Yet another Halloween night arrived on the unusual town of Brimstone, which meant costumes and treats door to door. Among the many trick-or-treaters were members of the Gravely family: Lu, Rosemary, and Regan. Mrs. Gravely remained home for the evening, handing out goodies to all the young visitors. Rosemary and Regan skipped along the sidewalk. Their devilish stepfather strayed behind, hands in his pocket and a cigarette puffing from his mouth. The pair of sisters were definitely happy that he wasn't upwind of them. It was bad enough that their garage and his car often smelled of cancerous smoke.

Regan dressed up as a pretty princess with a long pink dress and a sparkling, plastic, jewel crown. Rosemary on the other hand dressed up as one of the band members of KISS, complete with crazy hair, face paint, and equipped with her rocking guitar named Sammie. As they walked the eldest daughter would strum a few beats from Sammie's ecustic strings. Lu dressed as his regular attire. All the girls in the family joked that he was scary enough without a costume, to which the Devil agreed.

The trio stopped off at each household, collecting as much candy as they could get. "Trick or treat!" they sang to each homeowner that opened their doors. Like every kid they too were treated with delicious sweets. The Marlow-Goto house always offered the best treats. Large, sugar-coated lollipops and pixie sticks place on top of their candy piles. Down the street the local dentist dropped sugar-free gum and toothbrushes into their bags, not what they wanted but a kind offering. They stopped off at Mrs. Wordsworth's house, who never celebrated Halloween or decorate her household like the rest of the festive neighborhood. Instead of giving away treats she dropped small Christian comics into their bags in hopes of converting as many trick-or-treaters to the pathway towards God. The girls were more than happy to let Lu burn them in his bare hands once they were far enough from Mrs. Wordsworth's house.

After collect another handful of goodies from another house, Rosemary and Regan raced each other to the other side of the street to reach the next household. Lu slowly paced himself afar as he kept a watchful eye on them. Seeing his stepdaughters having fun molded a small smile around his lips. When the pair reached the other corner of the street they stopped when the spotted a dastardly trick played in their neighborhood. Two older kids tossed eggs at the garage doors and threw toilet paper into the trees. One was a troublemaking boy in his teens with a blue football jersey on him. The other was a girl about the same age as her accomplice with a orange-colored mohawk for hair. Neither of the sisters recognized the older kids but the definitely could tell that they were bigger, taller, and dumber. They were middle schoolers.

"Hey, what're you doing?" the oldest Gravely sister called out. "That's not cool, dude."

"Yeah!" Regan agreed. "That's not nice!"

"Oooh," one of the bullies mocked. "What're you gonna do about it?"

The troublesome duo halted their activities and walked up to the Gravely sisters. Their heights overshadowed them. A small jolt of fear numbed both Rosie and Regan, but they dared not revealed their fear in front of the bullies. The teens then swiped their bags of treats out of the sisters' hands. "Hey! Give that back!" Rosemary snapped.

"Alright. Free treats for us." the older girl mocked.

"We're gonna tell!" Regan warned them.

The two bullies laughed aloud. "Who ya gonna tell?" the older boy teased, digging through their goodie bags. "Your mommy?"

"Worse. Our stepfather." Rosemary's then warned.

The bullies laughed even harder. "Now I'm really scared," the older female sarcastically said.

"What's he gonna do about it?" the older male asked. "Sue us?" They laughed some more unbeknownst that the street lights above them flickered off. The darkness of the Halloween night engulfed around them while they continued laughing. Rosemary and Regan then saw a shadowy outline of Lu emerge behind the two bullies, but kept quiet as the allowed their stepfather to deal with them.

The female bully then cried. "Your stepfather's probably a wimp and a loser. I bet I can take him." They never noticed that the shadow figure's eyes lit bright red through the coming darkness.

The Gravely sisters watched as their stepfather's shadow dissolved into a black mist. The mist soundlessly grew larger and larger, much to the ignorance of the two teasing teens. The mist took a form. A large body shaped itself inside the darkness. Then those pair of red eyes shined again, only they were much bigger than before.

One of the bullies stopped laughing and nudged her friend. "Why's everyone staring at us?" she asked. Both bullies noticed that not only were the two sisters stared back at them but everyone in the area as well. They saw how the mouths of each bystander dropped open upon a horrible sight. The pair of troublemakers were confused until they felt a warm puff of wind brush against their bodies.

They flinched still. Somebody, or something, was right behind them. The sound of a low, carnivorous growl jumpstarted their hearts. Goosebumps popped around their skins that now turned pale as ghosts. They both zipped around to see a large, pointed head of some sort of dragon-dinosaur-Godzilla hybrid beast leaning in on them. Large horns over its brows, a 60-foot length from snout to tail, bony spikes atop its head and most of the body, scales red as blood, and a pair of toothy, smaller mouths breathing on each side of its cheeks. The creature stared at them with the most hungry, predatory, red eyes.

A loud roar erupted from the Beast's toothy maw that almost knocked the bullies off their feet. They instead swayed like trees inside a hurricane. They both got a whiff of the Beast's foul breath that smelled of death and decay. Fear swept through their adolescent bodies. Some of it even leaked out and stained the inside of their pants.

"Is that your stepfather?" the bullies nervously stammered.

"Yup," both the Gravely sisters said. Neither of them were afraid of the beast before them.

The bullies handed back their goodie bags. "We're really sorry!" the boy cried.

The girl shook where she stood. "Yeah, never gonna do something like this again! Please don't eat us!"

Those predator eyes still glared brightly. The Beast quickly snapped its larger jaws at the two bullies, causing them to scream as they ran to the opposite side of the street. They were never going to be a nuisance on another Halloween night ever again. But the bullies, however, weren't the only ones to run away from the monstrous sight of the Beast. Other bystanders and trick-or-treaters ran to various corners of the street, away from the Beast. Only Rosemary and Regan remained close to their stepfather's alternate form.

"You're still in there, right Lu?" Rosemary called up to him.

The Beast's eyes now glared at them. The Gravely sisters saw there was no savagery in those reptilian pupils. They were soft and gentle. Lu was definitely in control of the Beast this time.

A large, scaly hand held out before the two girls, offering them a ride to their next stops. They both happily obliged and stepped into its large palms. The Beast rose straight up with his stepdaughters holding onto his fingers. His clawed feet left smoldering imprints in the asphalt streets as he lumbered towards the next houses for treats.

"Let's stop over to Sweeny Street," Rosemary suggested. "They always giveaway tasty caramel apples for treats."

#sinsofthefather #fiction #comedy #fantasy #horror #devil #family #halloween #happyhalloween

Out at the curb I wait, flashlight in hand;

I smile and watch them venture to the door.

A pirate, ghost, and witch -- my merry band

of children, seeking goodies by the score.

My oldest boy tonight an eye patch donned,

the youngest one cut eye holes in his sheet.

Their sister, with a pointed hat and wand

is leading this excursion to get treats.

The annual tradition did begin

at dusk upon this cold October night;

a smiling face carved into a pumpkin

echoes their young expressions of delight

For jack-o-lantern porches surely mean,

“Welcome children, and Happy Halloween!”

© 2017 - dustygrein

Trick-or-Treat

Was coming up

In the town

Of Chapel

Little Adam’s

Mom and Dad

Went through

All the hassle

Costume gathered

A cowboy hat

The wagon dressed

As cattle

Little Adam

Rode atop a

Cardboard horse

And saddle

The night had come

To Trick-or-Treat

Again his parents

Traveled

They left the car

And started off

Bags clutched by

The handles

Uphill slopes

And sidewalk stairs

His parents faced

And tackled

Up one side then

Down the other

Little Adam

Prattled

His parents trailed

Close behind

Caught up in

A gaggle

Of ghosts, witches,

Masks, and knights

A princess in

A castle

Ran down

In evening light

But Little Adam

Dazzled

They oohed and awed

At the tiny rancher

And loved his

Baby babble

They filled his sack

More and more

Another treat

He haggled

His parents wave

Reminding him

Of thank you’s

Tonight’s battle

Little Adam skipped

Back to the car

His parents

They both straggled

With the wagon and

A busted horse

That had gotten

Trampled

They loaded up

Heading home

A wait Adam

Couldn’t tackle

Squirming

In his seat

He couldn’t help

But waggle

He ripped

Into his bag

Looking in his

Treat capsule

Adam screamed

His face turned red

His feet kicked

And paddled

His parents turned

Fearing harm

But they were

Just as baffled

Their cute

Cowboy toddler

Was now a

Screaming jackal

Because in the bag

For Trick-or-Treat

All Adam got

Were apples

A few years ago, there was a boy with unusal giner bobbed hair, short and round like a pumpkin, and he lived in a spooky house. For years, especially on Halloween night, the boy was to stayed inside his home all night. The boy was sad and wanted to join the other kids of the neighborhood, and go out trick-or-treating with them. So he sneaked out and left his spooky house with a cape, masked, and an empty sack. The Pumpkin Lad is what we'll call him, as he runs the streets collecting candy and sweets with a joyful heart. He was such a good, happy lad, and then he met some kids and befriend them. They liked his costume.

They went trick-or-treating together, and had tons of fun, but then they went to the spooky house, where the Pumpkin Lad lives. He tells them, "That's my house. We don't have any candy in there."

"What?! This can't be your house! No one can live in there!" said one of the children. Another one agrees, "Yeah! You're just scared to go in there, are you?"

"No, I'm not," replied the Pumpkin Lad. "I'm serious."

"Oh, yeah? Then give us a tour of your 'house'," demanded the first child, who was dressed like Frankenstein. "If this is really your house, then I'll give you my whole bag of candy. If not, I'm calling you bluff!"

So the Pumpkin Lad leads them inside the manor and gives them a tour. The children entered the home of the Pumpkin Lad, where creaky stairs and doors were common, tree branches always looked like hands through the windows, and cobwebs is their natural decoration. The children dressed like Frankestein, Mummy, Werewolf, Dracula, Skeleton Dancer, and Witch, huddle together as they explore the house. The Frankestein spoke with a hint of fear. "S-See? No one lives here. Where's your parents?"

"Probably out working late tonight again," answered the Pumpkin Lad while some of the kids scoffed but cower. Past the creepy father clock, and up the moaning stairs, there is a dakr hallway with only the faint moonlight, creating mischievous-looking shadows behind their backs, as the Pumpkin Lad showed them the rooms.

The children gasped and shrieked when they found a room that was a mad scientist's paradise, a sickening lab full of grotestique oddities, and the room next door had shelves filled with creepy-looking dolls that looked too real and swear one of them had blinked. Across was a room with three coffins, each fit for a child, with bats hanging above it, and they had such eerie glowing red eyes. Many rooms had frightened the children, but they wouldn't run because of their pride. And plus, it was Halloween, would you believe all was real?

The Pumpkin Lad showed them his room and were surprised it looked simply neat and plain. They entered and formed a circle on the floor while the Pumpkin Lad closes the door. The Mummy Boy asks, "So, is it just you and your parents living here? No one else?"

"Yeah, pretty much," answered the Pumpkin Lad.

"But this can't be your house," said the Fankestein Kid. "It's all crumbly, and broken, and practically falling apart."

"But it is," said the Pumpkin Lad after he lits a candle burning brightly in the room. "Here. This is a picture of me and my parents last Halloween."

He hands them a picture frame and saw the Pumpkin Lad dressed like a skeleton and his parents dressed like scarecrows with pumpkin heads. The parents's costume was made really well, and impressed the kids. The Werewolf Girl asked, "So, what can we do now? We got time to spare."

"Oh, how about a scary story!" exclaimed the Skeleton Dancer Girl.

"Hey, do you know any scary stories?" asked the Dracula Boy to the Pumpkin Lad.

He replies, "Well, I think so."

"Cool, tell us then," said the Frankestein Kid.

The Pumpkin Lad nods and begins his story:

The last person to visit here was a young boy, who wanted to be friends with the monsters, so he entered this house, and was never seen again. Years passed, most assumed he was dead, but some say he was happy, and you could hear wicked laughter coming from the yard.

The End.

The children looked at the Pumpkin Lad strangely while the Franketsein Kid exclaims, "That's not scary! That's barely a story!"

"That's because there's no ending. It still goes on," said the Pumpkin Lad.

"What do you mean?" asked the little Witch finally. She hadn't spoken all night and was always unfazed.

"The boy still lives, but hardly anyone talks about him," said the Pumpkin Lad. "And he's always hungry, but can only eat sweets."

"Oh, I see now," said the Frankestein Kid.

"What?" asked the children.

"He wants more candy," said the Frankestein Kid as he points at the Pumpkin Lad. "This isn't your real house. This is all just a prank! He just wants our candy and is trying to scare us off!"

"Boy, aren't you sour," said the Pumpkin Lad. "That's my least favorite flavor, but I can still eat it."

"Wait, what?" said the Frankenstein Kid, confused, while a trap door opens and he falls in. His screams echo the halls while the children gasped and look up to their strange friend. The Pumpkin Lad smiles, "Mother and Father will be angry at me for leaving the house, so I must prepare them dinner to put them in a good mood."

"Uhh, is this some trick or something?" asked the Werewolf Girl. "Cause I ain't liking it."

"No, I only make treats," said the Pumpkin Lad bluntly. "But I need special ingredients for my treats."

He says as he pulls the levers behind his back while the rest of the children fell through the trap doors. The Skeleton Dancer fell in the basement, where she lands in a pool of water. A cute floatie comes to her with a candy wrapper taped on its head. She takes the floatie and reads the candy wrapper.

"Happy Halloween" Was all it said while a group of pirananas swarm around the Skeleton Dancer Girl and devours her flesh in bits and pieces.

The Mummy, Werewolf, and Dracula children fell into the three coffins, only to find out they were iron maidens as the the lids fall on top of them and the spikes easily stabs through their squirming bodies. There were no spikes at their faces as they each read their candy wrappers tapped on the lid as their last act.

"I enjoyed our trick-or-treating."

"But I want my treats."

"No hard feelings, okay?"

Meanwhile the Frankestein Kid was strapped in an electric chair, which sat in the middle of the laboraty they saw earlier. The Frankenstein Kid struggles to escape when he saw the Pumpkin Lad with a needle in hand. "You're too sour for my parents, so I'll make you sweeter. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

The Pumpkin Lad injects the strange serum in the poor boy's arm as he screams in pain. His skin turns green and then a nasty purple; the feeling of acid coursing through one's veins is not a pretty picture, nor a happy feeling. The Pumpkin Lad watches his "friends" die one-by-one, and went to the doll room to find the Witch Lass, but to his surprised she was not there excpet for a single candy wrapper. He picks it up and left furious. Carrying candy wrappers in his pocket and a ax in hand the Pumpkin Lad searches for the Witch Lass, but could not find her. He then spotted her at the main hall near the exit as he walks down the stairs to meet her. The Witch Lass turns to face him while holding her pumpkin shaped-basket. "I have to go home."

She unwraps a piece of candy and toss it in her mouth while dropping the wapper on the floor. He pulls out the candy wrappers out of his pocket and tosses them at the witch. The written wrappers scattered around her feet as she looks down at them, and then back to the lad. The Pumpkin Lad said, "That's not my hand writing. How did you escaped alive?"

The Witch Lass only stared with her big eyes, like that of a mysterious owl, and then she digs through her basket for something. The Pumpkin Lad tilts his head confused while the Witch pulls out a match and lights it bright. The Witch Lass answered, "There's no candy here, so I play tricks. You're a bad host if you want my treats."

She drops the burning match on the candy wrappers, which flickered and burned and spread like wildfire. The Pumpkin Lad tries to reach her, but a wall of fire blocks his path and surrounds him. The lad pulls out the candy wrappers that he found as he slowly begins to burn. The first part was tapped on the Frankenstein Kid's shoulder while the second was in the doll room.

"I don't play nicely. So I'll give you a witch's punisment."

The Pumpkin Lad screams as he dies in the fire, along with his spooky house, while the Witch Lass exits the building with plenty of treats in her basket. Happily she skips while humming a happy tune and drops one last wrapper.

"Always give out treats to naughty little children."

"You got everything," asked Bobby.

"Yeah," replied Adam.

"That's your costume?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with it?"

"A top hat, that's it? Nothing more, no makeup, no mask, just a top hat."

"It was my granddad's."

"Is that how he dressed? C'mon let's go."

"Wait is that your costume?"

"What's wrong with my costume?"

"An arrow through your neck, really Bobby?"

"Okay, that's it. You're wearing a top hat and I have an arrow through my neck. They're great. Can we go now?"

"Sure, where are we going?"

"You know where we're going."

"Uh-uh, not that house."

"It's Halloween and I've been waiting for this all year. We go up there, ring the bell, and I have trick I want play. Then we run like hell."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look what I've got," said Bobby reaching into his pocket.

"Is that--?"

"Yep, a cherry bomb."

"What do you plan to do with it?"

"What do we plan to do with it?"

"Huh."

"I ring the bell; I'll be holding this in my hand. You light it and I toss it in when they open the door."

"Bobby, are you crazy? There are no 'they' in that house, there's an it or a thing, but there ain't no they."

"That's nothing but rumors it's an old person living up there."

"Ever see this OLD PERSON?"

"No, but-,"

"But nothing, no one has ever seen this old person, no one lives there. It's empty."

"Adam, it's empty except on Halloween and no one has the guts to go there."

"I'll wait here and wish you the best. Does your mom have any candy."

"Look, it's all a joke. It's some college guys who hide inside. This will scare them."

"They'll chase us and beat us up."

"No they won't cause I've already been up there and set a booby trap when they come out."

"When?"

"Two days ago. C'mon let's do this."

"Bobby, one more question."

"What is it?"

"Do you have matches?"

"Wait here, I'll be right back."

Adam and Bobby walked through the neighborhood which was busy with children in all sorts of costumes running from house to house. At the end of the third block they turned right.

It was as though they entered another dimension. The two lone street lights, one on each side of the street, flickered sporadically and the night air grew colder. Adam glanced over his shoulder, the area was deserted.

"Bobby, I'm not getting a good feeling."

"This is what Halloween is all about. We're supposed to be scared. Tomorrow we'll laugh about this once we go up there and you'll see it's nothing. Two more blocks, that's all. I also have a surprise for you."

"What is it and it better not be a trick."

"Look at this, you call this a trick," said Bobby pulling out two small pieces of paper.

"What's that?"

"Tickets to the 8:30 show at the Cinema. We do this and run all the way to see Stephen King's 'IT'. On me."

"You're kidding."

"Still want to turn around, because if you do no movie."

"Damn you Bobby."

The boys stood by the rusted gate of the old house sitting up on a small bluff. Thirty stairs separated them from the front door. It was an old house, it's wooden siding skin had all been plucked away. Most of the windows with either cracked or broken except for the large one over the door. Nine small panes of glass all clean, not a scratch on any, and the wood, barely weathered.

"What's that inside," asked Adam, grabbing his friend's arm."

They saw a faint glow float across the window and vanish.

"It's just those college guys that's all. They're trying to scare us."

"They've succeeded. Let's leave, I'll pay for the movie."

"No way, I've been planning this for two months and I'm not turning around."

Each wooden step groaned under the weight of boys. The nails embedded in the old wooden planks popped like buttons on a shirt three sizes too small. As a covert operatives Bobby and Adam failed miserably. 

"Shhh," I don't want them to hear us coming.

"Maybe you should have oiled each step when you were here two days ago."

"Shhh."

The boys were extra careful on the last two steps doing everything they could not to make any more noise. When they were at the front door Bobby whispered his plan to his friend.

"Here are the matches. I'm going to hold the cherry bomb in my left hand. When I knock, light it."

"Then what?"

"They'll open the door, I toss it, we run."

"What's your booby trap?"

"The last four steps jump, because I cut them just enough that when they come down they'll snap under their weight. First college guy goes down, the other's will trip."

If Bobby could see Adam's face, "That's your idea of a booby trap. Cutting four stairs at the bottom."

"You have a better idea?"

"Not being here for one."

"Shhh, I hear something."

There were heavy footsteps coming towards the door.

"Adam light the cherry bomb."

"What?"

"Light the bomb," Bobby said loudly.

Adam, hand shaking, opened the pack of matches and pulled out a match. He struck the match, but it flew out of his hand. The footsteps were coming closer.

"Adam, light it!"

"I'm trying."

The second match lit the explosive just as the door flew open, a large hand grabbed Adam and Bobby, and closed with a crash. The cherry bomb exploded on the front porch.

"Did you hear that," said one of the four kids walking by the old house.

"Yeah, I wonder what it was," replied another.

"Let's go see," said the third, "Jimmy, you got your flashlight?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going."

"Let me have it, I'll be right back. I just want to shine a light on the door."

The boy stepped on the first stair snapping it in half under the weight of his footfall.

"Come on John, that's enough. This place is creepy and that's a sign to stay out."

As the four kids walked away they were too far to see the faint glow inside the old house. There was no light source to explain its origin, as it moved slowly up the staircase to an open door where it drifted into a blackened room. The owners of the fake arrow and top hat, which were lying on the floor had vanished.

Remnants of the cherry bomb sprinkled the porch along with two unused tickets to the movies that Halloween night.

I stood before my father, waiting. I had asked my question and now he was making up his mind. His eyes studied me as I tried my best to be patient. At eleven years it seemed such an important matter. My friends were counting on his response. If he said no, I imagined they would feel as though I had let them down.

I did not understand why all of their parents had been inclined to defer answering this simple question to my father. Perhaps, it was because he alone had already successfully raised children to adulthood, or because he was a judge, though I doubt presiding over traffic court gave him any greater authority than, say Chris’s father, the Mechanic, or Dave’s, the grocery store manager. As an obstetrician, Mike’s father‘s work went a little beyond our understanding, though we knew it had something to do with babies, we did not care to know anymore. Besides, what would a baby doctor know about the appropriateness of sending four fifth-graders out trick-or-treating alone.

I continued to wait for my father to make up his mind. He ran a hand through his gray hair. I tried not to let my mind wander. I shifted my weight from the right leg to the left. I wondered if this was what a speeder felt like, pleading his case in court. I decided I would in five years make it my mission to observe all traffic laws so I could avoid such scrutiny.

I did not see why it was such a difficult decision. The greatest danger in our neighborhood was possible future lung cancer from secondhand smoke produced by roving bands of teenagers.

He sighed. It was a sigh which told me my father had reached his decision. “I suppose,” he answered, “as long as you come right back home at eight o’clock and don’t eat any candy before I look it over.”

“Thanks dad!” I answered and turned toward the door, so I could run out and tell my friends.

“Oh, and Phillip,” he called after me, “don’t skip Dr. Hilder’s house, even if he is giving out toothbrushes again.”

With a quick, “yes, Dad,” I bolted out the door before he could give me any more admonitions.

It was the best Halloween. The four of us put on old ratty t-shirts which we embellished with a few extra rips and threw berries at one another hoping they would leave stains which looked like blood. They did not but it was still fun. We put on white face paint and ran down the middle of the street. It was cool and drizzly like every other October 31st in our small niche of the globe. We filled our pillowcases and lugged them home, exhausted, just after 8 o’clock.

At least, that is how I remember it. The first Halloween my friends and I went out without an adult.

We never knew how good we had it as children. We kept our eyes always on the future, wanting to be just a little bit older. We did grow up, my friends and I, all too quickly. They are gone, moved away, not to be seen outside of a rare class reunion.

This memory comes back to me as I listen to my own little boy, ten, ask me the same question I once put to my father. He is making a good case, speaking plainly, honestly.

But I already know my answer. He will not like it but I hope, someday, he will understand. Maybe, he will not until he too is old and gray and his son asks him the age old Halloween question.

I will tell him no. Not because of him, but because of me. I would give anything to go out trick-or-treating with my dad once more.

The tin man and Dorothy were walking in front holding hands and laughing. Scot and Piper were their actual names. They were happy and grateful. Scot the star football player and Piper the popular, pretty girl. Then there us, the pirate and the parrot. We were Sawyer and Todd. Secretive and grateful. Both of us, hiding a secret that we have never told. All four us a trick-or-treating group at the age of 18. Soon to graduate high school. They were the most well-known couple in school and we were the most hidden couple in school. Going to door to door knocking and getting candy. We got every house but the old mansion.

Scot: Come on guys! One more house.

Piper: Yeah, I'm down.

Sawyer: Guys, I think that house was condemned a few years ago after the owner died of a mysterious death.

Scot: What are you scared?

Todd: Leave him alone. He made a great point.

Scot: Go scatter back to your girlfriends then.

Sawyer: We will go with you to the mansion.

What they did not know is neither of us had a girlfriend. They walked in front of us and Todd walked next me, secretly holding my hand. Scot and Piper were always mean to us. They always had to have it their way and if not you are in trouble because they could easy make up a lie and everyone would believe it. Apparently, they did not see the No trespassing or Caution signs everywhere. Piper rung the old, rusty door bell and all of us fell as the door mat gave way to a dark opening. Piper, Scot, and I landed safely but Todd land a bit harsher as he was standing in the back. His foot had gotten caught on the concrete outside of the mat so it bent his foot backward. When he tried to stand, he let a cry of pain and fell back down.

Scot: Get him up! Stop fooling around. We need to get out.

Piper: Yeah, the moisture in the air is ruining my make-up.

Sawyer: Go on. We can make it out on our own.

Scot: Good, you will just slow us down.

Piper: Let's just stay with them a little while.

Scot: Fine, but we will go faster after a little while. Hurry up, poor Todd.

Todd did not like the way he was speaking to him. I helped him out of his parrot costume and he helped me out of my pirate one. Piper left her heels on and Scot left his on. I wrapped my arm around him and he wrapped one arm around me and we walked slowly through the dark. Soon enough we heard her heels run off and they were nowhere in sight. Todd asked to take a break so we sat on the ground and within a few minutes we heard two screams. Definitely of our two friends and shortly after the screams there was a horrifying laugh. I tensed up and actually began to shake. Todd gave me a kiss and wrapped his arms around me.

Todd: Let's keep moving. I know this is hard for you, I mean I can feel your shake and I have known you for a while. The only other time was at that massive dance.

Sawyer: Don't remind me. I wonder if she ever got the red punch out of her dress.

Todd. Probably not.

I helped him up and we continued our way through the basement. Eventually we made it to the steps leading to the first floor. At the bottom was the red heels Piper wore and two trails of blood leading back into the basement. I nearly fainted and accidently dropped Todd.

Sawyer: Sorry.

Todd: Not your fault. You have a fear of blood. I'm fine anyways, you are the one who is pale.

Sawyer: Let's get back up, I think I should try harder.

Todd: Nah, I like you the way you are. Even if you faint at seeing the smallest drop of blood.

I stand up with my legs wobbling and I pull Todd up. We both need each other for support. Neither of could walk on our own. At the top, there was a note and a bowl of blood. I fainted again but this time I could not catch myself. I woke again with Todd tapping my hand, a trick he learned to wake me back up after I faint, and a massive head-ache.

Todd: There we go, awake again.

Sawyer: Thank you. Did you move it?

Todd: Of course, but your own head is bleeding.

Sawyer: Oh great. Where is your shirt?

Todd: On your head.

Sawyer: Oh, thanks.

Todd: No problem. I really want out of here before they show us more blood. I don't know how many times you can pass out?

Sawyer: Nor do I and I don't want to figure it out.

I reach up to give him a kiss and we continue to explore the first floor. We were looking for the front door and whilst we were doing that we found a few more bowls of blood. I thought Todd would have left me by now but when I asked all I got was that he loved me. After some more searching, we found the front door and when we turned the handle, it was lights out for us. And we woke on November 2 in his bedroom. Somehow we got from the mansion to his house and have no memory of it. Laying in between us was note on old paper. It read:

Don't worry children we take only sinners. Your friends however have done a lot of bad things, you might need to make new friends. Come back any time, we really enjoyed your company. Oh and sorry for the blood bowls. We would have hidden them if we had known, sorry.

Ta ta, Holmes

Todd: I don't think we will ever return there.

Sawyer: I agree but I still don't know how we got back to your house, in your bedroom.

Todd: Oh wait. There is another part of the note.

My guards placed you here safely but we only had one address. Just to ease your confusion.

Todd: Well, that explains a lot but my mother is going to pop in any moment.

Sawyer: Pretend like we are studying.

Quickly we get out our text books and a notebook but we are not doing any work at all. I reach over to kiss him as his mother walked through the door. Oops.

Ivy (Todd's mother): Sorry to interrupt.

Todd: Don't worry. Good morning.

Sawyer: Morning Mrs. Jaxon.

Ivy: Sweetie call me Ivy. Where have you been? You never came home yesterday.

Todd shoots me a look and I know we are going to have to tell a lie. One that involves him hurting his ankle, one that explains me have bruises and cuts on my head, and one that explains where his shirt went.

Sawyer: That's a long story.

Ivy: Well go on. I have all morning.

Sawyer: We went trick-or-treating and thought we would short cut through the woods but soon we got lost. Todd tripped and injured his ankle. Mrs. Jaxon did you know that I have a fear of blood?

Ivy: Call me Ivy and no.

Sawyer: Well as a Halloween prank someone sprayed fake blood through the woods and I passed out many times.

Ivy: And his shirt?

Todd: Used a bandage for his head.

She bought the lie and this would be our little secret. Piper and Scot have been reported missing and only the two of us know what truly happened. We can never tell because they will arrest us. Back at school we were no longer a secretive couple, we were the popular one now. We were voted the most liked by our class. After high school, we moved out of town because that mansion haunted our every dream.

Allie Beaufont, age nine, fidgeted as her mother adjusted the skirt of her Halloween costume. The fabric was cheap and uncomfortable, and Allie was not feeling very happy.

"Allie, would you hold still?" Her mother huffed exasperatedly, giving a particularly hard tug to the skirt.

"Stop it! Mom! The skirt itches!" Allie shouted, pulling away from her mother and smoothing her skirt down.

"Stop playing with it! Just leave it," her mother commanded.

"I hate this costume! I don't want to be a witch!"

"Oh yes! For the ten-thousandth time, I know! But I wasn't going to waste hours of my time on a zombie costume. Dumbest thing I ever heard, zombie costume!"

Allie frowned, saying, "Jeanie's mom made her a zombie costume! And it was epic!"

"You ungrateful little turd, stop messing with your skirt! Oh, there you are, Henry! What have you done with your hair?"

Allie's seven-year-old brother was dressed in his dinosaur costume, looking like the happiest boy on earth. Allie was jealous. Henry actually had a costume he liked, while she was stuck in this black and purple monstrosity.

"Henry, get back here! I need to brush your hair!"

"No," Henry shouteed, giggling as he avoided his mother's swipes with the hairbrush.

"Ugh, you little brats, stand next to each other. Look smart," their mother said as she grabbed the camera from the table.

Allie smiled as nicely as she could while her mother took pictures of her and Henry. She felt a pinch on her arm and screamed.

"Henry! Mom, Henry pinched me! Punish him!"

"Did not! It was a ghost!"

"Aaaaaaah! Stop grabbing my hair!"

"No, my tail! MOM!"

Their mom looked livid as she screamed, "Both of you, shut up, or you'll be sitting at home while all the other kids get candy! Is that clear? Allison Marie! Is that clear?"

"Why don't you ask Henry?"

"Allison!"

"Yes, it's clear."

"Henry, do you understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"Get outside, don't forget your candy baskets," their mother growled as she grabbed the keys.

"Do you think she's secretly a monster?" Henry whispered to Allie.

"Oh, totally."

"We have to go to the McElroys' house, they always give out massive peanut butter cups."

"Good idea, Henry. Onwards, Sir Dragon."

"Of course, Lady Witch."

"Don't run in the road! Morons!"

"Let's run away from her, Henry! She won't catch us!"

"Hahaha! Let's go!"

"Oh I'm going to punish them so much for this. YOU IDIOTS!"

May: "Let's go, Robby! I want candyyy!"

Robby: "Shhhh! She's coming!"

Jamie: "Guys, mom said we can go but we have to be back by... Where are you guys? May! Robby!"

Robby: "BOO!"

Jamie: "AHHH!"

May: *laughing* "He so scared you, Jamie."

Jamie: "Guyssssss! Now I... I can't go trick-or-treating!"

Robby: "What? Why?"

Jamie: "I... I... I have to change my costume."

May:"What? Why? Let's just go, Jamie. I want to get a big chcocolate bar from Mrs Rue's house. She always has the best candy."

Jamie: "Just go... I have to... I have to change."

May: "You have to change? Why? you just got your costume on."

Jamie: *moving closer to May, so Robby can't hear* "I peed my pants when Robby scared me."

October 29 Friday

In school the twins Panther and Lily were mercilessly bullied by the quadruplets Lea, Leo, Lenny, and Leonie. The two boys always picked on Lily and the two girls always picked on Panther. One day they took it to far. Lily and Panther both went to the bathroom at the same time so that they would always know where the other was. Panther signed to Lily “ Be out in 3 minutes and so will I.” Lily signed back “ I will see you soon.” When Panther went into the bathroom Leo and Lenny covered Panthers mouth so that he wouldn’t be able to scream or anything and he tried to get out of their grasp but it was just too tight the boys punched and kicked Panther and dunked his head into the toilet and Lep said “ You and your sister are such freaks you both never speak you just make dumb hand movements.” Lenny responded by saying “ since you don't talk you don't need a tongue do you.” Both Leo and Lenny’s lips curved into a terrifying smile as Leo pulled out a knife and Lenny forced Panthers mouth open and held his tongue out….” WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE!!!!” yelled a teacher Leo and Lenny both said in sync “panther told us to do it.” the two boys started crying saying they didn't want to and that they were being forced to do it by panther.” The same thing was happening to Lily. Both siblings were in the office being written up and sent home. As Panther and LIly were walking home they both started talking about how today sucked and they were sick of being bullied being blamed for being bullied so they came up with a plan for Halloween to get back at the quadruplets that bully them.Halloween day finally came the twins dressed up in black clothes with clocks to cover up their faces and the followed the quadruplets into a dark alley where they took Leo and Leonie both of them that were lagging behind so the twins moved fast dragging them into the darkness. The twins had wicked smiles and pulled out knives and a slit their throats and ever so carefully as to not be seen hung both of them in a tree and cut smiles into their faces. Lea and Lenny screamed seeing their siblings dead and hung they went to run but Lily pulled out belt that had glass etched into it and whipped it towards Lenny and it wrapped around his throat tight and she pulled him towards her, she pushed him down and took out a dagger and rammed it into his eye socket she pulled it out and ate his eye she then started laughing and licking the blood from his eye then she got sick of his screams and rammed the knife into his heart. Back to panther he was running after Lea he swung barbed wire into her hair and gave it a hard tug and she came flying back. Her hair use to be waves of gold was now ripped from the scalp gushing blood. Panther smiles and drags her by her hair down the street. Then he pulls out a jar and she whispers no please no i'll do anything. He gives her crooked smile and forces her mouth open and pours down her throat acid . she tries to scream but her voice won't come out. He smiles and takes a fish hook and stabs it into her eyelids and drags her to a tree where his sister had already hung her brother and hangs her by the fish hooks in her eye lids and they rip and she tries to scream in pain. Lily gets annoyed and tells him to hurry it up so he take daggers and stabs her straight through her hands and feet into the tree and she bleeds out on the tree hung with her siblings. The twins smile and skip home hand in hand singing how happy they were to be rid of their tormentors.