The next evening, the air felt different. Clouds hovered low, and the school building looked darker than usual—even though it wasn't that late.
All ten girls had stayed back after extra classes. Their plan was clear.
"We're going back to the science lab," Prajwal said seriously. "We need to see what she was hiding from."
"Also, I want to see that spot where they said she… you know," Akshara whispered, hugging her bag tightly.
"Died?" Anushka added with a weird grin. "Don't worry, if she jumps out, I'll throw my notebook at her."
"Not funny, Anu!" Rutuja squeaked.
Swarali rolled her eyes. "We agreed not to joke too much. Let's focus."
Akshada had brought a torch from the school's lost-and-found box. "I feel like a detective."
"More like Dora the Explorer," Apurva smirked.
Srushti, who rarely smiled, chuckled quietly. "You guys are impossible."
The girls reached the second floor and stopped outside the science lab.
"Locked," said Swara, gently trying the doorknob.
"No worries," said Akshada, pulling out a bent hairpin. "I've seen this in movies."
"You're not picking a lock with that—" Srushti began, but to everyone's shock, the lock clicked open.
"See?" Akshada grinned. "Told you."
The lab smelled of chemicals and old dust. The desks were still arranged in rows, and glass beakers stood on the shelves like forgotten soldiers.
Swarali switched on her phone's flashlight. "So where did she hide?"
"Maybe behind the cupboard?" suggested Apurva, pointing to the old wooden one near the back window.
Rutuja walked over, hands shaking a bit. She slowly pulled the cupboard forward.
A gasp escaped Akshara.
There was a name carved into the wall.
Niyati.
And under it, small scratched lines—like tally marks.
"She counted days," Swara whispered. "Maybe how long she hid here?"
"That's so scary and sad," said Anushka, suddenly serious.
Srushti stepped forward. "Look, there's something else."
A crumpled paper lay near the base of the cupboard. She picked it up and read aloud:
> "They'll be sorry. One day, they'll know. If I'm gone, remember I didn't want this."
Everyone went silent.
"Maybe… she was pushed to end her life?" asked Akshara, her voice shaking.
"No. What if she never left?" Anushka whispered dramatically.
Before anyone could reply, the classroom lights flickered—twice.
Prajwal's heart skipped a beat. "Did someone turn on the lights?"
"No… the main switch is off," said Apurva.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the storage room attached to the lab.
All ten girls screamed.
"Run or check?" asked Akshada, clutching her torch.
Swarali took a deep breath. "We're already here. Let's check."
They slowly walked toward the storage door.
Swara reached for the handle—and it opened on its own.
Darkness greeted them.
But something else too.
A smell.
Of smoke… and burning.
"Fire?" asked Rutuja, panicking.
"No. Something… old," said Swara, covering her nose.
Inside, it was cramped with broken shelves and dusty boxes.
Suddenly, Prajwal pointed. "There's something glowing."
On the far wall, a faint red handprint glowed in the dark.
Everyone stared, frozen.
"Guys," Swara said slowly. "That wasn't there last time."
They didn't know whether to run or cry.
But one thing was sure now…
Niyati's spirit was awake.
And it wasn't done yet.
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