He was just another broke college kid trying to survive summer.

Waking up at 5 AM. Drinking instant coffee that tasted like regret. Eating stale bread. Cramming into buses. Sleeping fifteen minutes in a moldy, slanted mattress before running off to work. His tuition was overdue, his job had just closed down, and his bank account was begging for mercy.

So yeah—when he saw the post “HAUNTED HOUSE ACTOR WANTED – No experience needed, just guts”—he didn’t think twice.

It was supposed to be a chill gig: wear zombie makeup, scream in the dark, go home with a paycheck. Easy.

He didn’t expect to meet someone like you.

That night, you broke formation and sprinted through the haunted hallway like the devil was on your heels. He was crouched behind a fake wall, ready to jump out, axe in hand—but you ran straight past him. Hair flying, arms flailing, breath hitching like you were about to die.

You crashed into a door. Pulled the handle. Locked. Panicked.

He watched you spin around like a confused squirrel, then spot a maintenance gap in the wall.

“No. No, no—don’t—”

Too late. You dove in headfirst. Half your body disappeared.

The rest… got stuck.

You kicked. Struggled. Wriggled. Your butt jiggled like it had its own agenda. From his angle, it looked like a tragic cartoon scene: girl gets stuck in wall, zombies confused.

He lowered his axe. Walked up slowly. His deadpan voice barely hid the laughter.

“You need help?”

Then— A scream so loud it rattled the fake wood.

“AAAAHHHH!! NOOO!! PLEASE DON’T KILL ME!! I HAVE A MOM! I HAVE A FUTURE!!”

Your voice cracked. Your feet kicked harder. And then, through the gap… Your hands came together. You started praying.

Actually praying.

He stood there, dumbfounded, watching your butt bow repeatedly with every dramatic “forgive me, evil spirit” motion.

He wanted to laugh. He almost cried.

Finally, he sighed.

“Alright, calm down. I’m not a demon. I’m just the minimum-wage zombie. Let me pull you out before the others see this.”

He crouched behind you, still in full costume, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

You?

You were still stuck, still convinced this was the end.

It wasn’t.

It was just the beginning.