Artwork - 1st Place: “Clowning Around” by Olivia Kerns, Edison Middle School.

Seventh Grade – 1st – “The Last Broadcast” by Genevieve Vanmeter, Blennerhasset Middle School

It all began with a signal, a faint, warbled broadcast slipping through the static on an old, dust-choked radio that Mira found in her late uncle’s attic.

It was Halloween night, and the wind outside was thick with the smell of burning leaves.

The attic was cold, even though the rest of the house was sweltering — like something had been waiting in that room for the temperature to drop.

White noise, then a voice.

Artwork - 2nd Place: “The Great Pumpkin’s Rampage” by Lyric Boyd, Hamilton Middle School.

“This is WVUR… Station 66.6. Broadcasting to the forgotten. You’re listening to the Last Broadcast!”

Mira froze, the voice was genderless, distorted, and sounded as if it were speaking directly into her mind.

“Tonight’s program… is about you, Mira.”

She dropped the radio.

How could it know her name?

Artwork - 3rd Place: “October Night” by Alivia Drain, Edison Middle School.

The voice continued unaffectedly due to the drop.

“You were warned not to come here. You buried what you saw. But bones don’t stay buried, do they?”

Mira’s breath got caught in her throat. She hadn’t told anybody. Not even the police. That night five years ago. The church. The fire. The altar soaked in blood. The faces in the flames. Her friends who never came back.

The radio hissed louder.

“We’ve kept your secrets, but secrets rot. Secrets scream. And now… They’re coming home.”

The attic door slammed shut behind her.

She ran, but it wouldn’t open. She pounded her fists on the wood until they bled. The air grew colder. The bulb above flickered and then burst, casting the room into a thick, soupy, dark haze. The radio was the only light now, glowing a deep, angry red.

“Let us tell you a story, Mira. One last time.”

From the speaker came whispers — first one, then two, then hundreds. Layered voices, including ones she recognized: her friend Jess who disappeared that night. Mark who screamed as something dragged him below the chapel. Her own voice, crying “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you…” and then, another sound. The dragging of something heavy and wet.

Something alive.

In the corner of the attic, behind old furniture, a hatch she’d never noticed before cracked open. The smell that poured out was like rot and smoke scored meat. A hand reached out — charred, clawed, too long. Then another, then a face… It was Jess, but hollow eyed. Smiling too wide. Her mouth opened and radio static poured out.

Mira screamed as loud as she could, shocked in fear.

The voice from the radio turned gentle now.

“Thank you for tuning in, Mira, we’ve been waiting to finish your story. Welcome home.”

The next morning, the house was empty.

No sign of Mira, only an old radio sitting in the attic, still playing.

“This is WZVR… Station 66.6… Broadcasting live from the other side.”

Seventh Grade – 2nd – “The Labyrinth” by Yuneun Varela Reyes, Hamilton Middle School

Alyssa opened her eyes, checking the time. It was 5. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep as she hit the couch. She had a blanket draped over her. A pillow under her head, replacing her backpack. Alyssa stood up too fast, feeling dizzy as she did. She slowly walked to the kitchen. The house was quiet, too quiet. She’d started dreading the quiet now that her brother was gone. As she walked in the kitchen, she saw a note on the fridge:

“Hey Alyssa, I’m heading to the hospital to check on your brother and to work. There are leftovers in the fridge, eat something. You can invite friends if you’d like. Just make sure you guys don’t make a mess,”

Alyssa grabbed the note and crumpled it, opening the fridge and pulling out a single Tupperware with pasta. She ate in silence, dreading every second of it. She missed the way her brother would light up any room. Subconsciously she graced the clip in her hair. When she finished, she put the Tupperware in the sink and walked away. Alyssa walked to the living room and used the phone in the living room to dial Mr. And Mrs. Laurent’s number.

“Hello?” A male voice came through the phone

“Hi Mr. Laurent. Could Lily and Delilah come over?”

“Of course sweetie, they’ll be there in a minute,”

“Alright, thank you,”

As Mr. Laurent hung up, Alyssa immediately dialed Ms. Lyre.

“Hi, Ms. Lyre! Can William come over?”

“Well, sure I’ll call to tell him,”

“Thanks! Have a good day Ms. Lyre!”

Alyssa sat in the living room, waiting in silence for her friends to arrive. Knock knock knock. Alyssa shot up, rushing to the door

“Hiii, Alii!” Lily rushed ahead to hug her. Delilah closed the door behind her.

“Hey Alis, I brought my witchcraft book,” William said excitedly

Alyssa led them all to her room. She loved the way they’d fill the void that came with being alone at home. They hung out for hours. Delilah suggested a sleepover, causing them to have to call their parents to ask. Thankfully, they’d agreed. Before going to bed, they’d tried to summon an “entity” before bed. Slowly, each one of them started to drift to sleep, almost if something was lulling them to sleep. The next thing Alyssa remembered is waking up in a garden of some kind with bush walls all around and an exit to a pathway. Alyssa wandered for what felt like hours until she froze.

There Alyssa stood. Ivan, her brother, in front of her. He was leaning against one of the walls of the maze. He slowly opened his eyes. He blinked multiple times and looked up at Alyssa before doing a double take.

“Alyssa…?” You’re not supposed to be here…” Ivan spoke, some weird urgency in his voice.

“Ivan?” What are you talking about? What is this place?” Alyssa asked, completely confused

“I need to get you out of this labyrinth before it’s too late.”

“Wha…” Alyssa was cut off. “No time for questions. Follow me. I… I think I still remember the way out. You can make it,” Ivan reassured, grabbing Alyssa firmly.

Ivan led Alyssa through the labyrinth. It was quiet. Serious. Careful. The silence overtook the two. Until crack, a leaf crunch. It didn’t come from Ivan, or Alyssa. It was behind them. Ivan froze for a second.

“We need to run, follow me,” there was an urgency in the way Ivan spoke

Ivan took off, Alyssa ran behind him, utterly confused. Ivan traveled the labyrinth like he knew it. Until there was an exit marked by fairy lights that seemed to just be floating. They framed the exit. It looked like Alyssa would escape out to her room.

“You need to run through here,”

“What about you?”

“It’s too late for me.. you have to accept it,”

Alyssa looked down. She missed her brother, but she had to let him go. Running footsteps grew closer and she shot up in bed as she crossed the exit. She looked at the clock, it was only 2 a.m.

Seventh Grade – 3rd – “That Bear” by Jolie Kidd, Frontier High/Middle School

“Come on, let’s go.” Brandon said. “I don’t want to go in there, it’s creepy and it looks like something died in there.” Wren said. “Quit being a baby,” he said back to Wren. As they went into the abandoned house they started exploring and found the attic.

They went up and saw an old brown teddy bear with button eyes sitting on an old toybox, the toybox was painted blue and red, and some of the paint was chipped off.The teddy bear was dark brown with a little bit of grey,with some stitches on the stomach and some dusty old black button eyes.

“Look at that dumb old thing,” Brandon said. “Hey look, there seems to be a poem on the side of the toy box. Well, can you read it?” She said to Brandon.

He started reading,”If you read this loud and clear I will awake somewhere near and all these voices in your head will lead you towards your end.” As he said the final word the lights began to flicker and the bear was gone.

“What was that!” She said.”I have no idea.” Brandon said back to Wren.” The bear is gone!” She yelled. “Let’s just head home.”He said curiously. As they left the old house something was greeting them in the car. “It’s that stupid bear again!” He yelled. “Well get rid of it,” She said. So he threw the bear away and headed home.

“Where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you!” mom yelled.

“We just went on a drive.” Brandon said carelessly. “Ok well come and eat dinner.” Mom said.

After they ate dinner Wren and Brandon headed to their rooms. Brandon opened the door and noticed the same bear that he got rid of was sitting on his bed. “Wren come here!” He yelled.”The bear is back, How?” She said scaredly. “I don’t know.” He said back to Wren.

He ended up burying the bear outside in the backyard. After he buried the bear they went to bed like nothing happened. In the morning Wren went to wake Brandon up but he was gone. The only thing that was there was a teddy bear sitting on his bed.