Chasing Ghosts

The night air was crisp as Jess and Leanna approached the genetics building, their breath visible in the glow of the streetlights. The campus had mostly cleared out, with only a few late-night stragglers heading home from the library or lingering outside dorms.

“You ready for this?” Leanna asked, pulling her jacket tighter around her.

Jess sighed. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She still felt uncomfortable in the clothes Hannah had picked out earlier—leggings, a fitted hoodie, and boots that made her feel way too tall. But at least it was better than spending another hour debating fashion. The real challenge lay ahead.

The doors to the genetics building were supposed to be locked after hours, but Leanna had already thought ahead. She pulled out a student ID and swiped it through the reader. After a beep, the door clicked open.

Jess raised an eyebrow. “You have access?”

Leanna shrugged. “I am a science major. Perks of the job.”

They stepped inside, the fluorescent hallway lights humming faintly above them. The building was eerily quiet at night, with only the occasional hum of a vending machine or the distant clatter of an air vent breaking the silence.

“This place is way creepier after hours,” Jess muttered.

Leanna smirked. “What, scared already?”

“Please,” Jess scoffed. “I’m just saying, if we do see a ghost, I hope it’s not the vengeful kind.”

Leanna pulled out her phone, checking the notes she had compiled. “Okay, so according to the rumors, this ‘ghost’ has been seen mostly on the third floor, near Lab 312.”

“Then let’s start there,” Jess said.

They made their way to the staircase, each step echoing in the empty halls. By the time they reached the third floor, the air felt different—colder, almost charged.

“This is it,” Leanna whispered.

Lab 312’s door was locked, but the small window on it revealed a darkened room filled with old equipment and stacks of forgotten files. It looked like no one had used it in years.

Jess tried the handle anyway. “Figures.”

Leanna glanced around before pulling a hairpin from her pocket. “Step aside.”

Jess blinked. “Wait, you know how to pick locks?”

Leanna gave her a mischievous grin. “I may have picked up a few skills.”

Jess folded her arms, watching as Leanna worked the pin into the lock. After a few tense seconds, there was a faint click.

“Got it,” Leanna whispered.

The door creaked open, revealing a stale, dust-filled room. Old lab benches were covered in abandoned papers, and a faint scent of chemicals lingered in the air.

Jess stepped inside cautiously. “Well, if there was a ghost here, I’d say he’s been living in squalor.”

Leanna ignored her, moving toward the file cabinets. She pulled open a drawer, flipping through old documents.

Jess wandered toward the chalkboard at the back of the room. Strange equations were scrawled across it, along with faded notes in handwriting that was both precise and frantic. One phrase stood out among the mess of numbers and symbols:

“The key is in the past.”

Jess frowned. “Leanna, check this out.”

Leanna looked up from the cabinet. “What is it?”

Jess pointed at the writing. “’The key is in the past.’ What do you think that means?”

Leanna’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. But if this ‘ghost’ really has been around for decades, maybe it’s a clue.”

Jess ran a hand through her hair, exhaling slowly. “Looks like we need to do some digging. If this guy is real, we have to figure out who he is—and what he knows about that potion.”

Leanna nodded. “Agreed. But first…”

A sudden sound made them both freeze. There was a faint shuffling noise that came from the hallway. Jess and Leanna exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“Tell me you heard that,” Jess whispered.

Leanna swallowed hard. “Yeah. And I really hope it’s not security.”

Jess turned toward the door, pulse quickening. “Or worse. The ghost might’ve just found us first.”