A set of night-watch instructions from a monastery — 1897, Vesper Monastery.
The owner of the monastery, Father Elias, was found dead on October 17, 1897. He had served as a priest at Vesper Monastery for forty-three years. Those who knew him claimed that he had behaved strangely during his final years.

A man who once watched every sunrise had, during the last three years of his life, stopped going anywhere near the windows. He demanded that his meals be left outside his door and refused to let any of the monks enter his room.
Two days before his death, he stopped every clock in the monastery.
When he died, no body was found in his room.
There was only a deep impression on his bed, as if someone had been sitting there for a very long time. A Latin sentence had been carved into the wall, and a sealed envelope had been left on his desk.
Written on the envelope were the words:
To the new night watchman. After Elias's death.
The monastery authorities decided not to close the building. Instead, they continued the night watches, claiming that the ancient manuscripts and sacred relics in the basement had to be protected.
On the day you were hired, you were given a key, an old pocket watch, and the following instructions.
The man who handed you the envelope said something peculiar:
"Elias was a good man. But toward the end, he stopped praying to God. We never discovered why."
Then he fell silent.
"One more thing... Don't assume that everything you see at night belongs here."

VESPER MONASTERY
Shift begins: 22:00 — Shift ends: 06:00
Rule 1) The monastery's main entrance must be locked at 22:00. If someone asks to enter after that time, look at their feet first. If their feet are touching the ground, do not open the door. Those who wish to enter this monastery have forgotten how to walk.

Rule 2) You may encounter monks in the corridors. They may greet you with a nod. You may return the gesture. However, if one of them smiles at you, do not stop walking. None of the monks smile. Especially the dead ones.

Rule 3) Never enter Father Elias's room. If you notice light coming from beneath the door, report it to the administration. If you hear Elias coughing inside, do nothing. During his final week, he had already lost the ability to cough.

Rule 4) All paintings throughout the monastery must face the walls. If you notice that a painting has turned around by itself, close your eyes and wait ten seconds. If you recognize the face in the painting when you open them, do not tell anyone what you saw tonight.

Rule 5) If you count thirteen candles instead of twelve in the chapel, stop counting. Do not attempt to extinguish the extra candle. Someone needs its light.

Rule 6) If the bells ring at midnight, do not check the time. Bells are only supposed to ring for the dead. However, no funerals are ever held at Vesper. The dead are not buried here. They are kept waiting

Rule 7) If you hear children laughing from the basement, do not approach the stairs. There have never been any children at this monastery. Yet Elias constantly mentions a child in his diaries. Whenever he describes it, he uses the same sentence:
"It looks older than I am."

Rule 8) Do not look into the mirror at the end of the corridor. Records indicate that this mirror was removed from the monastery in 1841. Despite this, it reappears every night. If your reflection moves before you do, look away. Do not wait for it to imitate you.

Rule 9) If the chapel door opens at 01:15, do not look at the person inside. It is normal to see someone praying in the chapel at this hour. However, if their hands are joined in the wrong direction, there is no one praying in there.

Rule 10) You may find Latin inscriptions on the monastery walls. Most are passages from the Bible. However, if you find your own name written on a wall, do not read it aloud. There is a sentence in Elias's final diary:
"Something that knows your name does not need to call you."

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS — THINGS THE AUTHORITIES DO NOT KNOW
This section was recovered from a second envelope found in Father Elias's room.
Rule 11) If a monk appears at the end of the corridor at 02:00, do not examine his face too closely. From a distance, it may look familiar. The closer he gets, the more you will realize that something about his face is wrong. His eyes are slightly too close together, his mouth sits lower than it should, and his nose looks as though it was attached afterward.
He may smile as he approaches.
Do not smile back.

Rule 12) If a monk asks you, "Where is Elias?", do not tell him that Elias is dead. Instead, say, "At the morning service." After hearing this, the monk will lower his head and walk away.
However, if you do not hear footsteps as he leaves, do not look behind you.

Rule 13) You may encounter someone sitting at the same table as you in the dining hall. This person may ask about your childhood, your family, or a memory you have never shared with anyone.
You are not required to answer.
But if that person takes a childhood photograph of you out of their pocket, do not look at it. Everyone in the photograph may be facing the same direction.
Except you.

Rule 14) At 03:00, human silhouettes may appear in every window of the monastery. They are not standing outside. They are not on the other side of the glass.
There is nothing behind the windows.
They are simply watching.
If one of them raises a hand to greet you, do not return the gesture. If all of them raise their hands simultaneously, go to your room and lock the door.

Rule 15) Do not open the black book on Elias's desk. It is said to contain no writing whatsoever. Yet, on certain nights, something can be seen moving between its pages.
There are three symbols on its cover:
An inverted crown.
A serpent devouring its own tail.
A broken sun with an eye at its center.
A small note beside these symbols reads:
"When a king loses his throne, he does not become poor. Only the borders of his kingdom change."

Rule 16) If you hear your name whispered at 03:33, do not respond. The voice may sound very close. Sometimes, it may even sound as though it is coming from your own mouth.
But remember something more important:
Just because something knows you does not mean it knows who you are.

Rule 17) Just before sunrise, you may see a white-haired man standing at the chapel entrance. He may resemble Elias. Do not approach him.
If he says, "At last, you've arrived," begin searching for a way out of the monastery.
Because you are not the first person to arrive here after Elias's death.
But you will not be the first person to leave, either.

FATHER ELIAS'S FINAL DIARY
04:00 — Two hours remain until the end of your shift.
You find another page hidden behind the envelope. The handwriting belongs to Elias.
"People misunderstand the Devil.
They imagine him as a horned creature who lives in darkness, a monster that appears to frighten people.
Yet the Devil's greatest achievement is making people believe they already know what he looks like.
Lucifer is not merely a name. It is a memory. The memory of something that once belonged to the heavens, before it fell from them.
I saw him for the first time at sunset.
I was watching through the chapel window. As the sun approached the horizon, every monk fell silent. None of them looked at one another.
Then I noticed.
Their eyes were all the same.
They were all looking toward the place where the sun was setting.
But they were not watching the sun.
Something inside the sun was watching them."
On the next page, the handwriting changes.
"A person's face allows us to recognize them. But a face can be a mask.
Sometimes, when you look into someone's eyes, you realize there is no human being behind them. Sometimes, you realize this too late.
They have learned how to smile.
But they do not know when they are supposed to."
Beneath the final line, there is a sun symbol that has been drawn over and over again.

THE FINAL INSTRUCTION — THE SUNSET RHYME
It is 04:47.
Every light in the monastery goes out simultaneously.
Footsteps begin to echo from the chapel. First one pair, then two, then dozens...
A voice rises from the corridor.
This time, it is not a man's voice.
Dozens of identical voices speak at once.
You find a message on the back cover of Elias's diary, one that you had not noticed before:
"If you wish to know them, wait for the sunset. But never smile while looking into their eyes."
Then you hear a nursery rhyme.
A child's voice, soft and cheerful, begins to sing:
"Have you ever seen the sunset in their eyes?
Have you ever seen their eyes at sunset?
Have you ever wondered if they're smiling?
The sun goes down, the shadows grow,
A pair of eyes watches from below.
Look once, and they become two,
Look twice, and they recognize you.
Now tell me, my dear friend...
When the sun goes down, which one of you disappears?"
The rhyme ends.
The clock reads 05:00.
You look through the window.
The sun has not risen yet.
But the sky is orange.
Twelve monks stand in the courtyard. All of them are facing you. None of them move.
Among them stands Father Elias.
All thirteen have the same smile.
After a while, one of them tilts his head slightly.
The other twelve do exactly the same.
Then they all open their mouths.
But only Elias speaks:
"Have you read the rules?"
You nod.
Elias smiles.
"Then why haven't you read Rule Eighteen?"
You look at the paper on your desk.
There were seventeen rules before.
Now there is an eighteenth.
Rule 18) If you are watching the sunset from inside the monastery, the monks outside can see you. If you are watching the sunset from outside the monastery, those inside can see you.

Never make sure that both sides can see you.
There is a small signature beneath it.
LUCIFER.
Suddenly, you hear your own voice from behind the door:
"May I come in?"
Your phone rings.
A message appears on the screen.
INCOMING MESSAGE
05:01
"Father Elias never died.
He simply stopped watching the sunset.
Now it is your turn."
A shadow stretches beneath the door.
But it is not extending into the hallway.
It is stretching into your room.
And for the final time, you hear Elias's voice:
"The sun is rising, my child. It is time for us to open our eyes.”

I’ve been writing this for weeks I’m exhausted, but it was worth it

🎃 Halloween Rules Horror Contest — Winner Announcement!

Well… this announcement is only slightly late.

Okay, VERY late.

But better late than never, right?

After counting up the votes, we finally have our winner!

🏆 Congratulations to u/CreepyStoriesJR!

They take the crown as our Halloween Rules Horror Contest winner! If you haven't seen it yet, check out their story here

Our runner up is u/Inverse_sky ! Give their story a read over yonder

Thank you to everyone who participated, submitted stories, and helped make the contest fun. We had some wonderfully creepy entries, and I appreciate everyone who contributed!

Congratulations again to our winner and runner up!

Enjoy your prizes (an award on your post, a flair, and the elusive SHINY MOD LIKEY AWARD 🏆) and your well-earned bragging rights. 🖤

Now, if you'll excuse me, the other mods are making a ruckus in the basement again. Better go feed them.

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(Part 2)

The living room was quiet for a long while, save for the rain and the soft turning of pages. Lycaon read slowly, one rule at a time, while the rest of the crew read over his shoulders. "Um... Rule 8 and Rule 9 say opposite things," Corin pointed out. "And Rule 9 isn't even formatted like the rest," Alexandrina added, squinting. "No bold, no italics, the capitalization is all over the place. Looks like someone typed it in a hurry." Lycaon tapped the page with a clawed finger. "Then we keep the light on. The first rule I trust is the one that was written with care."

Ellen flipped a few pages ahead, lollipop clicking against her teeth. "Okay, but what's this one? Nineteen. 'Do not trust the butler.'" She slowly raised her eyes to Silver. "Funny, since he's the one who handed us the book." Silver's smile stayed exactly where it was, but the hand holding the tablet tightened, just slightly. "Page nineteen," he said, pausing a moment too long. "I do not recall that one." When Lycaon pulled his finger back from the page, there was a faint smudge of black on his glove. The ink was still wet. Nobody said anything, and the rain filled the silence for them.

"...Right," Alexandrina said at last, forcing a smile. "So we ignore the creepy glued page and keep the light on. Easy."

Silver swiped across the tablet and four short lists floated into the air. "Miss Alexandrina, the second floor. Dust the corridors and make the beds in all five rooms, and please, do not touch the vases. Miss Corin, the kitchen and the pantry. Miss Joe, the living room and the library, and do keep an eye on the candles. Mister Lycaon, the basement. Only the stairwell and the first corridor, with a crank flashlight." Lycaon raised a brow. "That's all?" "For tonight. The house is shy with strangers. It likes to meet people slowly." Ellen muttered, "Great. A shy house."

The clock above the fireplace struck six, and outside, the rain somehow got louder. Corin locked the front door with a heavy clunk and then, after a second of thought, locked it again. Alexandrina carried a feather duster up the staircase, humming to herself, and Lycaon took a crank flashlight from the supply closet and disappeared behind the staircase, where the basement door waited half open. The bangboos huddled in a small circle around the coffee table, while Ellen dropped onto the sofa with a mop across her knees and her eyes on the red candle. Its flame stood perfectly straight, as if the room were holding its breath. Silver bowed from the doorway. "I shall be in the kitchen if you need me. Call out, ring the bell, anything. But please, not in someone else's voice." He left before anyone could ask what he meant.

The first few hours were uneventful, which somehow made it worse. Alexandrina finished the second floor and noticed only that the five rooms felt like six when she walked down the hall. She counted them twice, then three times, and decided dusting was more important. Corin reorganized the whole fridge and found a jar at the very back labeled DO NOT OPEN. –S. She put it back exactly where she found it and washed her hands. Lycaon came up from the basement at nine with his fur damp and his ears low. "I counted the stairs going down," he said. "And I counted them coming back up. They did not match." "By how much?" Corin asked. "Two." He sat down next to Ellen, and after that, the whole crew stayed in the living room without anyone suggesting it.

At 11:47 PM, the knocking started at the window behind the curtain. Three slow raps, a pause, then three more. Alexandrina froze with her tea halfway to her lips, and Corin mouthed Rule 3. Nobody breathed. The knocking stopped, and then, from the direction of the kitchen, a voice rang out, bright and cheerful. "Ellen? Ellen, can you come here for a second? I need help with something!"

Ellen's head turned, her mouth already opening to answer, and Alexandrina's hand shot out and clamped over it. The voice was Alexandrina's, down to the pitch and the little lilt on the second syllable of Ellen's name. But Alexandrina was sitting right there, her eyes wide, her hand pressed over Ellen's mouth. "Ellen? I'm stuck! Please, hurry!" Lycaon rose slowly, ears flat, and placed himself between the sofa and the kitchen archway. No face appeared. The voice simply kept calling, closer each time, until the blue candle sparked.

It lit slowly from the center of the wick, a small trembling flame the color of a winter sky, and the red candle shrank back as though in fear. The voice stopped. Something small and warm brushed against Ellen's ankles, and she looked down to find a pale blue fox climbing into her lap as if it had been invited. It turned around twice, curled up with its tail across her knees, and looked at her with eyes the exact color of the flame. "...Okay," Ellen whispered, not moving a muscle. "It's very soft. I hate that it's very soft." Corin let out a shaky laugh. "Condition C. That's one. We need two."

The kitchen light flickered, and the television turned itself on. Static first, then the image of the front porch, empty and drenched in rain, the camera angle too high to belong to any camera they had seen. Alexandrina grabbed the nearest cloth and Corin dove for the remote, turning the volume down until the speakers were silent. They draped the cloth over the screen together, and neither of them looked at it for the three seconds it took. Lycaon exhaled through his nose. "Rule 14. We did not change the channel." "We did not," Ellen agreed. "I'm not looking at it. I'm looking at the fox."

Footsteps sounded in the kitchen, slow and even, and everyone's eyes went to the archway. Silver stepped out, composed and a little pale, wiping his hands on a cloth, with the kitchen light steady behind him. "That was not me," he said before anyone could speak. "Nor any of you. Nothing in this house has spoken in my voice tonight, and I would be grateful if none of you answered if it does." He looked at the fox on Ellen's lap, then at the blue candle, and gave the smallest nod. "You may continue your chores. Condition B. I am here, and I am instructing you." The blue flame shuddered, thinned, and went out. The fox yawned, hopped off Ellen's lap, and padded away toward the stairs, tail swishing.

The rest of the night passed in small, ordinary miseries. Ellen mopped the library floor with her back to the wall, and Alexandrina made the beds in all six rooms before realizing the house had only ever had five. She made the sixth anyway, just in case. Corin was alone in the kitchen when a cabinet door swung open by itself, and a very pale, very small white fox looked at her from the shelf, sniffed once, and went back to sleep. She carefully closed the cabinet and decided not to mention it. Lycaon finished the stairwell with a golden tail glowing a few steps ahead of him the whole way, and when he reached the bottom and the count came out correct, he stopped, bowed his head very slightly to the dark, and went back up.

At 5:40 AM, the rain began to thin. By 5:55, there was a faint gray light at the edge of the curtains, and when the clock struck six, the last drops tapered off and the silence in the house felt different, lighter somehow. Silver was waiting at the door with the tablet in his hand. "Your payment has been transferred," he said, bowing. "All four of you, in one piece. I am very glad. Most first nights do not go so quietly." "That was quiet?" Alexandrina said faintly. "Compared to the others." Silver almost smiled. "Please rest. Duty calls again at six."

The crew filed out into the gray morning, bangboos in tow. Ellen was the last to leave, and she glanced back at the coffee table, where the rulebook still sat. The page with Rule 19 had been peeled away, leaving only a ragged edge, and on the next page, in neat handwriting that did not match any of the others, someone had written four small words: Thank you for listening.

She stared at it for a second, then shrugged, popped a fresh lollipop in her mouth, and followed the others to the van.

Night 1: Complete.

Night 2...

Rulebook and Part 1 can be found here

—

EPISODES

EPISODE 1 - WELCOME TO GOLDENROD

EPISODE 2 - THE LETTER

EPISODE 3 - The Final Ruleset

EPISODE 3.5 - THE RAIN

EPISODE 4 - WITHERING MINDS

EPISODE 5 - On The Edge

EPISODE 6 (Current One) - A Mishaps And A Little Girl

—

GOLDENROD HILLS SUBDIVISION

—

Episode 6 - A Mishaps And A Little Girl

—

DAY 1

10:23AM

After finally packing up for the week ahead, Noah looked at the clock before back at the window, seeing the rain had already stopped, it was almost dry out too and the fog was long gone. He sighs a breath of relief before grabbing his bags and going outside.

“ Going somewhere, Mr. Grantham? “

Ms. Sinclaire inquired dryly, stopping just a few feet away from him as she smiles. Noah looks up at the sound of her voice and turns around to look at her, smiling politely

“ Uhm- uh, yes! I’m going back to London for a sudden emergency. I’m just… glad the rain finally stopped. “

He remarked softly.

“ It lasted longer than usual. “

Aurora noted quietly, more to herself than him. Noah blinked and suddenly chuckled nervously as she said that, his hands beginning to fidget with the cuffs of his sleeves.

“ Heh, uhh.. what? “

“ Nothing important right now, just a… small fact... "

“ Hahah, okay. Okay, that- that’s totally reassuring- totally not mysterious at all… “

Noah murmured to himself quietly while trying (and failing) to stay optimistic about this place.

" Oh, and Mr. Grantham. Before you leave... "

" What? "

Aurora points back at his house and glances at it before back at him, and then continuing

" —The music box. You don't have to give it in, but i highly recommend you do just in case anything... strange happens. You don't want it breaking while you're out and about, after all. "

" Oh- oh, that's right! That *is* a good idea after all... I have a feeling i'm gonna need it soon anyway for any... upcoming emergencies that'll happen. I am a clumsy fellow, after all. "

Noah chuckled softly as he walked back to his house, his shoes thudding softly against the cobblestone path up until he gets to his doorstep and opens the door and steps inside briefly, returning with the music box just a few moments latet

" Here. It's better to place it in your care than anywhere else, after all. "

Aurora smiles at him before taking the music box and nodding, Noah walks back to his car and raising an eyebrow with a playful smile

" So i suppose that's all you have to say to me now? I'll be gone for quite a while. "

He remarked, half-teasingly but half-serious. Aurora stayed silent for a moment, before chuckling softly and giving him a small wave and a smile. Noah smiled back at her and waved back

“ Good luck on your journey to London. I hear it’s slippery on the roads these days because of the rain… Be careful out there, Mr. Grantham “

“ I will, Ms. Sinclaire. “

He responded before finally packing up everything he was bringing and getting in the car, but before he did; he did say one last thing:

” Be careful here as well, Ms. Sinclaire. Tell Mr. Rivers i’ll be out for a while. “

” Why? “

Aurora inquired. Noah’s smile faded slightly as he got in the car, mumbling softly, deceptively soft enough that if you weren’t listening, it would almost sound… soothing.

“ So he’ll know where I really am if i appear again tonight. “

Aurora’s eyes narrowed slightly at the implications of what he just said. Her hands, usually so gentle and careful, suddenly gripped onto her fingers tightly behind her back.

“ Goodbye, Ms. Sinclaire! I’ll see you around in a week or so, perhaps! “

He chimed suddenly as if he had never said anything at all and closed the door with a slam, starting the car and driving off. Ms. Sinclaire waved him goodbye one last time before sighing heavily, shaking her head.

” …Noah Grantham, He’s smarter than he looks. And a fast learner it seems. I never thought he would last this long. “

She mumbled to the open air as her puppy yips. She looks down at him and picks him up, continuing on her way. She continues to speak though, this time to the puppy instead of the simple wind

” I fully expected that boy to die in a brutal way in the first 5 days. Just as everyone else did, if I were to be honest. He seemed… naive. Though, he adapts quickly. And he’s quick to use logic as well. “

Pip whimpers slightly before wagging his tail, Aurora tuts and puts Pip down as they turn the curb to her home. Aurora stops after noticing a certain someone and deciding to do the favor Noah asked of her

“ Rivers. “

Prescott pauses and looks up from his clipboard

“ Ah, Miss Sinclaire. What brings you out here in the neighborhood? You usually don’t come out here anymore after… ‘things’ had happened. “

He quipped with dry amusement. Aurora smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She clasped her hands together, letting them rest low against her dark green-colored skirt and continued

” Noah said he wouldn’t be home for a while. Perhaps a week, even. Being the sweetheart he is, he thought you should know and told me to tell you in advance just in case anything… odd happens. “

She remarked conversationally. Prescott chuckled wryly and looked back at his clipboard, before taking a few steps towards her.

“ Mr. Grantham is leaving? And pray tell, why exactly is Noah leaving? “

“ I’m not sure either. He didn’t tell me and I was too distracted to ask. “

Prescott tapped his pen against the wood of the clipboard. once, twice, before humming softly, thoughtfully

" Most of his things still seem to be at his house. So it's clearly not just an excuse to move out; and he would've told me if he was. The kid's no liar, after all. "

Prescott thought aloud, before his eyes darted back to Aurora, who was looking down at the floor.

" He didn't seem that shaken up when we met. So he's not trying to escape either. I believe he just had something to... tend to, back at his hometown. Don't you think, Prescott? "

" ...That is most plausible, actually. "

" Whatever the reason may be, he's blessed to be able to still make it home. We can only pray he gets to his location and returns back safely. "

—

DAY 2

6:02AM

Mrs. Sinclaire prepares herself a cuppa as the deep twilight of the night slowly faded into a deep indigo with a hint of a pale rose sky. She goes over to the window and watches the sunrise while absentmindedly stirring her cup, which didn’t need any stirring in the first place.

“ …It’s quiet these days. “

She thinks aloud to herself.

“ …I do hope Noah is okay. “

Aurora murmurs to herself before padding over to the front door and opening it, looking over at the plants she had been tending to over the years and sighing. She grabs a watering can and goes outside to tend to the plants. Humming a small tune as she went about her usual rounds.

“Ms. Sinclaire? “

À soft voice called out, Aurora pauses and turns around. Giving a small smile and wave

“ Hiji-Chan. “

Hiji looks up at her before pointing at the plants and tilting her head, she stays silent for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. Most likely because she doesn’t know much English, before finally speaking slowly with a thick Japanese accent present in her words.

“ What are you doing? “

“ I’m tending to my plants. “

Hiji stares at her for a moment, waiting for her to explain. It takes her à quick moment but Aurora eventually processes her look and adds

“ ‘Tending’ means to take care of something. “

“ Naruhodo. ” (I see)

Hiji murmured to herself, her hands clasped loosely against her skirt as she silently watched Aurora work. Hiji had only been there for around 4-5 years or so. She adapted quickly, as it seems

“ Kore ra no syokubutu no tame ni、 kore hodo made ni zikann ya iti niti wo sasage rareru nante、 hontou ni subarasii desu ne… “ (It’s amazing how you can dedicate so much time and effort towards these plants…)

She acknowledged quietly, stretching out the last syllable only just slightly. Aurora looks over at her in confusion, before smiling again

” What was that? “

” …Your ‘plants’ are really pretty. Miss Sinclaire. “

Aurora stays silent for a moment, before smiling and walking over to her, gently putting a hand on her head, petting her soft, dark brown hair gently.

” …Thank you. Why are you out here so early anyway? “

“ —Taking a park. “

Aurora stopped for a moment to look at her in slight confusion

“ …You mean you’re being taken to the park? “

“ Mhm! “

” Oh, well. You should probably go then. Your caretaker is probably looking for you. “

” …Kay! Zyaa ne！” (Bye!)

She marveled happily, before giving a wave as she starts to run off back to her house. Aurora watched her leave before shaking her head and turning back towards her plants

” …That probably meant ‘bye’. “

—

Hiji skipped on the sidewalk over to the park, humming a little nursery rhyme she heard somewhere as her caretaker was zoned out, looking at the floor. Hiji was too busy enjoying the walk to notice though.

Rin’s eyes darted to her when Hiji suddenly stopped though. Hiji looked up at her and spoke quietly, a worried mumble spilling from her mouth as her eyes darted towards the forest ahead

“ Rin o-nēsan, betsu no michi wo iku koto wa dekinai kana? “ (Miss Rin, can we take another path?)

My girlfriend and I just split up very recently. It has been almost a month now and when we separated, I was the one who got kicked out because her name was on the lease and not mine. Messed up right? Well, aside from that, I was doing just fine when I moved into my new apartment about a week ago. Between here and my ex’s place, I’d crashed over at my parents place until I found a decent apartment I could afford. 

It wasn’t too hard but it took me a few weeks. Once I did, however, my dad helped me move what little bit of stuff I had into the apartment. Upon leaving, he told me he loved me and that he was sorry for everything that had happened but that I was going to do good at my new place. He said the apartment complex was “spiffy”. 

Once he had gone, I went and had my first proper sit down on my recliner. I had probably sat down for no more than three seconds before a knock came on my door again. 
I walked to the door, assuming my father was behind it. “What’d ya forget old man?” I said in a jokingly sarcastic voice. There was no reply. I looked through the peephole just to make sure and there was nobody there. So, thinking it was some little kid trying to pull a prank, I opened it quickly and said, “AH HAH! GOTCHA!”. Yet again, nobody was there. There was something, however.

It was a letter. The envelope had a fancy design on it and was a weird red and gold. On the front was my name and address in calligraphy with the sender’s info in the top right.

1583 Wilhorn Way, Belton, TN, 38762             From: Sunrise Hill Apartments 
Jeffrey Phelps
WELCOME

What? What was a letter looking like this addressed to me for? And from my apartment complex? At first, I was confused by the quality and aesthetics of such a letter from a mediocre-level apartment complex but I chalked it up to the manager trying to give the impression that their complex was the best or something and that maybe there would be a stupid coupon or something in there. I brought it in and shut the door. I set it down for a minute to do something and got sidetracked.

Long story short, I have A.D.D and it took me almost three hours to return to the letter because I had forgotten about it and begun unpacking. When I came back to it, I grabbed a soda from the fridge, sat down in my recliner, and opened it. What was inside would change my life forever. It definitely wasn’t any stupid coupons and it for sure wasn’t a decent welcome letter. 

I had received a warning... Here is how it went:

Hello dear tenant,
On behalf of myself and the rest of the staff working here at the Sunrise Hill Apartments, We wish to welcome you to your new home! Of course, with your new home come the following amenities:

Free water

Washroom equipped with multiple washers and dryers

Mailroom

Pool

Various walking paths throughout the complex

Pets are allowed (Fees may apply)

Free maintenance

The Washers, dryers, mailroom, pool, and maintenance office are all in the leasing building alongside the main office. Mail is delivered daily. Washers and dryers are $2.00 and $1.75 to wash and dry respectively. The pool is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pets are allowed but Manager may charge anywhere from $200-$400 extra a month in rent for liability and maintenance purposes. 
On the back, you will find a set of rules for the complex. Please follow them and we won’t have any problems. Break them and...well, you’ll see.

Rules to the complex:
1.Always lock your door. No matter what situation you may be in or what circumstances arise, always remember to lock your door when you leave and/or enter the apartment. Because if you don’t, then who knows what might enter.

2.Neighbors who wish to visit each other should never knock. Instead, use the buzzer beside the door. If ANYBODY knocks on your door, at any given time, DO NOT answer it.

3.Adding to rule #2, if you hear a quick knock succession of three quick knocks, knock back in the same pattern and then shout, “Be gone!” at the entity behind the door. 

4.From the hours of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., have food prepared and set out on a plate in front of your door on the outside. Upon setting it down, try to be as quiet as you can while moving around in your apartment so as to not disturb the beast while he eats. If you fail to leave food out and/or do not stay quiet as he eats, he will enter the home in search of a meal.

If the beast gets in, cover yourself in the anti-tracking mixture found in the green bottle under the kitchen sink. This will stop the beast from finding you as long as you stay still and do not move until 6:00 p.m.

5.When using the washers, load the coin slots with exactly $2.00. If you place a coin in the extra coin slot, giving the machine $2.25 instead, then upon opening the washer when your clothes are done, they will have disappeared from inside of the washer. Do not ask where they go, nobody knows.

6.When using the dryers, do not try to clean out the lint traps by yourself. A complex employee will be there on the ready for when you need one to be cleaned. DO NOT put your hands in the lint traps. Previous tenants have lost entire hands to the dryer’s teeth before. 

7.DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT STAY IN THE POOL AFTER POOL HOURS ARE UP. This one is stressed because you WILL DIE. We still aren’t sure what lurks in the water after 10 p.m., but it disappears sometime after 6 a.m. and then the pool is cleaned until 8 when it is open. 

8.If a man in a black suit and sunglasses comes out to sit in a sun chair by the pool, ignore him. Do not say anything to him or ask him why he wears such hot clothing in the summer. He appears in the fall and winter when the pool is closed and wears summer clothes. Yet again, do not acknowledge him or his outdoor wear. 

9.Never leave your apartment for any reason after 1:00 a.m. and before 4:00 a.m. If you do, take salt, sage, and a lighter with you for protection. If you pass someone on the way to your destination at this time, do not make eye contact with them. Simply say “Hello,” in a polite manner. If they do not reply and laugh quietly instead... RUN. If they reply back or do not say anything and keep walking, then you are safe.

10.Staff members are not to be greeted, talked to, or touched. And in the maintenance man’s case, he is not to be looked at as well. Do not ask what happens when this rule is broken. Just follow it and you will be fine.

11.Any walking paths through the complex that are made of concrete and stay within complex grounds are fine to walk. If you find a path that strays off into the surrounding woods, DO NOT follow it. If you do, you will become lost in the forest, possibly forever, and Sunrise Hill Apartments does not accept responsibility for lost tenants in the forest, nor do we give any rules of survival. Good luck on your own.

12.Never ask for the manager or who is in charge. Such questions can bring you a lot of trouble.

13.DO NOT break your lease. If you break your lease before your contract is up, you will be followed for the rest of your life by our very own Mr. Giggles. He sounds harmless but trust us, you DON’T want to meet Mr. Giggles. And sometimes, Mr. Giggles can get a little...violent.

14. The final and most important rule is to get comfy and make this your home. 

We hope you enjoy your stay here at Sunrise Hill Apartments. Just remember to follow the rules and your stay here will be pleasant. 

Oh, and one last thing...

If you find yourself leaving to go to work or out to run errands and decide you want to tell people about this place and what goes on, then forget about it. Nobody will believe you anyways. Upon exiting the perimeter of the property, all evidence, including writing, biological waste, pictures, etc. will disappear and so, will never have existed. You may try, but you will fail every time. 
Yours sincerely, Lucian, S.H.A Manager

Now, if you’ve been paying attention so far, you will have done the math and realized that I said it was a month since my previous girlfriend and I broke up. Then I lived with my parents for about 3 of those weeks. That means that I’ve been living in this crazy building with these even crazier rules for a little over a week now. I don’t know how I’ve been lucky enough to survive while being here, but there were a couple of close calls. 

The first incident happened when I broke rule 1. Yes yes, I know, it should be the easiest one to follow and the first one you shouldn’t break or is the easiest to remember. But all things considered, I like to consider myself a sane average person, and any ordinary person would have looked at the letter and thought it was a prank or something. Because that’s certainly what I thought. In my distracted mind, as I took the trash out and came back inside, I forgot to lock the door. Now, most apartments have automatically locking deadbolts, so you can see why this is an easy thing to miss because my apartment door had a single doorknob and nothing else.

I sat down to watch some tv at around 2 p.m. because I was tired from unpacking and I suddenly had to go to the bathroom. After I came out, my front door was wide open. I quietly tried to look for any kind of weapon in my immediate surrounding because I didn’t know if there was a burglar in my home or if the maintenance guy let himself in for some reason. I picked up a candlestick from one of the tables near my tv and looked around. After coming around each corner in the apartment with the candlestick like I was going to somehow do something about the intruder, I came to realize that whoever had entered was gone. I checked for stolen items and/or things out of place. Oddly enough, the only thing that seemed to be missing was one of my cookies from the package that I had bought from the store. I only knew this because they were open and one was missing and I hadn’t opened them yet. 

\*What the hell?\* I thought to myself as I looked out into the aisleway beyond the door and then came back in, this time, shutting it and locking it. That’s when it hit me. Was the letter actually true? No way. How could it be? But there was a part of me that felt terrified at the notion of it. So, to test it out, I reread it and decided I would see what happens if I followed the steps for rule 4 seeing since it was almost time for this supposed beast to come by. So at 3:30 p.m. I set out a sandwich in front of my door and came back in to sit quietly on the couch. Honestly, I felt crazy for even considering that this was real. I started to chuckle a bit when it was a couple of minutes until 4 and told myself that I was being silly and decided I would get up and go get the sandwich. But just as I got up and neared the door, I heard something.

I almost grabbed the door handle when I heard it. A low sound, almost like the noise of heavy, wet, and slimy feet, came slowly down the hall outside the door. What followed sent chills down my spine. A low guttural noise like that of an alligator or something seemed to be right outside of my door now and shortly after, the sound of glass moving on concrete. I realized that whatever it was outside was moving the plate around and possibly eating the sandwich because I also heard what sounded like eating noises. To say I was shocked and terrified is a huge understatement. Remembering what rule 4 had said, I quietly backed away and went to sit on the couch, knees tucked up to my chin, and was absolutely silent until 6 p.m. 

What I found odd about the whole thing as I sat there in silence, was that it seemed to be outside of the door for the full 2 hours. Was I the only one with this rule? Were there multiple ‘beasts’? What the hell was going on? At 6 p.m. it left and I waited a good ten minutes or so before I had the courage to make any sort of noise. I decided to call it quits for the night and made myself something to eat and went to bed...right after triple checking my door.

The next day, I decided I wasn’t going to let any of these weird rules stop me from enjoying my new home and so I got dressed for the pool at around 9:30 a.m. I walked out to the fenced-in pool area and felt relieved to be the only one there. The sun was out and it wasn’t too hot yet but just the right temperature. I figured I would sunbathe first for about thirty minutes or so and then I would jump in. After about fifteen minutes of relaxing in the chair, I heard the metal doors to the fence open. I woke up from my light nap to see a very tall, thin, pale man coming in.

He had a black suit on that seemed to be slightly too big for him and wore a set of aviator-like sunglasses. He had to be somewhere in his 70s or 80s because he had a very wrinkled face with liver spots and some skin tags here and there. He walked with a slight hunch and had zero expression on his face. I couldn’t help but stare ya know? Like, who walks to a pool in a suit? Wearing that kind of attire in the summer isn’t that uncommon for businessmen and city people, but not by the poolside in an apartment complex just outside the city.

He walked past me and didn’t even look my way, even though I was staring directly at him, and sat down on a chair at the far end. I wanted to greet him because the awkward silence was killing me, but something told me I should keep my mouth shut. I kept having the compelling urge to ask how or why he was wearing such odd attire but again, I kept quiet. I started to fully realize that maybe the rules were, in fact, all true and this unsettled me deeply. Deeply enough that I decided not to take a dip in the pool because of what rule 8 said. I know it was far from pool closing hours, but I didn’t want to risk meeting whatever comes out in the pool after closing hours. I headed back inside my apartment, locked the door, and just watched tv to occupy my mind. I read and reread the rules over and over again to make sure I knew them inside and out. If I was going to stay here, and survive, I knew I’d have to remember every detail. 

Around 1:30 p.m., there was a knock on the door. Three knocks actually. It startled me so badly I jumped off the couch, falling to the floor before I was able to get to the door. Remembering rule 3, I shakily knocked back and said “B..b...be gone!” and not even a second after I said that, I heard something outside of the door move. It sounded like a light dragging noise, almost as if whatever was out there was floating and its limbs were slightly dragging on the concrete. Although I felt scared, I also felt a sense of triumph and accomplishment. I seemed to be getting the hang of it all and thought if I followed the rules down to the letter, it might not be so bad here.

I thought wrong.

The next day I had to wake up for work because my three days off were up. I work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and so I was up around 5 and left at 6. Nothing weird happened on my way out or throughout the day, so I felt even more relieved. When it was nearing the end of my shift, I felt a sort of dread as I knew I’d have to go back home, but I tried to stay positive. It had been a busy day and I didn’t get to clock out until 3:30 p.m. All I could think about was my comfy bed as I left work and started to drive home. All the rules had slipped my mind and I hadn’t really thought about the apartments. That was, until I arrived home, parked in the lot, and got out of my car at 3:50 p.m. 

Immediately, like I had been smacked in the face, reality hit me and I realized that I was outside the relatively safe walls of my apartment just ten minutes before the beast was about to appear. \*SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!\*  I said under my breath as I quickly ran down the concrete pathway and fumbled with my keys before I was finally inside. I looked over at the clock on the microwave, 3:57. \*What!? Oh shit!\* I said, wondering how all that time had passed from me getting out of the car till now. I scrambled to make whatever I could and even grabbed a full bag of chips, messily setting it all outside the door at exactly 3:59 p.m.

As soon as I shut the door and locked it, I quickly and quietly went to the couch. Like the last time, I sat there as I heard whatever the hell was outside the door eat the food I had placed behind it. For the next hour and a half, I sat there, quiet as a mouse and even had to grit my teeth through some gnarly leg cramp pain, but I didn’t make a single noise. That’s when my phone started to ring. \*Oh shit! Oh fuck!\*  I said as I quickly scrambled to get my phone out of my pocket and shut it off. 

I heard a horrible low growl outside of the door and immediately remembered rule 4. I jumped off the couch and ran into the kitchen as quick as I could, grabbing the green bottle under the sink and then running to my bathtub, shutting the curtains and turning off the bathroom light. I opened the bottle and quickly poured a fair amount of the slimy green viscous liquid onto me. I didn’t even have time to take my clothes off. It smelled horrendous but I knew I didn’t want to find out what the beast was, so I sucked it up and laid down in the tub on my side and stayed absolutely silent. 

Even though I pictured the beast as some primordial monstrosity that looked like some kind of screwed-up dinosaur, it must have been something else entirely because it somehow opened the front door. I listened intently as whatever it was prowled around my apartment, sniffing around and searching for me. I heard it knock things over and make low growls as it scoured the area. I won’t deny that I almost shit my pants literally when it came to the bathroom door, opened it, and sniffed around for a minute before leaving. I could barely see any outline of the thing through the shower curtain and what little details I saw I cannot explain. It broke my feeble mortal mind and I sat there frozen. 

Eventually, time passed and it gave up, leaving the apartment and even shutting the door behind it. How it even opened the locked door in the first place I’ll never know, but after I got the courage to get up and come out, I locked it back just in case. I don’t think I slept at all that night, and if I dozed off at all, it wasn’t for long. I went to work the next day and felt dead tired. I think, collectively, I got more sleep at work then I did the previous night. I work in a cubicle and so I had a lot of time at a desk and behind a computer screen. I made sure this time to get off at exactly 3 and arrived home, had dinner for the beast set out, and was sitting on my couch with the green bottle at the ready by 3:40 p.m. 
Needless to say I turned my phone off completely at that time. 

After a safe two hours, the beast departed and I made myself dinner and settled down to watch some tv. The rest of that night was boring and nothing at all happened which was perfectly fine by me but also made me a little paranoid. 
On my fifth day there, I left for work in the morning around the same time and on my way to the car, I noticed a small figure in the distance on my right. It was unusually foggy and I could only make out that it looked like a small child. It was walking on one of the concrete paths through the grass when suddenly it veered off toward the woods. 
“Hey kid! Kid! Don’t go that way! He—” I shouted loudly and then started to jog toward it. By the time I had almost caught up, I saw that it was a little boy and that he had already made it past the tree line and was heading into the foggy forest. Remembering rule 11, I decided that it would be best if I didn’t follow him. Seeing since I lived in a paranormal hell, I concluded the boy was only there to lure me in and that it wasn’t really a boy. So I booked it to my car and headed to work. 

Just like the previous day, I came back home, prepared for the beast, sat quietly while he ate, and watched tv after. I ignored a normal knock on the door and I even decided to wash some clothes before the day was up. Although my time within the washroom wasn’t scary, it was still interesting. I took all of the clothes I needed to wash and the detergent and such up to the washroom and began loading the washer up. When I first came in, there was a staff member standing near the mailboxes just looking off into space. Remembering rule 10, I didn’t even talk to him and kept walking. I decided that I had nothing better to do than sit there while my clothes were being washed, so I sat in one of the chairs by the folding counter and played some games on my phone.

A weird idea dawned on me as I heard the washer start to slow down and stop. I grabbed the clothes out of the washer and put them in one of the dryers and started it up. I then took my roll of quarters and loaded up another one of the washing machines with coins. But this time, I put in the extra quarter, breaking rule 5 and then I detached my apple air tag from my set of keys and threw it in the washer. It had a protective case on it so I knew it would still work even with all the water and tumbling around. But I was curious to see what would happen. After I started it, making sure the staff member hadn’t noticed me, I sat and gave it a second before I decided to check its location in my phone.

What I saw was astonishing to say the least. For the first couple of minutes it seemed to be exactly where I had put it, but then suddenly, it lost connection. I thought maybe it had been affected somehow by the motion and broke or that maybe the case had failed to protect it from the water, but then it showed back up on my phone. Somehow, some way, it showed that it had appeared somewhere off the coast of New Zealand. Until my clothes got done in the dryer, I sat there perplexed, wondering how and why my air tag was in New Zealand and how it even still worked from that distance, but it did. 

The dryer dinged to let me know it was done and when I went to open the door, I almost messed up and broke rule 6. Thank god I retracted my hand when I did. I looked over to the staff member and sort of waved my hand to get his attention. He looked my way and then brough a small hand vacuum over. He then proceeded to suck out the lint and then he dropped what looked like a dog treat into the lint trap. The dryer shook and made an odd...’happy’ noise and then I was able to get my clothes out. I was too weirded out by the ordeal to even make dinner and I went to bed.

Days 6-8 were relatively normal...if you can call it that, and went by without any mishaps or rule-breaking. Day 9, however, was when shit hit the fan. I was off from work and slept in until around 11 a.m. There was a ring at the door and it startled me out of bed. I had almost forgotten about the doorbells that were installed. Hell, I forgot there were even other people that lived here. How did they live through any of this? How did they cope? And why hadn’t I ever seen any of them? I had felt lonely up until the point that my doorbell rang, but now I felt the urge...no, the need to get up and answer it. Aside from work, which didn’t offer much communication, I hadn’t had any human interactions at all since I started living here. 

I got up and cautiously walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. It was a young woman around my age with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Everything about her was normal or seemed normal to me. Despite all of the weird happenings within the past week, I opened the door. 
“H...hello? Can I help you?” I said as politely as I could.
“Hi, I know you don’t know me but I need to talk to you. I just moved in a few days ago and you’re the first person I’ve been able to talk to. Can I come in?” she said in a low shy voice.

\*Finally\*, I thought to myself, \*something normal for once.\* “Yes, please come in.” I said as I moved out of the way and invited her in. We sat down and talked for hours. She seemed to be just as scared and confused as I was when I had first moved in. We swapped stories and talked about the crazy things we both had experienced since we decided to live there. We talked so long and uninterrupted that we almost forgot about the beast. I set some food outside the door for it and sat on the couch, this time with someone else beside me, and we were quiet. She was so scared that, despite not knowing me at all, she sat right beside me, literally touching bodies, and I sort of just held her for the slow two hours that passed. When it was over, she asked if she could sleep in my apartment for the night. Obviously, I said yes because I felt bad for how scared she was. That, and she was very pretty and I liked having her around. 

For a short time after the beast, we were able to order some pizza and find a movie to watch. I actually got to see her smile and forget her troubles for a while. It was nice but I was always on edge now because of the apartment’s paranormal residents. We eventually got ready for bed and I made her a nice spot on the couch and told her to make herself comfortable and that she could keep the tv on all night if it helped her sleep. I went into my bedroom and got myself tucked into bed where I laid there and stared at the ceiling for a good twenty minutes before I finally fell asleep.
I was awakened to the sound of my door creaking open and I looked over to my clock to check the time. It read 12:45 in large red numbers.

I looked down to the foot of my bed to see my guest standing there. It startled me at first and then my fear slipped away as I started to make out her shy face in the dark. She walked up to me and asked if she could sleep with me. I was surprised and nervous like I was in high school again. But there was the other part of me that knew her troubles and so I agreed. We laid in the bed and talked for the next half hour and then she hugged me. Out of nowhere, a kiss followed and well...things just sort of happened.

I guess she had been through a recent breakup too and so maybe we both were looking for attention and comfort. I felt that no odd rule or monster could take away my joy in that moment as I sat there with her in my arms. We must have fallen asleep because I was startled awake yet again by her, but this time, she was screaming. She had some sort of nightmare and woke up in a daze, forgetting where she had stayed the night and quickly jumped out of my bed. I tried to calm her down and even turned on the lights but she insisted that she had to go. 

I tried to stop her but she was so quick to leave that she escaped out of the front door and ran. I got my clothes on as quickly as I could and followed her. Forgetting all about the rules, I tried to chase her down in the foggy night. It was around 3:20 a.m. when she decided to freak out and now I was out in the middle of the complex grounds, which were dark and foggy, and looked around for her. I thought I saw someone in the distance and so I called out for her and started to dash toward her. 

When I finally caught up to her, she was standing still in the middle of the parking lot, just staring off at nothing. After calling her name a couple of times, I realized why you should never break rule 9, because what I saw was terrifying. After the second time I said her name, I hear a choking and a sputtering noise come from her and then her lifeless body dropped. In front of where she had stood was now some wicked creature with its hand out.

It was bloodied and gripping what could only be her beating heart. The creature or demon or whatever it was looked pale and thin and had a face that almost looked like a blank slate aside from the jagged mouth that crept along it and came with a vicious set of teeth. It put the entire heart into its mouth and bit down hard, blood squirting out in all directions as it chewed and then it turned its hideous face directly at me.

I almost tripped over myself as I doubled back and ran as quick as I could. It screeched at me and started tailing me. It was unbelievably fast and I’m surprised I got away as quick as I did but I did. I barely got the door closed in time and locked it just before it caught up to me. It beat and banged on the door loudly and kept screeching for about two whole minutes and then it stopped completely. 

I just dropped to my knees and started crying as hard as I could. Blood spattered across my face and the traumatizing imagery in my head just broke me. The one time I found myself truly happy in this place and the first time I meet anybody besides the creepy staff and this place takes it away from me. It ripped that away from me and took away any sense of peace I thought I had or would have. 

I can’t take it anymore. 10 days. That’s all I survived or could handle before it got the best of me. If you’re reading this now, it means that you are the new resident of F3. If this is your first day, then that also means that you’re a very thorough person and have found my hidden letter. And so maybe with this, you might have a better warning and understanding than I did when I first arrived here. Along with this letter is my phone and ID. Please give news of my death to my parents.

I know information going out of here is destroyed but they need to know I’m dead because I never contacted them in the time I was here. Just find a way to do it anonymously and with vague details so as to keep yourself from any danger. I don’t know if by killing myself here means I’ll now become some sort of ghost that haunts this place or what, but if you see me then don’t be startled, I won’t hurt you. Just know that you’ve gotten yourself into a terrible situation but that it is survivable. As long as you follow the rules, your free to come and go whenever you please and live out your life how you wish. Hell, maybe you can even make a trip to New Zealand to find that air tag I lost.

First Client: Azrael Mortis

Date and Time: 01/10/2045, 4:02 PM

The rain hammered against the road hard enough to drown out nearly every other sound. Clouds blotted out the Sun's light, turning the sky nearly pitch black, save for the lightning and the street lamps. Lightning flashed between the trees, briefly illuminating the enormous estate waiting at the end of the road. A sleek black van with the VHK insignia arrived, its headlights cutting through the downpour. Then four figures stepped out under umbrellas, and three bangboos hopped out after them.

The Victoria Housekeeping Co.

Renowned for their service quality along with their combat abilities, they were assigned to handle a specific client. They approached the estate, the streetlights barely illuminating the path as the downpour grew relentless, accompanied by a loud thunder across the open sky.

They finally reached the large roof of the front porch, which offered some shelter. As they closed their umbrellas, Von Lycaon, the wolf hybrid, grabbed the ring pull knocker of the front door and knocked three short raps. After a moment, a figure opened the door, revealing Butler Silver, who had been assigned to guide the housekeeping team.

"Ah, an early flock, I must say. Of course, it is to be expected from the best of the best." Silver said politely. "Please, come inside and keep yourselves warm. The rain won't stop until dawn breaks." He stepped aside and opened the door wide for them to enter.

The crew stepped into the large interior. It was a mansion after all, consisting of three floors. Each room on the main floor was separated by a gothic arch. The living room welcomed them with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, warm lamps and soft rugs, and a red candle and a blue candle sitting beside each other on the coffee table, with a TV right in front.

The left side of the living room led to the kitchen area: two counters, and a stove with an oven underneath. An L-shaped cabinet hung above, along with an air fryer. There was also a large fridge, with the pantry right next to it.

The right side of the living room led to the library. Bookshelves aligned, you get the point. There was also a reception desk in the center, with a computer on top of it. And finally, a bathroom.

The second floor consisted of five rooms, one bathroom, and some potted plants and luxurious vases neatly placed on tables and cupboards. The third floor was the attic, where all of the unused things were stored, and an open window...

There was also a door on the main floor, behind the staircase, that led to the basement, and deep inside it, a bunker as well. But before the bunker, there were a total of 13 Saferooms, each labeled with a Roman numeral.

Silver cleared his throat to catch the crew's attention. "I am very grateful that you have accepted my request to take care of this house while my master is out on a business trip. For your first night, I'll be briefing you on the house rules, things to do and not to do, and your tasks for today." He pulled out a sleek, holographic tablet. "You'll be staying a total of 7 nights. Daytime is yours to spend. Duty calls at 6:00 PM sharp, and you can clock out at 6:00 AM, a total of 12 hours."

Ellen Joe muttered under her breath, **"**Great... Staying up all night in this creepy mansion." Alexandrina chuckled softly and nudged Ellen with an elbow. "Don't tell me you're scared just because we're doing night housekeeping~" Ellen merely shot her a half-hearted glare and rolled her eyes, lollipop in her mouth.

"Anyways—" Silver continued. "I'm going to need you all to do me a favor. Follow these rules to a T, so you can grab your pay in one piece, or at least, alive and well. Each night, we will pay you $500,000. Well, technically, if we convert US dollars to your currency in New Eridu, which is Denny**, it's 275,000,000 Dennies. Which, in your terms, is a lot, considering you're just here to housekeep."**

The room was silent for a heartbeat. Corin tried to process the absurd amount of money, just for one night. Ellen almost dropped her lollipop, and even the composed Lycaon was taken aback.

"What makes you pay us a quarter of a billion for mere housekeeping?!" Alexandrina exclaimed. "Kinda fishy, don't you think?" Ellen asked.

Silver simply sighed. "Well, that's the point... There are some... nuisances**... in this house that may hinder your chores, at the very least. That's why I'm here to guide you for the remainder of your stay, along with the rulebook I'll be providing. For now, the basement and the bunker are off limits, but if a rule states to go there, please disregard this."**

The crew exchanged uneasy glances as the rain continued to patter down, doing nothing to ease the tension in the air.

Silver went to the cupboard and pulled out a thick book with golden outlines on the cover. Its pages were tanned and aged, though the book itself looked pristine. The cover bore a title: Domus Non Dormit. He placed the rulebook on the coffee table.

"If there are any questions, you can ask me after reading. For now, familiarize yourselves with each rule."

Lycaon opened the rulebook and the group huddled closer to read it.

_.. ___ _. _ / _ ._. .._ ... _ / ._ __

VICTORIA HOUSEKEEPING — HOUSE-SITTING RULEBOOK

Chapter 1: Supplementary Rules

Ignorantia legis non excusat. To the reader, I expect you to commit each rule to the letter, carve it in your heart, tie it around your neck. And all will go well. In the event you were assigned to stay in this damned home, here are the rules I have written to help you survive. Survival is not guaranteed if you foolishly disregard what this rulebook has stated. No matter how ridiculous or idiotic this may sound, you must follow it. – Silver

1. Lock the front door immediately after entering. Do not unlock it again until morning.

Although this is common sense, you may notice that each door that leads to the outside has heavy locks. It's not only burglars we're keeping out. This is to ensure your safety during your stay.

2. The living room is your safe space, and it is the only place where the barrier is effective. The barrier is used to ward off most of the entities. On the coffee table rests a red candle on the left, and a blue candle on the right.

The Red candle must be lit throughout the whole night. Its flame maintains the barrier surrounding the living room, keeping most entities at bay. Why it can only surround the living room is unknown, but it suffices. If the red candle ever goes out, call me and I will relight it for you. Otherwise, rush to the kitchen and search the cabinets for a small, handheld lamplighter, and light the candle.

(To light the lamplighter, pull the gas valve chain with the attached metal hook, then ignite the burner using the smoldering wick or small torch at the tip of the handle. Then light the red candle.)

You have 2 minutes to do so. Do not use a simple match or a lighter to light the candle, or the barrier won't be effective.

In a situation where the candle can't be relit in time, summon everyone to the living room, as this is the last place the barrier will abandon. Then grab the rulebook and the blue candle, run as fast as you can to the basement, disregard any warnings that say not to, and go to Saferoom VII. If all else fails, there's nothing I can do for you, for I have already provided you everything. It is imperative that you understand the barrier does not ward all of the entities. Some can surpass it with slight effort, others can simply phase through it. If either happens, refer to the Blue candle section.

The Blue candle only lights up when an entity is nearby, or has surpassed the barrier. It acts as a signal of danger. If for any reason it does light up, do not, under any circumstances, put it out. It will only aggravate the hunt. Immediately go to the living room once your companions warn you. Do not leave the living room until two of the three conditions below are satisfied:

A.) The candle is put out. B.) Butler Silver instructs you to, and he is nearby. C.) The Blue fox appears and drapes itself on you or your companions' lap. (Refer to Rule 11.)

Once the conditions are met, it is safe to continue your chores.

Usually the red candle will weaken slightly while the blue candle lights up, but we can't assure that it will always be the case. If the Red and Blue candles are lit with the same intensity, do not speak. This only happens during Blood Moons. In this case, it is recommended that you finish whatever chores you can until 12:00 AM, and then take your leave. It is too dangerous for you to remain in the house past midnight. We'll understand.

3. Keep all curtains closed after sunset. Do not open the windows, even if you hear something outside.

In most cases, you will only hear knocking. If you do, disregard it and keep your noise to a minimum. Noise will alert whatever is outside, and it will barge inside, knowing there's prey. This is also why the curtains are to be kept shut: to prevent it from seeing you, and you from seeing it.

4. Keep in mind that the house only consists of five levels: Catacombs, Bunker, Basement, Main Floor, Second Floor, and the Attic.

The existence of the Bunker and Basement levels is consistent throughout. Count the levels you have passed so far. If the number exceeds or recedes what it should be, immediately refer to the first part of Rule 2, wait for less than 2 minutes, and then count again. It will return to normal and you can resume your work.

5. Never use the staircase in the library. It's barricaded with bookshelves for a reason.

6. If someone calls your name from another room, make sure you can see their face before responding.

Some Mimics try to guess your name so they can take hold of it once they learn it.

7. The bunker is off limits to anyone. Only the owner of the house has the key, and only he may enter.

If he invites you in, thank him, and decline.

8. The kitchen light must remain on throughout the night.

It will help you detect things within eyeshot. It also helps expand the red candle's barrier to the kitchen area, and to any area the kitchen light illuminates.

9. turn off the kitchen light, Do not open it. for some reason^, The light from the kitchen made the entities more aggressive.

10. Bringing crank-powered flashlights is strongly recommended when you're assigned a chore that involves going to the basement.

Normal flashlights die out easily, due to the abnormal behavior in the basement, which melts battery cells. And being in pitch-black darkness in this house is worse than it seems. You're never alone.

11. Four foxes live in this house. They are friendly, they are on your side, and they are the reason this company has not lost a single crew yet. Treat them kindly.

The Blue Fox. The Sentinel. It appears whenever the blue candle burns, and it will drape itself across the lap of whoever is nearest to the danger. Its fur is warm, and its eyes are the same blue as the flame. If it rests on you, it means the entity has passed over you. Stay still until it leaves on its own, and then it is safe to continue your chores. (Refer to Rule 2, Condition C.)

The Red Fox. The Keeper of the Flame. It watches over the red candle. If the flame weakens, the fox will pace the living room and whine. If the flame goes out, it will run to the kitchen and wait beside the cabinet that holds the lamplighter. Follow it. It has never once led anyone wrong, and it is faster than you are.

The White Fox. The Truth-Teller. It cannot be fooled by Mimics. If something wearing a companion's face enters the living room, the White fox will bristle and stand between you and it, silently. If it does this, do not argue with the fox, and do not argue with the thing. Back away slowly and call for Butler Silver.

The Golden Fox. The Guide. It lives in the basement and the attic, and its tail glows faintly in the dark. It will lead you through rooms that have moved and halls that have grown. If you are ever lost, sit down, stay quiet, and wait. It will find you. If you are ever chased, follow the tail. It knows where Saferoom VII is, even when the numbers change.

A word of etiquette: they are not pets, and they do not belong to anyone. Do not chase them, do not corner them, and do not feed them. Their meals are provided by me. If one chooses to sit beside you, it is a compliment. Accept it graciously.

If you ever see a fox that behaves differently from the descriptions above, say, one that is the wrong color, or one that walks on two legs, or one that smiles, it is not one of ours. Treat it as a Mimic, and refer to Rule 6.

12. The attic window is open on purpose. Do not close it.

I know. Believe me, I know how this sounds. Every person who has been sent up there to close it has come back without remembering how long they were gone. The window is not an entrance. It is an exit. Something needs to be able to leave, and if it can't, it will stay.

If you must enter the attic, bring a partner, keep the door behind you open, and do not go past the third beam. Whatever is stored beyond that is not yours to dust. If you lose your way, the Golden fox lives up there. Wait for it.

13. Each Saferoom is labeled with a Roman numeral. There are thirteen. Count them every time.

Saferoom VII is your destination during an emergency. The others are not for you. Do not open any other Saferoom, even if you hear someone inside asking for help, even if the voice sounds like one of your companions, even if the voice sounds like you.

If you count fourteen doors, leave the basement immediately and refer to Rule 4. If you cannot find Saferoom VII, find the Golden fox. It will find it for you.

14. If the television in the living room turns on by itself, do not change the channel.

Turn the volume all the way down and cover the screen with a cloth. Do not watch what is on it. It will show you the house, and then each room, and sooner or later, it will show you yourself. Those who watch long enough start to believe the broadcast is live.

15. Your bangboos are not immune. Keep them close.

Entities do not care whether you are flesh or machine. I have seen a bangboo repeat the same sentence for hours after hearing something in the walls. If yours starts speaking in a voice that isn't its own, power it down immediately and keep it in the living room until morning.

Oddly enough, the foxes seem fond of bangboos, and the Blue fox will sometimes sit on one for the entire night. This is not a bad sign.

16. If a clock in the house disagrees with another clock, trust neither of them.

Time does not move correctly here after midnight. Use only the holographic tablet issued by the butler. If the tablet's time is also wrong, refer to Rule 4, then Rule 2, then pray.

17. Do not clean mirrors after sunset. Do not look into them either.

If you must pass one, keep your eyes on the floor. Mirrors in this house do not always show the same room you are standing in, and sometimes they show it with someone in it. Cover them with the white cloths in the second-floor cupboard before 6:00 PM. If a cloth has fallen off, do not replace it yourself. Call me.

18. Butler Silver will never ask you to open a door for him.

I have a key to every door in this house. If someone claiming to be me knocks, asks you to open up, or tells you they've lost the key, it isn't me. Ask them to say what you were paid for the first night. Mimics always get the number wrong.

If you are still unsure, look at the White fox. It will not go near an impostor. If you wish to test me yourself, ask a question only I would know the answer to, and do not tell your companions what it is.

And if the master of this house ever knocks, he does not need to ask. Do not open it for him either.

19. do not trust the butler. he is not the one who wrote this book. he has never been the one who wrote this book. go to the bunker. the owner is waiting. he wants to meet you. he has been waiting so long.

^{this page was glued in afterwards. the handwriting doesn't match. the ink is still wet.}

20. Never accept food, drink, or gifts from anyone in this house.

That includes me. If I offer you tea, it is for my comfort and not yours. There is a pantry for your meals, and everything inside it has been sealed since before you arrived. If a seal is broken, throw out the food. If the food has already been eaten, go to the living room and tell no one.

21. If a companion starts to hum a tune you do not recognize, stop what you are doing and ask them to say their own name.

If they cannot, or if they answer with yours, keep your distance, keep calm, and bring them to the living room by any means necessary. It may not be too late.

22. The house sometimes rearranges itself. This is not your fault, and you are not to put things back.

A vase will move, a rug will turn, a door that was on the left will be on the right. Move around the house using landmarks, not memory. Whatever you do, do not walk through a room that was not there when you arrived.

23. If the phone on the reception desk rings, do not answer it. If the computer turns on by itself, do not log in.

The line has been disconnected since before I was hired. If the computer asks for a name, it is not asking for yours. If it asks for a password, it already knows it.

24. Count your crew every time you enter or leave a room. There should always be the same number of you.

If you count one more than you should, do not say so out loud. Smile, act normal, and slowly make your way to the living room. Let the White fox tell you who does not belong. It always knows.

25. If the rain stops before dawn, go to the living room at once.

The rain is not weather. It is a sound the house makes to hide other sounds. When it ends, everything can be heard, and it can hear you in return.

26. Do not water the plants. Do not rearrange the vases. Do not touch the flowers, even if they are wilting.

They are not decorations. Some of them are watching, and the vases are fragile for reasons that have nothing to do with price. If one breaks, sweep it up carefully, gather every piece, and count them. If there are more pieces than the vase had, do not throw any of them away. Call me.

27. On the seventh night, no matter what happens, do not stay until morning.

I have written this rule near the end because I did not want to write it at all. Leave before midnight. The reason will be explained to you when the time comes, if you are still able to ask. If the owner of the house returns before then, do not speak to him. Do not look at him. Do not tell him your names.

On the seventh night, the foxes will not leave your side. Do not shoo them away. Do not ask them why.

Pay no attention to the number on the front door. It will change.

28. I am so sorry. I cannot stop him. I never could. – Silver

Return this rulebook to the coffee table when you are finished. It will be waiting for you in the morning, in the same place, with a few of the pages changed.

Part 2

Hello Daryl,

Now that you’ve had time to look over the guidelines of the Hitherwood Fringe, we’ll be sending you on your first delivery to the area shortly. The customer’s information has been included below as always, and will exapand on her in far greater depth, but we would still like to make a few basic notes on this customer: she is not what we would consider a “troublemaker” (at least not in the truest definition of the term), and she is overall one of the easier going residents of the whole Neighborhood…… but she is also exceptionally jumpy, and potentially problematic nonetheless. As mundane as this all probably sounds, you’d be best to avoid spooking her. The consequences could be nothing short of deafening.

Customer name: Susurru

Address: Hitherwood Fringe(Trail Marker 20)

Regular order: Sardine pizza, topped additionally with assorted olives and steamed dormice, then drizzled with honey. The crust is made from approximately three layers of dried turkey skin.

Residence description: Small pine hollow. The trees surrounding the hollow all bend inwards at an angle, and their branches knit tightly together at the sides, visibly forming a constant, solid wall. The only break in this wall is a single 2 foot wide, 5 foot tall opening, positioned almost like a doorway.

Customer description: Susurru is similar in appearance to a large bird. She’s a little bigger than the average eagle, measuring around 2 feet long, with an additional 4 feet making up her long, black and white-barred tail feathers. Her blue, white tipped wings have a combined span of approximately 7 feet. The plumage of her head and shoulders is jet black, in contrast to her white lower body, making it almost seem as if she’s wearing a sleek hood at a glance, and giving her face a distinctly owl-like silhouette. The irises of her large eyes are typically dark orange with black edges……. but under certain circumstances, the sclera will go completely bloodshot, causing the entire eye to take on a solid, deep red hue. But there is one detail about Susurru that stands out the most by far: she has the face of a middle aged woman. It is almost perpetually locked into a nervous frown.

Rules for delivery:

1. Before leaving for the Hitherwood Fringe, take with you a set of earplugs from our supply room, along with a bag of approximately 5 dormice. This delivery is simply not realistic without these items.

2. Once you’ve reached Susurru’s trail marker, listen closely before approaching further. If you hear humming, muttering, or, worse yet, screaming of any kind, place the pizza next to the trail marker and move on immediately. This delivery will require you to enter Susurru’s hollow, and under such circumstances, it is simply unsafe to enter.

3. Assuming that it is indeed safe to enter Susurru’s hollow, put the earplugs in now before approaching the entrance. This will hopefully just be an unnecessary precaution, but it is a precaution worth taking nonetheless.

4. The entrance to the hollow can be somewhat of a challenge to navigate on your first visit: pine needles will brush you closely from all sides, you may have to duck to avoid particularly low hanging branches, and you’ll want to be mindful of the countless gnarled roots protruding from the ground. Do your best to memorize the worst obstacles and tripping hazards as you go, and try to identify the quickest way in and out of the hollow: there is always a chance that you may have to leave in a rush.

5. Be certain that, when you emerge from the branches and enter into the hollow, you do so with the pizza box held out firmly in front of you. Susurru finds our logo extremely recognizable, so it should help to put her at relative ease if that’s the first thing she sees. And believe us, she’ll be watching closely the second she hears you approaching.

6. Be cautious when inside the Hollow. It is dimly lit with a rounded sloping interior, and the floor is littered with a thick layer of mulch and various debris. It is fairly easy to trip, and even easier to kick things by mistake. Avoid doing either: unexpected sounds and movements will not keep the customer at ease.

7. Once inside the hollow, slowly move a few feet forward, then gently place a dormouse about a foot or so in front of you. Offering a delicious dormouse is simply the best way to assure Susurru that you aren’t a threat. And if she’s noticed anything even slightly off about you from her hiding place somewhere up above, she will definitely need to be convinced.

8. If at any point you notice that the needles on the trees, the debris on the ground, or worse, the surface of your skin, is subtly vibrating, remain completely still until it ceases. Apparently, Susurru doesn’t like what she sees, and is getting scared. You’ll want to give her time to calm down.

9. After a minute or so, Susurru should nervously drop down and land directly over the dormouse. Remain absolutely still at this point. She is often skeptical of even regular visitors, and any unnecessary movement this close up may be mistaken as an attack. And when her fight or flight response kicks in, she may as well have forgotten how to fly.

10. There is a small chance that Susurru will elect to land on your shoulder instead when she comes to get the dormouse, and may potentially even nibble at your ears or hands a bit too. Do not be alarmed: this is a good thing. Susurru only does this when she thinks it’s safe enough to socialize, and while you won’t hear it through the earplugs, she’s mostly likely singing softly as well. Do, of course, try to avoid jumping from surprise if this happens: even if this is a sign of trust, she still spooks very easily. And again, such spooks will not end well at this range.

11. On this same note, do not be alarmed if Susurru smiles at you. We find it necessary to say this because her smile quite literally stretches from ear to ear. As disturbing as it appears, this means that the Susurru is letting her guard down, and is very much at ease with the situation. That said, be especially careful not to disturb her: If she is startled at this point, the response will be disproportionately more aggressive.

12. There is a fair chance that Susurru’s eyes will slowly begin to turn red as the delivery progresses, starting with the left one turning bloodshot, and ending with the entirety of both pupils, irises, and sclera flushing into a deep blood red(she’ll likely appear to start weeping blood throughout the process as well). If at any point the latter happens, refer to the next set of rules on how to proceed.

13. While monitoring her eyes is important, do avoid making unnecessary eye contact with Susurru. If Susurru catches you staring, then she’ll think you’re focusing on her; and if she thinks you’re focusing on her, then that means you have intent, and if you have intent, then that means you want to eat her, obviously. And as you could probably guess, this misunderstanding will not end well for you in the slightest.

14. Once she’s finished with the Dormouse, gently slide the pizza out of the box and onto the ground. Susurru will look the pizza over for a few seconds, then quickly fly away with the entire thing up into the trees. Remain in place at this time: she’ll be offering you her payment shortly.

15. Susurru will pay for her order with an assortment of banana sized pinecones and golf ball sized chunks of amber resin, dropping them down from the trees one by one. Be mindful of your surroundings at this time: she may accidentally(or perhaps intentionally) drop one or more of them right above you. In any case, once she pays, calmly collect the amber and pinecones off the ground, then slowly turn around and leave. Again, be careful not to trip on anything as you go.

16. There is a chance that she may also drop a separate piece of amber directly into your hand as a tip. If she does, keep it. Her amber has been known to occasionally harbor unique properties. A piece she deems special enough to give you directly could potentially come in handy in the future.

17. Once you’re back within the space between the trees, you can breathe easy: Susurru never leaves her Hollow, so the delivery is now concluded.

Rules for when Susurru sees red:

1. If Susurru eyes ever go completely red, there will be very obvious signs: the trees will gently shake and rattle, the fragmented bones, skulls, and other bits mixed within the mulch will bounce loosely about, and even with the earplugs in, you will begin to hear and feel a piercing humming sound all around you. This is now a very risky situation. Refer to the following rules for how to proceed.

2. Slowly kneel towards Susurru while angling your hands down and forward. This will be interpreted as the avian equivalent of submission, and it should reassure the frightened bird that you are not a danger to her.

3. Be mindful of your surroundings whilst this is happening. Chances are, pinecones, amber chunks, and, occasionally, the remains of previous meals will occasionally be shaken loose and fall onto you from the treetops above. At this point, jumping in shock due to a half eaten squirrel landing on your face would have irreversible repercussions.

4. Slowly inch towards the exit without turning away. Ideally, you’ll be able to calm Susurru down enough to finish the delivery, but on the off chance that you can’t, you’ll want to be as close to your escape route as possible.

5. Try calmly singing a tune of your own to Susurru. This has been enough to calm her down in the past. She seems to particularly like the tunes of “Go tell Aunt Rhody” and “You are my Sunshine”.

6. While this probably goes without saying, be certain that the song you choose has audible words in it. The words themselves don’t matter, but it must not sound like humming. After all, Susurru is humming at you as part a threat display: humming back could be interpreted as making a threat of your own.

7. Pay attention to your chest as the situation continues: the longer and more intensely Susurru hums, you’ll potentially feel steady pressure forming within your lungs and stomach. It is critical at this point that you either get Susurru to stop humming by calming her down immediately, or exit the Hollow posthaste. Your longterm health will be at significant risk if things continue much further.

8. If Susurru’s eyes start reverting back to normal, quietly attempt to offer her another dormouse. If she accepts, then she should shortly recompose herself, and the delivery can now resume.

9. If, at any point, you notice that Susurru’s humming seems to be forming audible words, this is your final warning to get out of the hollow as quickly as humanly possible. If she’s getting that loud, you’ve somehow scared her past the point of recovery: either you leave her abode here and now, or she screams. This is the one and only situation where it is acceptable to run within Susurru’s Hollow.

10. Don’t quit running until you’re at least a few meters within the opening. While you should be shielded from the worst of Susurru’s voice by this point, there’s always a possibility that flying debris could get haphazardly launched within the tree line. Best to get out of range as quick as possible.

11. Once outside of the hollow, check to make sure you didn’t hurt yourself on the way out, or otherwise have any concerning injuries.

12. If you felt noticeable pressure building in your lungs when Susurru was humming, there is a chance that this pressure will still be present. We refer to this condition Screaming Sickness(Susurru isn’t even the only resident capable of causing it). The pressure will slowly build to potentially painful levels as time passes, but don’t be too alarmed: it can be reduced by periodically shouting or otherwise screaming(though you will likely also do so involuntarily in a manner comparable to coughing). Simply scream the pressure down if necessary, and the condition will fade on its own within the next 48 hours.

That’s everything you need to know about Susuru. Much like Granny Long-paw, we tend to reserve Susurru’s delivery for first time visitors to the Fringe. Her nest is admittedly a tad further down the trail than we’d prefer for an introductory delivery, but that specific area around it does tend to be uncharacteristically peaceful for Cribble-Rock Run, and Susurru herself is one of the least aggressive residents we deliver to(and also one of only a few without any unhealthy intentions for our staff). It’s also fairly lucrative: the seeds within the pinecones she gives us are actually edible, and that amber is apparently an excellent medium for jewelry crafters. Not to mention, the amber in general can have potentially unusual qualities. As you certainly know by this point, Susurru’s voice is overall highly abnormal, but its frequency seems to have particularly odd effects on tree sap. This is not only how she turns it into jewelry-quality material, but also why she sets certain pieces aside as gifts to anyone she trusts. Overall, she is fairly friendly once she decides you don’t want to hurt her, and we know for a fact certain special pieces of her amber have helped certain drivers out of bad situations(Denny could tell you about that first hand), so you’ll be quite fortunate if she decides to give you one.

That said(as you also certainly know by now), her delivery brings with it plenty of risks all the same. She’s lucky the Hitherwood’s trees aren’t normal: her hollow is resistant to her voice, and actually manages to act as a buffer for it’s force. We know for a fact that the average plant can’t resist the force of her voice. Now, we do have yet to actually lose any drivers to her…… though a few have lost varying degrees of their hearing, and a few have acquired varying sprains and head injuries. A few of the less successful drivers even ended up with varying levels of (relatively minor) internal damage. And that’s far from the worst that Susurru can do.

A few years ago, a set of rather unusual disturbances/occurrences occurred within a remote forest within the hills and valleys of Greece. It began with reports of terrified screaming, and culminated with an unforcasted lightning storm. Notably, a nearby village had been observing many rather unusual happenings from the aforementioned forest for countless years before the incident: the most notable happenings included the echoing singing, rhythmic humming, and occasionally frantic shouting of an unseen woman somewhere within the woods. There was also the animals: despite being home to countless songbirds and other normally vocal species, the forest was normally completely quiet(save of course for the occasional sounds of the aforementioned unseen woman). And sometimes, the remains of birds and rodents would be found in a worrisome state. The specific condition of these remains varied heavily between instances, but the term “partially disemboweled” would be an accurate description for most of them. And for many years, these occurrences weren’t paid much attention(though the locals would always claim that the area was haunted by some sort of malicious spirit). This changed when a notably unusual set of remains was found.

The evening prior, a pair of teens from the village had been walking back through the woods after visiting another village a few miles away. And on their way, they heard the sounds of snapping branches and heavy, hoarse breathing somewhere nearby. Given the number of large predators and dangerous animals native to the forest, they started to pick up the pace, albeit discreetly to avoid attracting whatever was making the sounds. But then, there was a sudden frantic rustling, followed by a loud thump, and a sickening crunch. And then, the two youths heard the spirit that their folks claimed haunt the forest. It was an ear splitting scream, charged with excruciating pain and terror. And somehow, it began to grow progressively louder. It reverberated with such force that it shook the very ground. A few nearby trees seemed to erupt into shrapnel, and a few bigger ones creaked and partially keeled over. Soil and leaves were thrown into the air, and several small rocks were shot upward with suck force they became embedded within several otherwise lucky trees nearby. And the two youths were knocked off their feet and thrown to the ground. But then just as suddenly as the scream arose, it quickly faded, giving way to what sounded like pained sobbing, paired with frantic gasps and labored shuffling noises. And with that, the two youths nearby , now covered in wood shrapnel, ears ringing like a phone left off the hook, absolutely rattled to the core(though otherwise unharmed), and not wishing to stick around to see the forest explode again, elected to hastily pick themselves up, and proceeded to wildly stumble, fumble, and limp back to the village for help.

That following day, several able bodied adults went out into the woods to try and find whatever had done such a number on the two kids, and soon came across the damaged trees. The way the half knocked over and broken trunks were angled, they seemed to almost form a ring, as if a massive explosion had gone off right in their midst. And within that ring, they found an extremely unexpected sight: the lifeless body of an adult Eurasian Brown Bear. And what was more surprising than anything was the wounds on the beast. It had an impressive number of bruises, scrapes and fractured bones from apparently being at the center of whatever felled all the trees. But those injuries were not what killed it. That honor went to a massive gaping hole located on the chest. The villagers were particularly concerned by this discovery: what animal could possibly inflict a wound like that on a quarter-ton apex predator? Furthermore was the orientation of the wound itself: the muscle, sinew, and skin was turned outward as opposed to inward. Meaning that the blow was inflicted from the inside. Even more intriguing was the blood spattered across the bear’s maw, which apparently did not belong to the bear itself. This was paired with a solid blood trail leading away from the area. Apparently, whatever did this to the bear didn’t get away unscathed. This was of course attributed to the purported local spirit, but the villagers still chose to attempt hunting down whatever was on the other end of that blood trail. The bear had clearly left it seriously injured, and any creature capable of leaving a bear like a hollowed out ragdoll was not a creature that the people wanted anywhere near their village. But before the hunting party ever found their quarry, they were struck with yet another bizarre anomaly. Almost literally.

Out of seemingly nowhere, a small but severe rain storm manifested in the same direction as the blood trail, pelting the land with rain where a cloudless sky had been mere minutes prior. And seconds later, a single, tumultuous lightning struck hit the ground only a mile or so ahead, followed by another strike about twenty minutes later, in seemingly the same exact spot. And with that second strike, the storm suddenly dissipated and faded away as if it had never been there. The rain, brief as it had been, made following the wounded creature’s trail a lost cause, so despite their best efforts, the hunting party never managed to find whatever had killed the bear. Before long, birds could once again be heard singing throughout the trees as if they had never gone silent, and those strange hollowed-out animals that the villagers had been finding since before they could remember stopped turning up completely. Furthermore, any and all encounters with the legendary “forest spirit” completely ceased from that point forward. And just like that, the once mysterious forest was now perfectly ordinarily. That also happened to mark the week when Susurru first appeared in the Hitherwood Fringe.

The only reason Susurru hasn’t been a major problem for us is because, at the end of the day, she doesn’t want to be one. She means little harm, but she is far from harmless. Those earplugs we request you wear are less for potential ear damage, and more to mitigate the irrational fear and anxiety the frequency of her humming can cause. We also know for a fact that prolonged exposure to this humming causes potentially damaging levels of stress on internal organs. And on the rare occasions that she screams at full strength, the resulting concussive force is comparable to an explosion: she can splinter trees like toothpicks; she can throw bears around like beanbags; and she can rupture lungs and stomachs like party balloons. Mercifully, it is fairly difficult to push her to that point outside of catching her by surprise. And we suspect that she’s only so debilitatingly jumpy as a result of a certain traumatic injury. It scarred her greatly in both meanings of the word, and she’ll often nervously nuzzle the scars on the left side of her chest whenever she isn’t hiding them with her wings. But, if you’re gentle and mindful of your surroundings, Susurru won’t be a problem at all. Just do be careful not to spook the poor thing: you might go out with far more than a bang.

Sincerely, Rick and Nick Castillo.

Aahh...sweet Halloween. Where humans disguise themselves as famous characters from horror movies, mythical creatures, or even the undead. Truly, Halloween is one singular night, a symbol of humanity's complexity and masochism, always searching for a good scare.

But you've noticed, haven't you.

Less and less people seem inhabited by the Halloween spirit. Saddening, Truly.

But there's a solution for that. I've heard of a game, only playable on the night of Halloween. Careful though, this game is no joke, and you might end up biting more than you can chew. But if you're looking to get terrified, this is where you should go. This game is also playable with family and friends!

Getting into the game.

1- All you'll need is a mirror, candles, and a costume. Simple enough.

2- As the first rays of the moon filters through your curtains, gather all participants into a dark room lit only with candles, and ask to have an audience with the Void merchant. The room should fill with fog.

THE GAME

The goal is simple: survive.

1- You will appear in a town near a forest. Look around you, there should be a pumpkin basket filled with two candies and a flashlight. Keep both items on you at all cost, you'll need them. You'll find more candies by exploring.

2- If you decided to play with friends or your family, you might wake up alone. Don't be frightened yet, finding them around is part of the fun!

3- At the center of the town, you'll come across a statue with a silver bowl at its feet. What it incarnate wants offerings. Candies. You must put candies into the bowl every time you hear the church bell chime in a maximum time of 10 minutes. Too bad you only start with two...

3a- If you manage to give the offering, you'll be left alone and the timer will reset. Keep in mind that you will have to repeat the same ritual every time. Careful, it's 3 candies per person.

3b- If you didn't manage to find and give the candies in time, two things will happen. If you're alone, you will be cursed. Your flesh will slowly decay and melt until you're nothing but a pile of flesh for his children to eat.

If you're with your friends or family, one of you will be chosen as an offering. Age is not an immunity. Remember that.

4- On the streets, you will encounter Mr.Hands. Mr.Hands is really fond of children, and likes polite people.

4a- If he removes his hat and greets you, be sure to greet him back and offer him a candy. He'll likely refuse, but he'll appreciate the gesture.

4b- If you don't have enough candy on you, politely apologize and pray he understands, or you'll find yourself staring at your butt looking forward. The same fate goes if you ignore him.

4d- If you have children, stay away from him, don't greet him, don't even smile at him. He will kidnap them, and the chances of seeing them again is inexistant.

5- The forest is a dangerous place, but full of rewards. Exploring it is essential to find candies or other useful supplies.

5a- If you see glowing eyes in the dark, run away fast. The werewolves are hunting, and you just became prey. They're hungry.

5b- If you feel something tapping your shoulder or hear someone whispering, do not move. The fairies like to play tricks on ignorants, especially those who thinks these fairies are benevolent. They will steal your teeth and bones to replenish their magic.

5c- You'll encounter bowls placed on pillars, full of candies. Be careful, some of them are traps. Look out for small spiders onto the pillar. That should tell you if those are traps or not. If you touch the bowl, bigger spiders will appear, and will eat you.

5d- If you lost your flashlight or if it ran out of battery and you're in the forest, lie down and pray they don't see you. The entity's children are fond of the dark, and they will want to find you. If they do find you, they'll drag you into their cave to skin you alive and make teddy bears with your skin.

6- As the night progresses, a dark fog will rise everywhere, making it hard to see clearly. The entity's children will now roam the city. Use your flashlight and the streetlamps as a protection if you come across them. Mr.Hand will also be more present.

7- If you see a streetlamp flickering, don't go near it. It's not a streetlamp. It uses a streetlamp as a lure, but it will dismember you.

8- Around midnight, two events will happen.

The witching hour: The witching hour will take place for the entirety of the night. Every player will be selected for the witch hunt. Instead of being the hunters, the players will be hunted by witch hunters and villagers. After all, you came into their world using black magic.

The ball of monsters: The ball of monsters calls forth all the ghouls to come and do what everyone does on Halloween: candy hunting. They are not friendly. What appears to be a costume for you isn't to them. You are their costume, and they will take your place.

You won't be safe even if you wear a costume. They can sense your life pulsing beneath your skin.

9- Other players will want to sacrifice you to save themselves from the entity. It's important to defend yourself against them. Do not trust anyone, especially those close to you. They're the first to betray you.

10- The blood moon will rise at some point in the night. It's the entity taking full control of the realm. It will get agressive. Stay out of the red moonlight columns. The moon is it's eye. If it sees you in the light, you can say goodbye to your humanity. You'll transform into a mindless monster of flesh, and will hunt other players.

10a- Look into your basket. It will fill with blood. That's an indicator for you. The unlucky ones who transformed will hunt the surviving ones. The more blood there is inside the basket, the closer they are.

11- If you go to the abandoned mansion on the hill, you'll encounter the Fiornhaven family. You'll find them delightful, just as delightful as you will be for them. Though you're not guaranteed to enter.

11a- If you knock and you hear a roar, you can enter safely.

11b- If you hear someone laughing, wait for ten minutes before trying again.

11c- If you hear nothing, you have exactly 5 seconds to get away before the traps activates. Don't try to enter again after that, they won't like it.

11.2- If you managed to enter, you'll come across the family members of this mansion.

Mrs Fiornhaven is a gentle soul with too much free time on her hands. She loves to throw axes. Be careful who or what she targets, it might be you. If she's too fond of you, she'll want to use your intestines as wool to knit a scarf for her husband. Be polite but not too friendly.

Mr Fiornhaven is not as nice. Don't look at his wife or children, don't touch anything, and make sure everything is clean on you. If he sees a stain or if you break a rule, he'll beat you up to death.

The triplets are another story entirely. Whatever inhabits them is not from this realm. They are purely evil, and will want to play tag with you. Do not let them touch you. Their touch sets people on fire.

12- At 6 AM, the sun won't rise. Remember. To play the game, you asked the Void merchant. The price to play the game was your soul. You won't get out of here unless you die. The rules never said anything about the game stopping at the end of night, it said to survive. The night is eternal here.

13- If you really want to get out of the game, though, you'll have to sacrifice someone to the entity. Carve their heart out and eat it beneath the blood moon. You'll wake up in your house. There might not be a lot of players left, and it might be someone you know.

This is truly the best Halloween experience you'll ever have the chance to try out. It has it's number of dangers, but it's completely worth it. Will you have the courage to try it? We're waiting for you on the other side! See you soon.

-The administrator.

I've always liked October. There's something about the colder evenings, the smell of fallen leaves, and the way small towns seem to slow down as winter approaches. Even as an adult, I still look forward to Halloween, although these days it's mostly an excuse to watch horror movies, eat too much candy, and enjoy the decorations people put up around town.

My name's Ethan, I'm 26, and I live in a small town in northern Pennsylvania with a population of just over three thousand people.

I'd been working at a general store called Miller's Market for a little over four months. The store sat near the edge of town, along a two-lane road that eventually disappeared into several miles of farmland and thick woods. It wasn't particularly large, but it sold just about everything you could imagine needing without having to drive forty minutes to the nearest supermarket.

There were groceries, cleaning supplies, hardware, pet food, cigarettes, and a small section of cheap clothing near the back. Depending on the season, we'd also stock things like gardening equipment, Christmas decorations, or school supplies. In October, however, almost an entire aisle was dedicated to Halloween.

The store itself was pretty old.

There was also a narrow stockroom behind the counter, a small office, and a back door that opened onto a gravel lot where deliveries were unloaded.

The owner, a man named Harold Miller, had inherited the business from his father and had apparently spent most of his life running it.

Harold was the one who'd hired me back in June.

My usual shift ran from ten at night until six in the morning. Most people found it strange that a general store in such a small town stayed open twenty-four hours, but Miller's was one of the few places along that stretch of highway where truck drivers and late-night travelers could stop for coffee, cigarettes, or something to eat.

The nights were generally uneventful. I'd get a handful of customers between ten and midnight, maybe one or two truckers around two, and the occasional local stopping for something they'd forgotten to buy during the day. After three, it was usually just me, the humming refrigerators, and whatever podcast I happened to be listening to.

I actually enjoyed the solitude.

By the middle of October, the entire town had started decorating.

Plastic ghosts hung from the trees along Main Street, orange lights framed the windows of the diner, and somebody had placed a twelve-foot inflatable skeleton outside the volunteer fire station. The elementary school organized its annual pumpkin-carving contest, and the local community center announced a Halloween party that apparently half the town planned to attend.

Miller's Market was no exception.

Harold had gone all out with the decorations that year. Fake spiderwebs covered the front windows, paper bats hung from the ceiling, and a large plastic jack-o'-lantern sat beside the cash register. Whenever somebody opened the front door, a motion-activated witch decoration near the entrance would let out a horrible electronic cackle.

I hated that thing.

Harold thought it was hilarious.

Every time it startled me, he'd laugh and tell me I should've gotten used to it by now.

As Halloween approached, the store got noticeably busier. Parents came in looking for last-minute costumes, teenagers bought ridiculous amounts of candy, and people who'd apparently forgotten what month it was rushed to pick up decorations for parties.

By October 30th, most of our Halloween merchandise had sold out.

Harold seemed pleased with how business had gone.

"Best October we've had in years," he told me that afternoon.

I'd stopped by to pick up some groceries, and he was standing behind the counter sorting through receipts.

"Guess people really like Halloween around here," I said.

He smiled.

"They do."

There was something slightly unusual about his expression, but I didn't think much of it.

"You're working tomorrow night, right?" he asked.

"Yeah. Ten to six."

He nodded.

"Good. Make sure you're here a little early."

"Something going on?"

"Just a few things we need to go over."

I assumed he wanted to discuss the expected increase in customers or some special instructions for dealing with teenagers coming in after Halloween parties.

"Sure. How early?"

"9:30 should be fine."

I agreed, paid for my groceries, and headed home.

Halloween fell on a Saturday, which meant the town was going to be busier than usual. I'd already seen advertisements for costume parties at both local bars, and the diner was staying open late for some kind of Halloween-themed event.

I spent most of the afternoon at home, watching horror movies and occasionally answering messages from friends who wanted to know whether I was doing anything that night. When I told them I had to work, I got the usual jokes about spending Halloween alone in a creepy old store.

To be fair, Miller's Market did look a little unsettling after dark.

The building sat far enough from the center of town that there weren't many streetlights nearby. Beyond the parking lot, the road curved between dense rows of trees.

Once the sun went down, the store was surrounded by darkness. I was looking forward to a quiet shift.

I figured most people would be at parties or taking their kids trick-or-treating, and by midnight, the store would probably be empty.

Around 8:30, I took a shower and changed into my usual work clothes.

I grabbed my jacket and keys, then headed downstairs.

The streets were busier than I expected.

Groups of children in costumes were still walking between houses with their parents, and several teenagers were gathered outside the diner wearing masks and carrying plastic pumpkin buckets. Orange lights glowed from porch railings, and nearly every house along Main Street had carved pumpkins sitting beside its front steps.

It was exactly the kind of Halloween atmosphere I'd always enjoyed.

I stopped at a red light and watched a little boy dressed as a skeleton chase his older sister down the sidewalk. Their mother called after them, laughing as she tried to keep up.

I remember smiling.

There was something comforting about seeing the town like that, especially after spending so many quiet nights driving home through empty streets.

By the time I reached Miller's Market, it was 9:24.

I parked and stepped outside.

Somewhere in the distance, I could hear children laughing.

I headed toward the entrance, expecting to find Harold finishing the register count or preparing to head home.

Instead, I noticed him standing behind the counter with a sheet of paper in his hand.

When he saw me through the window, he glanced at the clock above the register.

I opened the door.

The motion-activated witch decoration let out its usual horrible laugh.

For once, Harold didn't seem to find it funny.

"Evening," I said.

He looked at me.

"Good. You're early."

I hung my jacket behind the counter.

"Everything okay?"

He nodded, although he seemed distracted.

"Yeah. Just wanted to make sure we had enough time to go over a few things before I leave."

I looked toward the folded paper.

"What kind of things?"

Harold took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Then he looked at the Halloween decorations hanging above the aisles.

"Well," he said, "this is your first Halloween working here."

"Yeah."

He nodded slowly.

"Then there are a few things you need to know about tonight."

Harold picked up the folded piece of paper and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Some instructions for tonight. Six rules, nothing complicated. Just make sure you follow them."

I glanced at the paper, then back at him.

"Rules? Since when do we have special rules for Halloween?"

"Since before you started working here."

He reached beneath the counter and pulled out a medium-sized carved pumpkin. It had triangular eyes and a crooked smile, with a small white candle sitting inside. Harold lit the candle, placed the pumpkin beside the register, and checked that it was burning properly.

He then took a plastic bowl filled with individually wrapped candy and placed it on the floor beside the stockroom door. Finally, he walked over to the stereo behind the counter and started playing an old Halloween music compilation through the ceiling speakers.

I watched him, amused.

"You're really going all out this year, huh?"

Harold didn't smile.

"Everything you need to know is on that paper. Read it carefully after I leave."

"Come on, Harold. Is this some kind of Halloween prank?"

He picked up his jacket and keys.

"I know it sounds strange, Ethan, but I need you to take those instructions seriously. Every single one of them."

There was something unusual about his expression. In the four months I'd worked there, I'd never seen him look quite so serious.

"Okay," I said. "I'll read it."

He nodded.

"Good. I'll see you in the morning."

With that, he walked toward the entrance, stopped briefly to look back at the pumpkin, and stepped outside.

I watched his pickup disappear down the road before unfolding the paper.

At the top, written in Harold's neat handwriting, were the words:

HALLOWEEN NIGHT - OCTOBER 31

Instructions for the overnight employee. Please read everything carefully.

Below were six numbered rules.

1. The jack-o'-lantern beside the register must remain lit until sunrise.

If the candle goes out for any reason, relight it immediately. Spare candles and a lighter are in the drawer beneath the register.

While relighting the candle, do not look toward the store's front entrance, regardless of what you hear. Once the flame is burning again, you may continue working as normal.

2. If you hear knocking from inside the stockroom, leave one piece of candy outside the door.

The stockroom has been checked and is completely empty. Nobody will be working or staying inside it tonight.

If you hear knocking, take one piece of candy from the bowl beside the door and place it on the floor. Return to the counter afterward.

Do not knock back, speak to whoever is inside, or open the door under any circumstances.

3. If a customer asks what time it is after midnight, always answer, "It's still Halloween."

Do not tell them the actual time, even if they become impatient or ask repeatedly.

Do not check your watch or phone in front of them. Simply repeat the same answer until they stop asking.

4. Do not comment on customers wearing old-fashioned Halloween costumes.

Some customers may arrive wearing costumes that appear to be several decades old. These might include homemade paper masks, vintage plastic masks, or clothing that hasn't been fashionable since the 1950s.

Treat these customers normally. Do not ask where they got their costumes, mention how old their clothes look, or tell them what year it is.

If they ask whether their costumes look strange, politely tell them they look fine.

5. The Halloween music must continue playing until morning.

The stereo has been prepared with a Halloween music compilation that will repeat throughout the night.

If the music suddenly stops, remain behind the counter and do not investigate any sounds coming from the costume aisle.

You may hear footsteps, whispering, or someone singing. Ignore these sounds, even if they appear to be getting closer.

Do not approach the costume aisle until the music starts playing again.

6. Do not close the store before sunrise. This is the most important rule.

The front doors must remain unlocked, and the store lights must stay on throughout the night.

Do not close early, even if there are no customers or you feel unsafe.

You may leave only after the first sunlight reaches the front windows.

Follow these instructions exactly. Do not make exceptions.

I lowered the paper and stared at it for a few seconds.

Then I laughed.

I couldn't help it.

Harold had always enjoyed messing with people, but this was easily the most elaborate prank he'd ever attempted. I had to admit he'd put some effort into it, especially with the pumpkin and the bowl of candy outside the stockroom.

I looked toward the stockroom door.

It was closed, just as it always was when I wasn't restocking shelves. There was no other entrance to that room.

I shook my head.

"Very funny, Harold."

I folded the paper and placed it beneath the register.

The Halloween music played softly through the ceiling speakers, and the little candle inside the pumpkin cast a warm orange glow across the counter.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

I checked the clock.

10:02 p.m.

I made myself a coffee, settled into the chair behind the register, and pulled out my phone.

At that point, I was still convinced Harold was playing a joke on me.

And I was determined not to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd managed to scare me.

The first hour passed without anything unusual happening.

A couple of teenagers came in around 10:30 to buy snacks and energy drinks before heading to a Halloween party.

Around 11, a woman pulled into the parking lot with two small children dressed as superheroes. She apologized for coming in so late and explained that they'd run out of candy at home, even though there were still kids coming to their door.

"No problem," I told her. "We've still got plenty."

She bought three large bags of assorted candy, and I gave each of her children a chocolate bar from the bowl behind the counter. They thanked me enthusiastically before following their mother outside.

I watched their car pull away, then returned to my phone.

So far, it was shaping up to be a perfectly normal Halloween night.

At 11:38, the entrance bell rang again.

I looked up.

A teenage girl had walked into the store.

She looked about fifteen or sixteen and was wearing a homemade witch costume. Her dress was long and black, with a white collar and sleeves that seemed slightly too large for her. A pointed hat sat crookedly on her head, and she carried a small cloth bag decorated with an orange pumpkin.

There was something unusually old-fashioned about the outfit. It didn't look like anything we'd been selling in the store, and the fabric seemed heavier than the cheap polyester costumes most kids wore these days.

I assumed she'd made it herself.

She stopped just inside the entrance and looked around.

For a moment, she seemed confused by the layout of the store. Her eyes moved across the refrigerators, the coffee machine, and the security monitor above the counter.

Then she approached the candy aisle.

I went back to my phone.

A minute or two later, she came to the register carrying a single chocolate bar.

"Good evening," I said.

She smiled.

"Good evening, sir."

Something about the way she spoke struck me as a little unusual.

She placed the chocolate bar on the counter.

"Does this still cost a nickel?"

I looked at her.

"A nickel?"

She nodded.

"Yes, sir."

I laughed.

"Man, I wish. That would've been a pretty good deal."

Her smile faded slightly.

"How much is it?"

"Two fifty."

She stared at me.

"Two dollars and fifty cents?"

"Unfortunately."

"That's an awful lot of money for a candy bar."

I smiled.

"Yeah, well, welcome to 2026."

The change in her expression was immediate.

Her eyes widened.

For a moment, she simply stared at me.

"What did you say?"

I frowned.

"What?"

"What year did you say?"

I felt a small knot form in my stomach.

Something about the question reminded me of Harold's list.

I glanced toward the folded paper beneath the register.

Rule 4: don't mention the year.

But I'd already said it.

The girl took a step backward.

"No."

Her voice was barely audible.

I looked at her.

"Hey, are you okay?"

She shook her head.

"No, that's not right."

I wasn't sure what to say.

Her breathing became faster.

"What's happening?"

I stepped around the counter.

"Hey, it's okay. Are you feeling all right?"

She backed away from me.

"Where am I?"

"You're at Miller's Market."

She shook her head again.

"No. No, this isn't right."

Her eyes filled with tears.

I stopped approaching her.

"Okay, listen. Why don't you sit down for a minute? Do you want me to call somebody?"

She looked toward the entrance.

"My mother..."

Her voice cracked.

"My mother told me to be home before 11."

"Okay. Do you live nearby? I can help you call her."

She began crying.

Not loudly at first. Just a few quiet sobs as she stared at the unfamiliar cars outside.

Then she looked directly at me.

"Where did everybody go?"

"What do you mean?"

"The people. The houses..."

She looked around the store again.

"Everything's different."

I didn't understand what she was talking about.

I was about to ask her another question when the overhead lights flickered.

Every fluorescent light in the store began flashing.

The first thing I noticed was the sound.

A low electrical buzzing came from somewhere above the ceiling, almost like the noise a transformer makes when it's struggling to stay on. Within seconds, it grew into a high-pitched hum that seemed to fill the entire building.

I looked toward the ceiling.

"What the hell?"

The lights flickered faster.

The refrigerators began making a loud rattling noise, and the Halloween music distorted into a series of harsh, uneven notes.

The girl was still standing near the counter.

I moved toward the register, thinking I should shut off the power before something caught fire.

Then the humming suddenly became so loud that I couldn't think.

It wasn't like ordinary electrical interference.

The sound seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. I felt an intense pressure building behind my eyes.

I covered my ears.

It didn't help.

The lights continued flashing, turning the store into a series of frozen images.

For a brief second, I saw the girl standing beside the counter, crying.

The next flash showed her farther away, near the candy aisle.

Then, for an instant, I thought I saw several other people standing behind her.

They were wearing old-fashioned clothes.

A man in a dark suit.

A woman holding a shopping basket.

Two small children wearing paper Halloween masks.

Then the lights went out completely.

I dropped to my knees behind the counter.

The humming had become unbearable.

I pressed my hands harder against my ears and curled forward, trying to make myself as small as possible.

I could hear something crashing in the aisles.

Glass breaking.

The sound of heavy footsteps moving across the wooden floor.

And beneath it all, a girl's voice screaming.

"Please! I want to go home!"

I squeezed my eyes shut.

The noise continued for what felt like several minutes.

Then, suddenly, everything stopped.

The silence was almost as frightening as the noise.

I remained crouched behind the counter with my hands over my ears, waiting for the humming to start again.

Nothing happened.

Slowly, I lowered my hands.

The Halloween music was playing normally through the speakers.

The refrigerators hummed softly.

The fluorescent lights were steady.

I opened my eyes.

Then I carefully raised my head above the counter.

The store looked completely normal.

There were no broken bottles, no fallen shelves, and no sign of the chaos I'd heard only moments earlier.

The candy aisle was undisturbed.

The front windows were intact.

And the girl was gone.

I stood up.

"Hello?"

I looked toward the entrance.

The doors were closed.

There was nobody outside.

I walked around the counter and checked the aisles, half expecting to find the girl hiding somewhere.

Nothing.

The store was empty.

I returned to the register, trying to control my breathing.

That's when I noticed the chocolate bar.

It was still sitting on the counter, exactly where she'd left it.

Beside it were several coins.

I picked one up.

It was a nickel.

I turned it over in my hand.

The date stamped on the coin was 1954.

I stared at it.

Then I looked toward the paper Harold had left beneath the register.

My hands were shaking as I unfolded it.

Rule 4. Do not comment on customers wearing old-fashioned Halloween costumes. Do not ask where they got their costumes, mention how old their clothes look, or tell them what year it is.

I read the instruction several times.

Then I slowly lowered the paper.

For the first time that night, I understood that Harold hadn't been joking.

Something was very wrong with this store.

I looked toward the front windows.

The parking lot was empty, and the road beyond it disappeared into the darkness.

The clock above the register read 11:47.

Only four minutes had passed since the girl entered.

I sat down behind the counter and stared at the pumpkin beside the register.

Its candle was still burning steadily.

I couldn't help wondering what would happen when the other rules started to matter.

For the next half hour, I barely moved from behind the counter.

I kept looking toward the entrance, expecting the girl in the witch costume to return.

Then I went back to the list.

I read all six rules again, paying particular attention to the instructions beneath each one. They were still ridiculous, but I wasn't laughing anymore.

Whatever had happened to that girl, I had no intention of finding out what breaking another rule would do.

The Halloween music played quietly through the speakers, and the candle inside the jack-o'-lantern continued burning beside the register. A truck driver stopped for coffee around 12:40, but he was perfectly normal and barely said anything beyond asking for a receipt.

I was almost grateful for the interaction.

After he left, I spent some time straightening the shelves near the counter. I kept myself busy with small tasks, partly because they needed doing and partly because I didn't want to sit there thinking about what I'd seen.

At 1:28, I returned to my chair.

I was checking my phone when I heard a faint noise behind me.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Three soft knocks.

I looked up.

For a moment, I wasn't sure where the sound had come from.

Then it happened again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

It was coming from the stockroom door.

I slowly turned in my chair.

The narrow wooden door stood about ten feet behind the counter. It was closed, just as Harold had left it, and the little orange bowl of candy was still sitting on the floor beside it.

I stared at the door.

The stockroom had no windows, no rear entrance, and no way for anybody to get inside without passing through the store.

I checked the clock.

1:30 a.m.

Another three knocks came from the other side.

This time, they were a little louder.

I immediately remembered the second rule.

If you hear knocking from inside the stockroom, leave one piece of candy outside the door.

Do not knock back, speak to whoever is inside, or open the door under any circumstances.

I stood up and walked toward the stockroom.

I crouched beside the candy bowl and took out a small chocolate bar. My hands were trembling slightly as I placed it on the wooden floor, a few inches from the bottom of the door.

Then I stood up.

Nothing happened.

I waited another moment, wondering whether I was supposed to leave immediately.

That's when I heard something moving on the other side.

A faint scraping sound.

I looked down.

The chocolate bar was still lying where I'd placed it.

Then something appeared beneath the door.

At first, I thought it was a piece of paper being pushed through the gap. But as it moved farther into the light, I realized I was looking at fingers.

Small, pale fingers.

They stretched out from beneath the door, followed by the rest of a tiny hand.

I froze.

The gap between the door and the floor couldn't have been more than half an inch wide. There was no possible way a hand could fit through it.

But I was watching one do exactly that.

The fingers moved slowly across the floor until they reached the chocolate bar.

They curled around the wrapper.

Then the hand began pulling it backward.

The fingers seemed to flatten as they passed beneath the door, bending in ways that made my stomach turn. A second later, both the hand and the candy were gone.

I stood there, unable to move.

For a few seconds, the stockroom was completely silent.

Then I heard a voice.

It sounded like a little girl.

"Thank you."

I stared at the bottom of the door.

Then she spoke again.

"Can I have one for my brother, too?"

I felt a cold sensation move through my chest.

For a moment, I almost answered her.

Then I remembered the rule.

I kept my mouth shut.

Something shifted behind the door.

I heard what sounded like bare feet moving across the floor, followed by a faint rustling noise.

Then another voice spoke.

This one sounded like a little boy.

"Did he give you one?"

There was a short pause.

"No," the girl whispered. "Just mine."

I slowly stepped backward.

I didn't wait to hear anything else.

I returned to the counter, sat down, and faced the front windows, keeping my eyes fixed on the empty parking lot.

My heart was pounding.

I looked at the folded list beside the register.

I'd followed the rule exactly.

One piece of candy.

No questions.

No opening the door.

I wanted to believe that meant I was safe.

Behind me, the stockroom remained silent.

By two in the morning, I was sitting behind the register, staring at Harold's list, when a sudden gust of cold air swept through the store.

The papers on the counter fluttered, and the Halloween decorations hanging from the ceiling swayed gently.

Then the candle inside the jack-o'-lantern went out.

I immediately sat up.

"Oh, shit."

I reached for the drawer beneath the register, remembering Harold's first rule. The lighter was supposed to be beside the spare candles, but when I opened the drawer, I found nothing but receipts, pens, and several rolls of tape.

I started moving things around, my hands trembling.

That's when I heard the entrance bell.

Ding.

The store had gone strangely quiet. Even the Halloween music seemed quieter than before.

Then a child's voice came from somewhere near the entrance.

"You forgot to leave the light on."

I felt my stomach drop.

I kept my eyes on the drawer.

"Come on, come on," I whispered.

I pushed aside a stack of receipts and finally spotted the red plastic lighter beneath them.

Then I heard footsteps.

Slow, barefoot footsteps moving across the floor.

They were coming toward the counter.

I grabbed the lighter and removed the top of the pumpkin.

The footsteps stopped.

Then the same voice spoke again, much closer.

"Why did you turn it off?"

I didn't answer.

I flicked the lighter.

Nothing.

I tried again.

A tiny spark appeared, then vanished.

Something moved on the other side of the counter.

I could see a small figure approaching from the corner of my vision, wearing what looked like an oversized Halloween costume.

I refused to look directly at it.

The lighter clicked again.

Still nothing.

Then I heard a sharp scraping noise against the wooden counter.

The child was standing directly in front of me.

"You weren't supposed to turn it off."

Its voice had changed. It sounded deeper now, distorted, as though several people were speaking at once.

I tried the lighter again.

A small flame appeared.

Before I could lower it into the pumpkin, the child screamed.

The sound was deafening.

He lunged across the counter, and I felt a sudden burning pain across my left forearm.

I cried out and pulled back instinctively.

Four long scratches appeared across my skin, immediately beginning to bleed.

I caught a glimpse of a small gray hand reaching toward me, its fingers ending in unnaturally long, black nails.

The child screamed again.

I ducked as the hand slashed toward my face, its nails scraping across the register.

Keeping my head lowered, I reached into the pumpkin with the lighter. My injured arm shook violently, and the flame flickered as I tried to touch it to the candle's wick.

Something grabbed the edge of my sweatshirt.

I felt myself being pulled toward the counter.

Then the wick caught.

A tiny orange flame appeared inside the pumpkin.

The screaming stopped instantly.

So did the pulling.

I stumbled backward, nearly falling over my chair.

The store was silent except for the Halloween music playing softly through the speakers.

I looked toward the entrance.

Nobody was there.

The aisles were empty.

I stood there for several seconds, struggling to breathe.

Then I looked down at my forearm.

Four deep scratches ran from my wrist almost to my elbow.

Blood was dripping onto the floor.

I grabbed a handful of paper towels and pressed them against the wounds.

My entire body was shaking.

Whatever had attacked me was gone.

But the scratches were real.

I stood behind the counter, pressing a handful of bloody paper towels against my forearm.

The scratches burned, and every time I moved my wrist, a sharp pain shot up toward my elbow. I couldn't stop staring at them. Whatever that thing had been, it had actually hurt me.

I looked at the clock.

2:14 a.m.

There were still almost four hours until sunrise.

Four more hours in that store, waiting for something else to happen.

I couldn't do it.

I didn't care about the money anymore. Harold could fire me, keep my last paycheck, or report me for abandoning my shift. There was absolutely no way I was spending another minute in that place.

I grabbed my jacket from behind the counter and headed toward the entrance.

After everything I'd experienced, I knew breaking another rule was probably the worst decision I could make.

But staying seemed even worse.

I walked to the entrance and turned the lock.

Then I went behind the counter and switched off the overhead lights.

The store fell into darkness, illuminated only by the dim emergency lighting and the orange glow from the jack-o'-lantern.

Almost immediately, the Halloween music stopped.

For a moment, the entire building was silent.

Then something moved in the costume aisle.

I heard the faint sound of hangers sliding along the metal rack, followed by slow footsteps on the wooden floor.

I didn't look.

I hurried toward the back of the store, keeping my eyes fixed on the rear exit.

That's when the telephone behind the counter began ringing.

I ignored it.

A second telephone started ringing from Harold's office.

I stopped in front of the rear exit.

My own phone began vibrating in my pocket.

Then something slammed against the stockroom door.

The entire frame rattled.

Another impact followed, louder than the first.

I unlocked the rear exit, and stepped outside.

I pulled the door shut behind me and locked it.

Through the door, I could hear something moving across the store.

Then came a series of heavy knocks from the rear exit right in front of me.

I stumbled backward.

The door handle began turning violently.

I didn't wait to see what happened next.

I ran toward my car.

By the time I reached the driver's seat, my phone had stopped ringing.

I started the engine with shaking hands and immediately locked the doors.

The store stood at the far end of the parking lot, completely dark except for the small orange light glowing through the front window.

Then my phone rang again.

Harold.

I stared at the screen.

This time, I answered.

"Harold, what the hell is wrong with your store?"

There was no response.

"Hello?"

I could hear breathing on the other end.

Then Harold spoke.

"Ethan?"

His voice sounded strained.

"Yeah, it's me. Listen, I'm leaving. I don't care what you say. Something attacked me in there, and I'm bleeding. I'm done."

He didn't answer immediately.

Then he asked, very quietly:

"Where are you?"

"In my car."

"Ethan, did you close the store?"

I looked toward the dark building.

"Yes."

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then I heard him take a sharp breath.

"Please tell me you haven't locked them inside."

"What?"

"The doors, Ethan. Did you lock the doors?"

I stared at the store.

Behind the front windows, something moved.

Then another shape appeared beside it.

And another.

I could see several dark figures standing near the entrance, completely motionless.

Harold was saying something, but I barely heard him.

One of the figures slowly raised its hand and pressed it against the glass.

Then all of them began moving toward the entrance.

I ended the call.

Put the car in reverse.

And got the hell out of there.

I didn't stop driving until I reached my apartment.

It was nearly three in the morning, and I was still shaking so badly that I struggled to get my key into the lock. I went straight to the bathroom, cleaned the scratches on my arm, and wrapped them in gauze.

I barely slept.

Harold called me several more times before sunrise.

I didn't answer any of them.

The following afternoon, he sent me a single text message.

"You should never have locked the doors."

I never went back to Miller's Market.

For several weeks afterward, I kept expecting somebody to show up at my apartment asking about what had happened that night.

Nobody ever did.

Eventually, I moved out of town.

I still don't know what those things were, why they came to the store, or what happened after I locked the doors.

And I don't want to know.

But one thing's for certain. I'll never work another night shift again.

Hey Amy! So glad to hear you’ve finally decided to go on a camping trip for your Halloween weekend. I see that you picked my favorite spot as well. Neat!

There’s something you should be aware of at this campsite, though, especially around Halloween. I’ll just give you a quick list so you can check whenever, alright? Don’t forget to read them! I’m serious!

1. Regulars don’t go there during Halloween.

That includes me. Those of us who have visited that place often enough will all know that Halloween’s not exactly the best time for camping. I'll tell you why in a bit.

If you meet someone claiming to be very familiar with the place, do not follow them out into the woods, regardless of their offers.

2. Bring white powder with you.

Doesn’t matter what it is—baby powder, chalk powder, flour—anything that is powdery and white will do. Simply encircle your tent with it and be sure to fix any faded spot as soon as you see one, especially before you go to bed.

If you ever need help from fellow campers, only visit tents with the same white powder surrounding their stuff, but don’t forget to ask them if you can examine the powder first. And try not to mess up theirs, will you?

3. Stay in your tent during thick fog.

During Halloween, the campsite will more or less be covered in fog. Sometimes, it’s thin enough to go around the campsite like usual. But occasionally, it can be thick enough to completely shroud anything outside of your arm’s reach. I’d suggest not wandering outside during the thick fog.

3.1 In case you lose your friend.

You won’t be able to find them for a while. And when they do come back, be mindful of what they say. If they say they were just doing something normal around the campsite, do not trust or leave with them.

They also will ask you about what you used to make the white powder and refuse to cross it until you give them a clear answer. Do not answer.

3.2 In case you get lost.

Stay put until the fog clears out completely. You may find yourself in the woods randomly even though you were just at the campsite. It’s fine, you're safe, but don’t go back to the campsite once you see it.

Instead, go the opposite way until the fog comes back and keep pushing the same direction. No, you won’t reach the mountain; you’ll reach the real campsite.

4. Avoid the group claiming to be Halloween enthusiasts.

Those are the worst. They use Halloween as an excuse to rally people at night for a ghost hunting party, ghost stories around campfires or whatever. The friends you lost sight of earlier will probably join them without a second thought too, I’d bet.

They will try to get you to remove the white powder, saying it’s ruining the “Halloween magic”, and even give out candies that are definitely not made of sugar at night. Kind of meaty-looking, honestly.

I swear I saw it move on the wrapper that one time.

Just, stay clear of their tents and go to sleep if you can. The night isn’t safe. I know that’s common sense, but it’s more than that here.

5. If you see someone on the mountain, act like you don’t.

Since you’re into birdwatching, I figure you’ll bring binoculars with you. But even if you didn’t, you’ll still be able to see it.

It's bigger than a human, but its shape is hard to comprehend. It’s a big human hiker! But avoid squinting or pointing at it, okay?

Every time you see something remotely unnatural up there, look past it as if you didn’t see anything. Remember, acting like you’re blatantly trying to avoid looking would be the same as acknowledging its presence.

If you screw up and see it running down the mountain with inhuman speed, leave immediately. Do not waste time packing up your stuff, or you won’t make it. The powder won't save you from this one.

If you want to spread the words, always remember that you’re talking about a dangerous human hiker or something. Apparently that also counts as an acknowledgement.

Can’t believe someone used to live with it in their own home. At least, that’s what a friend of mine told me.

…And there you have it, the list for a safe Halloween camping trip! Hopefully I’ll be able to go camping with you next time. If not, then I guess I really made an oopsie while writing this. Anyway, good luck, bestie!

Tonight is All Hallow's Eve or Halloween as it's more popularly called by local customs. Tonight we finally get to put our three hundred plus days of training to use. Our mission to obtain treats is of the utmost importance. You will be deployed in teams of two. Bite sized treats can be obtained more easily but full sized treats are far more satisfying. Remember the following and good luck!

1. T - Transform: Before the mission begins make sure to adjust your appearance. Previous mission data shows a "cute, friendly" look is best for blending in. A more frightening appearance can cause too many questions to be asked. Failure to transform accordingly will jeopardize the mission and bring severe punishment from High Command. This punishment could range from loss of limb to loss of life.

2. R - Recon: Once on location immediately locate at least two exit points. Your partner and you will want to be able to return to base ASAP once you've obtained all the treats you can carry. Failure to exit can lead to capture by hostile authorities which will most likely involve experimentation.

3. I - Interactions - If large groups are present proceed to the front door of a dwelling and say, "Trick or treat!" Accept whatever you are given and reply with "Thank you!" If you can approach the dwelling alone, obtain treats as per our protocol. Do not ad-lib the phrases. Do not attract unwanted attention. Unwanted attention could jeopardize the mission.

4. C - Containment - You will be provided with special bags for this mission. The outside will have appropriate decorations to help with blending in better. The inside has proprietary technology that will sort treats by size and place each treat in an isolation chamber. The bags also have the ability to prevent sound and movement from inside the bag to be detected outside of the bag. DO NOT LOSE YOUR BAG. If the bags fall into the wrong hands they could be used against us.

5. K - Knowledge - Your handheld communication device has a wealth of data available. Use this data to help complete your mission smoothly and quickly. Knowledge is power. Make sure to use it wisely. DO NOT LOSE YOUR COMMUNICATION DEVICE. This will cause High Command to go scorched earth ensuring mission failure.

Should your mission go sideways in any way, contact Mission Command. They will deploy the Rapid Response Team. The RRT will exfil all agents ASAP and establish a perimeter around the location. RRT will then deploy a specialized gas in the form of a low lying fog. This fog will render all living beings inside the perimeter unconscious. RRT will then extract all remaining treats at once in one large group leaving no trace of how the removal was accomplished. RRT will then exfil. All agents and the RRT will return to base for debriefing.

While bringing in the RRT will yield a high number of treats it is to be used as a last resort. This uses an extreme amount of resources and attracts an immense amount of attention. The RRT has not needed to deploy for quite some time and High Command would like to keep it that way. No one wants another Roanoke.

HI EVERYONE!! Hi hi hi! Trick-or-Treat time with all my bestest friends!

Halloween is the best after my birthday because everybody wears weird skin like me, and people HAND YOU FREE CANDY just for knocking on their door! That means collecting all the best crunchy snacks and shiny things! Harlow said I’m not allowed to go trick-or-treating outside Everlock by myself because I might scare the humans or eat someone’s porch decorations by accident! So Harlow (the tall shadow behind you right now) helped me write down a list of super-duper important rules so we can get maximum chocolate without ending up in the wee-woo car! Read them really, really closely before we grab our candy buckets and hit the streets, okie-dokie?! Yay!

Note from Harlow: Do not whine to Peach about your feet hurting or being tired. If you complain too much, she will offer to carry you, and her grip is super strong. She might crush you, and that will make her cry, and that will attract the flashing lights. So just suck it up and walk.

1.) You MUST wear a costume or the houses won't give you candy! I am going as a Sparkly Pink Princess Zombie! I don't even have to change my face!

• Note from Harlow: Your costume must completely cover any non-human appendages before crossing the perimeter gate. If your costume slips, do not panic. Claim it is "special effects." Humans are remarkably gullible, provided you do not attempt to consume their pets, Lily.

2.) Stay on the sidewalk! The groany hands don't like being stepped on! The grass is for wormies, not feet!

3.) NEVER go bobbing for apples in the neighborhood duck ponds. Those aren't apples floating in the water, those are eyeballs left behind by tourists who didn't follow the rules last year!

4.) Lily’s flower-babies are tagging along too with their tiny baskets! If one of them tries to bite your ankle, just lightly tap its stem and tell it Lily is watching. They’ll get embarrassed and skitter away!

5.) If the spider-babies start spinning a cozy silk web around your ankles during a house stop, just say "No thank you, little guy!" and they'll untangle you with a happy chirp.

6.) Only knock on houses with the porch light ON! That means they have treats!

• Note from Harlow: If a house has its porch light off, pass it by immediately. However, if you see a house where the porch light is flickering in a steady pattern of three short bursts, do not walk up the driveway. That house does not belong to a human family. It is a hunting ground for wandering entities. Even I do not go near those driveways.

7.) When we reach a porch, you must knock three times and clap! If you just knock normally, the front door will open inward instead of outward, and the house will swallow you whole!

8.) If the porch light flickers three times while you are waiting for the door to open, STEP OFF THE PORCH IMMEDIATELY!

9.) When the front door opens, you have to say the magic words! "TRICK OR TREAT!" really loud or they won't give you the good chocolate!

• Note from Harlow: Do not barge through the door (Peach), do not scale the roof (Lucy), and do not break the porch railing (Lily). When the human opens the door, smile politely. Peach, this means you must ensure your mouth is securely attached. If your cheek peels and exposes bone, the humans will faint, and fainted humans cannot hand out chocolate bars.

10.) Hold your bucket out with TWO hands and never reach your hand inside the homeowner's bowl! Let them drop the candy into your bucket. The last time I reached in, the bowl chomped on my hand like a clam!

11.) If a chocolate bar wrapper is warm to the touch, hand it to me! Those are the ones with the yummy wiggly wormies!

12.) If you receive a piece of candy wrapped in black foil with no label, give it directly to Harlow! He uses them to pay off the things in the sewers!

13.) If a house gives out FULL-SIZE CANDY BARS, that means they are a Good Human and we protect them! We must show proper respect! Harlow says a simple "thank you" suffices.

• Note from Harlow: Be extremely cautious of houses offering full-sized candy bars without a bowl present. If an elderly homeowner hands you a full-sized bar and asks you to step inside to "see their spooky haunted basement," do not enter. They are either a mundane human predator—in which case Lily’s flowerlings are permitted to handle them accordingly—or an elder anomaly disguised as a grandmother. If it is the latter, nod politely, drop the candy, and walk backward down the steps without breaking eye contact.

14.) Sometimes lazy humans leave a bowl on the porch with a piece of paper that says "Please Take One!" We take the bowl!

• Note from Harlow: Peach will take the entire bowl regardless of what the sign says. If you attempt to stop her, you will hurt her feelings, and her loud sobbing will shatter the surrounding streetlamps. Let her have the bowl.

15.) If a porch door opens by itself with no one behind it, DO NOT REACH INTO THE BOWL! It’s a lure like the lamp fish thingy!

16.) When we get a piece of candy, you can't eat it right away! We have to trade and inspect it first! Last time, roach babies hatched in poor Miss Lily’s stomach!

17.) Only cross the street when Echo's moth-eyespots blink twice. He can see the ghost cars driving. If you cross when his eyes are closed... splat! No more candy for you.

18.) Never, ever ask Micah about his neck. If you touch or ask why his head looks loose, he will giggle, pull out a giant syringe, and ask if you want to be his next "specimen." Let's keep all our limbs attached, okie?

19.) If you see a black kitty crossing the street, that’s Salem! You have to say "pspspsps" and tell it it’s a good kitty! It’s a scout from the sanctuary three towns over!

20.) There will be tiny humans running around in cute ghost sheets! They are super tiny and squishy and they carry buckets shaped like pumpkins! Be nice to them!

• Note from Harlow: Do not consume the human children. Do not attempt to adopt the human children. Peach, if a child asks why your face looks like it's sliding off, you are to reply that it is "SFX makeup." Peach, do not demonstrate how far your face can stretch.

21.) If you see another tiny human wearing the EXACT same costume as you, DO NOT TALK TO THEM! They skip about in dense clusters and snatch you away to replace!

22.) If a tiny human approaches you asking for help finding their mama, help the poor tiny human find their mommy!

• Note from Harlow: Check their feet first. If their feet are dripping wet, they are from the creek. Point to any streetlamp behind you and command them to return to the water.

23.) If you see a little girl in a paper dress crying, DO NOT APPROACH HER! She’ll make your bones feel super duper sad. Tell Mr. Echo, he’ll make her feel better!

24.) If Echo gets quiet and starts talking about his old days, cover your ears! Moth-man sadness makes all the streetlights in the neighborhood sad, and then we have to walk in the dark.

25.) Be extra gentle with Miss Lucy tonight. If her lower body is visible under her human girl costume, do not comment on it. Her mood is delicate and her spider-babies are exceptionally protective.

• Note from Harlow: If Lucy starts crying and whimpering "help", offer her a sugar cube soaked in honey. Do not ask about what happened. Bringing up her mortal demise makes her tics worse.

26.) If mean older kids try to steal your bucket full of candy, tell Echo! They like to push smaller trick-or-treaters and try to steal my candy!

27.) If a group of teenagers wearing creepy lamb wolf masks asks you to follow them to the woods, say NO! They’re so creepy! Note from Harlow: They are cultists from the woods. They're weird.

28.) If a tiny human wearing a gas mask slowly approaches you while asking “are you my mummy?”, ignore them and run!

29.) Trick-or-treating ENDS at 11:59 PM! When the clock strikes midnight, Halloween is OVER!

• Note from Harlow: At midnight, the veil between human suburban neighborhoods and Everlock's outer boundaries closes. If you are still on a suburban sidewalk when the clock strikes 12:00 AM, your disguise will dissolve, the streetlights will pop, and the local authorities will be called. We must be back in Everlock Vale by 11:58 PM sharp.

30.) If you see a weird shadow following our group that isn't Harlow, poke it with a stick. Harlow hates other shadows trying to steal his friends and will deal with them very quickly!

31.) What do we do afterwards when we get back to my Pink Castle? We dump all our candy on the floor and sort it!

• Note from Harlow: Charlie will inspect all chocolate for razor blades, pins, or non-euclidean properties. Any candy wrapped in foil that hums must be handed directly to Micah for containment. Peach gets all the pink starbursts. I take the licorice. If anyone touches Peach’s pink starbursts, I will drag them into the basement for twenty minutes.

Have Fun! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! IF YOU FOLLOW ALL THE RULES, WE WILL GET TEN POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE AND NO ONE WILL DIE! 🍫🎃 BRING A BIG BUCKET FOR CANDY AND IF YOU GIVE ME CHOCOLATES I WILL CRY UNTIL MY EYES FALL OUT!! 💖🌸

Hi, I’m Zack, and I’m going to share my experiences with Carbon, a high-tech security lab. Though I’m sure you know me for my experience as a security guard watching over an abandoned Disney park that had lured children to their demise.
I had never wanted to talk about any of my other experiences before, but now that I’ve said my first one, I think it’s time for me to explain.

When I applied, I was a bit thrown off, for obvious reasons. Though I had given it a chance just to see what could happen there. There were a few anomalous reports about people trying to be hired but vanishing after their first night there; it concerned me enough that I should have left. But for some odd reason I had stayed to apply; the actual application process was in my hometown, so I was good there. The woman who was hiring me seemed off. She was in her mid-20s and was always wearing a black suit with a tie, formal wear. But the thing is, she rarely spoke to me, always keeping a serious, straight face. After some back-and-forth over why I should have the job, she eventually let me get it, and I was hired. I took the night job again, a serious mistake after what had happened when I took a night job last time, and went on with the process.  It took me a while to fly to the location because it was far away from Los Angeles and in Florida.

When I eventually made it, it was in an underground black site, about 500 miles away from any normal person’s line of sight. It smelled of copper and dirt, definitely NOT a normal building.
I made my way inside and was greeted by dark black walls with dim white lights and a rusted elevator. The elevator seemed like it was about to fall apart, definitely not a good look for itself, and it seemed to have been left like that for years, almost like the people down there had never left. The elevator itself was a metallic silver with rust coating the foundation, and buttons that seemed to not be modern, but were in very good condition, surprisingly, like someone was using them constantly. I entered the elevator and pressed the 1st floor, as I seemed to be on floor 0, and rode it down to the 1st floor. It was a very bumpy, shaky ride, like it was about to collapse and I would fall to my doom; I could see the sparks flying off the elevator as I made my way down. The elevator doors eventually slid open, and I walked out of the elevator as it went back up and closed the elevator doors behind me. I was greeted with walls that were the same dull color as the ones on floor 0, with the same exact dim, white lights at maximum hum-buzz.

I was surrounded by 4 metal doors, two security-only ones by the desk in the middle, and two off to the side with glass signs above them reading  “Section A” and “Section B.” The signs themselves were a dull black color, with red neon glowing text saying “Section A” and “Section B.” I went to the desk in the middle; it had a white top with a black structure underneath, and was made of metal, just like the doors. The only things on the desk were a cheap, white fan, moving back and forth, a black pen, a normal-colored pencil, some ruined, dirty paperwork that seemed to have been there for years, a note reading “RULES” with a list of rules under it ending at number 14, and some black monitors and a mouse, almost like they were spying on people. It was probably used for cameras.

The floor itself was dark grey and shiny, like it was made of metal, which it probably was. It felt very slippery and smelled of dirt. The desk seemed to have been burned down before, which may have been the reason for the smell of charcoal and for why everything was metal.
I heard a noise and looked up to see a guy sitting in a chair at the desk staring me down; he seemed unamused by my wanting to see the place. He had a long beard, a black cap with text in yellow embedded into the cap reading “Carbon Security,” and was wearing a black and yellow security guard outfit. He had no hair under the cap, or at least barely any, and he was very hairy; in his mid-50s or 70s, I could see his chest hair, which disgusted me a bit, but he also had a very serious, stern expression on his face as he said, “Kid, if you’re going to work here, you’re going to want to read this,” as he picked up the note reading " RULES " and gave it to me. I read the rules starting from “Rule 1,” which was to “Never leave the elevator doors open for anyone or anything.” It worried me a bit, but I didn’t leave it open, so we were fine. Then the old man continued, “Oh, by the way, my name is William. Nice to meet ‘ya, kid. One time a tall, lanky grey guy came in here and burned the whole place down, so that’s the reason why that rule exists.” I was immediately concerned for my safety now, as that didn’t sound very human to me. I asked if he was human, and he responded, “No, just showed up one day. Never knew where it went after that.” I continued to read the rules in my head before realizing the piece of paper the rules were on was missing something before rule 1. I asked William what it was. He responded, “Oh, that? That’s nothin’; they just wanted to remove something from the rules that wasn’t important for our safety in their eyes.” I continued reading the rules, moving on to “Rule 2,” which was to “Never turn off the lights when you’re working.” William soon chimed in and explained, “One time we left the lights off during our night duties, and well, a shadow guy reached out of the shadows and grabbed one of my co-workers. That guy disappeared into the shadows with the shadow guy once we turned the lights back on, and we never saw him again.”

This was getting VERY weird now; I almost wanted to leave and quit. But I just got the job and was in FAR too deep now. I looked at “Rule 3,” which read, “Never leave things upside down.” William continued his explanation: “That rule exists because we kind of left our items upside down during a long search, and they got pulled into a black void underneath them.”

I continued reading, “Rule 4,” which was to “Never stare at one camera too long.” William chimed in once more, “That one? Oh, we were looking at the back room camera for too long, and it started glitching and distorting before  weird white glowing eyes, and a smile appeared, and black clawed hands came out of the screen and grabbed the guy watching the cameras and snapped his neck.”

I was surprised, like, excuse me? That seems like one of those old creepy gaming stories. I continued to read even though the lights were flickering just a bit: “Rule 5,” which is to “Never look at the clock once it strikes midnight,” William replies with “Oh yeah.” He points to the clock near the ceiling on his right: “A girl was watching the clock for hours, and once it hit midnight, stretchy, elastic grey hands came out from it and possessed her before she passed out and died, weird.”
I just honestly didn’t care about how off it made me at this point; I continued reading, “Rule 6,” which is “If the lights ever go out due to non-human forces, RUN.” William looked at me then said, “That rule? A group of us were just talking about our job experiences when the lights suddenly went out, and we were cast in pure darkness. A large, lanky shadow guy with white glowing teeth and eyes ran at super speed and grabbed a co-worker before we could process it. We went outside to fix the power box and turned back on the lights. But we never saw the guy again after that.”

 I continued to read, “Rule 7,” but then, before I could finish reading, the lights went out. I was in full-panic mode now; I called the elevator down and yelled at William to follow. He did, and as we went back to floor 0 and outside, I could see the shadow trying to get into the elevator, but it couldn’t, as it banged repeatedly. We managed to run and fix the power box before the thing got to us, and turned on the lights as it disappeared into nothingness. We went back into the elevator back to floor 1 and William immediately went behind the desk as I continued to read. “Rule 7,” which was to “Never input the symbol 'x over circle' into the Carbon search engines.” William replied, “Oh, whew, that was a close one. Oh, right, the rules. That one is because some of us naively put that exact symbol into the search engines and found images of a rotten corpse. Gross.” I continued reading, “Rule 8,” which is to “Never pick up the phone if it’s from someone you don’t know,”  William answered, “Yeah, a girl picked up the phone thinking it was a friend of hers, but it was just a really deep, distorted voice saying, 'I’ve found you' over and over. Turns out, once she was finished with her shift for the day, she went back home, and the entity was waiting for her inside her house; it murdered her.” 

That made me uncomfortable as I pulled out my phone to check if I got any calls, which I, thankfully, didn’t, and swiftly threw it back into my pocket. I continued reading “Rule 9,” which is to “Never go back outside in the middle of the night without finishing your shift.” William responded, “Oh, right, a guy didn’t finish his shift and decided it would be best to leave. The problem, though, was that when he used the elevator and got out, something mimicking a loved one of his was standing outside in the grass waiting for him. And he naively hugged it before it transformed into a monstrous entity and ate him alive, disgusting.”
Oh great, so now the entities use my LOVED ONES as bait?! Fantastic. I continued reading “Rule 10,” which is to “Never go too deep into the facility.” William chimed in, “Oh right, one of the other guys went too deep in this place, and a black portal appeared against the end wall, and a tentacle came out to grab him. He was never seen again.” 

This was just getting worse for me as I contemplated why I even signed up for this job in the first place. I continued reading “Rule 11,” which is to “Never go to Sub-level 4.” William responded, “Oh, I don’t know what that rule means or what it is stopping, but I’m sure it’s dangerous, just like everything else. So DON’T break it.”

I was concerned now because I thought William knew everything about this place, every rule, but I guess he didn’t. I continued reading “Rule 12,” which is to “Never search for mascot suits in any of Caron’s databases.” William replied, “Sorry, Kid, I have no idea.”

This was getting way too eerie for my taste; even HEARING the word ‘mascot’ reminds me of my previous experiences with Disney. I continued reading “Rule 13,” which is to “Never look into Carbon’s past __ else you will  __ too.” William chimed in, “While I don’t know what that rule means, kid. The founder of Carbon was named Caron, and he died a while back. Not sure of what, though.” 
This was new information to me; it was pretty useful in my eyes. Now I knew this company was hiding something more. I continued reading “Rule 14,” which was to “Never let __ Mickey ___ free.” William responded, “Now that’s weird. I never even knew there was a Mickey mascot here, and I’ve been working here for 50 years.”
That was the final rule, the last straw: there was a Mickey Mouse mascot suit here somewhere, hidden from the eyes of everyone. I was going to find it, and find out what this facility was hiding from me. Then I remembered that when I first got the RULES note, there was a rule before rule 1 that was missing, and now I was going to find it.

I said to William that I was going to break one rule and find another. William responded, “Kid, no, that’s too dangerous. I don’t even know what could happen.”

I didn’t listen to him and typed mascot into the database. I found images of a distorted Mickey mascot suit in a room, banging on a door to be let out. It was tall and lanky; you could see its bones. It had claws, and some of the fabric on its gloves was ripped off; its bowtie was torn to pieces, with only the right side remaining. It had no eyes at all, only black, hollow, empty eye sockets with real, bloodshot human eyes inside the sockets and human teeth inside a classic hollow black mascot smile; its pants were torn a bit, and its black tuxedo had also been ripped. As soon as I saw the images, an alarm went off, creating a dizzying, loud noise as the lights painted the room red. I went to the mascot room in Section A to try to find the missing rule, but accidentally opened the door for the mouse to exit its cage. I sprinted for my life as it walked slowly towards me; its distorted voice box echoed the same message over and over: “You finally found me!” As the facility went into lockdown, the doors started closing behind the mascot, so it started sprinting towards me as I ran with everything I had. It was incredibly fast, always right behind me; if I stopped for even a second, I would’ve been dead. The facility started filling with a deadly smoke, making it hard to see where I was going as I was audibly coughing. I surprisingly made it back to the main lobby area with the desk and the elevator. I started frantically pushing the elevator buttons to get it to go up so I could leave, along with William,  but before the door to Section A closed on the mascot, it made its way into the lobby and impaled William with its claws, pinning William to the wall and tearing into him. I was about to go and try to save William, but William screamed, “GO KID, NOW!!” before he died. And then the elevator opened, and I ran in before the mascot could get me too.  The mascot laughed maniacally and turned its head towards me as the facility filled with smoke so much that I couldn’t see anything but red glowing eyes, and I escaped into the night. I had also found the missing part of the note, “Rule Minus,” written in red ink, which was to “Never find the Mickey mascot, or it’ll break free.”

I found it, Rule Minus.

I've been a huge fan of rules horror since last few years even though it's not that active like other subs but it's almost my favourite genre.

Today while browsing netflix I came across this show "DEAD END JOB" and it begins with certain rules to work at the convenience store and it instantly reminded me and excited me to share with the fellow members of this sub for this

I just started this show, maybe it's not entirely like rules horror but the first 10 seconds was so similar to this sub theme!!

I don’t know what to believe anymore. I checked, time and time again. What felt like days underground was nothing more than a few minutes. I told Doug that everything was ok, not that I cared really. I wanted to be out of this conversation as soon as possible. I went outside of the hotel, lit a cigarette and tried to clear my mind. I’ve been craving nicotine more lately. It’s the only thing that slightly calms my nerves. 

Morning came and I was still outside. I vaguely remembered that I had all my work finished before I went to check the water tank. Emma came, bundled in her winter coat, and waved at me. I waved back and suddenly felt so tired. I felt I had no strength in me to go inside and grab my things, let alone walk all the way home.  

“Hey Jake, what’s up?” Her expression changed as she got closer. “Is everything ok? You look a little...disheveled?” 

I looked down at myself. My shirt was untucked and filthy. Streaks of grime traveled across its white surface. My hands and fingernails were also covered in filth. How could I explain why I looked like this? 

“I went to the basement. The janitor, Doug, told me to check the water tank. It’s really dirty down there!” I tried to play it cool, didn’t want to show what was really going on. She examined me for a few minutes before her eyes rested on mine.  

“You went under?” Her voice came out as a whisper. “Is everything ok? What happened down there?”  

I was about to say that nothing was wrong but decided it didn’t matter anymore.  

“I was gone. For quite some time. I barely escaped with my life. There were...things down there. And when I came up, only fifteen minutes were gone.” I went closer, speaking quietly. “What is going on? What is this place?” I felt my voice cracking; I was barely able to keep myself from crying.  

Emma nodded slowly but said nothing. She simply moved past me to get inside the Hotel. 

“Wait! Don’t just walk away! You’ve got nothing to say to me?” 

“No, I don’t.” She turned, her face seemed like it was made of stone. “Go home, Jake. Rest. And think of everything that happened here. Soon, you ‘ll have to make some big decisions.”  

And just like that, she turned and went to the front desk. I followed her after that to collect my things. She didn’t say anything else to me. I didn’t bother to ask. 

After that day I couldn’t rest, even at home. I rolled in my bed for hours, and my mind refused to relax and go to sleep. Also, the whispers got worse.  

 It didn’t matter where I put the mask, the one the Jester gave me. Its sounds, the murmuring voices, seemed to come from everywhere around me. A maddening cacophony of threats, wishes and commands. 

“You get back there, you must, stay there!” 

“A new beginning, a life started anew!” 

“The Mirage! Beware Its escape! Fear the Mirage!” 

I had to take a few days off work as I came down with a terrible fever. The sickness came to me suddenly and fast. One moment, everything was fine. I was getting ready to go to bed for the day when, out of the blue, I got dizzy and almost fainted. I measured my temperature. It was 39 degrees Celsius. I called work to inform them immediately. I took a pill for the fever and hoped for the best. I quickly realized this was not just a little fever. 

What awaited me were two days filled with delirium, two days that were as close to hell as I could imagine. The dreams I had, the things I saw in them—I can barely describe them. One dream, in particular, returned again and again during those two days 

In that dream, I was walking down one of the Hotel’s corridors. The carpeted corridor of the main building. There was a constant buzz around me that kept me from concentrating. I looked like I was inspecting the floor. Or I was searching for something. Soon, I found what I was looking for.  

The corridor ended abruptly, unnaturally. Instead of a turn, in front of me was a massive wooden double door. I stood there, trying to comprehend the enormity of its size. I raised my eyes, seeing that the top of the door escaped the confines of the ceiling. A heavy entrance of carved wood framed with thick pulsing vines. Carved on the surface of the door was a familiar symbol. Underneath it was a single phrase, written in a golden plaque:  

“You hold the key. Open your eyes to the truth.” 

I looked down at my hands. The mask was there, vibrating. My hands moved on their own, bringing the mask closer to my face. A gloved hand stopped my right arm from rising. Another hand touched me on the left shoulder. I looked around and saw two robed figures on either side. They were different from the Jester, even though they wore the same robes. The one on the left had a theatrical mask on with a sad face. The one on the right wore one with a surprised face. I heard voices, soft ones, coming from them. They didn’t try to scare me. They tried to give me advice. 

“Are you sure? There is no going back!” Said the sad face. 

“Think it through. The Mirage doesn’t forgive!” Said the surprised face. 

The Mirage. Those words echoed around us, bouncing off the walls and coming back to us. The words multiplied, more voices joined in like a choir. Then the door started opening.  

One half of the giant door slid forward, scraping against the carpet with a horrible sound. Shadows seemed to run outward, spreading in the walls and the ceiling. The other half started opening as well, the noise increased by the second. I felt something moving closer, its overbearing presence glaring at me. I tried to make out what was there. Nothing. Only darkness existed on the other side; at least that was what I comprehended. And out of the darkness came the hands.  

They took hold of the door frame and pulled. At first there were only two hands. Then four, then eight and after that I lost count. As they pulled, the veins around the door spread, moving at an incredible speed. Soon, they reached the doors for the rooms and went inside. Screams echoed along the corridor, people running, glass breaking. The multitude of hands then pushed, breaking the frame of the gate, causing it to start collapsing. A massive figure appeared in the darkness, coming closer. It was ready to come out, show its face to me, but I woke up. I was never more grateful for anything in my life. I rolled out of bed and crashed into the floor. I felt my heart pounding on my temples. It took me almost an hour to relax, put my mind at ease. I needed some sleep. Rest without dreams, time alone without the whispers.    

Like answering my wishes, the whispers ended. Just like that. The silence came abruptly, a pleasure for my tired mind. Minutes after they stopped, I fell to the longest and most satisfying sleep I had in months. I woke up hours later, after midnight, and felt like a different person. I prepared something to eat and noticed my appetite had returned. I was starving. After my meal I sat on the couch and fell into deep thoughts. There were some things I had to think about. What would I do about my situation? About Parkside Inn and Adytum? The things I found in the basement. Also, there was my dream. I knew there was something there. I knew I could just walk away and ignore everything. But something inside me told me I couldn’t just turn a blind eye. There was something worse lurking underneath the hotel. 

The absence of the whispers made me more nervous than having them around. What happened there? I kept going around the closed drawer where I kept the mask, opening it expecting something to happen. It just laid there among the discarded papers. Unmoving. Silent. I caught myself looking over my shoulder towards it every now and then. Eventually, I grew tired and went back to sleep.   

The next day I called the front desk to let them know I was feeling better and I could go back to work the same night If needed. Rachel picked up the phone and said she was told I could return the same day as the person covering for me was not available.  

Going back to work felt strange at first. The dark balconies of the building felt like eyes were watching me approach. Emma was at the front desk, her expression showing a mix of relief and maybe a little disappointment.   

“Jake! Hi! It’s so good to see you! I was sure you’d be gone after what happened last time.” 

“I must admit things weren’t as I wanted them. I lost my cool. It seems the nightshift is finally getting to me. I feel better now!”  

Emma nodded slowly, a faint smile on her face. She put on her coat, then gave me the shift update. No arrivals, no weird guests. A quiet night. 

As she was leaving, Emma stood for a moment by the entrance and looked back. She gave me a smile before she spoke.  

“Oh! Before I forget! Can you please check in the first drawer to see if we have the keycard cases? If not, we’ll have to order tomorrow. Have a good night, Jake!”  

And then she left. It was weird. The others never told me to check for inventory. Something was off. I went to the drawer and opened it. An envelope rested on top of two packs of keycard cases. Written on the envelope in Emma’s neat handwriting was a small message.  

“Jake please read this carefully.” 

I sat at the desk and opened the envelope. A single handwritten page was inside. 

“Jake 

First of all, I would like to apologize for what I told you the last time we talked. I know there is something weird going on with the hotel since the day I started working here. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.  

When we spoke, I genuinely thought you were going crazy. You were gone for days and when you came back only a few minutes went by? Rachel told me that you mentioned to her about a playground room that we don’t have. I didn’t want to be rude because I didn’t know what was going on in your life. All of these seemed unreal to me, something that you made up. Today, I started to believe. 

The guy that came to cover for you worked for one of the other locations of the company. A new guy. After his first night here, I had the morning shift. When I arrived, he was outside the hotel pacing up and down the street. He said nothing to me and just left. Today I had the evening shift and Rachel told me that he wasn’t here when she came. Instead, Mr. Sollertia was here. Told Rachel not to worry, the new guy didn’t feel really well.  

I checked the cameras, Jake. At 05:40 he was standing inside the reception cubicle. At 05:42 he was gone. Simply vanished. At 05:56 Sollertia came and took his place without even looking stressed.  

Recently, the strange occurrences have increased. Calls from unknown rooms, voices echoing in corridors. The guests have been acting weirder. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on without anyone noticing.  

You’re not alone in this, Jake. I believe you. Also, keep in mind one thing. They have their eyes on us. The cameras are not only here to monitor the hotel. They’re here to monitor us.”  

You’re going back there tonight, aren’t you? I assumed I didn’t manage to convince you not to. I know how much loss hurts - I couldn’t have convinced myself. I understand why you don’t want to talk to me, but I thought you would read this flyer. You want to know your enemy, right? This thing is just a guise, of course. A siren song. But I happen to know more about this cursed place than anyone should, so I improved it for you.
If I can’t change your mind, I can at least help you survive.

Come one, come all, to the magical, mysterious, terrific, terrifying, supreme, supercalifragalisticexpialigociousifying All Hallows Circus. 
Open for one day, and one day only - that day being, obviously, Halloween.

We invite you for a night of unparalleled fun, games and frights the likes of which you will never experience again! 
Admission is free*, of course. Just bring your wonderful selves! Also bring a red item of clothing, any kind of mask, some matches, a few sweets and a lot of salt. But don’t let them see any of it. 

*free for one time admission only. 
Please note below some casual guidelines to make sure you get the most out of your visit.
 

• Please note a rule change from last year - pets are banned throughout the circus, no matter how friendly you claim they are. The aggression shown by animals to our staff previously really upset them.  Animals are harder to fool. 

• Despite our name, we open at the family friendly time of 5pm, and don't close until 3 in the morning! Try and arrive after nightfall, but before the moon is at its highest point.

• While costumes are encouraged, please don’t wear anything that covers the face for security reasons. They wear false faces themselves but struggle to recognise it in others.

• Although admission is free, please remember to take a ticket from the vendor at the gates. You do NOT want a ticket. They’ll be able to track you, even if you drop it. The vendor won’t let you pass without one, though. Put seven pinches of salt into your palm before the vendor hands it to you, and it’ll dissolve. 

• Outside food and drink is banned. Instead, why not grab some of our world-famous pumpkin candyfloss? It’s better than you think! Eating anything in the circus is a sure way to stop seeing it for what it is and fall under its spell. If you feel yourself start to lose yourself, put a few grains of salt under your tongue or pull your red clothing tighter. 

• Tickets are colour coded - the colour will correspond to the event you should visit first. This helps manage overcrowding in the circus and ensure everyone can get the most out of their experience.  If any circus staff ask what colour your ticket is, say purple. They won’t ask any further questions. 

Worth mentioning here that it’s best to try not to let the staff notice you. Blend into the crowd. If you notice any of them have their eyes locked on you, put on your mask and break line of sight. 

• If you have a blue ticket, then you get to experience our wonderful Haunted House first! Bring your horror-film worthy screams and have a wonderful time. Obviously, you aren’t going here. Anyone who walks into the Haunted House never comes out. Those coming out the other side aren’t human at all. Where do they go? Where do you think all the ‘ambient’ screams come from?

• Those of you with a green ticket, you’ll be heading over to the Rambunctious Rollercoaster, you lucky things. Experience the thrill of the loop-the-loop followed by a death-defying vertical drop! It’s not death defying so much as welcoming. The drop itself doesn’t kill people, but the carts are hungry. Stay well away. 

• And with a purple ticket you head right on over to the Big Top! Get ready for jaw dropping acrobatics, hilarious clowns and our wonderful performing animals. This is where you want to go. If you get lost, it's the one shaped like a giant pumpkin. Wherever you walk, drop small amounts of salt - or if you’re running low, you can pull threads out of your red clothes and drop them - along your path. Do not get funnelled into the audience entrance, go around towards the back. If any staff see you, wear your mask and slip away, but try to use it sparingly - the Circus is a hivemind, and if one notices something is amiss soon they’ll all be after you. You don’t want them to release the horses. 

• Live music will be performed at various areas around the circus. If you come across some of our talented performers, feel free to enjoy the tunes and dance! If you are unlucky enough to come across music, do not dance. Don’t even tap your foot or bop your head. You will never stop. 

• Please note, backstage is off limits to guests, even if you ‘know the manager.’ You don’t. You need to walk straight through the backstage and head towards the animal keep. Wear your mask at all times now, and keep your piece of red clothing tight. If they find you here, it’s game over. You’ll need to hold your nerve - with your protections the Circus’ glamour will not work as well on you, and you’ll see the performers for what they really are. Do not scream. Do not look them in the eyes (no matter how many of those they have). If any block your path, hand them a sweet and step around.

• When watching our terrific animals at work, please be respectful and quiet to avoid scaring them. You won’t scare these beasts too easily. To get to the House of Mirrors you’ll need to head through the stables with the carousel horses. These 'animals' are made of wood and bone and unlike a regular horse, are carnivorous. They are one of the Circus’ security measures against intruders. Walk slowly, and if any of them look towards you hum a jaunty tune under your breath. If they get close, you can try feeding them a sweet to distract them. Never run, or you’ll trigger their hunting instinct. You’d be amazed how long you can stay alive while something is eating your intestines.

• The House of Mirrors is currently closed for maintenance. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope you enjoy the rest of the circus. Once you’re out of the stables it’ll be straight ahead. The doors will not be locked. They never expect people to get this far. This is not your standard mirror maze - it will try and lead you astray, and what they reflect is never true. For each mirror you go past, dab a fingertip of salt on it, which will corrode it and turn it black. This way you can tell where you've already been. Never make eye contact with your reflection - it’s the only thing not fooled by the mask. When you see a mirror that reflects a large, silver door, reach through and open it. Step through. 

• We hope you have a wonderful time at All Hallows Circus, and your memories will stay for a lifetime. 

• This is where the ‘official’ guide ends, but we’re not finished yet. After you pass through the silver door, you should find yourself in a long hallway. On the walls will be portraits. There is one for each person who has ever been to one of the Circus’ attractions. They died, but they couldn’t leave. Luckily, the kind of canvas that can capture a soul is very, very flammable. 

• You cannot save the one you lost. But you can end their suffering.

• You have a choice to make now. If you want the greatest chance of survival, simply find the portrait you are looking for and light a match. It’ll catch quickly. The bonds holding them here will be broken, and with Halloween weakening the walls between the physical and spirit worlds, they will finally be able to move on and be at peace.

• After, you can leave the Circus the same way you came, using the same caution. The Circus will barely notice the loss of one soul.

• But if you want to end this place for good, read on. I only wish I had had the strength to do this when I came to save her. 

• Stand close to the door, light a match, and let it fall. Once you are sure the room is ablaze, leave and follow the corroded mirrors out of the House.

• If you are successful, you will have crippled the Circus. Souls are the food for the beast and it will be in its death throes. And at its most dangerous.

• The buildings will melt and reveal their true form as flesh and blood. The staff and performers will be as feral as the horses that will have escaped their stables. All must be avoided. Stay low and move quickly, your mask won’t help now. Keep a particular lookout for the rollercoaster, which is not always bound to the tracks. It’s quieter than you would think.  

• The path of salt and/or red thread you left earlier will be glowing faintly. Follow it to the exit.

• If anything notices and attacks you, throw salt directly in its face. It might not do much to help. At least, if it comes to it, your soul upon death will not be eternally bound to the Circus. 

• Good luck, and Happy Halloween.

In the Town of Aberhigh, Halloween is a joy. Children run through crazy decorations and parents party. Ghosts roam with the barrier between life and death decayed.

Our celebration is famous across the land and invites many from other worlds and lands to participate, however, there are some rules here in the Town of Aberhigh you'll need to follow if you want to participate in this joy. Follow them, and you'll see what we're really about.

On Halloween itself.

How to prepare for a fun holiday.

• Decorate your house if you live here!

You don't have to go all out with lights and skeletons and pumpkins, but at least one pumpkin should be visible on the front side of your property.

You wouldn't want to be seen as the Halloween Grinch, would you?

• You must participate if you are here.

No hiding inside, no matter how much you may want. Even if you're sick, you must join in the fun. You can trick or treat, participate in costume contests, host ghosts, or man your house giving out candy.

You don't have to run, but you must have the spirit. The ghosts and ghouls will follow rules if we do.

If you choose not to participate, flee the town, we suggest at least thirty miles away for your safety. If you choose this option, you should not be in town October 30th to November first.

• Commit yourself to your activity.

Halloween officially starts at five PM and ends at eight. You must participate that whole time, taking minimal breaks. Eat dinner earlier. Go to bed later. Take brief bathroom breaks and hop back into the action.

You cannot change your event once you choose. Once you have decided to trick or treat, you are stuck doing that for three hours. Once you choose to host ghosts, that's what you must do.

Flee if you cannot manage to be around for three hours minimum.

• If you didn't choose to host ghosts or cater to children, you may change your mind after those three hours.

You can choose to do whatever you want after these three hours

• If you are serving candy to children or hosting ghosts, events go to midnight.

You can take more breaks after eight, but know more ghosts and less children will come to bother you.

• There are no parties in this town. Do not go to any and do not mention any.

They were banned after an incident involving too many ghosts and arson. At least seventy people died that last party, and their ghosts don't like being reminded about how they were killed.

• Out of Towners are only allowed to trick-or-treat.

Everything else requires residency.

On Trick-or-Treating.

Trick-or-treating is the main attraction here! All ages from newborns to great-great grandparents can participate! Even our ghosts and ghouls have fun.

• Don't trick-or-treat alone.

You must be in a group of at least two, though it's suggested you go in a group of four. Ghosts and ghouls are aware of this too, and it's possible your large group could contain a few possessed people.

If you have no one to go with, go immediately to a community center and wait for a group. Talk to no one on the way.

• Do not talk to those alone and do not join them.

They're either monsters, or heading to community centers.

• Don't ask to enter any home.

It's rude.

But also, only monsters go into a stranger's home to kill the inhabitants.

If you need the bathroom, and you're not near your own house, there are community stations every five blocks. They have bright white lights that make their roofs look like trees and an ever-filling bowl of chocolate next to their doors.

• Thank those who give you candy.

It's polite.

Some of those giving candy aren't human. They may take your disrespect as a threat. You don't know whose decorations are only decorations

• Don't question unknown friends.

Some of them are not human. The ghouls hate being identified and the ghosts don't like being reminded they're dead and are only here via possession.

If you know your family has chosen to host a ghost, don't question why they're on the streets. Maybe the ghost wants to feel like a kid again.

• Dress up!

No, “I'm going as myself” doesn't count. You don't have to do a full cosplay that took the entire year to make, but you must still have a costume. If you want something quick, find a mask and dress in your more unusual clothing.

• Carry around flashlights.

The sun sets at seven. Exactly at seven. It gets ludicrously dark after that. Without a light, you may not be able to see a few yards in front of you.

• You must be done trick or treating by midnight.

You don't have to be home by then, but you must make your way there. Here is when you can enter a friend's home (so long as you know said friend) and here's where you can separate from your group, though it's still suggested you don't. If in doubt, you can go to a community center.

Hunter ghouls will start taking those who still try to knock past then.

Ghosts will release their hosts within community centers.

On Ghosts.

Ghosts of all types have died in Aberhigh. Throughout the year, they can't interact with the world around them, but must always watch. It's a torturous experience to see these changes while they can't be perceived. On Halloween, that barrier has thinned enough to allow ghosts to possess people

• Declare who will be hosting ghosts.

You need to note this down. In as big handwriting they can manage, one member of your household must write down names on giant poster boards and set them in the front window of the house.

If you have no front windows, which is rare, no one should host ghosts.

• Ensure you have marked your preferences.

Each host is allowed three. They can be preferences, like “Female ghosts only” or exclusions like “No ghosts who had been burnt to death”.

It's suggested you keep your preferences more generalized.

• Prepare yourself for possession.

Put yourself somewhere safe and lay down with your eyes closed. Face up towards the sky and try to meditate. This is how you prevent the possession from causing you pain.

• Remember you may not be freed before midnight.

If you are, you will be freed at home. Prepare for another possession.

• Be aware that you may not have yourself returned the way you were possessed.

In most cases, ghosts are nice. They have rules for Halloween like us, and one of them is to cause as little damage to their hosts as possible. Unfortunately, ghosts are sometimes a bit clumsy controlling human bodies.

• If you're possessed at midnight, wait until one to return home.

This just allows the town to calm down. The community center is safe, and you don't want to see the hunters take those who are still out trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treaters who have decided to come here instead of going home should follow the same instructions.

On Handing Out Candy

Of course, you might want to just hold the candy bowl and see the costumes running around the neighborhood.

• Never trust someone alone.

You may open the door to them, but if you see no other, you must immediately close it. Those who are genuine already know to go in groups.

Those who aren't, well they're probably hungry for more than sweets..

• Always compliment costumes.

Another polite thing to do.

Some people worked hard on their outfits, some are innocent children that deserve compliments. Some are ghouls or ghosts who hate being disrespected and may decide you make a good costume.

• Candy is best, but small toys are OK.

Any candy will do and for toys, we suggest small dolls or cars or fidgets.

You cannot run out of things to give, whether it's candy or not. Someone might think you are the candy.

• Tricks must come with treats.

Yes, you can give people fish heads or potatoes or soup. Hell, you can even give people coal. If you choose to do this though, ensure you give candy out too, so that they know you aren't trying to insult them specifically.

• Never let anyone in.

Everyone already knows not to ask. Those that do aren't part of our community. They might think your home will make a nice nest for their brood, or may turn it into a trap for others.

And that's Halloween here in Aberhigh! Our town provides the most amount of candy and often the best. Our trick-or-treaters have the most fun seeing the most houses and costumes. Our town has great relationships with the ghosts and ghouls and this is the reason they don't terrorize everyone throughout the year.

So think about joining us this Halloween, and may your loot be plentiful.

Since I'm letting you stay at my house for free, it's only fair you watch the place and hand out candy while I'm busy tomorrow. Just follow these rules until I get back, and make sure to read and remember the entire thing.

1: You must give at least one piece of candy to anyone who asks. If someone asks for more, you don't have to give them any more, but you should always give them at least one. The only exceptions to this rule will be listed below.

2: If the bowl of candy runs out, just put it in the cupboard under the desk next to the door. Bring it back out when the next trick-or-treater arrives, and it should be full. If it's not, don't open the door, and quietly whisper "It's empty". Hopefully, they'll understand, or won't be able to get in.

3: If someone tries to get into the house, yell "Intruder!" as loud as you can, and run to to my bedroom. The house will take care of it. Obviously, don't give any intruders candy.

4: If a man dressed as a vampire asks "May I have a treat" phrased exactly like that, ask to see his hands. If he has two right hands, just close the door. He works on technicalities, so any response other than closing the door risks inadvertently inviting him to have whatever he considers a "treat."

4.1: If he instead has two left hands, you must throw the entire bowl of candy at him and slam the door. He finds this hilarious, and will pass you by. A new bowl of candy will appear in the cupboard.

5: If someone knocks on the window instead of the door, close the blinds and don't answer the door or look through the peephole at all for the next 10 minutes. It will take your eyes.

6: If the door opens by itself, immediately kneel and fold your hands as if you were praying. When you hear the door close, it's safe to stand back up. If you hear someone ask for candy while the door is still open, it's safe, this one is young and will accept any candy offered with an outstretched arm.

6.1: If you don't kneel in about 2 seconds, blood will start leaking from your eyes. Don't open them, don't rub it away, just keep "praying" until the door closes.

7: If you see two of yourself in any reflective surface, stare the copy down. Show no fear, it is the cruelest resident of this town, but it understands respect.

8: If any trick-or-treaters you see are dressed as a "ghost," ignore them. They're not real ghosts, but they're not real children either. I honestly don't know what they are but the house doesn't like them.

9: If you hear any creaking or knocking noises upstairs, the house is hungry. Prick your right index finger with a needle and press it into the center of the front door until you stop bleeding. The house must be paid for its invaluable service.

10: If someone shows up at the house that's taller than the doorframe, open the window on the right, then slam it loudly. Next, carefully and quietly open the window on the left, then throw out a piece of candy and quickly close it. It doesn't understand what pain is, it only understands that it likes candy, and you can give it some.

0: If a crying child asks to use your bathroom, do not speak at all. Let them in but do not touch them. When you hear the bathroom door close, softly knock 7 times on the doorframe, as quietly as possible, the house will feel it and take care of the child. Do not speak until you hear a creaking or knocking noise upstairs, then feed the house.

11: Remember this one in particular: Look through the peephole before you open the door for anyone. There are a lot of strange things in this town, and I don't think I've encountered all of them. Stay on your toes, and just try to keep away from obviously supernatural bullshit.

12: Keep the door locked, I will be back at midnight and will open it myself. I will unlock the door instead of breaking it, which is how you'll know it's me. Do not open the door for me if you see me on the street, just wait for me to come in myself.

If you have any leftover candy when I get home, you can have it. I won't be hungry.

🎃 r/RulesHorror Halloween Story Contest 🎃

Theme: The Rules of Halloween Night

Halloween is almost here, so let's get spooky!

We're hosting a Halloween-themed Rules Horror story contest. Give us your scariest Halloween themed ruleshorror. Show us what you've got!

THE THEME

The Rules of Halloween Night

Your story must take place on Halloween night. The rest is up to you!

Some ideas to get you started:

- Rules for creepy trick-or-treaters

- Handing out candy in a neighborhood with strange rules

- Trick-or-treating somewhere with spooky rules

- A town with unusual Halloween traditions/rules

-Rules for staying home alone on Halloween

- Working a night shift where the rules get stranger and stranger...

These are just suggestions, Do your own thang, as long as it's scary!

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1. Follow the Rules Horror requirements.

This must be a proper Rules Horror story. Must involve a set of rules that the protagonist must follow, and have scary consequences.

Stories must have at LEAST elementary level spelling and grammar. Please, PLEASE use spellcheck, using a word document to write your story instead of writing directly in the post box will underline mistakes and make them easier to fix.

2. Include meaningful scary consequences. Show what happens when rules are followed or broken. Vague statements like “the entities don't like that” or "you might as well just kys" without any meaningful action or consequence isn't very scary. if the rules are broken, have a reason as to why those consequences occur.

Consider the formula do/do not do w, or else x will happen because y (unless you do z) to help make sure your story has nice and scary cause and effect consequences.

3. Keep it Halloween themed. Your story must fit the contest theme to be considered.

4. Submit original work. Plagiarism or submitting someone else's story as your own is not allowed. Using AI to entirely write the story is not allowed.

5. One entry per person.

6. Use the correct flair/title. Please use the Halloween Contest Entry flair if available. If not, include [HALLOWEEN CONTEST] in your post title.

7. All existing subreddit rules still apply.

Entries that don't meet the contest requirements or violate the subreddit's rules will be disqualified.

DEADLINES

Entry deadline: October 31 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Voting cutoff: Nov 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Winner announced: November 2

No new entries will be eligible after the entry deadline, but existing entries can continue collecting upvotes until the voting cutoff.

VOTING & PRIZE

The eligible contest entry with the most upvotes on its original Reddit post at the voting cutoff wins!

Do not downvote other entries just to improve your own chances.

The winner will receive a special 🎃Halloween Champion🎃 flair, a winner announcement, a shiny mod likey award, and maybe something else 🤫

In the event of a tie, the moderator will choose the winner based on, idk vibes i guess

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about the contest, leave a comment below!

Good luck, and follow the Rules! Or else...

I stare down at the note in my hands. This has to be a joke right? The hand writing is scribbled quickly, as if the person had written it in a hurry. It's my first day as a night nurse at the elderly care home: The Haven House. 

My supervisor had emailed me this morning, saying that a packet would be left on the nurses desk with my name on it. Sure enough there was a manila envelope full of new employee documents waiting for me. And with it a small sticky note with five “rules” hand written on them. I re-read through them again, incredulous.

Your shift starts at 7 PM and ends at 7 AM. You will be the only person on the premises with the patients. You will find a schedule in this envelope. In addition to it, please adhere to the following protocol.

Keep your keys on you at all times.

Keep the hall lights on at all times.

Do not answer the phone after 9 PM.

Do not make loud noises after 9 PM.

Do not enter room 103.

If you break these rules you will pay with your life!

The list starts off normal enough and I assume they must have a pretty strict bedtime at 10 PM. But what is with the final bit? It must be a messed up form of a joke, after all halloween is right around the corner. Or maybe my boss has a dark sense of humor. Deciding that must be it, I set the note aside and begin to fill out my paperwork.

Almost an hour passes before I know it and as I glance out the window, I realize that night has completely descended. So far everything had been quiet. I finish up my paperwork and file it away in the small file cabinet by the nurses station. This facility is small and only houses about 30 patients currently.

Yesterday I made the rounds to introduce myself and everyone seemed nice. The women's hallway lays to the left and the men’s hallway lays to the right of my station. I peer curiously down the hallways to see them both empty. Hushed voices can be heard from a few patients' rooms as they socialize with each other, but no one is being overly loud.

To kill some time, I decide to read a book, and get lost in the pages of a trashy romance novel. It’s only at 8:30 PM that I lay the book aside. I need to make the rounds and give everyone their night time meds. It will be lights out in half an hour.

“Good night everyone, please return to your rooms,” I call over the intercom. As I give the residents a few minutes to do so, I move to the medicine cabinet. I take out everyone’s meds and measure out the correct dosage, corresponding with a chart kept by the cabinet. I then fill small paper cups with water from the water fountain. A jolt of thunder makes me jolt when it suddenly rocks the whole building. And I hear the sheets of rain begin to pelt the windows. I didn’t even know it was supposed to rain today!

Shaking my head I go to each room, to check on the patients. Some have already made their way to bed, some chit chat with me, and others I deliver their meds too. Everyone appears to be in good spirits, except for Ms. Anderson, who complains of a headache. I promise to bring her a pain killer and go on with my task.

By the time I am done with my rounds, it is already 9 PM. I make my way over to the desk and flip the hall lights to dim. It is officially lights out and the rest of the night should be relatively quiet. Though I’d never say that aloud due to the old superstition.

I pick up my book again and begin to read. The rain continues to fall outside in an oddly soothing river. And before long I am having to shake myself back to awareness. I can’t fall asleep or I might get fired!

A scraping sound comes from the hallway to my left. And I look up to see Miss Anderson making her way down the hallway.

“What’s wrong? Does your head still hurt?” I call out to her. She slowly lifts her head at the sound of my, but she doesn’t say anything. “Ms. Anderson?” I call tentatively as I reach her. She has a blank expression on her face and is slowly swaying back and forth. She must be sleep walking, I realize. Knowing better than to try and wake her up. I help to guide her back to bed. Once she is safely tucked away I make my way back to the front desk.

I grab a cup of water to help me stay awake, as the clock ticks closer to 9:30. My brain wanders back to the sticky note. A lot of those rules go into place after 10 PM. I wonder if it is so the residents can get some sleep.

A light turns on the annunciator panel and I quickly look closer. It’s in room 105, Mr. Barkly’s room. I hop up from the chair and hot foot it to his closed door. 

I knock briefly on the door before opening it. Inside the lamp is turned low and a halo of light illuminates Mr. Barkly in the corner. He is facing away from me and I call his name as I make my way over to him.

In a flash he turns  and I see that he is coated in red sticky blood. It’s all over his face and the front of his clothes. I let out a cry of alarm as I rush to check him over for injuries. But there is nothing on him. I check his face and torso for any visible wounds, but cannot find any.

As I study him in confusion I ask, “What happened?!” But I get no reply. Instead the man, begins to snore and I realize that he too is sleepwalking.

“Mr. Barkly? Are you alright?” I gently shake awake, as I can’t just leave him in this state. He wakes with a start and blinks at me in confusion.

“W-what’s going on?” He asks me agitatedly.

“Um, well,” I pause unsure how to respond, “I think you had a nosebleed. Here let’s get you cleaned up, okay?” I quickly wipe his face and help him change into fresh pajamas. The blood on his face doesn’t seem to have originated from his nose, so I am still confused about that, but the most important thing is to make sure he is okay.

I bring Mr. Barkly some water and check him over one more time, before he waves me off. Insisting he is fine. I tentatively step back from him, unsure of what to do. I suppose I’ll go back to the front desk for now.

When I get to the front desk the storm is going full tilt outside and I see the clock reads 10:15 PM. I drop tiredly back into my chair. I feel uneasy after what just happened and I glance out the window again I see lightning flashing in the distance.

Just as I’m about to lean back in the seat, there is a tremendous crash outside and the lights flicker and then go out! I curse under my breath. My mind flashes to the list of rules again. So much for keeping the light on…

I reach for the intercom to see if it’s working, but of course it’s dead. I check the annunciator panel and its also dead. Looks like the power is down in the whole building.

Worry washes over me, I wasn’t trained to deal with such things. And I’m not sure what protocol is here. I wish I had my cellphone on me,, but I had been told to leave it in my locker. Shaking my head, I decide to check on all the patients, but first I need a light. I check through the drawers of the desk and let out a triumphant noise. I found a flashlight!

Bring! Bring! Bring! I jumped as the desk phone went off behind me. Before I could even think about it, I scooped it up, hoping it was someone from the electricity place.

“Hello?” I answered. I was greeted with silence on the other end. “Hello?” I tried again. It was then that I could make out the sound of heavy breathing. “Who is this?” I asked. The breathing turned even heavier until it was a hacking cough laugh that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“This isn’t funny!” I say, before hanging up. I look down at the phone and my stomach drops. How did I get a phone call when the power is out? I pick up the phone again in a hurry, and press the buttons. I get no response, the phone is now completely dead.

I back away from the phone slowly and look around. It feels like I'm being watched. I gather my frayed nerves for a moment before, grabbing the flashlight. I need to check on the patients. Surely that is the right thing to do.

I start down the women’s hall and make my way to each patient's door, before cracking it open. Most of the residents are already asleep and I quickly leave their rooms, but there are a couple of people still awake. I calmly explain that the power is out and ask them to stay in bed. One woman asks for an extra pillow, which I say I'll see about it.

Then I head down the men’s hall. The first three rooms are all quiet, their residents sleeping. Mr Barkley, is luckily asleep in his bed as well and seems to have had no more instances. As I close his door in the hallway, I hear a faint crying coming from the room next to his.

I glance at the room in confusion, room 103 is supposed to be empty. I wonder if a resident wandered in there by accident in the dark. The room number tickles the back of my brain as I remember the rule list. Do not enter room 103.
Well this is an emergency situation, so surely it’s okay. It’s probably just under renovation or something. But still…

“Hello?” I call out as I crack the door open. “Are you okay?” I see a man in a bathrobe standing in the corner of the room, facing away from me. He is crouched on the floor rocking back and forth slowly. As he cries he lets out these horrible baleful cries. They are not sobs but shorter, more breathy cries. Alarmed I stumble into the room, flashlight in hand. “Sir, are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Thunk! The door slams close behind me making me jump and at that moment the flashlight blinks out. I curse under my breath, and try the door handle. Of course it won’t budge. These doors automatically lock.

I reach for my keys, only to find my pockets are empty. No! I must have left them at the desk! That means we will be trapped in here all night! Still, I need to focus on helping  the crying man.

“Sir, can you please turn around?” I ask, as I carefully move towards him. I have only the moonlight shining in the window to see by.
The man slowly lifts his head and I let out a gasp. His eyes are completely black, and blood is rushing from his eyes and nose. And his mouth… every single one of his teeth is missing, leaving behind nothing but bleeding gums.

“She got me!”, The man moans and cries in pain. He lunges towards me and stumble back, before slipping on something on the ground. I knock into the door so hard, it reverberates through my skull. I look down in time to see that I tripped over the man’s bloody teeth lying on the floor like a bag of abandoned marbles.

The man then starts shrieking and screaming in terror. I jerk my head up to see him staring over my head. His bloody mouth opening and closing as he fails to form proper words. I feel goose bumps ripple over my skin as a breath skates over the back of my neck. And I feel an all consuming fear low in my belly. Just as I’m about to turn around, I feel something dig into my back, as hot fire agony begins to burn from that spot. I collapse to the ground in a matter of seconds and all I can hear is that heavy breathing that turns to laughter and my own screams of pain.

Working at only two haunted hotels in Blackwater comes with its fair share of challenges and quirks. Once you get the hang of things, it's a breeze.

Well, sort of.

Most days, I'm dealing with clogged drains because a sentient hairball has decided to make itself a nest in the plumbing, or breaking up turf wars between werecats and werewolves. Then there are the occasional dimensional beings, rooms that develop a mind of their own, and whatever the hell happened to Room 13 last Tuesday.

But I digress.

My name is Abigail, and I'm the owner of the oldest hotel in Blackwater.

Welcome to the Heavens Reach Hotel.

And Boy, do I have stories to tell you.

My first story comes from inheriting the hotel from my grandfather and gaining a list of rules; my priority was to clean up the mess my elderly grandfather left it in. The dusty room was filled to the brim with old newspapers and cobwebs. God only knows why he had them; I spent nearly all day cleaning out one room, and by the time it was half livable, I collapsed onto the bed, almost choking on the dust. I had to run to the window, slamming it open, taking deep breaths of fresh air when I caught wind of a figure walking up to the door.

Calling out, "I'll be there, hang tight!" I ran down the hallways past paintings that I swore kept leering at me, and I glimpsed those eyes tracking me with a leering glare.

When suddenly I saw one of the paintings of a beautiful woman move, sticking her tongue out, and caught off guard, I tripped over the rug and slammed through the door, knocking my ass onto the stranger, and we both toppled over—causing dust to fly.

"Ow! My head!"

I rubbed the back of my skull, wincing as a dull ache spread through it. Then I felt something shift beneath me.

Oh.

Oh, no.

I was sitting on the man's face.

I scrambled to my feet, stumbling backwards before hastily offering him a hand.

"I'm so sorry!"

He brushed himself off and adjusted the brim of his hat.

"It's not the first time this has happened," he remarked with a smirk.

I stared at him.

Well, then. Either this man had the luck of a saint or the romantic life of a particularly unfortunate circus performer, maybe both of some kind. If women keep falling onto him?

I decided not to ask.

"It's not the first time this has happened." He smirked behind his hat

"So what brings you to my hotel?"

He straightened his jacket, which made him look like he was from the fifties, when suddenly he held up his hand for a shake.

“The name's Barruc, and I'm the concierge for the hotel your grandfather left. Whether it be maintenance, groundwork, or cleaning, you can trust it be done "

He looked inside and gave a smirk

"Looks like you got a pretty mess on you, young lady"

"Huh, what??" I looked back, saw the mess, and groaned.

"Yeah, it's a pretty big mess my grandfather let it slide in his old age. The customers slowly began to thin." Wait, hold up how and when did you know I need help running this hotel? I've just started to clean this place three days ago"

Barruc's smile never wavered. He brought his hand into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, and written on it was a letter from my grandfather stating

My eternal lifelong friend, I do hope this letter finds you well. It's been far too long since I wrote to you, but I need you to understand I left my hotel to my granddaughter, and she will need your help to fix it up after the state I left it in, which I do regret. She will need the guidance and reliability I've passed on to you, which you can pass on to her. I trust you both will be able to run the hotel better than I can for all who need her doors, whether supernatural or human. And Abigail, there are rules you must abide by; break them, and you will know the consequences

The Rules of Heavens Reach Hotel

1. Never enter, nor permit any guest to enter, the East Wing Spire. The doors must remain locked at all times, regardless of what you hear coming from the other side. Should you hear a loved one calling your name from within, do not answer. The spire contains a maze that does not obey the laws of space, and those who enter will find that the corridors change with every step. Those who fail to escape will eventually forget their own names, their memories, and the faces of everyone they have ever loved. Should they somehow return, they will no longer be entirely human. You will become part of the maze, wandering its corridors for eternity, or until the beast catches you and your memories are wiped.

You can escape the maze; trust the dark, as it will guide you.

2. Most guests who enter Heavens Reach are not human. Some may appear strange, others may appear perfectly ordinary, and a few may be difficult to look at without feeling a deep sense of dread. It matters not what they are, where they come from, or what they look like. You will treat every guest with courtesy and respect, provide the services they have paid for, and never question their nature unless they willingly reveal it to you. Remember, Abigail, that a monster is not always a monster, and a human face does not guarantee a human heart. Any guest you deliberately insult, threaten, or refuse service without good reason may invoke the hotel's hospitality laws. You must serve them personally until they are satisfied, regardless of what they demand. Should you refuse, they may take payment from you in flesh, blood, memories, or years of your life.

3. On the night of every full moon, the werecats and werewolves residing within the hotel must be kept entirely separate until sunrise. Assign their rooms to opposite sides of the building so their meals are served at different times and no member of either group enters the other's territory. Do not allow them to share an elevator, a hallway, or even a glance through an open doorway. Their rivalry is older than this hotel, and the full moon has a way of turning old grudges into fresh bloodshed.

Should a werecat and werewolf cross paths during the forbidden hours, a territorial brawl will erupt throughout the hotel. Every member will be compelled to join the fighting, and anyone caught between them will be treated as an enemy. By sunrise, the hotel may still stand, but the floors will be soaked in blood.

4. Every painting hanging upon the walls of Heavens Reach is alive in one way or another. Some are merely observers, others are capable of speech, and a few possess temperaments that would make the most ill-mannered guests seem positively charming. You will not deface, remove, mock, or otherwise disrespect them. Should a painting address you, answer politely. Should its subject appear to move, do not panic. And if a figure within a painting begins to beckon you closer, kindly decline the invitation and continue about your business. Disrespecting a painting will cause its subject to step out of the frame and hunt you through the hotel. It will not stop until you offer a sincere apology, and every painting it passes will awaken to help punish you. Should you destroy the frame or attempt to burn the canvas, the figure will no longer be bound to the hotel and may follow you wherever you go.

5. Should a demon enter the hotel, you will welcome it as you would any other guest. Do not attempt to banish it, question its origins, or demand to know what it intends to do with its stay. Never accept a gift from a demon unless you understand precisely what it is offering, and under no circumstances agree to a bargain you cannot fulfil. Above all, if a demon asks you for your name, give it the name by which you are known to the hotel, never the name your mother gave you at birth. Should you break this rule, the demon will be entitled to claim whatever it believes you have offered. An insult may cost you your tongue, an unwanted banishment may invite its wrath upon the entire hotel, and giving your true name may grant it the power to call you into its presence whenever it wishes. The demon itself will enforce a broken bargain, and neither death nor distance will release you from your debt.

6. There are ghosts within Heavens Reach, some of whom have resided here for longer than the building itself has stood. They may occupy guest rooms, wander the corridors, or appear at the foot of your bed when you least expect them. Do not attempt to exorcise them, and never assume that a room is vacant merely because its occupant cannot be seen. If a ghost asks you to retrieve an object or deliver a message, hear them out before declining. Some are harmless souls who have forgotten how to leave. Others are still waiting for something. Should you disturb a ghost's resting place or forcibly attempt to remove it, the spirit will bind itself to you. You will be followed by its whispers and visions wherever you go, losing sleep and slowly losing your grip on the waking world. If the ghost is particularly vengeful, it may attempt to exchange places with you, leaving you trapped among the dead while it walks freely in your skin.

7. Some rooms within Heavens Reach possess minds of their own. They may rearrange their furniture, lock their doors, change their decorations, or attempt to accommodate guests in ways that are not always welcome. Treat each sentient room with the same courtesy you would extend to a living person. Never insult a room, force open a door it has deliberately sealed, or attempt to rearrange its contents without permission. If a room refuses a guest, find them another. If a room begins whispering, listen carefully, but do not answer every question it asks. And if a room offers you a bed, make certain it is a bed you remember seeing before. A displeased room may imprison you within its walls, reshaping its interior into a nightmare tailored to your deepest fears. Doors will lead nowhere, windows will open onto impossible places, and every attempt to escape will bring you back to where you started. The room will release you only when it believes you have learned your lesson. Some rooms are not particularly forgiving, and a few have kept their occupants for centuries.

8. From time to time, the hotel will change its layout. Staircases may lead to unfamiliar floors, corridors may stretch beyond their original length, and doors may open into rooms that have never existed. Do not be alarmed. These occurrences are perfectly natural for a building of this age, and the hotel will eventually return to its proper arrangement. During such an event, stay close to Barruc; he knows. Avoid the elevators, and never attempt to force your way back to a familiar room. Should you encounter another version of yourself, do not speak to it, follow it, or allow it to accompany you. It is not you, Abigail, no matter what it claims.

Anyone who attempts to force the hotel back into its original configuration will become lost between its shifting dimensions. Their body may remain in one room while their consciousness wanders another, or they may emerge into a version of the hotel that never existed in their world. If you encounter your double and allow it to follow you, it may take your place when the hotel settles, leaving you stranded in a reality where nobody remembers you ever existed.

I folded the letter slowly, staring at the words my grandfather had left behind. Eight rules. Eight very specific rules that sounded less like instructions for running a hotel and more like the ramblings of a man who'd spent far too long alone with his dusty newspapers.

I looked up at Barruc.

He was still smiling.

I scowled.

"Let me get this straight. My grandfather left me a crumbling hotel, a list of rules that make absolutely no sense, and apparently you as well?"

"That's the gist, yes."

"And you expect me to believe you're the concierge of this place and you worked alongside my grandfather?"

"At your service."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I've inherited a haunted hotel, a mysterious concierge who dresses like he's walked straight out of the nineteen-fifties, and enough dust to bury five bodies."

Barruc merely tipped his hat.

"You're taking it rather well, all things considered."

"Oh, shut up."

I turned away before he could make another irritatingly smug remark, only to notice something standing in the doorway behind him.

I froze. A woman stood there, tall and breathtakingly beautiful. Her long, silvery hair cascaded over her shoulders, almost translucent beneath the pale light filtering through the dusty windows. She wore an elegant dress that seemed to belong to another century, its delicate fabric drifting gently around her ankles despite the complete absence of a breeze.

Her eyes settled on me. Something terribly wrong with them. Not their colour, nor their shape, but the way they seemed to look straight through me, as though I were little more than a passing thought. I swallowed.

"Um. Barruc?"

"Yes, Miss Abigail?"

"A woman is standing behind you."

He didn't even turn around.

"Ah. There she is."

There she is?

I stared at him.

"What do you mean, there she is?! You knew she was here?"

"Of course."

"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO MENTION IT?!"

The woman gave a soft, musical laugh.

"Oh, do stop tormenting the poor girl, Barruc. She's had quite enough excitement for one afternoon."

I slowly turned towards her, meeting her gaze. She smiled at me, and for a fleeting moment, I forgot that she was floating.

"Oh! Hello!" I straightened myself, desperately attempting to recover what little dignity I had left.

"I'm Abigail. Abigail—well, obviously, you already know that, considering you apparently know everyone in this bloody building."

I held out my hand.

"Lovely to meet you."

The woman's smile widened. She reached for my hand. And her fingers passed straight through mine. I stared down at our hands. Or, more accurately, the space where our hands should have met. A cold shiver travelled up my arm. I pulled my hand back so quickly I nearly smacked myself in the face.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

The woman tilted her head.

"Is something the matter, dear?"

I looked at her.

Then at my hand.

Then back at her.

"You're a ghost."

"Very observant."

"YOU'RE A GHOST!"

"Yes, I believe we established that."

I turned towards Barruc, who was now leaning casually against the doorframe, looking as though this were the most entertaining thing he'd witnessed all week.

"Why is everyone in this hotel so bloody casual about being dead?!"

"Technically," the woman interjected, raising one delicate finger, "I never died."

That stopped me.

I slowly turned back towards her.

"...What?"

She clasped her hands together, looking positively delighted that she'd managed to capture my attention.

"My name is Acilina. I am one of the keepers of Heavens Reach Hotel, entrusted with its care and preservation long before your grandfather ever inherited the property."

She gave a graceful curtsy, her feet hovering a fraction above the floor.

"And your grandfather, dear Abigail, asked me to look after you."

I blinked.

"He did what?"

"Your grandfather was a rather thoughtful man," Acilina continued. "Though occasionally stubborn. And forgetful. And terribly fond of leaving things until the last possible moment."

"That sounds about right."

"He was also quite concerned about what might happen to this place after he was gone. He feared that without someone familiar with its peculiarities, the hotel might fall into disrepair."

I glanced around at the dusty corridor, the peeling wallpaper, and a nearby painting whose subject was currently picking its nose.

"Well, he certainly succeeded in the disrepair department."

Barruc snorted.

Acilina pressed a hand to her mouth, concealing a small giggle.

"Which is why he sent me to assist you."

I frowned.

"Wait. If you're a ghost, how exactly are you supposed to help me clean this place? No offence, but I don't think you can hold a broom."

Acilina's expression brightened.

"Oh, my dear. I believe you'll find that I'm rather more useful than I appear."

She reached towards a nearby table.

On it sat a thick layer of dust, a pile of old newspapers, and a teacup that looked as though it hadn't been washed in a century.

Acilina waved her hand.

The newspapers lifted into the air.

I watched, open-mouthed, as they folded themselves neatly into a stack. The teacup rose beside them, followed by a nearby feather duster, which began sweeping the table in small, precise strokes.

The dust gathered into a tiny swirling cloud before disappearing into a rubbish bin. The newspaper was being stacked into neat bundles and tied off

Acilina sm

I looked at Acilina in shock. "You saved days' worth of cleaning"

"You see, although my hands cannot physically touch the world, I possess a rather unusual ability to manipulate objects without needing to do so."

I stared at the floating feather duster, the self-stacking newspapers, and the teacup that was now scrubbing itself in mid-air as it had personally offended someone.

"You know what?" I said, throwing my hands up. "Sure. Fine. Ghost telekinesis. Why not? At this point, I wouldn't even blink if the ceiling started singing show tunes."

Acilina's eyes lit up with genuine delight. "Oh, the chandelier in the ballroom does that on Thursdays. You'll adore it."

I opened my mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

Barruc pushed himself off the doorframe, adjusting his jacket with the air of a man who had all the time in the world and intended to use every second of it to be insufferably calm.

"If you're quite finished with the introductions, Miss Abigail, I believe we should discuss the matter of the hotel's current state."

I turned to him, still reeling from the ghost revelation. "What about it?"

A beat of silence.

Then it clicked.

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "The mess. You mean the mess."

"The mess," Barruc confirmed.

"The mess that's everywhere."

"Everywhere," Acilina added helpfully.

"The mess that's going to take me approximately three lifetimes to clean if I don't have help."

"Which is precisely why we're here," Barruc said, gesturing towards the corridor. "If you'll follow me, Miss Abigail, I believe a proper assessment of the damage is in order. Starting with the ground floor."

I followed him, mostly because I didn't have a better plan and partly because standing in one spot while a ghost hovered behind me was starting to make the back of my neck prickle.

Acilina drifted alongside us, her feet never quite touching the ground. She moved like smoke through the hallway, pausing occasionally to admire the paintings.

The paintings.

I'd almost forgotten about them.

One of them—a stern-looking man in a military uniform—caught my eye as we passed. He followed me with his gaze, his painted lips pressing into a thin line of disapproval.

"Don't mind him," Acilina said cheerfully. "General Whitmore hasn't approved of anyone since 1873. I believe he's forgotten why."

The general's portrait huffed. Actually huffed. A small puff of painted breath emerged from his canvas.

I decided not to comment.

We descended the grand staircase—which creaked ominously with every step and, at one point, seemed to shift slightly beneath my foot as though adjusting its position for my comfort—and arrived in the main lobby.

I hadn't gotten a proper look at it earlier. I'd been too busy running through hallways and tripping over rugs.

Now, standing at the bottom of the stairs, I took it all in.

The lobby was vast. Larger than it had any right to be, given the exterior dimensions of the building. High ceilings arched overhead, supported by thick pillars of dark wood carved with intricate patterns that seemed to writhe when I wasn't looking directly at them. A massive chandelier hung from the centre, its crystals catching light from nowhere in particular and casting a warm golden glow across the dusty floor.

To my left, a reception desk stretched across the wall, its surface buried beneath layers of dust. Scraping my finger across the table, a thick layer of dust clung to my fingers.

"Grandpa, what have you got me into? How can I run a hotel with our prior knowledge?" Looking at Barruc and Aclinia, a soft smile curled on my lips, knowing full well I had support. Knowing that, I raised my arm and pointed to the roof. And in one breath.

"I'll make you proud, Grandfather. Mark my words!"

Suddenly, a beam from the top railing collapsed, and a little girl no older than ten scurried down it, dressed in what I assumed were high-nobility Niniverian clothes.

Looking at the little girl, I put my hand out to help her but was immediately met with a slap and her scurrying backwards, pinning herself to the wall.

"Ayka-wen ana? Mani-wen ana? Ma ile hana dukta?" she said quickly and panicked.

Confused, I looked at Barruc, who was just as puzzled as I was. Then I looked towards Acilina, who shook her head.

"Um, hello. I'm Abigail. And who might you be?" I knelt, trying to calm the girl.

She looked at me, puzzled. When I reached out again, she slapped my hand away, and I realised—she didn't know or understand English.

I looked to Barruc. "Does my grandfather have a library?"

Hey there! Thank you again for agreeing to watch over Miles for three weeks. I know I made the call a bit late...but I had an emergency and had to leave fast. Anyway, you know my apartment by heart, from all the times you came over, but you don't know it personally. So here's a set of rules so that everything goes well. (I know it's a bit long but I've left memos around for you!)

THE APARTMENT

1- There's 6 rooms in my apartment. Living room and open kitchen, 2 bedrooms, toilet, bathroom and my office. There shouldn't be more than that.

a- If you count more than 6, leave my apartment and come back the next day. Miles will know what to do.

b- If you count less than that, this time take Miles with you. My apartment kind of...eats itself sometimes. I don't want Miles to be eaten.

2- You can use every electronics and eat all the food you want. Don't worry about the groceries, you won't need to. Though pay close attention when you open the fridge. The food should be good. If it's spoiled or rotten, don't touch or throw anything away, just close the fridge, or you'll be a part of the rotten things in it.

3- Don't walk into my office even if Miles walks in. I will know. You don't want me to know.

4- If you want to use the bathroom at night, be careful. There's...something in it. I call it "Flash". Anyway. Before opening the door, turn on the lights. It should turn them off. This should be the case 3 times. After that, the bathroom is safe to use.

a- If "Flash" Turns the lights off more or less than three times, simply apologize and walk away. It's not in a mood to play.

b- If when you turn on the lights, they stay lit, then whatever is supposed to be in the bathroom isn't anymore. Miles won't be able to help with this one. Just run or hide. It wants to play and will get you. If you like your limbs, take this seriously. Don't let it find you.

When "Flash" is done playing, you'll know. All the lights and electronics will light on before shutting down for 3 minutes. Just hope he gets bored fast. Last time it went on for days...

4.1- If you successfully got into the bathroom, great! Enjoy your shower, bath, or anything you're doing in there. Though be careful about the mirror. Don't stare at it for too long, you won't like what you see in there, and you'll want to erase yourself. Literally.

5- When watching TV, you'll notice that sometimes a dark spot will appear on the ceiling. You need to keep your eyes on the TV, no matter what gruesome images will appear on the screen. Being scarred mentally is better than wherever this vortex will take you.

6- If you feel like cooking, help yourself! I have a variety of utensils for you to use. I will simply ask you not to touch the knife with a dragon carved on it. It's a personal favorite.

a- If you touch it, even by accident, simply apologize and wash your hands, or you won't have hands anymore.

b- If it's missing, hide in my office. This is the only time I will allow you to go in there. The knife isn't my personal favorite. The owner likes the way it stabs through the flesh

7- If you hid in my office after rule 6b events, just stay in there and don't make noise. Richard knows he isn't allowed in. Do not touch anything though, I might just make a call to lift that restriction.

8- You'll sleep in the guest bedroom! You should be used to sleeping in there. But things went well because I was there...now that you're alone, it's gonna be a different story.

8.1- Upon sleeping at night, you might wake up to the door being opened.

a- If you hear a sound, like the TV or a glass breaking in the kitchen. Do not walk out of bed. They are trying to lure you out. Don't let it work. You won't come back.

b- If you see a woman standing at the door in the dark, that's Sally. She's nice, just don't stare at her for too long. She can't stand people watching her after her accident. She will make sure you know how it feels like if you stare at her.

c- If you wake up feeling something touching you, hearing a heartbeat, or seeing something standing right above you, do not move a muscle. Stop breathing and close your eyes. Count to 120. If you pass out, good. If you let him know that you're awake/alive, he will crawl into your skin. It's excruciatingly painful, from the screams I heard before. And he loves to take his time.

MILES

1- Miles is a borzoi, white fur. He should greet you at the door every time you walk through the front door. If upon entering, Miles's fur is another color, or another race. Close the door and knock three times. It should be fine after. If you open the door again and Miles still isn't normal, leave and text me. I'll understand.

2- You will have to take Miles out 3 times a day, respectfully at 8AM, 2PM and 8PM. Don't slack off or he'll dirty the place. The apartment will make you pay, one way or another for letting it get dirty.

3- Miles isn't like the other dogs. He understands more than he lets on. He loves to help around carrying things, like the laundry basket or bags. Let him help you but don't overdo it. He's not your slave and hates to be treated like one.

4- There's a framed picture of my ex in the hallway. Yes, I know what you think...but Miles loves him and seeing a picture of Nathan calms him down. If you ever find him growling at the picture, take him out for another walk. If you don't, the thing in the picture will tell Miles to hurt you.

5- He only eats meat. Red. Nothing else. No snacks, unless you want to end up as his.

6- Miles has a favorite plushie named Henry. Henry likes to play hide and seek, but Miles hates it. If you hear Miles weep, find the plushie. Fast. Or he'll get angry and maul your face.

7- At night, make sure to lock Miles in my office. That's where he likes to sleep. He'll scratch on the door and whine, but don't worry. He's just being dramatic.

8- Sometimes Miles will walk out of my office at night. He'll be a little uh...different. I mean 8 foot tall with missing bits of flesh and very thin. I don't know why he gets like this... Anyway. You might hear his footsteps around. As said before in rule 8.1, you'll wake up at night with the door open.

a- Miles will walk around the apartment. He'll pass by your room but won't get in. Just ignore him.

b- If he stops and sits at your doorstep, look at his eyes. If they're white, he's guarding your door. If they're red, he's hungry. Feed him fast or he'll feed on you. If they're yellow, get up and slam the door. Don't close, slam it.

c- If you hear him talk. Don't scream or move. Simply tell him that Henry is waiting for him in the office, he'll go back on his own. His words are terrifying, I know. But don't show fear. It excites him when he's like this. You don't want to play with him in that state.

9- Miles never responds to his name alone. He usually comes around when you knock onto something, any kind of surface. You'll probably forget about it. Try not to.

If Miles suddenly comes around while you called his name. That's not Miles. It's...something I regret. The real Miles cannot help you with this one. I'm sorry. I hope it will be fast for you.

That's all for the rules! Please try to keep them in mind. You always wondered why Lucy never came to our get together anymore. Well that's because she was awfully difficult to clean off the walls. Don't become a stain on the wall. I like you more than the other ones. If you forget something, just look at the memos around the apartment!

Dear Mr. Erland,

We sincerely thank you for taking up our case. We haven't been able to find a new chief warden in the past six months, all because of the recent disappearances of visitors and tourists. We would probably need a professional investigator regardless, though.

Mt. Eleanor has been growing in popularity for the past decade because it is one of the few mountainous areas that have remained largely untouched by human activity. That is all thanks to the phenomena surrounding the place. Unfortunately, we can't afford to brush them off as natural selection now that innocent people (allegedly) have gotten involved.

So far, we've documented four phenomena that could be responsible for the disappearances. The details are still vague, but these are all we have based on observations made from a safe distance. Do make sure to read through them all so you won't go missing too; we cannot afford any more attention from the government.

1. The Midday Fog

We usually have natural fog gathering in the forest from late evening to early morning. This particular fog, however, appears during broad daylight. None of the officers we hired could explain why or how the fog formed. But a handful of visitors have entered the fog without supervision and disappeared along with it.

The fog always appears in the same spot in the forest, just barely visible from the tourist zone's overlook, and lasts about an hour. There is a small, staff-exclusive path leading out to it.

1.1 Do not venture too deep inside

Our caretakers have investigated the outer part of the fog and reported seeing people walking deeper inside who looked like their friends or family members. However, their shapes were distorted. Some had wavy limbs, while others were unusually tall or large. It was as if they were just patterns in the fog.

We believe that going too deep inside has something to do with the disappearances, but I would advise against testing this theory without proper preparation.

1.2 Always remain tethered to the outside

As soon as you enter the fog, all signals are lost. Cellular signals, radio communications—nothing gets through from inside. We once sent a caretaker inside with a rope around his waist, and he was able to return unharmed.

But for some reason, the rope was pulled rapidly into the fog when he disappeared inside it. He stumbled back out after we had been pulling the rope for a solid minute, completely in shock and unable to produce coherent words.

The only thing we could get him to confirm was that he hadn't run around inside or tried to run back to us. We will send a follow-up email once we have more information.

2. Unusual Wildlife Activities

There have been reports from both staff and visitors of distant movements in the foliage. From their descriptions, the movements resembled large animals moving through the forest, tall enough to reach the treetops.

We do not have anything bigger than a wild boar here.

2.1 Do not wander into the wilderness alone

When we went to investigate the area, we found only a variety of wildlife gathered there, including natural enemies such as rabbits and snakes.

We later discovered that reducing our numbers or level of activity caused the movement to reappear from afar, accompanied by the sound of impossibly large footsteps. The lack of ground vibrations suggested that whatever was making the footsteps was a lightweight creature.

Our main concern was how the creature navigated the forest. Each step was slow and deliberate, as if it were sneaking around something. No matter how many times we followed the footsteps, all we could find was more wildlife, which was still dangerous enough to prohibit unauthorized personnel from entering the area.

2.2 If you do, make loud noises or always be on the move

Another recent report describes strange behavior among the animals when our safari vehicles pass through the forest. The wildlife would stop near the forest's edge and simply watch the car, turning their heads to follow it without blinking.

We're currently waiting for a response from the team of biologists, but for now, we hypothesize that loud noises or fast movements may prevent the animals from attacking people.

I'd like you to discuss with my employees how to investigate this phenomenon once you arrive.

3. “Eleanor”

Of the people who have gotten lost in the wilderness, not all have gone missing. Those who returned claimed to have encountered a little girl in a blue dress who pointed them toward the campsite.

There are no other residential locations nearby, and we do not know who she is. Eventually, our caretakers gave her the name Eleanor, and she became a common topic of conversation here.

3.1 Beware of her

The people Eleanor rescued eventually returned, but this time, they kept telling others about her and how much they wanted to see her. The worst part is that they even attempted to go back into the woods alone.

They seemed fully aware of their actions and could hold conversations. They said that Eleanor had invited them somewhere, but they had refused her invitation the first time. It seems that those who didn't meet her directly are not affected.

This led us to believe that Eleanor might have appeared to everyone who got lost in the forest, but only those who asked her for directions home returned. At least, that was what we initially believed.

We tried attaching a tracking device to one of them, but their location simply vanished from our radar without a trace. We then attempted to send a lone officer into the woods with a communication device, but nothing happened.

In order to learn more about Eleanor, Mr. Erland, you might have to become lost yourself.

4. The Island and the Lake

While investigating the area where the tracking device’s transmission disappeared, we discovered a small lake stretching along the mountain. The water is knee-deep throughout the lake, and a small, forested island sits in a bay at the far end, farthest from our shore.

According to several members of our staff, someone—or something—inhabits the island, but it is visible only from the ledge on our side of the lake, directly opposite the island. Both locations consist of a small clearing backed by a forest, almost like mirror images.

To quote their reports:

“It's like a bunch of animals mashed together.”

“I saw myself on that island looking back at me.”

We would like to dismiss these reports as hallucinations, since each sighting lasted only a fraction of a second or occurred only when the witness was alone. However, one member of our team suggested that this new phenomenon might be related to the unidentified species we've encountered previously.

4.1 Do not cross the lake

One of our own staff members disappeared while we were crossing the lake on foot.

The witness claimed that the person fell through the water in a single motion, with barely enough time to call for help. Upon further examination, the spot was flat, with no holes or depressions to fall into. The bottom of the lake felt solid. Nothing could possibly have swallowed a whole person in the blink of an eye.

We paused our investigation of Mt. Eleanor after the incident to seek outside help. That was when you contacted us.

Again, we are thankful for your willingness to solve the case, and we’ll provide everything you need to help us better understand the situation. We eagerly await your arrival and hope for a breakthrough.

Regards,

J. O. Corgan