---8 Years Ago---

Autumn sunlight filtered through the lush green trees as Alex followed his best friends deep into the woods. The leaves rustled under their feet, creating a symphony of nature's whispers. June, confidently led the way, with Alvin and Alice and Alex close behind. Their curiosity had been piqued by the sight of a crumbling stone building on the other side of a clearing.

June's pink skirt flows gracefully around her as she twirls, her brown hair bouncing with each movement. Her youthful energy radiates from her, filling the air with a sense of joy and wonder.

Alex's simple t-shirt and jeans give him a relaxed and carefree vibe. His black hair is styled in a messy yet stylish way, adding to his effortless coolness.

Alice's blue skirt complements her striking blue eyes, which seem to sparkle with intelligence and curiosity. Her black hair is styled in a neat and tidy manner, adding to her poised and put-together appearance.

Alvin's white hoodie and black jeans create a striking contrast, making him stand out from the rest. His white shoes add a touch of sophistication to his outfit, while his black hair is styled in a sleek and modern way, giving him an edgy yet refined look.

As they reached the edge of the clearing, Alice couldn't help but express her awe, "Wow, what is this place?" Her eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the mysterious atmosphere.

Alvin, always calm and collected, suggested, "Perhaps it's a ghost house."

Alex, however, disagreed, his voice filled with certainty, "No, it isn't, there is more than that."

June, picked up a pebble and tossed it towards the house. To their astonishment, the pebble sailed straight over the threshold and then froze in mid-air. Alice couldn't contain her excitement, "That's amazing!"

The pebble hung suspended in the air for a moment before dropping straight down. Confusion filled Alice's voice as she questioned, "What the heck is doing that?"

Alvin, recalling tales of witches, suggested, "It must be the witch's doing."

June quickly dismissed his idea, her voice was firm, "Shut up, Alvin! This is weird, right? I threw all kinds of stuff in there yesterday, but it all just stops!"

Alice turned her attention towards Alex, a glimmer of realization in her eyes, "So you guys came here yesterday too?"

Alex nodded, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement, "Yeah, we did. Me and June."

Alvin, mischievous as ever, playfully grabbed Alex, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "I wonder what's inside. Let's throw you in and see if you float too." Alex, desperately trying to free himself from Alvin's grip, pleaded, "Wait, no! Stop, please, Alvin!" Alvin finally relented, releasing Alex from his grasp.

Alvin grinned mischievously as he turned to Alice and June. "Let's go inside!" he suggested, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Alice, her voice trembling, shook her head. "We can't go inside," she said anxiously, her hands fidgeting nervously.

June, also shaking and fidgeting her fingers, chimed in, her voice filled with apprehension. "I don't think it's a good idea, guys."

But Alex, unable to contain his enthusiasm, exclaimed, "I guess we can! It'll be an adventure!"

Alvin smirked confidently. "Yeah, it's not like anyone lives here. Let's go now," he urged, his bravado shining through.

Alice's hands balled tightly into fists, her lower lip trembling with fear. "What if you're wrong? What if we get in trouble? What if something bad happens?" she questioned, her voice filled with worry.

Alex reassured her, his excitement still evident. "We have Alvin with us, no need to worry."

Alvin, trying to calm Alice's fears, spoke calmly. "Yeah, let's go. You still have your whistle, right? The one I gave you on your birthday as a gift?"

Alice reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out the whistle, her fingers trembling slightly. "Yeah, I have it. You said that if I ever got scared, I should blow the whistle and you would come running to protect me, no matter where you are." She confirmed, her voice wavering.

Alvin nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "That's right. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Don't worry, just stay by my side, If I said I got your back, I got your back you don't have to turn around to see if I am still there, I will be."

With a sense of security, Alice slipped the whistle back into her pocket. "Okay," she said, her voice filled with a mix of fear and trust. "Let's go." June also nodded.

Glancing back at the ruins, they could almost hear the stones calling out, reaching for them. Alvin stretched up a bit, a determined look on his face. "Let's go," he said.

Alex smiled, trying to hide his nervousness. "Alvin Walker, ready to walk into the ghost house," he said, attempting to sound brave.

Alvin smiled fearlessly in response. "It'll be like a walk in the park. Let's go already," he said, striding confidently towards the doorway and reaching out to feel the space inside.

June, concerned, asked, "Is there something there? Does it hurt?"

Alvin remained calm. "It feels tingly, kind of tickles," he replied, trying to brush off any worries.

As they stepped onto the threshold, the tingling sensation spread throughout their entire bodies, They continued to follow Alvin into the dark room beyond.

Alex, feeling a mix of fear and uncertainty, spoke up. "Um, Alvin, when you said you would protect Alice, you'll protect me too, right? And June too, just making sure."

Alvin smirked, trying to mask his own unease. "I only protect girls, not boys. Be a man, Alex.

Alex didn't like his response, but he still walked close to Alvin, seeking some comfort in his presence. June and Alice both chuckled at Alvin's answer.

Alvin glanced back at June, Alex, and Alice and sensed that they were afraid. He softened his tone and asked, "Does anyone want to hold my hand?" His voice was filled with a touch of vulnerability.

Alex quickly reached out and held Alvin's hand with a firm grip, using both of his own hands. Alvin stopped walking and turned to look at him, their eyes locking in a moment.

Alvin gently shook his hand free from Alex's grip. "I meant girls, not you," he clarified, his voice tinged with regret. Alex pouted, feeling a bit hurt, but he still stayed close to Alvin, seeking his protection.

Alex was strolling alongside Alvin, but then he slowed his pace and decided to walk with June and Alice, As they both reached, Those three started walking together following Alvin's lead, Alex couldn't help but mutter under their breath, "Alvin can be so mean sometimes."

Alice, catching wind of Alex's comment, couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Oh, you think so? Well, let me tell you a little secret. If I were to tell Alvin about your remark, he would actually hold your hand. He's quite obedient when it comes to following my lead."

Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! I find that hard to believe."

Alice winked playfully and smirked. "Watch and learn."

As Alvin continued walking ahead of them, Alice seized the opportunity. "Hey, Alvin, would you mind holding Alex's hand, please?"

Alvin abruptly stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Alex. Without hesitation, he reached out and gently grasped his hand, intertwining their fingers. Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed walking. A smile crept across Alex's face as he glanced back at June and Alice, amazed by what he had just witnessed.

June, who had been observing the interaction, leaned in, her voice was barely audiable, "Don't get too excited Alice. Alvin may not do everything or say yes to everything."

Alice, overhearing June's remark, couldn't resist the opportunity to prove her wrong. With a mischievous smirk, she declared, "Oh, but you haven't seen it all yet. Just watch this."

Alice smirked mischievously, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Well, watch this," she replied confidently.

Alice moved closer to Alex, her heart pounding with excitement, and whispered in his ear, urging him to walk with June. Alex, nodded quickly and released Alvin's hand, and joined June on their walk. Alvin didn't seem to mind that Alex had left his side, his attention solely focused on front.

As they walked together, Alice couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline. She turned to Alvin, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, and asked, "Alvin, will you take me on a date?"

Without hesitation, Alvin replied, "Yes."
Encouraged by his response, Alice continued, her voice filled with excitement, "Will you take me with you? I want to travel the world and explore new places just you and me."

Alvin, his gaze fixed ahead, answered confidently, "Yes."

Meanwhile, Alex and June, walking a few steps behind, couldn't help but be astonished. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they witnessed Alvin's unwavering agreement to Alice's every request.

As they continued their stroll, Alice tilted her head slightly looking at his eyes, her expression filled with innocence and charm. She mustered up the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind. "Alvin, will you marry me?" Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of vulnerability.

Alvin, maintaining his calm demeanor, replied without hesitation, "Yes." A radiant smile spread across Alice's face.

June and Alex, who had been observing from behind, stood there with their jaws dropped in utter astonishment.

Darkness surrounded them like a thick fog, making it difficult to see. Alex and Alice started shivering, feeling as though something was watching them.

Alvin signaled for them to stop, but they accidentally bumped into his back due to the darkness.

"Shh, be quiet," Alvin whispered. "Is someone here?"

Echoing through the darkness, a voice replied,

Heeellllooooo.

Alex, Alice and June quickly hid behind Alvin, feeling scared. Alvin remained fearless and asked, "Is someone there?"

A strange voice replied, "Nnnammme?"

The leaves, which had been fretfully blowing aside, revealed a patch of smooth gray stone. As they watched in awe, and a name appeared : Dylan.

Alvin, with a friendly smile, spoke up, "Is your name Dylan? I'm Alvin Walker, and these are my friends Alex, Alice, and June."

An echoing voice responded, "Alvin."

Alvin's eyes slowly adjusted to the dark room as he squinted, noticing what appeared to be a set of stairs in the far corner, disappearing into a jagged hole in the floor. Alice, trembling, approached him and tightly held his hand, asking, "Alvin? Is it safe?"

Alvin paused for a moment, checking the surroundings. "Hang on a sec, I think there's something—"

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind howled up through the hole in the floor, knocking Alvin off his feet. Alice, Alex, and June instinctively stepped back as the wind reversed direction, dragging Alvin towards the abyss. Desperately, Alvin dug his fingers into a crack in the floor, barely managing to resist the force.

Alvin shouted, his voice filled with urgency, "You three, run now! Get out of this place!"

Despite his plea, the wind howled even louder, snatching both Alex and Alice,  causing them to slide past Alvin, desperately scrambling for purchase on the uneven floor. Alice's whistle fell from her pocket.

Alvin screamed, still clinging to the crack, "Alice!"

Growing angrier, Alvin shouted, "Damn you, Dylan! I know you're doing this! Stop it, or I will kill you!"

As if in response to his threat, the wind abruptly died down, and Alvin slowly extended his hand towards Alice and then Alex, offering to help them up. Alice sobbed quietly a few feet away, still clinging tightly to the floor.

Alvin said, "You three, get out of here now."

Alice was sobbing and said, " But...but..my whistle."

Alvin replied, "Run! I will get your whistle back. For now, run!"

Alex, Alice, and June started running back, and Alvin followed them. They finally made it outside the ruins. At the edge of the clearing, Alvin couldn't resist looking back one more time. The ruins sat still and quiet, showing no signs of life.

Alex looked back while running, saw that Alvin had stopped and said, "Alvin, come on!"

Alvin stopped and gazed at the ominous ruins again looming before him and replied "Yeah, I am coming."

✪✪✪PRESENT✪✪✪

After the pep rally everyone went to their classes.

All day after the pep rally, Alex's mind raced with thoughts of Dylan. If Dylan was back, it could only mean trouble. Alex cursed under his breath, feeling frustrated and annoyed.

As the history teacher droned on, Alex pretended to pay attention, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. So, he silently took out his phone and created a new WhatsApp group with his old friends.

Alex:
This is Alex, we all need to talk.

Lucy:
Hey.

Ava:
Yo, Yo, Yo.

Kimmy:
Hi, what's up?

Andy:
Yo bro!

Noah:
Hey, what's up?

Dwayne:
Jeez bro, I thought you were paying attention in class.

Alex was surprised that everyone replied to him so quickly. He had expected them to paying attention in class but he was wrong. He glanced at the teacher, who was still writing on the board, and then turned to his left to see Dwayne waving at him and winking. He couldn't help but smile at his antics. He turned his attention towards phone.

Andy:
So, what do you guys want to talk about?

Alex:
The pep rally. (Do not pretend you don't know what I mean.)

Noah:
Where and when should we meet?

Alex:
Let's meet at Riverwood Park, after school, of course.

Kimmy:
I can't, I have practice. Sorry, guys.

Andy:
Same here. Can we meet after?

Alex:
Guys, this is serious.

Dwayne:
I can't either, cause I am tired.

Andy:
I can't ditch practice, bro. Try to understand. We have a game coming up.

Noah:
Come on Dwayne, take it seriously.

Dwayne:
OKkkaaayyy.

Alex:
Fine, let's meet at 5.

Noah:
Hey, make sure to tell Leo too.

Alex:
Yeah, I will. Bye.

Noah:
Bye.

Andy:
See you at the park.

Suddenly, Alex's heart skipped a beat as he heard the echoing sound of footsteps approaching. He instinctively knew that it was Mrs. Smith, their strict teacher. With a quick yet careful motion, he slipped his phone into his pocket, ensuring that no one would notice his momentary distraction.

As Mrs. Smith drew closer, she fixed her piercing gaze upon Alex and spoke in her authoritative tone, "Since you are paying attention, Alex, tell me what happened in the year 1901 in the United States. Can you enlighten us with the name of the president who was tragically assassinated?"

A mischievous smile crept across Alex's face as he confidently replied, "In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated, and Vice President Roosevelt assumed the role of the 26th president."

Mrs. Smith's stern expression softened slightly as she nodded approvingly. "Well, it looks like you have been paying attention," she acknowledged, impressed by Alex's knowledge.

Just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, the classroom erupted into a flurry of activity as students hurriedly packed their belongings. Alex intended to approach Leo and wanted to talk to him about their meetint, but Mrs. Smith beat him to it, engaging Leo in conversation. Realizing he would have to wait, Alex stepped out of the classroom and leaned against the wall, patiently waiting for Leo.

Finally, Leo emerged from the classroom, and Alex eagerly made his way towards him. "Hey Leo, how are you?" he greeted, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Leo's eyes lit up, mirroring Alex's excitement, and they instinctively pulled each other into a warm embrace. As they released each other, Leo replied, "I'm doing well, Alex, except for the overwhelming council duties that constantly stress me out. How was your summer?"

Alex's smile widened, "Summer was absolutely awesome. I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling stressed."

Leo's expression momentarily faltered before he managed to regain his composure and offer a small smile. "Yeah, it's been tough, but hey, what did you want to talk about? I am glad that you waited for me."

Alex nervously but earnestly said, "Yeah, it's important. That's why we need to talk."

Leo replied, "Oh, can we walk and talk? I have some things to take care of before I head out."

Nodding, Alex agreed, and the two of them set off at a brisk pace through the hallway."

Alex began, his voice filled with apprehension,"It's about what happened at the pep rally."

Leo interrupted, "Oh, the blackout? Don't worry, I've already filed the maintenance report. We can't have the lights going out during the basketball game."

Alex's nerves got the best of him as he continued, "And the voice..."Leo scoffed, dismissing the concern. "I don't know what you're talking about. That thing, you and June made it up."

A small smile curled on Alex's lips as he replied, "I didn't say anything about June."

Leo gasped, realizing he had been caught, and decided to play along. "Okay, I'll listen, but only if you help me with my writing assignment."

Alex agreed, his voice tinged with frustration. "Okay, but promise me you'll actually listen, okay?"

Leo grinned mischievously and playfully punched Alex in the stomach. "I'm going to listen to you anyway, haha. I just wanted someone to do work for me."

Alex couldn't help but mutter, "You bastard."

As they continued walking, they eventually reached the outside of the school. They decided to go into a nearby café, ordering coffee to fuel their conversation. Leo pulled out his assignment, ready to work, while Alex eagerly offered his assistance.

After completing their assignment, Leo took a much-needed sip of his coffee and let out a relieved sigh. "Phew. That was surprisingly easy," he remarked, a small smile forming on his lips.

Alex, sitting across from Leo in the cozy café, couldn't help but smile back. He stretched his arms above his head, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Alright, now that I've helped you out, let's talk."

Leo's expression turned slightly uneasy as he scratched his arm, his eyes darting around the café. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "You mean, what happened at the pep rally, huh?"

Alex nodded, his eyes filled with concern. "Yeah, so you heard them too, right? The whispers and that voice?"

Leo's discomfort grew, evident in his fidgeting. "Look, I don't need it getting around that the class president hears voices. But hypothetically, suppose I did, what then?"

Alex leaned back in his chair, contemplating Leo's question. "Well, hypothetically, a bunch of us are meeting at Riverwood Park to talk about it at 5. Are you in, or do you have other plans?"

Leo's gratitude for Alex's help with the assignment was evident in his eyes. "I'm in. I owe you at least that much for helping me out," he replied, determination shining through.

Okay, great. See you then," Alex said, a sense of relief washing over him.

Leo nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "See you then. I'll go home and meet you there."

With nothing else to do until the meeting, Alex glanced at the clock. It was only 4:00 p.m., so he decided to wait for the others at Riverwood Park. Taking a seat on a nearby bench, he anxiously awaited their arrival.

The park's lush greenery stretched out before him, a tapestry of vibrant hues that danced with the gentle breeze. Towering trees, their branches reaching towards the heavens, provided a comforting canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows upon the emerald carpet below. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm golden glow that bathed the park in a tranquil radiance.

At the heart of this enchanting oasis lay a small pond, its surface shimmering like liquid glass. The water, so clear and pristine, mirrored the surrounding landscape, creating a mesmerizing reflection of nature's splendor. Delicate water lilies adorned the pond's edge, their petals unfurling like delicate works of art, adding a touch of elegance to the already enchanting scene.

He waited patiently as time passed, and eventually, it became 5 PM. He rolled his eyes around, he noticed that no one else had shown up yet. He felt disappointment and then he decided to grab a coffee to pass the time.

He went to the near café which was few minutes away from there, he grabbed a coffe and started walking back to the park, coffee cup in hand, after finishing the coffee. Alex disposed of it in a nearby garbage can. He made his way back to the bench, hoping to see his friends waiting for him. And there they were, Noah, Lucy, Leo, Dwayne, Andy, and Kimmy, already gathered at the park, patiently waiting.