Zack''s heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted alongside Rob, Gluttony''s monstrous form looming large in their minds. The Halloween decorations seemed to leer at the pair from every corner of the street, like a twisted version of a haunted house.


    "Ethel--" Rob gasped between breaths, "Do you think she survived?"


    Zack clenched his jaw, his thoughts racing like his feet. How far do our healing abilities go? he thought "I don''t know. But we have to keep moving."


    Rob nodded, sweat glistening on his forehead. "Paulina...she vanished just before Gluttony appeared. She has to be Gluttony, right?"


    "Maybe," Zack replied, his voice strained, he honestly didn''t have time to think it all through while they ran for their lives. He glanced around at the groups of trick-or-treaters, desperately trying to warn them of the danger lurking nearby. "Run, get away from here!" he shouted.


    Their laughter echoed back at him, "Nice try but you can''t scare us, you don''t even have a costume on." their response only fueled his frustration and fear.


    "Zack, I can''t..." Rob panted, slowing down. "I need a place to hide, just for a second."


    "Come on," Zack said urgently, spotting an unlocked door to Laurier School of Business. They slipped inside, seeking refuge from the horror outside.


    Together, they rushed up the stairs and found a classroom with windows facing the street. As they watched Gluttony searching the crowds below, Zack couldn''t help but notice how the creature''s gruesome appearance blended seamlessly with the Halloween festivities. The onlookers saw nothing more than an elaborate costume, completely unaware of the deadly truth.


    "Look!" Rob whispered, gripping Zack''s arm tightly. Gluttony''s gaze snapped toward the business school, and it charged into the building. "How did he know we were here?"


    "Damn it," Zack muttered under his breath, feeling his pulse quicken. His eyes flickered pink, the demon inside him stirring. He knew they couldn''t stay in the classroom any longer, but he also knew that facing Gluttony without Ethel was a risk he wasn''t willing to take.


    "Rob," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "we need to find a way out of here. Now."


    "Right," Rob agreed, his face pale with fear. They had no choice but to move forward, Gluttony was moving in on them fast.


    As Gluttony''s suffocating aura surrounded them, Zack''s mind raced with thoughts of Ethel and her possible demise. He prayed that they would remain safe, and escape the night with their lives. They reached the stairwell but the door was locked.


    "Shit! now what?" Zack was too panicked to think, Rob couldn''t heal like him or fight like him. If Gluttony caught him then it would all be over and Zack knew it.


    "Let''s hide in the bathroom," Rob suggested, his voice strained. "Only one point of entry. We can fight Gluttony off if it comes through the narrow entranceway." Zack nodded, the desperation in Rob''s eyes reflected in his own.


    They slipped into the dimly lit washroom, the scent of antiseptic cleaner hanging heavy in the air. As they pressed themselves against the cold tile wall, footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. Zack''s eyes flickered pink, fangs and claws emerging as he prepared for a confrontation.


    "Who''s there?" a voice called out. The door creaked open to reveal Peter Thuss, a professor at the school, staring at them with wide eyes.


    "Uh, sorry," Rob stammered, trying to think of an explanation. "We were just..."


    "Leaving," Peter interrupted, his gaze stern. "The building is closing before Halloween is in full swing to prevent any damage from intoxicated partygoers. You two need to go."


    "Right," Zack agreed hesitantly, swallowing his fear. "We''ll leave right away."


    Before they could move, the door swung open again, revealing the monstrous form of Gluttony. Zack''s instincts kicked in, and a shimmering barrier formed around them, shielding them from the creature''s deadly grasp. With a telekinetic blast, he pushed Gluttony back, buying them precious seconds to escape.


    "Since when could you do the whole shield thing?" Rob said, looking shocked by this new ability.


    "Now I guess, I just wanted to protect everyone and it happened. Now Go!" Zack shouted, his heart pounding. Rob and Peter fled in opposite directions with Zack following Rob, their feet pounding against the polished floor. Glancing back, Zack saw Gluttony emerge from the bathroom. It seemed torn between chasing after them or pursuing the screaming man; ultimately, its attention was pulled toward the hapless professor. A blood-curdling scream filled the air as they continued running. Zack reached for his phone to call 911 and that his when he realized the device was gone.


    ***


    Deb arrived at Laurier School of Business with Boon and Ahmed, following a text from Zack urging her to meet him there. Deb couldn''t shake the nagging worry that something was terribly wrong. "I''m going inside to look for Zack," she declared, her fingers fumbling as she tried to text him again. No response.


    "Are you sure the building is open?" Ahmed asked, eyeing the darkened windows warily.


    "Only one way to find out," Deb replied, pushing the door open and finding it unlocked. Boon, who had been in a sour mood all night because they were missing the party, suddenly softened as he looked at Deb.


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    "Be careful in there," he whispered, concern etching his features. Deb nodded, realizing neither of her friends seemed willing to join her. With a sigh, she ventured into the building on her own.


    --


    "Zack, I''ve got an idea," Rob whispered as they hid in the shadows of the school''s dimly lit hallway. Zack watched Rob pull a portable speaker from his pocket, and a plan began to form. "We can use this to lure Gluttony into that abandoned classroom over there. All we have to do is record a conversation and play it back."


    Zack nodded, understanding the brilliance of Rob''s plan. They set the speaker on a low volume, playing their conversation that echoed through the empty halls. Zack could feel his heart pounding in his chest as they waited for Gluttony to take the bait.


    As soon as the monstrous figure entered the classroom, Zack sprang into action. He slammed the door shut and used all his strength to break off the handle, trapping Gluttony inside.


    "Stop killing and surrender!" Rob shouted through the closed door, his voice filled with determination. However, much to their horror, only the sounds of shattering glass came from within the room. Zack peered through the hole where the doorknob once was and saw one of the windows shattered, glass shards twinkling under the moonlight.


    "Damn it!" Rob exclaimed, frustration clear on his face. "That''s not fair!"


    Just then, a heavy thud echoed from the floor above them, sending chills down their spines. With no other choice, Zack and Rob took off running again, their breaths ragged and hearts pounding.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Boon and Ahmed stood outside by the car, waiting for Deb to return. Suddenly glass rained down from the building capturing their attention. "What the hell is going on in there?" he muttered, squinting in the darkness.


    Ahmed, not wanting to be left alone, followed Boon toward the building. "Are you sure we should go in here?" Ahmed asked, "What if she comes back and can''t find us, this building is big and neither of us knows the layout, we could get lost."


    "Then stay behind, but I am going to figure out what''s happening." Boon dismissed Ahmed''s concerns.


    Ahmed mulled it over but ultimately his fear of being left alone in an abandoned parking lot at night forced his hand "Ugh, fine! I am coming with you." the two of them entered the building, its halls lit with flickering florescent lights. The atmosphere was heavy and sinister. Ahmed shivered "Um before we get going I need to make a quick stop in the bathroom, Don''t go anywhere without me." Ahmed pointed at Boon, who nodded his understanding. Ahmed slipped into the washroom leaving Boon standing alone in the hallway.


    There was motion at the end of the hall. "Zack?" Boon called out hesitantly as a shadowy figure appeared at the end of the hallway. But instead of finding his friend, he was met with the terrifying visage of Gluttony. Memories from the theater attack flooded his mind as his body seemed to move its own, he found himself sprinting down the hall with little regard for what would happen to Ahmed. He couldn''t control himself, he just knew he had to get out of there.


    Zack''s ears perked up as he heard the faint sound of Deb''s voice calling him in the distance. He quickly grabbed Rob''s phone and dialed her number, his voice a tense whisper when she picked up. "Deb? Are you at Laurier right now?"


    "Yeah, in the business school. Where are you? why aren''t you responding to any of my messages?" Deb questioned, her confusion evident.


    "Listen to me, we''re hiding in a study room on the second floor. Follow my directions, but be quiet."


    "What is going on?" Deb whispered back, but there wasn''t time to explain. She carefully followed his instructions, tiptoeing down the dimly lit hallway until she found the study room. The door creaked open slowly, revealing Zack and Rob. She rushed forward, embracing Zack tightly before pulling away. "Why did you text me to meet you here?"


    "Deb, it wasn''t me," Zack confessed, concern plastered on his face. "I lost my phone earlier tonight."


    Before they could continue their conversation, Ahmed burst into the room, breathless. "Have any of you seen Boon?"


    Deb tried calling Boon''s number, but there was no answer. Unease settling over them, the group decided to venture out in search of their missing friend. As they stepped into the hallway, the sinister sound of claws scraping against cement walls echoed through the stairwell, causing their fight-or-flight responses to kick into overdrive. Instinctively, they ran in the opposite direction.


    Panting, they ducked into another lecture hall, where they found Boon hiding under one of the desks, his wide eyes filled with terror. Rob and Deb hastily pushed desks in front of the door, barricading themselves in as Ahmed, Boon, and Deb turned to Zack, demanding answers.


    "Alright, Zack," Ahmed said, his voice trembling. "You''ve got to tell us what''s going on!"


    Zack hesitated, knowing he couldn''t reveal the truth about the supernatural forces at play. "Ethel... She''s a serial killer," he lied, his voice cracking. If she was really dead then what harm could this lie do? "She killed Joanna, Greg, and Rachel, and now she''s after us."


    A heavy silence befell the room as they processed Zack''s words, their eyes darting to one another in fear and disbelief. The truth was far more dangerous than any of them could have imagined, but the lie would have to suffice for now.


    "Guys, we need to call the police," Ahmed insisted, his voice shaking with urgency.


    "Ahmed''s right," Boon chimed in, his eyes darting around nervously. "We can''t handle this on our own."


    As Ahmed dialed the emergency number, the rest of the group huddled together, their hearts pounding in their chests. The operator informed them that the police force was stretched thin due to Halloween festivities and would send an officer as soon as possible. For now, they were advised to stay put and barricade the doors.


    "Great," Rob muttered sarcastically. "That''s really reassuring."


    "Wait," Boon shouted, a flicker of hope lighting up his face. He walked over to the door next to the whiteboard and peered through the fogged glass "There''s a fire escape behind this locked door. We could use it to get out of here."


    Zack looked thoughtful. "That professor had keys on him before... well, you know. Maybe one of those keys could open the door."


    Deb frowned, her brow furrowing with concern. "But what if Ethel took the key from him? Or what if it doesn''t even work? It''s too risky, Zack."


    "Right now, everything is risky," Zack replied, his voice firm and determined. "It might be our only chance to get out of here alive."


    "Fine," Ahmed interjected. "But I''m not letting you go unarmed. Boon, grab that fire extinguisher under the podium. All lecture halls have them for safety. Make sure it hasn''t been used yet."


    Boon nodded, rushing to retrieve the extinguisher without checking the seal on it. He handed it to Zack, who gripped it tightly, feeling the cold metal against his palm.


    "Good luck, Zack," Deb whispered, her eyes brimming with fear and affection. She leaned in and kissed him gently. "Be careful."


    With one last look at his friends, Zack stepped out of the room, leaving them to seal the door behind him. As soon as he was alone, he activated his demon abilities, His blue eyes fading to their dim pink and his claws and fang extending. He could sense the fear that had once consumed Peter.


    Guided by that lingering terror, Zack followed the trail through the darkened corridors and found Peter''s lifeless body in the janitor''s closet. The man''s eyes stared blanky forward and his face twisted in fear. Fighting back nausea, he searched the man''s pockets and found a set of keys.


    "Please let this work," Zack murmured, clutching the keys tightly in his hand.


    As he turned to leave the closet, his heart skipped a beat. There, inches from his face, stood Gluttony – its eyes filled with rage and hunger. The air around them crackled with tension, and for a moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl.