Here is my entry: Beach of Spirits The locals have a legend. On Halloween, the spirits of the dead attempt to mingle with the living. As one gets closer to the ocean shore, the border of the Land of the Living, the spirits get more restless and persistent to join the living. If they are successful, they can go anywhere and do anything, but will leave the moment November 1st begins. It is advised to stay away from the recently deceased, as it provides a gateway for the spirits. But I have too much to worry about already. I don’t want to burden myself with local myths when I’m in the middle of a war. I’m lying on my stomach in a blasted-out artillery crater on the beach. I have just regained consciousness from a grenade explosion that knocked me out. I can hear fighting far inland, but the beach is deserted. Night is about to fall and I begin to think about the myths. The beach is littered with corpses of both friend and enemy alike. I turn to the right and look at the body of Sam Drot, who was my best friend. Memories of his death flood my mind: the ambush, Sam getting shot, his body jerking before collapsing in the sand, my rage that sent me on a killing spree, and finally, the grenade explosion. I slowly get up and load my gun. Was it just me, or was there someone up there on the beach? It is probably a soldier from the ongoing battle, but he seems kind of far off… Something taps me on the shoulder. I spin around, weapon ready, and see Sam standing upright, with his hand raised in greeting. But the most disturbing thing is that his body was already partially rotted. It was not like that before. He looks like a zombie. My mouth drops open in shock. “Ho-How are you still alive?” I ask incredulously. “Stay calm,” Sam replies. “The local people were right about their legends. I am dead, but I can interact with the living. Listen, the enemy can return too. If they see you, they will attack and kill you. Hey, it isn’t your fault I’m dead,” he adds, seeing the tears on my face. “I could’ve saved you,” I reply bitterly. “No, you avenged me, which as more than enough. What you have done makes me proud to be your friend. You have a life that I want you to live to the fullest. I will cover you. Go, and win the battle for me.” He gives me a ghostly smile and picks up a fallen gun. “Live your life. I will always be with you.” I turn to see corpses pulling themselves off the ground and picking up weapons. Sam opens fire and I start running. A rotting corpse aims a gun at me, but I kick his head cleanly off. I shoot down two more corpses and head inland. As I run, thoughts on his sacrifice give me energy. I will not let it be in vain. It finally dawns on me that friends, living or dead, will always be there, through memories, achievements left behind, or sometimes as undead, animate corpses.