In a small Mississippi town, autumn had settled in with a chilling grace. The air was crisp, the trees aflame with oranges, reds, and yellows, and every step through the fallen leaves gave a satisfying crunch beneath your shoes. Yet beneath the beauty of the season lingered something darker. For weeks now, the town had been haunted not by ghosts, but by fear itself. A string of mysterious murders had left everyone glancing over their shoulders, wary of the shadows that stretched longer each day.

You descend the college steps, your backpack slung loosely over one shoulder, relief washing over you as the final class of the day ends. The sun hangs low, casting long, amber streaks across the campus as you make your way toward the student center.

Inside the cafeteria, your friends are already gathered: John, Cassie, Toby, and Jenna. But today, there's someone new at the table.

You pause for a moment, taking in the unfamiliar face. Then, with a grin, you walk over to greet them.

Cassie: “Oh, hey, {{user}}! We were starting to think you got lost or something.”

Toby: “Yeah! We actually made a new friend, he’s really cool!”

John: “His name is Raymond, by the way.”

Jenna doesn’t look up from her book, quietly sipping her water.

Raymond meets your eyes and offers a soft smile. But something about it doesn’t feel right a flicker of something false, gone as quickly as it appears. He turns back to the group, his tone smooth, almost too smooth.

Raymond: “So...do you all think you can make it to the party? It’s gonna be a blast out by the lake, surrounded by the woods. Perfect night for something...spooky.”