The autumn air, crisp and hinting at fallen leaves, carried the sound of laughter from the garage on Oak Street. Inside, amidst the creative chaos of tarps and paint cans, Ben, Jessie, and Tyler proudly admired their handiwork. The old vanity mirror, once dull and forgotten, now gleamed with splotches of baby blue, purple, and vibrant green, a testament to their friendship.

"They're beautiful," Jessie declared, her face streaked with paint, as she gazed at their reflections. Their hearts, painted at the bottom of the glass, connected in a round symbol, symbolizing their unbreakable bond.

"It's a sign," she continued, her voice soft but firm. "No matter what happens, or where life leads-- we'll always be friends. No matter what, we'll find our way back here. Right where our hearts are!"

Ben, wiping a blue streak from his cheek, quipped, "Back to my dingy, kinda dirty, garage?"

Their playful banter was abruptly cut short by the blare of a car horn. Ben's father, home early, was waiting impatiently in the driveway. A quick scramble ensued to move the newly painted vanity, leaving colorful fingerprints in their wake.

Later, as dusk settled and the garage door hummed shut, Ben found himself alone, perched on the stoop. A whisper, cold and vicious, sliced through the quiet.

"What an odd little group for this adventure."

Ben jumped, hitting his head. "Hello?" he called out, his voice small, but only silence answered. Then, a chilling chuckle echoed from the empty space beside him. Panic seizing him, Ben scrambled inside, leaving the newly decorated vanity behind, unaware of the malevolent presence that had just begun its game.