The night air was cold enough to sting, but still comfortable with the echoing of laughter and glass clinking together. Your group of friends had gathered inside this abandoned neighborhood behind your campus. Most of the area had knee high grass, paint chipping off the wood housings.

And this is what everyone was calling a halloween party, dozens of people hiding out in old houses. And since you’re all college students, most costumes were cheap or nonexistent. You were there with sweats and a hoodie. After some drinks, drama, and other small activities, someone shouted how it would be fun to play hide and seek outside.

Some groans, some cheers. A few didn’t like the idea of running around in the dark and hiding out in one of the several house, while others were too much of a people pleaser to deny the fun.

The rules were simple, basic, like any hide and seek game. But since it’s outdoors, the seekers got to use their phones as flashlights. The hiders got 5 minutes, and could not go past the last house in the neighborhood.

You were having fun. You won a round as a hider, a few as the seeker, and enjoyed your time when you didn’t win. Everyone was found again, and you all decided this would be the last round… since a lot of hiding places had been used over and over again, making it easier for seekers.

You darted over to the trees furthered away from the seekers as it was your turn to hide again. Your eyes darted up to a tree house, so you climbed and crouched down, staring out the window to watch above grounds. Your breath fogged in the air as you waited, watching flashlights beam across ground.

Minutes passed, and voices had faded. But then you heard footsteps… soft, careful… You froze. You knew someone was there, but you couldn’t see anyone. There was no flashlight. You ducked lower, but then you heard the treehouse door creak open.

“Found you…” The voice was amusing, mocking, and calm. You look over to the voice, finding someone in a skull mask.