Internally, I felt a sense of suffocation. It's difficult to believe that someone would have the motive to murder the principal, especially considering that the elderly man didn't seem to have any haters. When the police arrived to investigate the incident, it turned out to be less eerie than what we had anticipated. We were instructed to vacate the school premises and refrain from returning until further notice.

Consequently, we found ourselves sitting on
the deserted sidewalk, engaged in a conversation about the situation. I had already shared the details of what I discovered in the principal's office, as well as the peculiar aspects surrounding Lucas. As a result, we made the decision to monitor his activities by observing his residence.

"Who was present after you left? Did you witness—"

"I already said no! Stop prying, Clay. I'm genuinely freaking out. I know I knocked him out, but I..." She pressed her fists against her cheeks, and I offered support by grasping her shoulder. "Take a deep breath, Jo. I believe you're innocent, but I also believe that the culprit isn't just an ordinary person."

"A psychopath, maybe?"

"Even worse. Oh, hold on. Before we arrived, Travis was there."

"Are you implying he's involved?"

"I'm not sure. He's usually more interested in chemistry and computers, not mythology. Especially after skipping class."

"Unless... unless he's being haunted by a spirit and he thinks it's paranormal," Clay suggested.

"Wow, yeah. That could be a possibility." Joey's mood brightened as she brought up potential suspects. "So what's the plan? Should we confront him?"

"What do you suggest? Walk up to him and say, 'Hey, Travis, is there a creepy ghost following you?' and expect him to admit it?" I interjected sarcastically, fully expecting them to reject the idea.

"Um... yeah?"

"Fine. Let's take the risk, then." Clay joined in, but I wasn't convinced by their plan. Just as we were about to stand up, we noticed Austin gazing at us with an unsettling expression just ahead. We all froze in place, fearing that he might have overheard our conversation.

"You guys were there when he was killed?! What type of conspiracy are you guys working on?!" His face had already been paled and backed a few steps, as if ready to tell everyone. Why didn't we see him?

"No no Kens wait!" Clay yelled with terror.

"I'm gonna tell everyone!"

"I swear it wasn't us. And yes it's true we brought the principal to the library but we had our own reasons and it was with hell bent good intentions. His murdered body had caused the same confusions in us as in everyone." I defended instantly.

"What reasons ? Wha-what intentions? I-If you don't tell me now then I-I will tell ev-everyone!" he widened his eyes and threatened shamelessly. Why does it gets so complicated?

"FINE. Then listen. We are haunted by dead people's spirits and we just needed the student's file!"

Clay's panic was evident in his frosty demeanor, and his words tumbled out uncontrollably as I widened my eyes.

He was so enraged that he seemed on the verge of fleeing the scene, but Austin grabbed his elbow, preventing his escape. I noticed the astonishment in Austin's eyes, and it gave me a suspicion, as if he believed something unexpected.

"Whatever you just said, it wasn't metaphorical. Right?" he lowly uttered.

"Wh-why? "

"Is there really a ghost siding with you everytime? Is it true? Is it happening with everyone?" He professed almost as if we four had the same situation.

"No. No! Why are you being so supernatural? It's not true!" Clay's reaction was overly exaggerated , but I empathized with his emotions and understood what he was experiencing.

Austin nodded dully and turned to move away without any question and that caused suspicion in the air. At the moment, I grasped onto a possibility and called out to him, "Is any spirit haunting you? And no, it's not metaphorical. Just answer."

"As if I will say yes and you will believe. " He scoffed bitterly.

"I will." I stepped towards him, "I will because I may be in the same ball game." His mouth fell open but breathed out with a stare as if he couldn't believe what I had just said," You're kidding right? I mean, you mean that there is really a dead person's soul is with you? It-It's not possible!"

"Seems like we four are in the same kettle of fish."

"What do you mean Beca?" Clay asked.

"Austin's being chased by some spirit just like us."

"Wait, so I'm not the only one? " He emitted a contented chuckle, expressing a profound sense of relief.

"OMG, whose spirit?" Joey joined in.

"M-My grandma."

"Since when?" I inquired gently.

"At my age of 13. Like she's lit but extremely bothersome and excessively loud." He paused, "Is this happening with everyone?"

"No. Just six people." I claimed.

We proffered him to join us and in reluctancy, he stated his bizarre explicits with his obnoxious grandmother and vice versa from our side. We even told him abaout Lucas and it looked like we weren't the only one suspecting him.

"About Lucas - indeed he is super creepy but now that we know about the multiuniverse, I really don't take him as human."

"So what say? Give his home a visit?" Joey exclaimed.

"Looks OK, but we also need to find out about Travis. Like dude, he was reading the Mapuche mythology and it's all about spirits and ghosts."

"That nerd? He too?" Joey seemed disgusted.

"Not sure about that but we are gonna need as many mates for this mystery to be clarified."

Collectively, we reached a consensus to pay a visit to Travis, with the hope of uncovering the truth from him. Joey somehow knew his address which created a fit of mockery from Austin and Clay but anyhow that was not the most important thing right then.

"Wha-what are you guys doing here? How do you know my-"

"Listen up munchbag. We are here for serious investigation in which you will answer honestly or else your face will be reshaped." Joey menaced him directly and barged into his house without permission while I turned to Trav apologetically, "Please mind her, she's just_"

"Just sensitively strong and menacing. I know. A-and I don't think you need permission to get inside anymore. Come in." He said sarcastically and motioned us to get inside.

What I found more interesting was about Joey and Travis; their set of words towards each other made it look like they knew other for a long time. But then again, there were more important matters to be concerned about.

The dark walled house was serene but isolated with two rooms. We sat on the scandinavian and I nervously rubbed my palms on my thighs before asking, "Take us as weird but be honest, were you reading Mapuche Mythology because there's an odd spirit trailing you?"

"Woah,how did you know? Is it-" he stuttered.

"So you really have a spirit stuck in your lame ass?" Joey jumped out of her seat and widened her eyes with real tensity. Travis gulped and lowered his head muttering, "Yes. My parents."

That's how it makes six spirits among five of us. That's it.

-

"So you guys think that Lucas is behind the principal's death?"

"That's what we need to figure out from his house. I mean at least we can get something informative." Clay shrugged.

"Let's get going. I don't have the whole world's time in my hand." Austin complained which made me irked, "Neither us. So stop behaving like you are the duke of this town."

"Whatever."

"But wait. Do we really need to bring him with us?" Joey frowned pointing his thumb towards Travis. I sighed and repeated my words, "Just as I said, we are gonna need as many mates for this mystery to be clarified."

Soon enough, we headed to Lucas's home according to the photo of the student file where the address was written. It was a long journey and the sun was already set with the night sky aglow with bright city lights, which soon withered away as we went more away from city. According to the map, we were in a silenced road surrounded by dark trees on either sides. The barking of faraway dogs broke the silence of the ghostly night but there wasn't any dog spotted yet, which made it seem more bizarre.

We all got out of Travis's convertible and stood side to side , widely staring at the uncanny domicile standing in front of us. We got into the front lawn but the house literally seemed deceased and vacant; accompanied by some sort of silence that symbolized a hopeless black void.

Seems like we had a lot incoming.