The man forgotten by them

In the twilight of the night, the full moon rose with a cruel and slow majesty, casting unsettling shadows over the school campus. Hours had passed since León, the young man who had been captured and tied up, was moved to the meeting room. This space, designed to accommodate up to 200 people, was now filled with a mixture of parents, teachers, and the principal. They had all been summoned to witness what they hoped would be a heroic act to save León from a presence they considered evil and foreign to his body.

The principal, with a face marked by concern and determination, stood up in front of the crowd. His voice resonated in the large hall, which seemed even more vast in the charged atmosphere of tension.

Principal: "This is your classmate, student, friend," the principal began, his words imbued with solemn regret. "I would say he is like a son to us if his parents were here. But they are not; they are out of town. Therefore, I ask those classmates who wish to join in rescuing their friend to step forward."

The silence that followed his words was overwhelming. No one moved. Despite the principal's words, not a single student stirred. Parents and teachers, disappointed and angry, exchanged glances. Benjamín was the only one who stepped forward without hesitation. He was ready to go save his best friend, but his bravery seemed underappreciated by the majority. Some even laughed at the situation, pleased that León was in such a state.

However, when it seemed like Benjamín was going to go alone, a voice rose from the crowd.

Pato: "Hey, if you move a little, I can get there. Come on, man, I want to help too!" said Pato, with a confident smile and a determined tone.

Pato, a 1.69-meter tall boy with short hair and a carefree attitude, began to make his way through the crowd. He removed his hood and, with a smirking smile, looked at the others. His expression clearly conveyed what he thought of the cowardice of those present.

Amidst the crowd looking on with a mix of concern and disdain, someone appeared who few would have expected. Jamal was known for his cold demeanor and cruel jokes, and he was not the type of person one would associate with heroic acts. This young man, standing at 1.67 meters, had short hair dyed a bright yellow as a result of a recent party where he had let himself indulge in fun and extravagant dyes.

While the majority remained still and did nothing, Jamal stepped forward with a defiant attitude. Seeing the gravity of the situation, he thought that if León were awake, he would have been the first to help without a second thought. But instead of expressing his true thoughts, Jamal decided to use an excuse that fitted his known style.

With a mocking smile on his face, Jamal casually put on a glove, as if the situation were a game to him. His voice had a touch of disdain as he spoke, clearly trying to downplay his intervention.

Jamal: "Don't think I'm doing this out of kindness," Jamal said, with a sarcastic tone. "I'm only doing it because he owes me some money."

Though his words were cold, the simple fact that he had offered to help changed the atmosphere slightly. The tension in the room became more evident as more people began to engage in the rescue. The full moon, high in the sky, continued to watch silently, as if it were a distant witness to the complicated situation unfolding. Jamal, with his carefree attitude and biting humor, added an unexpected touch to the mission of saving León, making it even more unpredictable.

Just like Jamal, another young man made his way through the crowd, smiling calmly. This boy, who was 1.70 meters tall, had short but messy hair, the result of his usual lack of care for his appearance. Seeing that the group willing to help was too small for a rescue of such magnitude, he decided to intervene.

Julian, with a relaxed attitude and a smile on his face, addressed the crowd as he approached the group preparing to act.

"Come on, don't get ahead of yourselves," Julian said in a carefree tone. "You're not the only ones who want to help a classmate."

With those words, Julian made it clear that he was not the only one willing to participate in the rescue. His calm entrance and relaxed attitude added a new layer of confidence to the group, which desperately needed more hands to face the challenge ahead. The full moon, still high in the sky, continued to watch as the rescue team began to take shape and the atmosphere in the room filled with a mix of nervousness and hope.

After Julian's entrance, the room returned to an uncomfortable silence. The tension was palpable, and the four members who had already volunteered for the rescue looked at each other, frustrated. They felt disheartened to see that there were no more volunteers, especially as they themselves were doubting what they were going to do. The lack of courage from others contrasted painfully with the risk they were willing to take.

In the midst of this charged environment, a cold and firm voice emerged from the crowd. The woman who spoke approached with determined steps.

"God, it seems that if I don't come, it will be hard for you to meet the standard of a rescue team," Sasha said, her tone relentless and direct.

Sasha, the only woman on the scene, was known for her ability to intimidate anyone, despite standing only 1.67 meters tall, having long white hair and not having a particularly muscular body. Her severe appearance and ruthless attitude were enough to make others feel uncomfortable. Despite her size, she had proven capable of confronting any challenge, even physically if necessary.

She joined the team because, although León sometimes seemed a bit stupid to her, he had always been kind to her. León would often seek her out to play cards, tell her nonsense, and make jokes that made her laugh. His genuine kindness and effort to make her smile had left an impression on her. So, seeing that the rescue team was incomplete and that the others' commitment was insufficient, she decided to join.

With the arrival of Sasha, the five-member team was complete. The full moon continued to illuminate the sky, silently watching as these five, now united in a common cause, prepared to face the challenge ahead. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of determination and nervousness as the group braced themselves to confront the unknown with the goal of saving León.

After the director thanked the brave souls who had joined León's rescue, he asked the others to make space. These were Rosario's instructions, who was about to initiate the ritual to enter León's mind. But something unexpected happened: Shadow woke up, his fury palpable. He knew exactly what they were trying to do and began to unleash a nauseating and terrifying aura that filled the room with an almost tangible fear. Although his presence was oppressive, the five who had volunteered to help León held onto their determination, challenging the darkness that surrounded them.

The tension became unbearable as Shadow, with a roar of rage and despair, shouted:

"HOW DARE YOU, YOU FUCKING BASTARDS?! THIS IS MY BODY, MY WORLD! EVERYTHING HERE WILL COME TO AN END ANYWAY! WHY ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO RETURN HIS BODY TO A USELESS PERSON?!"

His words about the end of times caused confusion and a collective chill. Nothing so disturbing had ever been heard before. Shadow's maniacal laughter and sadistic smile added an even more sinister touch to the situation. His behavior became increasingly psychopathic, a terrifying spectacle that left some in the room feeling a knot in their stomachs.

Rosario, with a look of cold determination, approached from behind. With a precise and calculated motion, she hit Shadow hard with a pipe, knocking him unconscious. Then she turned to the group and, with a tone that mixed sarcasm and dark humor, said:

"Sorry, you drained my mate, and I always wanted to do that. But well, it's time to start the ritual. Get ready."

While Jamal laughed with a nonchalant attitude, the others were restless, concerned about the potential harm to León. The situation, despite Rosario's seemingly light-hearted words, had an ominous air. They looked on anxiously, fearful of the unknown and what might happen.

They positioned themselves in front of León, each taking Rosario's hand, which would serve as a bridge between the world of the soul and León's mind. They all prepared to recite the words of the ritual, knowing they had to follow three crucial rules.

Rosario explained with a mix of seriousness and dark humor:

"First, do not touch the memories, no matter how horrible or painful they are. Let them run their course, or you might destroy León's memory forever. Second, when you reach the nexus of the mind, you must choose which path to take. Only one of you can cross. If you all cross, it could become very complicated, so I do not recommend it. And third, although you can use cognitive imagination in this different plane from the real world, do not abuse it. You could die, or worse, be expelled with physical damage from León's mind. Understood?"

The five nodded, firm and determined, as they united in purpose and prepared to enter León's mind.

What no one could foresee was the horror brewing in the shadows. Out of sight and beyond the reach of their senses, a dark and sinister crack began to form in the air, as if space itself was tearing apart with a terrifying creak. The crack slowly expanded, revealing within it an abyss of pure and malignant darkness. From inside, two shadows, shaped like spectral hands, tried to force their way through the fissure. A hissing murmur and gargles from unknown creatures resonated from the crack, filling the air with a symphony of terror that increased the unease. The darkness emanating from the portal seemed to devour the very light, heralding a horrifying presence that was approaching.