ARCHIE works at a remote mountain pass toll booth. He covers the 'black shift' until dawn. This night, he cheerily greets CALLUM, who switches off a radio news item about a coach crash and leaves. Later on, a boy called DARREN startles Archie by appearing at the booth window. He's lost his parents, so Archie agrees to take him to town at the end of his shift.

The next day, Darren appears again, this time with some more boys. This confuses Archie, but they claim to want to stay away from the 'Bad Man' who is further along the road. Once inside, Archie sees that most of the boys seem to be injured. They all hide as the BAD MAN draws closer and the toll booth shakes violently.

Suddenly, there is calm and Archie is alone. He sits on the floor in fear as Callum returns at the start of the day shift. Archie finds Callum can't hear him and realises the terrible truth of his days on the mountain, and his connection to the boys.

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The Black Shift: A haunting short ghost story