I figured that I was just seeing things and rubbed my eyes. I was feeling tired. I let out this long yawn, and my eyelids were getting heavy. I wanted to leave this abandoned hospital and lie in my bed. Then again...

I stared at the door. It indeed was open. Not a crack. It was wide open. And a figure who was as tall as me was standing in the doorway.

No doubt that I would have joined the screaming fest had I never recognized the figure. I scrambled to my feet and dusted off my dress. I smiled at the figure.

"Rebecca," I said her name. "I was hoping that it was you. I am over the moon that you are here."

"'Rebecca'?" Jayden repeated her name.

Rebecca stepped into the room and placed her hands on her hips. "That is my name. Do not wear it out."

"Oh, I know who you are." Jayden shook his ghostly finger at her. "You are the ghost hunter on television. My friends and I watch it all the time."

"Rebecca does not have a television show." I glanced at her. "You do not have a television show."

"Actually, Ann...I do. The fourth season will air next month." She squealed and snorted. "I am excited for my fans to watch it!"

I was in complete shock. "How...how come you never told me that you have your own show?"

"Well...I did not think that it was important when we first met. But I was planning to tell you after all your dead relatives rested in peace. Honest."

"What is the name of your show?"

"The show is called 'Ann's.' I named it after you."

My shock was replaced by confusion. "Rebecca...how could you name the show after me when Annie and I just met you?"

She pointed at the ceiling. "Ask our writer. She is the one who is writing our story without an outline."

"Our writer is in the ceiling?"

"No." Rebecca facepalmed. "Neither of us can see her because she is writing this story."

"Well, she is not writing the story right now."

"Could we please stop with the filler?" Jayden asked. "Our readers have better things to read than you two breaking the fourth wall."

"Jayden is correct," Rebecca agreed. "This story will be coming to a close soon, and we still have not gone to the mall."

I quirked an eyebrow. "What mall?"

"The abandoned mall that is located in the outskirts of Forlot. We will be stopping by there later today."

"Why do we need to go to some abandoned mall?"

"You will see. You trust me, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Excellent." She waved to the ghost children. "It was nice seeing you again, hundreds of children whom I do not know the names of. I will be back faster than you can say the longest word in English. I still do not know what the longest word in the English language is."

Jacob wrapped his hands around mine. "You leaving too, Ann?"

I brought myself to his level and gave him a smile. "I am sorry that I have to leave you and your buddies. I wish that I could stay here and get to know all of you some more, but I cannot."

He pouted. "Why not?"

"I have parents who will be devastated if I am not at home. They will think that I am missing. You do not want me to be on the missing list, now do you?"

Jacob looked down and let go of my hand. I let out a gasp when I suddenly felt him giving me a huge hug. He was clinging on my dress. Then the ghost told me something that made my heart melt.

"I love you, Ann."

I could feel the waterworks coming as I gave him the biggest hug that he has ever had. Or tried to. I forgot that I go through the ghost kids. I sniffed and wiped my nose.

"Goodness," I said. "I am sorry that I cannot hug you back. But believe me when I tell you, Jacob, that I do wish that I could."

Jacob glanced at me and gave me one of his precious smiles. "It is okay, Ann. I know now that none of this is your fault. You did not steal all the money that we needed to stay alive. And you certainly did not mess with the equipment that was helping us."

I kept my eyes on him as I tried grabbing both of his hands. I was successful - but then they went through mine. I cursed and let out a whoosh of air. I rose and told myself to calm down. I did not want to get angry in front of Jacob.

"What did you say, Ann?" he asked. He has this voice that is irresistible.

"Oh. I said that I need to calm myself down."

He shook his head. "No. Before that. You whispered something that I could not make out."

I giggled nervously. "It is best that you do not know, my dear Jacob."

"Why?"

"There are some things in the world that children are never supposed to know."

He pouted again. "But I am not a child, Ann. Jayden says that I am a thousand years old."

"Yes...but you have the mind of a child. And children as cute as you should never say or do certain things."

"Like saying curse words, Ann? Even if there are real worlders who are stupid enough to use them?"

Rebecca slapped her forehead. "Wonderful. You just insulted half of our readers."

"B-but it is not my fault that the world is going down the tube!" Jacob whined. "Right, Ann?"

"He does have a point," I said.

The ghost boy wrapped his arms around mine. "I do not want you to go, Ann. Hold it. I have an idea!"

"What is it?"

"I am coming with you!"