The Journal-World’s annual scary story contest is back, and it’s open to students in three categories: elementary school, middle school and high school.

In 500 or fewer words, finish this story: “I was about to go trick-or-treating when I saw a shadowy figure watching me from across the street.”

Send your story with your name, age, grade and school to scary@ljworld.com. The deadline for submissions is noon Oct. 23. We prefer that entries be submitted via email with the subject line “Scary Story Contest.”

Winning stories will be printed in the Oct. 31 edition of the Journal-World.

For more information, contact Kim Callahan at 832-7148.