After school, Lucas, Ava, Lily, Noah, and Stacy gathered around The Golden Griddle. They were all shocked to see each other. "Lucas, Ava, Lily, and Noah," Stacy said in a shock. "Haven't seen you since...you know."

"It's been so long," Lily said. "We're seniors now."

"I got an invitation to meet at The Golden Griddle after school," Lucas explained.

"Me too," Lily replied.

"Same here," Ava replied.

"Right here too, dudes," Noah replied.

Little did they know was that Rocket was spying on them with 5 pieces of cloth in his paws and Baby Groot on his shoulder. "Let's play a little game of blind man's bluff," Rocket whispered to Groot as he blindfolded each and every one of them and wrapped their hands with a very long rope.

"I can't see!" Stacy shouted.

"What's going on?!" Noah shouted.

"I'm calling the police!" Lucas shouted.

"No need to call the coppers," Rocket declared. He led them to an alleyway where he met Donna and Emma, and they weren't happy with what he was doing.

"Blindfolding them and leading them to an alleyway wasn't part of the plan, Rocket," Donna snapped.

"What?" Rocket replied. "It's fun."

"It'll also blow your cover," Emma whispered.

"Fine," Rocket replied in a groan. "I'll be patrolling the town if you need me."

"Just try not to wreck the electricity of the town," Donna said as he left.

As Donna freed them, they removed their blindfolds. "You're Michael's new girlfriend," Noah recalled.

"Donna Solo," she greeted. "I apologize for my cousin Rocket. He's a little wild."

"You guys once encountered a creature named Mr. Red when you were children," Emma said. "Tell me about him."

Stacy explained that 6 years ago, she was in the woods with her childhood best friend Jane, who was also the twin sister of Noah. She was showing Stacy something. Jane led her to the edge of a clearing, pointing out a crumbling stone building on the other side. Jane scooped up a pebble and tosses it at the house. It sailed straight over the threshold, then stopped in mid-air.

It was awesome to her. As Stacy picked up one, it hit the same invisible barrier. Stacy wondered what was inside, but Jane was too scared. Jane had her birthday present with her. It was a whistle on her chain. She told Jane that if she ever got scared, she blew her whistle and Stacy would protect Jane.

Jane raised the whistle to her lips and blew it. Glancing back at the ruins, they heard something. As they were stepping onto the threshold, the tingling spread over them. Inside, it was cold. The leaves at her feet blew aside, revealing a patch of grey stone and as they watched. "Redfield" was written by their feet.

Stacy thought it was cute like a teddy bear. Suddenly, it started to get windy. As Jane was trying to save Stacy, her chain broke and the whistle when down the hole. Stacy told him to stop or else they'd burn his home down. Just like that, she saved Jane. They decided to take off.

XxoxX

Later at the house, she showed the others the house. Everyone else was shocked by this. Ava was really thrilled about it. Lily wasn't okay with it at first, but the others weren't scared. Suddenly, a high-pitched cry pierced the air. It was Jane's whistle. This crept them out too much, and they thought it was a trap. Jane balled up her fists, her face reddening as the mocking whistle continued. She stamped her foot and shouted, "Screw you, Mr. Red!"

But as the rest turned to go, the whistling died down and Stacy heard another sound from inside. They glanced back, and something tiny flew out from inside the house, bounced off Jane's chest, and landed in her hands. It was her whistle. "Give back, stay, sorry," said the voice.

Lily wondered if they should apologize to it. Everyone exchanged hesitant glances. Stacy summoned her courage and stepped forward. "Friend, magic, secret," Mr. Red said.

Their old friend Dan thought it was real cool. Before Stacy could finish, a gust of golden leaves blew through the clearing. Lily pointed at a bundle of slender vines, which were moving on their own. They snaked across the clearing seizing hold of the dead bird. It shuddered as hair-thin roots permeated the dead flesh like veins and flopped onto the side, and it was resurrected into a zombie.

Jane would think Mr. Red was cool, but it could also be decided to come back tomorrow, and they had to stick together. That way they could get to know each other better As the group put their fists together in a circle, Stacy and Jane locked eyes. "Bye, Mr. Red!" Jane shouted. "We'll come back and play with you again tomorrow!"

XxoxX

The zombie bird screeched a farewell too.

Ava recalled one time when they were playing hide and seek, he was chasing Ava. She sneered behind a rock while her left felt squelching in dark mud, as Redfield's voice whispered all over her. The mud oozed inside her shoe past her ankle, and something inside it grabbed her leg. Thick vines seized her, dragging her across the forest floor and into a clearing. She got hanged upside down in front of the house's dark door and laughed as the vines set her down on her feet.

Suddenly she heard a shriek of laughter as Noah tumbled out of the beaches nearby.

Jane kicked her feet as invisible claws yanked her out from behind a tree stump by the arms. As Mr. Red dragged the rest of them into the clearing, she heard a whisper of laughter rising off the stones and in the window nearby, Jane spots a shadowy figure watching her.

The vines receded from the clearing as the figure in the house shrunk back into the darkness. They thought it was Mr. Red. Stacy wanted him to come out, but he was afraid that they would be scared. Noah wanted to leave, but he was drowned out as everyone else joined in. The chant grew louder and louder.

The shadows pulsed, a coil of darkness bleeding out from the doorway. It was boiling into a shifting back shape before their eyes. Mr. Red was revealed to be a black shadow with glowing eyes. He declared, "Friends, play."

Ava shouted and jumped between them for protection. Mr. Red tried to get close but winced at the light. He shielded his face and receded back into the house.

The group fell silent and turned towards the house. Stacy thought about the last time they were there. Stacy knew that they would be okay. One by one, they nodded. Stacy glanced toward the door, where a sad pair of eyes stared at them.

Another time they were heading towards Mr. Red's house at night. Their parents never knew they were gone. Lily left her nightlight on in case anyone noticed. Dan jogged to catch up with Jane, who walked a few steps in front of the group.

They glanced over at Noah, who was staring down at the ground as he walked, both hands stuffed into his pockets. They were mad about something. Noah explained that an old creepy started following them. They didn't know who she was, but she was mean and half of her face was all messed up.

Ava recognized her as Pritch the Witch. She lived in an old shack on the other side of town, out by the broken bridge. She remembered that her friend told her that she had her face melted off by acid. They didn't know what she wanted. They separated and she chased after Jane.

Stacy turned toward Jane, who's pretending not to listen to the conversation. Jane said that she ran her butt off, got super scared and she blew her whistle, but nothing happened. Unfortunately, he never showed.

Stacy told her the truth that the whistle wasn't magic and lied so she wouldn't get hurt. She ripped the whistle off of her neck and hurled it into the woods. Noah thought that she was being totally harsh. When they got there, Stacy and Jane glanced at one another, then stared at her feet.

They headed for the house, then across the main room to the staircase and down into the dark.

On the night of her death, they followed Jane to Mr. Red's house. As they were heading down, they heard water dripping. Inside, they saw vast underground chamber. "It's a cave!" shouted Ava. "Cool!"

Her words echoed distantly over pools of still dark water. Stacy felt coldness down there. A billowing shadow swept into view. They followed Mr. Red deeper into the cave where they saw a little clubhouse. Mr. Red wanted to play a game. Stacy explained that her brother Conor and his friends use to play "Are You Scared?"

After she explained the rules, Mr. Red grew darker as if light could no longer touch him. "Come on," Stacy insisted. "This is the whole reason we came here. To play with Mr. Red. We have to play at least one round. Unless you're scared, Lucas."

Everyone took a seat, asking who would be the monster. The shadows pulsed as Redfield sank back into darkness. It was getting colder. Mr. Red told him that he'd be the monster. His eyes pierced through the darkness. Then they got trapped in their seats.

Stacy knuckles clenched white as she fought to escape, the pitch in her voice rising to a shriek. The others tried to stand, but their legs were stuck to the seat. Redfield circles as they were struggling. Dan cried out as he was sucked back into darkness, making him mentally ill. An invisible force tipped Ava over backward, slamming her onto the cavern floor.

One by one, the rest of the gang started to fall to Mr. Red's scares until Noah and Jane remain. Redfield craned his head, one claw hand reaching for Jane. Noah plunged backward and Redfield turned to Jane. Darkness bled into the air around Jane, swirling into a black vortex that lifted her off the ground. The vortex built, swirling faster and faster. He dropped Jane to the ground with broken limbs, her neck twisted, and her empty eyes staring through them.

"Our parents were afraid that Ava was a bad influence," Noah said, "so we stopped hanging out. Also, Dan got sent to an asylum."

"And that's what happened," Stacy finished.

"And you've been apart since then?" Donna asked as the others nodded.

"That's horrible," Emma said as a tear sheds from her face.

"We'll get to the bottom of this," Donna proclaimed.

As they were leaving, Stacy ran into Caleb. He heard the entire thing about Mr. Red and was curious about it.

XxoxX

Later that night, Donna was preparing for bed when she looked out the window. "Whoever you are, Mr. Red," she said, "you're going down."