Julia’s warm smile and friendly attitude convinced Lori and John to hire her. They started walking together and chatting. Julia knew every corner of Evergreen Hills and loved sharing its beauty and history with visitors.

Lori and John were thrilled. Over the next few days, Julia took them on various adventures, showing them hidden waterfalls and sharing fascinating stories about the town’s history. It seemed like she had endless energy and knowledge.

One day, they visited an old, abandoned mansion on the outskirts of town. There were rumors it was haunted, and Julia’s stories about its past were both captivating and eerie.

“This mansion belonged to the Lockwood family,” Julia explained as they walked through the dusty halls. “People say strange things happen here at night. Some believe it’s haunted by the spirit of a young girl who met a tragic end.”

Lori shivered, unsure if it was the chilly air or Julia’s spooky tale. John, however, listened with keen interest.

As the week went on, Lori and John noticed something unusual about Julia. She always appeared when they needed her but was never seen coming or going. They also never saw her eat or drink. When they invited her to join them for lunch, she always declined, saying, “I’m not hungry.” Despite these oddities, they didn’t think much of it because of her excellent guidance and knowledge of the area.

On the last day of their trip, Julia suggested visiting an old cemetery in a secluded part of the forest, surrounded by tall trees and wildflowers. She led them to a specific grave.

“This is the grave of Emily Lockwood,” Julia said softly. “She was the young girl from the mansion. Some say her spirit still roams here during the monsoon.”

Lori and John felt a mix of sadness and curiosity as they gazed at the old gravestone. Suddenly, Lori noticed the dates on the grave. She gasped and turned to John. “John, look at the dates! Julia said the girl died tragically, but she never told us when. These dates… they match the time Julia claimed to have been guiding tourists!”

“Could it be,” Lori whispered, “that Julia is Emily Lockwood’s spirit?”

John hesitated. “I don’t know. Julia seems so normal. I haven’t noticed anything ghostly about her.”

He looked at the headstone, then at Julia, who stood a few feet away with an unreadable expression.

“I’m scared, John,” Lori said.

“There’s nothing to fear,” John replied calmly. “She’s been with us all week and hasn’t harmed us.”

They started walking back but soon noticed something strange. The muddy ground,where they walked before, showed only their footprints, not Julia’s.

“John,” Lori whispered, pointing to the ground. “Where are Julia’s footprints?”

John looked around. “Maybe the ground dried where she stepped?” he suggested, though he sounded unsure.

They glanced at Julia, who was walking ahead of them, her black hair flowing in the evening breeze. Everything seemed normal, yet something felt off. That evening, Julia dropped them off at their hotel with her usual warm smile before disappearing into the twilight.

The next morning, as Lori and John packed their bags to leave, Julia appeared once more. She stood silently, as if waiting for them to speak.

“Julia,” Lori hesitated, “are you… are you Emily Lockwood’s spirit?”

Julia smiled, “Yes, I am. I died many years ago, but my spirit has remained in Evergreen Hills. I love this place too much. When I saw how much you appreciated the beauty and history here, I wanted to share it with you.”

Lori and John were stunned. They had spent a week with a ghost but weren’t afraid.

“Thank you, Julia,” Lori said with a trembling voice. “You made our trip truly special.”

Julia’s form began to glow softly as her smile deepened with gratitude. “Thank you for listening to my stories and cherishing this beautiful place. These mountains are my home, and I will always be here.”

With those words, Julia’s figure faded away.

Lori and John returned to their everyday lives, but they never forgot Julia or the magical week they spent in the mountains.