Mia listened to the lecturer talk on and on about history. Mostly she was very attentive in class but today she was finding it difficult to concentrate, and, this was because she had stayed up all night browsing websites after websites for any job vacancies, which she ended up getting none. 

She even thought about going back to her former boss at the pizza place to beg him for her job back, but decided against it because he had already made up his mind. It wasn't her fault that she was late for work three days in a row. The traffic in the city was too much and the bus sometimes delayed. 

Her mind was clouded by the thought of her getting evicted by her landlord because she was three months behind on rent. Life has not been easy for her after the sudden death of her parents who were involved in a car accident on their way to her high school graduation. Thankfully, she had secured a scholarship that covered her tuition throughout her stay in college. Yet, she couldn't afford to pay for the small one bedroom apartment she has secured close to her school. 

Class ended for the day and Mia quickly walked out of the school and straight to her apartment. She had not taken breakfast before she left and it was already 2pm. Now her stomach was begging her to fill it. She walked to her fridge to see if there was anything edible inside. She glanced inside the empty fridge that had only some leftover spaghetti and a bottle of water. 

Mia knew she had to go grocery shopping but her problem was, with which money? 

She pulled out the bowl of spaghetti from the fridge and tossed it into her microwave before moving to the study desk in the corner of her room. 

She opened the old laptop, which was on of the things her parents had gifted her and began her search for jobs, praying she would get one before the week ends. 

After browsing through a dozen sites and scrolling through a long number of job listings, she found one that caught her attention, just as she was about to give up hope.

A mix of curiosity and urgency sparked within her; it was an unusual job, but it might just be the opportunity she needed to make ends meet.

She leaned closer to the screen, reading the details with a furrowed brow. The position required someone reliable and detail-oriented, qualities she believed she possessed. As she thought about the responsibilities, a strange sense of calm washed over her. Cleaning graves might seem morbid to some, but she imagined it as a way to honor the memories of those who had passed. It could provide her with the income she desperately needed while allowing her to reflect on life and loss in a profound way. She scrolled down until she saw the amount the person was willing to pay for that grave to be clean. If she could get this job, she could pay her one month rent in a blink of an eye and even fill up her fridge. The person also attached a side note which said they were going to pay her the same day, which was today if she could clean the grave today. With a determined sigh, she decided to apply, hoping this unexpected path would lead her to something meaningful.

The microwave dinged for her attention and she quickly went to grab her food. She sat on her bed since she didn't have a sofa or a couch, and devoured her meal, praying she would get the job. She glanced at her laptop every now and then expecting a notification to pop up. Minutes passed and still nothing.

After eating, she washed her plate and checked her laptop for the last time but there was nothing.

She rolled her eyes and yawned lazily before deciding to rest her eyes and finish up some assignments.

——————

Mia didn't know how long she had been sleeping but her phone jolted her awake. She stared at the unknown number calling and decided to hang up and go back to sleep when she remembered she had applied for a job and had uploaded her number.

She immediately answered the call and brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello?" She proceeded with caution.

"Am I speaking to Anna Mia Harper," an elderly man's voice sounded from the other end.

"Yes, it's me."

"Ok, you filled the job application and I was calling to let you know you've been hired."

Mia couldn't believe her ears.

"R…really?" She mumbled.

"Yes, but it's pretty late. Will you be willing to do the work today?"

"Yes! Yes sir, I'm ready. You have no idea how much this means to me," Mia said hastily.

"Ok then come to the Whispering Pines before 4:30."

The location made her heart drop. This was the same cemetery that has been abandoned for goodness knows how long. It was said that the place was cursed and no one had been there for like ages.

"Hello, Miss, are you there?" The old man's voice pulled her to the present.

"Uhhhh….yes. But sir, I didn't hear the location," Mia said trying to be sure if her ears weren't tricking her.

She heard the man chuckle before repeating "Whispering pines ."

Her phone form an "O" before she spoke.

"Ok, I'll see you there."

Mia had heard the stories—Whispering Pines was infamous in her town for the strange occurrences that happened after dark. Locals spoke of ghostly figures wandering among the tombstones and whispers carried by the wind. Despite her initial apprehension, Mia felt a thrill of adventure. She needed the job and was determined to face her fears. 

'After all, these were just stories right?' She tried to convince herself. 

She walked to the bathroom and took a quick shower since it was already 3:45. She slipped into a pair of faded jeans and a white long sleeved shirt, she paired it with a pair of black shoes she thrifted and walked out of her apartment.

She arrived at the cemetery just as twilight settled in. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness, and the moon cast a silvery glow on the weathered gravestones. As she walked into the pearly gates , she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. 

'Calm down Mia, don't let those stories get to you," she told herself, whiles looking around nervously.

The wind rustled through the trees, creating an almost melodic whisper. Just as she was about to dismiss her nerves, she heard a soft "hi" echoing in the distance. Mia's heart raced as she turned, but there was no one in sight.

Determined to prove her courage, Mia's continued to walk. Praying silently that she would see the old man nearby. 

'Stupid me, I didn't even ask for his name,' Mia reprimanded herself. She pulled out her phone to call the man as she kept looking around. The call rang several times but there was no answer. 

The nervousness she had pushed aside earlier was slowly coming back to her. She felt the breath of someone on her neck sending chills down her spine. She quickly turned back but she was met with no one. 

Suddenly, she spotted a flicker of light near an old oak tree. Curiosity piqued, she approached, her heart pounding in her chest. As she drew closer, the light revealed itself to be an old man, probably in his late seventies. 

"Congratulations, you passed the test," the old man smiled. 

'Are you kidding me?' Mia wanted to tell but she needed money and she didn't want to make any wrong move. 

"What do you mean?" She asked him. 

"Most people would have run but you chose to stay so congratulations," the old man said flashing a smile. 

"Follow me," he instructed before Mia could respond. Mia had no choice but to nod and follow him.

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the cemetery. Mia sighed, while following the old man to the grave she was supposed to clean.The air was filled with the soft whispers of the evening breeze, rustling the leaves of nearby trees. She held a small bucket filled with cleaning materials—soapy water, a cloth, and a brush—her hands trembling slightly with a mix of determination and fear. 

'Breath Mia, breath,' she kept telling herself. 

Her heart began to beat louder as they walked deep into the cemetery. 

"S…sir, aren't we there yet?" She asked, her voice trembling from how cold the place was. It seemed like the deeper they went the colder it became. 

"Have some patience kid," the old man said without turning to look at her. 

Mia frowned, cursing herself for accepting this job. 

'How can I accept a to clean a grave at night? That too all alone." She sighed, feeling exhausted. 

'What if it's not actually a job? What if she was in danger? What if the old man had people waiting to kidnap her?' 

With each passing moment, the shadows grew longer, and the first stars began to twinkle in the deepening twilight. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of her exhaustion. Now there were no more graves in sight, just trees and grass, and the crickets chirping in the grass. A few fireflies glowed beautifully too but Mia didn't have the time to admire their beauty. 

"Here, this is what you're supposed to clean," the man said, making her realize they had gotten to their destination. 

Mia stared at the tombstone standing steadfast with a huge statue of a man sitting on a throne. 

Was the person a king? Or maybe a rich man? Who was this person who owned this extravagant tombstone? What happened to his family? Why isn't anyone taking care of his grave? Have they forgotten about him? Was he a good person when he was alive?

Judging my his tombstone and how big and isolated it was, he was probably a good and wealthy person.

'I mean who would go through such lengths for a bad person who died?' Mia shrugged.