The morning after the disastrous party was strangely quiet. Flat No. 13, which usually buzzed with laughter, arguments, and Baguette's loud barking, felt heavy with an air of guilt. Empty pizza boxes were scattered across the living room, sticky wine stains clung to the carpet, and half-inflated balloons drooped from the ceiling like defeated soldiers.
Tapu, Alina, and Leo sat on the couch in silence, avoiding each other's eyes.
"We should never, ever throw a party again," Alina finally muttered, her head buried in her hands.
Tapu groaned, rubbing his temples. "My head feels like a construction site. And the landlord's warning still rings in my ears. Another mess, and we're out."
Leo leaned back with a dramatic sigh. "We tried to bring joy to the neighborhood. Instead, we brought chaos."
Just then, Baguette ran into the room carrying something in his mouth—a small, old-looking key. He dropped it proudly at Tapu's feet, wagging his tail like he had just found buried treasure.
Tapu picked it up, frowning. "Where did you get this?"
Alina's eyes widened. "That's not ours. Looks… antique."
Leo grabbed it and examined it like a detective. "This key has history. You can tell by the rust, the old iron design. Maybe it belongs to some secret treasure!"
Tapu rolled his eyes. "Leo, not everything is treasure. Maybe Baguette just stole it from the neighbor's shoe."
But Alina looked thoughtful. "Wait. Remember last week when Madame Dupont mentioned the building has an unused attic? She said it's been locked for years."
The three exchanged a glance. Silence hung in the air. Then Leo grinned. "You're thinking what I'm thinking."
Tapu groaned. "Please tell me you're not suggesting we—"
"Yes!" Leo jumped to his feet. "We open the attic!"
The Mysterious Attic
That evening, armed with a flashlight, a broom (for defense, in case of rats), and an old bottle of courage—wine from last night—the trio made their way up the creaky staircase that led to the attic door. Baguette trotted behind them, wagging his tail like he was leading an expedition.
The attic door looked ancient, with peeling paint and cobwebs clinging to its frame. The keyhole was rusty, but when Tapu pushed the key in, it turned smoothly, as if it had been waiting all these years for someone to unlock it.
The door creaked open. A musty smell hit them instantly. The attic was filled with dusty furniture, stacks of boxes, and forgotten belongings. Cobwebs glistened in the flashlight's beam like silver threads.
"This feels… spooky," Alina whispered, hugging her arms.
"Spooky?" Leo said dramatically. "No, no, Alina. This is the moment where legends are born."
Tapu muttered, "This is the moment where horror movies begin."
As they stepped inside, the floor creaked under their weight. Baguette darted around, sniffing every box. Suddenly, he barked furiously at an old trunk in the corner.
The three froze.
"What if it's a body?" Tapu whispered.
Alina smacked his arm. "Don't say that!"
Leo, trying to appear brave, stepped forward and lifted the lid. The trunk groaned open, releasing a cloud of dust. Inside were… old journals, photographs, and a bundle of letters tied with a faded ribbon.
"Whoa," Alina gasped, carefully picking up a photo. It showed a young woman standing in front of the very same building decades ago.
Tapu opened a journal and flipped through the yellowed pages. "It's all written in French. I can't understand a word."
Alina leaned over. "Wait, I can translate some." She read aloud softly:
'To whoever finds this… Flat No. 13 holds more secrets than it shows. Guard them well, for they belong to more than just you.'
The room grew colder, or maybe it was just their imagination.
Leo whispered, "Did we just stumble into a mystery novel?"
The Letters
They carried the letters downstairs, curiosity buzzing louder than their fear. Sitting around the table, they carefully untied the ribbon and spread the letters out.
Most were love letters, written in elegant handwriting, between two people who had clearly lived in the building long ago. Some were happy, filled with passion, while others were heartbreaking, mentioning separation and war.
One particular letter caught their attention. It was unsigned, with smudged ink, and read:
'The truth lies above, but not all truths should be uncovered. If you are reading this, beware the attic of Flat No. 13.'
Tapu's jaw dropped. "That is the creepiest thing I've ever heard."
Alina bit her lip, her curiosity battling with fear. "Do you think something… happened up there?"
Leo, eyes shining with excitement, declared, "This is destiny! We are chosen to solve the mystery of Flat No. 13."
Tapu facepalmed. "No, Leo. This is not National Treasure. This is us, three broke flatmates trying not to get evicted."
But deep down, even Tapu couldn't ignore the strange pull of the attic's secrets.
A Night of Fear
That night, Alina couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about the attic, about the letters, about the mysterious warning. Around 2 a.m., she tiptoed into the living room to get some water. The flat was silent, except for the faint sound of scratching above.
Her heart skipped a beat. She froze. The sound came again. Scratch. Scratch.
"Maybe it's just rats," she whispered to herself, clutching her glass tightly.
Then, a soft thud echoed from the attic.
She ran back to her room and buried herself under the blanket.
The next morning, she told Tapu and Leo. Tapu laughed nervously. "You probably dreamed it. Too much wine."
But Leo leaned in with wide eyes. "Or… the attic isn't done with us yet."
The Hidden Journal
Later that day, they returned to the attic, determined to investigate further. They searched through more boxes and finally discovered a smaller, hidden compartment under the trunk. Inside was another journal, wrapped in cloth.
This one was different—newer, written less than 20 years ago.
Alina carefully flipped through it. Her face turned pale.
"What is it?" Tapu asked.
She read aloud: "I hear them at night. Footsteps above my ceiling. Whispers. Sometimes laughter. But no one has lived in the attic for years…"
The three stared at each other, the weight of the words sinking in.
Baguette barked suddenly, making them all jump.
Leo exhaled. "Okay. I officially declare Flat No. 13 haunted."
The Pact
Back downstairs, they sat in silence for a long while. Then Tapu broke it. "We need to make a pact. No one tells the landlord. No one tells the neighbors. Whatever secrets this attic holds… they stay between us."
Alina nodded slowly. "Agreed. But we can't just ignore it either."
Leo raised his hand like he was swearing an oath. "Then it's settled. Flat No. 13 isn't just our home—it's our mystery."
Baguette barked in agreement, as if sealing the deal.
Somehow, despite the fear, they all felt a strange thrill. Life in Flat No. 13 had just taken a new turn. Not only were they broke flatmates trying to survive in France, but now… they were guardians of a secret.
And though none of them admitted it out loud, they couldn't wait to see what else the attic was hiding.