Atam stirred in his sleep. Someone was shaking his shoulder.

It was dark, and when Atam opened his eyes he could barely make out a face looming over him. Before he could make any noise, he felt hands clamping over his mouth. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he realized it was Juhn. Juhn removed one hand and raised an index finger to his mouth, his eyes warning Atam to keep quiet. Atam brushed Juhn's hands away and sat upright, sighing sharply.

"What's going on?" he whispered. Juhn gestured around the room. Atam noticed the other beds were empty.

"They dared Silomon," Juhn said. "They dared him to climb the clock tower."

Atam blinked. "And so what? What's going on?"

Juhn huffed, frustrated. "So he's doing it! Now!"

For a second, Atam was absolutely motionless. Then he shot up from the bed and grabbed Juhn by the collar, his fist flying into the air. Juhn squirmed, his arms flailing in front of his face.

"You need to stop him!"

"Shit," Atam hissed, shoving Juhn away. He grabbed his jacket and threw it on over his pajamas. 

Atam and Juhn ran down the staircase. They ran through the halls until they burst through the heavy double doors, the cold night air hitting their faces and seeping through the thin material of their clothes. They circled around the side of the building, weaving through a line of rosebushes. Thorns snagged at their pajamas and Atam kicked his legs through a stubborn patch, tearing the fabric. His heart was pounding faster and faster as they moved. They trampled through the bushes before rounding a corner, stopping when they finally saw the others.

The other boys were crowded outside in front of the fountain, huddled under the shadow of the old clock tower. They were staring up, their faces highlighted by the moon. Their expressions varied. Some were gaping in amazement, while most of them looked nervous. Atam recognized Devid, who looked struck by terror. He felt Juhn jabbing him in the side, pointing up to where they were all staring.

Atam felt a chill run down his spine when he looked up at the clock tower. Silomon was up there on the roof of the turret, clinging to the cross that extended from its peak. Atam shoved past the other boys until he was standing directly below.

"Get down from there!"

Silomon shifted, taking one hand off the cross, waving. Suddenly, a large cloud moved across the sky, blocking the moonlight for a moment. There was a terrible scream as Silomon lost his grip and fell. The scream was followed by another sound, one that Atam would never forget, as Silomon reached the ground.