It all started on the day after his birthday. His mom surprised him when he got home, with a small little cake, candles, and some party streamers. He didn’t expect it. His mother never really had the time or money to do anything grand for his birthday, but that was fine with him. She even got him a new watch, with a smooth face, as his old one was broken. At the time, it felt like the greatest thing in the world. And it still does. Milo wished he could say something else to her, or thank her for everything she’s done and sacrificed for him. Now, it’s too late. 

“Mommm I’m gonna go to Kali’s house,” he shouted as he started out of the door.

“Be home soon. It’s a school night,” she replied, but he was already out the door. He should’ve stayed longer, telling her how much he loved her. 

He rode his bike over to his best friend Kali’s house. They had been friends for as long as he could remember. They did everything together as well. When he got to the porch, the door opened and there was Kali’s mom, wearing an apron. 

“Hello Milo, sweety. Come in, Kali was just getting ready. While you wait, have some cookies I just made,” she said to him warmly. 

Milo smiled and thanked her, and went in to sit on the counter, the sugary aroma of the cookies engulfing him. He ate some of the soft and moist feeling cookies, the chocolate melting on his tongue. He made some more small talk with Mrs. Whitlock when Kali came down the stairs. 

He jumped off the counter, thanking Mrs. Whitlock once more, and saying, “Is it okay if Kali and I go out for a bit? We won’t be out too late,” giving her one of his most charming smiles. She agreed with a smile. 

Milo was pulling up to the place he was taking Kali. He was taking her to an abandoned children’s orphanage, which was originally called “Sunnyside Keep”. It was where the poor children went if anything happened. Kali was obsessed with this stuff. She’s been interested in them ever since their school took them to something similar a while back. She would visit a million times. It was an old-looking building with four white pillars at the entrance. It looked like it was a pretty big place, with lots of space in it. It has two levels, and a little balcony on the front. There was a sign above it that says “Sunnyside Keep” in bright yellow letters. If it was occupied, it wouldn’t have looked like a hungry beast waiting to devour them. 

Kali squealed in delight when she realized where she was. “Is this the one I just read about? Omigosh you are the best!!!!!” she gleefully as she wrapped her arms around him. Milo noticed the necklace that was around her neck. It was a necklace that he personally bought for her, a heart with a K+M inside of it. He blushed as he realized she still wore it daily. He wished he appreciated it more, while he still had time. 

They got out of the car, taking flashlights, water, and masks just in case anything happened. Milo had been taking Kali to abandoned buildings ever since that trip they took in school. For Milo, however, they had always creeped him out. The idea of being in a place where lost children went, ones without parents kinda creeped him out.  But he would do anything for Kali just to see her happy. 

By now it was dark outside. He promised his mom he would be back early, but that thought was out of his mind now. The place was even creepier now that they were up close. The white pillars stood out strikingly against the brick walls. 

Kali turned her flashlight on and smirked at Milo. “Scared already?” she teased. 

Milo scoffed and shook his head, denying the fact that he knew was true. “Only babies would be afraid of a little children’s orphanage. Let’s just get this over with,” he said even though his hands were shaking. 

She shrugged and walked up the steps to go into the building. She messed with one of the locks on the doors but eventually got it off. Milo didn’t want to know how she got it off. Kali pushed the door open while it creaked with protest. Inside they were met with the sight of a decently sized room, with a desk and the center of it and stairs on either side of the room. 

It looked as if it had been unoccupied for decades. That was probably the case. The powdery smell of dust filled their senses as they slipped the masks on. They stepped into the room, shining a light on everywhere in the room. It definitely had the eerie feeling that Milo still couldn’t get used to. 

SLAM. The door slammed shut behind them. Milo and Kali whirled around, shining their lights on the door. Kali ran up, trying to push it back open. She raised her head after fiddling and pushing the door, her chest heaving. “It’s locked,” she said. “We can’t get out.” There was fear on her face, something Milo had never seen before. 

She tried to keep the situation positive, giving Milo a half smile as if she was trying to cheer him up. “Guess this is the forces telling us we have to keep exploring,” she said. He slightly nodded, not wanting to speak as he wasn’t sure if his voice would work. 

She gently pushed him, steering their way to one of the grand staircases. They started up them, waking the stairs up with a groan. There was a fine layer of dust on everything they saw. As they neared the top of the stairs, they heard something. Not something you would expect to hear in an abandoned building. It was a scratching sound as if someone - or something was dragging something on the wall. Milo grabbed Kali’s hand. I can only act brave for so long Milo thought. He hoped Kali would understand. 

She nodded, holding on tight to his hand. She gently pulled him forward, whispering calming things. They entered a hallway, one that looked long. They were on a mission now. Surely there was something that was neglecting them from leaving, and they had to find out what it was. 

They wandered the halls, hearing eerie noises every once in a while. They explored a total of 5 rooms so far. The rooms they saw seemed normal, as odd as that was. They saw a playroom, with old-looking toys. Wood horses, wood dolls, wood everything. They came across a door. Kali opened the door, expecting to find just another room with desks in it or something. Instead, she found a spiraling staircase. She glanced at Milo, who gave a nod, and they descended down the stairs that were like a cold winter trapping them. They slowly went down the stairs, the musty smell of sewer meeting their noses. They went down all the way, and what they found intrigued both of them.

It looked to be a small chamber, with a bed, nightstand, and wardrobe. It was trashed. Papers everywhere, drawers open, everything. CRASH. Glass was knocked off the table. Milo and Kali slowly turn around to see something, no two somethings staring at them. 

Kali screamed the noise awakening Milo from a daze he was caught in. He stepped in front of her, and asked calmly, “Who are you?” in one of the politest and calmest tones he could muster, given the circumstances. 

“I’m Nehemia,” the female-looking one said, biting her lip. I didn’t think they would be so young. 

“And I’m Rowan,” the other one, a male replied. They both looked around the age of 8, way too young to be considered dead and ghosts. They don’t know what they’re getting into he thought as he sighed. 

“What are you and why are you here,” Milo demanded.

“We are ghosts who once resided in this orphanage. We are going to help you get out. Please, follow us,” they both said in unison as they opened the door. 

Kali and Milo looked at each other, unsure if they should trust the two ghosts or not. But since they were trapped in an abandoned orphanage, they decided they should just trust the two. Looking back, Milo wanted to pinch himself a million times for that grave mistake. They went up the winding staircase, and back into the main building of the orphanage. Since they both knew nothing of their current escorts, they decided to make small talk. 

“Soooo,” Kali started. “Where exactly are you taking us?” It didn’t seem like they were going anywhere in particular. They were going to places that neither of them had seen before. 

“You’ll see when the time is right,” said the female one, Nehemia in her soft, airy voice. 

Well, that’s reassuring Milo thought. Everyone stopped in their tracks when they heard an interesting sound. It was a person singing. Or at least it sounded like one. It was an odd type of sound. It wasn’t very loud, but very echoey, and sounded like it came from the left side of them. Milo and Kali glanced at each other, not sure what to do. They both decided to ignore it since none of their companions were mentioning it. 

Milo tried to keep track of the turns they were taking, but it was like a labyrinth. He didn’t know that the building was that big. It seemed fairly big from the outside, but huge when you got in it. They took two more turns, and then they entered a room with no doors, except the one they came out of. The room was fairly big, with beds lined up on either side. On the far wall, there was a picture of a volcano erupting, and people running away. In the center, there was a small figure crouching down. 

“Finally,” said a small and quiet voice. “Took you two long enough. Guard the door.” So unorthodox.

The two ghosts behind Milo and Kali drifted to stand by the door, not allowing them to get out. Kali and Milo shared a glance, unsure of what was happening. 

“Do you know why you are here?” said the small voice once more. She let out an airy laugh. “No, of course, you don’t. Let me try and dumb it down for you. I am Aelin, one of the children that used to be at this orphanage. That was before it got bombed. Would you like to hear the story of why I and my two friends are still here? Why we are trapped without release, destined to forever stay in the place that has scarred us?”

She didn’t let them reply. She went on. “You see, I was sent here because my parents abandoned me. They decided they couldn’t stand to raise me and left me like trash at this orphanage. It was nice at first. Everything was so perfect. But then, I realized how unperfect it was. We would be trapped in our rooms, given no food for days, maybe even weeks if we misbehaved. Our home was a prison. Each week they would take someone into the place that hides beneath the building, and we never saw nor heard of that child again. It’s a horrid place, and now I’m doomed to live here until I fade away. Unless. Unless I take the lives of two innocent children. Then we can all be free,” she ended with a hopeful sigh.

Kali and Milo gaped at each other, not quite sure what was happening. Without warning, something blasted them back and they were on the ground. The small figure that has no distinct features suddenly turned and was standing above them. Milo grabbed Kali’s soft hand, unspoken words between them. 

“Kali, I’ve loved you to the moon and back. Please, don’t leave me,” Milo gasped as he could feel the life fading from his body.

“No,” Kali whispered. “Keep your eyes open, please.” He’s gone.

It was too late. The last thought he had was about his mother, and the watch he was still wearing on his wrist. Then it went dark. 

Kali’s last thoughts were wise. She understood that they shouldn’t have trusted the ghosts. She died with regret.