The wind howled through the trees, sending dead leaves swirling across the ground. It was November in northern Minnesota, and the cold was biting. The first hints of winter had begun to settle in, and the sky was a blanket of thick, gray clouds. Sam and his little sister, Lucy, stood at the edge of the old train trestle, staring down at the swirling river below.
Dara had always liked Home Economics class. She enjoyed baking cookies, decorating cupcakes, and learning how to cook simple meals. But today, something felt off. It was the week before Halloween, and the air was crisp and cold, making the leaves outside crunch underfoot. The classroom was filled with the smell of spices and sugar, but there was something else in the air—something that made Dara uneasy.
Archer Avenue stretched out in front of Emma, a long, dark road cutting through the night. The trees on either side seemed to close in, their shadows merging into a single, impenetrable mass. It was quiet, too quiet, and the only sound she could hear was the soft whir of her bike tires on the pavement. She had taken this route home many times after work, enjoying the peace and solitude. But tonight, something felt different. The air felt heavier, and the darkness seemed thicker, more oppressive.
Martin Graves stepped out of the taxi and onto the cobblestone street, suitcase in hand. The sun, dipping low over New Orleans, cast long shadows through the French Quarter, darkening the historic district with an eerie glow. He stared up at the Hôtel de Saint-Jean, a towering relic that seemed to pulse with life, despite its age. The building loomed over him, its wrought-iron balconies twisted like ancient, grasping fingers. Gas lamps flickered weakly, struggling to push back the encroaching night.
Jacob and Ethan had been urban explorers for years, their YouTube channel boasting thousands of subscribers who eagerly awaited their next adventure. They had explored abandoned factories, deserted asylums, and forgotten ghost towns, but tonight was different. Rosewood Manor, an old mansion on a long-forgotten plantation in Georgia, was rumored to be haunted by the spirits of those who had perished there. The property had been abandoned for over a century, left to decay as nature slowly reclaimed it. The stories of what lay inside were enough to deter most people, but not Jacob and Ethan.
Claire had always thought Vermont was beautiful in the summer. The rolling green hills, the scent of pine needles in the air, and the warmth of the sun against her skin as she drove along the winding roads brought back memories of her childhood. This time, however, the beauty was overshadowed by sadness. Her grandmother had passed away, and now it was up to Claire and her mother to prepare the house for sale.
It was a crisp October evening in suburban Omaha, Nebraska, and the air was thick with the kind of dread only a new kid in school could feel. Chase had been at Westview High for just over a month, but tonight, he was about to face his biggest challenge yet. They called it “The Janitor’s Dare,” a rite of passage for all new students.