It was Halloween, and the town was dressed for the occasion. The streets buzzed with eerie music, pumpkins with wicked grins lined the sidewalks, and fake fog curled around people's ankles like ghostly hands. Every corner had something creepy a skeleton dangling from a tree, a clown lurking in the bushes, or motion-activated ghouls screaming when someone walked past.
"Guys, I feel bored," Irene said, stretching out lazily on the couch. "Can we go to that haunted house downtown? I heard it's so scary people cry before they get inside."
"Are you crazy?! What if there's an actual ghost there?" Ellie clutched a pillow to her chest, her eyes wide with fake panic. "I still have a lot to live for!"
"I think it sounds fun. I'll go with you, Irene," Kyla said with a mischievous smile.
"Then it's settled," Tisha said with a shrug. "We're all going."
"Wait, Ellie, are you coming too?" Cassandra raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, of course. If Kyla's going, I'm going. I won't let my girlfriend walk into a horror story alone," Ellie answered, dramatically flipping her hair.
"Awww, that's sweet," Tisha grinned. "But I won't let you be the only one with a girlfriend around. Cassandra, call your girl. I'll call mine."
Moments later, the doorbell rang. In came Kira and Eloira, greeted with bear hugs and overly dramatic squeals from Cassandra and Tisha.
"Oh my god, you two act like you haven't seen them in ten years," Ellie teased, crossing her arms.
"Let us enjoy our moment!" Tisha fired back. "Besides, when you were hanging on Kyla like a lovesick puppy, we didn't say a word."
Cassandra nodded. "Exactly. So you owe us this, freak!"
"Kyla, back me up here," Ellie pleaded, poking out her lips.
"Nope. I'm with them. You do cling a lot," Kyla smirked, playfully tapping Ellie's nose.
"Ugh. Betrayed by my own girlfriend," Ellie huffed.
"Guys, stop flirting! Show some respect for us single people!" Irene whined.
After packing snacks, flashlights, and a few props "just in case," the group piled into Ellie's SUV. Predictably, the four couples squeezed into the back, cuddling and teasing. Ellie and Kyla sat in front, sharing one earbud and softly singing along to a playlist. The single trio Anastasia, Irene, and Veilah sat squashed in the middle, looking miserable.
[Irene]: This is torture. Everyone's in love and we're in hell.
[Veilah]: My eyes are burning from all the PDA.
[Anastasia]: Don't worry. I've got a plan. We're gonna make this night unforgettable for them.
[Irene]: Ooooh. What's the plan?!
[Veilah]: Tell us. We're ready for war.
Back in the front, Kyla leaned her head on Ellie's shoulder. "You're cute when you drive."
"I'm always cute," Ellie whispered, leaning for a kiss.
"Guys, seriously, you're making me nauseous!" Anastasia groaned from the middle seat.
"Is that heartbreak talking or jealousy?" Tisha teased.
Anastasia crossed her arms and muttered, "Please. I have options."
"Yeah? Options that actually text back?" Cassandra added with a laugh.
They all arrived just as the sun dipped below the skyline. The haunted house towered over them like something from a horror film dark windows, creaking porch, cobwebs dancing in the wind.
"Why do I feel like this place eats people?" Kira muttered, clinging to Cassandra.
Everyone was staring at the house, too entranced to notice that Irene, Anastasia, and Veilah had disappeared.
"Guys?" Kira blinked. "Where's Irene? And Anastasia? Veilah?"
"I swear if they already went inside," Ellie was cut off by a distant creepy laugh echoing from within the house.
Unaware of the prank brewing, the six lovebirds slowly stepped inside. Immediately, the air turned colder. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath their steps, and dim, flickering lights led them into a hallway.
"Stay close to me," Ellie whispered, gripping Kyla's hand so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"You're supposed to protect me, not the other way around," Kyla said with a laugh.
"Too late. You're my emotional support now."
Suddenly, a loud clang echoed from the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?!" Cassandra yelped.
"Don't leave me!" Tisha shrieked, grabbing Eloira.
As they reached the stairs, another realization hit.
"Wait.. Irene, Anastasia, and Veilah are still gone," Ellie said, wide-eyed.
In the attic above, the trio were setting up sound triggers, pulling strings to move fake ghost props and throwing white sheets over mannequins.
"Anastasia, your ghost looks too real," Irene praised.
"That's not mine," Anastasia replied, confused.
They turned to Veilah.
"Not mine either," Veilah whispered.
Behind them, a grotesque, pale figure hovered.
"OH. MY. GOD!" Irene screamed.
"RUNNNNNN!!!" Anastasia yelled.
They sprinted out, nearly tumbling down the stairs.
Meanwhile, the lovebirds had barely made it up to the second floor when a ghastly shadow blocked the stairs.
"IS THAT A GHOST?!!" Kira screamed.
They all shrieked, turning around just in time to run smack into Anastasia.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Ellie shouted.
"We were trying to scare you! We rigged the house with creepy stuff! But we didn't expect there were actual ghosts here!"
"What?!"
As if on cue, a translucent figure appeared near the front door, floating closer.
"IT'S A REAL GHOST!!" Cassandra screamed.
Everyone ran in circles, bumping into furniture, screaming over one another.
They all collided in the living room and huddled in a ball, closing their eyes.
Suddenly, laughter echoed.
Ellie and Kyla burst into giggles.
"Gotcha!"
"Wait, WHAT?!" Irene looked up, furious.
"We heard your plan in the car," Ellie said. "So we called the owner. This isn't a real haunted house, it's a prop house for a Halloween party."
Kyla grinned. "We asked them to help us prank you back. The ghost was an actor."
"YOU EVIL LITTLE.." Tisha lunged at Ellie, pinching her ears.
"We were scared to death!!" Anastasia shouted.
"You deserved it for trying to traumatize us first," Kira said with a smirk.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Then,
BANG!
A thunderous sound came from upstairs.
"Okay THAT wasn't part of the plan," Kyla whispered.
They didn't wait to find out. In an instant, they all sprinted out, piling into Ellie's car. Panting, sweating, and clutching their hearts.
"That… was AWESOME!!" Cassandra said between laughs.
They all agreed.
That night, the haunted house gave them more than just screams and laughs it gave them a story they'd never forget.
And for once, even the single ones felt like they were part of something special.