“Oh, hey! “There you are,” Vala called out to Nico. He turned directly toward where her voice was coming from and greeted his classmate, who invited him to shop in a local plaza. “I thought you would not show up,” said Vala. “I made you a promise,” he reminded her. ” Of course you did it! You were never the type to want to be in crowded places.” Nico and Vala were always there for each other, proving their friendship was genuine. She took him by the hand and smiled. “Let’s have fun! There are several shops in the plaza.” “No matter what you choose, it will be fine,” he assured her. “Oh, it will,” Vala grinned, gripping his hand.…

Mel would go to his family’s vacation house by the lake during the fall. It was a peaceful community with retired inhabitants. He arrived just as the sun rose over the tree line, having made the late-night drive to avoid traffic. Turning the car into the driveway, he parked it and turned it off. Mel opened the car door, taking a moment to stretch out. Going to the back of the car, he opened the boot, gathered his bags, and took them inside. His parents had left a note on the counter. Walking over, he glanced at the note briefly. The note stated that the pantry and fridge were restocked. If the power were to go out, use the generator…

When Ray had awoken, he found himself in a damp, bleak, and suffocating room. A dim blinking light was the only thing that illuminated the room. Taking in a deep breath and exhaling, Ray covered a hand over his nose, gagging. The smell of decay, blood, and mildew invaded his nostrils. Where was he? Ray squinted, letting his eyes adjust to the room. The dim light barely lit up anything, making it hard for him to determine his surroundings. Ray looked around from his place on the floor, feeling the smooth texture of wood with some parts where the boards were missing. His hand bumped into something and looking down, Ray held in the urge to scream as he bit…

In a little village, tucked away from the rest of the world, lived Nils, a doll maker. His home is up on a hill, completely isolated from everyone else. He creates dolls for those who have lost their friends and loved ones—an empty husk without a soul. There is a rumor that Nils once brought his wife to be back to life. Since he had dabbled in black magic, he broke the rules that were once taught to him by his master. When Nils brought her back to life, she was no longer herself. She had harmed many people, and thus, he had to end her life a second time. Not wanting his apprentice to make the same mistake, he…

A young man named Canes was on the verge of graduating, but his life was cut short. Devastated by his passing, Canes’ parents departed, forsaking his items, and moved elsewhere. Right after they moved out, a parent and son made themselves at home in the same small apartment that had once belonged to the deceased teenager’s maternal and paternal figures. Once settled in, Seren stumbled upon a container of outfits among the remaining items. His mom, Leda, was overjoyed because she no longer had to get new ones. She had to make these adjustments herself so that they would fit Seren. He put on the uniform once the school started. The unusual sensation of the material on Seren’s skin unsettled…