Levin's car skidded around a sharp corner, the tires screeching against the pavement as he accelerated through the downtown streets. From the passenger seat, Alex watched Levin's eyes flicker to the rearview mirror, scanning for any signs of their pursuers. The city lights cast fleeting shadows across Levin's face, highlighting the grim determination etched there.

"How's everyone doing back there?" Levin asked, his voice strained yet controlled.

Ava, gripping the tire iron tightly, replied, "Freaking out."

Levin winced, a pained expression crossing his face as he shifted in his seat, his hand pressed against his side.

"Cool, we're on the same page-" He broke off abruptly, grimacing.

Alex turned, concern etched in his features. "Are you okay, Levin?"

Levin forced a smile, though it was tight with discomfort. "Don't worry about it. If I start turning into a zombie, one of you guys can just kill me."

Ava brandished the tire iron with a grim cheerfulness. "On it."

Levin's smile faded abruptly as he glanced at the rearview mirror again. The flashing lights of police cars screamed past them, their sirens piercing the night air, racing toward the school.

Noah, his face pale with fear, spoke up urgently. "Um, guys, hello? Can we focus on the fact that monsters kidnapped Andy?"

Leo, his expression tense, added, "If the monsters are back, that means Dylan is too. And that means the ritual didn't work."

Kimmy, her face streaked with grime and anxiety, questioned, "But why? We did everything we were supposed to!"

Leo shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "I don't know. But until we figure it out, we can't just charge in. If we go against Dylan without a plan, we're as good as dead."

Noah's voice cracked with desperation. "So is Andy if we don't go after him!"

Lucy's breath hitched with a sudden realization, her eyes widening in alarm. "Oh my god! I just realized... if these things came after us, they might have gone after Dan too."

Kimmy's face paled as she absorbed the implications. "Crap, you're right! And Shoyo too! We have to go to the hospital and get him before they do!"

Noah, his anxiety mounting, cut in urgently.

"We don't have time for that! We all need to-"

His words were abruptly cut off as Kimmy's eyes snapped to the front.

"Levin, look out!"

Levin's reaction was instinctive but not swift enough. The car veered dangerously close to the edge of the road, the passenger mirror shattering as it collided with a streetlight. The sudden jolt sent a shockwave of fear through the vehicle.

"Damn it," Levin muttered under his breath, his face contorted with pain. He wrestled with the wheel, steering the car back onto the road with a jarring motion. With a harsh screech of the brakes, the vehicle came to a shuddering halt.

Alex's eyes were locked on Levin, his worry escalating as he noticed the blood seeping through Levin's shirt.

"Levin, what are you-"

Levin's pained smile was faint, almost humorless. "Guess that bastard at the school got me better than I thought."

The sight of Levin's injury spurred Alex into action. His voice hardened with resolve.

"That settles it. Levin, get in the back. Leo, you drive. We're going to the hospital."

...

The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital. Leo and Noah scrambled to assist Levin, guiding him through the entrance with urgent efficiency. The lobby, however, was eerily deserted, the usual bustle replaced by unsettling silence.

"What the hell?" Levin muttered, his voice strained and pained.

Noah's frustration boiled over. "I fricking knew it! No one ever listens to me."

Alex, his eyes darting anxiously, dashed down the hall. Each step echoed off the walls as he reached Dan's room. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the empty bed, claw marks slashed deep into the sheets. Panic clawed at his chest.

Kimmy, Ava, and Lucy arrived behind him, their faces reflecting Alex's horror. Lucy's eyes were wide with realization.

"They must have come for Dan like they did for us. Forced everyone else to evacuate."

Alex's frustration flared. "Where the hell are the cops?"

Lucy shook her head. "They must be at the school."

Ava slammed her fist into the drywall, her anger reverberating through the quiet corridor.

Meanwhile, Kevin sprinted down the hospital corridor, his heart pounding as he reached Shoyo's room. Bursting through the door, he froze at the sight before him. The bed was empty, and the sheets were shredded with deep, jagged claw marks, as if a wild animal had torn through them.

His eyes widened, taking in the evidence of a struggle-the fabric was ripped apart, threads hanging loosely like a broken web. A chill ran down his spine, but it was quickly consumed by a surge of frustration and anger. Kevin's fists clenched as the reality of the situation sank in, fury swirling inside him like a storm.

...

In the lobby, Levin slumped by the desk, clutching a gauze tightly to his side. Leo and Noah, seated in the waiting area, looked up with weary eyes as Alex and the others reappeared.

Leo's voice was edged with concern. "Was Dan there?"

Ava threw her hands up in exasperation.

"What does it look like!"

Kevin returned, his expression grim as he walked into the room. Alex looked at him, worry etched on his face. "So, Shoyo wasn't there either?"

Kevin shook his head and looked away, his voice heavy with frustration. "No, he wasn't. It seems like the monsters got to your friend and mine too. We were too late."

Noah, his anxiety mounting, began pacing furiously.

Dwayne showed his phone to Alex, his expression tense. "Umm... guys, we have another problem."

Noah sighed in frustration. "Now what?"

Dwayne frowned, glancing at his screen.

"Alvin isn't responding to my texts and calls. Neither are Alice, Sofia, or Claire."

Noah's frustration deepened, his patience wearing thin.

Alex's face filled with concern. "Please don't tell me Dylan got them too."

Lucy's voice trembled with frustration. "But I don't understand. Why didn't the ritual work? We did everything-the goblets, the incantation. Dylan was supposed to be sealed away!"

Ava's gaze fell to the floor, a troubled frown creasing her brow. "Maybe we did something wrong?"

Lucy's eyes searched Ava's face, desperation in her tone. "That can't be it, can it?"

Alex's resolve hardened. "No. We did it right. Every step was correct."

Ava looked at him, her doubt evident.

"But if it wasn't a mistake... What if the old lady got it wrong? Misremembered the spell or something?"

Alex's words hung in the air, laden with uncertainty. "No. I think Ophelia gave us the ritual just as she and her friends did it back then. But maybe it's different for us. Maybe there's something else we need to do."

Lucy's brow furrowed. "Like what?"

Alex's gaze dropped, his anxiety palpable, "That, I don't know."

Noah's frustration bubbled over. "None of this changes anything. Now we have three people to rescue or maybe seven."

Leo's eyes were shadowed with worry. "But we still don't have a plan for how to stop this."

Noah's expression hardened as he spoke with growing intensity. "Look, I don't know why Dylan's on the loose any more than you do, but that doesn't matter right now. 'One crisis at a time,' remember? Right now, the crisis is that Andy, Dan, and Shoyo have been kidnapped. And on top of that, Alvin, Alice, Claire, and Sofia aren't responding to calls or texts, so we need to find them too. We need to go after them-all of us. We can sort out everything else later!"

Leo's frustration spiked. "We could be dead later if we don't figure out why this is still happening."

Alex stepped in, trying to restore some semblance of order. "Guys, you both need to calm down."

Noah shot a sharp glance at Alex. "What are you? A marriage counselor?"

Leo slowly nodded in agreement, his shoulders slumping slightly said. "No, Alex is right. This isn't helping."

Noah's face was flushed with anger, his eyes blazing as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He clenched his fists, his chest heaving with frustration, but after a moment, he forced himself to take a deep breath. As he exhaled heavily, the tension began to drain from his body. "Yeah, alright" he muttered.

Levin, sitting by the desk, cleared his throat, drawing Alex's attention. "Hey, guys, I hate to interrupt, but can I have a word with Alex real quick?"

The others, sensing Levin's urgency, dispersed to give them privacy. Alex sank into a chair next to Levin, who was working to bandage his wound with a grimace.

Alex leaned in, concern etched across his face. "Sooooo, what is it?"

Levin's expression softened into a reassuring smile. "Nothing. I just thought it was time to break things up. That conversation seemed like it was going nowhere."

Alex returned the smile, a hint of relief in his eyes. "How perceptive of you. So how's your wound?"

Levin's grin was more strained, his hand pressed against his side. "I'll be fine. Just need a minute to clean this up, and I'll be good to go. But while I'm doing this, you should... I don't know. Talk to them one-on-one."

He nodded towards the rest of their friends, who looked worn and stressed.

"The gang's looking pretty ragged. If you've got a pep talk or something to rally them, now might be the time. You might not get another chance."

Alex chuckled. "Okay, yes sir, Alex the therapist is on his way."

He turned his attention to the lobby, searching for his friends. His gaze settled on Leo, who was glaring at a soda machine, repeatedly jabbing at the 'coin return' button with a look of fierce frustration.

Alex approached cautiously, "Something wrong?"

Leo's face was a mask of irritation. "Yeah, this stupid machine ate my money, didn't give me a soda, and now it won't even give my change back!"

Leo slammed his fist against the machine, then shook it vigorously. The metal box rattled ominously.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, Leo, chill! Do you know how many people get crushed by vending machines that way?"

Leo paused, his hand still poised above the machine. "Uh... An average of two per year."

Alex's smirk grew. "Of course you would know that."

Leo closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the cold metal of the vending machine. The machine seemed to mock his defeat with its empty promises and stubbornness.

"I thought this was over, Alex. I thought we had won, that everything could go back to normal."

Alex's eyes softened with sympathy. "Maybe it still can."

Leo looked up, skepticism etched deeply into his expression. "How can you believe that? After everything that's happened?"

Alex managed a hopeful smile. "Things can get better. We can get better."

Leo fought back tears, sliding down the vending machine until he sat on the floor, feeling utterly defeated. Alex knelt beside him, his presence a steadying force amidst the turmoil.

Alex said gently. "Look at everything we've been through and we're still here. We can still make it through this."

Leo removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes with trembling hands. "How can you be so confident?"

Alex's smile widened, infused with a mixture of humor and determination. "I sound confident because I am awesome."

Leo let out a laugh, the sound a mix of relief and sorrow. The laughter was a fragile lifeline, pulling him from the edge of despair.

Alex continued, his words a balm for Leo's wounds. "And so are you."

Leo shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I don't feel awesome."

Alex leaned in closer. "Doesn't matter. It's involuntary."

Leo's smile grew as he pushed himself to his feet. He wrapped his arms around Alex in a hug, grateful for the reassurance. Just then, the vending machine made a sudden clunk as if in protest, and then, with a whir, the soda and change fell into the tray.

Leo grinned, holding up his prize. "Hey! My soda and my change!"

Alex patted Leo's shoulder, pleased to see his friend's spirits lifted, then made his way back to the waiting area.

Near the doors, Noah paced restlessly, his frustration evident in the tight lines of his jaw and the sharp movements of his pacing. When Alex approached, Noah stopped abruptly, pivoting to face him.

"Are we leaving yet?" Noah's voice was tinged with exasperation.

Alex regarded him with concern. "Just a few more minutes. Are you okay?"

Noah shook his head, returning to his restless pacing. "No, I'm not okay. I'm not okay with any of this."

Alex stepped closer, his voice firm yet gentle. "Noah, talk to me."

Noah's frustration spilled over as he snapped, "Yeah, let's all stand around talking about our feelings for an hour. That'll help."

Alex turned to leave but stopped when Noah's tone softened. "No, hang on... I'm sorry."

Noah's shoulders sagged as he moved to the window, leaning heavily against the frame. His eyes, weary and pained, followed the bustling street outside. Alex approached quietly, standing beside him in supportive silence.

Noah finally spoke, his voice laced with weariness. "I just... I want to get out of here and get this over with. The sooner we finish it, the sooner everything goes back to normal."

Alex glanced at him, sensing the deeper meaning behind Noah's words. "Back to normal? You mean us not talking?"

Noah shook his head. "No, come on. You know what I mean. Back to when we were kids, before June... before June died."

A silence settled between them, heavy and suffocating. Alex's gaze was steady as he responded.

"Noah, whatever happens with us and Dylan, it won't bring her back. Some wounds don't heal; they just become scars."

Noah's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he struggled to articulate his anguish.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. June's gone, and there's nothing we can do about it. It's just... I can't shake this feeling. It's not right. It's not fair. June didn't deserve that."

The tears finally broke free, rolling down his cheeks. "It should have been me."

Alex's heart ached at the raw pain in Noah's words. "Noah, it wasn't your fault."

Noah's voice trembled with guilt and sorrow. "But it was. You know it. I couldn't save her. I didn't even come close."

Alex placed a comforting hand on Noah's shoulder, offering a silent solidarity.

"It wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't change the outcome. Noah, we were kids. Kids who had something awful done to us by a monster. That's it. End of story. The fact that you're standing here blaming yourself... that's part of what he did to us. To all of us."

Noah's head hung low as sobs wracked his body. Alex's hand rested gently on his back, offering comfort.

"Listen to me. We are going to get through this. All of us. Together. You hear me?"

"Yeah, I hear you," Noah responded, his voice cracking. "I think I'd like to be alone for a bit, but thanks for coming over here and for putting up with me."

Alex nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "Noah, you are my friend."

As Noah began to pace, Alex moved to Kimmy, who was frantically rummaging behind the reception desk. Her frustration was palpable as she cursed under her breath.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked.

"Looking for a charger!" Kimmy snapped. "I lost my purse, and my phone's dead. I need to text my mom! What if she got hurt? What if she's dead? What if-"

Alex cut her off gently. "Kimmy, calm down. I'll check these drawers, okay? You look over there."

Kimmy nodded, and they split up, tearing through the desk.

"You know everything's gonna be okay," Alex said, trying to soothe her.

"No, Alex, I do not know that. I am freaking out right now," Kimmy replied.

Just then, Alex pulled out the charger from a drawer. "Well, you can stop freaking out for a second, because I found the charger."

Kimmy's face lit up with a weak smile as Alex handed her the tangled cord. She quickly plugged her phone in, staring at the empty battery icon with bated breath. The screen flickered to life, and she swiped through her texts, her eyes darting nervously.

When the message from her mom finally appeared, Kimmy's relief was palpable. She covered her mouth with trembling hands and sagged against the desk, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"She's okay," Kimmy choked out.

"Everyone's okay."

Alex enveloped her in a comforting hug. Kimmy's sobs echoed against his shoulders.

"Alex, I can't take this anymore," she cried.

"Andy's gone. Dan's gone. And everything we do to fix it just makes things worse."

Alex hugged Kimmy more tightly, his arms wrapped around her as if trying to shield her from the world.

"Everything will be fine. We'll make it through all of this."

Just as he finished speaking, he felt a vibration in his pocket. Alex's gaze dropped, his brows furrowing in surprise. He slowly pulled back from the hug, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone. His heart quickened with curiosity as he saw the notification light up the screen. The message was from Andy.

For a moment, he just stared at it, disbelief and hope mingling in his expression as he quickly unlocked his phone to read the message.

Andy :
Help me

Alex :
Oh My God! Andy where r u?

Andy :
I am hiding near the ruins I got away from those things but they are everywhere.

Alex :
Are you okay?

Andy :
Please you have to help me. Hurry and bring everyone.

As Alex looked up, he found his friends crowding behind him, peering at the message on his phone with intense focus.

Ava's brow furrowed. "Well, that's definitely a trap."

Kimmy's frustration was palpable, "Seriously, how dumb does Dylan think we are?"

Noah's expression hardened with resolve. "It doesn't matter. We don't have a choice. At least we know what we're walking into."

Leo nodded in agreement, his gaze resolute. "Noah's right. We have to go."

A few feet away, Levin struggled to rise from his seat, pulling on his jacket. "Okay, let's roll."

Kimmy's eyes widened with alarm. "Roll? You're not going anywhere."

Levin made an effort to stand, but his legs buckled. Noah swiftly caught him mid-stumble and gently guided him back into the chair.

"Noah's right," Kimmy said firmly. "You're too messed up to help. You'd just slow us down."

Levin sighed deeply and fished in his pocket, retrieving his car keys. He extended them to Alex with a weary, but determined, look.

"Just take my car and go. I'll stay here and wait for the cops and doctors."

Alex accepted the keys with a grateful nod. "Don't you die on us, dummy."

Levin managed a weak smirk. "Funny, I was about to tell you the same thing."

Their hands lingered on the keys for a moment longer, a silent exchange of trust and concern. Levin's gaze softened. "Seriously though, be careful out there."

Alex met his gaze with a reassuring smile. "I will. See you soon."

With a final nod to Levin, Alex turned to the others, signaling that it was time to move. The group made their way toward the door, their steps heavy with purpose and urgency. Each carried a sense of determination, knowing that the stakes were high and the path ahead would be fraught with danger.

....

As the black muscle car skidded to a halt outside Alex's house, the group tumbled out, each face set with a mix of determination and weariness. They swiftly crossed the backyard, the urgency of their mission clear in their stride.

Leo broke the silence with a practical question. "Remind me what the plan is?"

Lucy answered succinctly, her tone steady. "We go back to the ruins."

Kimmy's eyes were sharp with focus. "We rescue Dan, Andy and Shoyo."

Ava, her expression grim but resolute, added, "And kill anything that gets in our way."

Alex turned to face his friends, checking their readiness. "Is everybody ready?"

Noah, his jaw clenched with resolve, responded firmly. "Let's do this."

Shoulder to shoulder, they marched across the yard, their steps heavy with the weight of their mission.

Alex veered towards his shed, the metallic clinks of tools inside echoing with each step. Emerging moments later, he was armed with a battered array of weapons: a baseball bat, a pole saw, a lighter, a spray can, and a fire axe.

Kimmy eyed the collection with a hint of disbelief. "Who are you, the Terminator?"

Before Alex could even react, Dwayne suddenly snatched the baseball bat from his hands.

"I'm gonna make those monsters pay for ruining my tuxedo!" Dwayne declared, his eyes narrowing in mock fury.

He held the bat like it was a prized possession, examining it as if he were about to head into a championship game rather than a fight with monsters.

"This was custom-tailored, you know," he added, shaking his head in exaggerated disbelief. "And now? Covered in monster goo! Unforgivable!"

Alex grinned and turned his attention to Kimmy with a spark of humor in his eyes despite the tension.

"Well Kimmy what can I say? I prefer to face my demons armed to the teeth."

Just then, Lily, the neighbor's enthusiastic dog, bounded towards Alex, her tail wagging furiously.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Looks like she wants to come along."

Lucy's concern was evident. "But is that safe?"

Ava, bending down to pet Lily, smiled despite the chaos. "None of this is safe, but I definitely feel better with a dog. Especially one this cute."

As if on cue, Alex's cat, a sleek and curious creature, pranced out of the house, its eyes wide and tail twitching with curiosity.

Alex threw his hands up in exasperation. "For heaven's sake, not you too!"

Leo glanced around, incredulous. "How many animals do you have in there?"

Kimmy paused to give Alex's cat an affectionate scratch, the small creature purring contentedly. "Aww, she wants to come too."

Lucy glanced at the kitten with a mix of affection and practicality. "That's cute, but we definitely can't bring a kitten along. No matter how brave she is."

Suddenly, a guttural roar erupted from the woods, causing everyone to startle. Kyle, the imposing vine creature, emerged from the shadows, his presence as commanding as ever. He loomed at the edge of the clearing, his eyes glowing with an intense, feral energy.

Alex's face lit up with relief. "Kyle, there you are."

Lily, the dog, and Mittens Alex's cat, circled around Kyle, their curiosity piqued. Their sniffing grew more intense, but their focus remained fixed on the newcomer.

Noah raised an eyebrow, observing the growing menagerie. "You've kind of got a lot of pets here."

Then Mittens cowered behind Alex's leg, its tail wrapped tightly around its body.

Alex knelt beside the kitten, teasing gently. "Aww, is my big, brave killer jaguar afraid of Kyle?"

Noah's gaze remained fixed on Kyle, his unease palpable. "Yeah, to be honest, that thing still freaks me out."

Alex's grin widened with determination. "Well, I'm glad he's here. We need all the help we can get."

A sudden, almost imperceptible shift in the atmosphere made Alex's instincts flare. He felt an unsettling presence, an eerie sensation that they were not alone. Lily, tensed, her fur bristling as she bared her teeth. Kyle's eyes narrowed, blazing with a deep, primal anger.

Noah broke the tense silence, his voice tight with concern. "What's going on?"

Alex's gaze swept the trees, his senses on high alert. "Something's coming. Everyone, get ready."

As the group turned their attention towards the dense treeline, they froze in collective apprehension. At the edge of the woods, a shadowy figure emerged, barely distinguishable from the darkness, its form a menacing silhouette against the fading light.

Lucy's fear was evident as she whispered, "Um... is everyone else seeing this, right?"

Dwayne's voice was a mix of disbelief and dread. "Is that who I think it is?"

Leo squinted through the dimming light. "Mrs. Johnson?"

Mrs. Johnson, her movements stiff and unnatural, stood at the edge of the woods. Her once kind demeanor was replaced by a vacant, zombie-like stare.

Noah's tone was laced with resignation. "Yeah, she's just another one of those dirt monsters."

A twisted smile spread across Mrs. Johnson's face, her eyes widening with a gleeful malice. "Wrong."

Kimmy's eyes flared with determination. "If it's a real one, we can hurt it."

Alex tried to steady the group. "Everyone relax. All we have to do is wrestle him to the ground and knock him out."

Kevin nodded, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Yeah, there are seven of us and just one of them."

Mrs. Johnson shook her head slowly, her fingers snapping in a dismissive gesture. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Wrong again."

From the trees emerged another figure-Zack. His appearance was marked by a menacing grin. "There are more of us in here."

And then, stepping out from the shadows, Korban loomed with a cold, unfeeling gaze. "All of us in here."

Lucy's breath caught in her throat. "Oh my God, all the patients from the hospital."

Alex's mind raced, piecing together the grim reality. "So that means-"

A new presence emerged from the darkness. Clawed fingers gripped the bark of a tree as something large and menacing dragged itself into the light. From the shadows, a final figure stepped forward.

Dan, his eyes glinting with a malevolent spark, greeted them with a chilling smile.

"Hello, friends. Come to play?"