Chapter 13 – Part 1
Autumn's POV
Morning light spilled through the corridor windows as I pushed open the UIC clubroom door. A small shiver crept down my spine — maybe left over from the ghost talk last night, or maybe because the room felt colder than usual.
The decorations were still up from yesterday's Halloween photoshoot — paper bats dangling from invisible threads, fake spiderwebs catching light like silver threads, and in the corner... the Victorian dress we used, draped over a mannequin. The lace sleeves hung too still, like they were holding their breath.
Funny how yesterday it felt fun. Now it felt like it was watching us.
"Autumn!" Quinn's loud voice snapped me out of it. She sat cross-legged on the table, already eating donuts. "Look! I saved you the chocolate one. Because I'm a thoughtful angel."
I raised an eyebrow. "Angel? That's bold of you."
She gasped dramatically. "Wow. Betrayal this early in the morning?"
Rhea walked in behind me holding a tray of coffees. "It's not betrayal if it's just facts. Morning, everyone."
Then Dorielle slipped inside quietly, her notebook clutched to her chest like always. Theo and Liam followed a second later, deep in conversation about something I couldn't hear.
Liam stretched, stifling a yawn. "Okay, be honest — who else didn't sleep well because of the ghost rumors?"
Theo raised his hand immediately. "And before anyone asks, yes, I slept with my lights on. I have dignity, not bravery."
Quinn patted his back solemnly. "We support emotionally fragile kings."
Everyone laughed. The tension dissolved for a moment — but only for a moment.
I sat down, wrapping my hands around the warm coffee cup Rhea handed me. The heat felt grounding. Comforting. I needed that.
Slow footsteps. Curtain rustle. My imagination? Or…
"Do you guys think any of it could be real?" I finally asked. The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Silence.
Dorielle was the first to answer, voice soft but steady. "Rumors don't appear without something or someone starting them."
Rhea shrugged. "It might just be someone prank, no real ghosts. Hopefully."
Quinn leaned forward, wiggling her brows mischievously. "Well, someone *did* swear they saw a woman in an old Victorian dress staring through the science building window last night. Pale face. Long hair. Totally paranormal vibes."
My eyes immediately flicked to the mannequin in the corner.
Victorian dress.
Why did it suddenly look… closer?
The fabric shifted — just barely — a faint rustle, like someone brushed past it.
Liam noticed too. "…Did that thing just move?"
Nobody answered. Nobody breathed.
Then Quinn stood up, grabbed the club's disinfectant spray, and marched toward the mannequin like a knight charging into battle.
"In the name of all that is holy — BEGONE, SPIRIT!" she yelled, spraying floral mist everywhere like it was exorcism perfume.
I choked on my drink.
Everyone burst into laughter — loud, messy, dramatic. Exactly what we needed to shake off the chill.
Theo held his stomach, laughing. "Quinn! You can't just— holy spray isn't real!"
"It is if you BELIEVE it," she declared proudly.
I was still smiling when—
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
Three slow knocks.
So sharp the laughter died instantly.
We all froze.
Rhea walked toward the door, careful, quiet, like she was expecting something behind it.
She opened it.
No one.
Just silence and a hallway full of falling leaves.
"Okay…" Liam muttered, "that's creepy."
My stomach tightened. Something felt wrong. Not ghost wrong — but… someone's-watching-us wrong.
"There's something on the floor." Rhea knelt and picked up a folded piece of paper.
A note.
My heart thudded once, loud and heavy.
Dorielle leaned in, whispering, "What does it say?"
Rhea unfolded it.
Black ink. Uneven strokes.
> *"Not all rumors are lies.
> Avoid the east wing at night.
> Some things should stay buried."*
A chill wrapped around my spine.
Quinn slowly lowered her spray bottle. "…Okay. So this is, like, horror-movie territory now."
Theo crossed his arms. "We're… looking into this, right?"
I stared at the note. I wasn't scared — not exactly.
More like… pulled. Like something wanted us to follow.
Curiosity replaced fear.
Then determination replaced curiosity.
I nodded. "Yeah. we should investigate... now"