Thuran strolled across the university campus, his eyes scanning the lush greenery and vibrant students milling about. He was a familiar figure here, known for his charm, good looks, and effortless charisma. As he walked, girls couldn't help but steal glances at him, their faces lighting up with smiles. Thuran was used to the attention, but it still amused him.

He had always been the center of attention, even as a child. His parents were wealthy and influential, and their social status had rubbed off on Thuran. He had grown up with the best of everything – the best education, the best clothes, the best opportunities. And he had made the most of them, becoming a star student and a sought-after bachelor.

As he approached the student union building, Thuran's phone buzzed with a text from his best friend, Sam. "Hey, man, where are you? We're supposed to meet for lunch." Thuran smiled and typed out a response. "Just walking across campus. See you in 10."

Thuran entered the bustling student union, weaving past tables laden with flyers and posters advertising various campus events. He spotted Sam sitting at their usual table, nursing a cup of coffee. Thuran slid into the chair across from him, flashing a charming smile.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Thuran said, snagging a menu from the table. "I got held up by Professor Thompson. She's still going on about the importance of deadlines."

Sam chuckled. "You'd think she'd know better than to try to rush a guy like you."

Thuran laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hey, I'm not that bad. I get my work done."

Their conversation flowed easily, covering everything from their classes to their social lives. Thuran was comfortable around Sam, who had been his friend since freshman year. Sam knew Thuran's secrets, the ones he kept hidden from the rest of the world.

As they finished their lunch, Thuran felt a familiar tingle at the edge of his perception. It was a sensation he had grown accustomed to over the years, a feeling that signaled the presence of something...else. Thuran's eyes scanned the room, his heart rate quickening as he searched for the source of the sensation.

That was when he saw her.

She was standing by the coffee machine, her back to him. Thuran's gaze was drawn to the way her long, curly brown hair cascaded down her back. There was something about her that seemed...off. As he watched, she turned, and their eyes met.

Thuran's breath caught in his throat. She wasn't...solid. Her eyes seemed to bore into his, and he felt a jolt of electricity run through his body. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them fading into the background.

Then, she vanished.

Thuran's eyes scanned the room, his mind reeling. What had just happened? He felt Sam's hand on his arm, concern etched on his face.

"Hey, man, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Thuran's laughter was forced, but he tried to play it cool. "Just a little surprised, that's all. I thought I saw someone I knew."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Thuran hesitated, unsure how to explain. "No one, really. Just someone who looked familiar."

Sam nodded, but Thuran could tell he didn't believe him. Thuran didn't blame him; he barely believed it himself. Who was that girl, and why had she seemed so...real?

Thuran's mind was still reeling from the encounter with the ghostly woman. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something mysterious and intriguing about her. As he lay in bed, he found himself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. "There's something off about the girl," Thuran thought to himself. "I have to figure it out."

The next morning, Thuran headed downstairs, where he found his sister Sharon dancing to music. "What are you doing?" Thuran asked with a smirk.

Sharon stopped dancing and turned to him with a grin. "What does it look like? I'm dancing, of course. And where are you going?" she asked, noticing the backpack slung over Thuran's shoulder.

"I'm headed to college," Thuran replied with a smile. As he turned to leave, Sharon called out to him. "Thuran, it's been a while since you talked about ghosts. Are you not seeing them again?"

Thuran turned back to his sister, a hint of amusement on his face. "Must I tell you every single ghost I see? But since you want to know, I still see ghosts, and I actually saw two weird ones yesterday."

Sharon's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? Tell me about them."

Thuran hesitated for a moment before launching into a description of the thug ghost. Sharon listened intently, her eyes wide with excitement. "What about the other one?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Thuran hesitated again, unsure of how to describe the ghostly woman. "There's this girl I saw yesterday," he said finally. "She's a ghost, but she doesn't look like one. She gave me chills all over my body."

Sharon's expression turned serious. "She might be a bad ghost, then. You should stay away from her."

But Thuran shook his head. "No, I'm trying to look for her," he said with a smile.

Sharon's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"

Just then, Thuran's phone rang. "I have to go," he said, answering the call from his friend Sam.

As he walked out of the house, Thuran was startled to see the thug ghost standing behind his car. "You again!" Thuran exclaimed.

The ghost smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I told you I'd find you, didn't I?"

Thuran raised an eyebrow. "And why would you want to find me? I don't associate with thugs."

The ghost's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Do I still look like a thug to you?"

"Yeah, you do," Thuran replied, unlocking his car door.

To his surprise, the ghost vanished into the car, reappearing in the passenger seat. "Just help me, and I'll leave you alone," the ghost begged.

Thuran's eyes narrowed. "How can I help you?"

As Thuran drove to meet Sam at the college restaurant, the thug ghost remained by his side. When they arrived, Sam greeted Thuran with a smile. "Hey, man, sorry for the delay. I encountered another problem while coming."

Sam's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Ghost?"

Thuran nodded. "A male...and a thug at that."

Sam's smile grew wider. "Sorry, man. I know they can be stressful sometimes. Have you settled him?"

Thuran shook his head. "No, he's still here with me."

Sam's face turned towards the ghost, and he said, "Hey, ghost, how are you doing?"

The ghost's response was immediate. "Is he talking to me?"

Thuran felt a shiver run down his spine as he turned to see the female ghost standing behind him, her eyes fixed intently on him. "Oh...that's weird," the thug ghost said, his voice filled with surprise. "She should have gone to the afterworld."

Thuran's eyes widened in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

The thug ghost's expression turned somber. "She died in a car accident yesterday. If she doesn't have unfinished business here on earth like me, she should have moved on."

The female ghost began to move towards them, her eyes locked on Thuran. "I can hear you talking about me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't gone to the afterworld because I haven't died completely."

"My name is Emily," she began. "I'm the daughter of the CEO of Mount Heritage. My dad has two wives, my mom and my stepmom. I have a sister, Lily, who's my stepmom's daughter. Despite having different mothers, Lily and I are incredibly close. Our home is peaceful, with no fighting or arguing. And I have a charming boyfriend, Atlas, who's the love of my life. He loves me just as much as I love him."

Riggy, the thug ghost, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure he loves you that much?"

Emily's expression turned slightly defensive. "Of course, I'm sure. Why would you question that?"

Riggy shrugged. "Just being considerate of you, that's all."

Thuran intervened, "It's okay, Riggy. Let her continue her story."

Sam walked in with two cups of coffee and handed one to Thuran. "Here you go."

Thuran took a sip, nodding in appreciation. "Thanks."

"Emily, please continue," Thuran said.

Riggy spoke up, "Wait, aren't we going to get a cup of coffee too?"

Thuran raised an eyebrow. "Do ghosts drink coffee?"

Sam stared at Thuran, seemingly amused by the question. "Oh, I forgot we're four now."

Sam prepared two more cups of coffee, and Emily continued her story. "As I was saying, Atlas knows everything about me. My family loves him, and he's always been a part of our lives. The day of the accident, I was driving to college, talking to Atlas on the phone about celebrating my birthday next week..."

Thuran's expression turned sympathetic as Emily recounted the events leading up to the accident. Sam returned with the coffee, and his eyes widened as he saw a cup moving on its own.

"Wow," Sam exclaimed.

Thuran smiled. "You're getting used to this faster than I thought."

Sam grinned. "I'm a guy, what do you take me for?"

Thuran turned back to Emily. "So, how did the accident happen?"

Emily's voice trembled slightly. "I was still on the phone with Atlas when a truck lost control and headed towards me. I thought I could avoid it, but my brakes malfunctioned. That's the last thing I remember as a human."

Thuran's eyes narrowed. "Has your brake always been giving signs of malfunctioning?"

Emily shook her head. "No, I used my car the day before, and it was fine."

Thuran's interest was piqued. "I'm intrigued by you," he said, causing Sam to raise an eyebrow.

Sam's eyes darted to Thuran "What do you mean?"

Thuran smiled. "Not what you think."

Emily chimed in, "Good, because I couldn't cheat on my boyfriend."

Thuran's smile grew wider. "That's not a problem. So, when exactly is your birthday next week?"

Emily hesitated before answering, "On Friday."

Riggy spoke up, "Wait, you said you're not dead finally. How is that possible?"

Emily's response was matter-of-fact. "That means I'm still in a coma."

Riggy's face twisted in disgust. "I hate you already."

Emily shot back, "I don't like you either."

As the conversation continued, Thuran stood up and began pacing. "When I first saw you, I knew something was off about you. Now I know why."

Sam glanced at his watch. "Thuran, don't you have a class to attend?"

Emily nodded in agreement. "I should be in class too."

Thuran's eyes lit up. "Which college do you attend?"

"Love College," Emily replied.

Thuran's face broke into a wide smile. "What? That's my college too!”

Thuran's eyes widened in surprise. "That's amazing! See the chances of us attending the same college?"

Emily smiled, seeming to relax a bit. "I know, right? Maybe it's fate."

Riggy snorted, but only Thuran could see and hear him. Thuran shot Riggy a look, trying not to react.

Sam looked at Thuran curiously. "What's so funny?"

Thuran shrugged. "Just thinking about something. So, Sam, can you start looking into an accident reports that happen on the 10th of March and see if there's anything suspicious about the case?"

Sam nodded, pulling out his phone. "I'll get started right away."

As Sam began typing away on his phone, Thuran turned to Emily. "So, tell me more about Atlas. What's he like?"

Emily's face lit up. "Atlas is amazing. He's kind, caring, and always puts others before himself. He's been my rock since we started dating."

Thuran's eyes narrowed slightly. "That sounds perfect. Is there anything that might have contributed to the accident?"

Emily thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No, nothing that I can think of. Atlas and I were just talking about my birthday plans when the accident happened."

Riggy muttered under his breath, but Thuran was the only one who could hear him. Thuran tried to keep a straight face, focusing on the conversation with Emily.

As the group continued to discuss their plan of action, Thuran couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. He glanced at Emily, who seemed genuine in her story, but there was something about her that didn't add up.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

In the hospital room, Emily's body lay still on the bed, an oxygen tube attached to her nose. Her mom gently cleaned her skin with a damp napkin, her eyes filled with tears. The door opened, and her stepmom, accompanied by Lily, entered the room. They exchanged somber glances with Emily's mom, who continued to tend to her daughter's body. The atmosphere was heavy with grief and concern.

As Emily's stepmom and Lily entered the hospital room, the atmosphere grew heavier. Emily's mom continued to clean her daughter's body with a damp napkin, her eyes brimming with tears. The stepmom's expression was somber, while Lily looked like she was trying to hold back her emotions.

The stepmom approached Emily's mom, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How is she?" she asked softly.

Emily's mom shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No change. The doctors say she's still brain dead."

Lily stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Emily's lifeless body. "This can't be happening. She was just a lady." Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at her sister.

The room fell silent, with only the sound of the hospital machines breaking the stillness. Emily's mom continued to tend to her daughter, while the stepmom and Lily stood by, trying to come to terms with the tragic situation.

Suddenly, Lily spoke up, her voice trembling. "Do you think she's in a better place?"

Emily's mom looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and hope. "I want to believe that she is. But it's hard to accept that she's really not here with me now."

The stepmom nodded sympathetically. "We'll get through this together, as a family, and she will sure come back to us."

As they stood there, a nurse entered the room, her expression somber. "I'm so sorry for your grieve. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

Emily's mom forced a weak smile. "Thank you. We appreciate your kindness."

The nurse hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I've seen some...unusual things in this hospital. Some staff members have reported strange occurrences, like ghostly apparitions or unexplained noises. But I'm sure it's just the stress of working in a hospital."

Lily's eyes widened slightly, her gaze darting to her sister's body. Emily's mom and stepmom exchanged a glance, their expressions uncertain ¹.