Katie froze in shock. “Young lady, don’t tell me... Are you afraid of ghost stories?”

She approached Hailey and observed her expression, only to realize that Hailey’s face had turned even paler than before, as if the hot soup hadn’t warmed her at all. Ghost stories appeared to have exacerbated her paleness.

Katie apologized profusely. “My apologies, young lady! I didn’t know you were afraid, or else I wouldn’t have said anything.”

Hailey seemed upset. “It’s ...