Xander shot a look at Priya. “Well?”

“After you, Crypt Keeper,” she said.

They rounded the corner, and Xander caught up to Li. “The room’s down this way.”

His headlamp felt warm against his forehead, but not as hot as his cheeks, which burned with frustration. How had the mission gone off the rails so quickly?

The light bounced off the walls, revealing something he hadn’t noticed earlier. Several red slashes marked one of the doors. He slowed for a second, concentrating his beam of light on the strange markings.

Li gasped. “Is that blood?”

“No, it’s all part of my mission setup,” Xander lied. He didn’t want the others to know he wasn’t in full command.

“You sure that’s not Omar’s blood?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” he said, swinging his headlamp away from the marked door. “The room’s down this way.”

He crept ahead.

A definitely moan-like sound came from behind them. Xander spun around. No one was there. Li instinctively crouched into a defensive fighting position.

Priya patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. Relax.”

Another low moan.

“Spooky moans we can’t identify are NOT okay!” shouted Li, her fists clenched. “It’s the ghosts! I know it! What do you want from us?” she asked, turning around and addressing the empty hallway.

No answer.

Priya shot Xander a look. “Are you messing with us?”

“This is not my doing,” he said. “I swear.”

“Omar’s probably pulling a prank on us,” Priya told Li. “I’ll bet Xander put him up to it.”

Another moan from the darkness.

“That doesn’t sound like Omar,” Li said. “Besides, how could he get behind us?”

“This place is a maze,” Priya said. “He could have found a way to loop around. We’re onto you, Omar!”

No answer. They waited for several moments, which felt like forever in the dark hallway. The moaning had stopped. For now.

Xander pointed ahead. “Room 176 is right over here.”

They hustled toward the room. Xander’s hand trembled as he pressed his palm against the door and pushed it open. He dreaded what or who might be inside.

The room was empty.

Li peered over Xander’s shoulder and asked, “Where is he?”

Xander leaned back to check the room number on the wall beside the door. It was 176. He glanced inside again.

The bed was in the middle of the room. The chalk message was on the wall above the bed. He lowered himself to the floor and peeked under the frame. The portable speaker sat on the dusty floor just where he had left it.

He retrieved the black box, turned it off and stuffed it into his backpack.

“I knew you were messing with us,” Priya said.

Xander shook his head. “This is the only one I planted.”

A moan came from outside the room.

Priya shot him a look.

“I swear this is the only one,” Xander said.

“Maybe you’re getting Omar to use his phone to scare us,” Priya said accusingly. “Phone him again, Li. Quick. If he’s nearby we’ll hear the ringtone.”