The boys' room was dimly lit. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across Leon's face as he sat against the wall, wrapped in a blanket, still pale but calmer than he had ever been. The door creaked softly, and Nadia entered, gently closing it behind her.
For a moment, she just looked at him, then carefully sat on the edge of the bed opposite him.
"Natan stayed with Alicia…" she said quietly. "She's asleep, but wakes up occasionally asking for water."
Leon gave a slight nod."She was amazing… all of you were. But she… carried the full weight of the ritual."
"She knew the risk," Nadia whispered. "And she did it anyway."
They fell silent for a moment. For the first time in many days, there was no darkness lurking around them. The room was filled only with warmth, fatigue, and… peace.
Leon looked at her."Thank you… for not leaving me. Not even once."
Nadia lifted her gaze. Her eyes were full of emotion, but also caution."It would have been hard to leave someone who… was so close to me. Even if, for a moment, they weren't themselves."
"For a moment?" he said dryly, smiling faintly. "It felt like forever. I saw everything. I felt everything. I knew what I was doing, what I was saying. But I could do nothing. As if my body belonged to someone else… But the thoughts… they were mine."
He clenched the blanket in his hands."The worst part… was looking at you and being unable to stop myself from hurting you. I was screaming inside, Nadia. The entire time."
"I know," she whispered. "And I believed that it wasn't really you. That somewhere inside, you were still there."
She looked at him intently."And that's what kept me hopeful."
Leon swallowed hard."I saw… other things too. Some images. Dreams… memories? From the past. From the General's life. I was him. I felt it. I felt everything he felt. And you…" — he paused, looking her directly in the eyes — "I don't know how it's possible, but I feel that this connection never broke. Neither with him, nor with you."
Nadia lowered her gaze, hands gripping the fabric of her sweater."I had the same dreams. And memories. You… were my greatest pain and my greatest hope then. And now you are again."
They stayed silent for a while, their breaths blending as if past and present had briefly met.
Leon moved slightly, raising a hand over hers, not yet touching."So… now that I'm myself… do you still have room in your heart for me?"
Nadia looked at him, then placed her hand in his. The warmth of their skin met shyly, yet surely."Maybe not for you from the past. But for you… the one sitting here now? Yes. Always."
Leon closed his eyes for a moment. There was a sense of relief, something new, in his breath."Tomorrow, the world won't change. But today… today, I can tell you: I'm free. And I want to live. Truly."
"That's good," she said softly, smiling. "Because I want to live with you. This time, really."
***
The room was quiet, broken only by Alicia's soft, steady breathing. She lay on the bed, pale but visibly stronger than before. Next to her, sitting on a chair, Natan didn't take his eyes off her.
"How do you feel?" he asked quietly, his concern unmistakable.
Alicia moved her fingers slightly, then slowly opened her eyes. In them was pain, but also determination."Better," she said weakly, attempting a small smile. "The ritual… it was exhausting. I felt as if someone was trying to pull me out of this world."
Natan leaned slightly closer, as if he wanted to shield her from any ill thought."But it worked. The darkness is gone," he said with relief.
Alicia closed her eyes for a moment."But the price was high. I feel like I left a part of myself… there, in that ritual."
"It's thanks to your strength that we could do this," Natan assured her. "You were our light in that dark time."
She looked at him with gratitude."I couldn't have done it without you," she whispered. "Thank you for being there."
Natan smiled faintly."We always will be."
Outside, the sun slowly sank toward the horizon, and a quiet hope filled the room that after the storm, peace would come.
Alicia lay on the bed, still pale, but much stronger now. Natan sat nearby, nervously playing with the drawstring of his hoodie. He wanted to be close, but didn't quite know how to show it.
"You know," Alicia began, raising an eyebrow slightly, "since I'm a medium and you're scared of ghosts like a little child, I guess you should thank me for not possessing you yet."
Natan smiled nervously."Well, I'm braver now. I fought the General, so ghosts are nothing to me." He made a theatrical, threatening grimace.
Alicia laughed softly, shaking her head."Nothing, you say? If the lights went out, you'd be under the covers first."
"Maybe a little," he admitted, but with a sparkle in his eyes.
"See, I have the power. I can do things you can't," she whispered, leaning closer. "Cleanse you of all those bad spirits, make you less afraid."
Natan made a theatrical bow."Madam Medium, can we schedule a cleansing session once a week?"
Alicia burst out laughing, then grew serious for a moment, looking him directly in the eyes."Thank you for being here with me," she said softly.
"Always," he replied, squeezing her hand. "I won't leave you alone, even if I end up scared of my own shadow later."
Their gazes met for a long moment, a warm, shy closeness lingering in the air.
Outside, twilight deepened, and they felt that after everything they had endured, they could rely on each other as no one else ever could.
***
Nadia clutched the phone in her hand, looking at Leon sitting beside her on the bed, a little tense but with a visible sense of relief in his eyes. Her mother's voice came through the speaker—warm, yet clearly tense.
"Did it work, sweetheart? Really?" she asked, her concern unmistakable.
"Yes, Mom," Nadia replied, her voice trembling with relief and exhaustion. "The General is defeated. Alicia is being cared for, and Leon is slowly getting back to himself."
She could hear Oliwer join the call, his tone light and teasing, but with an undercurrent of concern.
"I heard from your mother about Leon," he said with a smile she could almost see. "That my little girl is in love. Or maybe that's why she risked herself? Honestly… I don't know if I like him, since he's a curse on my family. First my wife, now my little girl… Damn Alan."
Leon looked at Nadia, a shy yet mischievous glint in his eyes."Well… I don't know if that's how it works…" he began uncertainly, then joked, "Maybe I just played the role of the knight in shining armor well."
Nadia let out a quiet laugh, but her chest warmed with emotion."Leon, don't start," she murmured, squeezing his hand. "This is no time for jokes."
Her voice softened."Mom, Dad, thank you. It was hard for all of us. But now that it's behind us, I want you to know… I couldn't have done it without your love and support."
Leon nodded, feeling the weight of the past days slowly lift."I just want to say… no matter what happens, I'm here, with her. And I'll do everything to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her again."
There was a brief silence on the line, then Sara's voice, full of tenderness, came through:"You're brave, Leon. And it's good that you're with her. Because together, you're stronger."
Nadia smiled through her tears, and Leon looked at her with a warmth he had never shown anyone before."Thank you," she said softly. "Thank you for loving me."
Leon set the phone down on the table, his gaze fixed on Nadia."You know, I didn't expect your dad to be that sharp-tongued," he muttered with a slight smile, though his eyes held a touch of uncertainty. "But I guess that's good. Better he knows we're serious."
Nadia ran her hand over his shoulder, trying to give him reassurance."Dad can be strict, but he's with us. That matters. Just like Mom. I feel like they really help us."
Leon lifted his head, their eyes meeting, a quiet moment hanging between them, full of unspoken words."Nadia…" he began, a little hesitantly. "Sometimes I'm scared I don't deserve all this. You, your family, this chance you've all given me."
She smiled warmly and draped her arm around him."Leon, it's not about deserving. It's just life. We went through hell together, but now we're here. And that's what matters."
"You know, I'm now mortally afraid of ghosts, aren't I? Probably even more than Natan," he said, feigning seriousness to break the tension.
Nadia let out a soft laugh."You… you fought the demon that possessed your body. That's not something that just happens to people by chance."
Leon looked at her with new determination."I want to be better. For you, for Natan, for Alicia, for all of us. I promise I won't let this darkness destroy us again."
Nadia felt her heart swell, tears threatening to fall."I believe in you, Leon. And in us."
A moment of silence passed between them, but it was a silence full of peace and hope they hadn't felt in a long time.
"So… maybe tomorrow we try to start over?" Leon suggested timidly.
"Starting over sounds good," Nadia replied, gently squeezing his hand.
And although the future remained uncertain, in that moment they both felt they could face anything together.
***
It was Monday afternoon. The classroom had just emptied, and the four of them—Nadia, Leon, Alicia, and Natan—were leaving. Leon paused for a moment, draping an arm around Nadia.
"All right, I have to run to the club," he announced theatrically. "Now that I'm the class president, duties must be done."
Alicia rolled her eyes, and Natan shook his head with a faint smile."I heard people wonder if I have a split personality," Leon continued, looking at Nadia with a sparkle in his eye. "Because apparently I'm kind, but also a little crazy."
Everyone burst out laughing, and Alicia added:"That's true. Sometimes I think we should send you for a psychiatric evaluation."
Leon made a theatrically offended face and turned to Nadia."And you, Nadia, what do you think? Has my charm won your heart yet?"
Nadia laughed, but shot quick glances at Alicia and Natan. Both of them grimaced at the sight of the flirtation.
"Leon, come on," she muttered, unable to hide her smile. "Don't try to give me complexes."
"Complexes?" Leon smiled mischievously. "You don't have any."
Alicia snorted, and Natan, feigning outrage, said:"Oh, Leon, it's never boring with you."
Leon spread his arms as if claiming victory."See? Even Natan admits it."
He walked down the corridor, leaving traces of light-hearted chaos and smiles behind. Nadia, Alicia, and Natan remained, and the quiet quickly turned into conversation.
"Well, he really doesn't give up," Alicia said, wincing slightly.
"Like he wants to annoy and amuse all of us at once," added Natan, clearly amused.
Nadia looked at them, slightly embarrassed but entertained."You know… it's kind of… nice? That he's trying to be normal, to be himself."
Alicia rolled her eyes but smiled faintly."Sure, normal for someone who was recently a walking disaster. But it's good that something's shifting."
Natan nodded."We just have to help him a bit before he falls back into old habits. Otherwise, he'll be hell for all of us again."
Nadia sighed, looking at her hands."Sometimes I wonder how much more has to happen before he can truly be himself…"
Alicia placed a hand on Nadia's shoulder."We'll always be here for you. And for him too. We're a team, remember?"
Natan smiled lightly and added:"Yes, and together we'll manage. No matter what comes next."
Nadia felt the warmth of their friendship, and she knew she was not alone.