Like a child being taken to an amusement park or given that stuffed animal she'd been eyeing for long; this was how it regularly felt whenever Justine went to her favorite place–museums.

"Wow, the filters and photos it has online don't do this venue any justice in person!" This would be the reverse version of those Instagram versus Reality thingy, the museum wasn't just aesthetic, it was beyond gorgeous! Justine's ebony eyes shone with delight whilst she stood there near the entrance.

Going to museums had been a favorite hobby Justine never grew tired of, back in high school and elementary she knew most classmates weren't fond of field trips to boring exhibits, they would rather be in lively settings like malls or carnivals and sure she liked those too but nothing could ever make Justine's eyes shimmer like museums do.

Justine felt the vibration of her phone in her skirt pocket, pulling it out she pressed the virtual green button. "Annacake perfect timing, look! This place rocks!" Her voice was loud enough to get a bit of attention from someone who was walking past by.

On the other line of the video call was a glasses-wearing brunette, "Seems like it, girl, you are glowing!" A broad grin sculpted on Anna's face and turned into laughter. "You're like a freaking light bulb sometimes! How is it that you get more thrilled there than the numerous mixers our college mates made you attend?"

The mention of mixers got Justine's face scrunching up as if she ate bitter gourd. "Are you seriously comparing that to this paradise?!" Her visible eye-roll and pretend angry expression caused Anna to laugh again. Afterward, Justine also joined in on her friend's sniggering. "But for real though, I wish you were here, you'll love it and going to make your Pinterest board look ten plus better"

A sigh from the young woman on the other line, "Girl, we talking about Museum De Celestial Rose here, if I can only ditch this freaking project today and travel there ASAP I will." Anna moved her phone camera to show a barely-finished charcoal drawing behind, lying on the table. "Can you take pics on my behalf too, please? Get more shots for the two of us so we may indulge in them whenever we run out of creative juices"

Justine chuckled, she waved at her friend. "I will don't worry, focus on your assignment, I'll see you tonight"

"You like museums, miss? Sorry I did not mean to appear so sudden, I just got curious." A tall grayish-blonde man with glasses walked up to her, looking casual and neat in those long brown coats, white turtle neck, and pants. He gave Justine a small polite smile to show that he meant well.

Both of them stood out, lively figures against an aged backdrop–Museum De Celestial Rose was a long abandoned and old exhibit, not to mention it was also located at a rough neighborhood and streets with quite a notorious reputation–given the crime rates and delinquents roaming during wee hours of night. But despite its location's notoriety, this museum had been in Justine's top list to go to for this year, willing to risk the distance from home and the creepy glances thrown her way earlier.

She pocketed her phone, beaming unpretentiously to the man. "Hi, yes I do, this is the sixth museum I've been to and it's not yet even the quarter of this year!"

"Same here, I was really glad to see someone visit Celestial Rose today I thought I would be heading inside alone and even if it's early morning, I'm quite bothered about the hauntings and ghost stories about this place but if you don't mind me asking, what exactly do you like about going to museums?" He asked curiously.

They walked inside the open doorway leading inside the old exhibit, tall Greek stone pillars and walls with intricate designs–each detail here and out spoke of years, As far as Justine could remember Celestial Rose was built earlier than all the houses, roads, and stores outside. It remained ancient in a setting catching up with the modernization.

She shrugged as she let her ebony eyes roam and immersed in the high curved ceilings. "It's relaxing, I always think museums or exhibits are venues that connect the past to the present...and even the future. It's like time freezes and I get to know about important occurrences where I wasn't around–what?" Then she noticed that the stranger was staring pointedly at her, his pale blue eyes were glassy and shining.

"Apologies, the way you speak genuinely about this...it's so passionate and your smile is contagious" He finally blinked and stopped staring.

The dark-haired woman felt warmth pooling on her cheeks, "Thanks, most of my classmates in the university would have said differently. We're taking fine arts but not everyone likes what I'm into and I'm not forcing them though..." Her words trailed off as she tore her gaze away from the blonde man momentarily and the fluffy warmth in her chest from their interaction was replaced by wonder.

Is that...a girl? What is she doing here? There standing near a dark corner, barely noticeable at first glance was a teenager–she was somewhat hidden in the obscured corner and Justine wouldn't have noticed if not for the hair color and clothes.

The girl was too far for her to see the face but she assumed she would be around 18 or 19 years old, years younger than Justine. But that hair, it was such a snow shade, and seen, was that a natural color? The girl was also barefooted and her dress appeared dirty white.

Justine blinked and the girl was gone. That's strange... "Hm?" She belatedly realized the blonde man was calling her. "I'm sorry, I thought–"

"No worries, I was saying my name is Joneil and you are?" Joneil repeated without losing his friendly smile.

The brunette took his hand and gave it a light shake, "I'm Justine! By the way, do you know if bystanders or children roam here?"

"Inside? Oh no, they never. Very rare that people would dare venture and stroll inside this museum" Joneil explained as they began walking again, their footsteps and voices were echoing. "A lot of residents nearby believed it was haunted and cursed, that sometimes they'd hear strange sounds at night or screaming. There was also a piece of news last year about a vlogger who came here with his friends and girlfriend and they were never seen again"

"Not even in the morning?"

"No, if you will ask some elders who were born around here, they will say that the haunting never stops at night. But sometimes I think it's just fear-mongering so many thrill seekers will visit this area and get their bad reputation gone"

At this Justine nodded in agreement to Joneil, the number of mysterious disappearances and killings is too high in this area and mostly they couldn't be explained. "Maybe they just need to have better security here or some curfews..."

There were still paintings and a couple of displays left in Celestial Rose, crafts made by one person alone, and that artist based on what Justine found online also ended up going ballistic, unhinged in the worst ways possible. Gosh, this museum could have been at par or better than the Louvre but it became its antithesis and was listed as top haunted locations in the world.

"So...after everything you know, you still find this relaxing?" Joneil had a playful smile on, breaking their comfortable silence for minutes.

Justine chuckled lightly, "Yes, I am this firm and solid about my passion here–oh fudge! I need to take pictures!" She took her phone out, taking as many shots as she could, and then–

"Hey! Easy there!" Joneil was able to catch the brunette's phone which she dropped with both hands and caught her from behind before she could fall. "What's the matter?" He asked, puzzled.

Pale and fright sculpted on Justine's face, she pointed at another dark hallway on their left where they could make out the shape of two closed doors and a dark red dusty carpet. "Did you see her?" She pointed her finger in the corridor.

Joneil furrowed his brows, "Sorry who?" He saw no one but the two closed doors.

"There was a girl earlier, I saw her when we were talking..." She straightened up and took the phone from Joneil's hand, "I swear I've taken a shot–" To Justine's dismay, her device remained blacked out and no longer turning on. "What in the world?"

"Justine, you must be seeing things, this is like older than the olds and what I shared with you is probably making you imagine stuff" Joneil frowned.

No, it wasn't her imagination, the girl was standing in the middle of the dang corridor–it didn't look like a hallucination! "I am not making things up! She was standing there!"

To conclude it was a rebellious teen pulling a prank on them was easier to believe, that perhaps this kid found it hilarious to give these outsiders random scare in the morning but Justine felt an unusual cold crawl on her skin, a part in her mind opposing the lousy thought about being pranked.

Reaching a hand to her chest, Justine felt her heart drumming loudly against its ribcage. Get out of there! Now! Go! Before it's too late! These words were jumbled, mixing in her head but with one thought line–leave Museum De Celestial Rose ASAP.

A hand gently placed on Justine's shoulder, pulling the woman out of the rambunctious erratic, and intrusive thoughts. "Justine?" Joneil called.

"I'm sorry I g-gotta go..." Justine lifted her gaze to meet his and was met not with Joneil's pale blue eyes but a pair of murky dark reddish brown ones, those lips curved in a polite smile grinning widely revealing sharp rows of large fangs protruding through the skin above his lips.

Joneil saw the sheen of terror gleaming in those ebony eyes and thrill danced within him seeing it flare. "Why don't we stay for a bit? I will make sure no one hears you"