Chapter 22 – The Demon Bath & New Bond
Morning turned into mission mode real fast.
Section E didn't waste time.
Cin and Felix handled the "materials." Rory kept watch. Denzel and Calix mapped the timing like it was a military operation. Percy was… Percy—hyping everyone like they were about to win a world war.
Aries stood back, arms crossed, already regretting life choices.
Keifer?
Watching JJ.
Because the calm on her face right now wasn't peace.
It was strategy.
---
Operation: Demon Bath
Timing was perfect.
Section A had split—
Freya, Mica, Grace → girls' washroom
Kiko and the boys → boys' washroom
Cin whispered, "Now."
Felix climbed up near the water tank. "If I die, tell my story."
Rory: "No one will believe it."
"Just DO it," JJ said quietly.
Within seconds—
Red liquid poured into the tank.
Not too thick.
Not too obvious.
Just enough to look… wrong.
Very wrong.
They scattered back like nothing happened.
And then—
they waited.
---
The Chaos Erupts
First—
a scream.
High-pitched.
Terrified.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
Another scream followed.
"THE WATER—WHY IS IT RED—"
Running footsteps.
Doors banging.
Mica rushed out first, half-panicked. "FREYA—IT'S BLOOD—"
Grace almost slipped running. "I TOLD YOU THIS PLACE IS HAUNTED—"
Inside the boys' washroom—
"BRO WHY IS THE WATER RED—"
"KIKO DON'T TOUCH IT—"
"I DIDN'T—IT TOUCHED ME—"
Within minutes—
full chaos.
Students gathering.
Whispers spreading.
Cin leaned in dramatically near a group. "I heard this forest has a demon…"
Felix added, whispering just loud enough, "Anyone who disrespects the land… gets marked."
Rory nodded seriously. "It starts with water."
Percy whispered, "Then sacrifice."
JJ smacked his arm. "Shut up."
But the damage?
Done.
Fear spread faster than logic.
---
The Aftermath – Victory
By afternoon—
Section A was shaken.
Freya's group especially.
And quietly—
their stolen things started returning.
One by one.
Bags.
Snacks.
Blankets.
Everything.
And finally—
Snorlax.
JJ picked it up.
Checked it carefully.
Then hugged it—just for a second.
Keifer saw that.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't need to.
---
Something Unexpected
It should've ended there.
Victory.
Laughter.
More teasing.
But it didn't.
Because later—
JJ noticed something off.
Freya wasn't with her group.
Not arguing.
Not smirking.
Not being… Freya.
JJ found her near the back side of the camp.
Sitting alone.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Freya's hands were slightly shaking.
Her face pale.
Not from anger.
From fear.
JJ walked closer slowly.
Didn't announce herself.
Just stood there.
Freya noticed.
Quickly wiped her face. "What do you want."
JJ didn't answer immediately.
Then said simply:
"You're scared."
Freya scoffed weakly. "Don't start."
JJ stepped closer anyway.
Sat beside her.
Close—but not too close.
"That wasn't real," JJ said calmly.
Freya let out a shaky breath. "I know that."
Pause.
Then quieter—
"But it felt real."
That honesty?
That cracked something.
JJ looked at her.
Not as an enemy.
Just… as someone who got overwhelmed.
"Why'd you do it?" JJ asked.
Freya looked away. "Because I can."
JJ raised an eyebrow slightly. "That's not the reason."
Freya stayed silent.
Then after a long pause—
"…I don't like being ignored."
JJ blinked.
That… wasn't what she expected.
Freya continued, voice low now:
"You came here… and suddenly everyone revolves around you. Even people who never cared about anything."
JJ didn't respond immediately.
Freya laughed bitterly. "So yeah. I acted like a brat."
Silence.
Wind moved lightly between them.
Then JJ said:
"You could've just talked."
Freya scoffed. "I don't do that."
"Clearly."
That almost made Freya smile.
Almost.
---
The Shift
JJ nudged her slightly.
"Next time," she said, "don't steal my stuff."
Freya rolled her eyes. "Next time don't traumatize me with demon water."
JJ smirked faintly. "Fair."
A pause.
Then—
Freya looked at her properly.
"You're weird."
JJ shrugged. "I've been called worse."
"…you're not what I thought."
JJ replied calmly, "You're not either."
That was it.
No big speech.
No dramatic apology.
Just—
understanding.
Small.
Real.
Freya stood up.
"Don't think this means we're best friends."
JJ stood too. "Relax. I don't have that much energy."
Freya smirked slightly.
"…but maybe we're not enemies either."
JJ nodded once.
"Maybe."
---
Back at Camp
When JJ returned—
everyone noticed something different.
Percy squinted. "Why do you look… peaceful."
JJ sat down. "Because you're quiet for once."
"RUDE."
Keifer stepped closer. "Everything okay?"
JJ looked at him.
Then nodded.
"…yeah."
He studied her for a second.
Then just said—
"Good."
Aries watched from a distance.
Still protective.
But calmer now.
Because JJ?
She wasn't just fighting anymore.
She was choosing.
Who to fight.
Who to keep.
Who to understand.
---
Ending – New Bonds, New Balance
That night felt different.
Not chaotic.
Not tense.
Just… balanced.
Section E laughed like usual.
Section A stayed a little quieter.
Freya sat with her group—
but her eyes drifted once toward JJ.
JJ noticed.
Didn't react.
Just smiled faintly to herself.
And hugged Snorlax a little tighter.
Because for once—
she didn't feel like she had to fight everything alone.
And maybe—
just maybe—
not every enemy had to stay one forever.
________________________________________________________________________________
A/N
Hey cuties, 🥰 🧿
How are the chapters...??
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Pls comment I need to know if the story needs any correction or it's really getting boring...
Ik of its boring but wait until ten to fifteen more chapters...
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Author ~ CARE... ❤️