3

Damien's heart pounded in his chest as he turned and sprinted down the hall, his footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls. The school was eerily silent, a stark contrast to the monstrous creature baying relentlessly at his heels. His mind raced, his desperation growing with every corner he turned. He knew he couldn't outrun this beast; his only hope was that his friends - Nicholas, Miles, Peter, anyone - might be in their dorm.

As the ancient school's corridors blurred past him, he propelled himself towards his dorm, throwing himself up the stairs with an urgency that defied gravity. Miles and Peter were standing in stunned silence as he burst into the room, their faces paling at the sight of the monstrous creature snarling at their doorstep.

"Kill it! Do something!" Damien's voice cracked in terror.

Quick as a flash, Peter yanked the rug from under the creature, sending it sprawling to the floor with a loud crash. Miles was next, the air around the creature warping, condensing with an energy that sent shivers down Damien's spine. The beast screamed, its frail body contorting violently before it collapsed in a defeated heap.

"What?" said Miles, smirking at his stunned companions.

They retreated to their dorm, their conversation hushed and frantic as they grappled with what to do next. The decision was made for them when Miles, standing at the window, spotted a horde of similar creatures approaching the school. Despite the dread clutching at his heart, Damien couldn't suppress a grim smile.

"See? I wasn't lying."

Without wasting a moment, Damien charged out of the dorm, his friends' protests ringing in his ears. This was his chance to prove himself, to face this horror alone. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and exhilaration as he tore through the old wooden door and found himself facing an army of the creatures, their grotesque figures illuminated by the ominous glow of the approaching dawn.

The battle that ensued was a blur. Damien moved in a daze, his mind saturated with lessons from Carson, adrenaline fueling his every action. With a swift motion, he halted time, buying precious seconds to plan his attack. He used his powers to open a portal, redirecting the fireballs hurled at him by the creatures back towards them, incinerating them in a burst of flames.

Yet, he couldn't keep this up forever. Exhaustion clouded his thoughts, weakening his defenses. A sharp claw swiped at his leg, its pain bringing him back to reality. Cornered and on the verge of despair, he stumbled over a log pile, the monstrous creatures encircling him.

Just as he braced himself for the end, a blinding light erupted from the doorway of the house. Carson had arrived, his powerful magic sending the creatures into a frenzy. Amidst the chaos, Damien found the strength to stand, watching in awe as Carson, Miles, and Peter systematically brought down the monstrous horde.

In the aftermath, they were met with a mixture of relief and accusations from the roused students. Despite his heroic efforts, Damien was shunned and blamed, a fact that stung more than he cared to admit. Yet, the bitter taste of rejection was overshadowed by the sight of Elizabeth, arm-in-arm with Nicholas. His heart dropped, the harsh reality sinking in.

Carson's voice pulled him back from his spiraling thoughts, the older man offering him a thin sliver of comfort. "You realize, don't you, Damien, that none of these kids would have been able to even attempt a defense against creatures such as these," he said, gesturing at the fallen monsters. His eyes softened, and he joined Damien on the wet grass. "I know the feeling," he murmured, sharing a quiet moment of understanding with the young man whose world had just been turned upside down.