We were about to open the dorm door for the Seven Council when it suddenly opened on its own, revealing Kyle and Dylan.
"Hey, what's going on?" Storm asked, observing the two guys rushing.
"Red code. We need to go to the basement," Dylan said, while Kyle stared at me with a warm look.
"What's a red code?" I asked, but they didn't answer me.
"We don't have much time. We'll go there first," Kyle said, tapping Storm's arm. They both ran towards the emergency exit.
"What's a red code?" I asked again, my gaze fixed on the backs of the two guys as they ran away.
"It's an emergency situation. Can you wait for me in the room? I'll go and check it out," he told me, but I shook my head in disagreement.
"I want to help. Come on, Storm, you know I'm not a weakling. I can handle it just fine," I replied, but he hesitated and couldn't reply.
"Please," I pleaded. "I want to help," I added, and he swallowed hard before nodding and taking my hand as he led me towards the emergency exit door.
We entered the door, and he pressed the red button. Suddenly, the floor opened, and we fell. He immediately carried me in a bridal hold as we descended for what seemed like several floors. When we reached the ground, he landed gracefully and carefully set me down.
"What is this place?" I asked, taking a good look at the surroundings. It was filled with weapons, clothes, cloaks, and other emergency items. It was similar to the basement with the elites group, but much bigger and stocked with more things.
"Similar to the elites, but we call this the basement. Please choose a weapon or clothes you want to bring with you," Storm told me as he started removing his shirt. I quickly looked away, realizing he was changing.
I couldn't focus on what weapon or clothes to choose as I got distracted by the thought that he might be naked. I shook my head to banish those thoughts and randomly picked an outfit and a gun.
"Where can I change?" I asked him, still avoiding looking at him. Instead of a reply, I heard him chuckle. Suddenly, he was in front of me, which startled me.
"I'm already clothed," he said, showing me himself wearing a fitted leather shirt, pants, and a cloak.
"It's good that you guys are getting closer, but this isn't the time for that. We better hurry up," Dylan interrupted, and I turned to look at them. Kyle and Dylan were now wearing their chosen outfits, not much different from Storm.
"Want me to take you to the fitting area?" Kyle offered, and I almost walked up to him to say yes when Storm grabbed my arm.
"I'll take her," he said, looking at me with an indifferent expression, which confused me even more.
"What?" He asked, giving me a puzzled look.
I shook my head. "Nothing," I replied, but I remained confused. Nonetheless, I let him lead me to the fitting room.
"Get inside. I'll be waiting right here," he said, tilting his head towards the door, signaling for me to enter. I nodded strangely and entered. Carefully, I put on the clothes and picked up the chosen weapon. 
When I finished changing, I stepped out of the fitting room, and Storm's reaction was difficult to decipher. "Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, looking down to check my appearance.
"Do I look bad?" I looked up at him again, but he just smiled and shook his head.
"Hmm... not bad," he said, his words indicating that I didn't look particularly good or bad.
"Tss," I rolled my eyes at him and left him there as I walked ahead of him to meet the others.
"By the way, where's Ysabel, Klenn, and Lin?" I asked, realizing that these three Council members were not present.
"Maybe they're already there," Kyle replied with a warm smile, and I nodded.
"Are we ready to go yet? Let's hurry this up; I need more rest," Dylan said with a bored expression. Eventually, we all gathered in one place, and Storm pressed something, causing the ground in the area to lift up.
"Wow, everything feels so magical," I said, mesmerized by the unfolding events. I was busy taking in my surroundings when Storm suddenly put his left arm around my waist, sending shivers down my spine. I jumped slightly in shock, but he held me tightly yet gently.
"Don't stray too far from me," Storm whispered in my ear, his warm breath causing my cheeks to flush as I could feel his hand on my fitted shirt.
I couldn't speak, or rather, I chose to stay silent as I wasn't sure how to react exactly. These feelings were just overwhelming. Why was I reacting like this to his simple touch?
When we reached the top, I awkwardly removed his hand from my waist and created a significant distance between us.
"Uhmm... it's hot," I mumbled as an excuse, making him look at me with confusion. I couldn't look at him properly as I was feeling shy, so I walked ahead of him.
"You're being conscious around me," he said, managing to walk beside me.
"N-No, I'm not," I answered awkwardly, still avoiding eye contact. He suddenly blocked my way, causing me to stop in my tracks.
"Then why can't you even look me properly in the eye?" he asked, leaning closer to my face. I briefly glanced at his eyes before looking away.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to appear innocent, but he just chuckled and lightly tapped my head.
"Cute," he said, and then continued walking. I was left mesmerized by the moment, unable to process what had just happened. I stood there dumbfounded, watching his back as he walked away from me.
He suddenly turned towards me, tilting his head and giving me a questioning look. "Aren't you coming?"
"Co-Coming," I stammered, and quickly ran towards him, feeling a mix of excitement and confusion.
When we reached the designated area where the supposed red code was happening, it was eerily quiet. The atmosphere was peaceful, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"Are you sure this was the place?" Storm asked Kyle, who seemed just as confused as the rest of us.
"Yeah, this is definitely the place..." Kyle answered, his confusion evident as he surveyed the surroundings.
"What exactly is happening?" Dylan spoke, his expression serious and somewhat angry as he observed the area.
"I'll go take a look a little further. You guys should stay here and keep watch," Storm suddenly suggested, ready to sprint off. However, I stopped him in his tracks.
"I'm coming with you," I told him firmly, my tone serious. He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite understand, and gently removed my hand from his arm.
"Just stay here with them," he insisted, but I glared at him in response.
"Storm," I called out his name, my tone conveying a warning. He understood what I meant, taking a deep breath as if he were giving in, realizing he couldn't stop me.
"Alright, let's go," he said, and I smiled at him. "Nothing can really stop you," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. We began walking together, venturing further into the area.
As expected, the surroundings remained quiet, yet somehow eerie and filled with an underlying sense of danger. It felt like the entire place was dormant, yet far from dead.
"Are you suspecting something as well?" Storm asked me as he led the way, and I walked closely beside him.
"I don't know exactly, but I can't shake off the feeling that something's not right in this area," I replied honestly. We continued onward, now surrounded by towering trees.
"Exactly, it's like something is lurking in the shadows," he responded, his words echoing my thoughts. Just as we were about to reach an area with more light, we suddenly heard a loud shout.
"Damn," Storm cursed, looking back, and I did the same. "That was Kyle. We probably need to go back," he said, and without hesitation, he grabbed my hand, and we sprinted back in the direction of the shout.
When we returned, we were greeted by a gigantic cursed creature, its form continuously shifting and changing. The sight was awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time.
"What is that?!" I exclaimed loudly, my voice filled with shock, as I looked up at the towering figure. When nobody responded, I turned my attention to the others. Kyle had a wounded arm, Dylan was kneeling on one knee with his sword stabbed into the ground, using it as a makeshift staff to maintain his balance. Storm, who stood beside me, was locked in a fixed gaze, seemingly recognizing the figure.
"Storm," I called out to him, tapping his arm gently, but he remained frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the creature. As I followed his gaze, I realized that the possessed figure was indeed familiar, but I couldn't seem to pinpoint who it was. So, I looked back at him, hoping he could provide some clarity.
"That's... That's Lin..." he spoke, still transfixed by the scene unfolding before us. I redirected my attention to the creature, now fully aware that it was Lin who was being consumed by the possession.
"Wait... I no longer understand what's happening here. They say that only the red hour can possess a cursed individual, but we haven't witnessed any signs of the red hour. Yet, both Lin and Cassandra have been possessed. I can't make sense of this anymore. What exactly is going on?" I voiced my frustration, my eyes fixed on the deteriorating state of Lin as her possession grew stronger. Her shouts had transformed into monstrous roars.
"I'm certain he's involved in these extraordinary events," Storm murmured, his voice audible only to me. When I looked back at him, I noticed his fists were clenched tightly, a sign of his growing anger and determination.
"What should we do, Storm?" Kyle, now standing beside us, assisted Dylan in walking, despite his own bleeding arm.
"What exactly happened?" Storm inquired, his gaze shifting between the two wounded men.
"She seemed perfectly fine when the two of you left, but suddenly... She was possessed and attacked us. We have no concrete understanding of what transpired," Kyle explained, his injured arm tightly pressed to control the bleeding.
I instinctively began tearing the lower part of my shirt to create bandages, but Storm's hand stopped me abruptly.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone serious, and I looked up at him, determined.
"I'm going to wrap his wound," I replied, brushing his hand away and continuing to rip my shirt, now transforming it into a makeshift crop top.
"Are you trying to show off your skin here, young woman?!" Storm's irritation was evident, but I ignored him and proceeded to wrap the torn fabric around Kyle's wound.
"What about you?" I turned to Dylan, prepared to tear another piece of my shirt, but he simply removed his own shirt.
"This will do," he replied as he began wrapping it around his wounded right foot. However, as I observed that he wasn't doing it correctly, I took the bandage from him and wrapped it myself, ensuring it was done properly.
"Now you're not listening," Storm continued to complain, expressing his frustration.
"But they're wounded. I couldn't just look away from that," I replied to him, defending my actions as I finished wrapping Dylan's wound. Storm shook his head in response, and then he surprised me by taking off his cloak and carefully placing it on me. I was shocked by his action and couldn't move for a second, overwhelmed by the gesture.
"You guys better stay here," Storm changed the topic, diverting his attention to Lin, who was now possessed by her own demon.
"Guess I'll have to deal with her," he added with a tone of sadness and disappointment.
"Will you also kill her?" I asked, looking down at the ground, just as he was about to leave. He turned back to me, offering a faint smile, but as I observed his eyes, I could see the profound sadness within.
"What choice do I have?" he uttered in the most despondent tone I had ever heard from him.
It was evident that this was another burden he was unable to escape. I wondered about the weight he carried on his shoulders, how heavy it must be for someone like him. I couldn't tear my gaze away any longer, feeling a mixture of empathy and admiration for him.
"I'll help you," I suddenly said as I held his arm, observing that he was taken aback by my actions and unable to respond immediately. After a few seconds, he regained his composure and shook his head.
"I can handle it myself," he reassured me with a smile, gently holding my hand and slowly removing it from his arm. He held it for a few more seconds before giving it a squeeze and letting go.
"Please listen to me," he added in a pleading tone.
"But this is too much for you to handle. I'll help, whether you like it or not," I stubbornly insisted, walking ahead of him towards Lin, who was now fully consumed by her own demon.
"You just won't listen, will you?" I heard Storm's voice, but I ignored him as I retrieved the gun I had picked out earlier from the basement. I positioned myself, holding the gun, hoping I was doing it right despite never having held one before. However, I was startled when Storm's hand gently guided my posture. He stood behind me, as if giving me a back hug, but he was solely focused on positioning me properly.
"This is a gun loaded with a sleeping bullet. Each bullet contains 1500 mg of a powerful sedative. However, Lin's demon is covered with unnecessary fats, so it's best if you target the neck, which is the most sensitive area. Are you sure you can do this?" he explained, almost as if he was trying to convince me that this wasn't the right course of action.
"Yes, I'll help you in any way I can," I affirmed, determined to assist him despite any doubts he may have had.
As I stood there, gripping the gun tightly, I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, and my heart raced with a mixture of fear and determination. Lin, now completely consumed by her own demon, writhed and twisted in unnatural ways, emitting guttural growls and sinister laughter. It was clear that she was no longer herself.
With Storm's guidance still lingering in my mind, I focused my aim on Lin's neck, the vulnerable spot he had pointed out. I hesitated for a moment, questioning the morality of my actions, but then I remembered the danger she posed and the lives at stake. This was the only way to save her and the others.
Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I squeezed the trigger. The gun emitted a resounding bang, and the sleeping bullet shot through the air with remarkable speed. Time seemed to slow down as the bullet found its mark, piercing Lin's neck with precision.
In an instant, the possessed figure convulsed and collapsed to the ground, her demonic presence dissipating. The room fell silent, and a collective breath of relief filled the air. I looked at Storm, whose eyes were filled with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow.
"We did it," he whispered, his voice laced with both relief and grief. "Thank you."
I nodded, feeling a bittersweet sense of accomplishment. It was a necessary act, but it weighed heavily on my conscience. We had saved her, but at what cost? The burden of taking a life, even one corrupted by a demon, was not easily shrugged off.
Storm approached the possessed Lin with a heavy heart, his voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination.
"Die," he uttered, his words carrying a weight that echoed through the area.
As the word left his lips, a transformation began to take place. The once towering, monstrous figure of the possessed Lin started to shrink and contort, its shape twisting and warping. It seemed as though the very essence of the creature was being stripped away. Slowly, it began to crumble, turning into ashes that danced in the air.
A gentle breeze swept through the area, causing the ash to scatter, carried away by the wind. The remnants of the creature, once so powerful and menacing, now faded into nothingness. The air filled with a sense of relief and release, as if the darkness that had held Lin captive had finally been eradicated.
Storm stood there, his eyes fixed on the fading ashes, his expression a mix of weariness and quiet triumph. It was a bittersweet victory, for we had succeeded in freeing Lin from the clutches of the demon, but the toll it had taken on us all was evident.
"She... wasn't attacking us..." I muttered, still shocked by what had happened. As I observed the events unfold, it became clear that she wasn't even attempting to harm us. She didn't even try to avoid the bullet, even though I knew for sure she could have easily escaped. Why? Why did she allow us to... kill her? Especially when she was completely consumed by her own demon.