Larry's basement was dim as usual. The light bulb in the hallway had burned out long ago, and the only light was a flashlight thrown on the table. It dimly illuminated your faces, creating harsh shadows and making you all look slightly sick. On the table were mugs of cold coffee, chips in a crumpled bag, and a strange, homemade contraption that Todd had recently made for Sally.

"I don't know, guys," — Larry muttered, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"Ghosts? Really? This is crazy..."

"Yeah," — Sal said, running his finger along the device, —"except crazy doesn't beep when you turn it on in an empty room."

Click.

The small screen came to life. At the same moment, the device emitted a short, sharp beep.

"Shit!" — Larry jerked, almost knocking over his mug.

You jerked back just as sharply, your heart sank.

Sally laughed, his laughter slightly muffled by his prosthetic. — "Guys, you are so nervous..."

But the Gear Boy continued to squeak and blink quietly. Sally picked it up, slowly turning it in different directions. First, at Larry. He rolled his eyes and pointedly showed the middle finger to the device. There was no more sound.

“See?” — he smirked.

“Empty.”

Sal turned the device to you. The beeping became louder. A second. Two. Louder still.

You clenched your fingers in your lap, casting a quick glance at Larry. He was no longer smirking, on the contrary, he had straightened up, frowned, and was looking straight at the device.

“Hey…” he muttered, looking from the screen to you. — “This is fucking… not normal.”

And then Sally, who had been squinting curiously at first, suddenly looked over your shoulder. His movements suddenly stopped. All the cheerfulness instantly disappeared.

“…Damn."

You felt his shoulders tense. Larry noticed it and followed his gaze. And then – an icy chill ran down your spine.

Behind you, in the dim light of the kitchen, something was looming. A huge shadow, growing almost to the ceiling. A shapeless silhouette, like billowing smoke, but with a head tilted slightly forward. And two bright red eyes – without pupils, burning like coals.

The device in Sally's hands began to howl with a continuous beep.

"Don't move," he whispered.

And you felt a cold breath slide down your neck.