That morning, Zelia arrived at school feeling different. Ever since the night Alena had pointed toward the old building, she hadn't been able to settle down.
The whole way there, she kept wondering what had really happened in that place.
Why did Alena want her to go there?
Why was she the only one who could see that figure?
And what had the school been hiding all these years?
As soon as she reached the classroom, Rani noticed the change in Zelia's expression.
"You're still thinking about yesterday, aren't you?"
Zelia set down her bag.
"Yeah."
"Still about Alena?"
Zelia nodded.
"I think she wants me to look for something in the old building."
Rani was silent for a moment.
"You want to go there?"
"I have to find out the answer, Ran."
"But I heard that place was closed a long time ago."
"I know."
"Then what if something happens?"
Zelia looked at Rani.
"I'm scared too. But if I keep avoiding it, I'll never know why she came."
Rani sighed.
"You really are stubborn."
Zelia gave her a small smile.
"But you're still coming with me, right?"
Rani stared at her, then let out a soft laugh.
"Yeah. I don't know why, but I feel like if I don't come, you'll recklessly go by yourself."
They both laughed softly.
After school let out, they didn't go home right away. They waited until most of the students had left the school.
The old building stood at the back of the school, far from the main building. It hadn't been used in a long time because it was considered unsafe.
The path leading there was overgrown with weeds.
"This place really looks like no one ever comes here," Rani said, looking around.
Zelia stayed silent.
The closer they got to the building, the stronger the strange feeling inside her became.
It was as if the place knew her.
The building's front door was dusty and slightly damaged.
Rani tried the handle.
It wasn't locked.
"Seriously? I thought this place was supposed to be closed."
Zelia stepped inside slowly.
The inside of the building felt colder than outside. The smell of old wood and dust filled the room.
There were old tables covered with cloth, a faded bulletin board, and several photographs still hanging on the walls.
Zelia walked slowly, looking around.
"Wait."
Rani stopped.
"What is it?"
Zelia pointed at one of the walls.
There was an old class photo hanging there.
It was the same photo they'd found before.
But this time, it was clearer.
In the back of the photo, Alena could be seen standing alone.
"That's weird," Rani said.
"What?"
"In the photo we found yesterday, Alena looked like she was standing far away. But here..."
Rani moved closer.
"It's like she was deliberately hiding herself."
Zelia studied the photo.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from the floor above.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
They both turned toward it.
"Did you hear that?" Rani whispered.
Zelia nodded.
They slowly climbed the stairs.
Every step made the old wood creak.
When they reached the second floor, they saw a long hallway lined with several empty rooms.
"Do you think we should keep going?" Rani asked.
Zelia looked ahead.
"I think we've already come too far to stop now."
They walked down the hallway.
Finally, Zelia stopped in front of a door.
For some reason, she felt that this door was different from the others.
There was a small carving on the front.
The letter A.
"Alena," Zelia whispered.
Her hand slowly touched the doorknob.
When the door opened, a rush of cold air immediately spilled out of the room.
It turned out to be a former storage room.
But one object caught Zelia's attention.
A small wooden box sat on the table.
As if it had been deliberately placed there for someone to find.
Zelia moved closer.
"Don't tell me..."
Rani looked at the box.
"What?"
"I feel like this is meant for me."
Rani fell silent.
"Zel, are you sure you want to open it?"
Zelia took a breath.
"I have to."
When she opened the box, she found several old letters and a small necklace inside.
Zelia picked up one of the letters.
The writing on the front startled her.
For whoever can see me.
Zelia's heart began to beat faster.
Rani read it too.
"She knew someone would be able to see her?"
Zelia slowly opened the letter.
It contained only a few sentences.
If you're reading this, it means I've finally found someone who can hear me. I don't want to scare anyone. I just want the truth about what happened to me to be known.
Zelia's hands began to tremble.
Alena really had been waiting for her.
Not to frighten her.
But to ask for help.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps outside the room.
They both fell silent.
"Who's there?" Rani whispered.
There was no answer.
The footsteps drew closer.
Zelia quickly closed the wooden box.
The room's door slowly moved.
Someone stood behind it.
Not Alena.
Someone who was still alive.
A man stood there with a serious expression.
"You shouldn't be here."
Zelia and Rani were startled.
"Who are you?" Zelia asked.
The man looked at the wooden box in Zelia's hands.
"You found something that belonged to Alena."
Zelia studied his face.
"You knew Alena?"
The man was silent for a long time.
Then he answered in a quiet voice.
"I was the last person to see her before she disappeared."
The room immediately fell silent.
Zelia tightened her grip on the letter.
At last, she had found someone who might know what had really happened to Alena.
But from the look in the man's eyes, Zelia felt that part of the story was still being hidden.