Ellie Parker didn’t expect anything exciting to happen that Wednesday afternoon. School was boring as usual: math quizzes, gossip in the cafeteria, and trying not to fall asleep during history class. When the final bell rang, Ellie was at her locker, chatting with her best friend Mia.
“I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Ellie said, shoving her science textbook into her bag. “I need to stop by the bathroom first.”
The hallways were super quiet now since most kids had already left. Ellie pushed open the door to the girls’ bathroom, the hinges squeaking loudly. She washed her hands and glanced in the mirror, zoning out a bit, when the light above her started flickering. It made this annoying buzzing sound too, like it was about to give out.
“Great,” Ellie mumbled. She turned to leave, but when she grabbed the door handle, it didn’t move. She tried again, jiggling it harder this time. Still nothing.
“Hello?” Ellie called out, knocking on the door. “Is someone out there?”
No response. Pulling out her phone, Ellie groaned when she saw the dreaded “No Signal” message. Figures. The school’s walls were like a black hole for cell service. She took a deep breath and told herself not to freak out. The door was probably just stuck. Someone would find her soon, right?
Leaning against the sink, Ellie tried to think of a plan. That’s when she noticed something weird. The mirror started fogging up, even though it wasn’t humid in the bathroom. Slowly, words appeared on the glass, like someone invisible was writing them with their finger.
“Help us remember.”
Ellie’s heart started racing. She blinked, thinking maybe she was imagining it, but the words stayed there. She reached out to touch the mirror, but as soon as her fingers got close, the writing faded away.
“Okay, this is officially creepy,” Ellie said, her voice shaking.
Suddenly, the stall doors creaked open, one by one, even though nobody was there. Ellie’s stomach flipped. The air in the bathroom felt colder, and faint whispers started echoing around her. At first, they were jumbled, like a broken radio. But then she started hearing actual words:
“We were here… forgotten… find the book…”
“Find what book?” Ellie asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Who are you?”
The whispers stopped, leaving the room so quiet it made Ellie’s ears ring. She tiptoed to the stalls, peeking inside each one. They were all empty, except the last stall. On the toilet seat sat an old leather book, looking totally out of place in the modern bathroom.
Ellie hesitated before picking it up. The cover was plain, except for a little symbol of a tree. When she opened it, she saw rows of handwritten names and dates. Some were from over a hundred years ago. Next to each name was a short note:
Emily Carter, 1923 — Vanished without a trace.
Lillian Moore, 1947 — Disappeared in the east wing.
Sarah Collins, 1985 — Never made it home.
Ellie’s hands shook as she turned the pages. Her stomach dropped when she saw the last entry:
Ellie Parker, 2025 — Still here.
“No way,” Ellie whispered, slamming the book shut. “This is some kind of prank.”
“You’re close,” a whisper said, startling her. “Find the key.”
Ellie’s eyes darted around the room. “Key? What key?” she asked. Her gaze landed on the air vent near the floor. It had always been there, but now it looked… different. She crouched down and peered inside, spotting something shiny. Using a bobby pin from her pocket, Ellie unscrewed the vent cover. Her fingers brushed against a small, cold object. A key.
Standing up, Ellie gripped the key tightly. “Now what?” she muttered. The whispers started again, guiding her to the mirror. As she held the key up, the glass rippled like water, revealing a hidden keyhole.
Ellie’s gut told her not to do it, but she couldn’t ignore the pull of curiosity. She slid the key into the lock and turned it. The mirror glowed softly, and when Ellie looked again, she wasn’t alone.
The room was filled with ghostly figures of young girls. They all looked at Ellie, their faces kind but sad. One by one, they whispered “Thank you” before fading into the light. When the last girl disappeared, the bathroom door creaked open.
Ellie stepped into the hallway, clutching the book. Everything seemed normal again. The whispers were gone, and the air felt lighter. She looked down at the book, now blank except for one message:
“Never forget those who came before.”
Ellie never told anyone about what happened, but she kept the book hidden under her bed. It felt important, like a responsibility. Weeks later, her curiosity got the better of her. She opened the book, flipping through its empty pages. To her surprise, new names started appearing, glowing faintly before settling onto the paper. Ellie froze when she recognized the names. They were people she knew: classmates, teachers, even Mia.
On the last page, instead of a name, there was a new message: “The key is yours to protect. Choose wisely.”
Ellie realized this wasn’t over. The book wasn’t just about the past—it was connected to the future too. She had a job to do, whether she liked it or not. And she knew one thing for sure: she’d never look at the school bathroom the same way again.
The next morning, Ellie couldn’t stop thinking about the book. At lunch, she watched her classmates, wondering if they had any idea what was going on. She felt like she was carrying a secret too big for her eighth-grade shoulders. Mia waved at her from across the cafeteria, and Ellie forced a smile. How could she explain what had happened without sounding insane? The book pulsed in her backpack, like it was alive and waiting. Ellie had finally made up her mind: she’d figure out what the book wanted her to do, no matter what.