It was already growing dusky outside as the students played football, laughing loudly. The girl sat on the grass, clutching her stomach with laughter when the ball suddenly rolled into the pond. It floated on the water's surface, and the boys exchanged worried looks, remembering what had happened to Leon on his first day.
Nadia finally calmed down when she saw their faces.
"What's wrong?" she asked seriously.
"On the first day… when I was here with Natan, I don't know how to explain it, but something pulled me into the pond," Leon said, looking uneasy as he spoke to his peer. "If he hadn't jumped in and pulled me out, I might have died here."
"Are you serious?" The teenager never thought they were joking, especially after hearing Leon's dream. "If it weren't for the fact my parents were here, I probably wouldn't believe you, but knowing the truth and realizing nothing here is normal, it seems this place could be very dangerous for you. You should think about whether you want to risk staying here—for your own safety, Leon."
"For once, I agree with you," a voice said behind them. They turned and saw a pale girl who looked like a ghost of "Gilbert." She walked slowly toward them, folding her arms across her chest. "Not only should he not be here, but neither should you. Danger is coming for you. You're cursed."
"I told you, crazy girl, I'm not cursed. Just because I'm the daughter of people who were here doesn't mean I'm in danger."
"You're not just the daughter of those who were here. It's not even about being that woman's daughter, but…"
"Leave me alone! By the way… are you stalking us? Watching us? Get off our backs, crazy girl, and stop talking about that curse! It was my dream to study here, and nothing will change that!"
"Same here," Leon chimed in. "Although I'm starting to feel a little afraid…"
"Exactly, have you thought about why you were so drawn here? Are you sure it's just about studying at this place? Because to me, it seems you have unresolved business here, and that's why you're fascinated by 'Gilbert,'" Alicja kept pressing, trying to make them realize they didn't come here by their own choice but because their subconscious pushed them. "I'm trying to be fair to you, although honestly, I can't stand looking at you—you annoy me," she said directly to Nadia. "Because of you, a tragedy will happen here, I'm serious. And not the tragedy from twenty years ago… something worse is coming. We met here by destiny to solve an old nightmare. We were given a second chance to fix past mistakes!"
"She scares me," Natan said, looking at Alicja with worried eyes. "Doesn't she sound scary? Like some prophet or something? Maybe she's possessed?"
"Shut up, because this doesn't concern you! You're just a side story!" Alicja snapped at him fiercely, silencing the usually sarcastic Natan.
"What do you mean? What destiny are you talking about?" Leon asked, looking at her with interest. "Tell me."
"I want to talk to you alone, Leon, because I think you're the only normal person here."
Nadia clenched her lips in anger. She didn't like that Alicja wanted to talk to Leon privately. She was jealous.
"No, tell us all what this is about. I'm apparently involved too."
Alicja pierced her with a look.
"In that case, first, fetch the ball from the pond."
The boys didn't like that idea.
"I think it's better if she doesn't get close to the pond. Natan can do it," Leon said, causing his roommate to widen his eyes in disbelief.
"Are you crazy? I only jumped in once to help you. I'll never go into that pond again!"
"Fine, I'll do it. Nothing scares me," Nadia declared, looking Alicja in the eyes. She wanted to prove she was brave and fearless.
"Don't do it, please," Leon said, grabbing her arm. "It could be very dangerous. Don't risk it."
The girl felt a warm sensation inside because he cared about her.
"Okay, I won't go into the pond… only because you asked."
Alicja raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed by the scene. Without a word, she took off her shoes and walked toward the water, wanting to prove something to them.
"What is she doing?" Natan asked, scratching his head.
The three watched the sixteen-year-old stand at the edge.
"This pond hides something… something dark," she said, turning to them. "After you fell in, we shared the same dream, right?" she asked Leon, who nodded. "Your mother also saw strange things after she fell here," she looked at Nadia. "And it's not just because she was the granddaughter of a medium."
"So, you fell in too?" Nadia asked rather rudely. "And where do you know so much about my mother? Do ghosts tell you things?"
"No, I was born with the gift. I was much more powerful. I knew a lot more than you."
"Then why did you want to go in there? What were you trying to prove? Show off? Impress us?" Nadia attacked.
Alicja stared deep into the pond, seeing twisting apparitions that hadn't left this place for centuries.
"I wanted to see what would happen to me… if I would learn the secret of this pond, the mystery behind these spirits."
Leon swallowed hard, recalling their sight. They whispered to him, calling him the cursed boy, luring him into the pond…
"That's very dangerous; something might happen to you!" he protested, not wanting her to enter the water.
"If I don't come up… you…" She pointed at Natan. "You have to help me."
After saying that, she jumped into the water.
The teens ran closer to the pond, looking at each other with worried eyes.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Nadia asked.
Underwater, Alicja was watched by two powerful spirits writhing around her.
They were water demons: The Drowned Man and The Drowned Woman.
She boldly stretched out her hands toward them, wanting to touch them. She wanted to learn the story of why they had stayed here for centuries. They allowed her—they were even pleased someone finally showed interest.
"You know us…" she heard a terrifying whisper in her ear.
Suddenly, someone jumped into the water to pull her out. It was Natan. She struggled, wanting to stay underwater a moment longer, but he didn't let her and forcefully dragged her to shore.
Nadia and Leon helped them out of the pond.
"I wanted you to let me stay there longer! I could have managed!" Alicja yelled at him. The annoyed boy gave her a glare, displeased at being scolded despite helping her.
"Did you see anything? Those spirits?" Leon asked, eyes wide open.
"Spirits? I took you away from underwater spirits?" Natan looked scared again, running his hands through his wet hair.
"Yes, those were water demons—The Drowned Man and The Drowned Woman," Alicja replied. "That's all I know for now. Maybe they would have shown me their past if you, idiot, hadn't pulled me out so fast."
"Let's go inside. Evenings at this time of year are already very cold," Nadia said.
"Don't tell me you're worried about me now, because I still won't believe you. I know you hate me. I hate you too," Alicja said, her pale skin contrasting with the dark water behind her.
"I just don't want to listen to you whining all night because of a fever. I want to sleep," Nadia replied, naturally harsh to other girls.
*
It was the middle of the night when Alicja opened her eyes and realized with horror that she was once again trapped in the ghosts' past. Everything looked different — her roommate was no longer sleeping beside her. The room was shabby, reeking of mustiness, with walls covered in thick layers of grime and decay.
She slowly rose from the old mattress resting on the cold stone floor. With trembling hands, she opened the creaking door and cautiously stepped outside.
She knew this past all too well. She often visited it, uncovering her previous incarnation. Alicja was the reincarnation of Nadia's great-grandmother. The worst part was that in these memories, her soul inhabited the body of this young woman — reliving everything anew, feeling the same fear, the same chill, the same helplessness.
Shivering, she moved forward through the icy, dark corridors. She passed soldiers who paid her no attention. She knew why — this was the time after she had made a pact with the General, becoming his right hand as a medium.
Rubbing her arms, she tried to warm herself, but the cold pierced her to the bone. Her lips trembled so much she couldn't utter a word.
"Maria!" she recognized a voice and looked toward the corridor's end, where she saw two figures — a woman and a man, twins. They looked about her age, maybe twenty.
She approached them, unsure of what to expect.
"So? Did you manage to find the building's map?" the boy asked, looking at her tensely.
"What map?" Alicja frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Maria, are you okay? You're acting strange," the girl, his sister, added with worry in her voice.
"I don't feel well," Alicja stammered, trying to improvise. "I'm freezing cold."
"Because of the ghosts? They're surrounding you again, demanding revenge on the General?"
Alicja looked at the twins, barely hiding her confusion. After a moment, she nodded.
"Yes… they've been especially relentless lately."
"Maria, we can't give up, do you hear me?" The boy placed his hands on her shoulders. "We have to stay strong until the very end. With your sister and the child, we'll escape this place. We'll survive."
The sixteen-year-old didn't fully understand what he meant.
"Sure. We'll escape," she agreed, though her voice was uncertain.
"But remember, don't tell Hanna anything. She's no longer on our side. She's changed. She's become like the General. She'll betray us."
Alicja clenched her fists, hearing the name of her best friend.
"I realize that…" she lied.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from deep within the corridor. The twins immediately slipped into the shadows, leaving her alone.
Alicja looked over her shoulder and saw her — Hanna. Beautiful as always, but now walking beside a man whose presence sent chills — the handsome yet terrifying General. She smiled broadly, completely indifferent to the fact that she was now the woman of a monster, a murderer of innocent people.
"Maria?" Hanna stopped, her gaze locking with Alicja's. The teenager's heart leapt into her throat as the General's piercing eyes also rested on her. His penetrating stare made her legs buckle.
"What are you doing in the corridor at this hour?" Hanna asked, surprised to see her.
"The ghosts brought me here… they wanted to tell me something," Alicja whispered, barely audible.
Looking at Hanna's face caused her pain. She felt something inside her breaking.
"The ghosts know where it's hidden?" the General asked, his voice cold as ice, emotionless in tone.
"What are you looking for?" Hanna asked.
"You don't need to know," the General replied curtly, not even sparing her a glance. He shifted his gaze back to Alicja. "This is between us."
Rapid breaths, panic, a tightness in her throat — Alicja suddenly tore herself from the nightmare and with a scream bolted upright in bed. She sat up abruptly, drenched in sweat and trembling. From her throat escaped a terrified scream as she saw, right before her, a dark glow… the silhouette of the General.