Artwork - 1st Place: “Pumpkin Man” by Ryleigh Cochran, Edison Middle School.

Eighth Grade – 1st – “The Lost Level” by Elijah Thomas, Edison Middle School

The arcade was supposed to be a safe escape from reality. Mark and his friends had heard rumors of “The Lost Level” machine, but they wrote them off as urban legends. The building was a relic, the carpet faded, the air thick with the smell of stale pizza. A solitary machine glowed in the corner, with just the pixelated image of a hooded figure. Mark was immediately attracted to this mysterious game and wanted to play. His friends, on the other hand, were hesitant; for good reason. “I have to play this machine; I have to see what the storyline is.” said Mark. “No, way, dude. That thing looks like it would eat you,” replied his friends. “Speak for yourself, I’m playing.” With no coin slot, just a button on the control panel reading “Start Game,” Mark pressed the button.

The screen flickered, showing a dimly lit labyrinth. The hooded figure from the marquee appeared and began to move. An eerie, warped music began to play, and a strange detail caught Mark’s eye: the character wasn’t walking or running. It was mimicking the exact movements of his hands on the joystick. Dread crept slowly up his spine as he realized the game wasn’t about controlling a character, but about his every move being watched and copied. The musical melody grew louder, and the machine’s reflection showed his face distorted by the green light, his eyes wide with fear.

Trying to pull his hands away, Mark found the joystick and buttons felt magnetized, holding his fingers in place. He watched, horrified, as the digital figure began to move on its own, erratically, a caricature of his own earlier gameplay. Music shifting, it became a discordant, swirling cacophony. The figure on the screen turned toward him, and in that moment, its glowing eyes were no longer pixelated. They were sharp and malicious, staring directly into his own.

Panicking, Mark yanked away, but his hands were stuck. The machine’s glass, once a mirror for his frightened face, now showed a new, terrifying reflection. Behind him, standing where his friends should’ve been, was the hooded figure from the game; its head tilted in silent, chilling curiosity. It was no longer digital, but a real, solid presence, almost like a ghost. Its long skeletal fingers reached out, mimicking his futile attempts to pull away. With a final, desperate tug, Mark freed his hands, stumbling backward and tearing his eyes off the screen. Turning to face the monster, he was ready to scream. Only to find empty space. The machine’s screen, now dark, was silent. He sat there alone in the gloom of the arcade, the music box echoing in his head. A new detail caught his attention. On the screen, a fresh scratch appeared deep, gouged into the plastic. It was a familiar mark, one he had on the back of his own hand, from where the joystick had held him captive. A new game had begun, and he was already inside.

Artwork - 2nd Place: “Spider Eyes” by Arianna Crowther, Edison Middle School.

Eighth Grade – 2nd – “The Creak” by Beniah (Eli) Depue, Edison Middle School

OK, a little more studying and I should be good, I thought, excited to soon be going home for the night. I really tried to focus on my studying; I couldn’t–my brain just wanted to rest. Every time I tried to focus, my mind would go blank. “Come on! I really need to focus. This test is worth half of my grade!” I quietly screamed at myself. After twenty minutes, I gave up. I began to pack my things, get my coat, and start walking to the dorms.

Walking for about ten minutes, the sun long gone, I made it back to my dorm. I checked in with the receptionist and stepped into the creaky old elevator, pushing the button to go to my floor. The elevator squeaked, sputtered, and eventually began to rise to my floor. It soon halted. The doors slowly slid open, a small beep played, and I began strolling to my room. I really should have been thinking about bedtime, but I was instead thinking about playing games. My energy was drained from staying up late the previous night, too.

Turning down the hallway, I spotted my door; it was nice to finally be home for the night. I slid into my desk chair and opened up my computer to play some solitaire. I was trying to stay conscious, but my eyelids felt heavy; I persisted. It was a surprisingly challenging game, but halfway through, the cards placed slowly sounded less like cards and more like footsteps. My heart raced a little thinking of the potential footsteps, but I brushed it off as if it were me just being tired. The footsteps began getting louder until I heard it, the small creak of the door opening. I stood for a second, scared, thinking of who or what could be behind me. I turned around and saw through the darkness of the room a tall lanky man, almost malnourished looking; atop his slim head, a crown stood. He had a beard. Then I noticed he was holding something in his hand–a spade.

I didn’t have time to think. I ran past him. He lunged towards where I once sat. I dove into the bathroom. Immediately I began searching for something to arm myself with. All I could find was a towel holder. Realizing the door was not locked, I saw it start to open, long sharpened nails clasping the side facing me. He opened the door fully, spade in hand, and he sprung towards me. I tried to scream, but nothing came out.

Artwork - 3rd Place: “You’ll Be Next” by Kerrington Bandy, Frontier High/Middle School.

I lurched awake. Has it all really been a dream? It felt so real. “I really need to stop thinking about break-ins,” I thought. Then, I heard it again, the small creak of my door opening. I turned around; glad it was just my roommate. Turning back to my computer, which had fallen asleep, I woke it up. On the screen, staring back at me, was a king of spades.

Eighth Grade – 3rd – “The Real Monster” by Kaylen Heiney, Frontier High/Middle School

October 3, 2025 10:06 p.m.

” Kayla!” ” Kayla!” I screamed as I ran through the cold dark night. I couldn’t see anything at all. My head was spinning, it all happened so fast. I wasn’t thinking and I just ran, leaving my best friend in the woods with that thing…

8 hours before death 2:00

The bell had just rang and Kayla and I were on our way to class. ” Hey, do you want to come to my cabin tonight”? I asked Kayla.

“Of course I do! You always have the best snacks”! Kayla exclaims as she licks her lips.

The teacher interrupts as she starts class. After class I ride the bus home and Kayla drives her new Tesla her dad got her. Of course she gets a brand new car while I still have to ride the bus as a 16 year old with a license that does me no good.

5 hours before death 5:13

Kayla shows up at my cabin with all kinds of stuff. Her parents are really rich, unlike mine who are barely affording rent right now. It’s not fair, Kayla gets whatever she wants. Maybe I could be her… no that’s insane. We start setting up the cabin with fairy lights and lots of snacks. Kayla and I start playing Uno while talking about drama at school.

3 hours before death 7:26

Kayla and I decide to go out and roast hot dogs over the fire. ” Mara I think I heard something in the woods.” Kayla says with fear in her eyes.

” Kayla, stop trying to scare me, it was probably just an animal or something.” I said annoyed.

” Yeah you’re probably right, sorry.” Kayla says still unsure about it.

” Okay help me with these hot dogs now.”

I say with my stomach growling. Kayla and I tell stories around the fire as we eat our hot dogs.

The hour of death 10:00

” Mara, can we go inside now? It’s getting really dark, and I keep hearing something growling.” Kayla says terrified now.

” Kayla, you’re being paranoid, it’s fine!” I say really annoyed now.

” Mara please there is something in the woods, I’m not lying!” She says with tears in her eyes.

” Kayla stop, nothing is in there!” I say as something approaches out of nowhere.

Not human, but not an animal either. A huge black figure, limbs too big for its body grabs Kayla before I have time to react. I start running so fast I can’t see and trip over something huge.

12 hours after death 10:00 am

I wake up in a strange room, a stench of death, it even feels like death is in the air. I think it’s a mental asylum. But why am I here? Then it all comes flooding back to me like I’m drowning in her screams. I hear her screams, her cries, her begging me for her life. I never saw a monster, because I am the monster.