Welcome to the unknown

My name is Mindy and I am passionate about theater. My biggest dream had always been to become an actress and that is why I admired my cousin, my cousin Viviana, she was very talented, she had an innate ability for acting and I wanted to be like her.

Since I saw her in a theater for the first time, I was fascinated by the stage. One day she wanted to develop more as an artist and traveled to another country to study at a prestigious art school.

We chatted every day, I loved reading the anecdotes she had to tell me, but one day, she stopped writing to me and I got worried.

Several months went by and her parents had no news from her, it was strange to me and I started to look up the history of the academy on the Internet and on one page there were several comments saying that the place was haunted.

I didn't give it any importance, until I noticed one of them "My sister went to study there and we never heard from her again", several people responded saying that something similar had happened to them with an acquaintance.

A year went by and my aunt and uncle still had no news of her. The place caught my attention and I wanted to go there to find out what happened to her and those other students.

I signed up for the audition and tried my best to perform a monologue to the best of my ability. The jury was very strict and I was not accepted until I auditioned for the third time.

They gave me a scholarship and I was happy to attend that place, if strange phenomena happened in that school, I had to attend. Like any horror enthusiast, I always wanted to experience a paranormal event but the opportunity never presented itself.

I packed my luggage and went downstairs to say goodbye to my parents. I didn't see my sister and asked them about her.

-Your sister is going with you.

-¿What?

-She will study at school with you.

-¿But when did she audition?

-She auditioned right on the day I went with you. -I can't believe it.

-I can't believe it.

I should have known my mother would never let me go to another country alone for so long. She was a bit overprotective and barely agreed to give me permission. The good thing was that I was about to turn 18 and I wouldn't have to depend on her so much anymore.

I waited for my sister Ana to be ready and we headed to the airport. The flight took about three hours and during that time I had to put up with her complaints. She was very hyperactive and had a hard time sitting still for very long.

We arrived at our destination and Ana took off running away from me. I hurried after her, but by the time I got off the plane she had disappeared from my sight. I picked up our luggage and went to look for her before my mother called me on the phone.

I approached a policeman and asked him if he had seen her, he pointed to the bathroom and I waited for her behind the door.

-What a relief, I couldn't stand the urge to go to the bathroom anymore.

-You were able to get on the plane.

-It's not very comfortable there.

-Don't run like that again Ana, ¿is that clear?

-Yes...

I couldn't believe they accepted her for her first audition. I let out a sigh and gave her her luggage. We ordered a cab and went to the academy. And just like at the airport, she ran out of the cab and got lost in the crowd, the good thing was that she didn't forget to bring her suitcase.

I paid the driver and got out of the cab. I started to look for her while I looked around the place. The boarding school was amazing, it had a soccer field, basketball court, swimming pool and even a meditation garden. At the entrance there was a mural with drawings made by each of the students.

A young brown-haired boy approached me to welcome me.

-You're Mindy, ¿right?

-¿How do you know my name?

-I have to, I'm the president of the student center and the official organizer of the academy's events.

-Nice to meet you, ¿can you help me...?

She handed me the schedule and the key to my room. She smiled and then walked away before I could ask for my sister.

I went into the building looking for my room. I wasn't really that worried about Ana, despite being imperative, she was mature for her age and I was sure she would show up sooner or later.

I passed a hallway and saw a girl looking intently at the trophies in a window. I walked over to talk to her but one of the trophies caught my eye. It was a golden one that shone brighter than the rest, it emitted a strange energy, I felt like touching it for some reason.

-¿Did you feel that too?" asked the girl, waking me up from my trance.

-¿What?

-It's strange, but ever since that trophy arrived here, strange things keep appearing.

-Does it mean the rumors are true, is the place haunted?

-Some of them are exaggerations.

-And the rumor that people have disappeared, ¿are they true?

-It's better not to talk about it, the director doesn't like us to mention it.

Suddenly a red-haired girl came up to us and began to scold us.

-Carolina, they threw balloons with foam from one of the windows, ¿didn't you have anything to do with it?

-You can't stop accusing me for a year, relax, it was just a welcome joke.

-Both of you go to the principal's office now.

-¿But why me? -I just met her.

-You're probably her accomplice.

We went to the principal's door and sat on chairs until he called us.

-My first day and I was already getting attention.

-I'm sorry I got you into this situation.

-Don't worry, this brings back old memories.

-I'm Caroline by the way.

-I'm Mindy.

-Yeah, you were the one with the death monologue. -Yeah, I liked it because it was so funny.

-Yeah, I liked it because it was so dark. -Yeah, it's also my favorite.

-Yeah, it's my favorite too. -Yeah.

-But tell me, what's so special about the trophy? -What's so special about it?

-Well...

The director opened the door and invited us in. We sat down in front of his desk and at that moment a young man with black hair and light eyes came in.

-Excuse me, director, ¿what did my sister do?

-What are you doing here, I don't need you taking care of me as if I were a child.

-I wouldn't if you didn't behave like one.

-Dan, that's the third time she's done that.

-I know sir, and I swear you won't do it again, ¿will you Caroline?

-I promise nothing.

-Caroline.

-All right, I'm sorry director, it won't happen again.

-Let this be a warning, ¿and why are you here?, I'm not sure, sir.

-I'm not sure sir, I just bumped into her and a redhead brought me here. That's typical of her.

-That's typical of her, fine. You are dismissed and I don't want any more trouble, ¿okay?

-Yes sir-the three of us said at the same time.

We left the office and Caroline and Dan started arguing back.

-It's always the same with you, when are you going to grow up?

-You're all boring, you need to have more fun and not take life so seriously.

-Max told me you tried to take the trophy out again, ¿again?

-That thing is a menace and must be destroyed.

-¿You're still at it?

-That thing ruined my life, because of that....

Dan interrupts her to stop her from talking.

-Sorry about all this, my sister likes to rebel against authority, I'm Dan.

-And I'm Mindy.

-I saw your audition, you're an excellent actress.

-¿Really?,thank you.

-Well, I should go. Maybe I'll see you later.

-Yeah, I'd like that, Yeah.

He was very attractive, but if I wanted to keep my scholarship I had to concentrate on my studies.

-He's an idiot.

-Your brother takes such good care of you, ¿huh?

-He's so irritating.

-So, what is it about that trophy that you care so much about, ¿what did you mean that it has brought misfortune into your life?

-That trophy is the cause of my nightmares, since I've been here I've had nightmares that make me wake up at three in the morning, there's something that haunts me, I don't know what it is, but whenever I wake up I see it in front of my bed looking at me with red eyes.

-Maybe you suffer from sleep paralysis.

-That's the weird thing, I've never had it before, and not only me, since he's been here,

strange things have happened to many students.

-That's great, I've always wanted to see an enchanted place.

-You wouldn't say that if something happened to you.