Camellia said in a soft voice, trying to calm the tense atmosphere, "Karem… regarding this question, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Karem slowly lifted his head. His face was pale, and his gaze was lost in emptiness. Then he said in a trembling voice, "It's alright… I'll answer."
Silence filled the room, and the signs of a fierce inner struggle appeared on his features, as if the answer was summoning ghosts he had buried long ago.
-------
He took a deep breath, then began to speak in a hoarse voice: "In my first year of high school… I quickly rose to the list of the strong ones. Everyone knew me as the school's champion. It wasn't because I was a bully, as some thought, but because I was trying to maintain my own order: no bullying at Abridcordant High School. I was strict, and I didn't allow anyone to bully others, and no one dared to disobey my rules."
He paused for a moment, his eyes shining with deep sorrow, then continued: "But everything changed on a cursed day… the day the school's scoundrel came… Olfghis. He came to our school and tried to start a fight with one of the students. I quickly intervened to stop the fight, but he tried to punch me, so we fought, and I defeated him soundly.
When he was about to leave, he turned toward me, his face full of bruises and blood, and told me then that he would take revenge on me. But I paid no attention to his threat; I thought it was just foolish talk."
He took a shaky breath, his hand trembling slightly: "And after several months passed since that incident… one day, while I was training in the gym, I suddenly received a message from an unknown number. I grabbed my phone anxiously and saw a picture… a picture of Camellia and Jude… covered in blood and wounds, lying in some unknown alley. I felt my heart stop beating. I didn't know what to do. A few minutes later, another message arrived with a strange address and a note saying: If you care about your friends, come quickly to this address. Out of anger and fear, I rushed to that place."
Everyone held their breath as they watched him with anticipation, his voice trembling slightly: "I arrived there… but there was no trace of Camellia or Jude. The place was completely deserted… just a trap to lure me in. Suddenly, that scoundrel Olfghis attacked me with a group of his followers. At first, I resisted, but they were too many… I couldn't hold out for long. I fell to the ground… and they started beating me mercilessly, like beasts."
He lowered his head slightly, his voice now full of bitterness: "What broke me even more… was that the students of my own school were part of this act. No one stepped in to help me; they joined in humiliating me. That was the first time I was seriously injured… to the point that I fell into a coma for two weeks."
Karem's voice trembled as he continued: "When I returned to school, I found them all whispering about me. Their looks were full of mockery. I seemed like a fool in their eyes — me, the one who used to protect them — and no one stood by my side. I felt like I had betrayed myself… and been abandoned by everyone. Since that day… I changed."
Silence filled the room. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if Karem's words had choked the very air. Jason looked at him with regret and said softly, "I'm sorry, Karem… I didn't mean to make you remember all that pain."
Karem lowered his head, while the others looked at each other with sadness and sympathy. The feeling of gloom settled over the gym once again.
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But suddenly, Black With broke the silence, shouting with forced cheerfulness: "Damn it! We're back to this gloomy mood again! I won't allow it! I'll sing! I've missed singing!"
Black With jumped lightly into the center of the circle, grabbed the glass bottle they had been using for the game, raised it as if it were a microphone, and began to sing in a strong voice filled with a special warmth.
Linda said in amazement, smiling, "Wow… I never imagined I'd see my favorite singer performing right in front of me!"
Black With's voice brought life back into the room, and soon Lily and Vivian joined her in singing. Their voices blended together beautifully, turning the mood from sorrow to joy in an instant. Everyone started clapping to the rhythm of the song, their faces lighting up again.
Linda tried to sing along, but she got the lyrics wrong, then laughed shyly and shook her head, enjoying the moment. As she moved with the rhythm, her eyes suddenly met Jude's. He was looking at her with a calm smile. She felt flustered and embarrassed, quickly lowering her head as her heart pounded fiercely.
It was one of the most wonderful nights they had spent together since their nightmare began — a short night, but a psychological respite that planted hope in them once again.
The next morning, the team gathered to plan. It was Jason, Ray, and Lily's turn to go to the village to collect food and supplies, as their stock had run out.
Jude said while checking his weapon, "Elias and I will go with you. There's no need for you to take the risk alone."
But Jason waved his hand confidently in refusal: "No need, Jude. We're not as weak a team as you think. We'll show you what you didn't expect from us."
Jude raised an eyebrow and replied with a slight smile, "I really hope so."
The journey began as soon as they left the mansion. The morning was different from the past days that had been filled with heavy rain and strong winds. Today was strangely calm — the sky covered with still gray clouds, the air cold and refreshing.
The three walked in a single line: Jason in front, scanning the path with his sharp eyes; Ray in the rear, guarding their backs from any possible attack; and Lily in between, glancing around nervously. The road was empty — no sound, no movement — and the stillness made them feel both calm and uneasy at the same time.
Ray whispered as he gripped his weapon tightly, "It's too quiet… unnaturally quiet."
Lily clasped her hands together and said fearfully, "I don't like this silence… I feel like someone's watching us."
Jason didn't respond, but his grip on his weapon tightened, his eyes darting to every corner in search of any suspicious movement. Suddenly, they saw a shadow dart swiftly between the nearby trees.
Lily screamed in terror and clung to Jason from behind, hugging him tightly. "Aaaah! Hahaha! What was that?!"
Jason's heart jumped, but he kept his composure and aimed his weapon toward the shadow, while Ray took two steps back, ready for any attack.
Jason said in a low voice, "Get ready… we're not alone."
The wind suddenly picked up, as if the place itself was whispering a hidden threat, and the feeling of danger began to choke them.