15

The night air was cold against my skin as I stood in front of Ridgeview High.
The building loomed like a shadow — silent, waiting.
Some part of me hoped this was just another nightmare. But deep down, I knew the truth:
This was where it all began.

Noah met me by the entrance, flashlight in hand. “You sure about this?” he asked.
I nodded. “I need to see it. I need to remember.”
He didn’t argue. He just pushed the door open, and we stepped into the dark.

The science wing looked exactly as it had that night — burned, broken, still carrying the scent of smoke and regret.
Each step echoed too loudly, like the building itself was listening.
When we reached the lab, I saw it — the spot where they’d found her.
Emily’s bracelet still glimmered faintly under the ash.

“I remember now,” I whispered.
We weren’t supposed to be there. Emily had discovered the emails — proof the school was testing a chemical that violated safety laws.
She confronted Ms. Miller.
And when the fire started… the teacher locked the door.

Noah shook his head, tears in his eyes. “She said it was to keep everyone safe. But she trapped her inside.”
The words hung in the air, heavy, unescapable.
And then, from the far corner of the room, a soft voice spoke.
“It wasn’t just her.”

The light flickered.
A figure stood in the doorway — pale, blurred, almost transparent.
Emily.
Her eyes weren’t angry. Just sad.
“You all left me,” she said. “But you came back. That means you’re ready.”

Then the lights went out completely.
For a moment, I felt peace — as if she was finally letting go, and so were we.
When the power came back, the room was empty.
Only her bracelet remained on the floor, glowing faintly in the dust.

That night, Ridgeview High stopped feeling haunted.
But the echoes will never leave us.
Because some ghosts don’t stay to hurt you.
They stay to make sure you never forget.