Professor Samuel Harris, a tall, bespectacled man in his fifties, adjusts his satchel as he walks with a sense of purpose toward his office. Beside him, Professor Miguel Alvarez, whose warm smile hides a tendency toward skepticism, remarks on the eerie quiet of the building.
"It always feels different after hours, doesn't it? Like the walls remember more than we do."
"Ghost stories for freshmen, Miguel. I’m not so easily spooked," replies Professor Harris, though he glances over his shoulder as he speaks.
As Professor Harris unlocks the office door, a sudden chill sweeps through the corridor. From the far end of the hallway, the faint outline of a young boy emerges—his skin a deep, rich brown, his presence translucent against the darkness. He stands silent, gazing mournfully at the professors.
"Did you see that?" whispers Professor Alvarez, his skepticism replaced by awe.
The professors exchange uneasy glances, heartbeats quickening. Professor Harris musters the courage to address the apparition.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" His voice trembles, echoing in the stillness.
The boy’s lips part, but only a soft whisper escapes, carried away by the draft before it can be understood.
"He’s from the old boarding school, isn’t he? The one that was here before the university," murmurs Professor Alvarez, realization dawning in his eyes.
Professor Harris nods, his voice soft. "He must be looking for something. Or someone."
Professor Harris sets the items gently on the floor, and the boy kneels beside them, his form growing more defined in the silvery light. For a moment, the professors hear the distant laughter of children and the echo of forgotten songs.
"He just wanted to be remembered. To have his story told," says Professor Alvarez, voice thick with emotion.
Professor Harris and Professor Alvarez remain for a moment in silence, the memory of the encounter lingering between them. With quiet resolve, they gather the letters and the carved figure, determined to share the lost children’s stories with the world.
"We owe them that much," murmurs Professor Harris, and together, they leave the whispering halls behind.
