Halloween is Dead!

Halloween Is Dead! 

Salem, Massachusetts, had always been a quiet town, steeped in rich history that whispered through its cobblestone streets. The air was thick with stories of witches, trials, and dark secrets buried in the past. But when October arrived, something else stirred—a palpable energy crackled in the air, drawing locals and tourists alike into its enchanting grip. Ghost stories danced on the lips of the townsfolk, echoing the infamous witch trials and shadowy murders that stained the town’s legacy.

Fifteen-year-old Malik Williams, filled with bubbling anticipation, was convinced that spending the month here with his parents on business would land him in the heart of the greatest Halloween town imaginable. But when he arrived on October 1st, he was met with an unsettling silence that hung heavy in the crisp fall air.

“Mom, where’s all the Halloween stuff?” Malik asked, disappointment creeping into his voice as he scanned the streets for vibrant decorations or the flicker of jack-o'-lanterns. “This is Salem, right? The Halloween capital?”

His mother glanced out the window, her voice soft. “It’s different here now. People don’t celebrate Halloween like they used to. Not since… you know.” Her voice trailed off, leaving an uneasy silence between them.

Malik felt as though a balloon had popped inside him. Back home in New York, Halloween was a mix of flimsy decorations and spooky graveyards, with kids scurrying for candy, their laughter filling the streets. But Malik loved Halloween for more than just the candy; he was too old for trick-or-treating anyway. He cherished carving pumpkins with his parents and the glow of candlelight flickering in the dark. He imagined Salem would be alive with ghostly decorations and haunted houses, a true celebration of the macabre. Instead, he found only an eerie emptiness that swallowed the spirit of the season.

At school, the weight of that emptiness pressed in on him. Walking through the hallways on his first day, Malik noticed how other students cast sidelong glances at him, their eyes darting away as if they could feel the heaviness of the air. Whispers trailed behind him, a quiet reminder of the dark history looming over the town.

During lunch, Malik sat alone, poking at his food, listening to the dull murmur of conversation. Nearby, a group of students laughed, their voices rising as they discussed the killer who had disrupted Halloween celebrations two years ago. Malik’s heart sank with every word. Their laughter felt hollow, a cruel contrast to the weight of their topic.

Then, across the cafeteria, he spotted her—Bridget. Also fifteen, she had an infectious enthusiasm that cut through the gloom. Her bright smile across her glowing brown skin and twinkling eyes reminded him of his love for horror movies.

“You’re not scared, are you?” she teased, her voice playful. “This town has the best ghost stories.”

“I’m not scared! I love horror movies,” Malik replied, his spirits lifting as the connection with her rekindled his excitement. He recalled the first time he watched Halloween, the rush of adrenaline and the thrill of dread that came with it.

Bridget leaned in closer, her excitement contagious. “But it’s not the Halloween you think. Two years ago, everything changed. A masked killer ruined it for us.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, and a shadow crossed her face.

Malik leaned in, intrigued and horrified. “What happened?”

Bridget glanced around, her eyes wide. “You won’t believe the stories, Malik. This town has its ghosts, but they’re not the friendly kind you see on Halloween. They’re real, and their legacy lingers in every shadow.”

As the days passed, Malik and Bridget became inseparable, drawn together by their love of horror movies and Salem’s dark past. Bridget’s depth of knowledge about the town amazed him. She told stories of forgotten witches, haunted houses, and mysterious disappearances that had plagued Salem for generations. But her stories weren’t just fun. There was something unsettling lurking beneath the surface.

Soon, Malik met Bridget’s friends, each as strange and intriguing as the town itself. Riley, a sharp-eyed girl with jet-black hair, was obsessed with the occult. She spent her nights buried in old books about Salem’s dark past. Then there was Lucas, a quiet boy who rarely spoke but was always observing. His camera never left his side, as if he was trying to capture the town’s secrets on film. Malik noticed that Lucas’s photos often captured eerie shadows or ghostly figures in the background—things that shouldn’t have been there.

One afternoon, as they wandered along the quiet streets, Bridget stopped near an old oak tree and turned to Malik, her expression serious. “There’s something you need to know,” she began, her voice low. “The killer—two years ago—wasn't just some random psycho. He killed eight people on Halloween: six adults and two kids. He was related to one of the women from the Salem witch trials and wanted to make the town pay for what it had done to his family.”

Malik’s eyes widened. “He was related to one of the witches?”

Bridget nodded. “Yeah. His ancestor was executed, and he believed the town never really paid for the injustice. That’s why he did it. After the murders, he turned himself in. Didn’t even try to run. Said his revenge was complete.”

A chill ran down Malik’s spine. The idea that someone would murder innocent people for a centuries-old grudge was horrifying. But what troubled him even more was the aftermath. Salem had stopped celebrating Halloween after that. The town had become a shadow of its former self, October’s vibrancy replaced by an oppressive silence.

Malik kicked at the leaves on the ground, frustrated. “It’s not fair. Halloween’s supposed to be fun. It’s my favorite time of year, and this killer ruined it for everyone.”

Bridget studied him, her expression softening. “You want to bring Halloween back, don’t you?”

Malik nodded. “Yeah, I do. People shouldn’t let that killer win. Halloween should be about facing your fears, not hiding from them.”

Bridget smiled faintly. “Well, Malik, if anyone’s going to bring it back, it might as well be you.”

As they stood near the oak tree, shadows lengthening around them, Malik felt a renewed sense of determination. He hadn’t just come to Salem for a quiet October—he was going to revive the Halloween spirit, no matter what it took.

With Malik’s new resolve, he and Bridget started devising a plan to bring Halloween back to Salem. They decided to start small by gathering a few friends to help spread the word and revive some old traditions. Malik suggested a night of ghost storytelling in the park to rekindle the town's spirit. Bridget agreed, her excitement growing, and promised to bring along Riley and Lucas to help. Riley was excited, but it took alot to convince Lucas to join them. 

The night of the ghost storytelling arrived with a chill that clung to the air, thickening the shadows under the park’s trees. Malik, Bridget, Riley, and Lucas had spent the evening arranging a small circle of chairs beneath the old oak, its gnarled branches stretching overhead like skeletal fingers. A few lanterns cast flickering light, creating eerie shapes on the faces gathered to listen.

People trickled in slowly at first, hesitant but curious. Word had spread, thanks to Riley’s efforts, and soon, a modest crowd of teens and a few adults circled the tree, eager to relive the forgotten Halloween spirit. The stories began with whispers of ghosts that haunted Salem, tales of shadowy figures and unexplained disappearances that sent shivers down the spines of even the most skeptical.

Bridget kicked things up a notch with one of her favorite Salem legends, a story of a grieving mother who’d been accused of witchcraft and had supposedly cursed the town’s river. Her words wove through the crowd, pulling them closer to the darkness she conjured.

Malik could feel the energy in the air—this was exactly what he’d hoped for.

As the crowd grew quieter, caught in the spell of the stories, a low rustling came from the bushes nearby. Malik turned, scanning the dark, but saw nothing. He shook it off, attributing it to the atmosphere they’d created.

But then, just as Lucas took the stage to tell his story, a sudden scream pierced the night.

The crowd jumped, some people gasping, others laughing nervously, thinking it was part of the show. But the scream came again, sharper this time—a cry for help. Malik’s heart pounded as he spotted a figure stumbling from the edge of the park, clutching their chest. Blood pooled down their shirt as they staggered forward, collapsing near the circle.

Panic rippled through the crowd as people scrambled to move away. Malik felt Bridget’s hand grip his, her fingers trembling as they stared at the figure lying motionless on the ground.

"Someone get help!" a voice cried out, but Malik couldn’t move. He was frozen, his eyes locked on the victim. The realization hit him like a cold wave—this wasn’t a prank or a Halloween prop. It was real.

Lucas raised his camera, snapping pictures instinctively, capturing the fear that had washed over everyone’s faces. But even through the chaos, Malik couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them, someone who had brought this darkness back to Salem.

As the crowd dispersed, sirens echoing in the distance, Malik caught a glimpse of a shadow slipping away into the night—a figure wearing a dark, tattered cloak that flickered in the lantern light, then disappeared into the trees.

Despite the horror of the murder at the storytelling night, Malik wasn’t deterred. If anything, he felt more committed to bringing back Halloween than ever before. The way he saw it, the killer wanted people to live in fear, hiding from the holiday. But Malik wasn’t about to let that happen.

As he and Bridget discussed their next move, he brought up an idea that had been brewing in his mind. “What if we throw a Halloween party?” Malik said, his eyes bright with defiance. “Something big, something that’ll remind everyone what Halloween’s supposed to be about.”

Bridget hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as if the killer might be lurking close by. “You really think people will come after… what happened?”

“They’ll come,” Malik said, a mix of determination and fire in his voice. “People want to feel alive again. They just need a push.”

Over the next few days, Malik and his friends—Bridget, Riley, and Lucas—threw themselves into planning. Malik put out invitations through the school, on social media, and even got a few local businesses on board. The party would be held in the old community center, a place long rumored to be haunted, which Malik figured would only add to the thrill.

As word spread, so did a strange tension. Whispers of “Have you heard what happened at the park?” floated through the school halls, mixed with murmurs of the upcoming Halloween celebration. People were nervous but intrigued, curiosity pushing them to the edge of fear. And then, just as excitement was beginning to peak, another death struck.

The second victim was a young woman who had only recently moved to Salem. People said she was found near the town’s old cemetery, her eyes wide open, frozen in terror. Malik felt a chill run down his spine as he heard the news, but he brushed it off. Halloween needed saving, and no one else seemed ready to step up.

When the third victim was discovered—a local store owner Malik had seen just days before—the weight of what was happening began to settle in. Rumors about the killer’s connection to Salem’s dark past filled the air again, this time more urgently. Some claimed the killer was targeting people who dared to celebrate Halloween, a twisted vengeance for anyone who resisted the fear that had blanketed the town.

Still, Malik was resolute. He gathered his friends once more, his voice unwavering as he laid out the final plans for the party. “This is exactly why we need to do this,” he insisted, his voice low but fierce. “We can’t let him keep controlling this town.”

Bridget, though scared, nodded in agreement. “You’re right. But Malik… promise we’ll be careful.”

“We will,” Malik replied, steeling himself as he looked around at his friends. In that moment, they all knew the stakes. The killer was watching, lurking in the shadows of the town, waiting for anyone bold enough to defy him. But Malik was determined to face Halloween head-on, even if it meant confronting the danger head-on.

As the days counted down to Halloween, a new tension hung over Salem. People were afraid—but they were also intrigued, drawn to the idea of a party in the midst of the chaos. Malik could feel the fear and excitement building in the air, knowing it was only a matter of time before the night would finally arrive.

With growing tension in Salem, it didn’t take long before a suspect was caught: Bridget’s older cousin, Evan. Known for his fascination with Salem’s haunted history, he’d often been overheard talking about bringing “real fear” back to the town. The police, eager to calm everyone’s nerves, quickly pinned him as the murderer, claiming to have found “evidence.” The townspeople breathed a collective sigh of relief, but Malik and his friends weren’t so sure—Evan may have been a little strange, but a killer?

“Evan’s harmless,” Bridget insisted one afternoon, though her voice shook slightly. “He’s just... misunderstood.”

Not everyone felt the same. Soon, each of Malik’s friends began to harbor suspicions, not just about Evan, but about each other. Malik caught Lucas giving him strange, probing looks, as if trying to decide if he was hiding something. Riley, usually the boldest of the group, seemed withdrawn, her eyes darting to each of them in quiet suspicion.

Meanwhile, Malik poured his focus into planning the Halloween party at the community center, determined to revive the town’s Halloween spirit. But two days before Halloween, the center canceled the event, citing “safety concerns” and claiming Evan’s arrest wasn’t enough to ease their fears.

Disappointed but undeterred, Malik turned to his friends. “What about the old lighthouse?” Riley suggested. It was risky—isolated, abandoned, and rumored to be haunted. But Malik felt a thrill at the thought; it was the perfect place to throw the ultimate Halloween celebration.

As they set plans for the lighthouse party, tension and mistrust continued to fester. Lucas questioned Malik’s obsession with the event, hinting that maybe he wanted to lure them all there for his own dark reasons. Even Bridget, once his strongest ally, cast Malik an uneasy look.

“You’re not doing this for us, are you?” she asked, her tone uncertain. Malik’s heart raced as he realized his friends were seeing him less as a friend—and more as a potential suspect.

As Halloween night approached, Malik and his friends gathered supplies: flashlights, snacks, and a few Halloween decorations salvaged from forgotten boxes. Despite the excitement, the air between them crackled with suspicion. Each glance seemed to carry hidden questions, as if they were all silently assessing which of them might be capable of the recent horrors.

On the night of the party, the friends trudged through the thickening fog toward the lighthouse, its silhouette looming dark and foreboding against the moonlit sky. Malik felt the chill in the air, but he dismissed it as nerves. This was their chance to reclaim Halloween, to stand up against fear—and maybe to lay the rumors and accusations to rest.

Inside, the lighthouse was silent, save for the faint sound of waves crashing below. Riley arranged their flashlights on a table, casting ghostly shadows across the walls, while Lucas hung up paper bats and fake cobwebs, his camera slung around his neck like always. Bridget, though clearly uneasy, pushed forward, lighting candles that flickered with an eerie glow in the abandoned space.

But the peace didn’t last long. About an hour in, with the group laughing and sharing ghost stories to break the tension, Lucas suddenly froze, staring down at his camera.

“There’s something...someone... in the photos.” His voice trembled as he flipped through his recent shots, each revealing shadowy figures lurking at the edge of the frames.

Malik’s stomach twisted as they all peered over Lucas’s shoulder. In one picture, the faint outline of a masked figure stood outside the lighthouse window. In another, a shadow stretched across the floor that none of them could account for.

“What is this?” Bridget whispered, clutching her arms tightly.

Before anyone could answer, they heard footsteps echoing from the spiral staircase leading to the top of the lighthouse. Each step was slow, deliberate, and far too heavy to be one of their own.

Lucas swallowed, his face pale. “Is everyone here?”

Everyone nodded, glancing around to confirm that all four were accounted for. The Reality struck like ice: someone else was in the lighthouse.

With the growing fear, fingers pointed, accusations flew, and tensions between the friends boiled over as each struggled to trust the others—or even themselves. Malik tried to steady his own pulse, feeling the weight of his promise to revive Halloween turn into a dangerous game of survival. They had wanted a Halloween to remember, but the night had turned into something none of them would ever forget.

As the group set up for the party in the lighthouse, a steady fog rolled in, blanketing the rocks and casting an eerie glow over the surroundings. Malik was pacing, excitement and nerves combining in his chest. He glanced around, half-expecting no one else to show up given the recent murders.

But, to his surprise, figures began emerging from the mist. First, it was a few classmates, then more people trickled in—teenagers mostly, kids they recognized from school, even a handful of local college students who’d heard about the “haunted Halloween lighthouse party.” The chilling story of a party in the old lighthouse, rumored to be haunted by spirits of long-gone sailors, had a magnetic pull.

A DJ who had been tipped off by one of the guests set up in the corner, and the thump of music soon filled the old, drafty space. As the crowd grew, people wandered the lighthouse, lighting candles and setting up their own decorations, trying to bring a little of Halloween’s festive spirit into the cold, dim rooms.

But Malik couldn’t shake the creeping unease. Bridget noticed it too. She caught his arm, pulling him aside. “This wasn’t how I thought it would go. There are way more people than we planned. And I don’t know how they all found out about this place.”

Riley, who had been keeping an eye on everyone, joined them. “The vibes are off,” she whispered. “Too many strangers. This doesn’t feel safe, Malik.”

Just then, Lucas burst through the crowd, looking pale. He pulled them into a shadowy corner near the old, spiral staircase leading to the top of the lighthouse.

“You guys… there’s someone here I think we need to worry about,” Lucas muttered, his voice barely audible over the music.

Bridget’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”

Lucas gestured toward a figure standing by one of the tall windows—a classmate who had often stirred up trouble and recently had a public fight with one of the victims. Suspicion had already started circulating about him after the previous murder, and his presence at the party felt like too much of a coincidence. But as they looked closer, they noticed something even stranger. He was on edge, glancing around nervously, but there was something almost… fearful in his expression.

“Maybe he knows something,” Bridget murmured. “Or maybe he’s been a target too.”

“Or maybe he’s the one behind all this,” Riley muttered darkly, her distrust surfacing.

Malik shook his head. “No, something about this feels wrong. I don’t think he’s our guy.” But as he said this, doubt twisted in his mind. Could he trust his friends?

Before they could debate further, the music suddenly stopped. The murmur of confusion spread through the crowd as they looked around, realizing the power had gone out, leaving them in silence. Then, from the staircase, a low scraping sound echoed down, like something heavy being dragged along metal. The dim glow of their phone lights barely illuminated the spiral steps, but Malik caught a glimpse of movement—of a shadow disappearing up the staircase toward the top of the lighthouse.

“Did you guys see that?” Bridget whispered, her voice barely a breath.

Malik nodded, his heart racing. “I think it’s time to get some answers.”

And so, huddled together, they started up the winding staircase, one cautious step at a time, toward the unknown at the top of the lighthouse.

As the group made their way up the narrow, creaky steps, the weight of each footstep felt heavier, and the tension between them grew thick. Riley whispered, “We should stay close. I don’t like the idea of being split up in here.”

But Bridget, her eyes locked on the shadows above, shook her head. “If we’re going to catch whoever’s doing this, we need to be smart. We’ll cover more ground if we split up. Lucas and I will go ahead and see if we can get a look from the top. Malik, you and Riley search the middle floors and keep an eye on anyone coming up.”

Reluctantly, they agreed, though Malik didn’t like the idea of separating. But before he could voice his worry, Bridget and Lucas were already moving up, disappearing into the darkness above. Malik took a deep breath, gripping his phone like a lifeline as he glanced at Riley.

“Let’s go,” he murmured, trying to keep his voice steady.

As they checked the rooms on the lower floors, the lighthouse’s eerie history loomed over them. Shadows seemed to move just out of sight, and the fog pressed in, thick and unforgiving, through the cracked windows. It wasn’t long before they heard a sudden scream from above—high-pitched and unmistakably Bridget’s. Malik and Riley froze, their eyes wide.

“Oh my God,” Riley whispered, clutching Malik’s arm.

They dashed up the stairs, their footsteps loud and echoing. As they reached the top, they found Lucas standing by the observation deck, his face pale and eyes wide with terror. He pointed a shaking finger toward the open door to the outside, where a set of wet footprints led out onto the narrow ledge of the lighthouse. Bridget was nowhere to be seen.

“She… she just disappeared,” Lucas stammered. “I swear I saw someone—someone in a mask, like a shadow.”

Malik’s stomach twisted as he stared at the empty ledge, the sickening realization that Bridget might be gone sinking in. But before he could process, the power flickered back on, casting the room in a harsh, unnatural light that revealed something even more disturbing: a bloody handprint smeared across the wall, right next to where Bridget had been standing.

“No… this can’t be happening,” Malik whispered.

Lucas, looking distraught, backed away from the scene, eyes darting nervously between Malik and Riley. “We… we shouldn’t have come here. It’s like we brought something out of this place,” he muttered, clutching his head. “I thought… I thought it would be fun, but now…”

Malik turned on him. “We shouldn’t have come here.”

But before Lucas could respond, a scraping sound from behind them drew their attention. They turned slowly, and there, in the doorway, stood the masked figure they had only glimpsed in shadows before, tall and imposing, with a dark cloak that billowed like smoke in the wind. It held something—a gleaming knife, catching the dim light in a way that felt almost mocking.

“Run!” Riley screamed, breaking into a sprint back down the stairs.

They stumbled and tripped down the spiraling steps, Malik’s heartbeat pounding in his ears. They reached the bottom. The emptiness was overwhelming. The once-bustling party space was now an eerie shell, silent except for the faint echo of their breathing. The decorations hung limply, swaying slightly as if mocking them, and the remnants of drinks and half-eaten snacks littered tables that stretched into shadows. Malik’s skin prickled.

“Where… where did everyone go?” Riley whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She clutched Malik’s arm, her eyes wide with panic as she scanned the room.

Malik took a shaky step forward, his eyes darting around. He could still see the faint outlines of footprints in the dust where partygoers had danced only moments before. But now, it was as if the entire place had been abandoned in an instant, as though they’d simply vanished into thin air.

“Maybe they’re hiding,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it. He strained his ears for any sound—a laugh, a cough, even the faintest shuffle of movement—but there was nothing. Only the hollow silence of the empty room.

Riley turned to him, a flicker of desperation in her eyes. “This isn’t right, Malik. It’s like… it’s like they were never here.”

Before he could respond, a slow, rhythmic creak came from above, a sound that sent a chill down Malik’s spine. He looked up, seeing the narrow staircase they had just come down, and noticed a faint glow at the top—a light swaying back and forth, casting long shadows that seemed to twist and dance.

“Do you think… they went back up?” Riley asked, her voice trembling.

Malik shook his head, dread curling in his stomach. “No, we would’ve heard them if they had.” He felt a chill crawl up his spine. “We need to leave. Now.”

They turned toward the door, but as they approached, the handle wouldn’t budge. Malik jiggled it frantically, feeling his heart rate spike as the reality of their situation set in.

“We’re trapped,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

And then, from somewhere behind them, a slow, haunting melody began to play. It was faint, almost like a lullaby, and it echoed through the empty hall, filling the space where laughter and music had been only moments before. They turned, and there, in the shadows, was a figure standing motionless, watching them.

The figure in the shadows stepped closer, revealing itself to be Lucas, staggering and clutching his side. Blood stained his clothes, his face pale with fear and pain. Malik and Riley stared, horrified, as another set of footsteps echoed behind him—Bridget emerged from the darkness, also smeared with blood, her eyes wide and frantic.

“It was him!” Bridget shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Lucas. “He’s the one behind all of this! I barely escaped from him upstairs. He was going to—he was going to kill me!”

Lucas whipped around, his expression fierce. “Are you serious, Bridget? You were the one with the knife! You attacked me! I don’t know how you’re still standing.” He turned to Malik and Riley, desperation filling his eyes. “You have to believe me. She’s lying. She… she’s the one setting us all up!”

Malik looked between them, heart racing as he tried to process their words. Both of them looked genuinely terrified—and hurt. The blood, the fear in their eyes… but which one was telling the truth?

“Why should we believe either of you?” Riley demanded, her voice wavering but strong.”

Bridget’s gaze locked onto Riley, her eyes pleading. “Because… because we're friends …” She trailed off, glancing at Lucas with a mixture of anger and fear. “At least some of us are.”

Lucas scoffed, stepping forward. “She’s twisting everything! Malik. I’d never do something like this.” He clutched his side, grimacing. “She’s been acting strange all night. Why won’t she just tell you what really happened?”

Riley looked at Malik, whispering, “What do we do? We’re trapped in here with one of them… and we can’t trust either.”

Malik swallowed, his mind racing. If they were going to get out of here alive, they needed to be smart—and quick. He looked at Bridget, then at Lucas, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

“We’ll all go back up to the observation deck together,” Malik said, trying to keep his voice calm. “Whoever’s lying… we’ll find out.”

He glanced at Riley, hoping she’d understand. She nodded, her face tense but determined. Together, they motioned for Lucas and Bridget to lead the way up the narrow staircase, everyone tense and alert.

But as they reached the top, a loud bang sounded from below, echoing up the stairwell. They spun around, and in the brief distraction, the lights flickered—then went out completely, leaving them in total darkness.

In the suffocating darkness, a low, sinister laugh cut through the silence. Malik felt his heart drop as he recognized the voice.

“Lucas?” he whispered, his voice shaking as the realization sank in.

The dim emergency lights flickered back on, casting eerie shadows across Lucas’s face as he stood at the top of the staircase, blocking their way out. His expression twisted with rage and something else—grief.

“Yeah, Malik,” Lucas replied, his tone venomous. “I warned you, didn’t I? About bringing Halloween back to this place. But you just had to push it. You had no idea what you were doing.”

Riley backed up, pressing herself against the wall. “Lucas… what are you talking about?”

He clenched his fists, his voice trembling with emotion. “My sister was one of the ones killed two years ago. She loved Halloween, she loved the haunted houses, the costumes, everything. And she paid the price for it. Halloween took her from me, and I won’t let it take anyone else.”

Malik’s eyes widened, piecing it all together. “So… this was all you? You became the killer, trying to scare everyone away from Halloween?”

“Scare?” Lucas’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “No, Malik. I wanted to end it. Make Halloween in Salem a memory. Because every year it happens, someone else gets hurt. I wanted to make sure no one would ever want to celebrate again.”

Bridget, her voice shaky, stepped forward. “But people loved her, Lucas. She wouldn’t have wanted this.”

Lucas’s face softened for a moment, a glimmer of regret in his eyes. “You didn’t know her like I did. She was… everything to me.” But then the hardness returned, his gaze narrowing on Malik. “But when you had to bring Halloween back, even after what happened… I couldn’t let you. I tried to scare people away, but it wasn’t enough. I had to make you stop.”

Malik felt a chill crawl up his spine, realizing how far Lucas was willing to go. “So… all of this? The party, the murders? Just to get back at Halloween?”

Lucas nodded, his expression twisted in pain. “Salem needs to understand. Halloween is cursed here. I’ve already lost her… I can’t lose anyone else.”

Riley edged closer to Malik, her voice barely a whisper. “We need to get out of here.”

Lucas saw the movement and raised a knife, his grip tight. “You’re not going anywhere.”

But as he advanced, Bridget stepped in front of Malik and Riley, holding her hands up. “Lucas, this isn’t what she would have wanted. You know it. If she were here, she’d tell you to stop.”

For a moment, Lucas faltered, his face twisting with pain. But then, with a flash of desperation, he lunged forward. Malik grabbed a broken piece of wood from the floor, gripping it tightly as he positioned himself between Riley and Lucas.

“Lucas, don’t!” Malik yelled.

But Lucas’s anger had overtaken him, and he moved forward, his knife raised. In the struggle, Malik managed to push him back, sending Lucas stumbling. He hit the railing, losing his balance, his expression shifting from rage to fear. And in that instant, he disappeared over the edge.

The group ran to the railing, peering down into the misty void below. The eerie silence settled around them as they stood in shock, the weight of what had just happened heavy in the air. Riley finally broke the silence, her voice shaky. “It’s over…”

Malik pulled them both into a hug, trying to steady his own racing heart. “We made it,” he whispered, the weight of Lucas’s twisted mission settling uncomfortably on his shoulders.

As they left the lighthouse, the fog lifted just enough to let the faint glow of the moon guide them home. The nightmare had ended, but the darkness of Lucas’s grief would linger, a reminder of the dangers that haunted Salem and the price some were willing to pay for peace.

They huddled together on the rocky ground outside the lighthouse, waiting for the police as the fog crept in around them. The wailing sirens broke the silence, and red and blue lights illuminated the desolate area. But when the officers searched below, combing through every shadow and crevice near the base of the lighthouse, Lucas’s body was nowhere to be found.

One of the officers, looking grim, approached them. “We’ll keep searching, but for now… it’s like he just vanished.”

As they processed the eerie conclusion, Bridget wrapped her arms around herself, her voice low. “Do you think we’ll ever celebrate Halloween again?”

Malik looked out toward the fog-covered sea, a chill prickling down his spine. He shook his head slowly, his voice quiet but certain.

“No,” he said. “Halloween is dead.”

And as they stood there, staring out at the dark horizon, Malik couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere in the shadows, Lucas was watching, his mission to end Halloween in Salem far from over.