Lena squinted at the sunlight streaming through her curtains, groaning as she forced herself to sit up. The alarm on her phone had gone off at least five times, and her body still ached from yesterday's marathon of work. She glanced at the clock—11:00 a.m. At least she didn't have any early morning shifts today.
Stretching her arms overhead, she stumbled out of bed and grabbed her phone. A notification from Alice lit up her screen.
Alice: "Still alive? Also… HALLOWEEN is tomorrow!!! 🎃👻"
Lena smiled. Alice loved Halloween—it was her favorite holiday of the year. Lena, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic. Sure, the costumes and spooky decorations were fun, but in her world, Halloween was just another day to work. That reminded her—the job.
She still hadn't heard any details about what it entailed. When she applied, the description was vague at best. All she knew was that she would meet with someone called Mr. Hale, the family secretary, and that the work would take place in a cemetery. Halloween night. It was probably why the pay was so generous.
No confirmation had come in yet. Sighing, she tossed her phone aside and decided to get ready for the day. She still had a few hours before she had to meet Alice for lunch.
.
.
.
By noon, Lena found herself sitting at their usual spot—a small outdoor café near the campus, decorated with spider webs, pumpkins, and grinning skeletons in preparation for Halloween. Alice waved at her from a distance, already seated with a cup of coffee in hand.
"There she is!" Alice grinned as Lena approached. "Thought you'd sleep through the day."
"Almost did," Lena said with a chuckle, sinking into the chair across from her. "What's up?"
"Well…" Alice leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I might have snagged a date for Halloween night!"
Lena raised her eyebrows. "Ooooh, exciting! Who's the lucky guy?"
Alice waved her hand dismissively. "Just someone I met at that party last week. We're going to the Halloween bash downtown. You should come! Please tell me you've got a costume ready?"
Lena bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt. "Actually… I won't be able to make it."
Alice's face fell. "What? But it's Halloween! You can't bail!"
"I know, I know…" Lena sighed, fiddling with the straw in her iced coffee. "It's that cemetery job I told you about. I got selected, and they need me to work tomorrow night."
Alice sat up straight, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Wait, you're telling me you're actually going to spend Halloween in a cemetery? That's perfect."
Lena couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. It's weird, I know. But the pay is way too good to turn down."
"Let me guess," Alice said, a smirk creeping onto her face. "It's because of Halloween, right? No one wants to work in a cemetery on the spookiest night of the year."
"That's what I'm thinking," Lena replied. "The email I got this morning confirmed the date and time—Halloween night. I don't have any details about what I'll actually be doing yet. Just that I'm supposed to meet some guy named Mr. Hale, the family secretary, at the cemetery before the funeral service starts."
Alice whistled, leaning back in her chair. "You've got guts, girl. But honestly, it sounds kinda cool. Creepy, but cool."
Lena shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Maybe. But I'm sorry I'll miss our plans."
Alice waved her off. "Don't worry about it! You're gonna get paid to hang out in a graveyard on Halloween night. That's way more epic than any costume party."
The sun had just begun to set when Lena stood at the entrance of the cemetery, her breath visible in the chilly October air. The gates were open, and dim lanterns lined the path, casting long shadows across the tombstones. She pulled her jacket tighter around herself, her nerves fluttering with each step. What exactly had she gotten herself into?
The email had been vague—just instructions to meet Mr. Hale a little before the funeral and await further details. She had no clue what the job involved, but with the pay being what it was, she figured it couldn't be anything too bad.
Her phone buzzed again, and she checked the screen—Alice had sent her a message.
Alice: "Good luck!! Text me when you're done. Don't let the ghosts get you 😜."
Lena chuckled, but the creeping darkness made the joke seem a little too real.
.
.
.
Pushing the gate open, she walked deeper into the cemetery. Despite the festive air in the city, the cemetery was still and quiet, the only sound coming from her footsteps crunching on the gravel. As she approached the chapel near the center of the cemetery, a tall, thin man dressed in a black suit stood waiting under the glow of a lantern.
"Ms. Carter?" the man asked, his voice calm but formal.
Lena nodded, shifting on her feet. "Yes, that's me. You must be Mr. Hale."
"Indeed." Mr. Hale's gaze was sharp and observant. He gave her a polite nod before gesturing toward the chapel. "Please, follow me. I'll explain everything inside."
They entered the small building, where rows of chairs were arranged for the funeral. A single casket sat at the front, surrounded by flowers. The air was heavy with the quiet grief of an impending service.
Lena couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. She had expected something eerie, but standing in a nearly empty chapel, surrounded by the stillness of the graveyard, made it all too real.
Mr. Hale led her to a back room where cleaning supplies and tools were neatly arranged. "Your role is straightforward," he said, his tone professional. "You will assist me in ensuring the family's needs are met during the service, then, once the ceremony has concluded and the guests have departed, you will begin your work cleaning the graves."
Lena blinked. "Cleaning the graves?"
Mr. Hale nodded. "Yes. The family requires that the cemetery be kept in pristine condition, especially after a funeral. It is a simple task but one they hold in high regard."
Lena swallowed, trying to suppress the unease settling in her stomach. It wasn't quite what she had imagined, but it sounded easy enough. "Alright," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Anything else I should know?"
"For now, that is all," Mr. Hale replied. "Once the funeral begins, you will remain in the background. Afterward, you may start your work."
Lena nodded, her mind racing with thoughts about the night ahead. Halloween in a cemetery. A funeral service, then cleaning graves in the dark. It wasn't exactly what she had envisioned when she signed up, but she had no intention of backing out now. The money was too good, and she wasn't one to scare easily.
"Understood," she said.
Mr. Hale handed her a set of gloves and cleaning supplies. Lena took them, her fingers trembling slightly, though whether it was from the cold or her nerves, she couldn't tell. The cemetery seemed to grow quieter around them, the looming shadows of the tombstones now casting a more ominous presence.
Halloween night was about to begin.