It was a warm summer evening when Emily's twelfth birthday party began. Her parents had gone all out this year, transforming their backyard into a festive wonderland. Balloons and streamers adorned the trees, and a long table covered in a bright tablecloth was laden with snacks and a massive cake. The scent of barbecue mingled with the sweet aroma of freshly cut grass.

Emily's friends arrived, bringing laughter and excitement with them. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the party. Games were played, presents were opened, and the sound of children's laughter filled the air.

As twilight deepened into night, Emily's mother brought out the birthday cake. Candles flickered in the gentle breeze, and everyone gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday." Emily closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles in one breath. The crowd cheered.

Then, out of nowhere, a high-pitched giggle echoed through the backyard. It was a sound none of them recognized, and it sent a chill down Emily's spine. She looked around, but everyone was accounted for. The laughter seemed to come from the shadows just beyond the glow of the patio lights.

"Did you hear that?" Emily whispered to her best friend, Lisa.

Lisa nodded, her eyes wide. "It sounded like a little girl."

"Maybe it's just one of the kids playing a prank," Emily's mother said, trying to brush it off. But the unease lingered.

The children went back to playing, but Emily couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. As the evening wore on, the strange laughter continued to intermittently pierce the night, each time sounding closer.

Finally, Emily decided to investigate. She grabbed a flashlight and motioned for Lisa to follow her. They crept toward the edge of the backyard, where the shadows grew thicker. The beam of the flashlight cut through the darkness, but revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Suddenly, the giggle rang out again, right next to Emily's ear. She spun around, shining the light wildly. There, at the edge of the trees, stood a little girl. She wore an old-fashioned white dress, stained with dirt and grime. Her hair hung in tangled locks around her pale face, and her eyes were dark and hollow.

"Who are you?" Emily managed to stammer.

The girl tilted her head and smiled, revealing a row of sharp, decaying teeth. "I'm here for the party," she whispered, her voice like dry leaves rustling.

Lisa grabbed Emily's arm, pulling her back toward the safety of the lights. They ran, their hearts pounding in their chests, but the ghostly giggle followed them.

Back at the table, the adults were chatting, oblivious to the terror the girls had encountered. Emily tried to explain what they had seen, but no one believed her. "It's just your imagination," her father said. "There's no such thing as ghosts."

But Emily knew what she had seen. She felt the icy presence of the girl lingering at the edge of the party, watching, waiting. As the guests began to leave and the night grew quieter, Emily stayed close to the light, her eyes darting to the shadows.

It wasn't until everyone had gone home and Emily was lying in bed that she heard the giggle again, this time inside her room. She turned over and saw the little girl standing at the foot of her bed, her dark eyes boring into Emily's soul.

"Happy birthday, Emily," the ghost whispered, and then she was gone, leaving behind a chilling cold that would haunt Emily for the rest of her life.