Primary School 22 looked very different at night. The golden lights of the street lamps pierced through the tall windows, and the corridors, usually bustling with life, now seemed endless and full of shadows. It was on this evening that the annual 'Night at the Library' was taking place - an event that all eighth-grade students were looking forward to. Veronica, Bartek, Lena and Igor had been counting down the days to this night for many weeks. Ms Ela, the librarian, greeted everyone with her quiet smile as usual and invited them to the reading room, where cushions, torches and baskets of snacks were prepared. The plan was to read together, play games and spend the night among the books. However, Veronica's group had plans of their own - there had long been rumours of an old attic above the library where no one was allowed access. - 'Someone once saw that Mr Wozny locks the door with three locks,' whispered Bartek as soon as Ms Ela disappeared behind a bookcase. - It is said that there are things in the attic from when the school was a palace. Lena rolled her eyes, but smiled intrigued. - 'OK, let's go and check. Don't tell anyone,' she chuckled, then they set off through the dark corridor, holding torches to their hearts. The old staircase creaked with each step. The door to the attic was indeed massive, and the air smelled of dust and something else - something they could not define. Igor shone into the locks. - Two are open - he whispered, surprised. - 'Someone was here before us? Veronika was silent for a moment, listening for voices from downstairs. - Maybe the librarian? Maybe someone was cleaning? But the third lock was gone. It was hanging on the handle broken, as if someone had broken it or... or something was trying to get out. The children exchanged uncertain glances. - Shall we go in? - Lena looked at the others, and her voice trembled. Suddenly a quiet sound came from behind the door. Something, like a whisper or a light knock. All four of them held their breath. As Igor reached for the handle, the door itself slowly began to swing open, and behind it something was waiting that none of them had expected.