Chapter 4: The Roommate Test

I followed Natalie’s advice and carved a piece of poplar wood from the back hill, hands shaking as I worked. The smell of fresh sap stung my nose, and I kept wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans, glancing over my shoulder like someone—or something—was watching.

But when I got back to the dorm, the old man’s warning echoed in my mind. Was poplar wood really a Ghost Gate Threshold? Who should I trust?

I decided to test the roommates first, just like the old man said. If they were ghosts, I’d believe him. If not, I’d call the cops and have him arrested.

I locked the door, double-checked the hallway, heart hammering in my chest. It was now or never.

I put the threshold away, sat sideways at my desk pretending to read, but my eyes kept darting to the clock.

When my roommates returned, they hovered by the door, peeking at the jamb like it might bite them. Their laughter sounded forced, Tanya’s smile tight. Were they really afraid of the threshold?

They finally came in, grumbling about how inconvenient it was to stay in someone else’s dorm. "Our own beds are just more comfortable," Tanya whined. They asked why I took the threshold away—wasn’t I supposed to ward off ghosts?

I brushed them off, and while they were changing and washing up, I arranged their shoes as the old man said: one toe-in, one toe-out, tucked by their beds. The air felt heavier, thick with the scent of old socks and something colder, like the inside of a freezer.

Normally, they’d hop on and off their beds a dozen times, but tonight, not once. The dread in my stomach turned to ice. Maybe it was just a coincidence, I told myself. They seemed so alive, laughing and teasing. Was I just being paranoid?

Finally, lights out. The three of them kept giggling, not sleeping. I pretended to lose my temper and yelled. They quieted down instantly—their silence abrupt and unnatural. The only sound was the distant hum of the vending machine.

Then, I watched as they hung their heads and circled in front of their beds, never getting on. Their figures moved in slow, looping circles, hair shadowing their faces. It was so bizarre, I thought I was dreaming.

My mind flashed back to the old man’s warning. Sweat broke out on my forehead.

I forced myself to ask, "Tanya, why aren’t you getting in bed?"

Suddenly, Tanya burst into tears. "What’s going on? Why is my bed gone?" Her sobs echoed off the walls, raw and desperate. For a second, I almost forgot I was supposed to be scared. Tanya’s sobbing sounded so real, so human. Could I have been wrong?

I tried to stay calm—if they figured out what I’d done, I might not make it through the night. I swallowed hard, searching for something comforting to say.

But Lillian grabbed Tanya’s arm. "Are you blind? Your bed’s right here!" she snapped, voice colder than I’d ever heard. I shuddered. Was Lillian seeing Tanya’s bed? Or did she know something I didn’t?

Before I could react, Tanya ran to my bed. "Aubrey, I’m scared, I want to sleep with you."

She tried to climb up, but I blocked her with my pillow. "No, Tanya, I’m more scared than you, really."

Aubrey lunged for my bed too. "Let’s all sleep together. This dorm is too creepy—let’s just stick together. Lillian, you come too."

Panic surged. I dropped to my knees, begging, "Aubrey, please, no, I’m begging you..."

But Lillian ignored Aubrey and kept staring at their beds, her face unreadable. If she figured out the shoe trick, I was toast. My mind scrambled for a way out.

Suddenly, Lillian’s eyes locked on mine. My heart nearly stopped.

I stammered, "Lillian, is something wrong?"

She shouted, "Run, there’s a ghost!"

For a split second, I froze. Wait, was she talking about me? Or something behind me?

The three of them bolted for the door. I jumped out of bed and slammed it shut behind them. My knees gave out and I slid to the floor, letting out a shaky breath.