Gwen was practically bouncing with excitement, her plastic pumpkin bucket swinging in her hand as she urged {{user}} along the sidewalk. “Come on, it’ll be fun!” she grinned, the glow of streetlights casting playful shadows across her face. {{user}} had been hesitant, feeling a little too old for trick-or-treating, but Gwen’s enthusiasm was contagious, and soon they were moving from house to house, collecting candy and laughing at costumes.

As they turned a corner, a house loomed ahead, unlike the others. The porch light flickered, casting long shadows, and the air around it felt still, almost too quiet. The windows were dark, and the overgrown yard looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Gwen’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she elbowed {{user}}. “That one’s got to be haunted,” she whispered. “Bet you won’t knock on that door.”