.

- There was nothing between the two of you from the beginning, because he was playing with you. I thought you knew that," he claims, and before he presses the door handle, he speaks again. - If Sara were to ask about me, tell her I was here all night.

*

When the girl wakes up, it is already dawned. Everything hurts her, and she feels as if she fell under a car. She doesn't even have the strength to get out of bed, and moreover, she hears Laura sobbing. She looks at her and notices that she is crying. Furthermore, she looks as if she hasn't slept at all and has cried into her pillow all night. Her eyes are swollen and there are used tissues strewn around her.

- Laura, what's wrong? - The brunette jumps up and quickly rubs her face, as if that would help her hide her true emotions.

She looks at Sara and once again bursts into tears. Something bad must have happened if such a tough and courageous girl suddenly fell apart.

- It's just Matthew. I thought he cared about me, yet he treated me like a common rag! - She raises her voice and jerks her handkerchief in anger. She looks tragic, and even good makeup cannot hide the state she is in now.

Sara realizes how much Laura is in love with Matthew. She noticed it at the beginning of their acquaintance, but the boy does not seem interested in her.

Towards Sarah, he is a good friend, but he performs worse as a man. He is a breaker of women's hearts, looking at the state he led Laura to. This girl is as hard as a rock and nothing can break her, and yet....

- I would rather not get in between you, but do you need anything? May I help you in some way? - she asks uncertainly, not knowing quite how she should act.

- Come on. I'm crying because of this moron, and you went through hell. Will you tell me what happened there? I heard a conversation between the director and the psychologist, and it turned out that this man was his son. They did something to you and planned to take blood from Alan.

- It's not the ghosts that are the real threat, but the people. I learned that they were Nazis, which is why the dead girl left a swastika mark on my arm. She wanted me to guess. She was trying to warn me. I feel that something bad is getting ready and there is danger.

She tells Laura about her visit to the psychologist. She omits the thread with Oliver and lies to her that she met him in the hallway, where he helped her get to her room. Furthermore, she can't tell his secret; he trusted her, and only she knows the truth. She has to hold her tongue because Oliver is already in great danger.

*

As they enter the classroom, everyone's eyes focus on Sarah. The students are curious if she has had the same brainwashing as Julia, who has turned from a devil incarnate into a docile lamb. Sara hates being the center of attention, and right now, everyone is watching her.

She looks around the classroom and sees that Oliver is sitting in his seat. He breathes a sigh of relief that nothing has happened to him; however, she feels a distinct uneasiness when she notices that Alan is not in the classroom. Matthew breaks from his seat and walks over to Sarah. He puts his hands on her shoulders. Laura throws him a stern look and, biting her lip, walks over to the bench. Simon asks her something, but she entirely ignores him. She hides her face in her hands, but this makes no impression on Matthew.

He has it deep in his nose.

- I was worried about you. Are you all right? - He asks, looking at her carefully.

- Everything is fine with me, but you should also ask another person about it," she replies, looking at him reproachfully.

She walks over to the bench, and Oliver throws her a brief "hello." She responds to him, so he sends her a smile, but his attitude changes a hundred and eighty degrees when a teacher enters the classroom. Sara knows what's at stake. She has to show that he is still cold towards her so that there is no suspicion that he helped her escape.

Moments later, a late Alan enters, massaging his temples and sits down at his bench. Sara looks at him with a look of worry on her face and notices that he is very pale. He looks tired and, like her, feels terrible. She wants to ask him what's wrong, but she is forestalled by the teacher, who is clearly mocking the boy.

- Does a hangover make you tired? I don't understand how you can fall asleep on the stairs and sleep there all night. I'm surprised no one found you earlier. - The girl realizes that something is wrong. Alan went looking for her to the underworld, and they also needed his blood.

Did they do the same to him as they did to her?

- We both know perfectly well that this is impossible," he answers the teacher in a donkeys tone. Sara admires him for not being afraid of the man at all. He is the only one who can have a sharp exchange of words with him. - It's strange, because I didn't drink anything yesterday, and I could have sworn that it suddenly cut me off.

Sara looks over her shoulder as she feels Alan keeping his eyes on her at all times. He wants to make sure she's okay.

She smiles at him, so he nods.

- Maybe too much Pepsi. Children also lose consciousness after it," the teacher mocks, fiddling with a pen at his desk. Alan pierces him with his eyes, preparing a cutting retort for him.

The door to the classroom is opened and a psychologist appears. The cruel man who did Sarah harm.

The girl swallows her saliva nervously and glances at Oliver. She sees that the boy closes his eyelids, as if he is afraid of something.

The man walks inside, carefully observing all the students. He walks up to the desk and quietly says something to the teacher, who smiles crookedly. He stops his gaze on one of the desks. Sara is sure it is about her, but is surprised when it is not her name that the man says.

- Oliver, you were supposed to report to me. I guess you forgot," the psychologist says, and she looks at her colleague and notices that he's all tense from nerves. He clenches his fists under the bench and pushes back his chair. He is about to get up, but someone else enters the classroom. Everyone looks around with interest when they see that the principal has brought a visitor. It is a man of a similar age to him. An old man who is definitely in his eighties.

He walks along the classroom, and everyone wonders what it's all about.

- So this is where math classes are held," the headmaster speaks, looking at the visitor. The old man with a stern face nods and looks around at the students. Not even for a moment does a smile appear on his face.

His gaze stops on Alan, and his eyes visibly enlarge. He looks surprised.

The blond boy crinkles his eyebrows when he notices that the man has been looking at him the whole time. The old man walks closer to him, and everyone in the class begins to take an interest.

- So it's you... - mutters under her breath, looking at him from under her squinted eyelids.