Later, at a smoothie stand outside of the high school, after my younger brother got out, I asked him if he saw any mess in the front area on the floor.

He scrunched his nose, "No?"

That was that, for the conversation between us. I paid for our smoothies, we got in my car, and I took him to our apartment. I took a nap, woke up to my alarm, and got ready for night two.

"Hello hello! Night two, congratulations! The uh, activity might increase by a lot, tonight, so make sure you keep the three rules and one suggestion in mind, okay? They never attack on the first night... I think it's something to do with learning your tells, or something. You did a great job last night! The floors were sparkling, the walls were absolutely shining, and the desks were dust-free! The doorways weren't glued together with your insides, either, so that's a definite plus! Uh, I hope to say the same thing tonight."

"If I follow the rules, keep my distance, and don't antagonize them I should be safe, yeah? I've seen horror movies," I agreed.

"Heheh, I'm glad you're so optimistic! Most others were freaked out by night two- besides that one lady... She was weird. I, uh, think she was... ahem, anyway, tip two! If they're touching you, don't move. They won't hurt you if you don't move. Simple enough, right? Ah, again, these are all suggestions. I doubt you'd, ah, be able to keep from moving. They're very... handsy. Especially if you get caught by the uh, shower one... I suggest just closing your eyes and waiting for it to be over, personally."

"What?"

"Oh! You haven't heard? I used to be the midnight janitor. I uh, didn't do very well. Had to be moved to dayshift. I lasted a week without dying, which is the best anyone has ever gotten. Heh. Go me, right?"

"Do you know how many ghosts there are?"

"Uh..." He obviously didn't expect an answer there, or if he did, what I gave wasn't it, "I've only ever noticed four or five... From some that lasted more than a week, they explained a few more, but I don't know them. Not that their rules really mean anything, since they, um… I'll have to go back and check through the records. I uh, don't think you'll have any troubles with the first four, though, of course! They're harmless... really. Good luck! I look forward to talking to you tomorrow night!"

Neither he nor I believed the words he spoke, but he hung up a few seconds before the doors clicked unlocked. I wandered in, and immediately run into a ghost as I open the janitor's closet. In the corner, a light-sucking thin black figure that seems to stretch upwards forever stands. I ignore it's existence, and grab what I had last night. The lights flicker more often, and in the middle of my one-man concert as I danced and cleaned, ignoring the various signs of ghosthood, a man appeared in my way. My concert came to a screeching halt, and I sighed as I continued cleaning, trying to go around the man only for him to step in my way.

"Who are you?" The man asked curiously, and my head snapped up, but ducked down just as quickly. My gaze focused on his chest, where he was wearing a plain light grey shirt, "Ooh, not going to look at my face? That's new. Most just try to avoid my gaze."

Had he and I been on speaking terms- or, rather, any terms at all- I would have cussed him out. As it was, I ducked my head and boldly cleaned around his feet, moving the broom so that he'd either have to go incorporeal or step away. He stepped to the side, and I continued cleaning. I stopped, looking down the hall I just cleaned to see a dark figure in a simple white shirt that went to her knees. She was the size of a kid, and I just sighed heavily as the entire hall went dark. Closing my eyes, I hear and feel her picking at my clothes. Sharp claws brush against my throat.

"I find her interesting, don't you?" The man said casually, but I just kept my head turned towards the floor and my eyes screwed shut.

"Sh-eeeee's... No-t-t-t... sc-aaaaared," The girl whispered out in a clicky-whispery type voice that I instantly associated with her blackened claws that looked more like a five-taloned birds' than a human's hands. Maybe a mix of them.

"No, she isn't, is she?" The man agreed slowly, voice thick with curiousity. I wince as his voice appears directly in front of me, too close, "Hey, janitor, why aren't you scared?"

After several long moments where both fingers and talons brush against different parts of my face, neck, or shoulders, the lights turn back on. I open my eyes, ignoring the man that was still way too fucking close and turn. I continued cleaning, ignoring the odd comment from the man that wouldn't stop following me. I glared at the ground, scowling at the muddy footprints leading into the showers, which was on, the same voice from last night humming a jaunty tune.

"If he weren't already fucking dead- grr!" I hissed under my breath, turning on my heel and stiffly following the muddy prints to where they start and re-clean the floors until they're sparkling again. The muddy prints lead into the foggy locker room, and I glare, "He better fucking clean that up, or I'll find a way to fucking- ghh," My voice fails as I freeze centimeters from running into the man that I had forgotten about. I swallow, take a small step back, and edge around the man. I wander to the janitor's closet and put my stuff away, ignoring the tall silent shadow man.

Closing the door to the closet, I spin on my heel, only for my breath to catch once again in as many minutes as I see that the man is half a step away from me breaking the "don't touch them" rule. I swallow. I attempt to take a step back, like I did earlier, only for my heel to hit the door behind me. I glance to the side, giving the gap between the man and the wall a critical look. Would I fit without touching him? I didn't feel like getting brutally murdered tonight- especially with the knowledge that the KKK group was still in town until Sunday. I have the weight of my brother and his entire friend groups' lives on my shoulders. I can't die because I accidentally touched a demon or whatever out of turn.

"Come on, you've been ignoring me the entire time! At least say something to me. I know the three rules allow that," The man complained, "I'll even get the incubus to clean up his mud tracks!"

"..." I was about to go for it, only for him to shift, and I bit my lip. If I wasn't out of here before sunrise... I glanced at the lightening sky. Ten plus people's lives on my shoulder. Fuck. What were the rules? No touching, no eye contact, no... no... no returning if you leave until the sun has fully risen at least once in between. Right. And the suggestions were don't move and close your eyes when they touch you, and, specifically, the very first suggestion, don't talk to them. But... those were only suggestions, right? I swallowed when I saw the sun. I'd have to hardcore break a few rules if he wasn't gone soon. I pushed against the door when he closed what little distance there was, fingers lifting my chin. I closed my eyes tightly and silently counted to ten.

One.

"You know-"

Two.

"It pisses me off-"

Three.

"When people don't even-"

Four.

"Look at me when I speak to them."

Five.

His fingers brush against my neck.

Six.

They trail to the back of my neck.

Seven.

"But that's okay," He muttered, fingers tangling into my deep black hair.

Eight.

My breath stuttered as he viciously pulled on my hair, strands ripping out.

Nine.

"We can have fun tomorrow."

Ten. When my eyes opened, he was gone. I didn't bother glancing around as I slammed through the doors, the sound of them clicking hidden in the wind as I sprint, once more, towards my car. The tires squeal as I speed out of the parking lot, past my brother and his friends, who were all on the basketball team and thus there early.