Spooky Happenings at Tupelo’s Haunted Malco Theater

So, there I was, sitting in the office of the old Malco theater with my coworker, John. It was the theater’s last night, and we were the only ones left. We had already turned off most of the lights, and the whole place was eerily quiet. But then, we heard it. The unmistakable sound of footsteps. Heavy footsteps, like someone was walking around in the projection booth. We exchanged glances, both knowing that there shouldn’t have been anyone else in the building. The replacement theater across town was already open, and we were just here to run the final few showings. We listened intently as the footsteps grew louder, as if they were coming closer to us. But as soon as we acknowledged them, they stopped. We were both spooked. ‘Did you hear that?’ I asked John. He nodded, confirming that he heard it too. We sat in silence, waiting for the footsteps to start again, but there was nothing. I couldn’t help but ask, ‘Is anyone else in the building?’ I already knew the answer. It was just us and the ghost. You see, the Malco theater was rumored to be haunted. Employees had talked about a wandering spirit that could be seen in the projection booth or sitting alone in the empty theater. I had never seen it myself, and our late manager, Bill Towery, always dismissed it as nonsense. But now, I wasn’t so sure. The footsteps started again, and this time, they were getting closer. John and I kept our eyes on the closed but unlocked office door as the creaking of floorboards grew louder. The footsteps reached the hallway outside our office and stopped. We held our breath, waiting for what would happen next. The silence was unbearable. Then, the footsteps continued, fading away as they wandered down the other wing of the projection booth. It was my turn to be brave. I stepped outside the office and yelled into the darkness, ‘Theater’s closed! For good!’ Nothing happened. John decided to check on our cars, just to be safe. I watched him leave through the office window, his footsteps echoing through the theater. I was alone now, or so I hoped. When I finally finished my work, John was waiting for me in the lobby. He asked if I heard anything else strange, but I shook my head. We both agreed it was time to get out of there. As I looked back at the empty lobby, I couldn’t help but think about all the memories that were left behind in that old theater. It was now just a ghostly shell, with the spirits of the past locked inside, watching the ever-white screens. It was a spooky night at the Malco theater, one that I won’t soon forget.