The group trudged through the overgrown path leading away from the school, the morning sun slowly piercing through the thick fog. Despite the sense of relief, tension still hung in the air. Barto walked ahead, keeping his usual stoic pace, while Sofia and Ellie whispered cautiously behind him.
John cleared his throat, still visibly shaken. "So… what now? Do we just forget about it? Pretend this didn't happen?"
Dami shook his head. "If what we faced was real—and I have no doubt it was—we can't just ignore it. That place is a gateway to something far worse. We need to report it."
Bryan scoffed. "To who? The police? They'll think we're crazy. 'Oh hey, officers, there's a haunted school full of shadow monsters that eat your memories!'"
Ellie nudged him. "Don't joke about it. We barely made it out."
Sofia glanced at Barto. "Why did you keep that photo of Lila?"
Barto didn't look back. "It's proof. We can't let her memory vanish. That's why the entity held on so tightly. Lila didn't deserve to be forgotten."
Nancy hugged herself, her voice a whisper. "What if it's not over? What if we didn't really stop it?"
Dami looked thoughtful. "The ritual was never fully completed. We disrupted its power, but I don't know if we destroyed it entirely. If someone else goes in there, it could start all over again."
Just as they approached the edge of the school grounds, Ellie stopped abruptly. "Where's Aiko?"
The group froze, panic setting in. They looked around, realizing she wasn't with them.
Bryan cursed under his breath. "She was right behind us! How did we lose her?"
Sofia scanned the path. "She must still be inside."
John hesitated. "Are you saying we go back in there? After everything?"
Barto didn't wait for a consensus. He turned and headed back towards the entrance. Ellie grabbed his arm. "Wait! You can't just go alone!"
He looked at her, his gaze calm. "If it's still active, it'll try to separate us again. Better one person than all of us."
Dami frowned. "You sure about this? You might not make it back out."
Barto just gave a small nod. "If I'm not out in an hour, leave."
Before they could protest, he slipped back into the building, moving through the hallways with measured, quiet steps. The oppressive atmosphere was weaker now, but the air still carried that faint, unsettling hum.
He followed the familiar path to the basement, his senses heightened. Suddenly, a soft sobbing echoed from the classroom on his left. Barto pushed the door open, revealing Aiko huddled in the corner, her shoulders shaking.
"Aiko," he called.
She looked up, her face streaked with tears. "I… I got lost. The hallways kept changing. I thought I was going to die."
Barto stepped closer, but something didn't feel right. Aiko's shadow seemed to twitch unnaturally, like it didn't quite match her movements.
He remained calm, his voice steady. "Why did you come back here?"
Aiko sniffled. "I thought I heard someone calling my name. It sounded like… my sister."
Barto's eyes narrowed. Aiko didn't have a sister.
Without warning, her form glitched—like a distorted image on a flickering screen. Barto stepped back, keeping his distance. "You're not Aiko."
Her sobs faded, replaced by a low, rumbling laugh. Aiko's face twisted, eyes sinking into dark voids. "You're smarter than the others. But it doesn't matter. You still fear what you don't understand."
Barto remained unflinching. "Your trick won't work on me. You're just a leftover piece of that thing."
The creature lunged, its form stretching into a grotesque, spider-like shape, limbs scraping the floor as it scuttled toward him. Barto dodged, slamming the door shut and trapping it inside. The entity howled, pounding on the door from the other side.
Barto whispered to himself, "It's not real. It's just an illusion."
As the pounding stopped, he slowly opened the door, finding the room empty. He heard a faint voice from deeper within the hallway—this time, the real Aiko.
She was near the entrance, her hands pressed against the glass as if trying to force it open. Barto approached cautiously.
"Aiko?"
She turned, visibly relieved. "Barto! I… I couldn't get out. It's like the exit just disappeared."
Barto examined the door. The shadows around the frame pulsed, as if actively blocking their escape. He pulled the photo of Lila from his pocket, holding it up to the light. The shadow seemed to recoil, as if repelled by the memory.
Barto focused on the idea of freedom—on breaking the loop. He whispered, "Lila, you're not alone. We remember you."
The shadow around the door flickered, dissolving into wisps. The glass became clear again, and Aiko hesitantly pushed it open. Fresh air flooded in, and Barto guided her out, making sure the entity wasn't following.
Back outside, the group rushed to meet them, relief evident on their faces. Sofia hugged Aiko tightly, while Ellie punched Barto lightly on the shoulder. "You're crazy for going back."
Barto shrugged. "Can't leave anyone behind."
Dami approached, looking thoughtful. "Did you see anything else down there?"
Barto nodded, holding up the photo. "Lila's memory… it's keeping the entity tied here. As long as people remember her, it's weakened. But if everyone forgets, it'll come back stronger."
John sighed. "So, we just… tell people? Make sure her story's remembered?"
Dami smiled faintly. "Maybe that's why it all happened. Lila didn't want to be forgotten. Now that we know the truth, maybe it's finally over."
As they walked away, the school loomed behind them—its windows dark, but no longer hostile. Barto glanced back one more time, and for a brief moment, he saw Lila's figure in the top window, her face peaceful, before fading away.
They headed down the path, feeling lighter despite the lingering fear. Barto remained at the back, his mind replaying the events. Whatever haunted that place, he knew it wasn't completely gone. But for now, it was enough that they had made it out—together.