Surrounded by the darkness of the past

- Julia, can you tell me what happened there? - Sara opens the door intending to leave the room, and then she hears Matthew's voice. She pokes her head out, and looks with interest at the boy, who is standing with Julia in the hallway. The girl has her head lowered and is choking back tears, while Matthew looks at her with concern. - You know very well that you can tell me anything. Don't stifle it inside you. Did the psychologist do something wrong to you? - He asks, and she wipes away her tears. She shakes her head, so the boy sighs loudly. - I understand that he forbade you to talk about it, but I can see that something is wrong. You've been absent for days, constantly looking at one point, walking away when someone tries to talk to you...

The girl lifts her face, and looks at her ex-boyfriend with weeping eyes. Matthew watches her closely, as she bites her lip to keep from crying again.

- Don't pretend to care, because it's your fault! You sent me there. You knew that I would get extra classes with this man. You don't even know how horrible he is," she chokes out, then bursts into tears again. She turns her back on Matthew, and hides her face in her hands, trying to control her tears. - I went through hell there, I felt sick of everything. Even teasing the weak no longer gives me any pleasure. He took away all positive emotions from me. He's a monster," she adds uncomfortably.

Matthew rubs his forehead. After a while, he puts his hand on her shoulder, but the girl does not even react. She closes her eyelids and leans her forehead against the wall.

- I can't tell you what happened there. I'm afraid, so I prefer to keep it to myself. There is no escape from here, so no one can help me. I can't even count on my parents," she whispers, then she knocks his hand off her shoulder and enters the room. Matthew wants to say something to her, but Julia slams the door. The boy bangs his fist against the wall, trying to vent his anger, and leans his back against her door. He probably blames himself for leading her to the director.

Sara pretends not to see him and goes out into the corridor, but the boy spots her. He walks up to her and sends her a smile, hiding his true emotions.

- Are you going somewhere? - He is trying to strike up a conversation, presumably to stop blaming himself for hurting Julia, at least for a while.

- I'm going to dinner, I haven't eaten anything since breakfast," she replies, and he again curls his lips in a slight smile.

- In that case, I'll keep you company and see to it that you eat a big meal, because you do indeed look brandy. You need to revive yourself properly," he claims, and she lifts the corners of her mouth up. - Besides, I'm getting hungry, and I'm sick of Oliver's company. He continually whines to me about some girl who irritates him. She's probably in love with him, and unfortunately, he's not social. I'm the only person he has opened up to," he announces proudly.

Sara looks at him, wondering if by any chance she is the girl? From the very beginning, Oliver is not fond of her and when there is an opportunity, he loves to tease her.

- Why is he so distrustful? I get the impression that he pushes people away, doesn't like to make new friends, and everyone, except you, irritates him. - Matthew nods his head. They head down the stairs, and she continues to drag this topic. - Towards me, he is also unkind, and yet I have not done anything wrong to him. I don't understand, what is the point?

- He has simply been badly hurt by his family. This makes it hard for him to open up to new acquaintances. He's distrustful and unkind because that's how he pushes people away. It took me a long time to break through his wall, but he is my roommate. Oliver trusts me, so forgive me, but I can't tell you more about him.

- I understand. I just thought it was only towards me that he was so rude. Occasionally, I really feel sorry for him, especially since there are many people in the center who tease me for no reason. I try to ignore it, but it's hard for me. Even though they make jokes, sometimes their words really hurt," she says sadly, so Matthew puts his arm around her. Surprised, she looks at him as he pats her shoulder.

- Let me just see someone teasing you, I will break their bones on the spot! - She purposely raises her voice as they head to the cafeteria. People standing in groups look at them with curiosity, so the girl feels embarrassed. Matthew is the most popular boy in the center, so everyone knows him.

The brown-haired woman gets the impression that suddenly everyone started gossiping. She hides her face behind her thick hair, which she lets loose for the evening to let it rest. She blushes. Furthermore, she doesn't like being the center of attention, especially at the side of a handsome boyfriend.

Laura leaves the cafeteria and stands still when she spots them. Sara rapidly extricates herself from Matthew's embrace, seeing her roommate's disgruntled face. She doesn't want her to be angry with her. She knows how much she cares about this boy.

- Will you stand in the aisle for a long time? I would like to go into the cafeteria. I'm hungry, and when I'm burbling in my stomach I can be spiteful," he turns to Laura in an unpleasant tone. Matthew is friendly, so why does he behave like this towards her roommate? - And what are you looking at so? I know what you did," he adds, measuring her with his eyes. - In addition to looks, you also need to have your head in order.

What did Laura do to him that he dislikes her so much?

- Oi!" shouts the brunette, turning to face him. Sara looks around the corridor and sees that everyone is looking at them. Now she is not the center of attention, but her roommate. - You don't know me at all, and I'm in over my head, more so than your ex-girlfriend. I may do mischief, but only to those who deserve it. I do not bully the defenseless and do not try to kill them. If my friend hadn't been there then, Sara would probably be dead now," she declares.

The girl feels that everyone is looking at her. She is dumbfounded.

Why is Laura talking about this in public? Doesn't she have other arguments to defend herself? Sara is already considered a freak.

- It's true. Julia overreacted, and I don't mean to defend her, but don't say that she was the only one who bullied the weaker ones. You are not a saint, either. How many times have you made her life miserable? Do you think I don't know about it? Besides, why are you publicly announcing what happened to Sara? Not everyone knew about it, and your roommate is stupid now.

Laura looks over her shoulder. She looks at her friend, who denies it, pretending that everything is fine. She hates arguments, especially when it's one of her friends.

- I think I'll go into the cafeteria now to eat something," she says uncertainly, dodging the two. She stands as if in awe when she feels Matthew grab her hand.

- Wait. I'm coming with you, because another moment and I might say a few words too many," the boy claims, piercing Laura with his eyes. - And I would rather not be abusive to a girl.

Laura crosses her arms on her chest, and her gaze rests on the hand with which Matthew is holding Sarah. The brown-haired girl can see that the girl is unhappy with this view and doesn't want her to resent it.

- Thanks, Sara, for being on my side after all I've done for you.

Matthew crinkles his eyebrows. He glances at Sarah and sees that she is upset that her roommate resents her.

- Why are you mixing an innocent person into this? This is our conversation, and she is not on anyone's side. Are you looking for a hitch? - he asks.

Her stomach hurts from nerves. She doesn't like it when someone is angry with her. She prefers to live agreeing with everyone.

- Never mind. Let him do what she wants, but she can no longer count on my help," she replies, then pushes her way through a group of curious spectators. In the process, she pushes the girl, who lands on the wall and moans in pain.

*

After finishing dinner, Sara decides to return to her room, but can't get inside. Laura has locked the door with the top lock, which they only use for the night. She doesn't have any keys to it, so the only solution is to ask her to let her in; however, her roommate is stubborn and tells her to sleep at Matthew's place.

Sara guesses that she is furious with her, but after all, she has done nothing wrong. The girl gets sad because many people treat her meanly. Not only does she have problems with assertiveness, but moreover, she is haunted by ghosts and has disturbing visions from the past. Now she would give anything to live at home again. Even Victoria would be no obstacle for her to leave the place.

She is slowly starting to freak out, and even talking to a psychologist doesn't exactly help her.

With resignation, she walks away from the door, guessing that Laura's pleading will not help the situation. It's a long night ahead of her, and after all, she won't go to the principal to complain about her roommate. She doesn't want her to be even more furious with her.

She doesn't even have any friends to help her. Furthermore, she can stay in the corridor or find some quiet place. The first option is out, especially since teachers and other supervisors are roaming around the building, keeping an eye on order. The only solution is to find some corner so she can hide in it for a few hours.

She looks around carefully as she goes down to the first floor and runs down the main corridor. She doesn't want anyone to cover her. It's twenty-one o'clock, and at this hour it's mandatory for everyone to be in their room.

She gets scared when she sees someone walking towards her. She runs to the exit and, having no other choice, runs outside. It's already chilly at this hour, and she isn't wearing anything warm.

She freezes when she hears the main door close. She opens her eyes wider when she realizes she won't get inside. Panicked, she starts tugging on the handle to give a hint, but the person who closed it must have already left.

And what am I supposed to do now, she thinks rubbing her shoulders, as she has managed to get cold for this moment. She decides to go around the entire building to find another entrance. It's already getting dark outside, and the forest surrounding the fence seems even more ominous at this hour.

The girl looks around carefully as she walks ahead. She sees someone sitting by the pond. At first, she thinks she sees an apparition again, and it gives him goosebumps, but after observing for a while, she notices a male figure. She walks closer and stands still as she recognizes the person. Sitting by the pond is Alan, who has headphones on his ears. He stares at one point and nods to the rhythm of the music.

She tentatively touches the boy's shoulder, which frightens him. He removes the headphones from his ears and looks at her with puzzled eyes.

- What are you doing here?

- It so happened that I had nowhere to sleep, and I accidentally went outside, and now there is no return to the building, because it has already been closed," she says quietly, nervously playing with her fingers.

- Oh shit! - shouts Alan, hastily getting up from the grass. - It's already after twenty-one? I was jogging and got a bit thoughtful, so I didn't keep an eye on my watch. Damn it," he says, looking around. - And how are we going to get inside?

He looks at Sarah as she shrugs her shoulders shyly. And that's when the girl remembers the night she woke up in the tunnels. Since she was sleepwalking, she must have gone through another door there.

She glances uncertainly at Alan, wondering if this is a good idea.

- Remember when you helped me get out of there? - she asks, pointing with her finger to the trapdoor next to the building. - No one locked me in there. I was sleepwalking, so there must be another door I entered.

Alan smiles slightly, as if he caught what she meant. He crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow.

- So what? This is the moment you want to show me a corpse?

She looks at him for a moment, trying to understand if this is a joke, but the boy looks too serious.

- I don't understand why you want to see them so much," she whispers.

The girl gets sick to her stomach when she remembers that horrible sight there. She is not drawn to that place at all, but if there is another entrance to the building, she wants to take a chance.

Alan wordlessly heads for the entrance that leads to the tunnels. Sara looks over her shoulder, having a strange feeling that someone is watching them. She's sure it's a figment of her imagination, but she notices a figure emerging from behind a tree.

Slowly she begins to retreat backwards; with horror in her eyes, she watches the apparition, which begins to shake its head shrilly. It looks as if it is denying something, but the girl can no longer look at it. She turns her back on it and runs up to Alan.

The blond man opens the trapdoor, then goes downstairs. Sara glances uncertainly in the direction of the pond, but the phantom is gone. She joins him and is so stressed that her leg slips on one rung. If not for Alan, it could have ended much worse for her. He catches her at just the right moment, and she blinks her eyelids confused, feeling herself blush again. The boy smiles and puts her down, and she nervously massages the back of her neck.

A girl with a character like Laura would have taken the next step a long time ago, but Sara, through her shyness, can only be embarrassed. And even though she wants to do something more in this direction, she has some kind of block inside her that prevents her from doing so. She is not brave at all when it comes to these topics, however, she can still be proud of herself, because at least she has started talking to boys. And that's a big plus, considering her previous behavior among the boys.

She is scared when the flap through which they entered closes with a bang. She stares terrified eyes at Alan. The boy doesn't look as brave as he appeared at first

- Was someone following us? - He asks, to which she shakes her head. She denies his words.

- Before I went in, I looked around and no one was there," she replies quietly, having a strange feeling that it wasn't a man who locked them in here. She swallows her saliva harder as Alan looks around the dark tunnel.

- Then we're in for a rough night," he says, heading for the main hallway. She uncertainly follows him, praying that they will find the entrance to the center as soon as possible.

These tunnels are so dark and scary that she gets the impression that there is an evil lurking in every corner that wants to harm them...