The moonlight shone through the trees, casting an eerie light on the forest floor. My friends and I had been walking for what felt like hours, our flashlights flickering between boughs of darkness. We trudged along quietly, each of us lost in our thoughts.

"Great, Sebastian. We're lost. Thanks a bunch," her voice was heavy with sarcasm as she swung her flashlight back and forth.

Thomas shouted without warning, pointing off randomly towards the left side of the woods and disrupting the silence with his voice, "I say we go that way."

Sebastian scoffed quickly at his suggestion. "Oh, fantastic observation! Because clearly, following a river in the middle of nowhere will magically transport us to a bustling highway with a Mc. Donalds on every corner. Why didn't I think of that brilliant plan sooner."

Thomas shouted without a beat, "It was your piece-of-shit idea in the first place!" But before any further argument could ensue, something rustled in the bushes nearby, causing all three to freeze instantly.

"What the fuck was that?" they asked simultaneously. A chuckle escaped Sebastian's mouth, and he replied jokingly, "Probably a coyote, a wolf, or a serial killer." Verma cut his laughter short when she shoved him hard for his inappropriate joke.

"You know what they say: 'The killer always returns to the crime scene.' By the way, where's Liza?" A soft crunching of leaves sounded near the distance, sending shivers down my spine. Sebastian's shoulders slumped when he answered truthfully, "We lost her a few miles back. I'm sure she'll catch up."

In an instant, Thomas had turned with the flashlight in my direction. Its almost blinding light pierced through the darkness. If I wasn't scared before, now I was petrified!

I glanced down, seeing my hand shoveled in disbelief. "What were you going to do with that?" Sebastian asked from behind me, retrieving his pocket knife and father's pistol from his coat.

Thomas's voice interrupted my thoughts. "The entire school was affected by Peterson's death," he said softly, placing his hand on my shoulder. "It was the worst and best thing that ever happened to us." His eyes widened suddenly as he glanced toward the bushes behind us. A figure illuminated by a flashlight emerged from the shadows, and Thomas smiled. "Happy early Halloween, man. Enjoy it while you can."

My heart leaped into my throat as Thomas exclaimed, "Liza!" While she jumped behind the bushes. I anxiously glanced at Hazell, who seemed to be in on some joke. Liza groaned out of exasperation, her eyes casting a knowing glare.

We continued until the moonlight flickered and buzzed in the night, reflecting off the still river like a shimmering mirror. The bushes rustled as a cat meowed from somewhere nearby, seeking attention. I felt my chest tighten with apprehension.

The moon cast silvery light on the night sky, painting everything in a soothing blue hue. I meandered through the suburban neighborhood, trying to stay hidden in the shadows. My black clothing blended perfectly with my dark hair that jutted in spikes from my head. Despite feeling courageous with my friends by my side, something felt off about tonight as we all ventured into unknown, treacherous territory.

I glanced at Hazell, who seemed unbothered by the prospect of a serial killer lurking in the darkness. He shrugged nonchalantly, much to Liza's annoyance.

Verma was admittedly more scared than she'd like to let on, her flashlight quivering slightly as she spoke hesitantly while gazing around. "What if the killer is still here watching us?"

"You can't do shit!" Sebastian grew enraged, his voice booming with challenge, and yelled throughout the trees. "YOU HEAR THAT YOU SELFISH ASSHOLE!" His words echoed mockingly in response.

"Yeah, like that'll help," Hazell remarked skeptically.

Sebastian turned to Hazell, confusion etching his face. "What do you mean?"

Hazell leaned in a severe expression on his face. "You're challenging the killer. Not smart, Sebastian."

Sebastian's eyes widened, and he retorted, "Shut up, Hazell. I'm not challenging shit!"

My heart raced, threatening to escape my chest as I desperately tried to hold on to the last threads of my suggestion before it disappeared. I finally choked out, fighting the emotion radiating, "I suggest we watch that movie before my father has another cold case on our hands."

Verma nodded in agreement, and Liza and Thomas were off, their laughter dissipating into the night. My gaze met Hazell's, and I could feel the heaviness amidst us. Suddenly, Liza broke the silence with a mischievous smirk that glowed in the moonlight.

"With that decided... I'll race you all to the van!" she screamed, then sprinted off, leaving only her distant cackles behind.

Without hesitation, Thomas, torn between concern and excitement, chased after her. Thomas called out to Liza, his voice tinged with worry. "Liza, you dumbass! It's not safe for you to run off like that."

Seconds turned into minutes before half an hour went by. The van loomed ahead, a faint blue truck covered in bumper sticker portraits of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Its door creaked open invitingly as a dim light shone. I took one deep breath before following Hazell inside the van and nestled into my seat.

Sebastian put the engine on, his fingers tightening around the wheel with an iron grip. The only sound I could make out was the purring of the machine as we drove off to catch a movie.

"Horror movie? It's Halloween, after all," Thomas suggested, and I shuddered at the thought. Verma, Hazell, and Liza followed my lead, not wanting any more oddities that night.

Sebastian shrugged, "Suit yourselves. We can always go for an action flick."

"You chicken shit, Seba," Thomas sneered as the two girls giggled, and I watched the woods grew smaller in the distance.

∆∆∆

The muffled mumble of the movie droned in my ears like a lullaby, slowly putting me to sleep. But then I heard it - the pounding of my cup clacking against the table broke this dreamy spell. It was as if all the noise from a boisterous concert had merged and descended upon me like a thick blanket. The cacophony of voices around me grew louder with every second that passed.

Desperate for any reprieve, I directed my ear towards the conversation somewhere else in the room, but to no avail. All I could make out were whispers.

A musty smell filled the air, like cardboard and stale popcorn blended. I felt like a wet blanket was smothering me while my stomach churned from the overwhelming stench.

The theater was pitch black, save for the glimmering blue light emanating from the movie title at the front. To my left, faint faces floated in and out of view, backed up by Sebastian's murmur. "Hey Ez, do you see that? It's Carlton sitting all alone."

My eyes darted around the theater like a desperate animal searching for safety. I saw them. And there was her, Verma, a figure fit for nightmares. The screen illuminated her sinister face - painted with malice, and her lips contorted into an evil grin that seemed to seek me out. My heart raced as I felt their presence on my neck, like dark angels ready to seize me.

Before he could process what was happening further, Verma chucked a bucketful of popcorn at them as if they were targets in some macabre game. Despite the chaos, Ezra noticed the glint of metal gray kernels fall from her hands like slow-motion bullets, tracing an arc through the air before descending to the floor.

As I turned to face the movie screen, a flood of memories overwhelmed me. In the dim light, I could make out the silhouette of a cheerleader standing behind Carlton - the same one that had haunted my dreams for years—Marley Hughes, tall, blonde, and gorgeous. My heart sank as the long-lost hope seemed to return.

"AHH~" Verma breathed a long sigh of exasperation as a killer entered the screen. STAB, STAB, STAB. Hazell was getting a kick out of this.

Kernels rained down on them as she blew them away with an angry growl. "Shut up! We're trying to watch a movie!" Hazell screeched, throwing popcorn kernels back in her direction.

Before I could process what was happening, Jackson Kai roared inside with an anguished shout: "Thomas is dead!"

People scattered around the theater like ants, some leaving behind their possessions in a mad rush to escape. Others stampeded through the halls, seeking refuge from this nightmarish scene.

The corridor was alight with a crimson hue that painted the walls a sickening red. Behind each of the three doors was a handprint where life had been taken away, and blood still saturated the floor. In the middle lay Thomas's lifeless body, his insides a mess of gore.

My mind grappled to comprehend what had just transpired. The malicious murderer vanished right before us all while I stood there frozen. My popcorn dropped from my hands in sheer exasperation as I took off in a frenzy outside the building. The wail of police sirens looming ever closer only added to my distress as officers surrounded me. I looked back at Hazell, who silently observed it all.

The police surrounded us, yelling questions I didn't understand. I was numb... too stunned to comprehend what had just happened.

Suddenly, I heard my father's voice calling for me. He pushed through the officers and knelt in front of me. His face strained with tension, his eyes begging for an explanation.

I could only watch as Hazell gazed at his hands, stained with a never-ending reminder of bloodshed. "Son," he said softly, "Can you tell me where you were when the murder happened?" Panic surged through my veins like a storm, but I swallowed it and forced myself to answer my Dad. When I uttered those words, I felt something inside me break.

"He... He was next to me," Ezra said softly between breaths. "Ask Jackson Kai. Hazell tried to stop Thomas from bleeding out, so that's why his hands are covered in blood."

My Dad stared at me with a look of shock and fear, yet beneath that emotion, I could see a man who loved me unconditionally and protected me from danger. Those feelings flooded my heart briefly and covered up my fear.

My Dad loomed over me with his towering six-foot-two frame and solid 230-pound build, and his vibrant eyes seemed to pierce my soul. But the flashlight shone harshly on my face, reflecting my fear in bright relief. I felt frozen in place, like a deer caught in the glare of the headlights.

My father's face displayed shock and fear for Hazell, me, and our town. Hazell and I stood like two thin shadows under the blinding lights of the screening room. Sweat beaded on my forehead, my eyes bulging, and my hands shaking. Meanwhile, Hazell stood tall, emotionless, with a blank stare off into the distance. He reeked of blood as if he had been bathing in it.

∆∆∆

"Why Thomas?" My voice trembled with barely contained rage. "He was our friend! And so soon after Peterson? What were you thinking?"

Hazell's grin broadened as he leaned back against his pillow. "Oh, so you're worried about my modus operandi. Don't worry. It wasn't me this time."

I scoffed in disbelief, scowling at Hazell. "Do you expect me to believe that?"

"I do," Hazell replied sharply, his grin fading as he spoke. "I thought of killing him, but someone else got to him first."

I studied my brother momentarily, scrutinizing every nuance of his expression before nodding slowly in agreement.

"So we have a second killer in town," I muttered gravely.

Hazell nodded enthusiastically, oblivious to my sudden change in demeanor. "Isn't that fascinating?"

The room fell silent except for our breathing filled with excitement and the other with dread.