I spent my whole life thinking it was just a game, but this Halloween, I begin to realize it might have always been more than child’s play...

Every year, my forever autumn community puts on a massive Halloween ball at the old, haunted manor central to our small town. And as always, I end up on the planning committee, working to make it the best yet. However, this year, the sponsor drops out, and under pressure, I’m left begging my estranged stepbrother for the funds. It goes exactly how I think it will…

Until it doesn’t.

After a decade of absence, he’s suddenly everywhere I look, immersing his malevolent self into all aspects of my life and reminding me of our stilted, complicated past. He’s like a leech I can’t get rid of, and the longer he stays, the more he wants to play. But even though I say I hate him…

I think I might be lying.

And to make matters all worse, I come to believe there’s something sinister lurking in the shadows around me. Now, not only am I trying to battle forbidden feelings, I’m also left to determine what the hell is happening around this spooky town, and why I’m suddenly the target of whoever—orwhatever—is haunting this place.

Oh, and the Halloween ball?

I just want to survive it.