“All of you are bedridden by the time you arrived here, right?” I ask and they nod. So that leaves me with a lot of ways to open the door. Since the chair strategy didn’t work, I need to try opening the door without force.

I’m not sure if the room has a hairpin but I read somewhere that I can use that to open doors. I open the closet and the drawers, but I did not find anything. “Don’t you guys have a hairpin?” I ask. They shake their heads. I sit on the chair. If Lucas was here, he will think of a way to get us out. I miss him so much. I just want him to knock and open the door. I want him to save me again, but that is impossible. A soul cannot touch anything. Also, he is nowhere to be found so I guess that leaves me alone here to die.

I close my eyes as I think. I did not realize that I already fell asleep. When I wake up, it is already morning. Maybe someone will pass by and hear me. I try calling from the other side but no one seems to hear me. “Hello! Help me!”

A few more hours passed, I can feel my stomach grumbling because of hunger. I cannot remember the location of the room as I was not really paying much attention when I came. I sigh and get my bag. Hopefully, there is something that I can use right?

All I have is my wallet, keys, and makeup. As if those can help. “I’m very sorry” Daisy says and sits across me. “It was my fault. Lily became like this because of me. If only I did not have cancer, maybe she will be---“ I cut her off with a fake smile. “No one knew she will become like this.” I didn’t lie, I do believe that Lily is just some weirdo with issues but I am just sad that I have to through this when I just wanted to earn money.

“You have a nice wallet.” One of the ghosts says and points at my wallet. I smile, “thanks” I then pause as I remembered something. I have a card here that I can use! I open the wallet to get my ID. I stand up and try opening the side of the door. I have no idea what I am doing but I’m hoping that the lock will click or something.

“Oh! I know how to use that.” Another ghost says. “But I cannot touch it” he adds. I take a deep breath, I want to feel hopeless until I remembered something.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Daisy asks me as I prepare the ritual. I nod. “I do not have any other choice.” My grandmother told me that a soul can enter my body. But I should only let the soul stay for a couple of minutes or there is a chance that I will not get my body back.

I lay down the red strings from my bag. Then, I get some strands of my hair. I take a deep breath and lay on the strings, making sure that I am in the center of the symbol. I tie the strands of my hair to my wrists so I can go back to my body. “You only have a few minutes.” I say to him and the ghost nods. “You will save us when the door opens, right?” Daisy asks. As much as I want to say no, these ghosts helped me. I nod and smile, “it’s a deal”.

I can remember that my grandmother told me to never do this ritual. As much as I want to avoid it, I know that this is the only way I can escape. If I end up becoming a wandering soul, I will just find Lucas and ask Rose to look after my mom. But if I do survive this situation, I will make things right by helping Lucas solve the attack that happened to him.

I close my eyes as I hope that things will be okay soon. After a while, I can feel my soul leave my body. It feels like an astral projection. I am watching as the other ghost enters my now soulless body. I am nervous but I have to put my trust in him. He immediately stands up, gets the card, and heads to the door.

In just a few minutes, the door is opened. The ghosts cheer happily while my body turns to me to smile. Somehow, I feel happy to experience this. Being a soul feels like becoming one with the wind. I am light and free. Although no one can see me, at least I do not have to worry about my daily problems. I can escape the world without worries.

Who am I kidding? Even if I like enjoying this feeling, I am not ready to become a ghost. Hell, I know no one is. I look back to my body that is now lying on the symbol. The ghost slowly leaves my body, letting me go back. I nod as I get the cue and immediately entered my body.

When I opened my eyes, I am back to normal. “Miss Quinn, it’s time. Do not let her lock you here again.” Daisy says as she approaches me. I nod, grab my strings, and head out. The ghosts followed me until we reach a safe area, which is an empty room by the end of the corridor. “I need to send you all first before I face Lily.”

“I’ll go with you. I want to see what will happen to her before I leave.” Daisy says as she watched me prepare the ritual. Using the strings, I start making the symbol on the floor. I look at the 20 ghosts before me and turn to Daisy. “This will take time, mind if you look out for me?” She nods and waits outside.

The thing is, my energy drains each time I send a soul to the afterlife. As I prepare the ritual, I keep thinking about how I ended up being in this situation. I really need to check my clients first before meeting them. I do not want to end up risking my life again.

After approximately 3 hours, 19 ghosts were sent to the afterlife. I can feel my stomach grumbling, my throat dry, and my whole body weaken entirely. I can feel my eyes closing, but I know that I need to finish all of these and head home.

Daisy walks to me, I can feel that she wants to comfort me but she can’t since she cannot touch me. I sit and look at her. “What should we do now? Do you have any proof that Lily hid all of you there?” Daisy sadly nods. “You can contact the police if you want to.” I know that it must have been hard for her to turn her sister in, but I guess she just wants Lily to stop.

“Are you okay?” Eric asks upon arriving at the hospital. “SHHHHH! Did anyone see you?” I ask as I look around. Eric turns around to see what I am looking for. I sigh when I realize that the coast is clear. “Someone locked me in here last night.” Eric’s eyes widen, “what?” he looks around. The hospital has a lot of people. “How is that even possible?”

I lead Eric to the room with Daisy’s help. Indeed, the floor is empty and no one seems to go there. “Good thing you are not wearing your uniform.” I said as we walk. He nods, “so you’re saying that this Lily locked people in the room.” “Sick people” I corrected him. “But you are not sick, so why you?” he asks. I pause, I cannot tell him the part that it was because I am a shaman that is why Lily contacted me.

“I guess it was just bad luck.” I replied. He nods, though I know he is still curious about my connection to Lily. “Do you have proof?” He asks. I nod and we head to an abandoned room beside the hospital. According to Daisy, this is where Lily hid all the bodies, including hers.

As expected, the room stinks and there are some skeletons there. Eric gets his phone to contact his team. “I’m glad you are safe, Quinn. You could be one of these.” He says and I nod. “Lily is a nurse here so you can easily find her. I’m assuming that she will go to the room tonight to check on me.” Eric pats my shoulder. “You can go home now, Quinn. I’ll take everything from here.”

“You have done so much for us. Is there anything I can do for you?” Daisy asks as we entered an abandoned room. “You helped me get out of the room. I guess that is enough. You also do not have money, right?” I ask while I prepare the ritual. My body is so weak that I am afraid if I can do the job. She nods, “I’m sorry, Quinn.” I shake my head, I am too tired to think right now. I just want to get over this and sleep.

“Well, do you have someone who died? Maybe I can pass a message.” She offers as she waits for me to finish. “I do have someone.. but he in a coma. I can’t find him since he just disappeared after we went to the scene of the crime.” She nods in understanding and stands in the middle of the symbol after I instructed her. “You know, souls usually stay where they died.” I pause, “really?” she nods. “I’m sure he is still there, Quinn.”

After the ritual, instead of going home, I head to Lucas’ apartment. “Lucas?” I call him again as I look around. Every step I make, I can feel my body give up. But I know in my heart that I need to see Lucas. I need to assure him that I will help him find that person.

My eyes are slowly closing and my body is becoming heavy. “Lu…” before I know it my body is already on the floor. “Lucas…” I do not want to give up yet. I need to see him before I go home. I need to tell him that I am a shaman. I need to help him so he can go back to his body.

“Quinn?”