Ghostface Corruption

Inner Darkness

Amber lay sprawled across her bed, the soft hum of her phone as her only companion. The clock on the wall ticked lazily, reminding her that it was only a matter of time before she had to leave for the twins' house. Until then, she had time to kill. So, she scrolled aimlessly through her phone, letting her mind wander, when suddenly a notification popped up from Dreddit, the dark corner of the internet she'd come to adore.

Her pulse quickened as she clicked on it. Amber was a dedicated lurker on the site, especially in the subreddits dedicated to the Stab franchise. She loved getting lost in the deep dives, the endless theories, and discussions that flowed about each film. Stab wasn't just a movie series to her—it was an obsession. But, sadly, Amber had no one to talk about it with. No one cared as much as she did, and she never wanted to seem like she was overly obsessed with it to her friends. Tara, Wes, Mindy—they couldn't understand. It was her secret. Her private passion.

Even her connection to the Stab universe was unique. Two of her closest friends had personal ties to the murders that inspired the franchise. Mindy loved the first Stab, but the rest of the series bored her. Wes's mom had been involved with the last Ghostface, the one who haunted Woodsboro, and the thought of that felt too close, too real. Now, with Stab 8coming out soon, Amber found herself bubbling with excitement, but she had no one to share that with.

But Dreddit—Dreddit was different. She'd found a community there, one where the users fed off the same level of enthusiasm she had for the movies. The theories, the speculation—Amber devoured it all. She had even posted that she lived in Stu Macher's house, hoping to stir up some conversation. And it did. It definitely did.

Amber had connected with one user in particular—Richie. The moment he learned she lived in the house that had been at the center of the original murders, he couldn't get enough. He was fascinated, asking questions, constantly messaging her about all things Stab. It was a breath of fresh air for Amber, someone who didn't shy away from the dark, twisted humor she kept hidden from everyone else in her life. Richie got it. He was the first person she'd found who shared her interest in real-life murders, in the macabre, in the messed-up things that kept her up at night.

As much as Amber was drawn to Tara's innocence, Richie appealed to her darker side. He understood her. And recently, their conversations had intensified, mainly because Tara had been so wrapped up with Wes. Amber's attention had begun to shift, even though she tried not to admit it.

Messages

Richie: (sent a link to a Stab theory YouTube video) This one makes a lot of sense!

Amber clicked on the link, her curiosity piqued. She watched the five-minute video, listening to the theory with mild interest.

Amber: That's dumb as fuck. Just speculation.

Richie: Everything on here is speculation, silly!

Amber: Touché. All I ask of this new movie is maybe a Halloween 2018 treatment.

Richie: YES! That's exactly what Stab needs to get back on track.

Amber: Been downhill since 5. Guess it can't get any worse, right?

Richie: Fingers crossed. What are you up to tonight?

Amber sighed, her thumb hovering over the screen. Richie was cute, a little goofy in the way that made him endearing, but she didn't know him well enough. He lived in Arizona, which meant they'd never met in person. They had flirted a little, sure, but Amber hesitated. She kept her guard up, not wanting to share too much with him. He was a stranger, after all.

Still, there was something about him that made her feel alive. Their connection sparked a dangerous excitement she rarely felt. It was thrilling—talking to someone she barely knew, someone who shared her darker side, someone who didn't judge her for the things she found fascinating. The danger of it all? That was the most appealing part. The secrecy.

She was about to respond when another notification popped up on her phone.

Tara: heyyy come get me earlier? Like right now?

Amber's heart skipped a beat. With that message, all thoughts of Richie vanished from her mind. She quickly typed out a response.

Amber: God, you really do miss me ;) be there in 5

Her fingers trembled slightly as she sent the message. The rush of anticipation, of excitement, of knowing Tara wanted her company—it made Amber's chest ache in a way she didn't fully understand.

And yet, this was her cycle. Craving Tara's attention. Distracting herself with Richie. And then, once again, repeating it all over.

It was exhausting. Amber hated the feeling of wanting something so badly, yet knowing she couldn't have it. She had never been in a position where someone didn't want her back, not truly. It was a blow to her ego, and it broke her heart every time she thought of it. Why couldn't Tara see what Amber could offer? How could she make Amber feel all these things and not feel the same way in return? Amber had tried everything—she'd done everything she could think of to get her attention, but it was always the same. Tara would always turn to Wes. Goody-two-shoes, predictable Wes.

Amber shoved those thoughts aside, like she always did. No one deserved to see her sweat, especially not Tara. She would bury her feelings deep, deep down where no one could see them.

Not even Tara.