The weekend arrived before Dante knew it.
His school days remained mostly uneventful, though his evenings had become much busier than before.
His relationship with Jennifer progressed quickly after the Low Shoulder concert.
They met privately several times during the week and usually spent hours together in his car or away from their families.
Whatever happened during those late-night meetings remained between them.
After one particularly long evening, Jennifer rested against his shoulder with a satisfied smile.
“You’re getting very good at making things exciting.” Dante wrapped an arm around her and answered with complete seriousness.
“Practice makes perfect.
A good driver should always make sure everyone reaches the destination safely.” Jennifer laughed and lightly struck his chest.
“You’re impossible.” Despite spending time with Jennifer, Dante did not neglect Carrie’s training.
Whenever he returned home, he helped her practice controlling her telekinesis inside the living room.
Several wooden blocks rested on the coffee table while Carrie stared at them with intense concentration.
Tiny drops of sweat formed near her forehead as one block slowly rose into the air.
“Remember what I taught you,” Dante said from the couch.
“Decide exactly where you want it to go before you move it.” Carrie took a slow breath.
“Don’t force it with raw power,” Dante continued.
“Imagine your mind reaching out like a hand.
Lift the block gently and place it where you want.” The floating block shook twice before settling on top of another piece.
Carrie maintained her focus and raised a second block.
Then came a third.
Within several minutes, a small castle stood in the center of the table.
Every piece had been placed without Carrie touching it once.
“I did it!” Carrie turned toward Dante with excitement shining in her eyes.
He gave her an approving thumbs-up.
“That was excellent.
Your control is improving much faster than your strength.” Carrie’s cheeks turned pink beneath his praise.
“You really think so?” “I know so.” Dante gestured toward the completed structure.
“Anyone can throw something when they’re angry.
Building something this carefully requires real skill.” Carrie looked back at the castle with quiet pride.
Not long ago, her abilities had seemed like proof that she was a monster.
Now she could use them to create something without fear.
Saturday morning arrived beneath a bright and cloudless sky.
Dante reached the Derry movie theater five minutes before ten and waited near the entrance.
He had arrived early because he wanted to see exactly how the new Maria would approach their date.
Airam had already proven that she behaved nothing like the timid girl trapped behind the mirror.
At exactly ten o’clock, she appeared at the end of the street.
Airam wore a burgundy dress beneath a black leather jacket.
Black boots completed the outfit while her slightly wavy hair rested loosely across her shoulders.
Light makeup sharpened her features and made her confident eyes appear even more intense.
She looked less like the frightened Maria Brennan and more like someone prepared to challenge the entire world.
Dante watched her approach.
“You’re very punctual.” Airam stopped in front of him and examined his clothes as though judging whether he had dressed well enough for her.
“I don’t like waiting.” “I arrived five minutes early to make sure you wouldn’t have to.” Dante placed his hands in his pockets.
“It seems I wasn’t important enough to make you arrive early too.” A faint smile appeared on Airam’s lips.
“I arrived at the agreed time.
That means I’m perfectly punctual.” Dante accepted the answer and gestured toward the theater.
“What are we watching?” “I thought you would decide.” He raised an eyebrow.
“You invited me.” “A date involves two people,” Airam replied.
“I handled the invitation.
You can prove your value by arranging the rest.” Dante glanced toward the movie posters displayed outside.
His attention settled on a showing of The Cabin in the Woods.
“How about that one?” Airam followed his gaze and examined the poster.
Dante expected at least a moment of hesitation.
Most people would not choose a horror movie for a first date unless they wanted an excuse to sit closer during the frightening scenes.
Airam only looked bored.
“It seems childish.” “You haven’t even seen it.” “The monsters on that poster look like they’re trying too hard.” She looked toward Dante again.
“But if you want to watch it, I’ll allow it.” Her tone made it sound as though an adult had agreed to sit through a children’s cartoon.
Dante rubbed his nose and remembered that Airam had spent most of her existence trapped inside a mirror.
A horror movie would not frighten someone who was already a supernatural entity.
They purchased tickets and entered the dark theater.
Dante chose two seats near the center while Airam carried a large container of popcorn and a soda.
The film began after several previews.
As the story unfolded, the audience watched a group of college students arrive at an isolated cabin without realizing that technicians were controlling everything beneath them.
The theater remained quiet during the slower scenes.
Airam ate popcorn with steady interest while Dante studied her reactions from the corner of his eye.
She showed no fear.
When the Buckner family rose from the ground and attacked the cabin, several people in the audience gasped.
A girl sitting nearby immediately grabbed her boyfriend’s arm.
Airam continued chewing as though she were watching a documentary.
One of the undead killers suddenly burst through a window with a loud crash.
The sound caught Dante off guard and made his shoulders tense.
Airam noticed at once.
Her fingers lightly touched his arm as she leaned closer.
“Are you scared?” “It was a tactical reaction.” “A tactical reaction?” “I was preparing to defend myself.” Airam released a quiet laugh.
She moved closer until her breath touched the side of his face.
“If something that simple frightens you, then you may not be as interesting as I thought.” Dante could smell the faint fragrance of her hair mixed with the sweetness of the popcorn.
Airam’s teasing carried a confidence Maria had never displayed.
He leaned slightly away and looked directly into her eyes.
“Maria wouldn’t act like this.” Airam’s expression did not change, but a cunning spark appeared in her gaze.
“Do you prefer the way she was before?” Dante remained silent.
“Or do you prefer me like this?” The question was far more direct than he expected.
The original Maria had been timid and painfully insecure.
She inspired sympathy and made people want to protect her from the cruelty surrounding her.
Airam was the opposite.
She was fearless, aggressive, and dangerous enough to attract attention even when every instinct warned people to remain cautious.
Dante refused to give her the answer she wanted.
“I’m only curious about what caused such a drastic change.” Airam took a drink from her soda and turned back toward the screen.
“People change.” “Not usually overnight.” “Perhaps Maria finally became tired of being weak.” Her words sounded casual, but Dante noticed that she had spoken about Maria as though referring to someone else.
He did not confront her immediately.
Airam was far more likely to reveal the truth if she believed he was merely curious.
The rest of the movie passed without another serious conversation.
Airam occasionally mocked the characters for making foolish decisions while Dante pointed out that horror movies would end quickly if everyone acted intelligently.
When the credits finally began, they left the theater with the rest of the audience.
Bright sunlight struck Dante’s eyes after nearly two hours in darkness.
Airam adjusted her leather jacket and looked toward the street.
Dante glanced at her.
“Where to next?” [Chapter Rewards]