The rusted sign above the gate groaned in the wind, its peeling paint barely spelling out The Scarehouse . For thirty years, it had been the town’s premier October attraction—a maze of plywood walls, strobe lights, and teenagers in cheap rubber masks.
He stepped inside, his flashlight beam cutting through the artificial fog. The bed was empty. The animatronic was slumped in the corner, its power cord unplugged. Yet, the blankets were warm. On the nightstand sat a glass of water, still bubbling slightly, as if someone had just set it down. "Is someone there?" Elias called out, his voice shaking. The Scarehouse
The Scarehouse wasn't just a haunt; it was a predator. It fed on the screams of the customers, but during the off-season, it got hungry. It grew new rooms to lure the curious. It mimicked the sounds of life to bring the watchman closer. The rusted sign above the gate groaned in