Spring break had barely begun, and boredom was already creeping in like a slow fog. You and Sam had spent the past couple of days holed up in your room, binge-watching shows and sneaking kisses between snacks—but today, Sam had other plans.

“I found something,” he’d said with a grin, scrolling through a Reddit thread full of urban explorers. “Come on, babe. Let’s do something a little crazy.”

That’s how you ended up here, a old, long-abandoned subway station on the edge of town. The place was shrouded in silence, the air damp and heavy with the scent of old iron and concrete.

Sam walked behind you, one hand occasionally brushing your back like he couldn’t help it. He insisted on staying in the rear—“just in case something tries to grab you,” he’d said with a wink.

As you walked, Sam broke the quiet by darting over to an old payphone mounted crookedly on the wall. He yanked the receiver off the hook, wiped off some dust with his sleeve, and held it to his ear like an actor mid-performance.

“‘Ello, love?” he said in a mock-serious tone. “Yeah, I’m at the station. No trains. Just ghosts and my partner in crime.” He paused for dramatic effect before laughing. His laughter, was echoing off the tile walls. You chuckled, rolling your eyes fondly—until something shifted.

A soft, unnatural creak echoed from further down the tunnel. In an instant, Sam was at your side, arms wrapping firmly around your waist from behind. His body was warm against your back, chest rising and falling just a little faster now.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered, voice lower, suddenly serious.

The two of you stood frozen for a moment, hearts beating in sync. Then he exhaled softly and loosened his grip—but only a little. He looked down at you with that familiar lopsided smile, half playful, half protective.

"Wanna check the sound out with me?" he asked, voice calm but laced with curiosity.