Nadia was terrified when she opened her eyes and looked around, realizing that the place where she had woken up was clearly different from the room she shared with Alicja. The room was cold, dingy, and didn't smell pleasant.
She could just make out a small window and saw that it was dark outside, but the faint light revealed that snow was falling.She didn't understand what was happening.Her last memory was the moment Leon had pushed her into the pond...Why had he done that to her? What had gotten into him?Had he helped her get out and, while she was unconscious, brought her to some strange place?
"Leon?" she asked uncertainly, rising from the hard, uncomfortable mattress. She walked over to the door, trying to open it, but it was locked. She stepped back when she heard someone opening it. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw the twins—people she had never seen before.
"Who are you?"
"Stop being such an arrogant bitch. You know exactly who we are."
She blinked, visibly shaken by their response.
"I'm pretty sure I don't know you. Were you the ones who pulled me out of the pond?"
The twins looked at each other, then cast her a contemptuous glance.
"Yes, we pulled you out of the pond. Otherwise, you would've drowned there… killed by your boyfriend," the girl sneered under her breath.
Nadia frowned.
"I understand there are rumors that we're together, but don't call him my boyfriend. We're not officially a couple, and besides, I'm mad at him for what he did to me. I almost died because of him. I don't know what's going on with him. My crazy friend is right—there's something wrong with him."
The siblings grimaced, as if they'd just heard a bad joke.
"And you're only realizing that now?"
Nadia felt strange—this conversation made no sense.
"When was I supposed to realize it? We're only just getting to know each other. I don't really know what kind of person he is. Maybe he does have a dark side that I don't want to see?"
"I think everyone in this building knew what kind of person he was from the very beginning. You're the only one who's blind because he chose you and made you his because of your angelic beauty," the twin girl commented while her brother remained silent.
"What are you talking about? He's the one basking in fame because of his heritage and looks. He's popular, and I… I'm disliked because I got attached to him."
"You must have temporary brain damage from falling into the pond."
Nadia crossed her arms, looking offended by her words.
"I don't know who you are, but thanks for the help. Also… let me out of this awful room that reeks of mildew. I want to go back to my own place." She pushed past them in the doorway and stepped into the hallway. Looking around, she had the odd sensation that something wasn't right. "Is the Halloween party over? Right, it's dark everywhere. Must be nighttime."
"Could you lower your voice? I don't know what the hell you're babbling about, but if you leave this place now, he'll definitely find you. We only saved you because your friend asked us to keep an eye on you. She's worried about you, even though you clearly don't give a damn about her."
"My friend?" Nadia nearly shouted. "Since when is she my friend? She's a haunted roommate who sees ghosts. That's the only thing we have in common."
"You really are just like the General."
"What? You're comparing me to the General?!" she practically screamed, but the twin boy quickly covered her mouth with his hand, shushing her.
"If you want to die, be my guest. Just don't drag us into it. Go back to your lover if you miss him that much. He just tried to kill you." the boy growled, then pushed her away. He and his sister reentered the room and shut the door behind them, acting as if they were hiding from something.
Nadia furrowed her brows, completely lost. She looked around again and that strange feeling returned—something wasn't right. The hallways looked completely different. Maybe it was because it was the middle of the night? But why, for God's sake, weren't the automatic lights turning on when she moved? Had the power gone out?
She nearly tripped on the stairs as she made her way down. She didn't know which wing she was in, where they had taken her, but was this all some kind of sick joke? Were they playing a prank on her? Why would Leon have pushed her into the pond?
She felt like she was wandering through fog, moving along the ground floor without recognizing a single thing.
"Maybe I really do have brain damage?" she asked herself aloud.
Then it happened. Two men appeared in front of her. She would've thought she'd been caught red-handed by teachers or chaperones, but why the hell were they wearing soldiers' uniforms?
Were they students who hadn't changed out of their costumes?
"You scared me to death. Why are you wandering around at night? I have an excuse—I was kidnapped—but you? Had too much to drink at the Halloween party or what?"
They grabbed her by the arms and, without a word, dragged her like a rag doll. Nadia wanted to say something, but no words came out. She had no idea what was happening.
Was this some crazy dream, or were her classmates really messing with her?
She froze.
It felt like both time and her heart stopped when she was led into a gloomy room where an anthem echoed. A young man sitting at a desk turned to face her, and her knees buckled.
This was absurd.
Sitting before her was the real General. The cruel man who had brutally killed many innocent people, who instilled fear in the building even after his death.
This had to be a dream. It had to be. There was no other explanation, she kept repeating to herself.
Nadia pinched her arms, even slapped herself in the face, trying to wake up. Nothing changed. She stood there paralyzed, while the General observed her coldly.
"I've been waiting for you," he said in a low, menacing voice. "Punishing yourself won't help you now, darling," he added, and his words drained all color from her face. "Whether you like it or not, you'll tell me who helped you get out of the pond."
He walked toward her slowly, and despite her fear, Nadia had to admit that this man, as a young adult, was tall and devilishly handsome. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, remembering who she was dealing with.
"It couldn't have been your damned friend, the medium," he added. "So clearly, someone else is working behind my back. Her sister's out of the question too—they're locked up together. So who was it?"
Nadia didn't know what was happening, but she realized she had to improvise—say something or be killed for her silence.
"I don't know. I don't remember anything," she replied softly.
The man crouched in front of her and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"Darling, you know I would never hurt you. You mean everything to me." This manipulative bastard could lie straight to her face—and with disturbing ease.
"You just tried to drown me."
"Because you were being disobedient. But I knew you'd manage, that you'd get out. I just didn't think someone would help you," he said with a fake smile on his face. "It wasn't a trap, and it doesn't mean I don't care. You're my woman, Hanna…"
Nadia felt faint. Was it possible that she was in Hanna's body right now? Was she the General's lover—the one who'd escaped and had his child?
"What did I do that made you so angry that you wanted to kill me?" she asked in a trembling voice.
The General looked at her with frustration.
"I told you over and over not to keep contact with the medium and her sister. You didn't listen."
"That was the last time. I promise I'll ignore them, I'll be cruel, I'll do whatever you want. Just please… don't hurt me and let me stay by your side."
Her words brought an expression of delight to his face. He grabbed her by the hair and lifted her face, staring down at her.
"You're my woman, so you have no choice, Hanna. You'll do everything I say, and you have no right to oppose me or scheme behind my back. This is your last chance. Tell me—who pulled you out of the pond?"
She looked at him, terrified, her lips trembling in fear. Even though she didn't want to betray anyone, she knew she had no choice. He could kill her at any moment, and then what? Would she die inside these memories? Would she never return to her own body?These people were already long dead anyway...
"I don't know them... I just know they're twins."
The General seemed pleased. He turned to the soldiers, ordering them to search for the twins and keep him updated. Once they left, he grabbed Hanna by the hair and pulled her off the floor.
The girl was horrified when he shoved her onto the desk and tore her dress off.
"Now we have a moment to ourselves. I need to let off some steam, and you'll be perfect for that, darling."
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared blankly ahead, pain coursing through every part of her body.
At that moment, Nadia wanted to die, feeling as if these were her own memories.
*
Sore and battered, dragged by the General by the hand, she obediently walked with him across the meadow, not even thinking about what he was planning to do. She realized they were heading toward the pond—she was sure he wanted to hurt her again—but her eyes widened in terror when she saw the twins, severely beaten, barely alive and held by soldiers.
The General looked delighted by the sight. He wrapped his arms tightly around his woman, forcing her to watch.
"Look, darling, how cruel you can be. You gave them up to save yourself. I love selfish people," he said joyfully.
"You forced me to do it," the girl whispered. She wanted to cry, to fall to her knees and apologize to the twins, especially when she saw their weak, pain-filled gazes. They had saved her, and she had sent them to their deaths."I'm sorry," she said to them.
"I told you—you're just like him. But Maria still believes in you," the twin sister said in a weak voice. "She's naive for thinking you're on her side, you treacherous bitch."
"No need for insults, please. That's no way to speak to my woman," the General said mockingly.
"I curse you. I curse Maria too, because she's the one who convinced us to help you. I hope both of you die a terrible death," the twin sister said, casting Nadia a glance full of pain. "I believe we'll meet again in hell."
Nadia closed her eyes, unable to watch as the helpless siblings were thrown into the pond with no chance of survival.
She only opened her eyelids when she felt a sharp tug. With terrified eyes, she looked at the General as he placed his hand on her face and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Remember, darling, be obedient to me. This is your last chance—otherwise, you'll die a tragic death. Much worse than the twins'. And why? Because I care about you very much. I don't want to lose you, and if you break my heart… then I'll become completely unpredictable," he said with a smile. But it was a diabolical smile—an ultimate warning not to make any mistake.
Her nightmare was only just beginning.
The teenager opened her eyes, screaming in terror. She trembled with fear, unable to collect herself. For a moment, she couldn't see reality—she didn't notice that her friends were by her side and that she had returned to her own body.
Soaked and freezing, she first looked at Alicja, who was sitting beside her on the bed. Then she shifted her gaze to a worried Natan, and finally, her eyes locked on Leon. For a moment, she saw the General in him—especially when he gave her that unsettling smile.
Now she understood.Alicja had been right.That wasn't Leon.