Juliusz Słowacki High School stood out not only for its size, but also for its ... atmosphere, especially in late autumn. At that time, the corridors would sink into twilight and the leaves dancing in the wind would peek out from behind the large windows. In this school they met: Ala, who loved logic puzzles; Bartek, the master of computers; Lena, whom no one could talk down to; and Igor, always hiding a drawing notebook under his sweatshirt. They had been friends since first grade. After lessons, instead of going home, they sometimes stayed in the library, doing their own puzzles or playing board games. One Tuesday, as the school was emptying after the last sounds of the bell, Al noticed something strange. Through the ajar door of the old storage room in the C wing, the floor looked as if it didn't end at the wall, but fell lower. She told her friends about it. - 'Maybe it was just the rubbish truck that left a mark,' joked Bartek, but they went to check. Delving into a forgotten corridor, they walked carefully, tripping over piles of cardboard boxes. Suddenly, Lena pressed her shoe against something hard. A metal handle protruded from the floor. Alla was already kneeling down to try to pick it up, and the boys watched intently. After a moment, with a quiet rasp, the gates opened, revealing a dark corridor leading downwards. - Who would have thought there was anything else in this school where no one looks? - whispered Igor, clutching his notebook tighter. - Are we going down? - Asked Lena, looking defiantly at the others. From Bartek's pocket the torchlight on his phone flashed. They descended one by one down the narrow stone staircase. The lower they went down, the more they smelled dust and something else.... old paint perhaps? Eventually they reached a heavy door, on which hung a sign that read 'Workshop 0'. Ala pressed her ear to the door. Someone's voice rang out on the other side - quiet, indistinct, as if whispering something under his breath. They looked at each other, their hearts began to beat faster. Without a word, Bartek grabbed the door handle. At the same moment, the light on the phone flicked on and.... went out. In the darkness they heard the voice again. This time clearer. - Who is here? No one knew what was hiding on the other side of the door, but one thing was certain: this afternoon would always remain in their memories.