Oakdale Ink
October 2026: Supernatural
“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”
- Stephen King
“The Man”
I was working a night shift at the local dinner when a busted up pickup truck pulled into the lot. The man who got out was strange in ways I cannot describe. His face looked distorted like he was somewhere or something else. He wore a dusty green coat, brown cargo pants, and crinkled dress shoes. As he got closer I noticed his skin was an eerie gray. He grabbed a seat by the window and sat for a long time. I tried to ask if he wanted anything but he didn’t respond. He sat there with his blank eyes staring into mine.
“What are you doing?” Hannah, another waitress asked. I turned around quickly and shook off the weird feeling of the man.
“Oh I was just taking his order.” I replied, gesturing to the man. She squinted and opened her mouth just to close it again.
“Who?” She whispered.
“Hannah, not funny. The man in the booth.” I sighed, and rolled my eyes. She shook her head and left. The man was now smiling.
“Its just you.” A raspy voice murmured. It sounded like it came from the man but he hadn’t moved a single muscle in his face. Weird.
“Huh?” I whispered, but nothing responded. The man just turned around to the window slowly. I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t have a reflection. I backed away slowly and ran to call the cops. Before I could reach the phone the man stepped in front of me.
“Don’t do this. Eternity has just started.” The same raspy voice said, except the voice sounded like it was behind me but when I turned around there was nobody there. The man walked back over to the same seat without taking his eyes off me and the next thing I knew I was waking up for my night shift at the dinner.
The thought of the man completely slipped my mind as I clocked into work. Everything was fine until a busted pick up truck drove into the lot. It looked oddly familiar but I couldn’t wrap my head around it. An old man in a dusty green coat, brown cargo pants, and crinkled shoes walked in and gave a smile that felt off.
“Smeared” By Erin Post
January 8th 2007
I woke up to the sight of snow in my front yard
It is only noon and the snow started to melt
How strange it was to see as it was below freezing?
As I look around my house I notice no one is here
Pictures around my house begin to fade, my face only a smear
I swear I didn’t mean it when I asked to disappear.
Can anybody see me?
Am I still here?
“The House Full of Monsters” by Islay Kaleba
I think I just hit someone with my car. I’m not entirely sure seeing as this road is prone to potholes but I did see a human looking figure right in front of me and I didn’t technically stop. But it’s fine, right? Actually I don’t know what I’m doing. I got my permit three weeks ago and haven’t experienced anything like this! I’m not even supposed to be driving in the first place. At least not alone and probably not at night. But my moms not home and my dad is drunk out of his mind so there’s no one else to go get painkillers. I just didn’t mean to kill something else on the way.
I don’t know what to do. I’ve been stationary on the road for at least a solid minute but it’s fine because there’s no one else driving at this hour. Okay, I guess I should probably see who I just murdered. Well it’s technically manslaughter since it was an accident but– no that doesn’t matter I still just hit someone. I’m just a teenage girl, I can’t go to jail.
I step out of my car and walk to the front where I see a guy lying on the ground. Oh my god. It’s actually hitting me. I killed someone. I’m only fifteen so I probably won’t go to jail but I doubt juvie is much better and I’ll probably get my permit taken away and never drive again or maybe they’ll arrest my dad since it’s really his car and he isn’t supervising my driving or– was that a groan? I look down and see the dead guy trying to push himself up with his forearms.
Yeah okay, I’m going insane.
“What the hell?” Okay I probably could be a little nicer seeing as I just hit him but I’m confused as hell.
“Ugh, a little help?” Dead guy says.
“Why are you alive?”
“Because life is cruel?”
“No I mean–” I sigh. “I just hit you. How are you alive right now?”
“Trust me, you weren’t going fast enough to kill me.” Dead guy pushes himself into a sitting position and I finally get a good look at him. He’s about my age, tall, strong, and probably going to run to the police about this. “Listen, I’m not going to go to the police.” How the hell did he know what I was thinking? “You looked panicked.”
“Shut up.”
“Shut up? You just hit me with your car and you’re telling me to shut up. I could have a concussion and therefore you should keep me talking.”
“You’re very clearly fine.”
“Bold talk for my assaulter.”
“It’s your own fault. What were you thinking walking in the middle of the road at like, one am? You could have been killed if someone less safe than me was out here. And again, what were you doing?” Okay maybe I should tone it down. Again, I hit him but I’m too high on adrenaline to think about being guilty.
“I was walking home.”
“From where? A field?” I almost laugh.
“Yes.”
“Oh I get it. You’ve been dropped off by aliens and if I go further up the road there’s a crop circle.”
“No. My stupid siblings thought it would be funny to leave me on the side of the road and make me walk home.”
“Hilarious.”
“I know right?” He opens his mouth to yawn and I pause at what I see.
“Do you have fangs?”
“Pardon?”
“Fangs. Your teeth are hella sharp and that’s not normal tooth behavior.”
“Dang you’re quick. Most people don’t notice those.”
“So you have fangs?”
“Yeah.”
“Two questions.”
“Shoot.”
“Why and what the f–”
“Woah woah woah. Why is a simple question and the answer is I’m a vampire. The second question just seems rude.”
“You’re a vampire?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Yeah.” He stares at me with the most serious expression I’ve ever seen so obviously I burst out laughing. “Hey, being serious here.”
“Oh my god you were so sure that’s hilarious.”
“I am sure. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
“Okay Mr. Dead guy, or I guess undead guy is more appropriate, why would I believe you.” I say, still chuckling.
“I don’t know? What do you want me to do?”
“Turn into a bat or something.”
“That is a completely fake idea made up to sell movies.”
“Then fly on your own.”
“I can’t do that either. I’m just– hey!” I turn on my phone light. “What the hell?”
“Sorry, I was just seeing if you’d sparkle.”
“Okay that entire series was just disrespectful.”
“Then what can you do?”
He contemplates for a couple seconds before standing up and walking towards the woods next to the road.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m going to pick up a tree.”
“What?” I barely get the word out before he rips a tree out of the ground, roots and all. “That was a pine. How on Earth did you just pick up a pine tree?”
“Like I said, I’m not human.”
“Run around really fast.”
“I’m sorry?”
“They do it in Twilight.”
“You and your Twilight. Fine.” And oh my god he actually just sped away. Nevermind he’s back. “Happy now?”
“Overjoyed.”
“Great.”
“Okay, at least I know I wouldn’t have killed you no matter what.”
“Glad to have eased your conscience."
“Okay I’m leaving now. Have a nice night.”
“What? You hit me and you won’t even drive me home?”
“I literally just saw you run. You’ll be fine.”
“Au contraire. Terms of a prank state that I cannot use my powers.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.” I stare at him a second more before sighing.
“Get in the car.”
“Seriously?”
“I hit you so I guess I kind of have to. But we’re going to the gas station first. I still need to get my dads painkillers”
Moments later I’m driving to the gas station with a vampire riding shotgun. Scratch that, the most annoying vampire in history riding shotgun.
“What’s with the painkillers?”
“Dad’s drunk again.”
“This happen a lot?”
“No, I don't have a vampire in my car a lot.”
“Not what I meant.”
“Well aware.”
“Are you even old enough to drive?”
“I’m 15 and I have my permit.”
“So no?”
“You were the one who said you weren’t going to the police.”
“Kind of a family rule.”
“You have a big family? Are you all vampires?”
“Nope. Mom number one used to be a vampire hunter and mom number two was the vampire she hunted. They have that whole epic love story and now they find and adopt monster kids. I have three “older” brothers, two younger sisters, and an I-don’t-know-what.”
“What do you mean you don’t know.”
“It’s new. We think they're invisible but they refuse to talk so I don’t know.”
“What’s with the quotations on older?”
“Well physically I’m 17 but I was born in 1624.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Trust me New Amsterdam was a much better name. Speaking of, I forgot to ask for yours.”
“My name?” He nods. “I’m Maeve.”
“Good name.”
“Whats yours?”
“William.”
“Boring.”
“Boring?”
“I thought Vampires had names like Vladd or Victor.”
“You’re on a roll with the offensive stereotypes tonight.”
“Jesus, I’m just asking. I don’t know what's up your butt.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“What creatures are your other siblings?”
“The first two boys are werewolves. Darren is 25 and Gill is 26. Jameson is 18 and he’s an angel, though technically a fallen one. Eva’s a gargoyle. Don’t know where she came from but she’s 14. The only one who won’t age like me is Delilah. 16 year old ghost from the 1700’s. Which means I’m older in every way. Like I was saying, we don’t know the name or age of the other one but invisible people age so eventually they’ll outgrow me too.”
“Depressing.”
“Kinda.”
“Wait, so how do your parents do it?”
He sputters. “Excuse you?”
“Chill out. I mean marriage. If one of them ages and the other doesn’t then what will they do?”
“Oh, well the vampire one is Miranda and she’s physically 35 but she was changed in 1693. The human is Emma and as of right now she’s 32. They met at 35 and 27 so everyone is legal and of age.”
“Dang, you’re the oldest out of everyone.”
“Yep. Still can’t drink though which is completely stupid.”
“Would it even affect you?”
“No but it’s the principle of the thing.”
We retrieve the painkillers and I’m about to drive him home when he stops me. “Take me to your place first. I don’t want you being alone with your dad.”
I try to change his mind but he’s too stubborn for his own good and instead I drive the both of us to my house.
“Hey dad.” I say as I walk in with Will trailing behind me. I hear a grunt from the bathroom and change course. He’s hunched over the toilet reeking of whatever booze he just puked up and his clothes are a mess. I get him a glass of water and hand him the painkillers which he takes while I flush the toilet and clean the area. I help him up and out of his ruined shirt then into his bed. I get him to lie on his side and place a bucket before turning out the lights and walking back to the living room where Will is waiting on my couch.
“I’m surprised you're still here,” I say.
“How often?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
I’m silent for a moment before replying. “ Few times a week.”
“Why?”
“His job works him half to death and I’m pretty sure it runs in the family.”
“No I mean why you?”
“Mom isn’t home half the time. Honestly more like 80% of the time she's either working or sleeping in a hotel and when she is here they just fight. He needs someone.”
“It shouldn't be you.”
“Get in the car.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s almost two am and I need to get you home.”
“Fine.”
The drive to his house is short and silent. I can tell that he’s upset although I don’t know what he has to be upset about. He doesn’t need to worry about me. After all, I met him an hour ago by hitting him with my car.
“Pull in here.”
“Why do you live in the middle of nowhere?”
“It’s just the woods. Besides, it’s not like having a bunch of weirdo kids is welcomed in the suburbs.”
“Why did you tell me?”
“I trusted you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I just figured you were good at hiding.”
I don’t know what to say to that. The thing is, he’s right. I’m really good at hiding. For better or for worse I’ve become an expert. I hide my home from teachers and friends and most of all, I hide from myself.
“Listen,” Will starts as I pull into his driveway. “You know where my house is now. If you ever feel like you can’t go home or you just want somewhere quiet, come here. I can’t always promise quiet but I can promise it’ll be safe.”
“The house full of monsters?”
“I think that’s your house Maeve.” He isn’t wrong. “Please, promise me you’ll come here. I wanna see you more.”
“I didn’t hit you with my car for some epic romance William.”
“I know. I haven’t had a relationship since 1623. That isn’t why I say this.”
“Then why?”
“Everyone deserves at least one friend.”
I don’t say anything. I don’t know what I would say if my voice started working. He seems to understand so he opens the door and steps outside.
“Thank you Will.” I finally recover.
“What for?”
“For walking in the middle of the road.” He chuckles.
“I’m glad you hit me with your car Maeve.”
“Me too.”
“Creature” By Brooke Rudge
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
A repeating cycle
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Something is coming, you can hear a screech
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
A dark figure comes towards you
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You’re screaming but can’t seem to make any noise
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You can’t move, you’re tied to a pole
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
The figure comes closer
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You can’t breath
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Can’t feel your hands
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
For a second there is nothing, then a grab at your face
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Another screech, louder then before
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You break free
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You run through the darkness
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Don’t look back
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You trip and fall
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Can’t get up
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Can’t feel your legs
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Get grabbed at the legs
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Dragged through the forest
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Wailing your arms
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Screaming at the top of your lungs
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Hissed at
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You kick it
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
It lets go
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You find a rock
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You smash its head
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
It takes the rock from you
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Rock hits your legs
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
You’re getting dragged
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Hitting everything
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Tied back on a pole
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Creature comes out of the darkness
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
It comes right up to you with a rock
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
It screeches
Dark
Loud
Quiet
Dark
Rock hits head
Dark
Dark
Dark
Dark