Chapter 10

Jay took Ellie by the hand and started running. Ellie asked who that person was, but Jay didn't know either. They ran and turned corners, their footsteps echoing through the dark, eerie hallway. The person's demonic laugh reverberated through the space, sending chills down Jay's spine. He looked back several times and saw that the shadowy figure was still chasing them, her dark hair obscuring her face. Just as panic began to grip him, a door appeared in front of them. Jay grabbed the handle and flung it open, stepping inside.

Inside the room, he found himself in an ordinary classroom filled with students in the same school uniform he was wearing. The teacher stood at the front of the class, looking equally surprised. The students' eyes locked onto Jay, whispers quickly spreading through the room.

"It's that freak," someone muttered.

Jay barely heard them. He turned back toward the hallway, expecting the nightmarish figure to come through, but instead, he saw the brightly lit school corridor. The walls were clean, the windows weren't shattered, and there was no sign of the dark, decayed version of the school he had just seen. His breath was heavy as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

After school, Jay was about to exit through the school gates when Luna stopped him. "Hey, don't forget, I wanted to show you something important," she said.

Jay suddenly remembered their lunchtime conversation. Luna had told him about a place she believed was haunted, and she had asked for his help in communicating with the spirits. He hesitated for a moment, thinking about the strange hallucination he had experienced earlier. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he nodded.

As they walked, Luna provided some background. "The place we're going to used to be an all-girls school. It's abandoned now," she explained. "I used to go there. I loved it there. I had great friends. And I had a best friend, Iris."

As she described Iris—her pale skin, dark hair, and the uniform she wore—Jay's stomach dropped. It was the same girl he had seen in his dream. And the same figure that had chased him in the school hallway. He quickly composed himself before Luna could notice his reaction.

Luna's voice grew somber. "Iris had a rough life. Her dad was an abusive alcoholic, and her mom worked long hours. She was afraid to tell anyone what was happening at home because her father threatened her. But one day, she showed me her bruises."

Jay listened intently, his grip tightening slightly.

"I couldn't stay silent," Luna continued, her voice trembling. "I told a teacher. Her parents were called in. Her mom finally found out the truth, and they got divorced. I thought things would get better for her after that."

A pause.

"But a few weeks later, she stopped coming to school. Then, one day, I got a text message from her. It said: 'Thank you for being the best friend I could have ever asked for. But I guess it's time to say goodbye.'"

Luna took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I didn't understand what she meant. But then there was a loud thud."

Jay's heartbeat quickened. He already knew where this was going.

"Everyone looked out the window," Luna whispered. "Iris had jumped from the school roof. She was gone."

Tears welled in Luna's eyes. Jay hesitated before awkwardly pulling her into a hug. She clung to him, sobbing. "I just… I never got to say goodbye," she choked out. "That's why I brought you here. I want to know if she's still here… if she's okay."

Jay nodded. "You want me to communicate with Iris," he said softly.

Luna wiped her tears and nodded.

Meanwhile, Ellie stood nearby, her cheeks puffed up in jealousy. She crossed her arms, glaring at Luna.

When they arrived at the abandoned school, it was in ruins. The exterior walls were covered in graffiti, and shattered windows lined the sides of the building. It looked lifeless and forgotten.

"As soon as Iris died, the school started to lose students," Luna said. "Parents didn't want to send their kids here. Eventually, they shut it down."

Jay stepped inside, an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia washing over him. The dark hallways, the graffiti, the broken windows—everything looked exactly like the nightmare he had experienced in his school. His breathing grew uneven.

"So? Do you see her?" Luna asked eagerly.

Jay scanned the empty corridor. "No. This place looks abandoned."

They wandered the school, searching for any signs of Iris's presence. As they turned a corner, Jay suddenly felt a force push against him. He stumbled back, expecting to see someone, but the hallway had transformed.

The graffiti was gone. The windows were intact. The air smelled of fresh paper and chalk instead of dust and decay. The hall was filled with students in pristine uniforms, walking and talking as if this were a normal school day. It was like stepping into the past.

Jay's eyes widened in disbelief. "Luna… do you see this?"