Lost Souls at Westwood Mall

Jake was just trying to make some extra cash, so when he saw the ad for a night shift security guard at the old Westwood Mall, he jumped at the chance. The place had been closed for years, ever since the rumors started flying about how it was haunted. But hey, ghosts didn’t scare him—he was more worried about getting bored and falling asleep in the security office.

His first night on the job was uneventful. He settled into the tiny security booth, munching on chips and scrolling through his phone. Every now and then, he’d glance at the CCTV monitors showing the dark, empty hallways. Just shadows, right? No big deal.

Around midnight, though, things got weird. The screens flickered, and for a split second, he thought he saw a figure moving in the food court. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was just seeing things. But then it happened again. A shadowy outline darted across the screen. Jake’s heart raced, but he figured it was just some old wiring acting up.

He grabbed his flashlight and decided to check it out. As he walked through the dimly lit mall, the silence was eerie, the kind that makes you feel like you’re being watched. He tried to shake it off, convincing himself that it was just the ghost stories getting to him.

When he reached the food court, the place was still and quiet. The fast-food joints were long closed, their signs flickering like dying stars. Jake chuckled nervously, thinking about how ridiculous he was being. Maybe a midnight snack was in order. He turned to leave, but then he heard it: a soft giggle echoing through the empty space.

Jake froze. “Hello?” he called out, his voice bouncing off the walls. No response. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Probably just a stray cat or something.

He decided to head back, but as he turned, he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. A figure—a little girl in a tattered dress—stood at the far end of the food court, staring right at him. Her hair was tangled, and her eyes looked hollow.

“Uh… are you lost?” he asked, his voice shaking. The girl didn’t respond; she just pointed toward the old arcade.

“Okay, that’s creepy,” Jake muttered under his breath. But something in him compelled him to follow. Maybe she needed help. As he approached the arcade, the air felt colder, like stepping into a freezer.

Inside, the games were covered in dust, their screens dark. But as he stepped closer, the machines flickered to life one by one, displaying static and weird images. The girl was gone, but Jake felt a chill crawl up his spine. He glanced at the security cameras—only static showed up on the screens.

He turned back to the arcade, and the girl appeared again, closer this time, her expression unreadable. “Help me,” she whispered, her voice echoing in the empty room. “Please.”

“Okay, what do you need?” Jake replied, trying to sound brave. The girl pointed again, this time toward a broken-down game machine in the corner.

He approached it cautiously. The machine had a strange, flickering light, and the name on it was faded: “Lost Souls.” As he reached out to touch it, the screen burst to life, showing images of children laughing, but then it morphed into chaotic scenes—flashing lights, screams, and darkness.

Suddenly, the girl vanished, and Jake felt a rush of cold air behind him. He spun around, flashlight shaking in his hand. Shadows began to twist and morph, forming figures that surrounded him. Panic set in as he backed away, heart racing.

“Get out!” he heard the girl scream, her voice now urgent and desperate. The shadows lunged at him, and he bolted, sprinting back through the mall. He could hear whispers, a cacophony of voices urging him to leave.

As he reached the security booth, he slammed the door shut and locked it, breathing heavily. The monitors were still flickering, but he could see the girl’s face on one of the screens, looking sad and trapped.

“Help me,” she whispered again, but this time, it sounded like a warning.

Jake couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed his phone and called the police, telling them about the little girl and the creepy arcade. But when they arrived, the mall was silent again, like nothing had happened. The girl was gone, and the arcade was dark and lifeless.

The officers shook their heads, saying it was just his imagination. But Jake knew what he saw. He quit that job the next day, not just for his own sanity but for the little girl he couldn’t save.

As he drove away, he glanced in the rearview mirror at the dark silhouette of the mall. In that moment, he realized that some places are better left undisturbed—especially when they hold onto the shadows of lost souls.