‘Aren’t we going home to get the equipment, Por Por?’ I ask.

‘First I’ll do a preliminary investigation to see what we’re up against,’ she says. ‘I might be able to get rid of whatever is here fairly easily without needing to use any weapons. Sometimes that’s possible.’ She rubs her hand over the wall in the hallway then puts her ear to it. ‘You can often hear or feel the vibrations of ghostly apparitions,’ she says.

It’s getting colder by the minute as the light outside fades. Something dark and sinister is lurking in Bao Mansion. I can feel it. I shiver from the cold. And I’m beginning to feel really scared.

A breeze stirs the branches in the inner garden, rippling the surface of the lake. Shadows dance. The windowpanes tremble. Moonlight slips through the lattice window, painting circular patterns on the wooden floor.

‘It is important that you stay close behind me,’ Por Por says in a whisper. ‘And no more talking from now on, Little Cloud. We need to stay alert.’

I follow Por Por from room to room, along the narrow corridors to the servants’ quarters, then up the back stairs to the bedrooms.

Por Por must have eyes like a cat, she walks so sure and fast. She stops a moment then changes direction as if she’s picked up the scent of something. The gap between us gets wider and wider until she is just a shadow. She disappears around a corner.

Wait, Por Por! I want to call out. But I know I have to be quiet.

I see something cross the garden, open a sliding door, and slip into a room. Was that Por Por? Surely she isn’t that tall or that big. But the night can play tricks with your eyes.

I stop and look around, watching and listening. Panic rises in my chest. I hurry after the shadow and enter the room. A thick blanket of darkness envelops me.

‘Por Por?’ I whisper.

My voice locks in fright as I see the shape of a man standing by the window. It’s the ghost of Bao Mansion!

Then I hear Por Por call from another room.

‘I’m in here!’ I yell as I stare at the figure, my legs too weak to move.

Por Por steps through the door and is beside me in a moment. When she sees the ghost by the window she quickly shields me. Then she raises her arms and begins to perform a series of strange hand signs. She joins her fingers together, makes a steeple with them, taps her palms, claps three times and then points at the ghost.

He staggers a moment as if he’s been struck, but then he stands up again taller than before. A horrible raspy laugh knocks Por Por to the ground. She’s up in a flash, though. This time she begins to chant in a low rumbling voice. I’m trying to breathe but it’s as if the ghost is sucking all the air out of the room.

I hear Por Por gasping for air, too.

‘What can I do to help, Por Por?’ I ask.

‘Stay back,’ she says, sternly.

Then I see another shadow, small and quick, dart into the room and take up a position beside Por Por. It’s Ting Ting!

Without turning her head, Por Por says, ‘Ting Ting, quickly. Use the Ten Star mudra.’

Ting Ting gets into position, hands at the ready. Together they direct the hand signs at the ghost in perfect unison. It’s as if Ting Ting is Por Por’s shadow, their timing is so perfect. The ghost staggers, looks as if he’s growing weaker, then looms up again. The air is even thinner now and we’re all gasping, our throats burning as if the room is filled with smoke. I want to help but I don’t know what to do.

Then that weird thing happens to me again. I open my mouth and I begin to sing. This time the notes are as hard and sharp as a sword, and I aim them straight at the ghost’s heart.

He stumbles.

I give it everything I’ve got. With so little air in the room, it’s hard to sing, but I strain my lungs until they feel as if they’re going to burst. Por Por and Ting Ting accompany my wild song with their hand signs and chanting.

The ghost’s face stretches and he opens his mouth and roars. His eyes are like black holes. A wind rages around the room and it feels as if the place is going to explode.

Then everything goes quiet.

We stand in the darkness, waiting for the next attack. But the ghost has gone.

‘I could feel his power, Por,’ Ting Ting says, breaking the silence that surrounds us. ‘He was stronger than any ghost I’ve ever met.’

Por Por sighs. ‘And that, I’m afraid, was only the first battle.’

‘The first battle?’ I say.

Por Por seems reluctant to say any more. Then she turns to Ting Ting and rubs her back with affection. ‘It is good to have you with us again.’

Ting Ting smiles and nods.

We walk outside and Por Por locks the door of Bao Mansion. This time I don’t feel the excitement I felt when we captured the ghost-bed. I’m exhausted and my throat is so sore from my ghost song. But it’s not just that. I feel a sickening fear that I can’t explain. Ting Ting said that the ghost of Bao Mansion was stronger than any ghost she had ever met. And Por Por said that this was only the first battle. What did she mean? Who is this ghost and what does it want?