Derik was the first to stalk out when the last notes sung reached our ears.

“Usually this is when the ghost appears and kills people…” Richard whispered trying not to draw any attention to us in case the “ghost” had not noticed our presence yet.

“Shut-up! Maybe we’re not the only ones who decided to come. Hell it wasn’t like we kept it hushed when we decided to come. Someone could have decided to prank us.” Marshall cracked his fist and headed up the stairs. Richard lingered there on the steps a moment, hesitating whether he should follow through or take a page out of Derik’s book and leave.

“Damn it!” He rushed up the stair as quietly he could.

Opening each door as we went down the hall, checking that no one was inside ready to pounce and scare us to death.

At the end of the hallway a ladder was unfolded, hanging by a chains from the ceiling.

“Dude… Never go up into an attic! Never!” Richard grabbed hold of my arm.

“Let’s just leave!”

“And be a coward like Derik, he’s always just talk! I’m telling you someone ‘human’ is up there if anyone, there’s no ghosts! There were any before and there definitely aint any now!” Marshall pushed me away and went up the ladder first. It’s true the haunted house stories only started about a year ago; stories about a girl with silver hair that is often seen by the attic window…

“Marshall!” Richard called out in a hushed tones. A hand waved us up, but it was clear that Marshall wasn’t really focused…

I was next to climb up leaving Richard a nervous wreck as he decided to stay guard below… And what… Who I saw… Stole my breath away!

“You’re trespassing on private property.” A soft bell like voice spoke. She sat at the edge of the window sill the window wide open as her legs kicked the air. She didn’t even turn to look at us; just continued to stare out towards the sea and the moon that hung over it.

“You better leave before I call poli…”

“You’re trespassing too! So if you do call, you’ll be arrested as well!”

“Touché.” She said leaning backwards, her head upside down as she smiled at us. Her hair shimmered an ethereal silver in the dim light provided by the moon.

“But at least I’ll get away scot-free unlike you lot!” Her smile hinted with mischief for a moment.

“So… Mind telling us what you’re doing here?” Marshall asked while I still tried to find my stolen breath and my voice with it.

“Just relaxing, now, that is. Before now; was looking for the ghost that’s supposed to haunt this place!” Her grin widened and for a moment chills ran down our spines, Marshall was creeped out, I could tell, she looked like a murderer when she smile so wickedly, yet when she laughed seeing our faces pale…

“You should have seen your faces!” She fell backwards from her seat and plopped to the floor as she continued to laugh.

She got to her feet and dusted her dress. She was tall and lanky and eyes sparked with a hint of mischief under its gentle gaze she held us with.

“I’m Cairi Halbrook. Pleasure to scare you!” She bowed ballet style.

“Halbrook? So I’m taking you’re Jason’s sister?” I finally regained my senses.

“You know my brother?” She tilted her head.

“Yeah…”

“Well then…” Her shimmering green eyes darkened.

“Don’t ever tell him you saw me here! In fact don't ever talk to him about me!If you do, I’ll kill you!” She hissed, her sneer told me she meant every word she said as she stepped up to us and yanked at our shirt colors pulling us down, our eyes now level.

“Sure. Besides seeing as you’re a Halbrook telling him will only cause trouble for us!” Marshall snickered; taking out the packet if cigarettes from his back pocket along with a lighter.

“Mind handing me one?” She asked holding her hand out.

“How old are you?” Marshall said the cancer-stick balanced between his lips.

“Twenty-One.” She smiled and winked.

“You don’t look it! More like fourteen!”

“Oh please!” She rolled her eyes.

“Sorry kid, but I trust my eyes better than I trust your word!” the lighter lit up shadowing his face is an ghostly glow.

“So how old are you really?” Marshall asked his face serious now, instantly ‘curing’ his drunken façade. I always found it odd how he switched between ‘moods’ like now. From a drunk to cautiously ‘scared’ to the bravest amongst us and now the serious crimes detective. Guess this was what I meant to major in drama.

“Wouldn’t you like to know… Jason’s Twenty-Two, you’re younger than him and he’s protective of you, seeing as he took a gap year to look after you. So definitely younger than twenty, but, fourteen or older.” He summed up.

“You think you’re so smart. Very well, I’m Twenty, here Thought could pass for at least twenty-one though.” She took out her ID from out her dress pocket.

“Well, proof is proof I guess..." Marshall seemed shocked. 

"Technically speaking still nineteen, but okay twenty it is… Though you still look fourteen to me, girl!”

“So be it!” She snatched back her ID and passed right by us.

“Wait!” I called out, but why I can’t remember.

“Yes?” She waited for a moment and when she noticed that I didn’t actually have anything to say she stepped down the ladder.

“You!” We heard Richard bark, looking to each other for any clues.

Did Richard know this ‘girl’.