Jessica was basically content with her life, but lately she had been getting vibes as if someone were watching her every move at work.  Why?  She wondered.  No one was looking over her shoulder – she had her own office with a door she could close and her very own window, and she had little contact with her workmates.   Assignments were delivered via an in/out box on her boss’ desk, and the boss was seldom in.   Although there was a phone on her desk, she never had to use it as calls were answered by a receptionist.

So, why this feeling of vulnerability?

Glancing out her “very own” window, she realized how creepy the building across the way appeared.  Surely those were just windows?  Surely that one on the left didn’t just wink at her?  Must’ve been a trick of the light, right?

Surely, it was just boredom playing games with her mind?

As she was packing up to leave, the always-silent phone rang. and when she reluctantly picked up the handset, no one was there – just static.  Annoying as hell, but probably just a joker – after all, it was Halloween night.

Jessica was eager to get home to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.  Her car was parked between the office building and the creepy building behind, and hers was the only vehicle left that evening.  Jessica would need to lock up and set the alarm.

The next morning, Jessica’s vehicle was discovered in the lot, but Jessica was not in her office, nor could she be found anywhere in the building.  Since the building was, in fact, locked, and the alarm set, it was assumed Jessica had left as usual on October 31.  Perhaps her car had broken down and she caught an Uber home?  Or took a bus?  Phone calls to her cell went unanswered.  When Jessica failed to show up at all, a coworker went to her house to check on her, and no one answered the door. Emails were not returned. Jessica had no current posts on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media.

No one thought to check the creepy vine-covered building.

Was Jessica there?  Who knows.  But one of Jessica’s coworkers noticed sometime later that the vines on the creepy building had formed not only “eyes”, but now there appeared to be a smile.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

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Image by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalie Studio