Halloween Horrors: 11 Urban Legends & Scary Tales for Spooky Season

0:00 On Weekly Spooky. Halloween never ends, but October is basically here. The air is sharp and the pumpkins are plotting, and our vault of Halloween horror stories is just itching to be opened. I'm your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto. Grab a cozy seat, maybe a candle or three, and follow me down into the stacks, past the dusty masks as we find something spooky on the shelf reel. We're kicking off these eleven terrifying Halloween tales with the one that started it all, Mischief Night, the first story ever read here on Weekly Spooky, six years ago. It's a monster compilation ready to help you through a late night drive or a long shift at your job. So get cozy, get creepy. Remember, some pranks are more than pranks, and some knocks on the door aren't looking for candy. So let's kick off October right, settle in, and every Tuesday in October we'll bring you another collection to enjoy. Mischief Night by Shane migliovaka Ray had a bad feeling in his gut. Bud had a sinister look in his eye.

1:30 Tonight. It was Bud's idea they go out. There was an unreasonably cold chill to this October night, most likely the reason the tricker treaters were starting to thin out. Bud wanted to do some trick or treating of his own. Ray knew Bud long enough to know that meant some kind of crime would be perpetrated by them. Tonight, Bud swung a beat up paper sack back and forth as they walked. When Ray had asked, Bud told him only that it was a surprime. Ray didn't like his friend's surprises all that much, but without him, Ray would never have made it this far in life. His mother was an out of work nurse, his dad a foreman at a chemical plant. Stuck home with a kid and a husband that was never around. She took her frustrations out on Ray, smacking him around. His dad, too busy and too tired from long shifts, failed to notice or care.

2:28 When he was fifteen, Ray ran away from home. Those first few years had been harder than hell. He'd resorted to things he'd never thought he was capable of. Then he met Bud, a former runaway himself. They were kindred spirits. Bud knew his way around the streets. Ray owed him no matter what the man did, he wouldn't desert him, not to mention he was more than a little afraid of him. A kid in a skeleton costume bounded down the side I'd walked towards them, happily clutching a full bag of candy in his arms. As he passed by, Bud stuck out a leg, sending the kid crashing to the sidewalk, his bag of candy landing next to him, some of the candy spilling onto the sidewalk in lawn.

3:16 The kid started blubbering as he rubbed his knee. Bud knelt down and looked at the kid. Did you have a nice trip? Kid? The kid shook his head back and forth. You tripped me? Maybe you're just clumsy, kid, Bud laughed. He snatched up the kid's bag of candy. Hey, that's mine, the kid hollered, give it back. There was a flash of steel. Bud held out a switchblade he carried sh He whispered. Ray felt his heart quicken. What was Bud gonna do to this kid? He'd never seen him hurt a kid. Could he go that far? Kill a kid?

3:57 Listen? Kid? Bud said, this is my eye candy, now mine. You tell anybody about it, your parents, a cop, anybody, and I'll make you watch as I kill him because I'm the Boogeyman and I know where you live. Got it? The kid near tears, more than likely pissing his pants, nodded good. Now run the fuck along and don't talk to fucking strangers. The kid high tailed that his Bud laughed, sniffing the air as he looked at Ray. I think that kid shit his pants? Or was it you? Fuck? Ray? Managed? Fuck man.

4:37 This made Bud laugh louder, handing the bag of ill gotten candy to Ray have some. Shaking his head, Ray reached into the bag, grabbing a small bag of sour patch. Kids. What are we doing out here tonight? Man? He popped a red sour patch into his mouth. Besides mugging little kids, Well, my man, I want to do something more adult than tricker treating. Bud motioned to the houses up and down the street. Pick one, pick a good one, and we'll have ourselves some fun. Ray let his eyes wander over the houses, nice upper middle class homes, some decorated to the hilt for Halloween. Others bore nothing at all. One house in particular, A large grim reaper stood on the lawn, his eyes glowing. A witch stood next to him, cackling at a passer by. Purple, orange and green lights decorated the house's exterior. A large glowing ghost hung on the front door, loudly wailing at little kids as they walked up to the front door. That one ray pointed. Bud nodded in approval. A pretty brunette answered the door, handing out candy to the little kids waiting there. Good choice, Amanda followed the outline on the construction paper, a detailed drawing of a skeleton, grinning at her.

6:02 She'd always been pretty good at drawing. Cutting things with scissors was another thing. Next to her. Amanda's little brother, Kyle, coughed as he colored in a pumpkin she'd drawn earlier. They sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by snacks in colored paper. What a drag Stuck at home on Halloween night, looking after her sick kid brother. Her parents were off to have dinner and then a movie. She was missing Stevie Lee's big Halloween party at the Mill Creek Farms. She'd just got her driver's license and barely got to use it. Why couldn't her parents cancel? Why did it have to be her? She looked at her brother. It sucked for him too. He'd really been looking forward to trick her treating tonight. Instead, they were stuck home together.

6:46 Both of them had gotten bored watching horror movies on TV. She decided maybe making something would lift their spirits. The horror thon will be back with Night of the Killer Lobsters after reward from our ghoulish sponsors. The television played in an empty living room. The ghost hanging on the front door wailed, breaking Amanda's thoughts. The scissors slipped, causing her to poke her thumb. Oh shit, she hollered, you okay? Kyle asked, yeah, you didn't hear me? Swear right? He gave her a thumbs up. There was a loud knock at the door. Want me to get it, her brother asked. Amanda stood, holding the scissors in one hand. I'll get it. There was another loud knock coming coming.

7:30 Amanda shouted over the ghost's howl. Hold your fucking horses, she said under her breath. Look a man warned on television, that is one of them now as a lobster superimposed over the side of a car, menacing some kids in lover's lane, walking past an upright piano set against one wall. Setting the scissors on the coffee table, Amanda picked up her mom's large ceramic bowl. According to her, it was some family heirloom. A red drop hit the beige carpet. Shit, Amanda growled, looking at the trail of blood drops on the carpet behind her. She hadn't thought the scissors had broken the skin of her thumb. Now she'd have to get bloodstains out of the carpet before mom and Dad get home.

8:12 What next? There was another furious knock. Yeah, yeah, she said, this time, not even trying to hide her annoyance. The pile up of the night's events getting to her so much so Amanda forgot to look through the window to see who was out there first, something she always did. Unlocking the door, she yanked it open. Two men in plastic clown masks stood waiting. Amanda stood, hesitating tricker. The rest of it was cut off as the closer of the two men drove a fist into her stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs and doubling her over Mom's precious heirloom, hitting the floor, shattering, sending candy spilling over the floor.

8:55 Before she could recover, strong hands shoved her back into the living room, the two men rushing in after her. The second man closes the door, locking it and turning off the lights. Amanda tries to stand, earning another punch to the stomach from the first man. We good, he asks. The second peeks out through the curtains, golden, he answered, keeping watch through the drawn curtains. Amanda staggered, hunched over, barely able to gasp her air, much less form words. She wanted to warn her brother, scream out for help, anything. The first man grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head up so they were face to face. His gloved hand touched her cheek. In his other he held a switchblade.

9:36 You alone, girly, yeah, she gasped. What's a looker like. You doing all alone on Halloween night? I was grounded, she managed, tears burning her eyes. That's so, wouldn't be lying? Would you don't have a boyfriend stashed somewhere? Maybe a girlfriend? You know what they say when the cat's away the micel play you play in Pretty Mouse? Amanda coughed. No, too bad, he lamented, gonna behave Yes, Please take whatever and go, she pleaded. The first man picked up the family portrait sitting on the mantel.

10:19 God. She hoped Kyle had heard everything and run and hid, or maybe he'd run out the kitchen door, heading to one of the neighbors for help. He was a smart kid. It was possible. Who says we want to take anything? He answered? Where's Junior? Here? He said, tapping on the picture. He went with my parents tricker treating. Amanda answered, did he now? Her watery eyes wandered the room. Not too far away sat the scissors on the coffee table. So far, all she'd seen was the guy's knife. No guns. If she could reach the scissors, the man chuckled loudly. She met his eyes. He'd I've seen her looking at the scissors. Amanda lunge, leaping towards the scissors. Don't think so, first man said, cutting her off with another punch. Amanda staggered and fell to her knees, the world fading in and out of blackness as the carpet came, rushing up to meet her.

11:15 As she fell, Ray saw the girl go down in a flash, turning away from the window. When he heard the commotion, she hit the carpeted floor and went limp. She Bud knelt down, checking the girl out like a light. He stood, motioning Ray over, I'll stay here with the princess. I want you to check the place out. They got to have something valuable stashed here. Mommy might have some jewelry, or Daddy might have some cash squirreled away. Check the bedrooms first, okay, man, then we can get out of here, Ray said. Her parents could be back any time. Go find something good, Bud said, and if you see somebody, a boyfriend or the brat. He drew a finger across his throat. I'll entertain myself while I wait, he smiled.

12:03 Ray nodded before leaving. God he'd be happy when they were out of there, when he could take off the crummy mask. He was sweating like crazy. Besides the mask, Ray was scared Bud was really on a rip tonight. He knew what Bud was gonna do with the girl, and he wanted no part of it. The fear in his bones of what Bud might do to even him stopped Ray from helping the girl best. He could do was find some shit so they could get the hell out of there. Heading upstairs, Ray searched as quick as he could a bathroom, the boy's bedroom, then the girl's. Nothing. At least there was no boyfriend waiting up here, no little brother playing in his room either. That left the parents bedroom.

12:48 Fuck. He hoped there was something valuable there. He feared what Bud's reaction would be if he came back empty handed. He dumped the dresser drawers, clothes, adildo, and some papers Bill's mostly zip for anything worth a shit looked like the closet was it? Come on, Fox, He said to himself, you're killing me here, opening the sliding closet door, lots of clothes, mostly the mothers. The shelf was crammed full of stuff, but there was one thing that stood out, a metal box bingo. He reached up, pulling it down. A box of pictures fell, spilling on the floor. Holding the heavy box in his arms, Ray saw something that made his heart stop. A little kid hiding in the corner of the closet, huddled behind some of the clothes.

13:37 The kid's eyes widened when he met Ray's gaze. Ray put a finger to his lips. Not a word, kid, he whispered. He knelt, setting the box on the floor, staring at the kid. What the fuck was he gonna do? If he brought the kid downstairs, Bud would kill him, for sure. Ray had a really good idea of what Bud was probably up to now with the girl. Even if Bud let the brat live, there was no reason to subject him to seeing that. Reaching into his back pocket, Ray pulled out his own knife. Looking into the kid's terrified eyes, Ray recognized what he saw there. How many times he had looked up with those same eyes at his mom as she beat the piss out of him. No, he couldn't kill the kid. I want you to stay here, he whispered. Me and my buddy are going soon. Don't come out of here till somebody comes and gets you. Okay.

14:38 The kid nodded good, Ray said. He clapped a hand over the kid's mouth. One more thing. Don't worry, I ain't gonna hurt you. It'll just sting a little. Ray drew the blade out down the kid's cheek, opening up a small cut. The kid squirmed, wanting to holler in pain. Ray's hand suppressing the cry. Done Ray dabbed some of the blood from the cut on his blade. He wasn't taking any chances. If Bud thought he'd killed the kid, that should keep him from wanting to look for the kid. Picking up one of the father's t shirts from the floor, Ray wadded it up and handed it to the kid, telling him to press it to his cheek. Closing the closet again, Ray picked up the metal box, setting it on the bed. Using a solid metal ash tray, he smashed off the flimsy padlock inside the box. It was like Christmas morning had come, early jewelry and a couple of envelopes of cash.

15:37 Score. Picking up his prize, Ray headed downstairs. Amanda heard gentle music playing over the screams of terror coming from the television. She felt the softness of the rug against her back. Her body ached, and she wasn't sure why. Her eyes focused on the man playing the piano. Amanda saw the clown mask and Rehac came crashing back. The last things she remembered was trying to grab the scissors, and then nothing save for scattershot images the man over her, the sounds of fabric tearing. Oh god. She rolled over onto her belly. The other man came rushing in, excited and holding the metal box from her parents closet. The first man opened it, letting out a jubilant hoot. She couldn't hear their words over the frenzy on the TV. Words are no words. A man knew what the blood on the other man's knife meant as he showed it to the first Ray bounded down the stairs, eager to show Bud the lute. Somebody was playing music, a piano or something in the living room. Bud sat at the small piano playing without a care in the world. The girl lay on the carpet, her clothes shredded. He knew what Bud had in mind for the girl. He could have no no, best not to dwell on it. There was nothing he could have done. They were almost out of there anyway. He showed him the contents of the box and then the knife. Good work, Bud said, looking at

17:09 Ray's bloody knife. You're a man now. He motioned towards the girl. Want some Can we just get out of here? Ray asked, fine, fine, I'm getting restless anyway. Bud stood, tickling the piano keys. A wail of anguish and rage rose up over the piano. Over the screams on the television, the men turned to see a bloodied, beaten ban She's standing before them, the scissors in her hands. The girl's expression was filled with so much hate. Ray felt shivers run up and down his spine. She lunged. Ray felt the hot spray hid his face, blood not his, though. He looked over to see the scissors pulling away from Bud's neck, a large bloody hole left in their wake.

17:54 Bud tumbled over the piano bench, gurgling up blood as he desperately tried to stop it from jetting out of his neck, fastening his hands over the wound, blood flowing between his fingers. Standing there, petrified, Ray couldn't help but watch his friends squirm about on the carpet floor, the girl jamming Bud repeatedly in the groin with the scissors. The knife slipped from his fingers. The girl turned from the now dead Bud, her eyes bloodshot, she howled with anger. Please, Ray begged his body. Finally responding, he ran towards the door, slipping on the spilled candy. Inches from his goal, He grabbed a large jagged shard of the broken candy bowl, slicing his gloved hand, swinging at the crazed girl, cutting her arm. The pain didn't FaZe her as she plunged the scissors into Ray's right eye socket with a sickening crunch. Frenzied, Ray pushed her away, fumbling for the door lock. The only thought in his dying brain was to get away, but his fingers couldn't seem to manage the lock. Ray heard the girl breathing behind him. Pulling the scissors from his eye socket, he blindly sliced the air with them.

18:58 The crazed girl crouch watching him till finally his body gave out and he collapsed against the door. It was hard to believe the girl, her face covered with a blank white mask, was his sister. Kyle visited her from time to time at the sanitarium. He was sixteen, now, the same age she'd been when it happened. He touched the scar on his cheek, a constant reminder of that night. Amanda sat there in the day room, staring out the window, never moving her head, never turning. Doctor Chandler said she was near catatonic. The mask, he said she'd started wearing to hide her shame. After that man found him in the closet, Kyle had stayed hidden, staying there till his parents had found him. Amanda had believed the man killed him.

19:55 Perhaps she still did. The doctors were afraid to let him talk to her. The first time had been a disaster. He blamed himself for what happened to her, even though his parents, the copse, and his shrink told him there was nothing he could have done. He'd only been a scared little boy. Sometimes he dreamed about her, Not of that night. No, he dreamed of her escaping here, finding her way over his bed, a pair of bloody scissors in her hand. He watched her for a while. She was. So unnaturally patient, gazing out that window, staring into the distance, waiting The Halloween heist by Rob Fields. I don't mind telling you how great it is to wake up to a nice, warm female body most every morning, especially during the fall and winter months. Take this morning for example.

21:08 I'm kinda in between sleep and being awake, but I can feel the soft, warm, naked body I'm spooned up with. Then I hear her moaning softly and feel her moved to lay on her back. Okay, now, I'm fully awake. I start feeling her up and then we kiss. Soon we're having some really awesome mourning sex. I usually only do mourning sex when the night before was just as incredible. We end up going a couple of rounds before we finally decide we're satisfied. Now, I remember the girl I brought to my loft. Her name is Kitty. Oh yeah, I remember the names of all the girls I've ever slept with, and for good reason, I'll get to that.

21:54 I met Kitty at Shakers, a bar that Strickfield University students tend to hang out at. I usually frequent a few of the local bars and even a few outside a Strickfield to find that perfect girl, or the occasional woman to take to bed at least for a night. Kitty really stood out for me last night. I mean, this girl is perfectly stacked, great body, great face, awesome rack, hot ass. Normally I only have to turn on the charm to get a girl to come to bed with me, but once in a while, the girls just come right to you. That was Kitty.

22:34 I bought Kitty a few drinks and just talked with her about whatever she wanted to talk about. See, that's one of the ways you're guaranteed to get girls into your bed. They need to know you're genuinely interested in them. They just want to know you care. And of course you need to make sure you keep your body finally toned, which means watching your diet and making sure you work out most every day. Getting back to kit, the girl was practically begging me to take her to bed. She wore a very form fitting dress that basically told me she wasn't wearing any underwear. I was right when I got her back to the loft and got her dress off. Kitty and I pounded each other many times last night.

23:16 We just couldn't get enough. Normally, after I've had a girl for a night, we part ways. Sometimes I'll get a girl that wants more than just one night. Sometimes I make an exception or two, depending on the girl and how good the sex really was. But most of the time I just tell them I'll call them just to get them the hell out of my loft and out of my life once and for all. But I'll let you in on a little secret. These girls aren't all together out of my life. No, they end up being a part of my collection. See, I've got cameras set up all over the loft that record and store the content onto servers and hard drives that are rigged up.

23:58 When it's time, I'll go and edit the footage and make some quality homemade adult movies that you just can't find anywhere else. Oh, and I can only imagine what kind of quality porno I'll make from Kitty's footage while I'm thinking about it. Getting girls into my bed has been so much better for me since my roommate, Jacob Levine and his stupid girlfriend Genevieve van Sandt both ended up getting murdered in this loft months ago. Yeah, it freaked me the fuck out. I was staying at Raylen Jones's dorm that night. One I forgot a term paper that was there. Two, I'd already had sex with Raylen before I left. As I was about to come into the loft, she called me back and offered to let me spend the night. Guess we both wanted more of each other and I needed that term paper, So there you go. The funny thing was I came back here the next day and found this message written in blood that told me I was glad I didn't actually come in.

24:57 Knowing I had the loft all to myself, I quickly got that blood off the walls and got the room repainted. Since Jacob wasn't here anymore, that meant I could keep whatever he had. I mean, nobody in his family ever came to claim anything that included all the cameras he'd set up. See, Jacob and Genevieve were making homemade porn together. Yeah, she knew about it because she knowingly looked at the cameras. As for me, I managed to cleverly hide the cameras well enough. After I took over the loft. Not a single girl I brought here ever discovered them. But you know what the beauty of being able to make homemade porn is. There are actually a few websites I won't say which ones that'll pay some damn good money for these movies. Being a mirror, I've got more money than I'll ever know what to do with. But enough is never enough. Right every now and then, I'll just sell a video to one of those sites and make some damn good money. As for the girl in the video, who really cares? She ought to be happy that she's getting a lot of attention. Talk about getting to the height of your popularity, and if one of them ends up catching a lot of shit for it, oh well, come to think of it, Kitty has about the same build as a girl I remember sleeping with that I sold a video of Catherine Pierce. Not only did Catherine get expelled by the Dean of Strickfield University himself, her parents disowned her. Now I do know the thing about

26:28 the dean is true, but the thing with her parents might just be rumors. Still, not a single girl ever came back to find me. Why would they. They can't prove that I was in the video. I am very careful to keep my face out of them. All they see is my body, all of her face and body, and all the compromising positions that we did. What are they going to do? Take me to court and sue me? Let them try. What people fail to understand is that I'm Calvin Miron. That's right. I belong to the rich and powerful mirror In family. We've got so much money that we actually own a whole section of Strickfield Commons, a housing community made up of mostly rich people on the east side of Strickfield. We even have our own section walled off to separate ourselves from everybody else. It's been said that we're the top one percent of the top one percent. That's the kind of money I'm talking about. Just being a mirror means that I can get away with pretty much whatever I want.

27:31 But okay, I'm getting too much into myself here, which isn't really a bad thing. Kitty and I finish our mourning sex. I roll off her and onto my back. Then Kitty turns over and gets on top of me. Happy Halloween, she cheers. Then she kisses me. I go ahead and kiss her some more. No, I can't let this girl become a part of my life. But she's so fucking hot. Okay, maybe I can keep her around a little while longer. I've made a few exceptions like this in the past. You're in a pretty good mood today, I say, She packs my lips. Well, we just had fucking incredible sex. And it's Halloween. I love Halloween. That means trick or treating and all kinds of other fun things like parties. Ooh, in costumes. I roll my eyes. Oh, come on, you're telling me you go trick or treating?

28:26 She groans, don't you dare roll your eyes at me, Calvin, Strickfield has their yearly tradition of trick or treating. It's not just for kids here. Anybody can do it, no questions asked, no judgments. She's telling the truth. Many years ago, Strickfield got to be this big Halloween town in addition to being a big college town. Normally, in most other parts of the country, trick or treating is basically limited to just kids. But in Strickfield it doesn't matter how old you are. Anybody's welcome to do it. People of all ages drive in from up towns just to trick or treat right here. Just don't ever think about coming to our part of town to do it. The gates of our part of Strickfield Commons are never open unless we want them open. Okay, you're going trick or treating?

29:15 I reply, well, not just me. Kitty reveals I've got my two roommates coming too, Jamie and Lena. We're gonna go trick or treating and then to a Halloween party afterwards. Sounds like fun, I say, just to make conversation. Then Kitty's face brightens up. Oh my god, you should totally come with us. Tonight. Come on, it'll be fun. I raise my hand a little and shake my head. No, I don't think so. I'm not much into Halloween. Kitty moves and sits on me. I have to admit I love Kitty's naked body from this angle. Then she caresses her tits just a little.

29:55 I know my girls would just love to meet you. They're going to ask why I never came home last night. Come on, baby, they're both hot like me. It'll be so much fun. Fine, Kitty's just guaranteed another night with me tonight. To be honest, I won't mind taking this fully stacked babe to bed again. Kitty squeals with the light and finally gets off me. I actually let her take a shower here, which I usually never let girls. I don't want to see you again, do. I get in the shower with her and we make out some more. When we finish, we both get dressed. Then we make arrangements on where to meet. Then we go our separate ways for the time being. That night, I'm waiting for Kitty at Wilder Hall. I'm wearing my costume, which is a pirate. I just finish with an energy drink and toss the can away when I see Kitty coming in through the doors. On the other side, she has two other girls with her. Kitty points to me, and then the three of them come.

30:51 To see me. Glad you decided to come, Kitty says excitedly. Of course, she would be dressed up as a sexy kitty cat, a full form fitting bodysuit that tells me she's still not wearing underwear and shows a lot of her ample cleavage, a long tail, stiletto boots, and caddiers on her head. Seeing all three of these babes in my sight at once, imagine if I could get all three of them together in my loft. I'll bet one of the sites would pay big money for a video of me and the three of them. Kitty motions to the girl on her right. This is Jamie. She's dressed up like a sexy nurse, seemingly plastic uniform that shapes to her voluptuous body, nicely white knee high boots, a pink wig, and more cleavage.

31:38 Then Kitty motions to her left, and this is Lena. She's dressed up like a sexy version of Little Red riding hood revealing outfit with more cleavage face, nicely made up, red pantyhose with garter belts, red shoes, and red hair dyed. Maybe Kitty and Jamie have those plastic pumpkin baskets. Lena has a small picnic it that matches her costume. All I brought was a pillowcase. Ready to go, babe, Kitty asks, Oh, I'm definitely ready, I assured her. The four of us leave Wilder Hall and go trick or treating. We go up and down one block and then several others. These girls want to get as much candy as they possibly can.

32:21 We all end up getting some good hauls along the way. I learned some things about Jamie and Lena. Turns out Jamie's into having a good time more than anything. I'm definitely looking to hook up at our little party tonight, she says in her sexy voice. I'm always looking to play the nurse and let a good doctor take my temperature. Then she winks at me. Now I feel Lena move up right next to me. Oh but Jamie, why should he limit himself to your bubble butt when he could have these. Lena make sure nobody's around before she pulls down her top and shows me what she's passed in her upper basket. She covers them back up. Shortly after, you, total slut. Jamie cries and unzips her top a little to show me her perfect tits, then she covers them back up. I'm more put together than you are anyways, Kitty groans, Come on, you two. The cops are out here patrolling tonight. We don't need to be getting arrested before we can go to our party. Oh shit, you're right, Lena agrees. Then she wraps her arm around mine. You are coming to our party when we're done trick or treating right, well, some deliberate wishy washiness. Remember you have to make it about the girls if you want to get laid. Jamie wraps up my other arm. Of course he is, especially since I'm going to be the one fucking him tonight. But Kitty has something to say about that. Bitches,

33:53 If anybody in our little Motley trio here is taking him to bed again, it's going to be yours, truly, so back the fuck off. Now I get to hear these three fight and argue about who's going to be the lucky one. Yeah, I definitely want all three of them. I just have to work my charms on them. But I'm sure I can easily pull this off. Besides, three girls at once isn't necessarily a bad thing, right, I'm already imagining the kind of money i'll get for this for some video. It's time to make this about them if I want to make this about me. So what do you lovely ladies do? I mean?

34:34 I know your students. Kitty told me you all were What are you all majoring in? Turns out they're all former med students who came to Strickfield University on scholarships because of the excellent medical program there. Now they've moved on to bigger and better things, applying what they've learned. I've definitely slept with plenty of med students. I even took a class in medical terminology just to be able to keep up with their conversations. Tell me about the medical fields they're in. None of them say anything about being nurses. But the only one who says she's a surgeon is Kitty. At Strickfield, I clocked in some decent class hours just doing surgeries. What have you operated on recently?

35:15 I asked Kitty. I actually had to do kidney removals. A couple of days ago, she says, the patient I was working on had non functioning kidneys. I had to remove them both. The patient is on machines now waiting for new donor kidneys. Once they come, I'll be putting them in My eyes widened a little. Is doing surgery scary? Kitty shrugs a little, But then it's always scary when you're doing different surgeries for the first time. I mean, you're always afraid you're going to fuck something up. At least when I was at Strickfield University, doctor Pratt was there to supervise me for every surgery I performed. Jamie giggles, probably letting him take her temperature afterwards. Oh fuck you, Kitty groans. It was never like that. It was strictly a mentor student relationship between us. So we keep talking it up until it's eleven o'clock and trigger treating is officially over. Now it's time to get to the Halloween party.

36:11 Jamie cheers, where are we going again? Lena asks to Shakers where else? Kitty answers, Remember we're having a private party there. In fact, we're not far from Shakers now. Kitty's right, Shakers is only a block walk away from here. As soon as we get there, there's just one van in the parking lot. Usually this place is hopping on every holiday or any reason to celebrate something. I remember picking up chicks from here every Halloween and it's always packed. When we get to the door, there's a sign that says closed for a private event. As soon as we get to the door, it opens and the owner comes out. The owner and Kitty exchanged some pleasantries. Then the owner hands are the keys and tells her to make sure to clean up and lock up before leaving. Kitty promises she'll bring the keys by first thing. The four of us go inside. Kitty locks the door behind us. Then we put their hauls of candy down on a table.

37:06 I turned to face them. Wait a minute, there isn't anybody else coming. Nope, Kitty chirps, it's just the four of us. Lina moves to the jukebox. Whoa, there's nothing but Halloween songs in here. Go ahead and play whatever you want, no quarters needed. Kitty tells her this place is paid for and is all ours for the night, including the jukebox, pool tables, video games, and all the food. And alcohol we want. As soon as Lena gets some Halloween tunes going, Jamie steps behind the bar. What do you all want? You're a bartender, I ask her. Not here, but it's great spending cash when I'm working, she says.

37:48 We give Jamie our drink orders, which she makes up quite professionally. So now we're dancing to Halloween music and drinking and having an awesome time. After a while, we're all starting to feel a little drunk. Lena starts laughing and climbs up onto the bar When a Halloween song with a really fast beat starts playing. She's dancing it up as she's taking more SIPs of her drink. Jamie looks up at her and grins. Then she and Kitty both start squealing loudly. When Lena exposes her tits, Kitty hops up onto the bar with her and dances, exposing her ample assets too. I feel Jamie's hand on my forearm. I look to her and see she's got her tits out. Also. How about another drink, honey, I quickly down the rest of my glass and hand it to her. Top me off, pretty lady. Jamie gives me a very sexy smile and turns around to make my drink. I keep my eyes on the show above me. Then my eyes grow wide as Kitty and Lena come together and lock lips. They kiss hungrily for a little bit before Jamie returns with my drink. Then Jamie also gets on top of the bar and starts dancing. All three of them take turns kissing each other in front of me as I take SIPs of my refill. Ma, man, what I am going to have tonight? I say to myself. I down my drink and keep watching the show. After a little bit, I start to wonder if maybe I should have slowed down on my drinks. I try to keep my composure and keep watching the show. It's when I see Lena wrapping her arms around Kitty from behind that I'm really

39:19 starting to lose my grip on things more. If I didn't know any better, i'd swear I was feeling really tired. It's becoming harder and harder to focus on these three sex kittens. Then I can't help myself. I just lower my head on the bar and feel myself fade away. As I'm starting to wake up, I'm feeling really really cold. I have to force myself to wake up completely. I have to see where those three lovelies are, but they're not here. What the fuck? I groan. I see that I'm in a bathroom that looks like it's in some cheap motel somewhere, and I look down to see the tub is completely filled with ice. What the fuck?

40:06 I yell. I'm ready to pull myself out, But then I see a little table next to the tub. My smartphone's on it and has a message taped to it. Do not leave the tub. Call nine one one for an ambulance. Now, I don't fuck around and quickly call nine one one. I tell the. Operator what's going on and I don't know where I am. She's able to trace the call and says she's sending an ambulance. Now. When I finish the call, I just sit here and wait. It's only a matter of minutes before I hear the door to the motel room opening up. Then two paramedics come in. They both gasp in surprised when they see my situation. They quickly come to me and look me over.

40:51 Then one of them points behind me, look at this. The other paramedic comes over and sees what his partner sees what I demanded, what is it? Then they both looked me in the face. We need to get you to the hospital, stat one of them says, we'll go get a stretcher and come right back. So now I'm stuck here at Strickfield General Hospital. I just can't believe this shit. I'm stuck here in this fucking hospital bed with all this shit hooked. Up to me. The paramedics brought me here. The doctor looked at my back and quickly examined me, told me that I had fresh stitches in my lower back that looked professionally done after an X ray. I practically shit myself when the doctor told me told me my fucking kidneys are gone. Yeah, that's right. I'm fucking stuck here until i can get at least one new kidney, which I'm told could take quite a long time since I'm on a fucking waiting list and they have to wait for a kidney donor match for me. I keep telling these fuckers, I'm Calvin Miern.

41:59 I don't belieng on a fucking waiting list. A lot of good my name does me now. Just then the nurse brings me what looks like a tablet and says it was sent here with specific instructions to give it to me. I snatched the tablet from her and glare at her for a minute before she leaves. I turn on the tablet and see only a few apps. I tap the one that says play me first and immediately recognize one of the porn videos I made. I see the familiar face and now know who Kitty is. She was definitely Catherine Pierce. Not long after her video posted, she got in some serious shit with the dean at Strickfield University and ended up being expelled. I tap the app that says play me second and see a second porn video that I made, and then I recognize Jamie, or rather Belinda James. She ended up in the same boat as Catherine went before the dean, ended up getting expelled, became disgraced, parents threw her out. Not my problem. The play me third app just brought up a PDF of.

43:18 A term paper. I saw the big red words copied from another student written all over the paper and discovered that Lena was really Raylene Jones. The night Jacob and Genevieve were both murdered. I went back to her dorm and spent the night with her. We were both in the same world history class and had a term paper due I stole her term paper, retyped it in my own words, and submitted it as my own. When she reprinted and submitted her paper, the professor later sent it to the Dean. Raylen pled her case, but she got expelled anyway. Ye play me fourth and get a video of the three of them.

44:05 No Halloween costumes. Catherine had grown her hair longer than I remembered and dyed it black. I remember Catherine was a blonde. Rayleen and Belinda had been wearing wigs. They both have shorter brown hair. Catherine speaks up first, surprise, asshole, Now you know what this is about. You took from us, disgraced us, so we took from you. Belinda speaks up next. You have all the money in the world, yet you just kept right on taking it. Wasn't enough for you to exploit us for your sexual gain. You had to keep exploiting us for even more. Well, like Catherine said, now we exploited you. Do you have any idea how much a pair of perfectly good kidneys like yours, Celf wor on the black market? Ray Len speaks now. Must have been nice to have slept with me and then get away with stealing my term paper and submitting it as your own, all while pinning what you did on me.

45:04 You took from us and didn't give a shit. But guess what, You're going to be stuck in that hospital bed for probably a very long time, and then there's going to be another place you're going to be stuck in for a very long time. If you ever get another kidney. Tap the last app and you'll see I tap the finish Me app and see a video of the police going through my loft and finding all the cameras. Another angle shows them finding my hard drives and servers with all my homemade porn videos. Then I hear Catherine in the background. Maybe you'll rot in prison, and maybe you won't, but we took our revenge against you. Oh and don't bother trying to look for us. We're somewhere you'll never find us. We're applying our medical experience on the black market now, so we'll just keep looking for more rich pieces of shit like you and harvesting whatever's needed.

45:56 So this Halloween, you got the trick and got the treats thanks for your pillow sack of candy. By the way. Also, that patient I was telling you about will benefit greatly from your kidneys. In fact, I'm putting them in right now as you're watching these apps. Have a nice life, whatever's left of it. The video ends and then the apps all disappear. The next thing I know, two detectives from the Strickfield Police Department are here to see me, and I'm sure they're not here to ask me if I'm all right. Photo Sensitive by Joe Salt. Lacey set the cardboard box down at the door's threshold and took a minute. This was the last box, and she was finally moved in to her new home. It really was a long time coming. She had saved up for years to afford a house of her own. No more apartments with noisy manessabors. She was on her own out here in the country. It really was a steal. Nowhere could she find a three bedroom house for this cheap she had been looking for a while. The best part would be the commute. She was now only five minutes from work as manager of the tabletop game store Dragon's Den.

47:20 She had been there since high school, working her way up to her position. Get a move on, bitch, came a voice from behind Lacey as her sister, Simone bumped into her. Are you trying out your future as a door? I'm just taking in the moment. This is kind of a big deal, Lacey said, and moved into the house. Her sister was always the impatient one, but as far as older sisters go, she wasn't half bad. There really wasn't much of a rivalry growing up together. When Simone and her friends got into witchcraft, they would let her sit in the corner and watch them. She had no idea what they were doing back then, the age difference was too much. Year old can barely understand what the high school seniors were doing, but it seemed exciting to Lacey.

48:06 They entered the kitchen and Lacey put the kettle on the stove. The cold late October morning chilled the bones. The furnace guy was coming later today to clean it and make sure it was good, and she didn't want to turn it on until he said it was okay. So which bedroom will be mine when I leave, dan, Simone asked, pushing her auburn hair out of her face. You can have the basement, seems more your style, Lacey joked. You have all the luck, little sis. You know that right single, owning your own house. I envy you. Ha. I'll be lucky if I can afford groceries after the mortgage. You don't seem to have that problem, though, Lacey joked, poking her sister in her belly.

48:50 I miss this. Living in North Carolina kind of sucks, to be honest, Simone finished, well, at least I got three more days to hang here with you in New York. I fly back on November first. Don't blame me, You're the idiot that decided to chase your dreams, Lacey said, as the tea kettle began to whistle. They spent the rest of the day putting Lacey's belongings away and making the house feel more like a home. She was getting worried about the furnace. The guy they sent over had been down there a long time. He had startled her when he showed up. One minute, she was in the kitchen putting away the dishes that didn't get broke from Simone's lousy packing.

49:30 The next he was standing in the doorway. Neither sister heard him enter the house. When she saw him there leaning against the kitchen doorway. It made her jump. She hadn't heard a noise from the basement in a while and went downstairs to check on him. Since Simone decided to take a nap on the couch. She always could fall asleep anywhere. It was like turning off a switch. Lacey used to tease her and call her a robot. She descended the wooden basement stairs slowly. Always hated basements. She didn't like the dark, open space. She knew the fear was irrational in her imagination. Once a space was empty and dark, that's when spooky things could fill the space.

50:15 She decided in that moment that she would just leave the basement lights on from now on. That would give her peace of mind. At least almost done. The furnace looks good even for sitting, as long as it did. I put a heavy duty air filter in there because of the dirt, the furnace guy said, pointing next to the loose dirt near the washer and dryer. His name tag on his blue workshirt said, Brad, thank you. I wonder why they never finished the basement, She replied, Brad kind of gave her a weird look. Like the answer should be obvious. It's going to be ninety dollars for the service. I just need to pack up my tools. Cash or check works. I don't have a way to take a credit card, he said. As the furnace kicked on the first time since she moved in. She couldn't wait for the warmth. She shivered from the cold. She headed upstairs to get the man his money. She had enough cash to cover it. Simone was snoring, so Lacey took a few seconds to record it on her cell phone to blackmailer later, like sisters would do. She giggled with glee at the thought. A moment later, Brad entered the kitchen where she was taking the cash from her purse.

51:26 She handed over the cash to him. She noticed he wore a gold ring. Too bad he was taken. He was a little older, but he was good looking. Thanks. I ran out of her sipts. I'll have the office send one over in the mail if that's okay with you, Brad asked with a smile. Yeah, that's fine, thanks for coming on short notice. The office said they weren't sure if they could send someone that quick. I'll definitely be calling you guys. For all my furnace stuff. Let me walk you out, Lacey said, sure thing, Brad said, and turned towards the front door of the house house. His tool belt hit Simone's teacup, which fell to the floor and shattered. Oh damn, I'm so sorry. I can be a clutch sometimes, he said, apologetically. Let me pick this up. No, it's okay, I'll get it, Lacy said, grabbing some paper towels for the spilled tea. She got down on her knees and began to clean it up. Oh okay, then I'll just show myself out, Brad said, and left the kitchen.

52:23 Simone entered the kitchen a second later. Hey, what happened? She asked. You left your mug on the edge of the table and Brad knocked it over on his way out. Lacey said, picking up the broken pieces in her hand. Who's Brad? Do you have a secret boyfriend you haven't told me about? Simone joked and helped her pick up the pieces of the mug. You must have seen him. He was just there he fixed the furnace. Lacey explained, I just woke up. Must have just missed him, Simone said, Was he cute? He had his charm. Now that we have heat, let's get a pizza and watch some cheesy horror movies. I think I'm done for the day, Lacey said, fine with me, Simone replied. Later that night, Lacey washed up for bed. It was fun having her sister around.

53:11 After living alone for so long, it was good to have someone to talk to. She didn't really realize how lonely she actually was. Simone had passed out halfway through chopping mall. Lacey left her on the couch, even though they had set up one of the spare bedrooms for her. She crawled into bed and checked her phone. No new messages. She really was lonely. She decided she would try to be a little more outgoing and make an effort to meet someone. It didn't have to be romantic, just someone to watch movies with or something. She placed her phone on the nightstand and closed her eyes. The next morning, Lacey woke with a start. She had had a nightmare. She couldn't remember it, just the uneasy feeling. It gave her a sleazy, greasy feeling. She got out of bed and looked for phone. She shook out the blankets and it fell to the floor. She looked at the nightstand for a moment and then shrugged. She had been pretty tired last night. She heard Simone downstairs in the kitchen and smelled bacon cooking. Her stomach rumbled in agreement with the delicious odor. She went downstairs and sat at the table.

54:20 The kettle was already on. She checked her messages again, still nothing. Simone looked at her with a cocked head. Someone special getting a hold of you, she asked. No, no messages, she said with a sigh, and put her phone on the table. I'm sorry, Brad hasn't sexted you, Simone said, and set a plate of food down in front of her little sister. It reminded her when they both lived at home and she had to babysit. Wait until I. Go back to North Carolina before having him spend the night. I need my beauty sleep. I don't need you to keeping me up all night, Simone joked me, keeping you up, that's rich. You know how loud you snore, Lacey said, and reached for her phone. I certainly do not snore, Simone said loudly. Dan would have told me when we moved in together. I have proof, Lacey said, and opened the photos on her phone. Her face went pale, and she dropped her phone onto her plate of eggs and bacon. Lacey, what is it? Simone said? That wasn't very funny, Lacey said, cleaning off her phone. Simone gave her a confused look.

55:32 Taking those pictures last night, Lacey finished, I don't know what you're talking about. Let me see, Simone said, and grabbed her phone from her. There were a half dozen pictures of Lacey's sleeping in the same pajamas she was wearing now, except the last one. The last one, Lacey's top was pulled up, exposing her breasts. These are from last night, Simone asked, Yeah, that's the new room around me. When did you take them? Lacey asked. She looked at her plate, but she had lost her appetite. I swear it wasn't me. The last thing I remember is falling asleep during the movie and waking up like a half hour before you. I didn't do this, I swear, Simone said.

56:15 You better not be fucking with me, Lacy said and got up. They both went to the bedroom and looked everything over. The windows were still locked, Lacey explained to her sister. How she thought she left her phone on the nightstand and when she woke it was on the bed. Both of them agreed that it was really creepy. They got dressed and went to the hardware store to get new locks for all the doors. As the day grew long, Lacey dreaded going to sleep in that room. The more she thought about it, the closer to a panic attack she got. Around eight, she came up with the idea of her sister sleeping in there with her Before they went to bed. They checked every window and door in the house to make sure they were locked. Satisfied everything was secure, they went upstairs. I don't know what's going to keep me up more the thought of those pictures, or you're snoring, Lacey joked as she put her phone in the drawer on the nightstand. I don't snore, Simone refuted.

57:15 Lacey's eyes cracked open. It was light out. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Simone sleeping next to her. She didn't realize what a comfort her sister had been. She rolled over towards the door, thinking about going back to sleep. Startled, she sat up straight in bed. Her cell phone was on top of the nightstand. She reached for it with one hand while the other instinctively itched her side. She lifted her shirt and looked at the spot that itched. There were scratch marks across her side. Did she just do that? Her eyes darted to her cell phone. She quickly opened it and looked. Simone, she said, and without taking her eyes off the phone, slapped her sister in the face.

57:56 Get up. The panic in her voice snapped Simone out of her sound sleep. What is it, her older sister asked. It happened again, Lacy said, and dropped her phone into her sister's lap. It couldn't have I was here all night, Simone said, with disbelief. She began to scroll through the pictures, her eyes widening with each one. The first two pictures were just like the night before. After that they got more perverse again. A topless photo of her a wide shot. Simone was in the photo as well, but asleep an undisturbed. The second topless photo showed the scratch on her side.

58:39 They were from the middle of the night, four gouges across her belly off on the side. The next photo showed a close up on her face. A hand from the photographer could be seen holding her head to the side. The back of the hand was obscured by a blue blur that continued out of frame. What's this, Simone asked, asked, that's a shirt I think like a work Oh shit, oh shit, Lacy said, and started to hyperventilate. I know who it is. It's Brad, she cried. Okay, let's call the cops and nail this fucker, Simone said, and dialed nine one one from Lacey's phone. They got up out of bed to meet the police at the door. She explained everything to the officer that came to take her statement. His name was Officer John O'Neill, and he was a new transfer and therefore sent on things like this. He said, once he reports back, they would make this case a priority.

59:36 He paid attention to Lacey as she told him every detail she could remember. He genuinely seemed like he cared, and that made her feel better. He left with a promise to get back to her later that day with whatever he could find. Maybe I can stay a few more days until we get some answers, Simone said, as they hung the last of the Halloween decorations. This used to be their favorite holiday. Now neither of them could stop thinking about those photos. You don't have to. I'm sure Dan is waiting for you to get home, Lacey said, but the tone in her voice revealed she felt the opposite way. It's no problem, He'll just have to cook for himself a little longer, she said, probably just order out every meal. To be honest, if it's no bother, I would appreciate it. Lacey said, Hey, do you still do that which thing like you used to do back in high school. No, I haven't talked to those girls in years. They were really into it. I just was there to be the third witch. I think they probably watched too much Charmed, although I would turn Lesbo for Alyssa Milano. Sorry, Dan, Lacey's older sister said with a smile.

1:00:51 They sat in silence for a moment. Wait, were you thinking of doing some protection magic or something. I don't know the cops are on it, but I would feel safer, Lacey said, and grabbed Darcy's peanut butter cup from the candy dish next to the front door. I don't think we knew what we were doing. We were just being edgy and different. Nothing ever happened with that stuff. Simone explained and grabbed Erce's too. I can look them up on Facebook and see what they say if you want. Lacey nodded her head and went into the living room. She plopped down on the couch and wondered when Officer John was going to call her in a few hours.

1:01:32 It was going to be dark and she wanted some progress. Maybe him calling to tell her that Brad was rotting in jail and would never bother her again. That would be ideal. Her dream house has been turning into a nightmare. What had she done to deserve this? Snap out of it? Sis, It's ten minutes to go time, Simone said, pointing at the clock. Trick or treating was about to start. It was supposed to be a good feeling, the first time she could give out candy from her own home, but she felt emotionless and sighed distant. The last two days had taken the fun out of everything. A quick phone check showed that no one had called her. No news was good news, that was the saying right. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. She could hear kids in the street, but none rang her doorbell. She began to eat the candy.

1:02:23 She was a little disappointed. To be honest, seeing all the happy children would be a good distraction. You want to watch something, she asked her sister. Sure, what did you have in mind? By the way, Rachel got back to me, she told me what to do to protect the house and keep danger out. I might have to run out to the store really quick. Do you mind being here alone while I go? Simone asked, well, I guess as long as I'm awake, I seem to be safe, she joked. The doorbell rang and they both looked at it. Well, answer it, Simone said, with a showing Lacy jumped up and ran to the door. Excited to get her first trick or treater, She pulled the door open and presented the bowl of candy. She did so a little too eagerly, and two twigs went overboard towards Officer John on the front step. He caught them instinctively and held them up.

1:03:18 If I catch them, can I keep them? He asked playfully? And who are you supposed to be? Little boy? Lacey joked with him. They both smiled. Simone pointed from Lacey to the officer and made a whistle noise out of sight of him. Lacey rolled her eyes at her sister. She was always playing match maker officer. Can you stay with my sister for a few minutes while I ran to the store. She would really appreciate it, Simone said and winked at her sister. Sure, he said, and turned to Lacey. You can call me John. I'm off duty. Just wanted to give her some information that I discovered today. Well, by all means, give it to her, Simone said, and slipped out the door. I took your car keys. Be back in like an hour or so, she said as she ran down the driveway. Come in, would you like anything?

1:04:09 Oh? This TwixT was plenty. I couldn't ask for anything more, he said as they entered the living room. Listen, what I need to tell you is a kind of scary. We better sit down. They both sat on the couch and Lacy turned off the cheesy movie she was watching, Rubber. She just wasn't in the mood for a story about a killer car tire. So I did some research. Because the guys at the station didn't seem very helpful. I'm still new enough for them to prank me. Anyway. This is what I found. The furnace company does not have an employee named Brad. What I saw him, Lacey said, There's more. Not only that, but it seems your house has a resting history. Did the real estate lady tell you about the murders, he asked, Never mind. By the look on your face, I can see she didn't. It's not actually illegal not to tell you. I looked into that as well, at least not in this state, although it is shitty in my opinion, He continued, What happened here, I'm not sure I want to know, actually, Lacey said, looking around the room as if for the first time.

1:05:29 I think you should. There was a serial killer that lived here about fifteen years ago. He used to bring women here and torture them before strangling them and breaking their necks post mortem. There was a police report from a woman who said she escaped this house and told the police about him, but nothing was done. The man's name was Brad, retired police chief Brad Crawford. He opened an HVAC company after retirement. I think that's how he found his victims. Anyway, they both went missing right after that, and they discovered a map and photos in his bedroom. All the photos were in their beds, alive, then the rest were taken here in your room after he'd broke in their necks. Several had scratches on them when they'd struggled.

1:06:21 The map led to the forest out on Route nine, where they found the bodies. All but one woman in the photos were accounted for. The one they couldn't find was the woman who filed the report. It was all kind of swept under the rug because the small community didn't want all the attention. He had fled. The HVAC company went to his nephew, and they doctored a death certificate to close the case. That last part I learned from the court records janitor, who was around back then when I told them of your case. They thought it was a joke someone was playing on me and ignored it, John explained. A tear rolled down Lacey's cheek. John reached and held her hand. I swear, I don't think this is a joke. I won't let this happen, even if the assholes at the station will, he said, and squeezed Lacey laid her head against his shoulder and began to cry.

1:07:16 A little while later, Simone returned and prepped the house as her friend had instructed. After that was done, all three of them settled in to watch a few movies and put a dent in the candy that no trick or treater had come for. It didn't take long for all the stress to overtake Lacey, and she fell asleep on John's shoulder. Simone made herself scarce and went into the den, where she kept all the supplies that Rachel had told her to get. Sometime around midnight, Lacey woke. She felt the warmth of John next to her and started to settle into him, but goosebumps spread across her skin like the wind on a lake's surface. She opened her eyes and saw Brad standing in front of her.

1:07:57 She tried to speak, but was frozen in He held her cellphone in his hand and took a picture of her, a wicked smile on his face. He leaned in close to her and placed his icy fingers on her neck, gently tracing the lines of her veins. She shivered from the touch, which was enough to wake John. What the fuck? John yelled out and reached for his gun. Brad turned and sneered at him. The change of attention broke Lacey from her fear, and she jumped over the back of the couch and away from Brad. She called out to Simone. John stood with a pistol drawn and pointed it at Brad. Back off, asshole, It's over, John said. He called out to Lacy over his shoulder. Are you okay? Yeah, John, she said, and called out for Simone again, who came running from the other room. She stopped dead at the sight in front of her. Brad leaned in close to John, his chest mere inches from the gun, pointed at it.

1:08:56 John swallowed hard. Not another step, or I swear to God, I'll fire, he said, You guys, get out of here. He called over his shoulder, call the State boys in. Brad stepped closer, and John fired as promised. The bullet passed through Brad as if you were made of air. He gripped John's neck in his large hands and twisted. Lacey screamed as she watched John's body drop to the ground. After the sickening snap, she grabbed Simone's hand and pulled her towards the hallway. That was when she noticed Simone's other hand held a backpack. They ran into the kitchen since Brad was between them and the front door. In their panic, they fled to a dead end. The only other door in the room led to the basement. They heard a furious scream from deeper in the house, and as quietly as they could, went into the basement. The lights were already on thanks to some pre planning anxiety from Lacey. They ran over to the washer and dryer set up by the unfinished dirt floor. They wiggled behind the dryer as best they could. Wasn't really enough room for both of them. Lacey had to balance herself by placing her hand in the dirt. They heard the basement door open, and they both jumped a little bit. The footsteps sent chills down their spine. Why didn't John's bullets stop him? The footsteps stopped, and that was even worse.

1:10:19 They didn't know where he was. The washer began to shake. She knew they'd been made, but she didn't know what else to do. Simone, on the other hand, was digging in the backpack she had looking for something. She glanced up at her sister stoll him. She whispered. Lacey grabbed a handful of dirt and stood up. Brad was on the other side of the washer. He gave her a predatory look. She tried not to panic as she faced her stalker. You want me, Lacey said, You can't have me, she called out and threw the dirt in his face for a distraction. There was a flash of something in the dirt as it flew, something shiny. Brad took a step back as if the dirt had hurt him, and she started to gain some hope that she wouldn't die tonight.

1:11:06 Hate that, do you? She said, and reached down for more dirt, but her hand found something more unexpected, something stuck in the dirt. She glanced down to see what it was and was shocked at what she saw. It was a hand sticking out of the dirt. Her eyes went back to the shiny object on the floor. It was a ring, just like the one Brad was wearing. Simone, look at the dirt, she called out, and grabbed some more earth to throw at Brad, who had recovered from the first toss. Gross. Simone called out as she pinged the hand's fingers with hers. I think it's him. It's why he disappeared. The woman who reported him came back and got revenge. Does that make him a ghost? You know about that kind of shit, right, Lacey asked, I don't know. Maybe hold on, let me ask Rachel, Simone called out as Lacey pelted Brad with the dirt from his grave. We don't have time for a fucking online chat.

1:12:02 What do we have to do, Lacey called out, irritated. Rachel says, we need to consecrate the grave. Simone answered, after a moment of frantic typing, Oh okay, that sounds easy enough. How the hell do we do that? I'm on it, Simone said, and began to pull stuff from the backpack. Lacey could hear her bad pronunciation of Latin as she kept Brad at bay with the shower of his own grave dirt. She had a rhythm going bend and grab, toss, wait two seconds, bend and toss. It kept him from getting any closer, and the contact with the dirt seemed to hurt him. It was like figuring out a boss strategy in a tabletop or video game, which she had years of experience with. A Few seconds later, the Latin stopped. Lacey gave a quick glance over her shoulder.

1:12:44 Her sister shrugged at her. That should be it, Simone said. Suddenly, a rumble shook the basement. As the dirt swirled around Brad and eerie red light shone from under the dirt and rocks on the floor. Black hands reached up and grabbed Brad's legs. He looked down in horror and clawed at the hands gripping him, Trying to break free. Lacy stepped back against the wall of the basement to get as far away as she could. More and more hands reached up, and a demonic cackling could be heard from the swirling dirt. In a quick second, Brad was pulled straight down into the earth and everything returned to normal. A second passed as the sisters caught their breath. Holy shit, Simone said, Holy shit, Lacy repeated. Guess he's done for?

1:13:34 Dragged straight to hell? One would imagine, Simone said, with a wild eyed look. Lacey stood tall in her new house, which was now her home. Good bad cop in a small. Town on how Low Night by John Oak Dalton Farren didn't know what a viral video was until his daughter showed him a recording of him sleeping in the patrol car in the parking lot of the school. Some asshole kid shot it on a cell phone and sent it to a friend who posted it on Twitter, and the rest went how it went. That was on a Wednesday morning, and by that night there was a dance club mix with Farren's loud snores and a sample from Junie Morrison's song Susie thunder Tussy. By Friday night, the memes were in full swing. There was a screen cap of Farren sleeping in the patrol car and the text read when you've been racial profiling all day and the doughnut shop is out of coffee and a lot worse than that.

1:14:47 Monday night was the town council meeting, and if Farren didn't know anything about social media, he sure didn't think the town council did. But he was wrong. It was a three person board who met once a month at the library with a hand full of old people and a few cranks in the audience. Ellen Solmes was the board president and also the town librarian, which was a tough combination. Joe Lindseed was a retired farmer who held court at the gas station out by the highway most mornings, but didn't do much here. Buster Winsome was the son of a retired teacher named Anne Winsome, and when she passed away. Buster filled the rest of her term, and then nobody could think of any reason to vote him off. Farren gave his usual monthly report about his speeding ticket quota and one or two domestic calls and one or two drunk driving stops, but he skipped over the fight at the high school because he didn't want to mention the high school. The town board seemed to be listening unusually closely, and afterwards Ellen asked him to stay and talk. We've got some changes that have been in the works for a long time, Ellen started.

1:15:52 Farren didn't bother to ask what changes. He just stood there. Ellen started back up. The county agreed to drive through town a couple of times a day, and the high school has been wanting to hire their own resource officer anyway, So we will need you as a town marshall through Halloween on October thirty first. But that's it now, Farren reacted, that's this Friday. It's been in the works for a long while, farn Can I at least get my insurance through December? That's for Abby. It isn't going to work that way. Ellen looked at him with sorrow on her face, but Farren knew it was for herself. When her son got back from Afghanistan, it was Farren who talked him through what it was like to be a civilian. Farren had gone from high school to Desert Shield and then had been town marshall ever since, so maybe he wasn't the best, but he was all Darren Solmes had. It still didn't stop Darren from ending it all with a takarev pistol. He shouldn't have been allowed to bring back from in country. We can let you resign, she said, I'm gonna need the unemployment. Farron answered, nobody is going to know until the week after Thanksgiving. That's the next meeting.

1:17:08 It's okay, I don't got my daughter for Thanksgiving. Farren walked out. The next day, Farren was sitting in his patrol car by the flashing light on the main street. It was Highway one, but through town it was called Hadley Street, although everyone called it had been street like there had been a grocery store there, that there had been a bank, and that empty field had been the school before consolidation. People were speeding and doing rolling stops, but why did that matter? Now? He was talking to his daughter, on his cell phone as the teasing died down at school, he asked, it was never that bad. Mercedes dressed her dog up in an octopus costume and put it on TikTok like Wednesday or Thursday. People got into that. Well, thank Mercedes for me.

1:17:59 Are you going to in trouble? Dad? What Abby was. Really asking was was her father going to be able to pay for her college, which she agreed to do as part of the divorce decree five years ago and was happy to make happen. He worked as a bouncer at a bar called the Red Triangle in Ohio on the weekends, which was outside his agreement as a law officer in Indiana and was why he was asleep Monday morning at his third job as resource officer at the high school. If I get in trouble, I can get out of it, he answered. I'll see you on Halloween. I'll have candy in the patrol car. I'm a senior. I'm too old for trick or treating. Well, walk down there anyways, okay, and they hung up. Farren turned on the radio in the patrol car and put it on the country station. Everybody listened to. His ex was the midday DJ and had done a lunchtime request show for years that Farren still liked. Dolly was singing about how hard it was to be a diamond in a rhinestone world, but then she played a Willie song about the red headed stranger and the yellow haired lady, and his heart fell in his chest. Faren was a redhead and his ex was a blonde, and they danced to this song at their wedding, So that's how Farren knew that the news had spread through the little town about his firing.

1:19:18 His ex was playing the song because she was thinking of him. Faren didn't want to think about what it would be like to be an ex cop. Everybody he'd pulled over and ticketed when pretty women were let go after a smile and sometimes the promise of a drink or more. All the guys he knew had hit girlfriends or wives or kids or all three, and might have accidentally bumped their face on the patrol car, or found their paperwork lost for days when they got dropped off at county. All the dealers who were busted because they weren't his dealer, that was all worth thinking about. But having the pity of his ex wife. That was the worst, and then his thoughts turned to abby. He could pick up more bouncer shifts at the Red Triangle, but not too many more, and he could go back to doing security at the big outdoor venue where they had stock races in the fall in concerts in the summer. But it was an hour each way, and the tweakers were bad.

1:20:19 You could put them in chokeholds and kick them in the balls over and over, and they just didn't seem to feel any pain or care. At least, the Red Triangle had mostly drunks and stoners, and only a biker once in a great while, and anymore. Most of the bikers were cops and firemen running wild on the weekends, and they always got a pass on their behavior. He might be able to scratch together money, but he wouldn't have insurance, medical, or life or anything. He had it until October thirty first, and then there was nothing, and a little thought squatted in the corner and he only looked at it out of the side of his eye.

1:21:01 Halloween night, then Farren sat in his cruiser at the flashing light at Hadley starting around six o'clock and gave out candy. He waited until Abby came by, and she had dressed up after all, and dragged out a couple of girlfriends, and it was all meant to be ironic, but they were having fun. Farren ribbed them, but told his daughter that he loved her because of the thoughts that had been growing in his mind all week. She was wearing a mask, so he couldn't gauge her reaction. As soon as she was gone, he put the patrol car in gear and drove south out of town, and then a little further. Two summers ago, during the town by centennial, they had closed the main road through town and had a carnival come in. But a night or two in there was an immigration raid of some kind and all the carnies were dragged off or ran off.

1:21:52 After a few days of complaints and nobody from the carnival coming back, Joe Lindseed rode his tractor into town and dragged the rides off off, one at a time to a farm field the government was paying him to keep fallow. There, those old rides rotted away, along with some busted up trailers and some other ragged odds and ends. It's where Farren pulled in and parked and saw a little campfire in the dying light. He knew Joe Lindseed's nephews or cousin's kids or some kin hung out here all the time, but Lindseed was kind of his boss, so Farren did nothing, even though he had an idea what they were doing out there. Farren took a Remington eight seventy shotgun out of the trunk and started walking towards the campfire, where several figures crouched or sat in broken down patio furniture, young guys still shirtless. In the fall chill, there was a chemical smell in the air.

1:22:49 Hello Walls. The call from the gloom brought Farren up short. Only one person called him that, and it was his childhood friend and adult weed dealer, Ricky way Ebb. He knew his mother had named him after her favorite singer, Farren Young, and had loved his hit song, Hello Walls. Ricky was a nephew on Joe Lindseed's wife's side, but never came out to this little encampment. People up the road called Rusty Town. You look damn serious, Walls, and all you hillbillies out here look damn jumpy. The energy shifted towards Junior, though who he was junior to. Farren couldn't remember. He was the lead dog in this younger group and went from juvie to county to state prison, and only recently returned from the Grand Tour. The shining whites of his eyes stared out at Farron, and his neck tattoos looked like bruises in the blue light. If you want some of that Leopold gold I had done brought up from Tell City last week, come by my place tomorrow. You don't need to be out here, Ricky said, neither do you.

1:23:53 I ain't never out here, but I got business tonight. I do too, So maybe you can slip out past that tilta whirl and I'll come holler at you tomorrow for that grass. Somebody snickered, he said, grass, shut up, Garwood, Ricky said easily, his eyes trained on Farren Fair and gestured with the shotgun. I tell you what leaving out, Ricky, if there's eight teeth between all of you, I won't take you whole passel of dickheads in for making and dealing meth. Junior, Garwood and the others began to move, but Ricky put up a steadying hand. It dawned on Farren for the first time that Ricky, despite his easy going demeanor, might have been the og of this loose band of related feral criminals. It was just one more thing you had overlooked, not paid attention to. Let's slide walls.

1:24:44 Why don't you ease on out of this here job. Everybody knows. This is your last night, is town Marshall. Let somebody else worry about this tomorrow, Ricky suggested. Junior blinked. Hell if he ain't found until tomorrow, it ain't like killing a cop. Junior had a. Gun in his hand, and then Ricky did too. Farron just stood with the shotgun loose in his own hands. We don't need to think like that, cuz, said Ricky mildly. He knows, said another voice from the growing darkness. Junior nodded for emphasis. What else would he be doing out here on his last day? Ricky studied Faren. That's it, isn't it. It's your last day? God damn, Faren, don't let it go down this way. Think about Abby, you know I am thinking about Abbey. It was the truest thing Faren had ever said, And get her name out of your mouth, Ricky blinked, and Farren swallowed. Then tell your idiot half brothers or second cousins or whatever this island of misfit toys is to stand over against that hall of mirrors with their hands behind their backs.

1:25:49 And make this easy. Ricky shook his head head on back to town, old hoss. I'm trying to talk these kids out of making a bad mistake. It's my mistake. I've been too easy on these young dirt bags because I took most of their moms behind the football stadium at one time or another. Junior finally lifted his gun, a high point nine millimeter, just as Farren had hoped. Only Ricky lifted his own bursa thunder three eighty, and shot his cousin in the face. Garwood fired, and Ricky tipped back in his chair and his legs kicked the air. Garwood turned and fired at Farn next, and Farren felt a hot bite take the bottom of his right ear off. Ricky was up and on his knees, pointing his gun at Garwood when somebody stepped out of the shadow and fired at Ricky. A geyser shot out of Ricky's neck, but he still shot again, and Garwood's jaw disappeared in a cloud of red, and his teeth peppered the campfire. Garwood convulsed and fired, hitting another man in the shadows who started to scream. Farn stood and waited for the bullet, but the new gunman turned and ran for the trailer, flannel shirt flapping behind, and the last man broke and ran as well. Farn watched for a moment, then through his shotgun on the ground.

1:27:01 The remington had been empty, but the glock nineteen and his holster wasn't, and it turned out he needed it. It was one thing to die in a hail of gunfire and another to die in prison. So he walked up and shot the screaming man, then followed the other two towards the trailer. The one in the flannel banged the door open and ran in, but the other veered off. He figured he had the flannel guy boxed in, but had better catch up to the second guy. That guy ran hell bent towards what was labeled the Funhouse, a big sheet metal box that had been built on the back of a flatbed. The funhouse had some sort of zigzag gangplank held up with chains, and Farren watched for a moment as the guy who he finally recognized as the recent high school drop out, Peyton Sandford, tried to navigate the wobbly platform in the dark. He stepped into the round oh of a painted clown's mouth, and the brake must have been off on that tunnel, because the gears started moving and the opening rolled up like a hamster wheel. It would have been fun if Farren wasn't trying to die in the line of duty. Farron fired into the clown's mouth and missed, but the bullet spanged around and finally hit Sandford and knocked him flat. He tried to get up, but just flopped around in there until Farren drew a better bead and shot him again, and Sandford stopped moving. Farren turned away and saw some weird shapes dancing in front of him. He triggered his gun without thinking and heard shattering glass. He had shot right into the stupid half assed hall of mirrors. When

1:28:31 he saw his own image splintering a hundred times, he kept going. Farren beat it for the trailer and quickly realized he'd made a mistake when he stepped through the door, the chemical smell was strong. He saw a. Hole that had been knocked in the back wall, with a blue tarp strung over it and taped over onto another trailer parked right behind. So Farren bolted through the trailer and out the back, hoping for the bullet that would blow up the trailer behind him and everyone around the world beyond. But instead he found the last gunmen standing in an open field nearby, next to a beat up nineteen eighty Plymouth Vulaire roadrunner. Faren knew the beater belonged to a kid everybody called Baby Gates, because once he got so drunk, his friends gated him into a kitchen to sleep it off, and he couldn't figure out how to undo the latch. Even when sober, Baby Gates had popped the trunk and had the gun pointed inside, which Farren immediately flashed on dogfighting. Even Baby Gates couldn't think he could get out of trouble by shooting up a trunk full of drugs, but Farren went ahead and killed him anyway, then walked over to see what Baby Gates could have possibly been thinking. Inside the trunk was a very thin and pale young woman wearing clothes you would throw in a dumpster behind the good Will. The stench of human smells was strong, but the young woman was alive. Farren bent over and vomited in the grass.

1:29:59 Then he felt better. It was the killing of the young men. In the finding of a young woman so close to Abby's age. He had sometimes vomited after killing an Iraq and knew that was part of it. He reached a hand out to the cowering, feebly, moving woman, but finally just reached down and lifted her out and set her on the ground. She was a flat five feet and didn't weigh a buck ten by Farren's eyes. What's your name, miss? The young woman just stood and shook her teeth, chattering. Can you tell me your name? Miss? You're all right now. The young woman slowly opened her mouth, and Farn saw a darkness within. It took Farain a minute to realize the woman had no tongue. Faren looked into her eyes. Okay, we'll go back to my patrol car.

1:30:50 I got a paper and pencil there so you can write your name down. The young woman shook her head. You don't want to write your name down? She shook her head harder. The truth punched farin between the eyes. How long ago did you get taken? The young woman lowered her hand until the flat of it hovered around her knee. Faren felt the bile rise in his throat when he thought about the enormity of what had happened to the young woman. Okay, well, we still need to get back to the patrol car. Just keep your eyes on me when we walk that way, and don't look at nothing else. The young woman nodded, and Faren led her away from the road runner. But as he neared the camp fire once more, he saw movement again. He raised a hand for the young woman to stay where she was, and Faren approached the fire, where his old friend Ricky was, somehow still alive, holding a bloody hand to his neck. Faren stood over him. You ain't calling this one in, are you, old hoss? Ricky asked no.

1:31:55 Farin could see Ricky's eyes slide sideways in a glimmer of firelight. I'm glad she's still alive, if it means anything to you. I thought baby Gates was talking shit, some stupid internet thing. I didn't think he could really go and get a girl from somewhere. I was here to make Junior let her go. That does mean something. Where was she from. I don't know exactly, but they bought her in Indianapolis, but I know where she was going. They sold her to them people out at Comfort Farm. Comfort Farm where they had those retreats. My ex went to a writers group out there. Then people went bankrupt two years ago. This is a different group. They're from Jersey, Jersey East Coast people. Man Farren thought on this for a moment, and when he looked down, Ricky was dead.

1:32:50 The young woman was standing and looking. She didn't resist when Farren put her in the front seat of the car. He started the patrol car and turned and looked at her. I'm gonna take you into town and drop you off at the flashing light. There are good people there, and somebody will call the police and the county respond. She grabbed his bicep and wouldn't let go. I can't take you with me because I'm going out to the farm where they were gonna take you, and I ain't planning on coming back. The young woman grabbed and clawed him so hard that instead of making a big u turn to town, He turned off the car and started walking back towards the road runner, with the young woman a ghost trailing behind. He took the keys out of Baby Gates Jean's pocket and threw his uniform shirt on the ground and put on Baby Gates flannel, which only had some blood on it. He didn't say anything when she got into the passenger seat. Then pharrenh bumped over the farm field and onto the highway and straight into darkness.

1:33:47 Comfort Farm was right at the very edge of the county and probably out of his jurisdiction if he was thinking hard about it. But what he was thinking was that he should have noticed somebody building a watchtower on the other side of the big cattle game. Farren idled there and finally honked the horn, and damned if a big spotlight didn't shine out of the tower and point right at the road runner. Farron and the woman sat very still. After a long moment, he heard a deep throated rumble, and here came a nineteen eighty seven Chevy El Camino black on top and silver on bottom that he couldn't help but admire. Some long haired guy with a leather vest over a bare chest came out with a mac ten in one hand and a gym bag in the other and stood on the other side of the cattle gates. Farren waited, knowing he had a flannel up top but uniform pants and a gun belt below.

1:34:39 The guy squinted at the road Runner. You're supposed to keep her in the trunk, idiot, Farren said nothing as the man started to undo the chain holding the cattle gates together. Just for fun. Farron revved the engine and gunned as the chain fell away and banged the gates open and knocked the long haired guy backwards and watched his limbs turn counterclockwise. He heard a gunshot from above, and so he drove straight on into one leg of the tower and crushed the grill of the road Runner. He heard a crack and a creak as the wooden leg gave way, but what happened next was hidden in a cloud of radiator steam. He opened the driver's side door in time to see a guy fall from above and bounce off the hood of the car and AR fifteen going flying. The guy scrambled for his weapon and slid off the hood of the Roadrunner, and Farren shot him before he could get his feet under him. The long haired guy was somehow on his feet and firing into the steam. Farin bent down and scooped up the AR fifteen and let it rip into the darkness. He liked it better than the mac ten.

1:35:40 Anyway. He heard the long haired guy scream as he walked over to the El Camino, accidentally kicking the gym bag on the way. Money spilled out onto the dirt. Farn couldn't believe what he was seeing, but he picked up the bag and threw it in the back of the El Camino. Anyway, somewhere down this dirt road, the big barn you could rent for weddings was all up. There were two guys walking down the path towards them. All the little cabins they used to rent to church groups were all boarded up on both sides of the overgrown track. They had definitely heard a commotion, but weren't in full tilt panic yet. These East Coast types didn't think much of Midwesterners. Farren thought sourly. He climbed into the El Camino, and there was the young woman sitting there already. You got to get out of here. You got me through the gate, but that's as far as I was planning on going with you. There's a bag of money back there, take it and walk to town. She started grabbing at him again, so Farin just put the el Camino in gear and started slowly rolling down the dirt road towards the men in the barn. This one was absolutely not the nineteen seventy el Camino he had lovingly finished restoring when his older brother got sick of it. But it was better than no El Camino at all. When he got close, he floored it, then breaked hard and knocked both men down in one swing from the long back of the car. Farren got out and reached into the back where he had seen a toe chain laying. He pulled it out and hit one guy with it and watched the hook hit him on the ear and yanked part of his face onto the ground. Then Farron got

1:37:10 the other guy as he was standing up and wrapped the chain around his neck. What's in the barn? Farron asked, pulling the chain tighter, but he must have pulled too hard because the guy went limp, blood running from his mouth, and Farren just dropped him in the dirt. Farren climbed back behind the wheel and told the young woman to duck. Then he floored it one more time and drove right at the big barn doors. They didn't bust open as dramatically as he thought, since he was pushing forty five or fifty by the time he reached them, but they splintered well enough that the el Camino went on through and went in a long skid as Farren pumped the brakes. Farn jumped out with the ar fifteen and the glock nineteen pointing straight ahead, and saw he was in the middle of a big space, all painted red, the barn beams, the floor, everything. There were big bright lights everywhere, little cameras with red lights. There was medical equipment in the corners and chains hanging down from above. There were men and women in animal masks. It was the stupidest thing Farren had ever seen. He felt tired. He'd gone this whole night and hadn't met anybody with the juice to kill him. He didn't think any of these people could either.

1:38:21 Then somebody stepped up with an ornate looking knife, and when Farn stuck his hand up to block it, the guy drove it right into Farren's palm. Now something was happening, he thought, and he lifted the glock and blew a hole in the mask man's face. Bone shards blew back and cut his cheeks, and he realized it was a real skull of some kind, not some Halloween town plastic shit like he thought. Faren tried to steady himself on the hood of the El Camino and work the air fifteen. Somebody with a metal pole ran up to him, and too late Farren realized it was a cattle prod. He tried to kick, and it hit him in the leg and him clear to his balls, and he went down on his back involuntarily. The masked man threw the prod aside and came thrusting downward with another fancy knife, but Faren scrambled under the El Camino and popped up on the other side, shooting. Farin could hear a low keening from the front seat and realized it was the young woman, but couldn't do anything but kill everyone in front of him, and hoped she would get it together enough to finally run away. Some woman in a flowing red robe rose from behind a bank of computer monitors and started saying some shit. Farin couldn't hear between the rumbling of the el Camino and the sounds of gunshots, and the keening of the young woman and the screams of the dying.

1:39:38 He shot her, thinking the rest of the might stop fighting when they saw it, but they didn't, and somebody stabbed Farin up around the collarbone, and the blade deflected off and screeched across the el Camino's paint job. The glock was out of AMMO, and so was the Air fifteen, And now we wished he hadn't thrown that Remington shotgun on the ground. But it was all right. He felt about done, But then he started thinking about what that young woman, or even his daughter, or both of them could do with a. Bag of money. And he grabbed the guy who stabbed him around the neck and beat his head onto the car hood until he dropped the bloody knife. Then Faren took it and tried to slip the guy's throat, but it skittered off the bone of the guy's mask, and then he thought maybe this was just a shitty knife, and threw it on the ground. He picked up the cattle prod and used the business end on some asshole with a big hooked knife and then swung at the computer monitors, and it sparked and sputtered, and surprising everyone, started a fire.

1:40:34 Then there was a sharp pain in his back, and he half turned and saw somebody whose wolf mask was half hanging off, was stabbing him with a scalpel from the table full of medical instruments. And it was some guy he had seen a hundred times jogging on the historical trail out where the old railroad had been. Then Faren got pissed because it was one thing to die in the line of duty, and it was another thing to die of a thousand cuts from a bunch of dirt bags who got all their ideas from beating off to death metal videos. So he headbutted the guy and clawed at his scalpel, but couldn't get it loose. He heard a loud behind him and saw some douchebag holding a Mossburg pump action shotgun pointed at him. Faraen grabbed the barrel and forced it upwards upwards until he forced it under the guy's chin. The blast showered Faran with gore, but he'd lost track of whose blood was whose. There was somebody running away from the growing flames, and Faran brought the barrel of the mossburg down on his head, and the guy stumbled and fell. Farron wiped blood from his eyes and didn't see anyone else running or moving at all, just the steady red lights looking at him from every angle of the room. And so he lay down next to the last corpse and let the fire warm his feet and waited to see if anything else would happen. Unfortunately, Farron woke up not in that red room, but in a white room the county hospital, and there was a little boombox covered in stickers on the bedside table, and his wife was talking on the radio. And he knew that the boombox belonged to his daughter, and she

1:42:05 must have left it there, and he must be alive. His daughter came in and started crying, and he did too, not for the same reasons. After a few minutes, he asked, who's the girl. They don't know yet, Abby said, everybody's somebody. Her father whispered, you're a meme again, Abby said, showing him her phone. The video was. Called Sleepy Cop Wakes Up, and somehow there was heavily edited video of the massacre at Comfort Farm what is this, Farah asked, pushing the phone away. You shouldn't be looking at that.

1:42:46 You bust it up. A Red room. It's where they take girls to be tortured, and people pay to watch it on the dark web. The what the bad part of the internet. There was a good part. Somebody put the video out. They said they thought the Red Room was a hoax, so they were recording it. But they are probably just saying that now because they're trying to stay out of jail. Speaking of which, that guy outside the door looks like a fed I don't know what he is, Dad, I reckon he wants to talk to me. He does, but I had to get in here first. By the way, Mom has your phone and is taking all your calls. She's doing what the password is? Still your anniversary?

1:43:29 Dad? Okay, okay, what calls? People want to interview you pay for your story a big podcast called What's That? It's on the internet. You can get paid for that. Abby snuck a glance at the door where the man in the dark suit and red tie loomed. Dad. I think they want your help. I'm not a cop anymore. The town council extended you. Mom got on the radio and raised hell because you were all stabbed and whatever and weren't going to have any insurance. Farren felt like crying again. It had to be the drugs. Well, she's a good woman. The town council still sucks. They only extended it till December thirty. First, Farren tried to shrug small victories. Farren closed his eyes, and when Abby left and the Fed came in, Farren was sound asleep.

1:44:36 The Pumpkin King by David O'Hanlon. Barley and Clyde Sawyer were not the nicest men in Bouchet, Arkansas. If they were, they never would have found themselves in my employment. The rural community of Bouchet was somewhere between a large town and a small city, and had attracted throughout its years a veritable rogues gallery, changing from petty thieves to serial killers. The Sawyer cousins fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The boys worked any number of odd jobs, but often supplemented their income by creative means. The cousins were the perfect partnership, seeing as Barley was strong as an ox and Clyde was well almost as smart as one What Clyde lacked in intelligence, he made up for in loyalty and tenacity, qualities found rarely in men of his ilk, if they're ever found at all.

1:45:33 Clyde brought a heart of gold to the team, fool's gold as it may have been, and damned if he wasn't the best shot I've ever known. Barley, on the other hand, was not. In fact, if the boy managed to hit the broadside of a barn, you could safely bet he'd been aiming for the opposite direction. Luckily for him, he was hell fire in a brawl. Barley also served as the thinker of the two, a meager accomplishment, to be sure. It was, as it turns out, Barley's bright idea that led the boys to my doorstep. My name is barnabas A Lambert, and I will do my best to relate to you the events that would later bring me to employ Barley and Clyde. Some of the details may have been exaggerated in their recollections, so please try not to hold that against me. I'm only telling you how I heard it. Well, some bitch Clyde Barley said. He said it a lot.

1:46:33 It was only by the inflection that Clyde Sawyer knew exactly how to take it. The slow, drawn out tempo of the catchphrase told him. Barley was not at all impressed by the turn of events. Clyde never missed a shot, not even on purpose. It was like every bullet he fired magically found the bull's eye. The fat man's head leaked across the truck bed. Could have at least wrapped him in plastic. Barley griped, I ain't have none. Clyde we and dug in his pocket for his inhaler. That bastard weighs a ton, and I had to pick him up all by my lonesome. If you hadn't shot him in the head, you wouldn't have to pick him up at all. Barley grabbed the man's collar and jerked him out of the back of the truck in three tries.

1:47:15 The body poured over the tailgate into a contorted heap. Ugh. He squirted brainjuice on me. I didn't say anything about shooting him. I ain't saying nothing about not shooting him either. Clyde straightened the corpse out. Things got a little out of hand. I had to improvise out of hand, my ass. You just needed to give him the brick and get the bag of money. Clyde sighed, I got the money and we can sell the brick again. Ain't the point? Clyde. Barley shook his head. What kind of drug dealers can't be trusted to keep their word? Clyde scratched his head. All of them? I reckon, Well, that shit's got a change. Barley grabbed the man's ankles. Lift with your knees. We ain't got no workman's comp Clyde hooked the body under the arms and they began the arduous trek down the levee with their portly cargo. Thanks to Clyde's hair trigger and Barley's short temper, the duo was getting good at disposing of unwanted bodies, a skill they sold to others as well. Clyde, make me a promise. Barley wrestled to fix his grip around the gargantuan thighs. What's that, Barley? Make the fat ones run a bit before you shoot them. Clyde laughed and lost his grip, sending Barley in the body rolling to the bottom of the incline. He stopped laughing when he heard the splash and trotted down quickly, Barley shook off the water and unraveled the plastic sheeting from his pocket in silence. Near silence, anyhow, a low hiss alerted them to another presence. Clever bastard Clyde pointed behind Barley,

1:48:48 that's the same one as last time. The alligator inched closer, but stayed to the water's edge. Gators were smart critters and knew the sound of the sawyer's nineteen seventy eight dodge warlock meant a free meal was coming. Barley laid the sheet out and rolled the man onto it. If they're working, they might as well be getting paid for it, Barley said, and unsheathed the knife from his boot. Hell, we might even get a couple of them to keep at the house. Be it damned sight better than coming way out here to dump a body. Barley ripped open the man's shirt and set about the grim task of hollowing the corpse, while Clyde went up top to retrieve the bags of landscaping rocks. By the time the younger sawyer brought the Duffel bag back, Barley was finished with his end. Barley tossed a kidney to the gaiter to thank him for waiting patiently while Clyde stuffed the body with stones. They wrapped the plastic around the man and secured it with duct tape before loading him into the camouflage John boat. As they rowed away, the gaiter went for the viscera left ashore. The channel wound around a series of bends and into the maze of swamps that occupied the southeast of Fagin County. There was little in the way of civilization in that nook of the natural state.

1:49:58 Barley and Clyde until they reached a tiny island known locally as Frog's Ass, so called because it was bare and wet as an amphibian's behind. Arkinsons can be quite colorful in their colloquialisms. They rolled the body into the water before mooring the boat to the ramshackle pier. Frog's Ass used to be a popular spot with the peculiar Church of Ebenezer Wit, the sinister minister and founder of the nearby community of wits End, was something of a local boogeyman. The Spanish flu found its way into the tiny village and spread amongst the congregation like wildfire. At least that's what they say. Fact of the matter is like most stories in the South, there's the truth and then there's what really happened. Whichever version you believe, the ending is the same. Everyone in wits end died badly.

1:50:49 As the years went on, some of the yokels began venturing to Frog's Ass to party without the nuisances of local law enforcement. Reports of strange occurrences were rampant, as were the disappearances. The island, not much larger than a walmart, was eventually forgotten about except by those of ill repute, those like Barley and Clyde. The boys got off the boat and stretched their legs. Rusted beer cans poked out of the dirt, like headstones of fun times long since dead, and served as the only proof anyone had ever come to the aisle before them. They didn't use the small motor when carrying anything of legal ambiguity, and the two hours of rowing took its toll, so they rested on the island whenever their work took them so far into the wetlands. Barley laid back and let the cool mud soothe his tired muscles. A single cloud drifted lazily across the full moon. Hey Barley Clyde called, as he urinated noisily against a stone protrusion. Come look at this, I reckon, I'll pass. Barley sat up and pulled his shirt back.

1:51:55 Best keep it away from the water, though some snapper might think that little white wiggler of yours is a minnow and bite it right off. This is why you ain't got no friends, Barley. Clyde zipper punctuated the statement, I meant, come look at what I was peeing on. This better be good. Barley left his flashlight sticking out of the mud and joined his cousin. He took off his ball cap and scratched at his shoulder length hair. Yep, that's uh, definitely interesting. It's one of them devil alters, that's what it is. Clyde informed him. That's just lies they tell in movies. Clyde Barley felt the carved lines of the knee high stone pillar. The pentagram means good things.

1:52:36 Most of the time. Folks use it to symbolize the five wounds of Christ. For example, it's even big in China. Damn you always learn in me something cuz Clyde spat tobacco juice across it and inspected it. With his pen light, so this is a good thing. Then Barley checked his watch and grunted, well, Clyde, I don't reckon this one is? Actually how's that you see, Clyde? We was here two nights ago and it weren't. That's a bit worrisome. Climb leaned over closer to the symbol. Maybe we just overlooked it could be. Barley snugged his hat back on his head. But it's been Halloween for about three hours now, and it's a full moon, and I'd much rather we didn't fuck around with the pentagram and the swamp if it's all the same to you, Big Barley. Scared of an old star, ain't that something? Clyde pointed at the indentation in the center of the star. What you reckon that is?

1:53:34 Looks like a hand. Let's get back to the house. We promised we'd do them hay rides for the kiddies tonight. Barley turned to leave, and don't touch the A cypress exploded in a flash of lightning across the swamp. The animals went silent, like scolded children cowering before an angry mother. Barley rubbed his eyes to clear the spots from his vision. Frog's ass shuddered twice, and the muddy bank bubbled. The ground shook again, and Barley's boots sunk into the liquifying soil beneath him. He exhaled sharply and shook his head before looking back at his cousin. Clyde's jaw was hanging open and his hand was pressed firmly in the middle of the bizarre altar well some bitch. Clyde.

1:54:14 The carved star glowed brightly, and the younger Sawyer jumped away, immediately, sinking into the island up to his knees. Barley plodded over quickly as he could and pulled him free. They made slow progress to the john boat as the ground sucked at their legs, trying to pull them inside. The edge of Frog's ass dissolved into drifting clumps of muck as the land mass became nothing more than sludge and broke apart before them. The remnants of the dock collapsed entirely. I told you not to touch it, Barley exclaimed, but you knew I was gonna. The island broke away in a flash and dumped them into the swamp. Barley clung to Clyde's back trying to stay afloat, Barley swam slightly better than a boulder. After all. A pillar of fog rose from the dying island, crackling with its own lightning storm.

1:54:58 Inside its swirling mass, the moon dimmed, and over the symphony of horrid destruction, the Sawyers could hear something much worse. It wasn't laughter, as we'd call it, but rather the perverse imitation of the act by a thing born in a place where joy did not exist. Clyde took great motivation in this and got them to the boat right quick. Barley kicked his feet to keep his head above the black water, while Clyde submerged and cut them free of the shattered dock. They clambered inside the boat, and Clyde shook water from his inhaler for three puffs of salvation. The remains of Frog's ass drifted lazily in all directions, and the tower of fogs spread out across the sky, blotting out the moon for all of Fagan County. Think that's a bad omen, Barley Clyde spat swamp water. Barley clicked the switch of the spotlight mounted on the nose of the boat and shined it across the swamp. A piece of plastic sheeting reflected it back as it floated away.

1:55:56 Bubbles popped next to the boat, and a pudgy face rose silently above the water. Water streamed through the bullet hole like a broken faucet. The man gripped the rim of the boat and jerked it down, sending Clyde into the water with him. The man gripped the rim of the boat and jerked it down, sending Clyde into the water with him. Clyde bobbed up in time to see the obese corpse, breaststroking to his revenge, zombie teeth snapping at the air in anticipation of Clyde's flesh. Clyde shut his eyes tight. The trolling motor hummed to life, and he knew Barley was skinning out before the corpse could eat him too. Then the motor bogged down in an entanglement, whining as it tried to break free. Sticky chunks pelted Clyde's face. Barley must have gotten stuck in the broken remains of the aisle. Clyde feared the revenant would have his vengeance on both the sawyers. Soon enough, Clyde opened his eyes and watched the headless body sink into the swamp for the second time that night. Barley shut off the motor and slung it over his shoulder with a grin.

1:56:49 You swiming home or you want to get yourself in the boat. Barley remounted the motor to its bracket. Clyde pulled himself in inside. There's a chance this might. Be my fault. The rest of the day was without further zombie attacks, and the boys felt assured the incident at Frog's Ass was an isolated one. With it being Halloween, they didn't have any jobs lined up and focused on the evening's task preparing their truck for the hay rides. The Dodge Warlock growled into the daycare's gravel parking lot. Barley stepped down from the lifted pickup, and the much shorter Clyde slid out. The screen door swung open and clacked against the siding. As she came out to meet them, Barley stumbled, drawing an amused snort from Clyde. Everyone in Bouchet was in love with Maude Beaumont. The streaks of green cascading through her blonde French bob shimmered in the late afternoon sun.

1:57:47 She waved to the cousins with her slender fingers, dancing playfully, and smiled in the way that only she can. It was a tactic that melted the hearts and befuddled the minds of men across the county. One had to be careful with Maud, for if you looked into the depths of her eyes, you might not ever return in the same manner you left, as was the case with Barley Sawyer, who fell into those eyes in the seventh grade and found himself perpetually entwined around those playful slender fingers. I must admit I myself have fallen for her charms on some occasion, which has kept the boys employed and alive. As he rounded the vehicle, Barley spotted a hunk of brain clinging to the tailgate and quickly tossed it into the bushes before Maud could see it. She'd convinced Barley to pull the trailer through Driscoll's corn Maze for the daycare's annual hay rides. Three trips through the field and Barley would be in a position to finally admit his love for Maud, though he wouldn't because he'd been in that position on at least thirty three different occasions and chickened out every time. Hi, Barley, Maud said, sweeter than Georgia, t and Clyde. Of course, are y'all set for the rides?

1:58:55 Howdye? Maud. Clyde pulled the trailer hitch from the bed of the truck and slotted it into the bumper we are now? Is Driscoll gonna send them damn scarecrows out this year? Just like every year since nineteen sixty three, Maud assured him. Fuck. Clyde's face soured. I don't like them, not one bit. Ain't no reason Halloween needs to be scary. After all, we're taking little kids through that maze language Clyde. Barley shook his head. I can't take you nowhere. I'm used to him by now. Maud smiled and gestured to the trailer with its square holes arranged into benches amidst a bed of loose straw. I figure we can take them in groups of ten, except the pre k kiddos. There's eleven in that bunch. Sounds like you got it all planned out Barley smiled and took his trucker cap off.

1:59:40 Will you be riding in the truck with me, me and Clyde? I mean, unless you'd be more comfortable if it were just you and me. Clyde, don't mind riding in the back none. Clyde's face twisted in confusion. I'd definitely mind riding where them scarecrows can see me. Man up, Clyde. Barley's shoulders sagged. I reckon, I mean to ask if you'd like to ride up front with me? Is where I was going with that? I was thinking Clyde could sit up front where he's safe. Maud squeezed Barley's arm, and that you might like to ride with me in the back. I even got a special Halloween blanket we can sit on. Maud looked up at him with those damned blue green eyes, and Barley went toppling down into them. His affirmation came out in a squeaky, bashful yip of excitement, and he quickly set about moving the truck and getting the trailer hitched to it, while Maud went inside to prepare the plastic pails the kiddies would be carrying on the ride. Clyde wrestled loose bales into the bed of the warlock for Barley and Maud to ride on. The first carloads of kids pulled into the parking lot and went inside to get their baskets. Clyde slipped the aluminum bat from under the seat and patted it against his palm.

2:00:43 The hell you need a baseball bat for, Barley asked, Well, I reckon, we got attacked by a zombie this morning, and I might have sank an island after fiddling with that magic do hickey, so we should have some protection tonight. Clyde beamed with pride for his forward thinking. There's also the time to think about it. What about the time Clyde. Barley checked his watch. It's a quarter to six, exactly because Clyde pointed up at the sun, or where it should have been. Anyhow, why is it dark already? Barley looked at the dense blanket of clouds folded across the sky. Somewhere beyond the fluffy barrier. The sun struggled to come through, staining them a hellish red. The screams of excited children swarming out of the daycare or interrupted the cousins, the little gremlins piled into the trailer, with their haggard parents shuffling behind to wish them a plentiful bounty. Maud strode up to them. Barley, forgetting the rest of the world existed, lifted her gingerly into the bed of the truck. Before joining her. He leaned over the edge and tugged Clyde to him by the collar. It's probably just a storm blowing in, but keep your eyes open. Nonetheless, he glanced over his shoulder at Maud before turning back to his cousin.

2:01:50 Give me your gun. I ain't bring one. Barley stared at Clyde until he begrudgingly pulled the revolver from his boot and handed it up to him. Don't know why you want it, Clyde said. You shoot straight as the letter s. Just drive and watch out for the dead. Clyde made the turn into the corn maze. Sure enough, Driscoll scarecrows were waiting at the entrance. The whole Driscoll clan was there as well, tossing candy into the trailer to the joyous wails of the children. They were deep into the maze before the lightning started. Clyde slowed the truck to a crawl and watched the clouds crackle with tangerine bolts of electricity. He mashed the brakes and put her in part before leaning out the window to whistle for Barley. He jerked a thumb up at the storm.

2:02:34 Barley stood up and looked to the clouds. They rolled like waves, cresting in saffron strobes. The laughter echoing from around them turned into harmonious singing, a hymn known only to the forgotten cult of WIT's End. The stalks rustled with sudden excitement. Clyde sucked his finger and held it to the sky. Ain't no wind blowing, Barley. He slipped out of the cab with his bat in hand. Nope, they're sure, ain't Clyde. Barley climbed down from the truck and looked to Maud Best you wait here, my dear. The minuscule forms, adorned in temple garments ambled out of the maize, not much higher than Barley's waist, with pumpkins resting atop their scrawny shoulders. Clyde took tentative steps toward the nearest of the infernal carrollers and swung.

2:03:21 For the fences. The singing, stopped in a collective gasp as they watched one of their number drop flat. Well, some bitch, Clyde Barley pulled the pistol and kept it trained on the mob. You can't just go whacking little kids with a bat for being creepy. Weren't no kid, Clyde pointed to the shattered remains of the pumpkin and slithering worms oozing out of the neck. It's an imp. They're like goblins, but they serve a Oh shit, serve a what, Clyde Barley asked. An earth shattering roar answered. The imps shrieked in agreement. A vine whipped out of the maze and twisted around Barley's legs, jerking him under the truck. He screamed for help, clutching the cornstalks while the vine pulled tighter. He drew the pistol and fired into the maze. Still, the vine fought against him, snapping the stalks and pulling him deeper inside. Clyde found himself swinging at the swarm of charging imps. Unable to aid his cousin, Maud jumped into the trailer and ushered the terrified children into the truck.

2:04:15 Bed. Stay here, We're leaving soon, she promised them. The tire iron screeched across the bed as she pulled it to her and joined Clyde in the game of demonic whack a mole. More gunshots cracked in the maze. Clyde cursed the whole situation and smashed another pumpkin sprang maud with the wriggly contents. She swiped the worms from her hair and slapped Clyde hard enough to dislodge the tobacco glob Watch where you're swinging, She shouted. We need to get these kids out of here and rescue Barley. You got a plan for this, Barley does the planning. Clyde kicked one of the creatures between the legs and laughed as it collapsed. Ips got yards too. That's not helpful. Get in the truck and tell them crotch dumplins to hold tight.

2:04:56 Clyde winked, I think I got me a plan after all. The warlock bounced violently through the field, following the bent and broken path of Barley's abduction. The truck was designed for off road shenanigans, but the trailer slid and twisted, tossing hay bales into the field like mortar fire. The truck jerked hard, narrowly missing Barley. As they caught up with him, Clyde pulled the truck alongside Barley and grabbed the chrome nerf bar This is not a plan, Maud shouted, as she tried to keep the kids from bouncing out of the truck. Well it's working, lack one, Clyde shouted. Clyde leaned out the window, told. You, Barley, you can't shoot for shit. Now hold on. Clyde jerked the wheel and pulled Barley away from the vine, snapping the tendril in two. The agonizing scream drowned out the roar of the Warlock's big engine. Clyde stopped the truck and got out. Barley handed him the revolver and went to check on the kids in Maud. Clyde opened the cylinder and cursed. Only left me one bullet, he asked, You ain't never needed more than one. Barley climbed into the truck bed and tried soothing the children. What do him serve, Clyde. A wall of corn dropped away with a swish, and two scarecrows staggered forward with scithes held high.

2:06:09 Mad hopped out of the truck and cocked the tire iron back. Hell Fire burned in the mouths of their jack o' lantern heads. Barley broke a board free of the warlock's bedrail and joined Mad. You boys can fuck right off, Maud warned them. They didn't listen. They reaped the air with their blades and ambled closer, side by side in their pursuit. The gunshot silenced the wails of terrified kiddos. The two pumpkins wilted, and their fires spread, engulfing the straw bodies. I hate scarecrows. Clyde spun the pistol on his finger and blew smoke from the barrel. Barley's right, I ain't never needed more than one bullet. Lightning crashed to the ground and scores the mazic I knighted in their wake, and twisting vines curled out of the flames like snakes seeking mice. The ground split open, crazing in fissures that stretched the boys in Maud. The sulphuric fumes right out from them, stung their nostrils and brought tears to their eyes. Imp served the Royal Family of Hell. Clyde grumbled, how do you know that? Maud whispered, learned it from the YouTube. Clyde pressed a water tobacco into his lip. Really wish you ain't wasted my bullets, Barley.

2:07:18 I was trying not to get killed, Clyde. Barley hoisted the two by four the three story jack o' lantern tore out of the earth. On the verdant coiling, vines sprouting from the white fuzz along its spongy orange belly. A great guffaw resonated from the pulpy mouth of the beast, matched by the torso of a man rising where its stems should have been. Tiny gourds grew out of his flesh like tumors, and more greenery sprouted amongst his white hair. I was Ebenezer, wit, prophet of the ascendant one Hamad. He bellowed, for as the angels fall, so shall the demon rise. That sounds bad, Barley whispered. Maud ran over to the truck bed. Kids, I'm gonna need you all to get on down from there and sit in the trailer nice and sweet?

2:08:07 Can you do that? Just like when we play the quiet game? For my sacrificed and the lot of five hundred souls. I am beyond the limitations of the flesh, the creature continued, I am the pumpkin King, pontiffects of the Temple of the Blight, and the harbinger of famine. Famine. Clyde spat tobacco juice down a fissure. How about you come on down off your pumpkin, and Barley will just go ahead and whoop your ass. Barley nudged him with a board. Why me, damn it all to hell? Barley Clyde threw his hands in the air. I took care of them. Scarecrows and Maud helped with the imps. Carry your weight some The vines lashed out, and Barley rolled away from them. He tossed the board aside, switching it out for one of the sickles lying on the ground.

2:08:50 Clyde wasn't as nimble. The creeper constricted around his narrow figure. The blade flashed before him. Chlorophyll sprayed his face as the tentacles shrank away. What did YouTube say say about killing this guy? Barley swiped at vines, cracking like whips at the boys. Need virgin blood Clyde jumped over a fissure and grabbed the other side. I think we're in trouble. Then Barley grunted, got a whole trailer full. I reckon. Clyde cut down an attacking appendage. We're not feeding the kiddos to the pumpkin. Barley grabbed Clyde's collar and swung him to safety as the field cracked open beneath them. I'm never gonna get a second date now, fools. The pumpkin King lunged forward. The jack O'Lantern mouth stretched wide, unleashing a wave of orange and green bugs. Millions of aphids poured across the ground, their tiny bodies sliding across one another like sand in an hourglass. This is entirely your fault, Clyde. I told you not to fiddle with that damn thing. Barley stomped at the early arrivals. The cousin stood back to back while the famished horde besieged them.

2:09:54 The warlocks engine revved, rumbling through the smokestack exhausts. The aphids slowed their advance and halted all the together. When the engine roared again, the cousins looked at the truck the rumble of the motor shook the gold striped body. Through the window, they saw Maud rigging the steering wheel in her fists as she pumped the accelerator in an uneven rhythm. The aphids turned the movement imperceptible on account of their size, and seemed to rewind with the cooriaceous flesh of the pumpkin king. The warlock's tires spun, flinging dirt across the kids hunkering and the unhitched trailer. Before jumping forward. The engine roared like a lion pouncing at its prey. The bullbar struck the cottony peach fuzz growing along the demon's belly. The rind collapsed under the full force of the redneck Limousines V.

2:10:35 Eight. The cousins, dumbfounded more than usual, stared at the brake lights glowing Within the moment it took the whole thing to collapse on top of it. The house sized gourd putrefied in a puddle of pie filling that heaped over the truck, swallowing it like the tide takes the beach. The pickup pulled out in reverse, its smokestacks bubbling hot pumpkin puree as it slid in a j turn beside the sawyer's Maud jumped down from the driver's seat. Orangeop covered her body and dripped from her hair down her stained blouse. She wiped her lips and muttered. Clyde left the windows down. Maud. Clyde started and then snorted with her strained laughter, you look gorgeous. Fuck you, Clyde. Maud slapped her hands over her mouth and looked to the trailer. I'm sorry, kids, Miss Maud shouldn't have used that word. Most of the children were sobbing or calling for their mothers. Others simply rocked silently. I'm sure they'll recover eventually. After all, nothing builds character like supernatural trauma in early childhood. I wouldn't be the man I am today if it weren't for such events. Barley watched the mutated form of Ebenezer Wit pulling himself out of the puddle, dragging his entrails behind him.

2:11:45 Clyde charged at him with a scythe overhead. Wit slithered down a fissure. Clyde narrowly missed, sinking the curved steel blade into the earth. Clyde threw his trucker cap to the ground. Damn it all to hell. Tubular yellow flowers blue around the blade, and Barley knelt to inspect them. He plucked one and stood up pumpkin flowers. He slipped it behind Maud's ear. I reckon, that means this ain't over yet, whatever comes next, Maud said, lacing her sticky fingers between his We can handle it, just like tonight. How did we handle it? Clyde asked. Aphids don't like acoustic stressers, so I used the truck to drive them away.

2:12:25 Maud pointed at the remains of the former pumpkin king, and that was just a case of fitophora blight. Obviously, obviously. Barley agreed. You know, I was thinking, after we get these kiddos home, we should go on over to Orville. Oh no, Clyde shook his head. I know what you're gonna say next. We ain't never going near that shack again. What shack? Maud asked. There's an old woman that lives in the woods outside Orville. Barley said, she's a witch or a ghost. We ain't too sure which one. She used to scare the Bejesus out of us, as kids. She'll be able to shine some light on what Clyde done did. I ain't going Clyde crossed his arms. You know what happens when you mess with ghost witches. Maud shook her head, splattering Barley with pumpkin juice. Me neither, and we ain't finding out.

2:13:14 I draw the line. Clyde swiped his hand, making an invisible line in front of him. Barley hitched the trailer and got behind the steering wheel, with Maud snuggled up against him. Clyde pouted on a bale of hay next to the kids while they drove out of the corn maze. They told the parents the scarecrows had been extra scary that year, and promised the children would stop crying eventually. Then they headed out across the old Highway to Orville to see the Crone of cockscall holler. I told you they got some colorful names for things in Arkansas. It was Barley's bright idea to see the crone, and it was that idea that brought them to my door. Sometimes things just work out, and that's the story of how Barley and Clyde first met the Pumpkin King. It might not all be true, but that's how I heard it.

2:14:06 Another Mischief Night by Shane Migliovaca. Fresh from nursing school, Kay Ferris had only been at Forbes Sanitarium for three months, yet she was already sure she'd never get used to that building or the psychotics that dwelled within. Lightning flashed outside its crooked fingers searching for the ground. Halloween was a few days away, but for Kay it may as well be tonight. The dark hallways and stillness of Level five were creeping her out, and the damn storm wasn't helping matters. Doctor Chandler had all the patience on Level five sedated early, something to be thankful for, she thought as she made her rounds. But with the storm, it really was the only course of action, as bad weather tended to knock out the sanitarium's power, and since the doors were locked electronically, if the power went out, all the doors would unlock. The cheapskates in charge refused to pay for a backup generator. She stopped. Ahead was the end of the hall and the last door on the left, behind which sat Patient fifteen. Patient fifteen, that girl in the mask, Amanda Williams. She was worse than all the others.

2:15:29 The girl just sat there day and night in her white mask, never making a sound. Chandler, who had treated the girl since she'd first arrived, said she wore the mask out of shame, shame that her brother was murdered in a botched robbery. While she stood by, paralyzed with fear. Kay heard noises coming from the room late at night, not surprising since Amanda was the only patient that was never sedated, as Chandler felt it unnecessary. Kay suspected the old man thought of the girl as a daughter. She chuckled, picturing them sitting down for a Sunday dinner. She started down the hall again when there was a bright flash of lightning followed by a loud crash of thunder. The lights dimmed before finally flickering back on spooky shit. Huh, Kay jumped. She spun around to see Johnny Earle behind her.

2:16:30 The husky orderly smirked, and she felt her face turning red. What down there the last cell? His loud booming voice trailed off into a whisper. Patient fifteen, I guess. Kay shrugged, not wanting to let on how freaked the girl made her feel all the ghosts and goblins will be coming out soon. He made eerie sounds. I can protect you. Save the trick or treat shit for Halloween night, Johnny Earle. Thank god Halloween was on a Saturday this year. Kay thought safe in the knowledge that she had the day off. Hey, I'm sorry.

2:17:13 How about I make it up to you? He touched her arm, making Kay flinch. There's some empty rooms downstairs. We could take a little break. She pulled away from the big orderly Not a chance, stuck up, bitch, Kay heard him mumble as she walked away. Smiling at his disappointment. She walked back to the nurses station. An older nurse sat watching a small TV, which sat next to a large jack O lantern. Lightning flashed, causing the lights to dim again. The woman looked up as Kay approached. Don't worry, the older woman took out a cigarette, lighting it up. Happens every time there's a big storm. A sinister laugh erupted from the TV. Thirty one Days of Halloween will return with Jesse James meets Frankenstein's daughter after these horrendous arcane adverts. Missus Bradley was the senior nurse on the fifth floor, which meant she could do whatever the hell she wanted. So the old nurse spent her shift watching old horror movies and smoking. How are all our little chickadees sleeping? Good, missus, Bradley coughed, Sit down for a bit. They ain't going anywhere. Kay sat, stifling a cough. She hadn't talked to the older nurse much since starting at Forbes. Bradley intimidated her, and Kay had heard stories from the other nurses that the old woman could be quite the tyrant if he crossed her. So Kay did as she was told and kept her head down.

2:18:46 You like it here, She felt her throat tighten as Kay strained to think of the appropriate words. Um, it's a shithole, missus, Bradley laughed. Don't worry about trying to kiss my ass and say this is a great do your job, put in your time, and if you're smart, you'll use this as a stepping stone. After a few moments of silence, Kay worked up the courage to ask a question, how come you stayed? Before answering, the old nurse tapped some ash into a coffee cup. Big fish, small pond. If I'd gone somewhere else. I'd have to start over again. Johnny Earle sauntered towards them. Well, well, well, nobody told me it was break time. He made a hurt face. Standing Kay adjusted her uniform well back to it.

2:19:36 She walked by Johnny Earle, giving him the cold shoulder. Kay could feel them both watching her as she walked away. She listened to the squeak of her sneakers on the cold linoleum floor. Outside, lightning flashed, the brightest one yet On its heels was a building shaking rumble. As the thunder rolled above the earth, the lights flickered and hummed again before going out. This time they remained dark. Oh fuck, Kay muttered to herself. She stood alone in the hallway, darkness surrounding her. Kay used the faint light from outside to find the wall. Slowly feeling along the wall, her hand glided over the concrete of the wall and the mettal of the doors. She continued on this way until she bumped face first into the wall at the hall's end. Embarrassed, Kay headed back. She could see the pumpkin grinning there by the now dark TV, a fiery face grinning at her.

2:20:37 A beacon in the dark. Another sharp blast of lightning revealed the older nurse sitting there in her chair. Kay's eyes strained to adjust after the bright flash of light. This is really something, Kay said, feeling a little better in the veteran's presence. I'm sure the power will be back on soon. Right. Unable to see but the faintest outline of the older nurse, Kay turned the face of the jack O lantern towards the woman, Missus Bradley. The woman's head slumped to the sode, her eyes open and wide, her swollen tongue hung limp from her mouth, which was frozen in a silent scream. Nearly tipping over her own feet, Kay backed away. What should she do? Find Johnny Earle call the cops. Slowly turning, Kay came face to face with a blank, white face. Mask. Narrowed eyes sized her up from behind it. Amanda was all Kay could spit out before the strong, muscular hands gripped her by her throat, lifting her off the ground. Amanda's eyes met Kay's cold, deep, and somehow innocent. Suddenly there was a deafening crack and it was over. Kay's body hit the linoleum floor with a dull thud. Amanda stepped over the body without a second glance. She had much to do. Kyle Williams felt

2:22:10 guilty as he put on his Halloween costume. Amanda would want him to go out have a good time. The thought of her made him touch the side of his face as he ran his hand over the scar on his cheek. If only he'd done something to help her that night. Come on, let ask Trevor. His impatient roommates stood in the door, dressed as Dracula. Them wild women ain't waiting forever? Sure, almost done. Truthfully, he was glad to be going. It was a chance to get out of the dorm instead of sitting around by himself while everybody had fun. I can't believe you're going as a hobo. I'm not a hobo, Kyle groaned. I'm doctor who. I've seen doctor who. He doesn't dress like a hobo. The second one did. Trevor shook his head. Whatever, man, I'll take your word for it. Let's go. As they pulled up the driveway, Kyle was amazed by just how many people were there. Holy shit, got that right, Trevor said, looking for an open spot on the lawn to park.

2:23:15 I think the whole college is here, and then some Finding a spot on the outer edge of the lawn, Trevor parked. They got out, both marveling at the lid up three story house, Halloween lights criss crossing its front. A pretty Latino woman in a revealing red dress and shoddy black wig, a close enough approximation of Sigourney Weaver from Ghostbusters, brushed past Kyle as he and Trevor made their way towards the house. Sorry, she said, turning to look at Kyle, before disappearing behind a van. No prob, Kyle replied, watching her go dude, she was checking you out. Yeah right, fuck she was, Trust me really, Trevor nods, go on, I'll be inside. Kile hesitated for a moment before going to look for the girl in the red dress.

2:24:04 Poking his head around the other side of the van, Kyle scanned the rows of parked cars. A guy his hair pulled back into a ponytail, dressed in a karate ghee, and a blonde girl in a cheerleader newiform stared at him as he prowled around looking for the girl. He headed back towards where they'd parked. It was like the. Girl had vanished into thin air. Hey over here, Kyle turned to see the girl in the red dress leaning against a tree. Hi, he stammered. She beckoned him over. Kyle williams, Yeah, come with me if you want to live what I always wanted to say that. A man cleared his throat, stepping from behind a tree. Officer Mortez, we don't have time for shenanigans. The man rubbed his hands together, His thinning white hair was combed back. Kyle was very familiar with the little man, Doctor Chandler. Kyle said, perplex, what are you doing here? Did something happen? The doctor stroked his chin. Your sister escaped after killing two nurses in an orderly and later she stole a car after killing a motorist, Mortes added. Kyle looked at the pair, dumbfounded.

2:25:18 Why Mortes scanned the area. Let's get to the car. We can talk about it there. I don't like being out in the open. She hustled them to an unmarked car. Kyle stopped, What about Trevor. I don't want to just ditch him. Mortes pushed Kyle into the back seat. In response, Chandler slid into the passenger seat just in time. As Mortes peeled out, how is this possible? Doc, Kyle asked, I thought she was harmless. It's complicated. Something must have been triggered within her. As the doctor tried to explain his theory, Kyle became aware of the headlights bearing down on them. Are we Mortes cut him off, being followed yes, as we left the party. So you're a cop? Sure, am, she said, their eyes meeting in the review mirror. Great legs for a cop, Kyle said under his breath as he looked over his shoulder. Mortes took the radio from the dashboard, got the kid and the dock heading in over kid, Kyle mumbled, I'm in college. Kyle could hear the other car gunning its engine as it accelerated before pulling up alongside them. Kyle made out an all two familiar face in the driver's seat. His sister's blank white face mask stared back at him. Amanda swerved the car into them. Mortes fought to keep the car on the road as they were struck again. Why the hell is she doing this, Kyle screamed over the scraping of metal.

2:26:42 Mortes managed to shake off the other car for a moment, but Amanda hit the gas and rammed their car again. Your sister is getting on my nerves, Mortes snapped. As Amanda continued to assault, Kyle leaned over the front seat. He looked at Chandler, who was sweating profusely. Why is she doing this, Doc? Chandler looked ready to faint. She wants to kill you. Before Kyle had a chance to process this, Amanda sent their car flying off the road and into a ditch. Kyle wasn't sure which one of them was screaming at the top of their lungs before he realized it was himself. As darkness descended upon him, Hey, great Gatsby, wake the fuck up. He looked up to see Mortes hovering over him. As she pulled him up, he saw Chandler nursing a nasty gash on his forehead.

2:27:31 Where is she, Kyle asked, feeling a sting of pain in his back. Don't know. We got to get out of here. Mortes pulled a pistol from her thigh holster, flashing a bit of leg I radio. In our situation, there's nobody close, and I'm not hanging around here waiting for your crazy sister to show up. She popped the trunk open. Rummaging around, she pulled out a tire iron and offered it to Kyle. Merry Christmas. Don't say I never gave you anything. He took it, turning the dingy looking metal bar over in his hands. If I can get close enough, Chandler spoke up. You don't need violence. He pulls a syringe from his jacket. I can sedate her. Mortes frowned. We'll see, doc. Can you walk okay? I think so, Officer Kyle helped him forward as they headed into the tree line beyond the ditch.

2:28:20 Moretes took point. Kyle leaned in close as he helped Chandler step over a tree root. Why is she doing this? As you know, your sister believes you died in that home invasion, He wheezed between words. Think of that time you visited her in the hospital when she became agitated. Agitated was one way to say it. Kyle thought he could still remember that day, not that long after that Halloween invasion, the doctor had ushered him into her room. Upon seeing him, Amanda had started screaming at the top of her lungs, A wild, terrified look in her eyes. Since then, his visits consisted of seeing her through two way glass. The doctor cleared his throat before finishing. What I learned is your sister feels you're an impostor, a phony duplicate of her brother, a doppelganger. Kyle let the words sink in as they made slow progress through the heavily wooded area. His sister, the one he loved more than anything else in life, truly wanted to destroy him.

2:29:24 More Tes motioned for them to stop. There's a field up ahead. Sit tight, I'll take a look. Not a good idea, Kyle replied. Chill, kid, I'm just going five feet. She slipped through the trees as Kyle shook his head, I'm not a kid. After a few minutes, more Tes came back. Looks like a farm in the distance. Can't tell if there's anybody there. I think it's our best bet. There might be a phone or a car. Beyond the trees was a large field overgrown with tall grass. As they started across, Kyle felt his heart beat faster. Amanda could be anywhere out there, lying in wait. The grass was overwaist high, tall enough to conceal one very pissed off sister. A cool autumn breeze rolled over the field.

2:30:11 The grass swayed back and forth. Kyle's eyes darted back and forth as he gripped the tire iron tightly. Suddenly he caught a black shape off to their left in the field, just sitting. Moonlight gave it a vague, ominous shape. What the hell is that? What is what? Mortes asked there Kyle pointed with the tire iron tractor, maybe, Chandler offered. They kept going, like some great beast opening its eyes after a long slumber. Headlights flooded the field as the dark shape roared to life, the car's tires peeling out as it shot forward towards the trio shit Mortes spat as she took aim. She fired off around as the car screamed towards her. Mortes dove to the side as the car barreled by, heading straight towards Chandler and Kyle.

2:30:59 Kyle grabbed Chandler and pushed the startled doctor to the ground and out of the car's path. The vehicle spun around for another attempt. Kyle was running and screaming before he even realized what he was doing. All that he knew was. He had to draw the car away from them, Amanda, Kyle screamed as he ran full tilt towards the farmhouse. Maybe there was something there he could stop his sister with. Adrenaline was the only thing fuelling his fight. He ran, huffing and puffing until the world slipped out from beneath his feet and he fell face first on the grass. Regaining his wits, Kyle rolled at the last possible minute out of the way of the oncoming car, screeching to a stop. The car now blocked his path to the farmhouse. Amanda met his gaze behind the wheel of the car. Getting to his feet, Kyle felt the sting of a skin knee and a twisted ankle acquired from his tumble.

2:31:42 Hobbling towards the barn, he heard the car slowly turn around. No rush, She had plenty of time to kill him. The brake lights bathed the landscape in a bloody red hue. The place looked deserted, A good thing no one else could get in his sister's path. Kyle pushed open the large barn doors. The headlights of the slowly approaching car at his back illuminated the dusty interior. Kyle entered the barn. As the car crept further towards him. He could feel a. Manda's eyes fixed on him, as well as the weight of the tire iron in his hand. He turned as the car lurched forward and stopped, then moved forward again. It was halfway in the barn. Now she was taunting him, playing with him. The high beams stung his eyes as the car drew closer. God damn it. Mortes pushed tall stalks of grass out of her way. When she'd gone down, after the car had nearly clipped her. She'd lost her gun.

2:32:34 A fucking rookie mistake. It had to be here somewhere. She glanced up across the field. The light from the car was still visible. Stay here, doc, she ordered, I gotta help the kid. Chandler tried to say something, and she cut him off. He'll be a bigger help finding my gun. Take this. Then he handed her the syringe. It'll put her out quick. She took off running. If the kid was dead when she got there, Mortes would make sure his sister was too. Fucking knock her out. No going back to a nice cell for that bitch, she thought. If Chandler didn't like that. He could take it up with her captain. The car stopped a couple of feet from where Kyle stood. The roar of the Great Beast died as a man to turn the engine off. The bright blinding headlights faded, leaving spots in Kyle's eyes. Spots are not He could see the pale white mask watching him from behind the wheel.

2:33:27 Come on, he taunted, you want me, I'm right here. The car door swung open as Amanda exited the vehicle, Her eyes blazed behind the mask, studying him. It's me, Kyle said, don't you recognize me? Sis. As Amanda moved away from the car, Kyle could see she was holding a large knife in her blood stained hands. He held out the tire iron at the end of his trembling arm. I don't want to hurt you, Okay, She moved forward, her gaze never left him. Got some copy. You know it's me, Kyle, raising the blade, she advanced. Remember when Bobby Ivers stole my book bag. You threatened to kick his ass after school if he didn't give it back. Amanda stopped, her eyes locked on him. Come on, there has to be something there, Kyle, pleaded. Remember when you were hung up on by Stevie Lee, you were crying in your room and I sat with you. You have to remember. She raised the knife over her head, ready to strike. Kyle touched the scar on his cheek.

2:34:32 See this. That man did this. He lied about killing me to his buddy. He lied to save me. I didn't die that night. Amanda's hand shook. She started to lower the knife. Don't you fucking move, you crazy bitch. Mortes stood behind the car holding a broken board. Stay away, Kyle warned. Amanda turned towards the young cop and let out in a human howl. She leapt on the the car's roof In two swift movements. She crouched there, scraping the car's roof with her knife. Kyle rushed forward, trying to put himself between the two. He was too late, as Amanda jumped off the car toward Mortes. Kyle caught a glimpse of the blade as the two women collided. The two struggled as Kyle tried in vain to separate them. Kyle was pushed away from the skirmish, but managed to see Amanda stand holding Mortes by the throat. His sister's fingers tightened like a constrictor on the CoP's neck. For her part, the struggling Mortes managed to land a solid punch to Amanda's face, stunning the woman and cracking her mask in the process, but her grip remained firm. Let her go, Kyle pleaded, we can go home.

2:35:39 I'll take you. Amanda let go of Mortes and turned to her brother. Half of her mask gave way, revealing the pale, beautiful face of a young woman. Still gasping for air. Mortes jammed the syringe into Amanda's shoulder. Amanda responded with a backhand that sent Mortes violently to the ground. She started to walk away from them, staggering as she went, until finally collapsing against the side of the car. Kyle took her in his arms, sliding her into the backseat of the car. What are you doing, Mortes asked, barely able to speak. I'm taking her home, he said, getting into the car. She'll kill you. We're family, he said, starting the car. Mortes could only lean weakly against the barn door and watch them drive off into the black October night.

2:36:46 Pumpkin Spice and Nothing Nice by Charles Campbell, seven o'clock am, October thirty first, Amber Hannah sighed in frustration as she impatiently waited in line at Frankie's Donuts, a line that was threatening to spill outside the front door. By her count, she was in spot eight and so far every single person is ordered a pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin spice donuts or both. Amber was so over the fall season she just wanted her caramel cappuccino and glazed donut before heading into the office. Everything was pumpkin spice, from candles to fucking clorox. No shit, she saw pumpkin spice clorox in the grocery store the day before. She dreaded the three block walk to her office because as soon as she arrives, Amber knows the place will smell of pumpkin spice.

2:37:59 Whoever thought of putting pumpkin spice and fucking everything ought to be bound and flogged. Needless to say, Amber was no fan and would be happy when November first rolled around. It meant half priced candy and folks would start easing up just a bit, and all this pumpkin spice shit. Fuck Halloween, Fuck pumpkin spice. It was almost her turn in line when a small hand tugged on her finger. Trick or treat, the little. Boy said, get away, Amber said, and stepped forward to place her order. She felt a finger poke her on the butt and spun around. Trick or treat. The little boy repeated, look, you little turd? Where is your mother?

2:38:50 Amber asked angrily, what's your problem? Frankie asked Susie. The cashier stepped aside for her boss. Oh, oh, nothing much. I'm so sick of all this Halloween shit, the pumpkin spice bullshit. This coffee shop used to be great because it wasn't a fucking Starbucks or Duncan. But I'll be damned if you fuckers didn't go ahead and sell out. I hate all this pumpkin spice bullshit and snot nos brats trying to touch my ass. That is my fucking problem. Amber's face was beat red and she just couldn't stop the spew of venom. Once it started, the little boy with blue eyes and sandy blonde hair started to cry, you're a meanie. The pumpkin man is gonna get you.

2:39:42 The kid cried out, pumpkin man, give me a fucking break, Amber said, Get out of my store and don't come back. Since you hate us so much, go to Starbucks or Duncan. But you're not welcome here anymore. Frankie shouted, fine, Amber said, and turned to leave. There was a tap on her shoulder. It was the boy's father. Miss. The way you talked to my son was crass and unacceptable. You owe him an apology. The tall man with a dark complexion said he wasn't angry, but he was serious.

2:40:23 Uh. Yeah, that ain't gonna fucking happen. You're lucky I don't call the police. The little perv tried to grab my ass. Amber said she was over it and ready to go. Okay, so you're going to forego the apology, asked the man. Duh. Amber answered and began walking toward the door. The man tapped on her shoulder once more. She turned to let him have it for the final time. He held out his palm and quickly blew orange dust into her face. Amber coughed and gagged. She breathed it in and swallowed a good. Bit of it. Her eyes burned, and she was fiercely rubbing them. What felt like agonizing minutes was only a few seconds when she felt the cool water wash over her face. Frankie was pouring a bottle of cold dasani over her eyes.

2:41:18 It was helping. Did someone call the cops, Amber asked? Nobody said a word. Where'd they go? Amber looked around. The little boy and tall man were gone. She thought about calling the police, but what was the point. She'd go to work and tomorrow, this Halloween horseshit would be over until next year. Ten minutes later, Amber was tapping away on her front teeth with her index finger as she was trying to decide what she wanted from the vending machine. She rolled her eyes when she noticed what was in B seven pumpkin pie pop tarts. This season couldn't come to an end fast enough. She chose some generic peanut butter crackers and had just enough change in her pocket for a doctor pepper to wash it all down.

2:42:20 She needed something in her stomach to deal with all the Halloween freaks in the office today. Shelley was a witch, John was a half asked Frankenstein, Monster, Chuck was a bargain basement mummy, and Tina, well, she didn't know what the fuck Tina was supposed to be she had drawn on whiskers, So maybe some kind of a dying cat or something. Just another Halloween at Whitman's Insurance Agency. Chuck and Tina Whitman owned the place, and they were very firm believers in all Hallow's Eve. Another year without dressing up, hih amber, Chuck asked, as he held his arms out like a lumbering mummy from movies long long ago. Yeah, well, you know, I really couldn't find anything to wear, mister Whitman, Amber said, Looking at him made her want to puke.

2:43:19 At least you're consistent. You sure you didn't try a little makeup this morning, Chuck asked as he pointed at her neck. You've got a little something there. You get one of those pumpkin spice donuts from Frankie's. No, mister Whitman, let me go wipe this mess off, Amber said, and excused herself from her desk. Thankfully, there was no one else in the restroom. Amber looked in the mirror and she could see the little orange smudge that mummy Chuck pointed out. She soaked a paper towel sheet with warm water and dabbed at the small spot on her neck. She dried it and took another look. The smudge was still there, so she added a little soap from the dispenser and scrubbed.

2:44:06 A little harder. She dried it again and the smudge hadn't gone anywhere. Fuck. Amber whispered and tossed the paper towels into the garbage. She'd have to wash the spot away in the shower that night. It was par for the course. She'd have to work all day with that pumpkin orange blotch on her neck. Naturally it would be pumpkin orange. She took one last look in the mirror and blew a strand of hair out from in front of her face. Amber then went back to her desk. This morning was busy and lunch was fast approaching. Amber was hungry. The crackers and doctor Pepper weren't quite the breakfast she expected. She fielded quite a few calls and set soul several appointments for the agents. Some customers came in with their young kids, all dressed up. The little fuckers had their trick or treat bags and the whitman's were more than happy to fill them. To Amber, kids didn't belong in a place of business, even if it was Halloween. She rose from her desk and stretched her arms. Amber was going to take a walk down the block and grab a sandwich from underground Joe's. That's when one of the kids in the office shouted.

2:45:29 Oh wow, Mom, look at her. He shouted and pointed at Amber. I don't think she's finished her costume yet. Stop pointing. It's not polite, the portly woman said and waved at Amber before pulling her son away by the arm. What the fuck was that about, Amber whispered to herself. Then Chuck walked by and stopped cold Amber. Have you been getting into the Halloween spirit? Looks good so far, Chuck said, and made a circle with his finger as he pointed at her neck. Amber's brow furrowed. She noticed the others in the office now looking at her. Tina, the afflicted cat, put her hand over her mouth. That was enough for Amber to high tail it back to the restroom. Amber locked the door behind her and moved quickly to the mirror. She put her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream. Fuck, fuck, fuck, Amber repeated. It was the only word her brain would register.

2:46:32 The orange smudge had spread and there was more The bottom half of her neck was pumpkin orange, covered with what appeared to be black spider veins. There was no washing this shit away. Amber took a deep breath and exited the bathroom. She moved quickly to the coat rack and lifted Tina's long black scarf. She wrapped it around her neck and shouted. Ah, I'm not fear feeling while mister Whitman. Going home to lie down. She waved a hand in the air and almost knocked Freddy Caldwell over as she rushed from the building. Fifteen minutes later, Amber was safely in the confines of her one bedroom apartment when she immediately removed her clothes and stepped into the shower. She saturated the loofa with soapy water and went to work on her neck. There was no rush of orange and black makeup running down her chest. She scrubbed harder, but nothing was happening. It was as if someone tattooed this shit on her.

2:47:44 Uh what the fuck? Amber screamed. The shower was as hot as she could stand it and nothing was happening. She pulled the shower curtain and grabbed a towel from a clean stack on the shelf. Amber wrapped her body and opened the bathroom door to let the steam escape. Then she used a dry washcloth to wipe the fogging mirror. Amber almost fainted at what she saw. Not only did the orange and black mess not go away, but it spread even more. Now all of her neck was completely covered to the base of her chin. Amber's heart was racing. Her hands trembled as she attempted to remove her nose ring, and quickly gave up on the notion when the scent crept into her nostrils. It was the unmistakable combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger, the fucking smell of pumpkin spice. Something else was strange. Amber noticed the color of her eyes were darker.

2:49:04 They were a sky blue before, but now they were almost like dark pools of water. This was fucked up. On so many levels. Then it hit her. The man, the man at Frankie's did the shit He poisoned me? Amber said out loud, before thinking, what the fuck did that kid say? The pumpkin Man will get you. Amber got dressed as she opened the uber app on her phone. She was going to the emergency room. Thirty four minutes later, it was mid afternoon in AUGUSTA University Hospitals er was crazier than usual. As soon as the uber driver dropped her off, Amber knew this was going to be a wasted trip. The er waiting room was almost to capacity.

2:50:01 A lot of them were snotty nosed little shits, sniffling and coughing all over the place. There are prompt cares and pediatricians for this bullshit, is what Amber thought as she stepped to the front desk. The pretty young nurse smiled as Amber approached. Wow, that's some great makeup. You go into a Halloween party, No, Amber replied, She wanted to look in a mirror trick or treating with some kids. Then, no, how long is the weight? Amber asked, Well, the lobby's full. You can fill out this paperwork if you want to wait. The young nurse held a clipboard with a small stack of paper attached. You're looking at a two to three hour weight. We got a lot of sick kids today. Fuck, Amber replied, and waved off the clipboard. Amber walked away.

2:50:58 The nurse smiled and greeted the next person in line. Seventeen minutes later, Amber shuffled back into her apartment and went into her bedroom. She turned on the light and stood in front of the full length mirror attached to the door. Half of her face was now covered in pumpkin orange and black to est under her nose. Amber stared in horror as the image was starting to present itself. Oh my god, she screamed. The jagged black lines around her mouth formed the unmistakable grin of a jack o' lantern.

2:51:42 The smell was back, too, and it was driving her bananas. It was as if her nose were made of pumpkin spice. It was sickening and caused her to convulse. She scurried to the bathroom and dry heaved. After a couple of minutes, she calmed down and caught her breath. The smell was still there, but the compulsion to puke her guts out was gone. For the moment. Amber laid in her bed and sobbed. She cried herself to sleep. Four hours later, Amber awoke with a pounding headache. The room was dark except for the television. One of the Halloween movies was playing, and she really didn't give two shits which won as far as she was concerned. If you've seen one, you've seen them all. She placed her hands on her temples and was all but convinced that she just woke up from one of the most vividly terrible nightmares she's ever had.

2:52:43 But the smell was still there, and she didn't think it possible. It was even more prominent. This stoked the fear in her, like a blow poker to a dying fire. Amber turned on the law and fell to her knees in front of the mirror. Dear God, she screamed. Her face had completely transformed into that of a Jack o' lantern. It wasn't makeup or parlor tricks, it was one hundred percent her face. Her eyes were oval shaped and so dark the iris blended with her pupils. The same type of black jagged lines around her mouth now surrounded her eyes and nose. Everything else was pumpkin orange, with streaks that looked like ominous roads on a map. Her shoulder length hair was black with orange highlights.

2:53:48 What did he do to me? Amber was panicking. She should go back to the hospital, but how could they fix this. She could go back to Frankie's. Maybe the tall Man came back with his kid. She could give the apology he asked for and maybe he could fix it. That was her best shot. She didn't want to go out looking like this, but it was Halloween, so she shouldn't turn too many heads. Amber retrieved her phone and headed out. Frankie's was, after all, within walking distance. Nine minutes later, there were oohs and ahs when Amber stepped into Frankie's. A line of kids were waiting their turn at the candy table. Susie Reynolds was dressed as a witch. It was one of those Dollar General costumes, but Susie filled it out rather nicely.

2:54:49 Amber pushed to the front of the candyline. Susie didn't recognize her at all until she spoke, Susie, you've seen that kid from this more. Amber asked Amber that you wow, your makeup is amazing. Susie was thoroughly impressed. Shut it, Susie, the kid from this morning, have you seen him, Amber asked, in desperation. No, Susie replied, and, because of Amber's bitchiness, added, didn't Frankie tell you not to come back? Come on, Susie, I need to find the kid and his dad. Let me sit in the back for a little while in case they come in please, Susie. Okay, but if Frankie shows up, I'm not covering for you, Susie replied as she grabbed a fistful of candy for the next kid.

2:55:48 Thank you, thank you, Amber said, before taking a seat in a booth facing the entrance. She was tapping her fingers nervously on the table. She kept her eyes on the front door, hoping against hope for the kid and his dad to return. Amber glanced at her phone to check the time, and an immediate lump formed in her throat. Her wrists were pumpkin orange. Amber was wearing gray sweats, so most of her body was covered up. She quickly glanced around, held her breath, and took a quick peek down her shirt. Amber was on the verge of breaking down.

2:56:29 Her entire torso was pumpkin orange. No, no, no. Amber was trembling uncontrollably. The kids, along with their parents in the candy line, started to notice her. Then a line of her very own started. Oh wow, you're a pumpkin. Look, mama, she's a pumpkin. The little redheaded girl dressed like raggedy Ann shouted, where's the rest of your costume? She asked as she looked over the gray sweats. Amber gave the little girl a nervous smile and squirmed in her seat. Come on, come on, please, Amber mumbled, you look so cool.

2:57:14 You want some of my candy? A little boy asked. Amber smiled and shook her head. No. There was now a full fledged crowd of kids in front of her. Half of the kids were in the candy line and the other half were in the line to see the pumpkin lady. Please come please, Amber whispered. The kids gawked, and most of the parents were impressed with the detail of the make up. Almost an hour passed and Amber was just about to leave and head back to the er when she heard a familiar voice. Trick or cheet. He was wearing a pumpkin mask, but she immediately recognized the voice. It was the little boy with the blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. Hey, you want some candy?

2:58:03 Amber grabbed a handful some of the other kids left for her on the table. Here you go, He held a plastic pumpkin in front of him, and she dropped the candy inside. Look, I want you to know that I'm so sorry I yelled at you today. It was wrong of me, and I shouldn't have treated you like that. Please tell your dad that I'm sorry. Amber said, tears filled her black eyes. She could tell the little boy was smiling behind his mask. It's okay, thank you for the candy, he replied, and opened his arms for a hug.

2:58:44 Amber scooched out of the booth and knelt down. The little boy hugged her around the neck and whispered in her ear. My daddy is the pumpkin Man. When Amber stood, the tall man was there. He was behind his son holding a cup. Thank you for apologizing to my son. Halloween is his favorite time of year and he gets very excited here, the tall man said, as he handed Amber a Frankie's cup. Take this as an acceptance of your apology. Make sure you drink the entire cup. You'll feel like a new woman in the morning. Come on, son, let's go. The two of them walked out of Frankie's.

2:59:33 Amber looked at the cup. It looked like a regular old cup of pumpkin spice latte. She took a sip and nothing ever tasted better on her tongue. It was hot, but not too hot. Amber drank every single drop. Nothing was left in the cup. She hugged a few more kids before she left Frankes. She liked the feeling. One year later, the line at Frankie's Donuts was almost to the door. By her count, she was in spot ten and so far every single person had ordered a pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin spice donuts or both. Amber waited patiently for her turn to order. Susie smiled as Amber approached.

3:00:29 Nice costume, Amber, not quite as good as last Halloween, but not bad girley, Susie said. Amber was wearing a tight fitting sexy witch costume straight from the Dollar General. Thank you, Susie, I'll be by tonight to see what you're wearing. I'd like a pumpkin spice latte and two dozen pumpkin spice donuts for the office. Okie doke, Susie replied. A smiling Frankie approached the counter. What a difference a year makes, Hi, Amber. Amber nodded and replied, yes, sir, I friggin love Halloween. Retro Halloween Weekend by Rob Fields.

3:01:24 Strickfield is always a major hotspot for the two major holidays of the year. When the Christmas season comes around. Each and every house is decorated to the max. There are many events that go from the day after Thanksgiving until the end of Christmas. The Christmas season is the second biggest event of the two. The biggest event is Halloween. Much like the Christmas season, each and every house is decorated to the max. There are many more events that take place for Halloween than during the Christmas season. What sorts of events happen during the entire month of October and Strickfield, you may ask. Many parties take place at the local businesses. Denoyer's Grill, the popular restaurant in Strickfield, usually picks up more customers seemingly every day. There are plenty of haunted attractions around the area, though you may want to avoid the backwoods areas. If you head out to these attractions, all of the bars are open for parties, which brings many of the students in from Strickfield University.

3:02:34 Strickfield also has the two biggest events that are greatly talked about for the Halloween season. The first one is their Trick or Treat Nights, which take place on both October thirtieth and on the thirty first. The tradition here is that anyone can go door to door and collect candy without any judgment. It doesn't matter how old you are or where you come from. In fact, people come from miles away just to experience this event, and there seem to be more and more tricker treaters here each and every year, which was why the event was extended to two days. There's even going to be an issue on the November ballot to extend the event to a full week. The second of the two biggest events for Halloween takes place at the Strickfield drive In Theater on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each weekend in October. There are triple features.

3:03:35 Monday through Thursday features a horror double feature each night. The drive in sells out even on Sundays and weeknights, which are school nights. However, on Halloween weekend, the drive in hosts special marathons in which four films are screened. But on Halloween night itself, the drive in hosts an extra special marathon in which they screen four secret movies which aren't revealed until they hit the screen. Only the manager knows what the titles are. The event sells out just the same This year. Halloween night will be on a Sunday as part of retro Halloween Weekend. It's Saturday now Halloween Eve that I'm seeing Charity Miarn on TV at the drive In giving a speech. As it turns out the Strickfield Drive In Theaters in need of some major renovations. Really, you just know the theater makes damn good money. The owners can't raise the funds to renovate the fucking place. Charity and her girlfriend Micah Collins were at the drive in for a summer triple feature event and had heard about the theater's peril. Not only did Charity and Micah raise the money for the renovations, but whatever was left over went to a charity of the owner's choice, which was the Strickfield General Hospital Children's Ward.

3:05:03 Charity is standing at the podium with Micah next to her and talking about how she and Micah heard that the drive in was in trouble and might not reopen for next year's season. She talks about how the former drive in location on the other end of the village went to hell. The old Strickfield Drive In Theater location is on the very same road here as this current location. Charity explains the Old Theater closed down in nineteen eighty seven after hosting the final retro Halloween Weekend event there. But now as we get to the end of the Halloween season, the Strickfield Drive in Theater will finish this final weekend with the traditional four four secret movies and that's both nights this year. Charity laughs a little though after tonight they won't be a secret so much. Then, Charity really smiles. Micah and I would like to thank all of you who donated. Because of your donations, this Drive in Theater will continue to operate for seasons to come, which means there will be many, many more special nights, just like the Halloween season and Retro Halloween Weekend. Her statement was followed by lots and lots of applause. Charity lets Micah speak. Also, many of you requested to have actual vendors here for retro Halloween Weekend. Well, consider that wish granted. There'll be plenty of vendors here to sell whatever your horrific little heart's desire, including even more scary movies.

3:06:38 This is going to be a retro Halloween Weekend. None of us will ever forget, we promise, so we'll likely see many of you here this weekend, and remember the four Secret Movies will be playing on this screen here both tonight and tomorrow night. Very few tickets are still available, so don't wait. Happy retro Halloween weekend and happy Halloween. More fucking loud applause. Yeah, everybody's all happy and excited, ain't they? Fuck you, Charity. I'm lying on my bed and shaking with seething hatred for my older sister by a little over a year. I've had to watch you on TV ever since I heard that you and Micah were doing all those charity drives together. You two raised funds for the expansions to Strickfield Elementary School. You even raised funds to get the Stricfield Fire Department new fire engines.

3:07:33 I heave and heave with hatred, and now realize I've tightened my fists so much that I feel myself bleeding from where my long fingernails have dug into my palm. Still shaking with hatred, I stand up and scream at the top of my lungs. I'm heaving again. My hatred for you will never stop, Charity. I march right of the house and head down the road to my friend Sienna Michael's house. When I get there, I open the front door and walk right in. Sienna's parents just look at me as I disappear upstairs and open the door to Sienna's room. Sienna's lying on her bed with her headphones on, listening to heavy metal records. When Sienna sees me, she pulls her headphones off, destiny, Hey, babe, what's up.

3:08:26 I sit down next to her. Why does she do it, Sienna? Why does charity have to make our family look so bad? Sienna listens to me bitch about everything that happened at the drive in, along with all the other charities. My sister scored funds for mom, and Dad disowned charity, and it's like this this. I glare at Sienna. She's so goddamn happy, go lucky. She even has a girlfriend, a girlfriend. I raise my finger. And every time charity raises money for something and Dad hear about it, know what they do? I stand up and scream they take it out on me.

3:09:07 I sit down again. Sienna sees a tear run down my cheek and tries pulling me to her to hug me, but I push her away and quickly wipe away the tear. I won't show weakness. When mom heard on the radio that Charity had saved the drive in theater, she turned and slapped me hard across the face and told me to get out of her sight. I tighten my fists again. I hate you, Charity, I really really hate you. Just then Sienna's door opens. Her parents come into the room. What is going on up here? Her dad points right at me. You just barge into our house. Then you come up here and start screaming at Sienna Dad. She didn't, Sienna tries to say. I stand up quickly and scream at her father fuck off. Before he can respond, I shove right past Siena's parents and move downstairs. They hear the door slam shut behind me. It's not long before Sienna comes after me, likely against her parents' wishes. Destiny.

3:10:13 Come on, don't be like this. Mom and dad said you're not welcome at our house anymore. Fuck your parents, I yell. I'm ready to say the same thing to Sienna, but I quickly stop myself. Sienna is my only friend in this world. I just look ahead and fuck you Charity. We sit down on a bench outside of Gunter Square and talk about things. Sienna really tries to calm me down, but I'm so full of hate. I can still feel Mom slapping me across the face so hard that I fall and hit the floor just as hard. I keep feeling her hands slapping my face again and again, all because of you, Charity. Suddenly I stand up. I've got at Siena. I know exactly how to get my revenge on Charity. What are you talking about, Sienna stammers. I turn to her retro. Halloween weekend, Tomorrow night is Halloween.

3:11:16 It doesn't matter what day of the week Halloween falls on. It doesn't matter where it is or what the event is. Halloween is, without a doubt, the biggest money maker in all of Strickfield. I sigh a sinister sigh. That means the Drive In will have its biggest money maker tomorrow. The banks won't be open for them to take their cash to and deposit it, and there are no night deposits at any of the banks around here. I should know, because our family owns all the banks. I sit back down. That means the Drive In keeps the money locked on the premises. Then I shriek with the light. The charity money will also be there. Sienna looks at me uneasily. Um, you're not thinking of oh, but I am Sienna. I assure her I have a plan. Sienna still looks uneasy.

3:12:14 That's stealing destiny. I laugh. Why, yes, yes it is. Sienna keeps giving me that uneasy look and pissing me off. Fuck off, I'm doing this. Sienna lowers her head and seems ready to cry. I hate it when you yell at me. Now I feel awful again. Sienna is my only friend. I hug her. I'm sorry, I say sincerely, I won't involve you in my plan. But Sienna suddenly hugs me back tightly. Stop. You can't do this by yourself. You need me. When we come apart, I wait for her explanation. I love you and I won't let you do this yourself.

3:13:02 I know I can't talk you out of it, so I'm going to help you. I consider her now. Then I sigh. I'm such a bitch to you, and you still want to help me because I love you, dummy, You're my best friend. I only have one. I sigh again, and whisper, I love you too, and I'm sorry for how I treat you. We hug again. What's the plan, Sienna asks. I compose myself. Okay, we'll meet at the drive in tomorrow night and do the marathon. Plenty of time to scope everything out. We'll wait until the final movie plays before we grab the cash. I've never been to the drive in. Where is it? Sienna asks me, neither.

3:13:55 I take out my smartphone and look it up. Thirteen thirteen Harlow Roade. Here's a pick. You can't miss it. It looks like it's ready to fall apart from the outside. I look at the pick again and realize something else. Hey, it's actually not far from Denoyer's grill. How what? We meet there and get shakes before we hit the drive in. Great idea, Sienna agrees enthusiastically. I smile for her. Okay, Babe, see you tomorrow at Denoyer's. It's Halloween night. After we have shakes at Denoyer's grill, we leave the still packed vintage diner and make our way to the drive in.

3:14:36 We pass a lot of trick or treaters. Like I said, Strickfield is the place to trick or treat period. It's not long before we see the drive in. The old sign out front is brightly and dully lit at the same time and reads welcome to retro Halloween weekend in red letters. Suddenly, two cars appear from out of nowhere and speed right past us. Just we all over the fucking road. Sienna and I quickly find ourselves on our asses. I quickly get up as I help Sienna to her feet, I yell at the. Cars, Hey, jerks, speed kills. I'm okay, Sienna assures me when she's on her feet again, assholes, I mutter, come on, let's get inside the drive in.

3:15:21 We can just go around and jump the fence. This way, we won't have to pay shit to get in. As we walk to the fence, I have an evil thought. You know, once we rob this place, Charity's going to hear all about it. It'll be a big fuck you to her. Sienna glances at me. Can we go over the plan again? Sure? I explain the plan over again. I'm finished. When we reach the fence, got it, babe, Yeah, I got it, Sienna assures me. Sounds good. We climb up and over the fence and drop to the other side. I quickly look around.

3:16:04 We're good. Nobody saw us. We walk across the gravel lot pass one car after another, noticing the speakers. People are hanging on the windows for inside sound. Don't they broadcast the sound through the car radios here? No wonder this fucking place needs renovations. I had no idea retro Halloween weekend meant retro cars too. Sienna says, yeah, I noticed that too. I point to the concession stand. Okay, let's get refreshments and make ourselves look like we're here for the event. We enter the concession stand. Wow, I'm surprised by what we're seeing. Everything in here looks vintage to Sienna. Well, maybe being retro is the theme here, Sienna offers, I mean, everything's supposed to be getting renovated, right, I smile wickedly.

3:16:58 Not after we're threat here tonight, we order food. Fuck, even the prices are vintage. Everything's so cheap. Not only that, the food actually looks and smells a lot better and you actually get more. We head out and sit at a picnic table and wait for the first feature to start. I bite into my quarter pound hot dog. These are the best fucking hot dogs I've ever eaten. The marathon starts and the PSA's are playing. Some trailers follow then The first movie of the night begins to play Carnival of Souls. Something doesn't feel right. I can't put my finger on it. We watch the movie. It's cloudy outside and the wind starts to pick up. Intermission comes, We buy more food and come back to the picnic table.

3:17:51 The second feature is Night of the Living Dead. Christ are they going to be playing black and white movies all fucking night? My question is answered one more time when they play The Last Man on Earth for round three. Really, these are the big, super secret mystery movies. We hit the concession stand again. The last movie plays, which is called Halloween Destiny. During the other movies, Sienna and I would get up and look around. We confirm our plan to get the money and are ready to make our move. As we get up, we look at the movie. This one's not familiar, yet Sienna and I feel compelled to watch it. This black and white movie starts out with a vengeful, mean rich girl who hates her older sister for being kind hearted. She meets up with a friend and gets her to help her with a revenge plot.

3:18:51 The two of them met up at a diner and eat before they walk to the drive in and climb the fence to get in. It's not long before the girls hear the rumble above them, and no, it's going to rain soon. Suddenly we hear a low rumble just above us. What the fuck, Sienna, It's supposed to be windy tonight, just windy, not raining. In the movie, the girls take shelter underneath another picnic table that has a large umbrella over it as it begins to pour down rain.

3:19:32 At the same time it pours down rain on us. Shit. Sienna shrieks, Damn, it's so cold. Unlike the film, there are no picnic tables with umbrellas. In spite of the rain. The driven patrons, both in the film and in the real world, are still in their cars and watching the movie. I take Sienna's hand and lead her back to the concession stand, and the workers are a guy and a girl about our age. They both look a little off somehow. I know it's Halloween night and people usually dress up, but still Sienna and I both look at each other as if we're thinking the same thing. Nice night for this event, huh. The girl asks us, all dark and stormy.

3:20:26 She quickly raises her hands in front of her, making claws. Spooky goes great with the movie. The guy adds, looks like you both got soaked. I glare at the guy. No shit, Sherlock. The guy points at us, please refrain from using profanity. I raise both of my middle fingers. Eat me. The girl smirks, Sienna feeling uneasy destiny. That wasn't very nice. The girl says, now I'm ready for a confrontation. Oh you want to throw us out? The guy and the girl laugh. Oh, no, no, no, The girl says, we would never do that. On the contrary, when the guy and the girl both come out from behind the concession stand, we both shriek. The girl's uniform top is torn open at the bottom and her stomach and intestines are hanging out. The guy looks even worse than her and seems to be broken in many places.

3:21:31 You're both going to be here for a very, very long time, the guy kroons. We were on our way to the Halloween formal at Strickfield High School. The girl cries, we were hit by a drunk driver and we crashed into that big tree just outside the entrance. Here, she gestures to both herself and her boyfriend, drinking and driving kills. She points to us. You two should know, the guy adds, and now you're both here with us. Enjoy the show because it will always go on. The guy and the girl both laugh long peals of horrible, horrible laughter. We both scream and run back out into the cold rain.

3:22:31 Oh fuck this shit, We're out of here. Damn right, Destiny. The lightning flickers enough to light up both the sky and the entire drive in. When the thunder finally crashes, it actually sounds just the way it did in the older horror movies, just the same. We both scream again when we see the people in the car directly in front of us. The couple look similar to the zombies featured on the Return of the Living Dead poster in the concession stand. The lightning flashes again and shows us how hard the rain is pouring. We scream again when we see that the cars are just full of dead people, and the vintage cars themselves don't look so nice anymore.

3:23:23 You'd think this place was a fucking junkyard. Now we turn and run and see that Halloween Destiny continues to play on the screen. Those girls in the movie seem to be in the same predicament. We're in, Sienna slaps my arm. Let's climb back out over the fence. I got a better idea. We're right by the front entrance. We run to where the cars came in. When we reach the admission booth, a man with half of his face missing and several broken teeth steps out and points at us. The rules specifically state that no one leaves until the final feature has ended. Back you go, We scream, as the wind suddenly picks up and drives us both back into the main.

3:24:07 Area of the drive in. We're both completely soaked. We move to try and climb out over the fence, but now the fence is a fucking brick wall. It's much too high and too slippery from the rain to scale. Then there's the fact that the walls covered with thorny vines and moss. Just then, a security guard approaches us. When the lightning flashes, the guard has rotting flesh everywhere, even as uniform looks ragged and dull. You girls need to stop causing problems and just watch the movies, he gurgles. We scream again and run.

3:24:47 What are we going to do? Sienna cries, What the fuck can we do. I shriek, How the fuck is this shit even happening right there? Grab them? It sounds like the gurgling security guard again. Suddenly we're grabbed by two big, hulking creatures and force to our knees. Now the guy and the girl running the concession stand approach us. The manager's here. The guy says he wants to have a very serious talk with the both of you. I am already here, A new, disembodied voice says. We both scream again when we see who's suddenly standing in front of us. There's no mistaking the figure with the long shroud and the sickle. I gasp in terror when I see the skeletal hand holding that sickle. Then the figure points to the screen. Watch Watch Destiny, Mirren Siana Michaels.

3:25:46 Watch the events that have brought you to before me. We're forced to finish watching Halloween Destiny. The girls in the movie are at the exact point where we are now, except now well, we see a flashback that shows that both girls had been hit by cars with drunken fraternity boys in them as they were nearing the drive in. Yes, death tells us you two have perished. You will wait your final judgment from me now. But before I render judgment, you shall finish your movie marathon, and we have bonus features just for the two of you. The Hulks pick us up and seat us at our picnic table. The fifth feature, called Destiny's Life plays for us. Here I see the horrible truth. My parents never even wanted me.

3:26:50 They were happy with just having charity. Then shit happened and I was born. I had tried doing everything I could to please my parents, but I was treated like shit by them time and time again in favor of charity. Death speaks to me it would be your early life that would cause your unbridled hatred for your older sister, that tainted your soul. This is what ultimately brought you before me, Destiny Miron. The sixth feature plays, which is called Destiny's Friend. This showed the time from where Sienna and I had met. We were just kids. Sienna kept following me around on the playground at school like a lost little puppy. No matter how many times I yelled and screamed at her to just go away, she kept following me around. Finally I gave in, if we hang out after school once, you'll leave me alone, I offered.

3:27:48 Sienna nodded eagerly. I met Sienna after school and hung out with her. By the time the day was over, I decided that I actually liked Sienna. Okay, you can be my friend. We watch as I could sometimes be verbally abusive towards Sienna. She even cry a little when she knew I wasn't watching the movie even shows the day before when I just walked into Sienna's home uninvited and unannounced. I look at Sienna and feel heavy remorse inside. Now it's too much. I've become very weak and start to cry. I'm sorry, Sienna. I choke out. I'm so sorry I made you come along with me on this.

3:28:36 I'm so sorry about everything. Sienna shakes her head slowly. No, I offered to come with you. You're my best friend, I only have one. I shake my head quickly. I did this out of hatred for Charity. I strive to be everything my parents wanted her to be. But Charity was kind, very kind, and our parents ultimately disowned her. I thought I would get all the attention Charity used to get. Yeah, I got all the attention. Mom and dad hated my fucking guts. Mom absolutely refused to touch me before yesterday. She wouldn't even let me hugger. Then she heard about how charity was doing so much good raising money for all these charities, and Mom hit me.

3:29:24 I looked Death in his vacant space where his face should have been. I did it. It was all me. I came here to steal the money tonight, punish me, torture me, make me burn in hell. But please let Sienna go. She doesn't deserve this. No, Sienna interjects, I offer myself in exchange for Destiny. Let her go. Why would you offer yourself for destiny? Miron, Death inquires, didn't you hear me? I told Destiny she was my best friend and that I only have one. Sienna turns to me. You gave me a chance. You let me be your best friend. You had to have one. I wanted to be it. Death raises his hand enough. I have made my decision. We're both scared now, as Death looks from her to me. As it turns out, I have two openings I need to fill, he points to Sienna. I charge that you, Sienna Michaels, shall be the new manager of this drive in theater by day, you shall live in the mortal world. By night, you shall work here in the after life and run my theater for me.

3:30:52 Sienna gulps, But I can't run this theater. I don't know how I shall teach you all that you need to know. I offer you this position because I know you will be fair and just towards those who enter the after life. Death looks at me now, I shall not claim your soul, Destiny, Miren. It is the events of your life that have poisoned your soul and have caused you to make poor decisions that have brought you to me. It is both your admission of guilt and the selflessness of your friend that have convinced me to give you my other job opening. I'm still crying. Just let Sienna go and I'll do whatever you want. I won't even try to run away. It's okay, Destiny, Sienna replies, I am staying with you. My decision is final, Destiny mirn.

3:31:58 Death tells me I have my new theater manager, but your new job shall carry even more responsibilities than hers, And before I know it, Death places his sickle into my hands. What what what do you want me to do with this Suddenly my skin and long blonde hair turn ghastly white. I feel my eyes, lips, and nails also changing, turning black. I also feel powerful, stronger, immortal. You shall be my replacement. Death explains, I have carried souls from the mortal realm to the after life since the dawn of time. Now it is time for me to move on, though I shall look in on you from time to time. From this moment, you shall carry on with my name and my former duties. In addition to bringing souls to the afterlife, you shall help those who have tainted souls to change their ways for the better and perhaps avoid their fates. Then Sienna steps up, Wait, would you consider granting us the rest of Halloween night?

3:33:25 Come on, we can't possibly run away, not from you. Please. Death considers Sienna's request very well. I shall release you both for tonight Tomorrow evening. Both of you shall begin your duties in the afterlife. Thank you, Sienna says gratefully for both of us. Suddenly, we find ourselves back in Strickfield on Halloween evening, outside the drive in about the time I first got here. Only this time there's no sign of life whatsoever. Inside the theater. Sienna moves the sign and examines it. Destiny, could you look up the address again? I take out my smartphone and show Sienna the pic from my search earlier. Here Sienna looks at it.

3:34:21 Oh my god, what. Sienna looks at the sign again. This sign says thirteen thirteen West Harlow Road. So Sienna shows me my phone. Look closer. The text below this pick says this location is closed. The drive and we should have gone to is at thirteen thirteen East Harlow Road on the other side of the village. I take my smartphone back and see that. Sienna's right. I just looked at the picture for this place. I didn't even read the text below. I'm sad. Now this is all my fault. I'm so sorry, Sienna.

3:35:04 Sienna takes my hand. Why you didn't drive drunk and kill us both. That's why we're really in the afterlife, now, you know. I consider her. Yeah. I hug Sienna to me. You know what, let's have some fun. Let's go trigger treating. Sienna hugs me back, then she backs away and looks me over. Black and white holding a sickle. You'll never need a Halloween costume. I smile at my friend. Thanks. Now, let's go get some candy to take back to the afterlife with us. Sienna shrieks with happiness.

3:35:45 Let's go. The Halloween Party by Keith Tomlin. A rock skittered across the cracked pavement of the road as a black engineer boot playfully kicked at it. Clyde, a young man dressed in blue jeans, white T shirt and a leather jacket, stopped to survey his surroundings. There were empty warehouses and factories on all sides, most falling apart, victims of a failing economy. The blight stretched as far as he could see, and from what he could tell, he seemed to be the only person within miles. He paused next to a rusty rim with a flat tire and lit an unfiltered cigarette.

3:36:41 He took a deep drag, closing his eyes, enjoying the pleasure of the harsh, burning smoke in his lungs for a few moments. He then opened his eyes and once again surveyed the empty expanse around him. Okay, stop fucking around, where are you? He yelled. Not hearing a response, he tilted his head back and drank from a large bottle of whiskey. He stopped long enough to catch his breath, and then guzzled more of the bitter liquor. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and yelled again. Come on, I'm bored. Where are you guys? I don't want to miss the party? Fine fuck it, Clyde yelled, giggling. Downing the last of the liquid, he turned and threw the bottle over a tall, rusty chain link fence. He smiled in satisfaction when he heard the bottle break. Running his hands along his hair, which was greased back into a duct tail, he started to walk on down the deserted road. Suddenly, the evening was split by a soul shattering scream. The sound echoed off of the mty buildings and seemed to come from everywhere. The young man stopped, his head whipping back and forth as he tried to pinpoint the source of the scream. He finally zoned in on a row

3:38:14 of old brick factories. Flipping the cigarette to the ground, he took off, running and grinning like a madman. Amber slowly guided her eyeliner pencil across her cheek. Leaning back, she looked at the results in the mirror prefect, she thought. Pleased with the cat whiskers she drew, she stood up and looked at the whole costume in the mirror. The catsuit accentuated her slim figure and provided a decent amount of cleavage without showing too much. She spent three weeks designing and creating the costume and was very proud of the effort. Plus she could submitted as a final project in the fashion design class. She was taking loud laughter and crude jokes from her sorority sisters Madison and Sarah intruded on the moment. It almost made Amber wish that she'd not agreed to drive them to the party at a friend's cabin on Belleville Lake. Both of them had started drinking hours earlier, and they were pretty wasted by then.

3:39:24 Having lived with an alcoholic father, Amber rarely drank and was the resident designated driver. Amber sighed and began the process of hurting the two drunks out the door. Thirty minutes later, Amber turned onto a dark, deserted country road near the lake. After a few minutes, red and blue lights appeared behind her. God damn it, Amber said, turning down the radio. Her two friends looked at each other and burst into laughter. Oh no, Amber's getting a ticket, Sarah teased. Maybe the cop will be cute. Ask if you could touch his gun, Madison said, causing Sarah to burst into laughter. Will you two stop it, Amber said, annoyed, she hated dealing with drunks. She pulled over and shut the car off, rolling her window down, She tried to get a look at the car that pulled in behind her, but a bright spotlight lit up from the car, almost blinding her. Amber had a bad feeling about this. She ignored the snickering comments from her friends as she tried to watch behind her in the side mirror. After a few seconds, she saw a shadow pass in front of the spotlight as a large man walked up alongside the car.

3:40:46 Being backlit. It was hard to see any details, but it looked like he was wearing a uniform. Something in the way he moved seemed off. When the man reached the driver side window, he stopped for a few seconds and then leaned down and looked into the car. Amber stared into his face, shocked at seeing him wearing a respirator. She started to speak to ask why he stopped them, but everything froze when she looked into his eyes, wild crazy eyes, eyes that seemed to scream out for violence and blood. Are you good girls or bad girls? He said in a whispery voice muted by the mask he was wearing. Amber jolted into motion and tried to start the car. As the man brought his hand up and sprayed a mist from a small tank into the car, Amber faded into darkness. Hearing the screams of her friends, Amber jerked awake to sounds of screaming. Groggily. She looked down and saw that her hands and legs were tied to an old office chair. The chair was on some kind of loading dock in an old, dirty warehouse or factory.

3:42:13 She turned towards the screaming and realized that they were coming from a naked young woman lying on the floor. She was staked out in the middle of a crudely painted pentagram with candles at each point, with her arms and legs stretched out to her sides. The woman was covered in blood, and between cries of pain, she was pleading with a large man standing over her to let her go. The man answered with swipes of a large bloody knife. Amber tried to yell, but she found that she had been gagged with a dirty rag, held there by a cloth tied around her head. Even though her cries were muffled, the man responded by turning toward her.

3:42:58 His eyes seemed to shine lit by the light of insanity. These were the same eyes she saw on the man who had pulled them over. He grinned and held the bloody blade up to his mouth as if to shush her. Amber was able to get a better look at the woman on the floor and realized it was Sarah. Amber strained against her restraints, trying to yell for help, desperate to do anything to save her friend. The man grinned even more and turned back to Sarah, using the knife with more enthusiasm. Pleased that he now had an audience.

3:43:43 Amber sobbed, choking on the gag, trying to find a way to break free. The killer plunged his knife deep into Sarah, her screams fading into a low gurgle. He reached into her abdomen and cut out a bloody piece of flesh. He turned toward Amber and waved it in the air, mocking her. He flipped it at her, and she had to jerk her head to the side to avoid being hit by the small piece of her friend. The killer laughed and then began to make a game out of cutting pieces of her friend, who now lay silent and unmoving and tossing the matter. After a few minutes, he seemed to grow bored with this game and raised the knife high in the air. He mumbled words in a language that Amber didn't recognize, and plunged the knife deep into Sarah's chest. With effort, he ripped the knife down, breaking ribs and cutting flesh. He reached into the large gaping wound and ripped something out, holding it up high as if offering it to the heavens. Amber felt bile rise up as she realized it was her friend's heart.

3:45:07 She closed her eyes and turned away from the horror. A few seconds later, she heard footsteps scraping on the concrete and felt the killer's rancid breath on her face. She closed her eyes even tighter as he spoke, Hey, pretty girl, little miss kitty cat, look at your savior. Amber turned her head away from the voice. A hand with an iron grip seized her jaw and forced her head up. A cold, sharp object placed against her throat. I said, look at me, the killer stated in a cold, hard voice. Amber opened her eyes and whimpered as she looked into the face of evil. You look like a good girl. I think Master will be pleased with you.

3:46:04 He wasn't pleased with the other sacrifices, the killer said, pointing towards Sarah. Then gestured to a dark corner. Amber looked and could make out an outline of a body barely recognizable as human. Amber knew without a doubt that the bloody mess was what was left of Madison. She tried not to sob as she looked intently at her face. Yes, I'm sorry you slept through that one. How inconsiderate of me. Anyways, you didn't miss much. The Master didn't respond to her flesh.

3:46:49 She must have been unclean you. On the other hand, the killer used the knife blade to play with the buttons on her costume. You look like a good girl, and the dark Lord likes good girls, he said, grinning. Amber trembled with fear, tears and snot running down her face. She tried to talk past her gag, begging him to let her go, to let her live. The killer stepped back, looking pleased. Let's get you ready to meet the master, he said, as he wiped the blood off of the blade and inserted it into a sheath on his belt.

3:47:36 He stretched, seeming to enjoy the discomfort and fear he was provoking in her. As he started to lean forward, a young man suddenly leapt out of the darkness, swinging a large pipe. The pipe hit the killer on the side of his head and sent him sprawling across the room, landing near the unmoving body of Sarah Damn home run. Clyde yelled, flipping the pipe like it was a baseball bat and raising his arms in the air, waving to an imaginary crowd. Amber stared at him in astonishment. Clyde lowered his arms and looked around. Wow, man, what the hell happened here? Looks like a slaughter Like one of those slasher movies I keep hearing about, he said, pointing at Madison's body in the corner. Amber snapped out of her trance and struggled against the gag, trying to plead with him to let her go. He turned to point at the killer. Two bodies and a large ass fuck slicing everyone up. This is a slasher movie. He said excitedly.

3:48:45 He reached into his jacket and pulled out a flask and began to drink from it. I keep hearing about these movies at work. Sounds like a blast, baby, he stated, taking another long pull on the flask. Wiping his mouth, he looked at Amber. Damned doll, you look like shit, he said, walking over to her. Amber started to sob again, straining against the gag. So uh, you must be the final girl. All of these movies have one, he suddenly smiled. That must make me the dutiful boyfriend that sacrifices himself to save you. God, and I thought this would be a boring night, he said excitedly. Amber tried yelling even harder, begging him to let her go drink, he said, offering her the flask. Seeing Amber struggle against her restraints, he smacked himself in the forehead. Sorry, little missy, let me help, he said, apologetically, as he reached down and took the gag out of her mouth. Amber took a few deep breaths.

3:49:58 Please please, oh God, You've got to help me. Untiiny and call the police. This crazy man kidnapped us and killed. She broke into sobs as She looked over at Sarah. Hey, now, babyface, dry those tears. As the dutiful boyfriend, I have to help you. That's how these movies work, he said. Now let me cut you loose. He gestured to his right hand and a switchblade popped open in it. He gently reached down and cut the ropes tying her to the chair. There we go, sweets, he said, pulling the ropes loose. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Amber sobbed. Do you have a phone. We need to call the police. Sorry, babe, ain't got no phone, he said. We need to get out of here. We need to get help. She said.

3:50:47 Her legs were numb from lack of circulation, and she stumbled as she tried to stand. As he steadied her, she could smell the overpowering stench of alcohol. We got a long walk then, because I ain't got no car either. I was with some coworkers on the way to a Halloween shindig when I suddenly found myself here in the middle of fucking nowhere. There ain't no one around for miles except us and him, he said, pointing to the killer. Amber looked to the killer and was shocked to see him beginning to stir. She could now hear a low moan coming from him as the maniac began rubbing the side of his face. Oh God, you have to finish him.

3:51:28 He's getting up, she gasped. Well it's not time for that yet. What kind of movie would that be? This is where we beat feet and try to hide from the vicious killer, the young man said as he turned away from her. God, I always wanted to be in a horror movie. Giggling, the young man walked through a door leading deeper into the factory. Amber looked at the doorway and then back at the killer, who was trying to pull himself up to his knees. She limped through the door. It took Amber a second and to see Clyde moving silently through the rows of rusty machinery. She moved as quickly and quietly as her aching legs would allow.

3:52:10 When she caught up to him, he turned and looked at her with a sly smile. I hope he's a good killer. I hate for this night to be a bust, he said. Amber stared at him for a second before saying, you're crazy. I'm not crazy, I'm Clyde. He whispered, giggling again. Clyde turned and glided into the darkness. Amber hesitated, but began to move once she heard a metallic scrape somewhere behind her. Amber stumbled and groped her way through the darkened factory, following Clyde. The killer could be heard yelling, his voice echoing off the factory walls. After long, tense minutes, everything grew quiet. Suddenly, a beam of light sprung out of the darkness, illuminating the row of machinery ahead of her.

3:53:06 She stifled a scream as the light moved back and forth, seeking them out. A booming voice yelled from the darkness behind the flashlight. Here, Kitty, Kitty, come out, kitty, and your little boyfriend too. Clyde reached out and padded Amber's hand. I think it's time for the big scene. You wait here and I'll go out and see if we can't speed things up. I have to be back by dawn, Clyde whispered. He picked up a large, rusty wrench off the bench next to them and banged it on the cement floor. The flashlight whipped around and locked onto the crouching figures of Clyde and Amber. Clyde stood and shaking his fist at the killer, roared, if you want her, daddyo, you have to go through me first. The killer, scene behind the bright light, laughed and said that.

3:54:05 Come. Clyde ran at the killer. Amber heard sounds of a struggle, and the beam of the flashlight swung back and forth as they fought, but it was difficult for her to tell what was going on. Finally, the struggle ended. A figure stumbled back and fell on the ground in front of Amber. The flashlight swung around a spotlight. Clyde lying on his back, holding his hands to his throat, blood pouring out from between his fingers. Clyde tried to speak, reaching out to her, but all that came out of his mouth was an eruption of blood. His outstretched hand fell to the ground as he stopped struggling and laid there, limp and unmoving. The light snapped to Amber's face, blinding her.

3:54:56 She tried jumping to her feet to run away, but her legs out from under her. She fell forward, striking her head on the edge of a bench, landing on the floor. Dazed, she felt the breath leave her as the killer brought his large boot down upon her neck. I have so much to show you, my little kitty cat, he whispered. Once again, Amber's whirled went dark. As Amber came to, she felt a coldness under her bare skin. She tried to roll over, only to find that she was tied down, spread eagle. She blinked the dizziness from her eyes and squinted at her body. Each wrist and ankle was tied to a steel rod hammered into the concrete.

3:55:51 As the fog continued to lift from her consciousness, she saw something move above her, and, after a moment of effort, her eyes focused on a face, the face of the Killer. There you are, my little one, he cooed, grinning. You gave me a scare. I thought you may not wake up to accept the dark One's blessing, he said, his wicked blade catching the light from the candles that were placed around her. Amber began to weep, begging for her life. Sh I'll have none of that. This is a joyous time.

3:56:34 If you start blubbering, I'll begin by carving out your tongue, the Killer whispered to her. Amber struggled to control herself, but she could not stop her sobbing. Maybe I should begin here, the killer purred as he ran the knife down her bare belly toward her privates. After all, that is what turns little angels into lie hoars, he said, yelling the last few words, he plunged the knife several inches deep inside her. Amber screamed as she felt blood flowing from between her legs. The Killer pulled the knife out of her and slowly ran his tongue along the flat of the blade, savoring the taste of her blood. Oh, yes, the dark Lord will shower me with rewards for bringing him a soul like yours. He leaned down and licked the tears from Amber's face. As sobs wrecked her body, Laughter exploded from behind them. The Killer whipped his head around and gawked at what he saw. Amber, with considerable effort, raised her head and stared unbelieving at Clyde, sitting calmly on the loading dock in the chair that Amber had been tied to earlier. Clyde's white t shirt was covered in drying blood, but he seemed unhurt. He flicked his thumb across a match head, causing it to burst into flame.

3:58:02 He brought the match up to a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it. Damn, you have no idea how much I miss these, he said, taking a deep drag. You'd think with all the smoke and fire where I work, they would allow these, But nope, Clyde continued wistfully. Hell can be a weird place sometimes. The Killer rose to his feet. He waved his knife in the air before saying, you stay back. She is my sacrifice to the dark One, and you cannot have her. Clyde laughed again. Dark and ominous, you think this, he said, spreading his hands toward the carnage around them, will get you the attention of the dark Lord. You have no idea what it takes. I committed countless atrocities, gave him the souls of hundreds of men, women and children. I ripped babies from the wombs of their and burn nuns alive, screaming for their God to save them. And yet I barely registered on the radar of his lowest Lieutenant Clyde was now standing screaming at the killer. I devoted my whole life to killing for his glory, and he doesn't even know my name. You think killing a couple of skirts will bring down his blessing?

3:59:20 You're a fool, he said with contempt. The killer, shaking with rage, roared the dark one promised me glory, eternal life. You will not take that away from me. The killer lunged forward and buried his knife up to the hilt in Clyde's chest. The killer stopped dead, his mouth agape as Clyde almost nonchalantly grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Clyde looked up at the killer and grinned. So he promised you eternal life. Well, let's u test that out. Clyde's hand shot out and plunged into the ki killer's chest. When he withdrew his hand, he was holding the killer's still beating heart. He left both the killer's body and heart to drop to the ground. Sighing, Clyde took a seat at the edge of the loading dock.

4:00:15 He reached over and picked up his cigarette from the floor where he dropped it during the confrontation. He ran his hand, still slick with the killer's blood, threw his hair and sighed again. Taking a drag from his smoke, he said, man, this isn't how I pictured this night going. Hell's a bitch of a place, to work. A handful of us get one night off a year on Halloween. For the first time since I've been there almost seventy years, I was picked. We had a great night planned. We were going to terrorize a small remote village, burn their crops and livestock, possess a few people, and end the night in a blood bath. He flicked ashes on the killer's forehead. Somehow I ended up here. I think it was because of this fuck wad's ritual or whatever he was doing. Maybe I was sent by the big Guy to teach him a lesson. Hell, he laughed. Maybe the dark Lord did have big plans for him and I uh fucked it up. Oh well, either way, I'll find out in the morning. Clyde took a final drag off of his cigarette and flicked it off into the darkness. Well, little missy, he said, as he looked over at Amber, I don't have to leave until dawn, so let's have ourselves a little Halloween party. He pulled the knife from

4:01:46 his chest and tested the edge with his thumb. Grinning, he jumped to his feet and walked toward Amber for the last time. Amber began to scream a wet and wild Halloween by David O'Hanlon. Bryce glared into the gaping mouth of the Pumpkin King and knew he was going to die. He could hear the terrified screams of those already inside. The screeching, piercing wails of their panic rang out over the cacophony around him, drowning out the rest of the world.

4:02:35 One of the. King's victims launched between the bright orange lips and hung in the air. Bryce's stomach twisted in nervous knots as the child flailed about in the afternoon sky before splashing into the pool below. The little boy exploded through the surface and shrieked a prepubescent yeehaw. Bryce shook his. Head and wandered around the ever growing line of texts Greatest water Slide. The only thing good about the state was that Halloween was still hot enough to enjoy a trip to the water park. The other water slides were largely being ignored in favor of the big new attraction. It was their last chance before the park closed for the year. Some twisted genius had designed the winding Tubes of Certainish Death so that four people could go down simultaneously.

4:03:26 Cris crossing each other's paths along the black and purple shoots until being vomited out of the Pumpkin King's smirking face. The oversized gourd hung perilously over a bat shaped pool, with orange lights illuminating the water from below, so the line of anxious guests could see the previous victims churning about. A heinous cackle emanated from hidden speakers, signaling the attendants to prepare the next victims. Bryce would be one of the night's sacrifices. Splashtown was opened from the last day of school to Halloween every year, and with the water drop shaped season pass around her neck, Rebecca Angle would be there almost every single day. Bryce had fallen in love with Rebecca when they shared a moon pie at recess in the third grade. After eight years of awkwardness, Bryce had finally worked up the nerve to ask Rebecca to go on a date with them. She'd be at Splashtown anyway, so it wasn't any extra effort on her part.

4:04:31 He was still surprised when she said, yes, Mommy, my skin is stinging. A little girl with auburn pigtails whined as she walked past Bryce You're fine, Susy, Her mother said, you just need more sun block. Bryce stuck his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks and made his way to the concession stands to meet up with Rebecca. He sniffed the air and tried not to drool at the flavors attacking his nose. He mentally und tangled the sweet smell of funnel cakes from the savory chili dogs, the pizza slices from the cheeseburgers. His stomach growled with rage at the boy's new diet. Bryce rubbed his belly and looked down. For the first time since he was seven, he could see his feet again. He missed the delicious foods, but he was glad he'd started eating right and working out.

4:05:24 He ordered a bottle of water in a bag of peanuts before taking a seat on a nearby bench. A girl walked by, sniffing her hair. Though he couldn't see her face, Bryce recognized Tabby Winfield by her high pitched nasal wine. She tossed the thick braid over her shoulder and scrunched her nose. The water here smells like daddy's farm hands, she told her friends. Bryce remembered the girl from earlier and looked around the park. Others made sour expressions as they towled off as well. A man rinsed his sobbing grandson off with a bottle of water. John Cahill, the star of the basketball team, wretched excess water into a trash. Ben Bryce watched more park goers flying out of that damn pumpkin. Something was wrong, God damn it, stew Peter Brack shouted as he ducked under the low hanging pipes on his way to the maintenance supervisor's office.

4:06:29 You got the solution up too high. These assholes are beating down my door demanding refunds and free T shirts. Those shirts cost me six fifty apiece. Peter stopped complaining once he got to the water treatment controls. Stu Band was nowhere to be seen. Pete checked the gages on the machinery himself and sputtered his plump lips. Everything was in the green. He thumped them each to see if they were stuck, but nothing happened. He squatted as much as his knees allowed and stared at the water samples collected in the slight tubes. Something sparkled in the suspension. What intarnation is going on? Pete scratched at his horseshoe of silver hair. Pete shouted for Stew again, no response.

4:07:18 He continued his inspection of the machine, then stumbled to a halt. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, hoping he was wrong. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at the fifty five gallon drums plumbed into the treatment lines with a defeated sigh. Pete had been running Splashtown for thirty years. The drums for the water treatment solution had always been blue polymer. Pete stomped closer to the red steel drums and wrapped his knuckles against the side of the nearest one. It was already half empty. He searched each of them for a label or any other indication of what might have been inside. I'm going to break your scrawny neck, Stew. He grabbed the wheel to shut off the flow. The lawyers are going to have our balls for breakfast if this shit is toxic.

4:08:11 A moist hand clamped onto the back of Peter Brack's neck. The screwdriver plunged into his ear and he fell to the concrete Stew's slimy, malformed hands cranked the wheel, fully opening the valves. Brack's final seconds were pure terror as he watched the sample tubes change color. That horrible shimmer became a frantic, swirling glow. Something slithered along the pipes overhead. Pete could almost see it. Bryce sipped his water and watched the park staff meander about in their Halloween costumes.

4:08:58 Attendants at the Pumpkin King tossed handfuls of sweets at the line to keep everyone calm. Bryce missed tricker treating. High school parties were fun, but they lacked the same spirit of the more childish pastime he was a year from adulthood. Halloween couldn't offer anything as scary as that. A group of parents cornered a staffer in a witch costume and began berating the poor girl. Bryce couldn't hear what they were saying as they furiously waved their hands at the crying children behind them. A hand on his shoulder made him jump, and he spun around on the bench to see Rebecca Angle standing there, smiling down at him.

4:09:42 Her black one piece was festooned with sparkling pumpkins, and he tried to pry his eyes back to her face. Hi, Becca, he said, with all the coolness he could muster. Been here long. He didn't know why he'd asked. Her hair was dry and they'd agreed to meet at the concession stand, so the answer was obvious. Bryce forced a smile and hoped it covered up his folly. Nope, just got done putting my stuff in the lockers. She pointed at the pumpkin king. Should we get in line for that one first? It'll take the longest. I thought we could get it out of the way and just hang out while we wait.

4:10:22 Bryce nodded, Sure, sounds good. The line zigzagged back and forth in six rows between orange and black velvet ropes. They took their place at the end of the line and talked about their chemistry test and the fall dance. He was too distracted by more disgruntled guests, which caused him to miss his opportunity to ask her to the dance. He tried bringing the conversation back around to the event. When the screaming started, they echoed down the tubes of the slide as heralds of the misery still to come. The child shot from the mouth of the pumpkin, king an iridescent gout of violet water. The shrill cries continued until the boy splashed into the pool below. From his position, Bryce couldn't see the chemicals spilling forth and spreading, consuming the ordinary water with ferocity. His gaze flicked back to the gargantuan gourd and the elderly man that flew out next.

4:11:20 Bryce rubbed his eyes to clear what must have been a trick of the light, and obese lady streaked down the water slide right behind the geriatric high Above them, Splashtown employees dressed like Mario and Luigi hurried the next riders into their passages. Bryce called for one of the candy throwers, but got no response. Maybe it was for the better, after all, how was he going to explain his request to shut down the slide. They weren't going to believe him if he said the geezer's skin was wrong. Bryce shoved forward in line to one of the pool's viewing windows. The purple fluid dyed the pool with shimmering, ancerous swirls. The team cupped his hands around his eyes and leaned on the cool glass. The underwater lighting reflected off whatever. The violet substance carried and twinkled like thousands of stars, but Bryce couldn't see anyone. The little boy swam by the window, giving Bryce a start. More screams pierced the evening, only these weren't filled with the playful fear of sliders. Another shape whipped past the glass portal.

4:12:31 Bryce leaped away from the wall. The boy came back into view. The old man clung to his back. Finger length appendages danced from open wounds along the man's exposed torso. A shiny black spine snicked out each like switchblades and darted into the child's flesh. The fat lady flipped over the guardrail overhead and hit the sidewalk next to Bryce, pinning another impatient guest below her girth. Bryce listened to the muffled sark screams beneath her and saw the same dancing wormlike things stretching out from her skin and fighting the fabric of her ill advised bikini. He bolted to the back of the line for Rebecca. As the crowd began to scream and run in all directions around the park.

4:13:16 Others were doing the same. Bryce seized Rebecca by the arm. We've got to go, now, what's happening, she asked, as he dragged her away from the pumpkin king. Did someone get hurt? Tabby Winfield answered her question by tackling two of their classmates. Her hand gripped the bag of Tom Zabo's collar. The worm things tore out between her fingers and stuck their talons into the base of his skull. Tom's dates squirmed under Tabby, who lifted her head in a weak shrill scream. Her throat undulated and ripped open wide, revealing rows of teeth. The new mouth clamped onto the trapped girl's skull with a crunch. What the hell, Becca whimpered, she stumbled as Bryce pulled her along. More park goers were being attacked by the mutants. Their new digits twisted away from their bodies in search of prey. The black talons darted in and out, ready to pierce flesh. Victims screamed and cried around them. Bryce pulled Rebecca into one of the restrooms and slammed the door. His hands slapped at a bare brass plate. Damn it, he shouted, kicking the door. It only locks from the outside. Wonderful hiding spot.

4:14:29 It'll do for now. Do you mind? A voice bellowed from one of the stalls. Some of us are concentrating. There's an emergency, Rebecca shouted. Do you have a phone? Obviously the toilet flushed. What else do people do on the toilet? The door swung open, and a middle aged man in a power ranger's costume stepped out, adjusting the bulge in his crotch. Don't worry, miss, It's a sock, not a chubby, he informed Rebecca. Spandex isn't the most flattering fabric. Got to beef up the beef bus for all the single moms that come through here. Know what I'm saying, Jesus Christ mutants inside and out. Rebecca grumbled.

4:15:10 You've got some mighty fine genetics, the old man told her. Wouldn't have any single moms swinging in your family tree. Would you listen, Harvey Weinstein, people are getting killed outside and we need to call for help, she blurted. Hell, I was just joking about the phone, he said. They make us lock them up at the start of each shift. Bryce pointed to the plastic card dangling around the man's neck. You're an employee. Who else wears a costume to a water park. He chuckled names Flint, flint Stone, you can shit can the jokes. I've heard them all my life. Then you can get us to an office a guard shack. Bryce stammered, I don't care where, just somewhere with a phone.

4:15:53 That's cute, kid. Flint told him, I'm not taking you anywhere to make a prank call to the police about monsters eating people. Can't you hear the screams, Rebecca questioned, people are always screaming. It's an amusement park factor in board staffers in spooky costumes, and they'll do it more so. Frankly, miss it sounds like a Tuesday. The door exploded inward, shattering from the force of the blow. Before the hinges could swing it open safely, a man rolled across the tile and came to a stop on all fours. The white digits wriggled from his back like thick sentient hairs. Purple drool trickled from the corner of his mouth, forming a puddle beside his head. A tooth dropped into the saliva, followed by another and another. Brown anorexic serpents slithered from the empty sockets of his gums. Stretching two feet in front of him. Mandibles unfurled from the sides of each creature's head and snipped at the air. Flint backed away slowly.

4:16:56 His boots squeaked on the damp tile, drawing a hiss from the throat slit of the mutant. The three oversized worms lunged forward. Their motion tugged the man thing forward as they followed the sound of Flint's retreat. The infected man sprang up and dashed across the bathroom. Bryce stuck out his foot and tripped the creature. It toppled to the floor and slid closer to Flint. The mandibles hooked into his thigh, and he let out a shrill squeal before kicking the man's jaws shut on the bizarre appendages. They released their prey and shot backwards. Flint leaped into the air and came down on the man's back with both feet. The black talons speared at the white leather boots with sewing machine quickness. Flint pushed off, rolling across the floor and away from the failed counter attack. He dipped into the stall and shut the door seriously. Rebecca shouted after him. Bryce hefted the rubber trash can overhead and tossed it at the creature. It bounced off harmlessly.

4:17:56 Rebecca looked around for something more effective. When the creek jumped to its feet. The throat slit spread wide and gurgled a threat. The stall door banged open, and Flint rushed toward the creature and bashed it across the back of the head with a green bucket. A follow up shot sent it careening into a mirror. The glass fell into the sink and clattered to the floor. The makeshift weapon flipped open and Flint swung it upward in a single deft motion. It wasn't a bucket, but the helmet to his costume. He clicked the latches in place. Can't go into battle without my armor, Flint muttered and dipped under an attack from the mouth tentacles. His gloved fingers found a piece of glass in the sink. A moment before the man thing's hand closed around his neck. A talon clicked against the plastic helmet and drew back for another try. Bryce placed his foot on the wall and tore the paper towel dispenser free. The creature turned its attention to the sudden commotion long enough for Flint to drive the shive into its torso. The chest wound sputtered as the obsolete lungs drained of it. The mouth tentacles reared back and struck at the helmet. Flint thrust the glass dagger into the man's abdomen and slid him from hip to hip. Intestines unspooled from the wound and piled at Flint's feet, and then something else plopped into the viscera.

4:19:17 The former person collapsed in a heap as the thing evacuated the host body. The two foot long slug latched onto the toe of his boot and slurped loudly. Flint sprang up and sat on the sink. The radula darted from the mollusk's mouth like a harpoon. Its serrated teeth scraped across the porcelain and slashed side to side for tender flesh. Rebecca slid across the floor like she was stealing home, and kicked the slug against the wall. She tried to stand, only to slip in the thick layer of mucus clinging to her bare feet. Bryce ran forward and jumped over the discarded carcass. He swung the paper towel dispenser under his knees and landed on the strange entity.

4:19:59 A bright spray of yellow and magenta gushed across the floor. To signal his success, Flint pushed off the sink and helped Rebecca balance herself. Hugest air Sabuddha, goddamn space booker, He shouted, It's a snail, Rebecca corrected him. Still look like a Tuesday to you. Snails have shells, Bryce said, between gags, what do you think that was? Rebecca pointed at the dead body. They got in the water into the pumpkin king wear their shells now. Flint shifted his visored gaze between the teens. I don't follow. How'd a bunch of those things go unnoticed? Maybe whatever that purple shit was made them grow faster. Bryce threw his hands into the air. What's it matter it drooled purple too.

4:20:49 Rebecca shook her head. These things might be able to infect others by attacking them. We can't let them out of splash town. Snails move slow, Flint said, like goddamn hobbits trekking to Mordor slow. We've got time if you've got a plan that is salt, Bryce suggested, we need a lot of it, not to mention a way to disperse it. Check and check. Flint put a hand on each of their shoulders. You can't see it behind this totally bitching and officially licensed replica helmet. But I'm smiling bigger than shit right now. Rebecca turned to the door.

4:21:29 Well then, let's yabba daba do this, Flint groaned. You just had to fucking say it, didn't you. This is not a plan, Bryce shouted. Creatures hissed and shrieked in hot pursuit of the six wheeled ATV. Designed for utility, not recreation, the vehicle was barely keeping its lead under the weight of its cargo. If there's one thing Texans don't fear, it's a high cholesterol Dietzels, fries, burgers, homemade chips, popcorn, tater rounds, fresh roasted peanuts, nachos, and onion rings were available at each of the eighteen concession stands, which is precisely why Splashtown bought salt in fifty pounds sacks. It's working like a plan, Flint yelled back. One of the mutants lunged onto the purely cosmetic brushguard of the ATV.

4:22:21 The mouthworms snapped at Flint's face. He seized one of them and jerked down, bouncing the creature's face off the hood and sending it back to the cobblestone path, where the tires rolled over it. What exactly do you do here? Supposed to be helping on the pumpkin king good thing? I ate pizza heroes last night. If I hadn't had the shits, the lines would have been moving faster and you'd be a hobo murder slugs new tenement. Thank you for your poor dietary choices, hopefully your girlfriend's imposition. She's not my girlfriend, Bryce corrected him. Son, you're about to save the entire state from Satan's s car go. Flint punched him in the arm. Soon as we kill the he's jiz drooling sons of bitches. She'll be all over you.

4:23:02 Like imitation cheese sauce on a corn chip. You should consider writing poetry. Roses are red, violets are blue. I get carpal tunnel thinking of you, Flint laughed. There's one for you to use when you ask her to make it official. Later, Rebecca waved at them from a tower high above the path. Flint bleaped the horn three times to signal her to go. She stepped out of the tower and rode the zip line across the way to the platform over tsunami falls. She grabbed the bullhorn from the hook next to the lifeguard station and squeezed the trigger. Hey over here, her voice bellowed across the park, Oh get me. Several mutants clamored through the pool below and slipped about in a vain attempt to scale the curly slides leading up to her. She smiled down at them.

4:23:48 Her plan was working complex alien biology aside, they were still powered by primitive ganglia clusters. She needed as many of the stupid mutants coming after her as possible. She pressed the button on the bullhorn to set off a siren. U space snel. Dickheads hear that. She called out, that's. The dinner bell. What are you waiting for? Apparently just that very thing. The creatures broke from their pursuit of the ATV and rushed toward Rebecca's diversion. Flint whipped around the corner, putting the ATV on three wheels before it rocked back down to safety. A wall of mutants converged on their path, some more changed than others.

4:24:28 Mouth tentacles flailed in anticipation of the fight. I'll meet you at the water treatment station. Take the wheel. Flint didn't wait for Bryce to listen. He rolled out of his seat and toppled across the path. He groaned and tried to ignore the bone sticking out of his forearm. It looked a lot easier in the movies. This is what we get for using civilian contractors. General Wade Cisco pinched the bridge of his nose. Do we know the low of the samples? Captain del Harmon leaned a curvy hip on the plastic blue drums they'd been shipped by mistake, and nodded slowly. Fuck Cisco sighed, how.

4:25:12 Bad is it? She waved for the General to follow her. They navigated the winding corridor to the elevator, an in turn, mixed up the shipping instructions. We got water treatment chemicals, Del Carmen said, with a voice too sweet for her skill set. The Argos samples went to a water park in eastern Texas. The elevator door hissed open in a room full of computer stations and one wall to wall screen showing a live satellite feed of Splash Town. Mutated guests ran down victims, small fires, burned corpses twitched to life as the parasitic mollusks burrowed into their brains and took control of the flesh.

4:25:54 Do we have options, Cisco asked, Nuclear and conventional. The captain stated bluntly. Retrieval is out of the question at this point. The sight and samples are lost. We only need one, Cisco reminded her. I want a team in there to snatch one of those things. Have our people cook a story about a chemical spill? Yes, Sir del Carmen said, aren't we forgetting about the big one? Sir oh him? Cisco swallowed hard. Scratch the retrieval burn the whole sight. Flint spotted a salt sack that had fallen when the ATV tipped and darted for it. He tore the bag open. As the horde charged closer, he tossed a handful of salt at the nearest one. It plowed into him, driving him to the ground. The human host was protecting the snail inside from the salt. Flint clutched the mutant by the chin, pushing the snapping tentacles away.

4:26:51 The throat slit hissed and chewed the air. Flint gritted his teeth and used the bone protruding from his arm to stab into the creature's chest, aiming for the slug inside. A magenta spurt let him know he'd found it. He stabbed it again. The corpse went limp, pinning him to the path. He felt the stick of black spines going into his legs. The world became a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. The ground swayed beneath him like a gentle current. Pain drifted away from his wounds, and he giggled softly. Sons of bitches brought the good stuff to the party, Flint said, quietly, You guys are swell. A small mutant with auburn pigtails tore Flint's arm off at the elbow and shoved the nub to her throat slit. This is better than ozfest, Flint snorted, Just swell. The mutants clamored over their own, building a meaty ladder off of each other's failed attempts at ascending the water slides to get to Rebecca. Her plan was working. Too well. She scurried down the ladder into the tiny chamber where the staff entered the ride and cracked the door open. The area behind the ride looked clear, and she bolted across the grass to hide behind a fish shaped fountain, spewing violet water from its puckered lips. Then something caught her eye

4:28:24 the clear path to the front gate. Bryce aimed the ATV at the roll up door and floored the accelerator. The little green vehicle bounced off the door with a bang, and Bryce's face whipped into the steering wheel. Shit he slid out of his seat with a groan. He made his way inside and opened the bay door that rolled up noisily thanks to the massive dent he'd added to it. He looked around for a trolley to load the bags on. An empty pallet sat unsafely on a jack in the corner, and he ran for it, quickly wheeling it back to the ATV and offloading the salt. He looked around for flint and cursed he didn't know anything about the water treatment system or where to find it. He scanned the large room and spotted a yellow sign shaped like an arrow in black letters, Water Treatment Bryce ran toward it, tugging the pallette jack behind him. He told himself he'd be able to figure it all out, and then the monsters would die, Texas would be saved, and Rebecca would throw herself into his arms. It was all going to work out perfectly. Rebecca crept through the shadow of the nearest concession stand. Fifty yards of mutant free grass were all that separated her from a safe getaway. Something moved in the corner of her eye. A thin black post pushed up from the ground. You've gotta be fucking kidding me,

4:29:54 she shot from her hiding place. As the sprinklers kicked on, she zigzagged between them back onto the walkway. Her legs burned with effort. Rocks cut into her bare feet. She couldn't stop running. A body twitched along the path and sat upright. Rebecca kept running, cutting away from the thing's desperate lunge to seize her legs. She hurtled the turnstile. Her ankle twisted on the landing, and she fell on her face. She groaned and wiped the blood away from her lip. She gazed down at the crimson smear along the back of her hand. Her eyes shifted to the purple tinged water droplet rolling down her arm. She sniffled and shook her head. It's just a drop, she stood up. It takes more than a drop. Rebecca started running again.

4:30:38 The old War Highway was only a mile away. She could find a ride away from the nightmare. There she would be home by dawn. Bryce's feet shuffled in the thick trail of slime. The jack bumped him from behind, pushing him into a vertical water pipe. A deep, moist laughter resonated from the shadows. Glowing orbs angled toward him in the darkness, and the things slithered forward. People in maintenance coveralls lined the monstrous snail's undulating body, held tight to its flesh by hardened strands of mucus. Their flesh writhed with hundreds of the white tube worms, flicking their talons in and out. Bryce lunged for a sack and tore it open, pouring a line of salt between him and the suv sized hell snail. Get back, you ugly fuck, he warned, Oh or what it said in a sticky.

4:31:37 Hiss, Will you assault me? The snail attempted to laugh again. This shit keeps getting weirder. Bryce scooped a handful of salt and cocked his arm back last. Warning, I fear not morsel. The behemoth slithered forward, inching closer to the saline barrier. You fight tasty meat in a fighter. The monstrous mollusk speared its ragula over the line and pierced Bryce's shoulder. The teen screamed and collapsed onto the pallet. Tasty meat, indeed.

4:32:19 Bryce clutched the wound, watching his own blood spurt between his fingers. He remembered enough from biology class to know the brachial artery was severed. He was a goner. You want to taste a fighter? Bryce rolled over and pressed his gory hands into the salt. Let me just season your meal first. The snail overlord stretched its head across the line, letting the tip of the radula wrap around Bryce's ankle. It tugged the teen closer. He rolled and punched the organ. The snail whipped back its head, slinging the radula side to side. Violet drools splattered Bryce as it roared angrily. Your motherfuck's garden gnomes. Bryce lunged forward, punching the beast in the gaps of its cadaver shell.

4:33:06 The mucus glazed tissue shriveled and bubbled in the wake of the boy's salted knuckles. He jumped up and struck a blow against one of the beast's googly eyes, rupturing the orb in a shower of goo. The monster headbutted him to the. Floor valorous effort. More sore, the snail said, in a pained slur, But you have failed. They both cocked their heads at the sudden piercing whistle coming from high above. Rebecca Engle watched the ground sail beneath her and then toppled through the muddy field. She groaned with pain as she sat down and tried to orient herself. A fiery pillar rose where Splashtown used to be. She hadn't even heard the explosion when the shockwave caught up with her and launched her far far from the nightmare. Everything was gone. All the monsters were dead, so was Bryce. She'd wanted to tell him how much she liked him ever since they shared a moonpie at recess in the third grade, but she was always too chicken. He died trying to save her and the rest of the world from the murderous mollusks.

4:34:27 At least that much happened. We're all safe now, Bryce, we won. It's over, Rebecca said softly and scratched at a stinging spot on her arm. Halloween nineteen eighty six six' six By Dan. Wilder are you sure this is going to? WORK i can't believe. This i'm fucking, unemployed dateless eighteen and working a spell more than two thousand years old On halloween in the dark in a. Graveyard.

4:35:12 Damn if this crap got any more, CLICHE i would have flown in here in a sopwell camel while my pals bobbed for apples and picked on a kid with obvious alopecia. Issues don't you think she'll be all hot with a big old set of? Boobs how DID i end up? Here october thirty, first nineteen eighty six started well. Enough halloween fell on A, friday which meant that in the past we would all rush home from school in the already fading daylight and either throw on a store bought number or a homemade concoction most likely thought up that day in one class or another and drawn in ballpoint in our well illustrated notebooks that served as impromptu art galleries and occasionally as a method for taking. Notes then had out in those, mean small town streets until we were loaded down with enough candy to ensure our lives as future diabetes, sufferers with a whole weekend to utilize as a recovery from our night of unspeakable corn syrup drenched. Darkness, anyway all of that happened for seventeen, years with more of our friends bailing with each passing.

4:36:29 Year and this this was to be our soween swan. Song the sun hung low and swollen when my best Friend, ace, well his name Was, ricky but he looked Like Ace freely formerly Of, kiss all gangly energy and long straight, hair AND i headed out into the cold dusk to collect our saccharin. TITHE i was dressed As Brett michaels from the new band on the, Scene, poison And ace was dressed As Gene simmons From kiss That ace always one to defy. Expectations so long story, short our haul was kind of, lame full of bullshit like mallow cups and pennies in a baggy and a deficit of miniature name brand candy bars And reese's cups plus it started to. Snow, yeah it snows here a fucking, lot and early. Too and when temps drop and quality sugar is in short, supply there was only one solace a young wanderer could seek woods. Porn ace, queried as if reading my. MIND i exhaled a long trail of visible breath into the rapidly cooling night woods. PORN i nodded. Stoically, now, wait some of you city folk may not be acquainted with a rural kid's main source of sex, education namely a pornomag stuck under a rock in a nearby forest used

4:38:00 by any number of neighborhood horn dogs for unspeakable. Deeds and we had a real doozy safely stored under the third large rock from the left and barely covered in mold worms or. Spunk only problem the magazine wasn't, there but a spell book. WAS i flipped through that tone While ace bitch that his titty rag was. Gone, Hey, ACE i think this may be even better than, porn better than. Porn are you having a? Stroke, no listen to. THIS i read aloud the parts of the text that were In. English certain words stuck out sex witch resurrection unspeakable evil will be unleashed upon all. Mankind sex witch fucking Rad ace ejaculated almost. Literally it was, then right then THAT i should have just ripped that book to shreds and to hell With ace's. Libido BUT i. DIDN'T i simply fucking. DIDN'T i was. Horny may my descendants forgive.

4:39:13 Me the pictures in the book indicated we'd need to be in a graveyard and acquire a few, supplies mostly simple, herbs, spices some virgin. Blood where the hell are we going to find virgin's? BLOOD i have no, Idea, Ace i'm pretty sure these kinds of things were probably easier to come by in the old. Days, yeah the ancients never had to deal with the liberated eighties woman all in control with those sweet sweet shoulder. Pads, hmm are you? Okay do you need a? Minute my?

4:39:53 Sister how is that any way shape or form the answer to that? Question my, Sister my sister is a. Virgin are you? Sure have you seen her? Face? Yeah it's? Gorgeous? What? Uh? NOTHING i was just fucking around as all good, ANYWAY i know she's a. Virgin how SIMPLE i read her? Diary, dude isn't that a bit? Wrong who? Cares she writes funny ass girl shit in, there including the fact that her legs are locked together tighter than a hummingbird's. Tweet. WHY i don't. Know she hasn't found her prince charming or.

4:40:34 Something does she mention me in there? Anywhere? No why the hell would? SHE i don't. Know an eligible younger guy can be a real enticing thing for a older. Lady older, lady she's nineteen, Whatever so, genius how are we going to obtain her? Blood leave that all to? Me, Hey, hannah Can sam use your? Bathroom? Why what's wrong with the other? Two dad's in one and the toilets clogged in the other. One hannah scrunched up her, face her angelic, face and. Thought ace leaned in and offered this. Wisdom head straight to the trash can next to the. Toilet it'll be in there all right for the. TAKING i. Nodded hannah looked me. Over, fine he looks like he has okaim a. Compliment she actually paid me a. Compliment he probably sits down to pee.

4:41:36 ANYWAY i have a condition split. Stream it's just easier to sit you shut up and go. Quick. THANKS i. SPUTTERED i entered her bathroom and was immediately. Overcome here was my holy. LAND i cast my eyes, around so many sweet smelling lotions and. Soaps FINALLY i saw the, goal the snoopy trash can that sat on the tile floor just left of the. SINK i headed across the cold floor and swallowed. Hard there it was. A, simple DISCARDED maxi. PAD i eyed it nervously and made my. Approach we reconvened. Outside the, swollen full moon and ever increasing snowfall made the whole scene seem. SURREAL i held aloft that sacred feminine hygiene. Product ace, Beamed, yes awesome, job, DUDE i smiled. Sheepishly. Thanks the walk to the graveyard was long and, quiet given how it was now after nine and trick or treating had officially.

4:42:54 Ended we were two cold lunatics strolling around in the, snow heading off to make our selves a. Woman. Yeah now THAT i say it, back the whole thing does sound, ludicrous like an ec comic mixed with a letter To Penthouse forum as the. Script to be, HONEST i literally had nothing else to. Do neither Did. Ace, well Maybe. Nintendo the growing wind lashed me in the, face like a slap from a fist made of frozen pizza. Roles. FUCK i could be eating pizza roles and Playing. Nintendo no boob's, there my FRIEND a said. QUIETLY i said that out. Loud you said a lot of stuff out loud, tonight like you're narrating our. Adventure it's, weird but it's kind of, funny SO i figured it's best to keep quiet and enjoy the. Ride you're a Real we're, Here ace said. Happily the gates To Prospect Hill cemetery were three, things iron locked and very very. Tall four. Things what four?

4:44:07 Things it's also decorative and connected to a two foot concrete. Wall walk like a foot left and, right and we can just hop over and be inside in a. Jiff not even a particularly robust leap, either for shit's. Sake one small leap, later we were traversing that icy necropolis on our way to where the fuck are we? GOING i don't. Know cemeteries don't usually have a designated practice black magic. Section that's, true and a tad passive. Aggressive. SORRY i was just hoping for more candy and horror flicks and less schlepping around in the freezing. Cold wandering among the.

4:44:51 Tombstones it's pretty, metal, Though ace. Offfered we both. Laughed here not. WRONG i tripped over an ancient. Tombstone ace extended a hand to help me to my feet and glanced at the. GRAVE i had completely. Decimated, whoa this chick was eighteen like us when she, died so, young that's so. Sad? What, no she was eighteen, okay eighteen three times six three sixes oh oh sixty six to. Six, yeah after that indisputable sign from, above well more. Below in this, case we got down and dirty with the devil's. Work you said that out, LOUD i.

4:45:49 Did. Yeah, shit now you got. Me doing it. Anyway ace AND i set up our eleven herbs and, spices lit a, candle got the. Spellbook everything was in, order well almost. Everything get, it, dude you get. It she's your, sister GROSS i suppose you're. RIGHT i. Am, besides you already touched, IT i sighed AS i reached into my backpack and removed The maxi. PAD i held it in my trembling hands and placed it on the makeshift, altar wiping my hands and silently apologizing To, hannah his, mother and Especially pap pap and, mema dear Sweet.

4:46:34 Mema it took me a few seconds to register what happened. Next there was an electric, pop then a slight plume of lavender smoke wafted into the, air after which a crow like out of a post. Story that was a. Raven what's the? Difference ravens are bigger and their tails are a different. Shape how the hell do you know? This? Ranger Ranger? Rick, yeah it's one of those magazines at every doctor's, office Like, Highlights. Highlights now you're talking timber, toes goofis and. Gallant. Shit that crow just Snatched Hannah's maxi pad and flew.

4:47:15 OFF i exhaled. Dejectedly you ready to call this one? Ace? Yeah a shitty send, off if you ask, Me, yeah build nest use thing humans had taste like, blood, blood bad, body, hurt ave. SETANUS i sat the plate of pizza rolls down and returned to my. Game while most of the night had been either weird as, fuck, disappointing or an holy combination of, both this was a welcome. Reprieve after the ceremonial burning of the mouth on the pizza, ROLES i swore and played on tap Tap what in the hell was?

4:48:15 That tap? TAP i looked around the, room but nothing seemed to. Miss tap tap the. Window it's coming from the. WINDOW i crossed the room and stared into the darkness. BEYOND i didn't see jack. SHIT i wonder if those pizza roles have cooled down a. Me they. Hadn't. Shit, NOW i can't stop messing around with the loose dangle of burnt skin hanging down from the tender roof of my. Mouth tap, Tap back.

4:48:57 To the, WINDOW i. Go this, TIME i barely caught a glimpse of a porcelain skinned. Hand retreat into the darkness after the, hole jump back and hope that fart wasn't a shit. ROUTINE i scrambled back to the. WINDOW i pressed my face against the pane in a futile attempt to see further into the. Night the glass was ice. Cold the hand that tapped the glass felt even. Colder for a, second my heart. STOPPED i cartwheeled around the room like a, madman upending everything in my whirlwind. Wake the pizza rolls definitely didn't. Survive neither did the can of soda that fell onto the video game, console creating a massive jolt that traveled along the controller cord threw the buttons and directly onto my bare feet that were admittedly a tad damp from. Piss don't d, Me i'm. Frail can you keep your private time a tad more?

4:50:05 Private? Dear my mother called up the. Stairs just, Great i'm going to die and my mother will be left with just a memory of her darling, offspring cock in, hand trying to beat the devil and losing good. News the shock restarted my. Heart so there's a Fucking halloween. Miracle tap, Tap oh, SHIT i haven't even caught my breath from dying the last TIME i saw the hand, again but this time it didn't. Retreat, Hello hannah came into, view the extended hand connected to her alabaster body by an arm so delicate it could have been that of an angel.

4:50:50 Itself she was wearing an Oversized Kaja GOOGO t, shirt and if the suddenly bright moonlight behind her illuminating that which lurked, meath the smug smile Of limbhaul was to be believed absolutely nothing. Else, Hannah, yeah what are you doing out there trying to get your? Attention well you definitely got, That, hannah drew closer to the, window her t shirt shifted to reveal more of her perfect shoulders and just a pixies whisper more. Cleavage after seeing you, EARLIER i couldn't get you off my.

4:51:31 Mind you. Couldn't, No i'm SORRY i made fun of. You your condition must be a heavy cross for you to. BEAR i, mean it's a bit of an inconvenience at, times but it's. Manageable look at, you shouldering your pain like a big strong. Man are you feeling, Okay? Hannah? Yeah why because because usually you're repulsed by my very. Existence now you're rubbing against my window like a cat in. Heat Oh i'm in heat all? Right with, That leamal and the lads were torn free and tossed into the crisp night. Air holy fucking, SHIT i, exclaimed As hannah's naked form stood at the. Window you like what you see my, boner AND i answered in the, affirmative why not let me in and we can get to getting know WHAT i? Mean hannah, WINKED i don't know what in the hell WAS i? Saying you, Don't hannah, pouted it was sexy as all. Shit, well it's just it's weird is? All isn't tonight reserved for the strange and?

4:52:55 Unusual my pulse pounded in my. PANTS I i suppose you're. RIGHT i started to make my way closer to the, window as if on. Autopilot, oh you can just, BET i. AM i unlocked the window and opened it. Quickly hannah smiled so, saccerin so. Sweet the door to my bedroom nearly exploded off the hinges of. IT i turned to See ace And. Hannah you guys look like shit did, too all bruises and. SCRATCHES i turned back To. Hannah, Wait hannah at the, Window hannah at the door. Door hannah pointed at, Window hannah. Window hannah's skin was going from pure driven snow to blood clot rotten, blood and her pitch black eyes and anglerfish teeth weren't doing her any favors. Either it was then that a bit of logic slapped me right in the. Face i'm on the second.

4:53:58 Floor hannah can't, float at least as far AS i. Know, man that should have been a huge tip off that something was slightly. AMISS i blame the pizza. Roles you guys really look like. Shit blame it on your. Girlfriend out. There tap, tap she's not my. Girlfriend closest you'll ever get to, me, Real hannah said under her. Breath tap, Tap, HEY i heard, that come on in my own house and. Everything you two can kiss and make up when we're out of. Here, tap mother fucking. Tap the window exploded inward as we all turned in unison to see the creature's extremely enormous bird foot extend back into the. Darkness speaking of, DARKNESS i then realized WHY i couldn't see, outside as quick flashes of the beast's dreaded wings revealed a wingspan of nearly thirty Fe we didn't hesitate to haul ass from the, room the nightmare form of that toothy horror snapping in our. Wake we slammed my bedroom door closed behind us and dashed down the stairs as the sound of the cheap plywood door of my bedroom being splintered from repeated blows of the monster spurned us.

4:55:16 On we dashed past the kitchen where my mother washed dishes as she danced and bopped the music issuing from Her, walkman, wait we have to get my mother out of. Here we don't have, Time ace, screamed dragging me by the. ARM i tried to fight, back but a lifetime of video games and shitty eating habits had left me a tad deficient in the strength. Department we blasted into the chilly, night large snowflakes blowing past our. Faces the creature sailed directly past my mother and followed us through the open front. Door we flew into the. Night we sat in the, closet trying not to. Breathe we'd snuck into a house a few blocks, away climbed into an unlocked, window and paused to collect our. Wits after long moments of, Silence ace, spoke what the fuck are we going to? Do We you're the one that talked me into. THIS i was, horny, reasonable but, still, hey does anyone want to discuss how you groedy fools stole My maxi pad to make that?

4:56:27 Thing it was, Him it was your, Idea, Ace, yeah but you took the. Pad you didn't want to touch. It neither did. You BUT i, figured since you're all hot and horny For, hannah are you? Serious you too are. DISGUSTING i think you're a beautiful, Woman. HANNAH i had no desire to touch your your period. Blood shut, Up. Ace we both spat screams filled the. Air what the fuck was? That more screams. Followed, Jesus hannah exhaled. Dejectedly i'll go and check you. Too cuddle. Here hannah gingerly snuck out of the. Closet the seconds seemed like. Days more screams followed by stifled. Giggles, hey, heroes come, Here hannah.

4:57:20 Whispered we quietly exited the closet and Joined hannah in the. Hallway she pointed down the. Stairs we peered cautiously down the steps to see a family watching a, film a horror film where a family was being menaced by some monster porcupines on a. Farm oh, shit this flick. Rocks you've seen? It, YEAH i rented it last. Weekend it's Like, gremlins but with. Aliens why didn't you call? Me we could have watched it. TOGETHER i don't know you had bowling or some such. Bullshit you too belonged. Together girls can sense. That shut, Up, hannah don't tell her to shut. UP i don't need you to defend me from this.

4:58:02 Dweeb the family turned and locked eyes with the. Trespassers, hannah, yes Missus, henderson it's. Me what are you? Doing upstairs in our. House i'm not going to. Lie we're running for our lives from a crow that is turned into an evil version of. Me oh, oh, Dear hannah smiled and turned towards her. Comrades she believes. Me are you on the? Drugs? What? No no? Drugs? Monsters should we call your? Mother? No, No ace led the march down the. Stairs enjoy your.

4:58:42 Movie we'll get her home so she can sleep it. Off ace smiled his Best Scheshire cat. Grin he reached into the nearest popcorn bowl and grabbed a handful of the salty snack within good, night now, Eh Happy, HALLOWEEN i. Injected we were soon on the streets. Again we walked, on, aimless. Directionless in the distance came the sound of great wings flapping in the midnight. Sky we are so, fucked you think? So? YEAH i, mean come, on we're just some kids in the middle of, nowhere harassed by a. Demon the odds are stacked against. Us but come, on the assholes in this town always. Survive that isn't, wrong you, Guys hannah, Offered so what should we?

4:59:35 Do as? If on que far in the, distance the bells Of Saint James church of our holy. Concubine rung, out we headed towards the. Church the doors of the church were. Unlocked we slinked, inside looking high and low for any means of. Salvation it was then we saw, it tucked away in the corner of the pantry far the. Church we cut open the box and dragged it up the stairs to the main hallway to the front, doors and then we started to toss that consecrated bird. Seed we scattered the communion wafers about the parking lot of the, church all the while those thunderous wing movements filled the, air punctuated by the angry screams of that unholy. Amalgamation, finally that putrid pigeon came to, roost and forever a slave to Its avian, instincts it began to peck at the bread we, offered on and on at, eight so long that the sun began to rise and chase away the.

5:00:38 Darkness the illumination increased as the creature feasted on. Crow hannah burpt and looked at the. Sky its eyes grew wide at the, sunrise filled with, hope, peace and possibly a chance at redemption for its blasphemous. EXISTENCE i stepped forward and stroked its, furrowed nearly innocent. Brow it cooed low and. SATISFIED i leaned close to kiss its. Forehead the creature exploded in a shower of gore that plastered us in underworld. Filth ace, Puked hannah, sneezed AND i spit bloody chunks from my. Mouth Greatest halloween, Ever ace, Offered. Fuck, Yes, well if you're still with, us the sun is probably beginning to rise over the. Hills that's our, marathon at least until Next, tuesday when will bring you even More halloween.

5:01:43 Horrors consider the Weekly Spooky vault officially opened for the, season huge thanks to our fiendishly talented Storytellers shane Migliovaka Rob, Field's Joe, Solmo John, Oakdalton dave, O'hanlan Charles, Campbell Keith, tomlin And Dan. Wilder If tonight gave you, chills do The Spooky signal boost and give us a rating and review on your favorite podcasting. App maybe share this extensive episode with a horror hungry friend who always wants to have a little something scary to get them through the.

5:02:24 Day and, remember there's a brand news story dropping every, week in, fact nearly every day In, october not just classics from the. Vault so until next, time keep the porch light, low keep the candy bowl, close but most, importantly keep. Listening talk at you next. Time