Once upon a chilling October morning, the small town of Loco at the County was shrouded in an eerie silence. It was October 24, 2023, and the townsfolk had yet to rise from their slumber. In the heart of this quiet town, a group of dedicated men had gathered at the Brown Water gym, determined to get their early morning workout in before the sun had even considered rising.
Abacus, the town’s fitness enthusiast, was leading the group through their exercises. He was known for his unwavering commitment to health and fitness, and his energy was infectious. As the group began their run through the crisp 49-degree morning, their breath hung in the air like ghostly apparitions.
DeVito, a burly man with a heart of gold, powered through his curls, sweat glistening in the dim gym light. He had a smile on his face, for he knew that staying fit was the key to a long, healthy life.
EZ Pass, the town’s accountant, struggled with the burpees, but he pushed on, determined to shed a few pounds. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was a more “EZ” way to get fit.
Amidst the group, Wildflower, known for his love of nature, seemed to blend in seamlessly with the early morning darkness. His silent determination during squats mirrored the grace of the wildflowers that adorned the nearby hillsides.
As the men transitioned to merkins and overhead press, an unsettling feeling began to settle in. The gym lights flickered, and a shiver ran down their spines. The sky, once clear, had begun to cloud over as if a storm was brewing.
Just then, the piercing sound of an air raid siren cut through the gym. Little Jerry and Double Down, both retired veterans, recognized the sound immediately. It was the same siren they had heard during their service, a sound that signaled danger and chaos.
Panic filled the gym as the men rushed to the windows, but they were met with an unsettling sight. Outside, the town was bathed in an otherworldly green light, casting long, eerie shadows.
Double Pump, known for his superstitions, clutched his lucky abacus tightly. He muttered something about the numbers not adding up, and his face turned pale as a sheet.
Abacus, still leading the group, rallied them together. “Stay calm,” he urged. “We’ll figure out what’s happening.”
But as they tried to leave the gym, they found themselves trapped. The doors wouldn’t budge, and the windows were now pitch black, as if they led to an abyss.
The group huddled together, their breaths visible in the freezing air. It was then that they heard a faint, ghostly whisper. “You’re not alone.”
The men turned to see a figure, translucent and glowing, floating before them. It was the spirit of the gym’s previous owner, who had died under mysterious circumstances. The apparition pointed to the exercise equipment, and its voice echoed through the gym, “Complete the exercises to break the curse.”
With no other option, the men resumed their workout, their movements synchronized as they powered through the remaining exercises. With each repetition, the gym seemed to come alive, and the oppressive darkness began to recede.
As they finished their last set of overhead presses, the gym’s lights returned, and the windows revealed the clear morning sky once more. The spirit of the gym owner nodded in approval before fading away, leaving the gym and the town of Loco at the County in peace once more.
The men, exhausted but triumphant, knew they had just experienced a Halloween ghost story that would be told for generations to come. And as they stepped out into the crisp morning air, they couldn’t help but feel a newfound appreciation for the power of unity and determination in the face of the unknown.
F3 Louisville 