The Shadow in the Hallway

Late one evening, as Jennifer was locking up The Holliday House, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing from the second floor. Thinking it was Zackery or Kenneth, she called out—but no one answered. The air grew heavy, and a chill crept down her spine.

Slowly, she ascended the staircase, her flashlight cutting through the darkness. As she reached the top, she froze. A tall, shadowy figure stood at the end of the hallway, motionless yet menacing. Before she could react, the figure melted into the wall, vanishing as if it had never been there.

But Jennifer knew better. The Holliday House wasn’t empty. And whoever—or whatever—was there was watching.

What did Jed find at the bottom of the lake?

A sword; a shield; and a wooden rake,

A ring; a dress; and one mistake,

A wallet; a card; and an old remake,

A ruler; a pen; and a paper plane,

Laughter and Death in a calm embrace,

Sadness and Life holding stakes,

Dead people awakening as a whole new race,

Fire, earth and storm; a kindling taste,

To plunder and scorch the people's waste,

Burning to ashes all of their mistakes,

And that's what Jed found at the bottom of the lake.