When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the square tiles of the ceiling. I was lying in a hospital bed with soft, white sheets.

There was a needle inserted into my hand. A hollow tube connected it to a bag containing clear fluid hooked on a metal stand. The sight made me remember what had happened. Daniel's  eyeballs bursting, his tongues wriggling out to suck me dry. My hands immediately went to my neck, expecting tiny, teeth wounds. But what I felt was the smooth plastic covering the bandages that dressed my wounds. I sat up and looked around.

But I don't see anyone. I decided to wait. I just noticed that I was still in my uniform, our disguise for our museum trip. The collar had become thick with dry blood. But my neck and chest were cleaned up. No trace of anything remained.

After a while, no one still came. I was starting to get bored. There was a television. But I don't see the remote anywhere. I drew my covers away and swung my legs off the bed. I was still feeling weak. I probably shouldn't be doing this but I don't think I can go back to sleep now. I decided to test things first. Using my arms as support, I lifted myself up on the bed and slowly shifted my weight to my legs. Surprisingly, I found them to be steady. I grabbed the IV pole for support—just to be sure, and because I'm still stuck to the thing.

I walked towards the windows. They slid open smoothly. A gentle, morning breeze blew in. I breathe it in, filling my lungs with cold air. The sun was shining bright. Thick, fluffy clouds were rolling in the sky. The street below was buzzing with life. There was the indistinct chatter of a group of students passing by. The revving engine of cars driving through. It was like a regular, lazy morning. For a moment, I just stood by my window, absorbing all of these boring bits of everyday life. Things I wouldn't appreciate if it weren't for the past several days.

I heard the door creaked open and a deep voice called out from behind.

"Good to see you standing," Major Coleman greeted with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," I replied. "Where are the others? And what happened when I—"

"One at a time," he said. "First, sit down. I'm going to get you something to eat."

I didn't even get the chance to argue. He was already gone. So I crawled back to my bed and waited. When he came back, he was carrying a white, plastic tray. He set it down the table on the side of my bed and saw how disappointing my breakfast was. My meal consisted of a plate of a couple of shriveled sausages and a sad-looking, scrambled eggs that was folded on itself. An apple. A carton of milk. And a glass of water.

"Am I being punished?"

Major laughed. "I had to get you something quick. I just told them to put in was what available. Just think of it as appetizers."

I forked my eggs up to inspect them. They unfurled as I lift them up. It was so dry and thin that it was almost transparent. "Aren't appetizers supposed to be, I don't know, appetizing?

"Tell you what. You suck it up. Finish that, then we get some real food."

"Deal."

I bite down on the sausage. Why are hospital foods so terrible and bland? Is it the medication? Or do the cooks don't have taste buds? I rolled the eggs and with two, quick bite, they were gone. I scarfed everything down and emptied my milk. I picked up the apple and took a bite. "How long was I out?"

"Since last night. A little over eighteen hours. We were lucky we got to you before it got worse."

Like with Eris. I thought. "So, where are they?"

Major Coleman took a seat at the side of my bed. "Back at the dorm."

"What for? It's over, right? We did it?"

"You did it," Major Coleman emphasized. He was smiling like a proud father.

My insides twisted with the guilt. I guess they didn't tell him. "Do you know how I did it?"

His smile faded away. "Your friends told me everything."

"Then you know that—"

He held up a finger. "You played the hand you were dealt. You made an impossible decision."

I should feel relieved, knowing that Major Coleman was on my side. He was right. I made a choice no teenager or even any adult could have made. I saved us. But I don't feel like a hero. I changed the subject. "And my parents...they have no idea, do they?"

Major Coleman just shrugged. "You know how it works. Besides, we have to make sure."

Make sure the Shade is really gone. I thought. "So, what happens now?"

Major Coleman studied me for a bit. "Well, you're supposed to rest. But since you look fine now, I guess I can go ahead and ask your doctor to sign your release," He got up and went, leaving me alone to enjoy my tasteless breakfast.

When we got back to the dorm, my friends greeted me with smiles and slaps-on-the-back as they surround me.

"There he is!" Harmony said prompting the round of applause I got.

"You were awesome, man!" Darius said, slapping my back really hard, making me wince. "

"Dude, check this," Leo said. He made a sweeping gesture on the air. "Vergil, the Shade Slayer. Oh, that is so cool!"

Okay, I admit that was pretty cool.

"Hey," Cana said. "Glad you're not dead."

I smiled. "Me too."

The sliding door behind us opened. A soldier holding pizza boxes entered. "All right, who's up for pizza!" Major Coleman announced. Everyone cheered in response. Major Coleman took the stack of pizza boxes and we followed him to the dining area.

The room was as we left it. The tables were still pushed together so we ended up sharing it. No sense in sitting separately at this point. Major Coleman set the boxes on the top. We started spreading it out. Darius and her sister got up and went to the storage room.

I opened one of the boxes. It was a classic flavor—pepperoni, sausages, onions, green peppers. The smell made my mouth water. I took a piece out and savored my first bite. Although, it could use a bit of hot sauce.

"Somebody actually ordered this?" Indigo said, pushing a box of pizza as far away from her as possible. I say pizza but it was just spinach and—is that broccoli?—and other vegetables. There was no meat!

"I did..." Leo said.

I stared at him.

"What?" He said. "You've never had vegetarian pizza before?"

"Dude, that's not pizza." I said. "That's just bread with leaves stuck on it."

"What is wrong with you, guys?" Leo said, savoring a piece. "It's good. Just try one."

"I have taste buds so...pass."

He gave me a look. Then he turned to Indigo. "Grab a slice?"

She made a disgusted face. "I hate spinach."

Leo turned to Caprice, offering her one. But she just gave a polite smile. "I'm good, thanks."

"I'll have one." Cana said.

"Finally!" Leo beamed. "Someone who understand." Leo raised his pizza slice to Cana. "Cheers."

"Cheers." Cana said toasting her pizza with Leo's like champagne glass. They were laughing and eating, acting all buddy-buddy with each other. I'm just glad that Leo is feeling better enough that he's back to his old, playful self.

Darius and her sister came back with 2L bottles of Pepsi and Mountain Dew. Scarlet handed out disposable, plastic cups.

"In light of recent events, I believe a toast is in order." Major Coleman said. Then he raised his cup. "To you kids, for your courage and for getting rid of the Shade once and for all."

We all followed suit, cheering and whistling as we raised our cups and drank our cups empty.

"Let us also not forget the sacrifices of others." Major Coleman said. "Let's give them a minute of silence."

I thought about Kent, Eris, Demi, that night guard, the countless soldiers who died to protect us. No one dared to break the silence.

"All right," Major Coleman said when the minute is up. "Now eat up, kids. You deserve it."

"So what's the plan now?" Cana asked, still munching on that veggy-topped triangular bread slice. "Are you going to send us home sooner?"

"Unfortunately, no." Major Coleman said. "I believe everything you've kids have told me. But who can guarantee that the Shade won't show itself again? And what if something worse than the Shade appeared and catch us off guard? Like last time? Besides, if people found out that you haunteds went home a little early...what do you think will happen?"

We all remained quiet, absorbing his points.

"And we still have that cult to deal with." Major Coleman said. "So there really is no reason to send you home now. But we are getting close to finding them. Our investigation proved successful." Then he looked at me and Cana. "Remember your school nurse?"

"Aaron?" Cana said. "He didn't show up for work, right?"

"Yeah, what about him?" I asked Major Coleman.

"He never returned back to work. Your father couldn't get a hold of him. So we went to his house with a warrant. He wasn't there," Major Coleman said. "The place was spotless, like nobody ever lived there. The landlady didn't even know he was gone. And it's the same with the other school doctors and nurses."

"But not with my dad, right?" Cana ventured.

Major Coleman smiled. "No. Mr. Bernardo is still working on your school. But it begs the question, if they got into the system, how deep have the cult infiltrated?"

The question lingered in the air, stopping all conversations for a while.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Leo said.

"There is," Major Coleman said. "Eat up, rest, beat the high score at that dance machine. And later tonight, we'll need you outside. Same setup like last time. In case we encounter a problem."

"So nothing's changed." Harmony summed up.

"Does that mean we won't be getting any sleep?" Cana said.

"You'll have to bear with it." Major Coleman said. "Once I'm convinced that you kids are no longer in any kind of danger, then we can discuss your new routine. You can disregard what Mr. Donovan briefed you the first night."

"It's not like we got to do any of it," Leo said.

The conversation stopped as we turned our attention to the pizza we were holding. 

That's when my eyes caught something interesting on the front page of the newspaper that came with the pizza. It was folded so only the bottom half was visible. At the bottom left corner was a headline titled: Road Accident, blamed on Black Lady sighting! I reached for the newspaper and kept reading.

"According to the paramedics who've responded to the scene, the driver, Mr. Pring, is convinced that a tall, dark figure, jumped in front of his car while driving, causing him to swerve and crash." Case Investigator Police Executive Master Sergeant William Rocacorba said in a phone interview...

I quickly chew and emptied my soda cup to free my throat. "Major," I said, holding up the newspaper, pointing at the headline. "Is this last night?"

"What is?" said. Cana said.

I read it out to them.

"Yes," Major Coleman confirmed.

"You're obviously behind this," Leo said. He reached for the newspaper so I gave it to him. "But a black lady, really? You think that'll work?"

"On the contrary," Cato said. "Bastillians always associate sightings of black ladies as omens for road accidents so I think it's perfect."

"I'm afraid I cannot that credit for that," Major Coleman said. "What probably happened was that the driver said a tall, dark figure, this newspaper company sensationalized it to a black lady sighting. It plays to the city's superstition and beliefs so I believe Cato may be right about this."

"But what about the people around that time? The driver himself?" Cana asked. "They won't buy this. There's no way."

"Maybe not," Major Coleman said. "But imagine you're at home, reading this newspaper...what would you think?"

"I'll read it." Darius said. "It sounds interesting."

"And?" Scarlet asked.

"And throw it in with the other recyclables," Darius replied, making us laugh.

"Last night will be just yesterday's news," Major Coleman said. "I'd worry more about getting as much rest as you can after this." Major Coleman said. Then he looked at me. "Especially if you've just came out of the hospital."

I nodded.

After the pizza party, I followed Major Coleman's advice and headed straight for my room after cleaning up. Being full made me sleepy already and the fact that the sun's out gives me the sense of security to go to sleep.

It seemed like my body needed the sleep because it was already night when I woke up. Immediately, I opened my drawer and took the pen and folder inside. On my way out of the door, I swapped the pen for Cana's pen knife. (It was returned to me after being released from the hospital.) I ran downstairs and went outside.

"Hey," I greeted them.

"Glad you could join us." Leo said.

"I was just about to come get you." Cana added. Immediately, I was handed a searchlight. I didn't have to turn it on to know that it emits U.V. rays.

Major Coleman gave me a nod. "Good, everyone's here."

"So...nothing?" I asked.

"Nothing yet." Cana said.

The conversation stopped. I turned my attention to my surroundings. The U.V. wall lights and lamp posts are on. Major's men had already set up a perimeter, armed with U.V. searchlights and rifles. Everyone was on alert.

Cato came up to my side. "You think it—he'll come back?"

"If Azgarmoth was telling the truth," I said. "I doubt it."

I remembered our fight. How I despaired last night and already accepted death. But he picked me up. Literally. He thought of things I didn't, giving me the necessary tools to defeat Daniel. Now I realized that if it weren't for what he did, none of us would be standing out here right now. "Hey," I said to him. "Thanks. For last night."

"For hitting you?"

I smirked. "For not giving up."

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked straight. "Giving up means we die."

Looks like the Primordial Being was the type to keep his words—or more likely, he was bound by the deal or the ritual—because morning came and nothing happened. The Shade, Daniel, never reappeared.

It's been like this for almost a week now that Major Coleman stopped sending us out at night for Shade study. So tonight, everyone went to their rooms. I thought I was about to get a good night's sleep for the first time in over two weeks since we've come here. As soon as I lie down, I just realized that ever since coming here, this was the first time I've ever been all alone in my room at night, alone with my thoughts. My pulse started racing but I tried closing my eyes.

Immediately, scenes of Eris' wailing about her bleeding stumps, of Kent coughing up blood, of Demi's slashed throat, of the soldiers that were cut in half in an instant with their riot shields, flashed through my mind. 

I sat up. I turned on my lamp, even though my room—the floor, the ceiling, and the walls—were bathed in U.V. lights. Every corner, the insides of the each furniture, even under my bed had U.V. lights installed. 

I wiped the sweat on my forehead with the edge of my shirt. For the past days, I've never once relived the nightmares of what we've been through. But that's because we we're in one. There was not a moment that any one of us was alone. And most of the time, our attention was spent on each other or in figuring out how to survive every night. Even the Shade study that we were doing up until last night provided the distraction we needed—the only thing keeping the horrors from resurfacing. Now that that's gone, the effect of our ordeals was starting to set in.

I lie down again, giving sleep another shot, but my mind insists I watch replays of the gory images.

I gave up on sleeping and thought of playing Tekken7 to brush up on my Bryan when I've heard the scream.