Meanwhile, Yumna, Misbah, Amna Arshad, Minahil Asad, Zanib Gulzar, and Sadiya stepped through a glowing door. They arrived outside an old, abandoned orphanage near the Ice Garden. The wind howled through broken windows. Rusty swings creaked as if ghosts were pushing them.
Sadiya hugged herself. "Why is it always creepy places with us?"
Misbah whispered, "Because creepy places hide secrets."
Minahil Asad wiped snow off the broken sign that said:
St. Helena's Home for Lost Children
"Let's go in," Minahil said. "We have to see what's inside."
Zanib Gulzar touched the cold brick wall. "I feel old memories here… sadness… and like someone is watching us."
Inside, the orphanage smelled musty and dusty. Torn curtains waved in the icy wind. Every step on the wooden floor made a loud creaking noise.
Amna Arshad frowned. "Why does this place feel so sad?"
Yumna ran her fingers over a child's name scratched into a bedpost. "Kids used to live here… but where did they all go?"
Suddenly, a loud bang came from upstairs.
Sadiya jumped. "Okay, NOPE. I'm done."
Minahil took a deep breath. "No, we have to check it out. We can't leave without knowing the truth."
They climbed the wooden stairs slowly. Upstairs was a long hallway with lots of small doors. Each door had a nameplate and faded drawings pinned to it. Strange whispering sounds came from behind the doors.
Misbah peeked into one room and gasped. "Guys… look."
They all went inside. The walls were covered with children's drawings. All the pictures showed the same girl with black hair and empty eyes, standing under a black sun.
Zanib read some words written in red crayon on the wall:
The girl who remembers everything.
Suddenly, a freezing wind blew through the room. The drawings flew off the walls and scattered everywhere.
A small music box slid out from under a bed and began playing a soft lullaby. The music was sweet but also made them feel sad.
Amna picked it up and opened it. Inside was an old photo of a little girl hugging another child. On the bottom were the words:
My sister… Minha.
They all stared at each other in shock.
Sadiya whispered, "So… Minha was here?"
Yumna whispered back, "Maybe this place has the truth about her past."
The walls seemed to move like they were alive. Far away, they heard quiet crying.
Zanib closed her eyes and used her telepathy. "I hear voices… they're asking for help."
Misbah's voice shook. "We have to help them. We can't just leave."
Minahil stood tall. "Then let's keep going. There's something important hidden here. And we're going to find it."
Together, they stepped deeper into the darkness of the orphanage, ready to face whatever secrets waited for them.
To be continued…