Sam turned to find a small figure dressed in a skirt, knee socks, flats, and a sweater with a gigantic bunny on it standing there, staring at him with pure curiosity. She tilted her head, brown hair cascading down one shoulder. Sam just stared, unable to respond.

"They really didn't change..." the girl huffed, crossing her arms and straightening her head abruptly. Sam continued to stare, eyes drawn to the faint white shimmer that resided around the girl. She noticed him staring and held out her hand.

"Rachel Babara Berry. Resident ghost at McKinley High," the girl said proudly, making to grab Sam's hand, which he had unconsciously raised. Instead of gripping his hand like she wanted it to, Rachel's hand simply passed through his fingers smoothly. Sam shivered slightly and Rachel let out a huff of disgust, raising her hand to her face.

"Forgot," she said darkly, "that we pass through." She suddenly let out a heartbreaking sigh and dropped her hand, looking dejectedly at the ground. Sam seemed to remember where he was and why he was there in that second.

"Hey," he said quietly, voice cracking, "how do I get out? I don't want to be here..." He trailed off, watching Rachel shake her head.

"You can't leave. Sorry."

"But... why?" Rachel flinched at the desperate tone in his voice.

"Because," she said slowly, "it's locked. I want to help you. I really do. But, as you felt, I wouldn't be much help in that department." Rachel shrugged apologetically.

Sam, feeling overwhelmed, sank to the ground and put his face in his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. He heard the rustle of clothing next to him and knew without looking that the girl had sunk down to sit beside him.

"I know what it's like... to feel like you want... have to get out." he heard her say softly. Sam lifted his head and looked at her. She was staring into space, face angled downward. Her eyes shined with past memories.

"I used to think that I was meant to get out of here. Be a star. You know I used to put star stickers after my name?" She chuckled lightly, but it broke in a soft sob at the end. "Then that... bastard had to take it away." Sam reached his hand out to comfort her, but retracted it at the last moment.

"Who was it," he whispered, "that killed you?"

Rachel seemed to get a grip on the present, straightening her neck and turning her head to stare at him. She seemed to not be seeing him, perhaps trying to remember, but the gaze still made him uncomfortable, and he looked away.

"I..." she scrunched up her face in concentration. "I don't know," she sighed at last.

Sam sighed with her, then remembered something.

"Hey, didn't you say we before?"

Rachel jumped up suddenly, beckoning with her hand to him. Her face no longer held its somber expression; she was smiling from ear-to-ear. Sam stood up quickly, following her command.

"Come on! You gotta meet 'em!"

Sam shrugged to himself. What harm could it do?