—You mean... THE THIRD GUARDIAN!?—several shadows were talking in what appeared to be a temple. It was a very enclosed and dark space, with only a few torches illuminating the place.
—Yes... They say he has perished. Some may see it as impossible, but as his former right-hand man and... best friend, I believe that was his inevitable fate. He had already been ruling for an entire cycle, even before... Well, you know what. —he admitted, snorting.
"Damn! And what do we do now?! None of the council can replace him! Not even you! We are merely subordinates of the Second Creator! You being far beneath me! For the First, what are we going to do now?!"
"Relax, will you do me the favor!?" he shouted, losing his temper. He sighed and took a deep breath. "Look, I'm telling you this before the other Beliefs, just because you're the only one who has the solution in your hands." The subject approached the wall, where there was a curtain, and moved it aside, letting the light in. Now their silhouettes could be seen.
The subject who had pulled back the curtain was, surprisingly, very beautiful, young, with golden eyes with blue highlights, and hair of the same color, very long, cascading down from his shoulders to his knees. His face was... perfect. Like that of a saint, and even more. He wore a white tunic with golden embroidery, with some decorations consisting of several olive branches.
—Apollo... —said the other figure, approaching him. He had long hair, with a gradient from very dark blue to purple, like a galaxy, showing white sparkles and all. He had white eyes, which at that moment were filled with rage, with slightly tanned skin. He was dressed only in white leather furs, covering his entire body. He grabbed him by the collar of his tunic. —Did you let yourself be exiled just for that?! To get close to me and give me the news?! And the solution?!
—You're mistaken, Nyarla. It wasn't because of that... They warned me in advance, actually. That something bad would happen to me. But I ignored it. — Apollo let go of the grip and looked outside, at the sky. Well, not exactly the sky. They were more above. —Now, let's not get off topic. My time here is limited, isn't it?
—... Idiot. Get to the point, what damn solution have you come up with?
—Use the Tower. Like this... —he didn't finish because Nyarla slapped him.
—That tower is from the previous cycle. They told us not to use it under any circumstances. Don't you dare even mention it.
—Even you know it's the only solution. Chronos told me. The sisters told me. —this left Nyarla in check, who was touching her forehead with her hand. He knew they couldn't be left without guardians, especially not in a situation like the one they were in now.
—And will you deal with the consequences? If the other Beliefs find out, don't you dare mention me.
—Alright. If they ask you, tell them I threatened to end the Sun if you didn't do it.
— Seriously, you don't care about your reputation at all, do you, Apollo? Even if you are going to disappear, and your memories fade from the memories of mortals, you will remain in the memory of those who do not. I didn't remember you like this...
—Since what happened, nothing matters to me anymore. So? Will you do it?
—...— Nyarla remained thoughtful for a few seconds. It wasn't hard for him, but... He was scared. Quite a bit of fear. Very strange, considering it was literally a Belief, holding a fairly high position on the power scale. — I accept.
Apollo stretched out his hand, so that Nyarla would stretch hers out too, and they would hold hands, intertwining them. From them, a great silver aura emerged, surrounding the room. The torches went out, igniting fuchsia flames. Apollo began to fade, with fragments of himself peeling away from his body. But of course, they didn't know it wouldn't be the last time they would speak.
The aura began to grow stronger, the flames of the torches more intense. In the end, Apollo said goodbye to his friend with a faint smile. They didn't say anything to each other, but of all the Beliefs, Nyarla was the most sensitive, so he couldn't help shedding a small tear, cursing the fate imposed on him by the goddesses. The aura and the flames also disappeared, leaving only Nyarla hunched over in the middle of that room.
—Why... Damn it...
----
—Whyyyyy?! — Ava was pulling her hair out, desperate, while sitting at her desk. Her light brown hair, with the tips dyed red, became more disheveled with each tug. Her black eyes reflected pure stress. It was almost summer, so she was wearing a pink tank top and denim shorts. And why was she like that? Exams. The worst nightmare of any student. There was only a month left until finishing high school, but the excitement of being close to the end was overshadowed by the terror of the ten exams she would have the following week. —Ugh, do I really have to do this? —she grumbled, dropping the pencil in frustration—. I would prefer if we went to have ice cream at Molly's.
The boy next to her sighed, used to her dramatics.
—Ava, there are only a few days left until vacation. Remember that if you fail this exam, you will have to repeat the course —he said calmly.
Noah had light blonde hair, slightly long, with strands falling over his face. His blue eyes with purple tones and his pale skin contrasted with the warmth of the environment. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and black shorts, although the sweat on his forehead betrayed how stifling the room was. It was mid-June, after all. He got up to turn on the fan while Ava, defeated, dropped her head onto her books.
—Yeah, yeah, I know you have an IQ of 300 or something, but this is hard for me," she murmured without looking up.
—One, I don't have an IQ of 300, just 197. Two, why do you think I'm helping you? And three, stop calling me "Nini." It sounds childish. —Ava remained silent for a few seconds, processing his response.
—Y-you're probably right... But I won't stop calling you Nini! —she crossed her arms and looked away with a slight blush. Noah sighed. He seemed like someone with infinite patience.
And he had it, at least with her. Because he loved her. He had known Ava since he was three years old. They were neighbors, schoolmates, and, for the past three years, a couple. And they were like two sides of a coin.
Ava was extroverted, impatient, and charismatic. Her greatest talent was connecting with people and making them laugh. But studies... that was another story. If she got a 50, it was a miracle. Even so, she managed to pass thanks to the endless study sessions Noah organized for her. Although, despite her efforts, math remained her worst enemy. In two days, she had a final exam. And if she failed it, she would say goodbye to advancing to the next grade.
Noah, on the other hand, was calm and reserved. Cold with almost everyone, except with Ava and Cain, his best friend. He didn't care about others' opinions, and although many saw him as distant, his academic performance was impeccable. He simply didn't care about anything... except her.
—Nini, can I ask you something?— Ava turned in the chair and fell back onto the bed.
—Sure, what's up?
—How can you be so smart? —she sat up a bit, looking at him with curiosity—. We have spent almost our entire lives together, and I have rarely seen you study. You only read those rare and ancient books... or train.
At first glance, Noah didn't seem like an athletic person, but in reality, he had a well-defined body.
—Hmm? Reading books doesn't count as studying?
—Reading Shakespeare and Agatha Christie doesn't make you smarter... or does it? —she crossed her arms, suspicious.
—Would you like to give it a try? For someone like you, Romeo and Juliet would be a good start... although, if you don't like romance, you could start with The Mousetrap... —he murmured to himself, thinking of options.
—Damn, what rat traps and Juliets are you talking about now? Just tell me if they make you smarter or not.
—It depends.
—What do you mean it depends?! — Ava grabbed her hair again, frustrated, before letting herself fall onto the bed once more. Noah lay down beside her, watching her.
"To be honest, I don't care if you're smart or not. I like you just the way you are. You are sweet in every way. And beautiful. —He stroked her head, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Ava felt her heart race.
—So cute and smart… —she whispered, taking his hand in hers—. What more could I ask for?
—A caramel sauce' ice cream from Molly's. —Ava frowned, puzzled.
—Huh?
—Wasn't it your favorite? When you eat it, the facial muscles in your face contract and express happiness. Even, sometimes, excitement —he said with complete seriousness—. Moreover, when I invite you to eat, your brain processes information 10% faster and your eyes open 26% wider.
Ava looked at him, astonished. And in less than a second, her expression went from confusion to anger. —Idiot! You ruined the moment! How can you win me over in one minute and make me regret it the next!? Oh, God...!— She slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand.
—Huh? Did I say something I shouldn't have? — Noah tilted his head, genuinely confused.
—... You know what? Forget it. Besides, didn't you want me to do math…?—She didn't finish the sentence. Noah kissed her. It wasn't a long kiss, just three seconds. As they parted, Ava looked at him with wide eyes and gasped slightly.
—W-w-what…?
"I'm sorry if I bothered you with what I said earlier," he apologized. Ava felt her face burning. In her head, all of this looked much more romantic than it really was. And Noah, for some reason, seemed even more attractive.
"That blonde hair... those purple eyes... whoa..." she babbled, completely in the clouds. Noah waved his hand in front of her face, but she didn't react. He panicked. He went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of cold water. Without hesitation, he threw it on her. —AH! Why did you do that!?
—You were showing signs of disconnection from reality, so I thought it was the best option. Ava turned red. Out of fury, this time.
—GET OUT OF HERE! —She grabbed him by the shoulders, dragged him to the front door, and shoved him out of his house. Noah stood in the street while some passersby looked at him strangely. A lady walking her dog even stopped to watch.
"Don't worry, this is a misunderstanding," said Noah, impassive. He rang the bell. Nothing. He knocked on it several times until Ava suddenly opened it.
—What?
—I left the keys inside. Ava sighed, went to get them, and placed them in his hand. When she turned to leave, Noah gently took her arm. —Good luck on the exam. And sorry about the water.
Just those words were enough to make her forget her anger... and to make her blush again. Ava stammered, wanting to respond, but Noah had already turned around and was starting to walk away.
It was a weekend. People were strolling peacefully through the streets, enjoying the nice weather. And Noah also felt strangely good. He took his headphones out of his pocket and put them in his ears. The smooth rhythm of jazz filled his mind as he walked. No one knew he liked that genre, except Ava.
He thought of her. Should he have waited for her to calm down before leaving? Technically, she was the one who kicked him out. Sometimes, he didn't understand her behavior. Or rather... he never fully understood her. But it didn't bother him. Without realizing it, he arrived home.
His building was older and more modest than Ava's. Nothing luxurious. The ceiling seemed about to collapse. It's not that it mattered too much to him; he didn't have much money, and he had gotten used to living on the edge.
He turned his gaze to the garden. A mound of sand stood out among the neglected grass. An unwanted memory surfaced in his mind. His expression changed for an instant. He shook his head. It wasn't the time to think about that.
He put his hand in his pocket and took out the keys. But, when he tried to open the door, he realized it was ajar. He frowned. Noah wasn't the type to forget to close. The jazz was still playing in his headphones when, without hesitation, he pushed the door and entered.
—Finally out of the bride's house! Did you have fun, handsome?!— Noah heard the voice as soon as he crossed the door. He wasn't surprised. He sighed and headed to the kitchen, passing through the living room. There was Cain, sitting at the table, pointing at him with a mocking smile. He made him feel uncomfortable on purpose. He had a talent for that.
Since he was little, he had dyed his hair olive green, matching his eyes. He was tall and thin, and despite the heat, he wore long sleeves and long shorts. As always, he was wearing his homemade necklace, made from an old belt, and his glasses.
—Cain… How did you get in?" Noah asked as he took off his headphones and opened the fridge. He frowned. It was full, but with things I didn't remember buying—. Did you fill the pantry for me? It wasn't necessary.
—Don't talk nonsense. Have you seen your house? — Cain stood up and spread his arms, pointing to the place. If the exterior was already a disaster, the interior was no better. The walls, aged and untouched since the 1950s, made the kitchen look more like an abandoned museum than a home. Now it was 1999, but the house didn't reflect it at all—. I bet you a limb that the tax people have already come begging you to sell it.
—You still haven't answered me... but I'm sure you came in through the window. — Noah sighed, while Cain burst into laughter.
—You know it.
—Anyway... thank you. It wasn't necessary.
—Nothing, nothing! But still, you owe me a favor.
—Cain took the can of cola that Noah handed him from the fridge. —Hey, Ava has her exam tomorrow, right?
Noah took a big sip before responding: "Yeah... and I'm worried." Cain nodded. He was also Ava's best friend, so he knew the situation well.
—It's normal... She's not stupid, but she struggles. And you know it better than anyone. Especially with dyslexia. —Noah scratched the back of his neck.
—Besides, I made her a little angry earlier... she kicked me out of her house and everything.
—Heh... deserved. —Cain put an arm around his shoulders, raising his can with the other hand—. Anyway, I'm leaving before my mother kills me. Are you coming?
Noah shook his head. "No, thank you." Cain shrugged and left with the same ease with which he had entered. Noah stood in silence for a moment, observing the full fridge. Maybe Cain was right.
Noah closed the fridge and leaned against the countertop, contemplating the can of cola between his fingers. The house was in complete silence now that Cain had left, only interrupted by the faint hum of the refrigerator. He sighed. He knew Ava would forgive him. She always did. But her exam was another matter.
"What else can I do to help her?" He ran a hand through his blonde hair and left the kitchen. He walked through the living room, dodging a couple of books strewn on the floor, and let himself fall onto the old sofa, sinking into the worn fabric, but not before closing the door that Cain had left open by mistake.
The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating part of the room in an orange hue. He closed his eyes. Just for a moment. When he opened them, his clock read two in the morning. He sat up abruptly. He didn't remember falling asleep. The can of cola was still half-drunk on the bedside table, but now it was warm.
He stretched and ran a hand over his face before noticing something strange. The front door was still open. Noah frowned. He was sure he had closed it before. He stood up cautiously and walked towards the entrance. He opened the door fully and looked outside. Everything was calm. No one could be seen on the street, except for a flickering streetlamp at the end of the block.
His stomach tightened with a strange feeling. He went back inside and locked the door this time. He turned to head to his room, but then something on the hallway floor caught his attention. He bent down. It was an envelope. Someone had slipped it under the door. It had no sender, nor recipient. Just a red wax seal on the flap. Noah felt a shiver run down his spine. He held it for a few seconds, as if it were going to explode at any moment.
Then, with a sigh, he broke the seal and took out the contents. There was only a sheet of paper inside. Just one sentence, written in black ink and with neat handwriting.
"Stop searching. You have no idea what you're about to discover."
Noah felt his heart stop for a second. Because he wasn't looking for anything. At least, not yet. He fell asleep again. The envelope was left forgotten on the nightstand. The feeling of unease still lingered in his chest, but sleep eventually dragged him back.
When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He brought a hand to his face and blinked several times, still sleepy. He turned his head towards his watch. 12:47 p.m.
He sat up suddenly. "Late again..." he murmured, running a hand through his hair. He didn't have school, it was Saturday, but still, he hated the feeling of wasting the morning. He got up lazily, passed through the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of water.
When he was about to drink, he heard someone ringing the doorbell. He didn't need to think much about who it was. He approached the door and opened it. Ava was there, arms crossed, with a frown and an expression of absolute defeat on her face.
—Hi… —Noah looked her up and down. She looked tired, as if she had fought an entire army—.
—How did the exam go? —Ava didn't answer. She just stared at him with those dark eyes full of frustration. —So bad?" She puffed up her cheeks, annoyed.
—It was a disaster, Noah! —she suddenly shouted, entering the house without waiting for an invitation—. I almost cried in the middle of the exam! The letters seemed to move, the numbers danced, and my brain went into panic! Noah closed the door calmly.
—Well, at least you tried...
—Trying doesn't matter if I failed anyway! —she dropped onto the sofa, burying her face in the cushions—. I'm going to repeat the course... I know... my mom is going to kill me... Noah sighed and sat down next to him.
—You still don't know if you failed.
—But I did —Ava lifted her head to look at him—. I know I did. I felt it in every damn exercise I tried to solve. —There was a moment of silence. Noah watched her closely. Her eyes still reflected a mix of sadness and anger. Then, calmly, he ruffled her hair.
—If you're really doing that badly, then we can study more.
Ava frowned. —More? Noah, we've already studied a lot. My brain isn't made for this.
—It's not that you're not made for this —he replied—. You just need a different method.
Ava looked at him suspiciously. —I don't want to do more math.
—What do you want to do? —Ava thought about it for a moment. Then, a small mischievous smile appeared on her face. "I want an ice cream from Molly's."
Noah tilted his head. "Aren't you too depressed to think about ice cream?"
—Ice cream cures everything.
Noah sighed. "Alright, let's go." Ava smiled with satisfaction and jumped off the couch, ready to go out. But before they reached the door, Noah noticed something. The envelope was still there. Ava saw it too.
—What is that? —Noah hesitated for a second. Then, with a nonchalant gesture, he took the envelope and put it in his pocket.
—Nothing important.
Molly's was packed, as it always is on Saturday afternoons. The small place, with its characteristic pink and blue neon sign, smelled of a sweet mix of chocolate, vanilla, and fruit. The fans spun on the ceiling, but the heat remained sticky. Ava walked ahead with renewed energy, as if her failed exam had never happened.
Noah, on the other hand, was behind, with his hands in his pockets. He felt the envelope rustling inside his jacket and, for some reason, couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Look who's here!" Ava exclaimed suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts. Sitting at one of the tables by the window, Cain was waving at them with a spoon in his hand. He had a two-scoop ice cream, one pistachio and the other lemon, and he seemed to be enjoying it with absolute tranquility.
"You two are late, lovebirds!" he joked as they approached.
"It's not my fault," Ava huffed, dropping her body into the chair in front of him. —Noah fell asleep until almost one. Cain raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Really? Wow, that's unusual for you. Normally, you are a precision machine. —Noah shrugged and sat down as well.
—I just had a bad night. —Cain smiled mockingly.
"Too busy dreaming about Ava?" Noah didn't even react. He just sighed.
Ava, on the other hand, blushed slightly, but ignored the comment and got straight to the point: "I want an ice cream!" Without waiting for a response, she got up and went to order. Cain followed her with his gaze and then turned to Noah, who was watching distractedly out the window.
"Something on your mind, friend?" Noah took a while to respond.
—No... it's nothing. —Cain didn't believe him for a second, but he didn't insist. Ava returned with her ice cream and sat down with a sigh of satisfaction.
"This is the only comfort after today's disaster." Cain looked at her with curiosity.
—Was it that bad?
—Worse. I almost cried in the middle of the exam. —Cain burst out laughing.
"God, that's legendary."
"Don't make fun of me," Ava murmured, taking a huge spoonful of her ice cream. Cain leaned on the table with a mischievous smile.
—Well... there might be a solution." Ava looked at him skeptically.
—Unless you have a time machine to make me retake the exam, I highly doubt it. —Cain smiled more broadly.
"I don't have a time machine... but I have a better idea." Noah narrowed his eyes.
"I don't like the tone of that phrase." Cain ignored the comment and leaned a little closer to them, lowering his voice as if he were sharing a secret.
—What if we sneak into the school tonight? Ava almost choked on her ice cream.
—WHAT?!
—Shhh —Cain gestured for him to lower his voice—. Don't shout. Noah sighed and crossed his arms.
"Explain." Cain smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. "Look, the school is old. The lock on the front door is a joke. I know how to open it without making a sound.
—And then what? —Ava asked distrustfully.
—Then we go into the teachers' lounge, find your exam, and... we do it again.
There was a silence. Ava looked at him with her mouth half open, not knowing if she was impressed or terrified. Noah brought a hand to his face.
—Cain, that's illegal.
—Pff, as if I care —Cain shrugged—. Or do you prefer that Ava repeat the year?
Ava tensed immediately. Noah noticed it. Cain had said it casually, but it was a low blow. Ava hated feeling incompetent, and repeating the course would be her worst nightmare.
"Look, I'm not saying we have to change the answers or anything..." Cain continued. We just "correct" what she already did. That way, if the teachers see it tomorrow, they'll think it was her mistake. —Ava swallowed hard.
"But... what if they catch us?" Cain smiled confidently.
"They won't." Noah looked at him seriously.
—You have too much confidence in this.
—Because I've done it before. —Silence. Ava and Noah looked at him, incredulous. Cain simply kept eating his ice cream, as if he hadn't said anything strange.
—Cain... have you ever sneaked into school before? —Noah asked slowly. Cain smiled mischievously.
"Maybe." Ava and Noah exchanged glances. Cain leaned towards Ava. —It's your decision. —Ava looked down. She thought about her mother, how disappointed she would be if she failed. She thought about the effort Noah had made to help her study. Then she thought about the fear of getting caught. She took a deep breath. Ava drummed her fingers on the table, nervous. She knew this was crazy. She knew they could get into trouble. But the idea of repeating the year terrified her much more.
—Fine... —she finally whispered—I'm in. —Cain smiled like a cat that just caught a mouse.
—I knew you would say that. —Noah, on the other hand, let out a heavy sigh.
—I can't believe you're considering this...
—Come on, Nini —said Cain, giving him an elbow nudge—. Don't be a killjoy.
Noah closed his eyes for a moment, as if he were gathering patience. "Don't call me that." —Don't call me that.
—Whatever you say, Nini. —Ava laughed softly, but then leaned towards the table.
"Alright, criminal genius, explain to me how we're going to do this without getting caught." Cain leaned back in the chair and intertwined his fingers on the table.
"Listen carefully, because I'll only say this once." Noah rolled his eyes, but Ava paid attention immediately. —First, we have to go to school after midnight.
—Why so late? —asked Ava.
—Because at that hour the guards make their final round and then leave. Only the old doorman is left, and believe me, that guy sleeps more than a bear in hibernation. Ava nodded slowly.
—And how do we get in? Cain smiled. —Easy. The lock on the front door is old and poorly adjusted. A few weeks ago, I realized that it can be opened easily with a credit card. —Noah looked at him with a frown.
—How the hell do you know that?
"Let's just say... I have my methods." Ava blinked.
—Cain... have you ever entered the school at night before?
—Maybe.
"God, why?" Noah asked, exasperated.
—Because I was hungry and I forgot my lunch in my locker. —Silence. Ava and Noah looked at him incredulously this time.
—Cain… —Ava tried to find the words—. Did you break into the school at night... just for a lunch? Cain nodded with pride.
—It was a really good burger. —Noah massaged his temples.
—You're an idiot.
—Thank you.
—It wasn't a compliment.
— Anyway —Cain continued as if nothing—, once inside, we have to be quick. The teachers' lounge is on the second floor. At that hour, everything will be dark, but don't use flashlights.
"Why not?" asked Ava.
—Because the windows face the street, and if someone passes by and sees lights in the school, they might call the police. Instead, I'll bring some small flashlights with red light.
"Red light?" Noah asked.
—Yes, the red light isn't as noticeable from afar and it will let us see enough. You should know, 197. Ava and Noah exchanged glances.
"You still haven't answered how the hell you know all these things," said Noah.
—Pff, the internet. Do you think I'm wasting time when I spend hours on the library computer?— Noah sighed.
"Yes, in fact, I think so."
Cain ignored him and continued with the explanation. "When we are in the teachers' lounge, we look for the exams. Most likely, they are in the desks or in the filing cabinets.
"And what if they are locked?" Ava asked. Cain snapped his fingers.
—That's why we'll bring tools. I have a couple of lock picks that can help us with that. — Noah looked at him wearily.
"Of course you have lock picks." Cain winked at him.
—You always have to be prepared. —Ava bit her lip, still nervous.
—And what if they catch us? —Cain smiled sideways.
—They won't. But if something goes wrong, we have an escape plan. There is an emergency exit at the back of the gym that is never properly closed. If they see us, we run over there. Ava swallowed hard.
—It sounds risky.
"Life is risk, Ava," Cain said dramatically. —Do you want to save your course or not?
Ava took a deep breath and nodded. "I will do it." Cain smiled satisfied and looked at Noah.
—And you, genius? Noah sighed deeply.
—I'm going just to prevent them from doing something stupid.
—Alright, then it's a deal. We'll meet at 10:45 in the park near the school.
"Wait, why so early if we go in after midnight?" asked Ava.
—To go over the plan and make sure everything is ready. I don't want them to arrive late or with last-minute doubts. —Ava took a deep breath and rubbed her hands, nervous. Noah crossed his arms, still with reservations. Cain, on the other hand, smiled as if he were about to embark on the greatest adventure of his life.
—This is going to be legendary. Sneaking into that hell again, but with my two best friends.
"This Cain... How can he be so stupid, yet so clever at the same time?" thought Noah. Of course, if he had a talent for making him uncomfortable, he had much more for manipulating people to his liking. Noah just prayed he wouldn't become a politician.
---
"Why isn't he coming?" Ava asked, moving her feet quickly out of nervousness. She and Noah were under a streetlamp, at night, waiting for Cain. It was already 11 PM, so he was 15 minutes late to the agreed time. They were wearing a short-sleeved black t-shirt, along with very comfortable pants. —Could he have tricked us? Knowing him, it's very possible... Aish...
—He's right behind you. —Noah told her, pointing to Cain, who had just arrived silently, and there he was, smiling, making the poor girl almost have a heart attack.
—Hi there... Sorry for taking so long. I was looking for a missing flashlight. —Ava let out a sigh of relief, but couldn't help shooting a fiery glare at Cain.
"A flashlight? Really? Did that delay you for an hour?" she asked, eyebrows raised, clearly surprised by the excuse. Cain shrugged, with his typical carefree smile.
—What do you want? The world needs flashlights, Ava. Besides, you know how hard it is for me to find things in the chaos I have in my room... —he replied, looking up at the sky as if justifying himself for something greater than himself. Noah let out a chuckle as he nudged Ava.
"Come on, Ava, relax. At least she arrived. And if the flashlight was lost, I'm sure he already has an excuse for everything else. —Ava sighed, but she couldn't help but smile a little. Despite everything, Cain's presence always managed to calm her nerves, even though he was still a disaster.
—Yeah, yeah... —she murmured. —But this has to be quick. We have to get out of here before anyone sees us. Do you know what's at stake? —Cain nodded, still with that smile on his face, but his eyes became more serious.
—Yes, I know. This time it will be different. There is no margin for error. Let's go.
The silence of the night settled over the campus. The three of them were hiding under the shadow of a bush, barely illuminated by the streetlight. The tension in the air was palpable. Ava nervously watched the watch on her wrist, while Cain and Noah remained silent, looking towards the main building where the school gate was located.
"How much longer?" Ava whispered, without taking her eyes off the window of the security room. From there, they could see the doorman, a bit overweight, staring straight ahead, bored. Cain, who seemed calmer than ever, looked at his watch and sighed.
—About twenty minutes more. The guards don't take long to leave, and the doorman usually falls asleep afterward. If everything goes according to plan, the moment to enter will be when he starts to nod off.
Noah nodded, carefully watching the lights inside the building, waiting for the exact moment. "The doorman won't stay there all night, now that I think about it," Noah commented. He'll probably go home.
—And?
—What's wrong with your logic? We can even enter before what was said. —Ava chewed the inside of her cheek, too nervous to be calm.
"Well, I hope it goes quickly, I don't like this wait. All this... this whole plan gives me the creeps. — Cain looked at her with a calm smile, even though he knew his words didn't soothe her. It wasn't the first time he had done something like this, but he knew there was always that feeling of uncertainty, as if everything were about to collapse at any moment.
—I know. But don't worry. We know what we're doing. This is the final step. The distant sound of a car starting reached their ears, the 20 minutes they had been waiting for. The guards were leaving. Noah stepped forward a few paces, approaching the corner of the building to check that no one was nearby. Cain and Ava remained in the same position.
"Are they gone yet?" Ava asked, barely audible, as she held her breath. Noah peeked around the corner and gave a slight nod. He ran back towards them
—Yes, now. Now, we just have to wait about five minutes, and then we go in. —Cain looked at the clock once more and nodded. The wait was becoming heavier, but they were already too close to fail. In the background, only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the trees could be heard. Ava turned to him, almost not believing what they were about to do.
—Hopefully, everything will go well.
"It will," Cain replied firmly. —Now, patience.
It was half past eleven, and they decided to go in. They thanked heaven that in that 70s school there were no cameras. Cain took out some small flashlights and handed them to them. They were normal flashlights, but with transparent red paper stuck to the lens. Next, he took out an expired credit card and fiddled with the door a bit.
Ava, with fear, kept looking back the whole time. In the end, the door opened. They entered quickly, Cain being the last. Immediately, they ran towards the stairs and quickly went up to the second floor, where the teachers' lounge was located. Upon arriving, the door was surprisingly open. This calmed them down a bit. They quickly searched through the professors' files.
They were, desperately, searching for 10 minutes. In the end, Ava found her exam. They examined it. They hadn't graded it yet, so they were lucky.
—Alright, 197. It's your turn. Take the exam.—said Cain, adjusting his glasses.
—Why me? It was your idea. —he said, looking at Ava's exam. It was horrible. None of what he taught him was applied. It was painful for his eyes. He looked at Ava with an unpleasant expression.
—W-What?! I got nervous, okay?! —she said nervously, waving her hands.
"I can't believe you made a mistake dividing 21 by 3..." —there was a moment of silence, until Cain burst out laughing, and Ava turned red with embarrassment. In the end, she gave her boyfriend a light tap on the head, and he, fearing Ava's gaze, began to correct the exam errors, without making it too obvious.
—There you go... You won't get a 100, but I think a 65 will be enough, right? —he said, handing her the exam. She saw it, happy, and hugged Noah, showering him with little kisses.
"Go to a room, lovebirds..." said Cain, while tidying up the room. He did it to eliminate the trace that they had been there. —That way you can kiss more, caress each other, take off your clothes and...
—S-S-STOP!" —she shouted, all red. She separated from Noah for a moment to hit Cain, while he laughed.
—Hey! Is anyone there?!" —they heard a male voice coming from outside. He seemed to be a guard who had decided to stay there. The guard, a nearly bald man in his 40s, approached the teachers' lounge. He found the door open. He entered, and... No one was found.
Cain, Noah, and Ava had hidden under a table that covered some sides. They were nervous, covering their mouths. The guard was about to leave, but he saw a piece of paper on the floor. He bent down to look at it. It was Ava's exam, which she had thrown on the floor in a hurry.
The guard wanted to inspect the room. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary on the shelves. Ava, frightened, accidentally dropped the flashlight that was in her hands. It inevitably rolled until it hit the leg of a chair, causing the lens to break.
The guard was alarmed. He took the flashlight out of his pocket and began to head towards the source of the sound. The three of them awaited their inevitable fate. They waited. And they waited. But the guard never came.
Cain, puzzled, lifted his head slightly. He saw the guard, crouched down, looking at something. It was a stuffed rabbit. Wait, a stuffed animal? Cain didn't remember seeing any. The guard tried to grab him, but upon touching him... he disappeared. Just like that, out of nowhere. The guard disappeared right before Cain's eyes. He blinked and poof! He was gone.
Noah tugged at his pants, calling him. "What's going on?" he asked, while hugging Ava with one arm.
—...— Cain, puzzled, stood up, making Noah and Ava do the same. He pointed at the stuffed animal, which was still on the floor.
—That thing... He swallowed it.
—What?! What are you talking about? It's impossible!" Ava protested, calmer now that the guard wasn't there.
—Yes, I swear! I've seen it with my own eyes! Noah, dude! You are the smartest one here! What do you think? —he looked at Noah, and he started to think
"Even though it seems surreal... Cain has no reason to lie. And the guard couldn't have just disappeared like that, even after hearing the lantern break. We should at least have heard the guard leave. —he cast a glance at the stuffed animal, a yellow bunny with a pink heart on its torso. —Besides... I don't remember seeing that stuffed animal there. — The stuffed animal seemed motionless, on the floor.
Until, for a second, it seemed to move its head, now looking at the three of them, with some quite creepy button eyes. Noah started to feel a bit dizzy. His vision was starting to blur. He looked at Cain and Ava. They seemed to be the same. Then the mysterious letter came to his mind, that letter that had scared him so much at the time.
"Player number 9998, player number 9999, and player number 10000." "Welcome," they heard an adorable voice in their heads.
—Hey... Am I the only one hearing that...? —murmured Ava, falling to her knees on the floor.
—W-what's happening...? —whispered Cain, falling down as well, lying on the carpet in the teachers' lounge. Noah couldn't stay on his feet for long either. His feet wobbled, his knees feeling weak. It had been a long time since he felt that sensation.
"You are the last lucky ones to arrive!" "Great, everyone is here!" that adorable voice seemed to be laughing, very happily. However, now the three of them were on the ground. Their vision seemed more distorted, seeing green and red lights.
"Mama... Help..." Ava could be heard saying. Noah, with great effort, looked at her, and then at Cain.
"Very well!" "The Tower Games are about to begin!" was the last thing Noah heard. Then, he closed his eyes.