*Haunted

Intro: This is a story about a haunted house that has an unusual employee.

Mary rocked on her feet, her hands in her pockets. She hated haunted houses but it was the only job that she could get.

"Welcome to the Devil's Playground," Dave said to the people huddling in the entryway. A family: mom, dad, two kids, both early teens. Mary guessed thirteen and fifteen. "I am the necromancer Davidson Matlock. If you don't mind, Mary will be joining your group." The family looked around for minute before turning their attention back to Dave. Mary grimaced. "See you on the other side, if you can make it." He let out a blood curdling laugh as the door to the haunted house opened.

She trailed after the family and Dave held out a hand, stopping her.

"Make it worth their while."

She nodded and hurried to catch up. The door closed sealing her with the family in the house. They could always ask to be escorted out, but that wasn't exactly what she was there for. Helping them out wasn't first in her job description. The first room was black save for dots spaced irregularly on the walls. Employees dressed in black also covered in dots were scattered around the room. The wife clutched at her husband's arm as they inched their way through. Mary lagged behind, her hands still stuffed in her pockets. Whenever one of the dotted men moved, the family let out shrieks and gasps.

The next room consisted of walls of masks. The mother stepped close to one and jumped back in surprise when it screamed. More masks moved, seeming to morph from inanimate to feral. The family scurried on their screams mixing with the others. In what was termed as the psycho ward, Mary clutched at the mother's arm and hand. The mother gathered strength from the touch until she looked at her husband then back at Mary's hand on her flesh. She pulled away rubbing at the spot. Mary frowned but continued following them. In the slaughter room Mary screamed when the dummy had its head cut off and everyone jumped. She whimpered and the teenagers looked around before turning back to huddle closer to their parents. In strobe light, she moved up to the father muttering to herself and continually bumping into him. When the family ran through the last room and Mary stomped after them screaming. They burst through the door and hurried through the entry passing Dave who waved.

Mary hovered by the door and Dave turned back to her.

"You were great."

Mary just humphed.

"Don't you like working here?"

"When you called my spirit back from the dead, I didn't think it would be working at a third rate haunted house."

"Do you want me to be honest? You are the reason this haunted house is actually going anywhere. At this rate I'm going to have to raise another ghost."

She rolled her eyes. "I feel loved."

Dave smiled and shrugged. When the next group came in he swept them a bow. "Welcome to the Devil's Playground. I am the necromancer Davidson Matlock."

One of the new comers looked around. His face scrunched up in thought. "I heard you had a ghost here. Is that true?"

Dave laughed. "If you are lucky maybe you'll meet Mary."