It's Halloween month, and I thought it would be fun to write a horror story. So here it is. (Previously known as "Who's There") Eliana had always heard of other kids being scared of monsters in the closet or under their beds. But she was never scared of any monsters in the house. They lived outside. -------------------------- "Who-who are you?" I say as my voice shakes. My hands clutch my skirts. I try to look brave, standing straight and staring straight ahead as it circles me. I feel its claws trace patterns on my back. "I, I am your fears. Every wondered why you aren't scared of the monster under your bed?" It whispers. It's cold breath billowing into my ear. I nod and clutch my hands tighter to stop their shaking. "Well dearest. I can tell you why, but you'll have to follow me." As if there was a string attached to me, it pulls me forward and further into the shadows of the trees. Rankings: #43 in "woods" 10/25/19 #206 in "Halloween" 10/26/19 #38 in "hiding" 10/26/19

They say the end of the world started in a military lab. Some poor bastard who'd agreed to take part in one of those experiments-for-cash programs, signing his body and blood away, all the in the name of science, just so he could afford to buy food for his kids. 'They were all meant to be given placebos', they said. Except he wasn't given a placebo. He was given something else, something terrible, whether on purpose or by accident, I guess we'll never know, but what I do know is that it never started with him. It started with her. With Alice. My Alice.

A homewrecker. A succubus. Those are some of the things they call Hayden before she dies. They are jealous of her beauty. They are envious of her luxurious life. They hate her for stealing their boyfriends. It all leads to her death. A situation turns deadly between Hayden and her former best friend. Other students watch everything unfold on a live feed and nobody does anything to stop it. Whether out of fear or enjoyment, they chose not to lift a finger to dial for help. When Hayden goes to sleep forever, something else awakens. Something corrupted. It's out for blood, and it won't stop until they pay.