The Budtender’s Bane; A Haunting at Herb Hollow

The night was unusually quiet around Herb Hollow, a converted historic building with a faded neon sign flickering under a weak, misty streetlight. The dispensary sat in an emptier part of town, its spooky reputation more a deterrent than an attraction for most folks. Rumor had it that it was haunted by restless spirits from its days as a 1920s speakeasy.

Inside, Jenny stood behind the counter, adjusting the jars of cannabis under the buzzing fluorescent lights. She had heard the stories from Todd, the dispensary’s paranoid owner, but was more intrigued than scared. Todd, meanwhile, was hastily finishing up his bookkeeping for the night, his nerves clearly on edge.

“Look, I know you don’t believe in this stuff,” he said, glancing at Jenny. “But there’s something about Halloween that really stirs up… whatever’s in here.”

Jenny rolled her eyes, though her smile was warm. “You keep saying that, Todd, but I haven’t seen anything yet.”

Todd didn’t seem reassured. “Well, just be careful. The spirits get stronger as midnight gets closer.”

He paused at the door, looking at Kevin, the new security guard, who was standing awkwardly by the entrance. “You’ll be fine, right?”

Kevin gave a shaky nod. “Sure, Todd. I’ve got this.”

Todd hurried out, leaving Jenny and Kevin alone. Just as Jenny started preparing to close up, the front door chimed. Mike sauntered in, as casual as ever. “Got any Halloween specials, Jenny?”

Jenny smirked. “Only if you want to smoke with some ghosts.”

Mike laughed, oblivious. “Sounds fun. I could use a spook tonight.”

As they chatted, Kevin wandered around the dispensary, trying to shake off his nerves. The place was eerily still, with shadows cast in odd corners and cold drafts that seemed to come from nowhere.

Suddenly, the lights flickered. Kevin flinched, but Jenny shrugged it off. “Old building,” she muttered, but she felt a chill that wasn’t just from the temperature.

Mike picked up a jar labeled Spooky Sour, examining it closely. “What’s in this one? Haunted herbs?”

“Something like that,” Jenny replied. “But I wouldn’t open it unless you want to invite some spirits over.”

Mike’s grin widened. “Maybe that’s what I’m looking for.”

But then, out of nowhere, a faint giggle echoed from the back of the dispensary. It was high-pitched, playful, and sent shivers down their spines.

Kevin looked terrified. “What… what was that?”

Jenny tried to play it cool. “Probably just the wind… or Todd’s old speaker system acting up.”

But the sound lingered, unsettling and all too real.

***

As the night wore on, the flickering lights became more erratic. Every time Jenny tried to ignore it, another jar would tip over or a strange draft would sweep across the room. The once-faint giggle grew louder, accompanied by a cold breeze that carried the distinct scent of stale smoke, like an old cigar mingling with musty cannabis.

Kevin, already on edge, jumped at every noise. “Jenny, this place isn’t right,” he said, his voice shaky. “I feel like… something’s watching us.”

Jenny, still trying to maintain her calm exterior, felt a twinge of fear herself. “It’s just an old building with creaky floors,” she reassured him, but her own words felt hollow.

Mike, meanwhile, was happily browsing, seemingly unfazed. “I’m telling you, Jenny, you should capitalize on this haunted vibe. You’d get all the thrill-seekers coming in.”

But before Jenny could respond, the back room door slammed shut on its own, followed by the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. Kevin rushed toward it, only to find a jar labeled Ghost OG broken on the floor, its contents scattered in a haze of musty herbs.

“That jar… it’s cursed,” Kevin stammered, backing away. “I heard Todd say it belonged to some gangster who died here.”

Jenny felt a cold sweat forming on her neck. She bent down to examine the jar, and just as she did, the temperature dropped sharply. A dark mist began to rise from the spilled herbs, swirling slowly before taking on a vaguely humanoid shape.

Mike, intrigued rather than frightened, leaned in closer. “Well, there you are,” he said, as if greeting an old friend.

But Jenny knew better. “This isn’t just some parlor trick, Mike,” she whispered. “This is real.”

The mist seemed to respond, swirling faster, its form becoming more defined. It let out a low, guttural laugh that reverberated through the dispensary. The poltergeist had truly awoken.

***

The dark mist expanded, its distorted features growing sharper and more menacing. It hovered over the shattered jar of Ghost OG, its hollow eyes fixed on the trio. Kevin’s grip on his flashlight tightened, his face a mask of terror.

The spirit’s voice reverberated through the room, low and angry: “One must stay… forever.”

Jenny, struggling to stay composed, tried to reason. “We can’t just let it choose,” she said. “It’s a trick—there’s got to be another way.”

Kevin stepped back, panic seizing him. “What if it means what it says? What if one of us actually has to stay?”

Mike, who had been half-amused up to this point, looked genuinely unnerved. “Wait… Todd mentioned something about this place being haunted before, right?” he said, his voice low.

Jenny nodded. “He’s always talked about it, but what does that have to do with now?”

Mike’s eyes widened as a memory clicked into place. “The mirror!” he blurted out. “Todd told me it was for protection… like, insurance against the weird stuff that happens here.”

The realization hit Jenny hard. “Are you saying there’s a mirror that can actually trap this thing?”

Mike nodded vigorously. “Yeah, it’s in the back. Todd said it was enchanted—old, but powerful enough to bind spirits.”

But before they could make a move, the spirit surged forward, blocking their path. “No escape!” it hissed, its voice echoing off the walls.

Kevin, acting on instinct, grabbed Jenny and Mike by their sleeves. “Run!” he shouted, pulling them toward a side storage room.

***

The three scrambled into the narrow room, slamming the door behind them. It wasn’t much of a barricade, but it bought them a few seconds to catch their breath.

“Alright, Mike,” Jenny said, breathing hard. “Where’s this mirror?”

“It’s in the office,” Mike replied, his voice hushed. “Todd kept it there, behind the counter—said it was the safest place.”

The spirit’s low laughter echoed from outside the door, growing louder and more menacing. The walls seemed to vibrate with a dark energy, and the temperature dropped sharply.

Kevin whispered, “We can’t stay here forever. It’s only a matter of time before it finds us.”

Jenny nodded. “We need a plan,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear. “If that mirror can trap it, we have to lure the spirit toward it.”

Mike’s eyes flicked to the door. “But how do we get to the mirror without it catching us?”

Jenny thought quickly. “We’ll have to use the Ghost OG—it’s what seems to be drawing it. We can bait it with the strain, lead it toward the mirror.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. “That’s risky, but it might work,” he agreed. “We just need to be quick.”

They gathered their courage and prepared to make a run for it. Jenny grabbed some Ghost OG from a nearby jar , while Mike and Kevin steadied themselves for the sprint to the office.

“On three,” Jenny whispered. “One… two… three!”

They burst out of the storage room, the spirit’s dark form swirling violently in the main dispensary area. It seemed confused by their sudden movement, momentarily retreating into a dark corner.

Jenny waved the Ghost OG blunt toward it, taunting the entity. “Come on, you smoky bastard!” she shouted. “Want this? Come and get it!”

The spirit surged forward, drawn to the familiar scent. Jenny, Kevin, and Mike sprinted toward the back office, adrenaline pushing them faster than they thought possible.

As they reached the office door, Mike quickly rummaged behind the counter and pulled out the mirror. Its surface was old and cracked, but it glowed faintly in the dim light—an eerie beacon of hope.

“Here goes nothing,” Mike said, positioning the mirror on a table, facing the approaching mist. “Let’s hope this thing works.”

***

The spirit’s misty form rushed toward the back office, its dark tendrils snaking through the air like searching fingers. Jenny held up the Ghost OG, waving it slowly as bait, her heart racing.

“It’s coming,” she whispered, eyes locked on the dark mass.

Kevin and Mike stood on either side of the mirror, which was positioned to face the spirit head-on. The mirror’s surface flickered with a faint glow, as if awakening to the approaching entity.

Jenny’s voice was tense but determined. “Alright, listen up. As soon as it gets close enough, we need to make sure it’s fully in front of the mirror. That’s our only shot.”

The spirit’s laughter echoed through the room, mocking and malevolent. “You think you can bind me?” it taunted.

Jenny didn’t flinch. “We’re going to try,” she said defiantly. “This ends tonight.”

With a surge of smoky darkness, the poltergeist lunged toward Jenny. She threw the Ghost OG into the air, creating a swirling cloud of smoke. The spirit, seemingly drawn to its essence, enveloped the smoke entirely.

In that moment, Mike yelled, “Now!” and angled the mirror directly at the mist.

The spirit paused, its form rippling with sudden uncertainty. The mirror’s surface shimmered, and the dark mist began to twist and compress, as if being pulled inward.

The spirit’s voice shifted from anger to panic. “No! You cannot contain me!” it shrieked, its form struggling against the mirror’s pull.

Kevin, his hands shaking, held the mirror steady. “Come on, you damn thing,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “Just get in there.”

The spirit’s resistance was strong, but the mirror’s enchantment was stronger. The dark mist swirled tighter, its edges blurring as it was drawn into the glass. With a final, desperate howl, the spirit was sucked completely into the mirror, its malevolent energy dissipating in a burst of cold air.

For a moment, the room fell completely silent, the only sound being their heavy breathing.

“Did we actually do it?” Mike asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

Jenny stared at the mirror, now dark and still. “I think we did,” she said, her voice a mix of relief and exhaustion. “But let’s not stick around to find out.”

***

The mirror’s surface had turned almost black, with faint, swirling shadows hinting at the trapped entity inside. Kevin, still holding the mirror with both hands, looked pale but relieved. “So… now what?” he asked.

Jenny’s expression was serious. “We need to get this thing out of here. As long as it’s in the dispensary, there’s a risk of it breaking free again.”

Mike, ever the joker, tried to lighten the mood. “So, who’s volunteering to take it home as a souvenir?”

“Not funny, Mike,” Jenny shot back, but there was a faint smile on her lips.

They carefully wrapped the mirror in an old jacket, trying to block out the swirling shadows that seemed to shift behind the glass. As they moved toward the exit, the air around them felt lighter, as if the oppressive energy had lifted.

But just as they reached the door, the spirit’s voice echoed faintly from the depths of the mirror: “You think you have won… but I will return.”

Kevin froze, fear flashing in his eyes. “Did you hear that?”

Jenny nodded, her jaw tightening. “Yeah, I did. But as long as it’s trapped in there, it can’t hurt anyone.”

They stepped outside, the cool, misty air feeling almost refreshing after the oppressive atmosphere inside. The first hints of dawn were beginning to break, casting a faint light over the deserted street.

Mike looked down at the mirror, now silent but still dark. “So, where do we put this thing?”

Jenny thought for a moment, then said, “We’ll take it far away, somewhere it can’t be found again. Maybe bury it somewhere deep, where no one will accidentally release it.”

Kevin nodded in agreement. “And maybe we can finally leave this place behind for good.”

As they walked away from Herb Hollow, the sense of relief was palpable. But deep in the back of Jenny’s mind, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the spirit’s threat was more than just words.

***

The early morning air was cold and damp as Jenny, Kevin, and Mike stood outside Herb Hollow, staring at the wrapped mirror. The building behind them seemed quieter, almost relieved, as if it had expelled a long-held evil.

“So, what now?” Mike asked, breaking the silence. “Where do we bury this thing?”

Jenny, still holding the mirror carefully, looked around. “We need somewhere remote,” she said. “Somewhere no one will accidentally stumble across it.”

Kevin nodded, shivering in the chill. “There’s an old field on the outskirts of town,” he suggested. “No one goes there anymore, not since the factory shut down.”

Jenny considered it, then nodded. “Good enough. Let’s get this over with.”

The three of them made their way to Kevin’s car, a beat-up sedan that looked as exhausted as they felt. As they drove through the empty streets, the mirror sat ominously on the backseat, swathed in layers of fabric. Mike glanced at it nervously from time to time, almost expecting it to burst into action.

“You know,” he said suddenly, trying to ease the tension, “this has to be the weirdest Halloween I’ve ever had.”

Jenny smirked. “You think?”

They drove for another twenty minutes before reaching the abandoned field Kevin had mentioned. It was a desolate stretch of overgrown grass and weeds, with an eerie stillness that seemed fitting for their task. Kevin pulled over, and they got out, tools in hand.

They found a spot under a large, dead tree, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Jenny and Mike started digging while Kevin kept watch, his eyes darting around nervously.

“Do you think it’s really over?” Kevin asked, his voice low.

Jenny paused, her shovel sticking into the dirt. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But we’re doing everything we can.”

***

It took nearly an hour to dig a deep enough hole, but finally, the pit was ready. They carefully lowered the mirror into the ground, its dark surface reflecting the dull, cloudy sky above. Even buried, the mirror seemed to emit an ominous presence, as if resisting its fate.

Mike, watching from the side, muttered nervously, “I hope this actually works.”

Jenny took one last look at the mirror before they started shoveling dirt over it. “Stay buried,” she whispered, almost as if speaking directly to the spirit.

As the last clump of soil covered the mirror, Kevin hammered a large rock into the ground as a marker—a reminder of what lay beneath.

“You think this will hold?” Kevin asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Jenny sighed. “I hope so. But if it doesn’t… we’ll deal with it then.”

They stood around the grave for a few moments, the weight of the night’s events settling on them. The field was silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the cold wind.

Kevin, trying to ease the tension, said, “If we ever have to work a late shift on Halloween again, let’s say we’re busy.”

Jenny let out a small laugh, despite the exhaustion. “Deal.”

***

The drive back from the field was quieter than before, the weight of what had just happened settling heavily on Jenny, Kevin, and Mike. The early morning light was starting to break over the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted streets.

Kevin, still shaken, broke the silence. “Do you think it’ll come back?” he asked, unable to hide the fear in his voice.

Jenny’s eyes were fixed on the road, but her thoughts were far away. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Spirits like that don’t just disappear. But at least we’ve done everything we can.”

Mike leaned forward from the back seat, still visibly rattled. “That mirror… the way it resisted. It didn’t seem like it wanted to stay buried.”

Jenny nodded, gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter. “It’s probably still angry. But as long as it’s down there, it’s not going anywhere.”

They reached Herb Hollow as the sun fully rose, casting a warm but eerie glow over the building’s faded exterior. Kevin, now calmer, got out and surveyed the entrance. “Never thought I’d be happy to see this place in daylight,” he muttered.

Jenny managed a tired smile. “We made it through the night. That’s something.”

Mike, glancing nervously over his shoulder, added, “Let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with anything like this again.”

As they locked up the dispensary for good, a faint chill ran down Jenny’s spine. She paused for a moment, turning to look back at the building. Despite the morning light, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something—somewhere—was watching.

***

Several days passed without incident, and life in the small town resumed its usual rhythm. Jenny and Kevin returned to their regular shifts at Herb Hollow, though the events of Halloween night were never far from their minds. Mike, too, tried to shake off the lingering dread, though it proved more difficult than he’d expected.

One evening, while taking inventory, Jenny noticed something unusual. Kevin was rolling up his sleeve, rubbing at his arm absently. “Everything okay?” she asked, her tone light but her eyes observant.

Kevin hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah… just this weird rash or something,” he said, showing her his forearm.

Jenny’s eyes widened slightly. The mark was faint but unmistakable—a dark, twisted symbol that seemed to shift subtly under the skin. “That looks like…”

Kevin’s face paled. “The spirit,” he whispered. “It’s a mark from that night, isn’t it?”

Jenny’s heart sank. “I think it might be.”

They exchanged a long, silent look, the weight of the realization settling between them. “So, it’s not really gone,” Kevin said, his voice barely audible.

Jenny nodded slowly. “No. It’s not.”

The mark on Kevin’s arm seemed to pulse faintly, a dark reminder that the spirit’s curse had not been fully buried with the mirror. It had left its mark, a lingering connection to Herb Hollow and the sinister entity that still lay beneath the ground.

***

The mark on Kevin’s arm became more prominent over the following days, darkening and twisting like a living bruise. It seemed to grow warmer at night, pulsing with a faint, eerie energy that left him restless and anxious.

One evening, as Kevin was closing up Herb Hollow, the temperature inside dropped suddenly. He rubbed his arms, trying to shake off the cold. But the chill wasn’t just physical—it carried a familiar, sinister weight.

Then, he heard it—a faint, mocking whisper, echoing from the back of the dispensary. “Did you think I was gone?” it taunted, the voice low and twisted.

Kevin spun around, his heart pounding in his chest. “No… no way,” he muttered to himself, trying to dismiss it as his imagination. But the voice persisted, a chilling reminder that the spirit had not been fully banished.

He rushed to lock the doors, his hands shaking. As he turned the key, the mark on his arm flared with sudden pain, burning like hot coal beneath his skin. He bit back a scream, clutching his forearm tightly.

At that moment, Jenny’s voice came over his walkie-talkie, breaking through the eerie silence. “Kev, everything alright? You sound spooked.”

Kevin took a deep breath, forcing himself to respond. “Yeah, just… tired. I think I’m gonna call it a night.”

“Good idea,” Jenny replied. “Get some rest.”

But as Kevin left the dispensary, the whisper followed him into the night, barely audible but filled with dark promise: “You cannot escape… my claim.”

***

The next day, Kevin visited Jenny at her apartment, his face drawn and pale. “I need to show you something,” he said, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the mark. It had grown more intricate, resembling an ancient sigil of binding.

Jenny’s expression was grave. “This is worse than I thought,” she admitted. “The spirit’s influence didn’t end with the mirror—it’s still connected to you.”

Kevin sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands. “What do we do now, Jenny? I can feel it… in my head, whispering.”

Jenny sat across from him, thinking hard. “If the spirit’s curse transferred to you, there might be a way to break it. We just need to find the right ritual—something to sever its hold completely.”

Kevin looked up, a mix of fear and hope in his eyes. “Do you really think it’s possible?”

Jenny nodded firmly. “I do. But we’ll need to confront it one last time, at Herb Hollow.”

Kevin’s stomach twisted at the thought of returning, but he knew she was right. “Alright,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s finish this.”

As they gathered the supplies for the ritual—salt, candles, sage, and protective symbols—Jenny felt a sense of determination rising within her. This time, they weren’t just reacting to the spirit’s wrath. They were taking the fight directly to it.

“Tonight,” she said, looking Kevin in the eye, “we end this curse, once and for all.”

***

The sun had barely set when Jenny and Kevin arrived at Herb Hollow. The building stood eerily quiet in the twilight, its faded exterior bathed in the dim glow of the streetlights. The neon sign buzzed faintly, flickering as if uncertain about staying lit.

Jenny pulled a bag out of the trunk, filled with ritual supplies: a circle of salt for protection, sage bundles for cleansing, and candles marked with runes meant to disrupt spiritual energy. “This time,” she said determinedly, “we’re prepared.”

Kevin, still pale but resolute, carried the mirror wrapped in fabric. He set it on the counter, feeling its heavy presence. The dark shadows within the glass seemed to swirl slowly, hinting at the trapped spirit’s restless energy.

“Are you sure this will work?” Kevin asked, his voice low.

Jenny paused, staring at the mirror. “It has to,” she replied, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes. “We’re not leaving until this curse is broken.”

They set up a makeshift altar in the middle of the dispensary, placing the mirror at the center. Around it, they lit candles and scattered salt, creating a protective barrier. As Jenny lit the sage, a thick cloud of smoke filled the air, creating an otherworldly haze.

Kevin’s mark burned hotter as they began the ritual, causing him to wince. “It knows we’re here,” he said through gritted teeth. “It’s trying to fight back.”

Jenny nodded. “Good. That means we’re getting close.”

As she chanted the incantations, a cold wind swept through the dispensary, extinguishing some of the candles. The spirit’s mocking laughter filled the air, its voice thick with malice: “You think you can break my hold?”

***

The mirror vibrated violently, its dark surface glowing with an unholy light. Suddenly, the swirling mist within it erupted, coiling into a familiar humanoid shape—the spirit had broken free, its form more defined and menacing than ever.

Kevin stumbled backward, the mark on his arm throbbing painfully. “Jenny, it’s too strong!”

But Jenny’s focus was unwavering. She tightened the salt circle and re-lit the extinguished candles. “Hold the line, Kevin,” she urged. “We need to draw it fully into the circle.”

The spirit surged forward, lashing out with tendrils of dark mist. It knocked over jars, shattered shelves, and sent a chilling gust through the room. But as it approached the center of the circle, it seemed to slow, its movements hindered by the protective barrier.

Kevin, despite the burning pain in his arm, moved closer to the mirror. “What now?” he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

“We need to force it back into the mirror,” Jenny instructed. “But it has to be fully within the circle first.”

The spirit’s hollow eyes glared at them, its voice dripping with anger. “You cannot bind me again!”

Jenny ignored its taunts, her focus entirely on the ritual. She began chanting louder, the runes on the candles glowing brighter. The spirit’s form flickered, its resistance weakening as the protective circle’s energy grew stronger.

The dark mist began to compress, its shape collapsing under the ritual’s pressure. Kevin seized the opportunity, holding the mirror up directly in front of the spirit.

“Come on, you bastard,” he spat, his voice filled with anger and determination. “Get back in there!”

The spirit’s furious howls filled the dispensary, but the pull of the mirror was relentless. Its dark tendrils were sucked back into the glass, twisting and writhing as it tried to resist.

With a final, violent burst of energy, the spirit was pulled entirely into the mirror, the glass glowing brightly before going dark once more. Kevin fell to his knees, the mark on his arm beginning to fade.

“It’s done,” Jenny said, her voice a mix of exhaustion and relief. “We’ve sealed it for good this time.”

***

The air inside Herb Hollow was thick with the smell of burnt sage and lingering dread. The mirror, now dark and still, sat at the center of the ritual circle, its glass faintly reflecting the flickering candlelight.

Kevin stood slowly, his breath ragged but relieved. He looked down at his arm—the dark mark was fading rapidly, becoming a faint scar. “It’s really over,” he said, almost in disbelief.

Jenny nodded, though exhaustion was clear in her eyes. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “We did it.”

They carefully rewrapped the mirror, handling it with the caution of a live bomb. “We’re not taking any chances this time,” Jenny insisted. “It’s going back to the field. And this time, we bury it deeper.”

Kevin nodded, his face pale but resolute. “And let’s hope it stays there.”

As they packed up the ritual supplies, Herb Hollow felt eerily silent. The oppressive energy that had once filled the room was gone, replaced by a strange, empty stillness. The neon sign flickered weakly, as if unsure of what to do in the absence of the spirit.

Outside, the night was cold and clear, the stars shining brightly above the deserted street. Kevin and Jenny loaded the mirror into the trunk of Kevin’s car, ready to drive back to the remote field where it would be buried once more—this time with extra precautions.

Kevin glanced at Jenny as they got in the car. “Do you think we’ll ever really be free of this thing?” he asked, his voice low.

Jenny stared straight ahead, her expression hard to read. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But we’ve done everything we can. And that has to be enough.”

As they drove off into the darkness, the sense of finality was comforting, yet tinged with uncertainty. The buried spirit was silent for now, but deep down, both of them knew that evil like this never truly disappears.

***

Weeks later, Herb Hollow was back to business as usual. Customers came and went, drawn in by the dispensary’s quirky vibe and quality strains. Jenny and Kevin worked their shifts with a new sense of caution but carried on, determined to put the haunting behind them.

But on a chilly December night, as Kevin was closing up alone, a faint sound reached his ears. It was barely audible at first—a soft, low whisper that seemed to rise from the depths of the building.

“Still here…”

Kevin froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned slowly toward the sound, but the room was empty. He shook his head, trying to dismiss it as a trick of his tired mind.

But as he locked the door and walked away, a shadow flickered briefly in the corner of the room—an almost imperceptible movement in the dim light.

The spirit wasn’t gone. It was merely waiting… for the right moment to return.