Kelvin shifted uneasily, his eyes darting toward Cynthia, who gave him a calm, steady gaze.
"You really need to calm down," she said softly.
"Calm down? How can I?!" Kelvin snapped. "I didn't even have to leave my room last night to see the horrors coming!"
"What horrors would that be?" she asked, tone unwavering.
Kelvin hesitated. "Horrors you're a part of. Horrors you can't imagine. Victor can back me up—or at least, I expected him to."
"Funny you should mention Victor." Cynthia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "What was it you said you'd tell him when he came to you last night?"
"ENOUGH WITH THE QUESTIONS!" Kelvin exploded, his voice echoing off the walls. "I thought you were supposed to give me answers, not interrogate me!"
"Alright, alright, no need to shout." Cynthia raised her hands in mock surrender. "How about this— for every question you answer, I'll answer one of yours. Deal?"
Kelvin hesitated, distrust written across his face, but finally nodded. "Fine. Are you people the Glowing Circle?"
"Yes. But how did you know?" Cynthia asked, somewhat shocked.
"I didn't," Kelvin said flatly. "That's why I asked."
"But where did you hear it? Did Victor tell you?"
"You've had your question," Kelvin countered. "Now it's my turn. What makes you people so special that you think you can fight… whatever-those-things-are?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"You didn't answer my question," Kelvin pressed, suspicion growing.
"Neither did you." Cynthia crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll give you something. Each of us has faced something… unnatural. High-level monsters, demons—call them what you will. Victor had his encounter with the Shadow. I, well, recently met Papa Ninja. Emilia's here because she's a warrior—she took out Papa Ninja. And Jessica… well, she's—"
"She's the witch, isn't she?" Kelvin interrupted. He realized he had to build trust; if they grew some kind of affection toward him, it'd be harder for them to kill him.
"Witch? Interesting word for it. Jessica just has a… spiritual background. But how did you even know?" Cynthia asked, puzzled by how much Kelvin seemed to know.
"So, witches haunting demons. Classic ironic horror trailer," Kelvin shot back.
"We didn't create this mess," Cynthia said coldly. "We're the ones fixing it."
"And Stephen? What's his role in this little cult of yours?" Kelvin demanded, sarcasm dripping.
Before Cynthia could respond, Kelvin's gaze shifted behind her. His face twisted in alarm. "What is that?"
Cynthia turned instinctively. "What? What's—"
She didn't finish. Kelvin bolted for the door, desperation giving him speed.
"Kelvin!" Cynthia yelled, spinning back around. "We're trying to help you!"
"It's you who need help," Kelvin retorted. "You and your friends with your twisted ideas—you all need therapy!"
Before he could escape, Cynthia slammed him against the wall, eyes blazing. She leaned in—face inches from his. She was just about his height, not muscular but curved, strong. Kelvin was tall but slim; she outweighed him easily.
"You think we're crazy?" she hissed. "You have no idea what it's like to live with a target on your back—to be terrified of walking in the dark, knowing that every year someone will be found with that smile—that horrifying, contorted grin—and a broken, lifeless body. Not knowing if this year, it'll be you. To know that if you survive this school, it's by luck. Do you think I enjoy gambling my life on luck? Try having a demon chase you. See how much fun that is."
Kelvin stared into her fiery gaze, trapped. Her breath was warm against his face, her closeness disarming. For a moment, he forgot his fear, noticing the beads of sweat glistening on her skin.
Then—smack.
"Ow! What was that for?" Kelvin exclaimed, rubbing his cheek.
"Don't look at me with those pervert eyes of yours," Cynthia snapped.
Kelvin blushed.
"When you face them, you'll know fear," Cynthia said, her tone softening. "And if you survive, only then will you know bravery."
"So what, you think you're brave? I heard you didn't even go back to your dorm. Wow, some brave girl you are," Kelvin muttered. He knew he had to build trust—but he couldn't help it. She was kind of cute when she was furious. Like Black Widow.
"I've seen them," Kelvin said, lowering his voice. "You want to know what I saw in the vision? I saw the ritual kill all of you." He lied.
"It will work," Cynthia said firmly.
"But if it doesn't?" Kelvin pressed.
"Stephen will know what to do," she replied confidently.
"All of you will be dead when it doesn't work," Kelvin muttered. His thoughts screamed—Don't trust her. They'll kill you.
But instead, he said, "What if we try something else? What if I decide to join you?"
"You don't understand," she said. "It's not that we don't know if you're important—we just want to know if you're with us, or with them."
"Why would I be with demons?" Kelvin asked.
"You wouldn't be the first."
"Then tell them—I'll join you. I'll share everything I know, and everything I see in my visions."
She unlocked the door but paused before leaving.
"And Kelvin," she said, her voice low, "we're the good guys. Don't forget that."
As the door clicked shut, Kelvin noticed a book among a pile of papers. The word OTEH was scrawled on its cover. He stared at it, a sense of familiarity gnawing at him.
Then it hit him—the paper from the vision.
A chilling, distorted voice whispered through the air:
"TONIGHT, I WILL MAKE YOU SMILE."