The town of Raven Creek had many strange places.

There was a street where every dog barked at the same time every morning.

There was a lake where people claimed their reflections smiled before they did.

And then there was the strangest place of all.

The abandoned hotel at the edge of town.

THE MOONLIGHT GRAND HOTEL.

For seventy years, nobody had entered.

People said the hotel was cursed.

Some said guests disappeared inside.

Some said the rooms changed locations.

Some said the elevators took people to floors that did not exist.

But the strangest rumor was this:

The hotel was still accepting guests.

Every midnight, the lights turned on.

The doors opened.

And someone inside shouted:

“Welcome!”

Nobody knew who was running the hotel.

Nobody knew why it was still operating.

Nobody knew why ghosts were leaving five-star reviews online.

Yes.

Ghosts.

Online.

The reviews said:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Excellent haunting experience. The pillows were cold but comfortable.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Staff was scary but polite.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Best hotel for people who are already dead.”

---

Leo Carter was reading these reviews inside his tiny detective office.

His office was called:

LEO CARTER MYSTERY SOLUTIONS

Underneath it was written:

“We investigate everything except our own problems.”

Leo looked at his computer screen.

“This hotel mystery is impossible.”

Oscar Flynn looked over his shoulder.

“Why?”

“Because ghosts are leaving reviews.”

Oscar nodded seriously.

“That is disturbing.”

“Exactly.”

“Because ghosts can use computers?”

“No.”

“Because they give better reviews than humans?”

Leo looked at him.

“Actually, yes.”

Oscar sat down.

“I hate that ghosts are more organized than us.”

---

Suddenly, the door opened.

A girl entered holding a camera.

It was Maya Rose.

The most famous mystery blogger in Raven Creek.

“I need your help.”

Leo looked surprised.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone else thinks I’m crazy.”

Oscar raised his hand.

“To be fair…”

Maya looked at him.

“Don’t.”

Oscar lowered his hand.

“Okay.”

Maya placed a file on the table.

“The Moonlight Grand Hotel.”

Leo immediately became interested.

“The haunted hotel?”

Maya nodded.

“Last night, I went near it.”

“And?”

“The hotel sent me a message.”

Leo frowned.

“A message?”

She showed them her phone.

A notification appeared:

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MOONLIGHT GRAND HOTEL.
YOUR ROOM IS RESERVED FOR TONIGHT.

Oscar’s face became pale.

“You didn’t visit.”

“I know.”

“Then why did it reserve a room?”

Nobody answered.

---

Leo stood up.

“Fine.”

Maya smiled.

“We are investigating?”

“Yes.”

Oscar immediately stood too.

“Wait.”

Everyone looked at him.

“I did not say I wanted to come.”

Leo nodded.

“You are coming.”

“Why?”

“Because you are my partner.”

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“When did that happen?”

“Right now.”

Oscar sighed.

“I hate being promoted without permission.”

---

That night…

The three of them stood outside Moonlight Grand Hotel.

The building looked enormous.

Broken windows.

Old walls.

A giant sign hanging above the entrance.

The letters were damaged.

But somehow…

The lights still worked.

The sign flashed:

WELCOME GUESTS

Oscar looked nervous.

“I have one question.”

Leo looked at him.

“What?”

“Why does an abandoned hotel look more successful than my life?”

Nobody answered.

---

The front doors opened.

CREAAAAAK.

A cold wind passed.

A voice came from inside.

“Welcome to Moonlight Grand Hotel.”

Everyone froze.

Then a woman appeared.

She wore an old-fashioned hotel uniform.

Her skin was pale.

Her feet were floating above the floor.

She smiled.

“I am Bella.”

Maya whispered:

“Ghost.”

Bella smiled.

“Correct.”

Oscar screamed.

“WHY DID YOU SAY IT SO CASUALLY?”

Bella looked confused.

“Because I am a ghost.”

“That is exactly why!”

Leo looked at Bella.

“You run this hotel?”

She nodded proudly.

“Yes.”

“But you are dead.”

Bella looked offended.

“I prefer the term ‘permanently unavailable.'”

Oscar whispered:

“She is a professional ghost.”

---

Bella handed them three room keys.

“Enjoy your stay.”

Leo looked at the keys.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Why are you giving us rooms?”

Bella smiled.

“Because you are our special guests.”

Maya became suspicious.

“Why special?”

Bella’s smile disappeared.

“Because nobody has entered this hotel alive for twenty years.”

Silence.

Oscar slowly looked at Leo.

“Did she just say…”

Leo nodded.

“Yes.”

“We are the first?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds bad.”

“Very.”

---

They entered the hotel.

Inside was impossible.

The lobby was huge.

A giant chandelier floated above them.

Paintings moved their eyes.

The reception desk had nobody behind it.

Except…

A ghost sitting there reading a newspaper.

The ghost looked up.

“Oh.”

He smiled.

“Living people.”

He checked his watch.

“Interesting.”

Leo frowned.

“Why?”

The ghost replied:

“Because usually the hotel only accepts dead guests.”

Oscar whispered:

“I officially want to leave.”

Suddenly…

The elevator bell rang.

DING!

Everyone turned.

The elevator doors opened.

Inside was darkness.

Then a voice whispered:

“Room 666 is waiting.”

Bella’s expression changed.

She looked scared.

For the first time.

Leo noticed.

“Bella.”

The ghost looked at him.

“What is room 666?”

Nobody answered.

Then Bella whispered:

“The room that should not exist.”

The elevator doors slowly closed.

But before they closed completely…

A hand appeared.

A dark shadow stepped out.

A voice said:

“The hotel has new guests.”

The lights went out.

And from somewhere above…

A strange laugh echoed.

HAHAHAHAHA!

Oscar grabbed Leo.

“Please tell me ghosts do not laugh.”

Leo looked into the darkness.

“I don’t know.”

The laugh became louder.

“But I think this hotel has a problem.”

A message appeared on the wall.

Written in glowing letters:

CHECK-IN COMPLETE.

CHECK-OUT IMPOSSIBLE.