Chapter 6: No Turning Back

The next morning, I was still furious. I called the cops to report the old man.

"Ma’am, are you reporting an actual crime or just... ghosts?" the officer sighed, clearly unimpressed. I hung up, cheeks burning. Maybe I should have just said he was trespassing.

I realized the police couldn’t help. I’d have to handle this myself. But if I confronted the old man, he’d guess Natalie’s plan and try to sabotage it. Maybe it was smarter to wait two days. But if I didn’t show up to tell him the test results, he’d get suspicious and change his plan.

After going back and forth, I decided to visit him, planning to lie and see what I could find out.

But the old man wouldn’t look me in the eye. He stayed silent the whole time. I gave my fake update and turned to leave.

Suddenly, he called out, "You should take the maple wood threshold. Tonight the Ghost Gate opens. Maybe it’ll protect you."

I couldn’t trust him anymore. I refused to doubt Natalie again.

But he pressed, "You’d better take it. Use it or not, it’s up to you. Whether you survive tonight is your business. I’ve done my part."

Anyone would feel uneasy after that. I hesitated, then decided to take it—just in case. As long as I didn’t install it in the doorframe, it was just a useless piece of wood.

Tucking it under my arm, I stepped back into the bright, noisy street, determined to see this through—no matter what happened next.