Echo Hall

THE WHISPERS BENEATH

Aria's eyes fluttered open to a muted room. The soft red glow of observatory still bathed the South Wing in an eerie crimson hue. She sat up slowly, the blanket Lina had offered now folded neatly at the foot of the old couch - but there was no sign of Lina.

"Lina?" she called out.

Silence.

Aria stood, wrapping her arms around herself. The air was colder than before. She tiptoed toward the stained glass window, where shadows twisted along the floor. That's when she saw it - a silver of the wall behind the telescope had shifted. A crevice stood ajar, revealing a narrow passage behind the observatory.

It hadn't been here before. Every instinct screamed for her to walk away, to pretend she hasn't seen it. But something pulled her forward.

The hallway was narrow and damp, with rusted lanterns hanging along cracked stone walls. Her footsteps echoed too loud. At the end of the hall the walls gave the way to a spiral staircase curling downward into the darkness.

She hesitated..... then descended

The air grew heavy the deeper she went. She passed faded murals - students in old- school uniforms, hands raised as if chanting. But their eyes were blacked out their mouths sealed. She couldn't tell if it was dust or intentional.

A whisper touched her ear. She spun. No one. Another step. Whispers again. She broke a jog, heart thundering, when the wall to her left groaned and slide open - revealing a room filled with mirrors and flickering candles. One mirror was shattered, and it's reflection, she saw something move behind her.

She turned around.

Empty corridor.

And then .... a soft voice.

"You're not supposed to be here."