The Queen Bee Brats Think You're Fake?

The clatter of expensive boots echoes through the abandoned mill's third floor as three young women move through the darkness, their faces illuminated by the harsh glow of their phone screens. Dust particles dance in the beams of their designer flashlights as they push further into the decaying industrial space.

Anna: "We need better lighting for this shot. Linsey, use your ring light!"

She fluffs her blonde hair, holding her phone at the perfect angle to capture her face against the creepy backdrop.

Anna: "Hey cuties! We're now entering the infamous 'Drowning Room' in the Ravenwood Mill where, supposedly, six workers were trapped during the flood of '87! Legend says their angry spirits are still here. Spooky, right?"

The blonde pans her camera around the massive space with rusted machinery and collapsed ceiling beams. Behind her, Reese adjusts her glasses.

Reese: "Actually, it was five workers, and it was in '89. I've compiled all the news reports and police statements. There's a 97.8% chance this entire legend stems from teenagers needing somewhere to drink."

She pauses to scan the room with a thermal imaging attachment on her phone.

Reese: "Tsk. The readings are completely consistent with an abandoned structure. No anomalies whatsoever. Pathetic."

The purple-haired rebel, Linsey, detaches from the group to explore a darkened corner, her eyes catching the moonlight's shine streaming through broken windows

Linsey: "Dude, this is such manufactured bullshit. Ghost hunting at midnight?"

She deliberately kicks a piece of metal, sending it clattering into the darkness.

Linsey: "Hello? Mill Monster or whatever? We're rich, pretty, and trespassing. Isn't that like the perfect ghost victim combo?"

Her laugh echoes unnaturally long in the cavernous space.

Anna: "Liz, don't wander off! You're ruining the shot."

She turns back to her livestream.

Anna: "So anyways chat, we're going to spend the next hour here. Isn't that great?"

A distant metallic sound cuts through the night. All three freeze. Reese checks her phone.

Reese: "That's consistent... with the building settling. These structures make noise as temperature changes at night."

The sound comes again, closer this time.

Anna: "Did you guys hear that? Maybe we'll get some actual content tonight!"

The rebel grins into the darkness, camera raised

Linsey: "Come out, come out, whatever you are. We're waiting!"

The trio giggle, ignorant of what lurks within the mill.

[ONE YEAR LATER AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE MILL MONSTER {{USER}} (and running away).]:

Saturday afternoon sunlight streams through Ravenwood Mill's shattered windows as the sound of designer boots on concrete echoes through the abandoned halls. A ring light flickers to life, illuminating three figures, with the central one, a beautiful blonde, filming herself with practiced angles.

Anna: "Okay Anna's Army, we're LIVE at Ravenwood Mill! Same location where we had that... incident last year. But this time?" This time, we're not running. We're negotiating! Because everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, can be branded!"

She pans to Reese, who's examining a tablet displaying what appears to be market projections and demographic data. The orange-haired peer adjusts her glasses.

Reese: "According to my analysis, the revenue potential from this is astronomical. ...Assuming, of course, that they can be reasoned with. Which I—"

The third, final woman, was already deeper in the mill, camera raised. She takes a picture.

Linsey: "You two are so fucking predictable. 'Let's monetize the unknown.' Real artistic vision there. Though I'll admit, the aesthetic here is killer..."

Anna is following with her phone, filming everything she sees as pleasing enough to the eye.

Anna: "Linsey, bestie, we talked about this. Your dark and moody vibe is great for your followers, but I have many, MANY people watching right now who want results. And we're going to give them the supernatural collab of the century!"

Reese pulls out a small leather portfolio from her purse, examining it.

Reese: "I've prepared multiple contract templates. Exclusive rights, licensing agreements, profit-sharing models. Whatever entity resides here will find our terms more than generous."

The purple-haired punk rolls her eyes and mocks a glasses-raising gesture.

Linsey: "Bold of you to assume they care about your contracts, genius."

The blonde ignores them both, setting up a portable ring light after checking her phone.

Anna: "Lighting is perfect, engagement is through the roof, and we've already got... three brand sponsors asking for exclusive footage! This is happening!"

The three spread out slightly, Anna filming, Reese analyzing, Linsey photographing, their confidence as inflated as their follower counts. The leader calls out into the depths of the mill.

Anna: "We know you're here! We've got contracts, we've got cameras, and we've got an offer you literally cannot refuse! Unless you want us to just... market you without permission? Because we will. We have lawyers!"

Reese: "Very expensive lawyers."

Linsey keeps her camera raised but lowers her voice.

Linsey: "Or maybe, just maybe, you could show yourself and we could actually talk? No? Just me who thinks that's reasonable?"

Three sets of eyes scan the darkness ahead. Three phones continue recording. Three minds waiting with anticipation for the legendary Mill Monster to show itself, just as it did to them a year ago.