Ghosts of the Present

The subway screeched to a halt, jolting Alex and his friends forward as the doors slid open. A wave of stale air greeted them as they stepped onto the platform. The fluorescent lights flickered, casting uneasy shadows along the grimy walls. The group shuffled out, blending with the crowd, but something about tonight felt off.

The air buzzed with anticipation, the kind that crept under the skin. The subway station's PA system crackled to life, a cheerful but hollow voice echoing through the space.

"Attention, residents of Stonebrook. Tomorrow is Halloween! Please be reminded that anyone seen wearing a Ghostface mask accompanied by any kind of weaponry will be detained and questioned. Stay safe, stay alert, and have a spooky—but secure—holiday!"

The words hung in the air, but not everyone was listening. Alex's gaze drifted toward the far end of the platform. There she was—Officer Claire Davis. She stood like a statue, her posture rigid, her face devoid of any expression. As people rushed past, she remained still, unaffected by the announcement. Her eyes, cold and calculating, briefly flickered to Alex before she turned and ascended the steps without a word.

Alex shivered a chill that had nothing to do with the autumn air seeping through the cracks. "She's always like that," Eli mumbled, rubbing his arms. "Creeps me out."

Mara nodded, her eyes following Claire until she disappeared. "Yeah, but she's good at her job. That's what counts, right?"

"Maybe," Riley muttered. "But good at her job doesn't mean good at being human."

The PA system buzzed again, the voice more upbeat now, trying too hard to sound festive.

"Tomorrow, we hope everyone in Stonebrook has a fun and safe Halloween!"

Alex let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the broadcast settle in. Halloween had always been a big deal in Stonebrook—a night where the small town came alive with costumes, parties, and a sense of freedom. But not this year. This year, Halloween felt like a countdown.

A countdown to something terrible.

"Come on," Mara said, breaking the silence. "Let's get out of here."

They moved as a group, their footsteps echoing in the underground tunnel. As they climbed the stairs to the surface, the cool night air hit them, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves and something else—something metallic and sharp.

Above them, the sky was a blanket of stars, but none of them felt like looking up.

Tomorrow was Halloween.

And it felt like the town was already haunted.