A Public Haunt

Three friends are on their way to a Halloween party. 300-word flash

A Public Haunt

Lisa, Emily and Katie were on their way to a Halloween party. Lisa was dressed as a rabblerouser, Katie as a banshee and Emily as a zombie. As they walked along, they were chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, Lisa stopped, turned and stared at the main entrance to an abandoned mall.

“I heard this place was haunted,” she told her friends.
“Who told you that? Was the source trustworthy?”
“Let’s see if we can get in and find out!” Katie declared as she ran to the doors. The other two quickly followed ostensively so Katie wouldn’t be alone.
“Looks like someone broke the locks on the door,” Lisa told them as she pulled it open. All three stared inside.
“I dare you!” Emily teased. All three walked in.

Meanwhile, the party was in full swing. Several people inquired of their host whether she had invited Lisa, Emily and Katie. When she assured them, she had and that they had all RSVP’d, it was decided they must just be running late.
After midnight, a party goer who was scrolling the news let out a gasp.

“OMG, they found three bodies at that derelict mall!” she screamed and the guests crowded around her phone.
“Somebody turn on the local news!” the scroller shouted. The hostess obliged. Everyone gathered around the TV to see the live coverage.
“Those are Lisa’s favorite dancing shoes!” said one guest as a gurney went past.
“I’d know Emily’s purse anywhere,” another said.
“I recognize Katie’s hand, even with green paint on it,” a third said.

“I better call the police. We need to tell them what we know and find out what happened,” the hostess insisted. It wasn’t long before several officers appeared at the door to the party house and took the guests downtown.