The Night Shift

Ellie hated working the night shift at the old department store. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly, casting long shadows across the empty aisles. But the worst part was the manikins. Dozens of them stood frozen in eerie poses, their blank eyes staring into nothingness. Tonight, something felt off. As Ellie restocked shelves, she kept catching movement in the corner of her eye. She’d turn, only to find the manikins exactly where they were supposed to be. Still, their expressions seemed… different. Sharper. Almost hungry.

By midnight, her nerves were frayed. She decided to take her break in the staff room, but as she turned the corner, she froze. One of the manikins, a tall, slender figure with a too-wide smile, was standing in the hallway. It hadn’t been there before. Ellie’s breath hitched. She backed away, but the manikin’s head jerked toward her, its glass eyes glinting under the flickering lights. She bolted for the exit, her heart pounding, but the doors were locked. When she turned around, the manikin was gone.

Relieved, she leaned against the wall only to feel cold, plastic fingers wrap around her wrist. She screamed as more manikins emerged from the shadows, their movements jerky but deliberate. Their smiles stretched impossibly wide, revealing rows of tiny, needle-like teeth.

The next morning, the store opened as usual. The manikins stood perfectly still, their faces blank and innocent. But if you looked closely, you could see the faintest trace of red around their lips. And if you listened carefully, you might hear the soft, almost imperceptible sound of laughter echoing through the empty aisles.