4 Scary Stories | Haunted House, Cursed Object, Serial Killers & Cannibal Monsters

Summer is the perfect time for first dates, yard sales, family dinners, and parties beneath the stars. Unfortunately, tonight's plans have changed. Behind the windows of an abandoned mansion, a little girl has been waiting two hundred years for someone to follow her inside. A one dollar bargain has carried something freezing into a young couple's apartment. Two killers have arrived for dinner without asking what their hosts prefer to eat. And beyond the glow of a woodland fire, something is laughing as it watches the party beginning. That's the trouble with summer ween, isn't it. The nights are warm enough to invite adventure, but dark enough to hide whatever followed you home.

So hold tightly to your date, inspect every thrift store or purchase, and never assume you're the most dangerous guest at the table. These are some of our scariest stories from the weekly Spooky Vault. But make sure you're subscribed, because every Wednesday we bring you a brand new terror tale to help you celebrate Halloween all year long, and we bring you something scary every day of the week. So click that subscribe button. Why don't you It's about time we get ready for our hot date. First Date by Rob Fields Perspective Ariel Mirron. Who would have thought that my life would have changed so drastically over the holidays.

I'm pretty good at keeping my feelings to myself, but I'm still very angry and upset with my parents, mostly Mom. I still can't believe that which offered me to Queen Arcadia in exchange for her fame and fortune. Oh let me tell you. I was so angry with Mom that I screamed and threw everything at her that I could get my hands on. I mean, I destroyed a lot of stuff. My friends who were there with me had to pull me off Mom when I finally attacked her myself. I've had sufficient time now to calm down and assess my current situation.

I'm living with Madeline Donnerley and her family now and actually have my own room. Mouse's parents converted a spare bedroom just for me. Not only that, I figured that, upon returning to Strickfield Junior High that people would be jeering me about the whole fall from Grace thing. No one said a word. In fact, I continued on as if that whole blow up between Mom and I had never happened, but something did happen at school today. You probably know by now that Carter Cross and I have always been polar opposites. Even now, he still calls me princess, but he's not making fun of me because of my fall from Grace.

I wasn't letting him off so fast, though. I still managed to swipe a few of his sodas, including at lunch period today today, though it just it didn't feel right. Normally, Carter's on me the minute I swipe a soda. In fact, we both had the can ready to fight for it, then he just let me have it. The truth is, I haven't forgotten that he asked me out the first weekend of December, when we were trapped in the Strickfield Town Center mall overnight hanging Christmas decorations for cousin Harmony. I can't stop replaying that event in my mind over and over.

Carter hasn't asked me out again since, though, however, I haven't really given him an answer. Then I remember that Carter Cross actually lives next door to me. Now, I go to my smartphone and text Carter to see if he's home. I get a reply. Back almost immediately. Yes, I get off my bed and head downstairs to go to his house. He's right there at the back door and invites me in. What's up, princess, he asks. I take a deep breath and look at him. Yes, Carter, I'm sorry I never answered you that night, but yes, I will go out with you.

Carter and I stare at each other for a long moment. You sure, he asks quietly. I nod quickly. We need to know for sure if there's really something there between us. We can know for sure in one date. Right. We stare at each other again. What do we do? He stammers. I ain't never been on a date before me neither, I admit. I guess we can just go hang out together, right? Carter nods, okay, Yeah, what time do you want to go? Perspective Carter Cross, Madeline Donnerley and me are playing video games at Roth's Rings after losing a third straight game of Cruise in USA Place in nearly last Madeline looks at me.

Let's go talk, buddy, she says in her mousey voice. We grab our drinks and head outside. Then I just tell her Ariel and me are going on a date tonight. Her eyes are really wide. Now, really, I tell Madeline about when I asked Ariel out at the mall during that overnight last month. I just kept thinking about it. You've been giving me a hard time. I'm about Ariel. I know Mona and Bailey give Ariel a hard time too. Ariel said, we got to know if there's something there, so we're gonna do one date tonight. Now it's the same silence like at my place when Ariel and I agreed to go out.

Madeline breaks the silence, told you you liked her, buddy, I sigh. What if I mess things up with her? Madeline, this is our first date. It ain't gonna be like when we hang out, she smirks. Just talk to her Carter. The rest will work itself out. I ain't never dated yet, but I understand a few things based on movies. She gently slaps my shoulder. Just talk to her, I nod quickly. Sorry about what happened in here. I should have just talked to you. It's all good, buddy, she replies. I put my hand on her shoulder.

I'm glad. I can always talk to you, Maddelin, and you always will, she promises me, Feeling better we go back inside and start playing again. Now I can actually compete with Madeline when we start racing again. Perspective Ariel mirror. I enter Mouse's house she calls it the mousehole, and see she's typing away on her computer. A few minutes later, she's finally done. I think she finished a paper for one of our classes. Now she looks right at me. It's gonna be okay, Ariel, she tells me. I sigh. Carter talked to you, didn't he. She turns in her chair and waits for me to sit on her lower bunk.

He did, but she kind of been fidgeting all day. You only ever do that when you're really nervous, which don't happen often with you. I sigh again. I hate you. Mouse. She comes and sits beside me. It'll be okay. You and Carter are gonna hang out, just have fun and talk to him. Suddenly the doorbell rings. It's Carter. Mouse tells me. I give her an odd look. Carter usually just comes in. Mouse smirks, Yeah, Carter and me usually walk into each other's houses. But Carter ain't here to hang out with me. He's here for you.

Better go answer that. I look at the Freddy Krueger clock next to the door. Seven point thirty time sure flew since Carter and I arranged our date. I see Mouse's smile and know everything's going to be all right. I get up and make my way down to the front door. Mouse is right when Carter's standing outside. We look at each other for a long moment, just like at his house earlier. Then I finally put on my jacket and go out onto the porch, with him closing the door behind me. Where officially on our first date.

Now perspective, Carter Cross, Ariel and me are both pretty nervous. We're walking to downtown village together in silence, glancing at each other at times. Finally, Ariel says something, I'm just as scared as you, Carter. That makes me feel better. What do you want to do? We stop right outside the Strickfield Centennial Theater. There's only two movies playing, including a special screening of rad Yeah, that bicycle movie from the nineteen eighties. Ariel surprises me and wants to see it. I pay for our tickets and buy us both cokes. Madeline and I had seen this movie plenty of times after we became friends.

Rad got us into riding bikes the way we do, even getting mongooses. Anyway, Ariel never got bored once. Later, we are sitting in Big Ed's soda parlor after the movie and talking about Madeline's right about just talking to Ariel. Also, Ariel insisted on paying for our Sundays since I paid at the movies. Suddenly, Ariel's eyes get wide, so do mine. When Bailey Downs and Mona Abels approach our table, Ariel's face goes red fast, and not because she's mad. Aw I ain't you too cute? Mona teases. Bailey just gives Ariel this weird smile. Now Ariel does tough enough.

Yes, I am here with Carter Cross. Go tell the whole school. When Bailey and Mona look at me, I just nod Ariel's way what she said. Then Mona and Bailey smile wickedly and giggle a little before they start singing Ariel's got a boy friend, Ariel's got a boy friend. Ariel growls at them, I hate you both. Then they turn and walk away laughing. The last thing I hear before they leave is Bailey telling Mona told you so, Ariel takes a deep breath and looks at me. Now, I really don't care, Carter. I smile at Ariel me neither.

When we finish our ice cream, we leave and go walking around. Then I decide to be a man and take Ariel's hand. She gasps at first, and then relaxes. She doesn't take her hand back. Then we get calm and start talking again. Perspective, Ariel, mirm. You just know Bailey and Mona are going to tell anyone who's willing to listen. I meant what I said. I really don't care who knows that I'm on a date with Carter Cross. I decide to be honest with him. Maybe if I was still living back in the gated community, I might have denied it.

But I'm out here with all of you. Now you ever miss being in there? Carter asks no, I say, without hesitation, my parents never once called Mouse's house asking for me. They never stopped by either, not even anything in the mail. I smile a little. Madeline's parents are good people, I know. Suddenly, Carter and I just stop dead. How did we end up walking down this street? Carter? I ask, we just did? Carter tells me, we just turned down this way, and well, Carter and I are staring right at the old Carnivosh estate from outside the high fence.

When Carter and I squeeze hands, I admit something to him. Mona Bailey and I dared Mouse to go into this house when we walked by it in early October. Mona asked her if she was chicken. Mouse simply told us she was brave enough to go in there, but not stupid enough. We didn't say anything more to her about it after that. Okay, well, let's just keep walking, Carter suggests after a little bit. Yeah, let's I agree fast, but neither of us move. It's not because we're both scared of the house. It's because we're looking through the main gate and seeing a little girl standing in one of the windows, looking right out at us perspective.

Carter Cross, Ariel and I both agree we saw that little girl in the house. We're both pretty sure nobody lives in the Carnivosh estate, and not for a very long time living in the village itself. It would be big news fast if anyone actually moved in there. When the little girl moves away from the window, Ariel and I look at each other. Carter, we can't leave that little girl in there, Ariel tells me. I gulp, I was afraid you'd say that. Ariel and me don't even gotta talk about it. We climb the fence and go inside.

The property looks like this place ain't had yard work done in years, even though it's early January. Weeds seem to keep growing real good here. When we reach the front door, one of them's wide open. Then I hear Ariel gulp. She's breathing fast and giving me looks. I know I gotta be looking scared too. Ariel and I are still holding hands when we slowly go inside. We hain't even two steps past the door when Ariel and me both cry out and turn around to see the doors are both completely closed. We go to them and find we're locked in.

Ariel quickly pulls out her phone. No, she looks at me. No signal you, uh huh, I confirm. Then I open my settings. No nearby Wi Fi either. We put our phones away. Then Ariel points to the stairway. I don't think she was upstairs, Ariel, I say, I thought the little girl was in the room to the left of the doors. Ariel points in the direction. In there. Ariel quickly grabs my hand. Don't you dare let go. I'm not losing you, Carter cross. I shake her hand to assure her I'm holding it. Then we walk into what looks like a living room.

Little girl, I call out. Then I point to the window. There's where we saw her. Right. We moved to the window and look outside to see where we were before we came in. We'll have to keep looking around, Ariel says, she's not in here now. I stop her fast, Ariel. She turns and sees I'm pointing down a hallway where we see the little girl. Stop. Ariel calls out, please come this way. Ariel and I run down the hallway as she turns away. When we reach the end, we come into a conservatory. We move to the other entrance and go through it to see the little girl again at the end of another hallway.

Carter. Ariel gasps, you seeing this, I nod fast. The little girl's feet are pointing to the floor, but it's plain as the noses on our faces. She's floating. Yeah, I definitely think she's a ghost, Ariel. I hate you, Carter, Ariel stutters. She really squeezes my hand. Now, then we look down the hallway. I think she wants us to follow her. I say, it's like she's trying to tell us something. Ariel gulps again and turns me to look at the wall. There's an old Carnivoge family portrait hanging there. Now we see the little girl at the very center in front of her family.

Clearly she was the youngest. The date is January fourth, eighteen twenty four. Perspective aeriel mirror. That little Carnivosh girl is over two hundred years old. Had she lived, we look to see her ghost is still waiting for us. Come on, Carter, I stammer. The two of us keep following the little girl until we're at another door. No doubt this one's going to lead into the one place you would never want to go in a creepy old mansion like this, the basement. The door opens on its own. Then the little girl floats down the stairway. She's giving off this eerie light to show she's at the bottom and waiting for us.

Since she's lighting our way, we can easily follow her down without tripping over our own feet. Carter and Sis on leading the way like the gallant guy I know he is. When we reach the bottom, the ghost moves again, the basement still lit thanks to her. She takes us through a few rooms and finally stops next to a big brick wall. Then she points right at it. You want us to break, Carter mumbles. The little girl keeps pointing to the wall. Then I see something over there. Carter grab that big hammer. Carter and I let go of each other's hands.

He finds the big sledgehammer on a workbench and brings it over. It takes Carter a few really big hits before he finally succeeds in cracking the mortar. He keeps swinging and hitting until he finally makes a block come loose. Then he keeps hitting it until it falls over on the inside. Carter has to take little breaks to collect himself, but he finally manages to break the wall in enough. I take out my smartphone and shine my light through the hole Carter made. Carter and I both scream when we see a couple of skeletons, one big and one small, and then the little girl smiles happily and points to both of us.

Suddenly, this huge flash of light washes over us epilogue perspective aerial Mirren. Later that night, Carter and I are in the mousehole telling mouse about our experience at the carnivosh estate. We told her about finding the little girl and then her leading us to where she and her dad were both walled up in the basement. Two hundred years ago today, a band of robbers came to the Carnivosha estate and robbed it. Emilio Carnivoche tried to save and protect his family from the robbers, but it was all in vain. Emilio and little Rosemary were walled up within the basement to cruelly separate the two of them from Margo, the mother, and Rosemary's two older brothers, Waldo and Morton.

Emilia was badly hurt and weakened, and Rosemary was too little, unable to free themselves from their tomb. They died of starvation. We weren't shown what happened to the rest of the Carnivoge family. I can feel like deep down that both the father and the little girl are resting in peace now I finish. Yeah. We got out of the house and went to Roth's Rings to call the police. Anonymously, Carter ads. Carter and I both Pinky promised Mouse that we weren't making up the story. Ah, I believe you both, she said. Come on, we survived Abigail Tomlin, a big vampire woman, and Queen Arcadia.

Right, good point, Madeline, Carter agrees. When we finished talking, Carter and I leave the house. We find ourselves holding hands again as we walk onto Carter's back porch. Carter and I both look like we want to say something to each other, but we just look at each other again. Carter leans in a little. He's hesitating. I'm hesitating, and then I barely feel it when we come apart, but Carter and I shared our first kiss. We don't even have to say anything to each other, but we know mutually we're not going to be just one and done on dating.

Carter and I say goodbye, and I watch him go into his house. I return to the Donnerly Home and go back in. I head to my room and lay on my bed, knowing I have a lot to think about, and that's where this particular adventure ends. But I can promise you we'll be back again very soon. Thrifting fail. We are now haunted by Bruce Haney. Sarah in Keith's day had been a bust. The young couple had spent the day thrifting and hitting yard sales while trying to find a new vacuum cleaner for their apartment. While they searched, they used half a tank of fuel, went to lunch, and had a good time, but they never did find a reasonably priced vacuum that was to their liking, and for what the day ended up costing them, they could have had a new one shipped to their door.

Sarah was excited about her fines. She found a dress that looked new at a thrift store and found a small lamp at a garage sale. Keith was both frugal and particular, so he didn't find much. But on their way home, after they had decided they were done for the day, they saw a sign for a yard sale. Want to hit it, Keith asked, then made the turn before she had time to respond. Sure, might still find a vacuum, Sarah said, wouldn't that be nice? Keith responded it had been a lovely day, But as they approached the house with the tables and junk on their lawn, a few clouds in the sky began to shift.

They drifted in front of the sun, blocking it and bringing darkness to the street. The yard sale had nothing that interested Sarah, but Keith was drawn to an amateur looking home made ceramic bowl. She thought it was ugly, but it was only a dollar and Keith was going home with something, so she kept her mouth shut for the time being. Back at their apartment, what are you going to do with that thing, Sarah asked, I don't know. Put my keys and wallet in it when I come home, I guess. Keith answered, okay, Sarah said, I was just kind of drawn to the thing.

It is kind of cool looking, with its uneven shape and poor execution. It's like punk rock pottery. Keith said, while turning it over. I'm surprised that it even has a maker's mark on it. Keith continued, A maker's mark, Sarah asked, Yeah, like how an artist signs their paintings. Someone who does pottery signed the bottom of the piece, or stamps their logo or what have you. This one is marked, sylvester, Keith said, and then laughed. Sylvester, Sarah asked, yep. Keith responded, like the actor. I have never heard of someone having that name in real life. Sarah laughed, pretty sure, it's not the actor.

Keith joined in the laughter. It wasn't long after that strange things started to happen in their apartment. The first thing, though it went unnoticed by the two, was that the ceramic bowl was never exactly where it was left. It moved an inch or two each time they would leave the room. Keith was the first to notice it, but figured that Sarah had just bumped it. One night, when Keith woke up to you the restroom, he found the ceramic piece on the floor. His first fear was that someone had broken in and took his wallet in keys, but he checked and they were where he left them, just no longer in the bowl.

Keith woke up Sarah. She knew nothing about it, so they searched the apartment together looking for other disturbances, with none found. They checked the locks and that the windows were secured before they laid back in bed to go to sleep. Ten minutes later, their alarm went off it was time to get up for work. When they came home, they felt a false sense of security because the ceramic piece hadn't moved well. It had moved a little but not enough for it to register to them. It was Friday night, so they stayed up watching spooky movies.

Despite their recent experiences. It had been a long week and they got so little the night before, so before the credits could roll on the first flick, they were fast asleep on the couch. Sarah was the first to wake up and was about to wake up Keith to drag him to bed when she noticed the ceramic bowl sitting on her TV tray. It was next to the diet soda and the oil free corn based crackers she had been munching on. Sarah shook Keith to point it out to him. They searched the apartment again, leaving their bedroom for last.

They didn't find anything, so they were just about to head to their bedroom when Sarah decided to run back to the living room and grab the ceramic bowl. What are you doing, Keith asked. Sarah said nothing as she walked to the kitchen and put the bowl in the freezer. Let's see it move around the apartment now. She gave Keith a little smile and headed to their room. In their room, there was a shape under their blanket, the shape of a large man. When Keith hit the light switch, the shape deflated and the blanket fell back to the bed.

That night, they slept on the couch, using a spare blanket from the closet so they didn't have to use the one from their bed. It was a bit thin and scratchy, but it wasn't recently involved in a haunting, so they made do. Sarah again was the first one to awaken, but this time it was because of the cold feeling she felt on her right shoulder. When she opened her eyes, she saw a big man standing in front of her, leaning over and touching her shoulder. The cold radiated from that spot and she began to feel chills all over.

She knew the person touching her wasn't of this world because she could see through him and there was a blue glow surrounding him. Sarah looked him over, noticing his disheveled appear pearance his apron, His shirt and pants were covered in paint and bits of clay from where he had used them to wipe his hands off while working. His teeth chattered as he spoke, sorry to disturb you, miss, but I'm freezing, the ghost pleaded. Sarah just stared at him, never taking her eyes off the apparition as she hit Keith to wake him up. By the time Keith awoke, it had lost its courteous demeanor and a scowl began to form on his face.

Keith screamed when he saw him. Then the ghost screamed, while moving his gaze from Sarah to Keith. I'm cold, the ghost yelled. What, Keith stammered, I said, I am freezing. As the ghost began to head towards Keith, something clicked in Sarah's head. She jumped from the couch and ran to the freezer, where she opened the door and grabbed out the ceramic bowl. She then turned around to show the ghost, but he was gone. Sarah and Keith spent the next morning driving around trying to find the house they had bought the bull from so they could return it.

Sarah was sure she knew the way, but without the signs and the tables of junk in the yard, it was hard to determine which house it was. Eventually, they agreed on a house that they believed it could be. Nobody answered the door, but they had been expecting that after spotting the for sale sign on the lawn. What do we do now, Keith asked, I don't know. I don't think we're going to get any answers this way. We should just throw it out, Sarah responded. Before they went back home, they stopped at the coffee shop where they had their first date.

It was Sarah's turn to buy, so Keith found them a comfortable spot to sit so they could talk. While he waited for her, he got on his phone and did a couple of quick searches. When Sarah came with their coffees, he was ready to tell her what he'd found out. As she handed him his quad shot over ice, he told her all about Sylvester. I don't know the connection to that house, but I think I found information on our Sylvester. He was actually a respected artist, Keith said, But that thing was so amateurish, Sarah argued, true.

Do you remember when you first started painting last summer? Keith asked, Oh God, I'm glad I tossed all those awful early paintings. Sarah replied, well, Sylvester like you got much better according to his Wikipedia page. Wait, he has a Wikipedia page. It's not the actor, is it, Sarah interrupted, No, it's not the actor. His name was Sylvester Helm. Display of his paintings in ceramics can be found in museums all over the world, Keith said, reading a sentence from his Wikipedia page. You bought that thing for a dollar. How can you be so sure it's the same guy, Sarah asked.

Keith responded by handing her his phone. On the screen was a picture of his maker's mark on the bottom of a ceramic piece. It does look similar, but that could easily be faked, Sarah said, with a little doubt in her voice. Scroll, Keith said. Sarah did until she saw a photo of the artist, who bore more than a striking resemblance to the frozen man she had seen in their apartment. Yeah, I think it's him, Keith said, Crazy, Sarah said, keep scrolling to the death section. Keith instructed. Sarah read the short blurb out loud. Sylvester Leroy Helm is assumed dead.

The artist was last seen in twenty at an antiquarian book fair. Helms had been a lifetime collector of rare and obscure books of the occult. After his disappearance, his aunt became the heir to his fortune and reported that many of his rare books were missing. A death in absentia was completed in twenty seventeen, as he is presumed dead. Wow, so what does all that mean? Why does that equal us being haunted? Sarah asked Keith in a whisper. So other people in the coffee shop wouldn't hear? I don't know. I don't think we have enough pieces of the puzzle to figure it out.

Keith said, So we need to figure out what the next step is to figure this out, Sarah said, or we just don't pursue this further. Keith said, why not? Sarah inquired, have you ever read H. P. Lovecraft or watched the Blair Witch Project? Keith asked, no, oh, and yes. Sarah responded, okay, good. Have you ever noticed that trend and horror movies that have a deep lore or mystery to them that as the people's search, they become more and more screwed and eventually go mad, disappear, or get killed. I mean, look at Sylvester here. He did just that.

He looked for evil until it found him. Now he's stuck in the worst piece of art he ever created. Yes, I want to know what happened, but I'm not trading this beautiful life we built together for that, Keith said, So what do we do? Sarah asked? Could destroy it? Keith said, but we don't know what that will do. Look what happened when we put it in the freezer. What if it appears in front of us, all mutilated and gross from being broken apart? Sarah said, do you think that's what will happen? Keith asked, we have no clue, and without further research, we won't, Sarah said.

When they arrived back at the apartment, Sarah took the bowl out of her purse and set it on the counter. What can we do for you? Sarah whispered towards it, not wanting Keith to hear her. No response came, so she followed it up with another question. Are you stuck? Sarah asked again no response. Keith walked into the room and saw her talking to the bowl and decided that he had a plan. Keith walked over and snatched up the bowl, then headed to the front door. What are you doing, Sarah asked, I'm going to throw it away.

Keith responded, but what about when it goes into the garbage truck and gets smashed. It seems like from the freezer situation. He can feel pain that that wouldn't be right for us to do. He is scary, but I'm not sure he's evil, Sarah explained. Keith thought about this for a moment. What if I just leave it on the side of the street, Keith asked, same result, It'll end up in the trash. Sarah responded, okay, okay. How about I give it to a thrift store. Keith asked, okay, yeah, I'm okay with that. Sarah said that plan didn't work.

By the time they arrived home after donating it, it was back on their counter. Later that night, they went back to plotting how to get rid of the thing. After the scare of the cabinet, Sarah was warming up to the idea of just destroying the thing. There must be another way. Why is it attached to us? What makes us so special? Keith asked, we bought it? Sarah responded. They both stared at each other for a moment. That was the key. The purchase is what had attached them to it. We have to sell it, Sarah told him.

Yeah, we might even make a pretty penny, being that it's an authentic Sylvester Helm's piece. But every auction house an antique store laughed at them when they presented the piece. Nobody believed that it could be the work of the renowned Sylvester Helms, so they did what anyone else would do in that situation. They threw it up on a popular online auction site and hoped for the best. That night, they didn't wake up when their covers were pulled from them. Sarah did wake up when she felt a hand on her ankle. She woke up Keith with her screams and the loud bang that came from her body hitting the floor.

They both knew things were escalating, and they hoped it would sell quickly. They watched the auction eagerly, but Sarah began to have a change of heart. I'm not sure it's right to sell it, Sarah said, I don't care if it is, you could have gotten really hurt. Keith responded, the ankle incident was scary, but is it fair to curse someone else with this? What if something worse happens to them? Sarah asked, what if they knew it was haunted? Would it be okay? Then Keith asked, yeah, then they know what they're getting into. I think that would be fair.

Sarah responded with that. Keith changed the title of the listing to Haunted Ceramic Bowl Scary item. Then in the description he wrote about what had happened to them. Then something told him to list the item higher. Asking one hundred and fifty dollars instead of eight dollars would make it feel more legitimate. An hour later, the item sold. The next day they mailed the package off, and they never saw the ceramic bowl or the ghost again. With the one hundred and fifty dollars, they bought a new vacuum cleaner and swore off thrifting, antiquing, and all yard sails from then on out.

The Dinner Guests by Shane Migliavoka Orville trench admired his reflection in the car window. He missed his long black ponytail and beard. His hair was cut short now. He ran a hand over his smooth chin. He'd had that beard so long it was like cutting off a limb. But it had to go. It was time to get a new car too, the old one would be drawing too much attention. Soon Cherry Kowalski, the love of his life, appeared in the reflection. Her eyes were large, piercing and dark dark to match her long, wild black hair streaked with purple and green that hung to her shoulders.

She twirled one of the long strands of hair around her index finger. Hanging around her neck was a simple silver necklace. A small plastic baby arm dangled from it. You look good, she said, I didn't ask. Fuck you, she laughed, loudly, giving her lover double middle fingers. Orville spun around, grabbing her by the shoulders. His eyes narrowed, Oh, yes, yes, indeed. He scanned the parking lot of the convenience store. There were only three cars here, an old pickup truck, a rusting black Camaro, and a fairly new suv. Not much to pick from. Shouldn't be that many people inside.

He looked at the sign over the door. It read quick save Mart. It would be quick, all right. He couldn't wait to get out of East fuck Witt, New York. Orville touched the cold steel under his jacket, a Colt Trooper MK three, like the sheriff carried in Walking Tall the seventies one. He loved that film, not that shit remake with that Nancy Boy wrestler. It hung from a shoulder holster. Under his jacket, a flaming devil face was emblazoned to cross the jacket's back, Just as he expected. The door had a little bell that chimed when it opened.

He sized up the store. Orville liked to think of himself as a hunter, though what he hunted you didn't buy a license for. The store was typical. Five ales of various overpriced crap, cold drinks in the back, and some not so fresh looking coffee. The kid behind the counter, who couldn't be older than twenty, didn't even look up from his cell phone when they entered. He was dressed to the nines and eminem cast offs. Another white boy wannabe. He'd be easy enough. Picking through the beer. Was a bear of a man, dirty coveralls, baseball cap and a long, graying beard.

Had to be the pickup driver. This one could be trouble. He'd be the The last customer was a young woman mid twenties. Two in the afternoon, and she's wearing fucking pajamas. Orville shakes his head. Too bad for her, she wasn't his type. Anything good for you, hun, he asks Cherry slim pickens. The big man came up to the counter carrying two six packs. He set them on the counter. It took a couple seconds before the kid looked up from his phone. That all, mister Scott, the kid asked, for now, you know that damned phone gonna turn you into a zombie.

Jimmy, all you kids just stare at them all the time, sucking your minds out. Not just kids doing it, seen plenty of adults too. Scott opens his wallet. Goddamn right about that. The wife is always doing that Facebook shit. Why you think I got these for tonight? The two have a laugh. Cherry makes a mock vomiting face to Orville. Orville mouth which one. Cherry nods towards large. Mister Scott, gonna start off Friday night, right, Scott says. Cherry slides up next to him. She leans against the counter, showing Jimmy her cleavage. His eyes go right to it.

How's about speeding up all the talkie talkie, she says, Excuse me, young lady. Scott says, no need to be fucking rude. Orville stood next to the coffee pot, watching Cherry do her thing. He poured himself a cup, dropping in a ton of creamer and sugar, gulping down the cup in one go. I just want to make a purchase and go, not listen to your fucking life story, she says, noticing she's not even holding anything. Cherry quickly grabs a handful of slim JEMs. These delicious treats. Yum, yum. Scott shakes his head and turns back to Jimmy.

What do I owe you? Orville lets his eye flicker over the female shopper. She'd select some chips and now stood in front of the soda cooler. Oblivious to the fun up front. Scott paid Jimmy and turned to leave, picking up his beer. Cherry blocked his way. Excuse me, miss, No, no, you don't get to leave until you apologize. Cherry stomped her booted foot hard on the floor. Just get out of my way, crazy bitch. He tried to push past her. Angry Cherry clawed him, opening red trenches on the left side of his face. Bitch. Scott dropped both of his six packs to the floor with a crash.

Some of the cans exploded in a foamy blast. He made an unsuccessful grab at Cherry. Too slow, she laughed. Scott lunged at Cherry, only to come face to face with Orville's cult trooper. Orville smiled a wicked smile as he pulled the hammer back. Hands off, my girl. He pulled the trigger, sending Scott's brains all over the newspaper rack. Scott fell to the ground, twitching, lying on his back. Orville fired a couple more shots into the dying man's chest. He saw Jimmy behind the counter, his face slack with dull horror. Orville pointed the cold at him.

Stay planted right there, ZiT, boy, you move, you die. The boy nodded, Shit, Ory, he was mine. Cherry pouts, and you took too long. The female shopper screamed at the top of her lungs and bolted. Orville sighs get her. Cherry let out a blood curdling scream and pursued her prey. Cherry grabbed hands from one of the shelves and hurled them at the woman. Where you going baby? A can hit one of the glass coolers, cracking it. Another one hit the woman's leg. She fell against a display of dog biscuits, knocking it over with a loud crash.

Cherry picked up a loaf of bread and beat the woman with it. Give up, she laughed, pulling the woman up by her hair. Orville watches the sad spectacle, laughing out of the corner of his eye. Jimmy inches towards his phone on the back counter. Don't even think about it, white chocolate Cherry marched the pajama clad shopper up to the counter. Upon seeing Scott lying on the ground in a pool of blood, the captives started to sob. Oh, God, don't hurt me. Orville looked at the woman. Don't worry. Nobody's getting hurt as long as you give us a little ride.

A glint of metal caught his eye too late. He saw Jimmy aiming a cheap pistol at him. The nervous boy squeezed the trigger, trying to fire one handed. The pistol fired wild. The bullet whizzed past Orville and hit the female shopper in the throat. Orville took aim with the colt and blasted Jimmy between the eyes. The boy slumped dead against a display of lotto tickets. Damn. Orville says, that was something. Orville looked over at the side of the counter at Jimmy. What brains he had leaking out of the wound above his eyes. Orville shot him again.

You get to have all the fun, Cherry pouts. He holsters the colt. Get some supplies for the road. Orville walked over to the body of the woman. He crouched down and turned her on her back. She stares up at him with lifeless eyes. He rummages through her pajama pockets and pulls out a pair of keys. He was about to stand when a bell dinged as a car pulled up to one of the pumps. He looked back at Cherry, filling up a plastic bag with groceries. Get down, he hissed, We've got company. Orvill peeked around an end cap of beef jerky.

It was hard to make out the car or the driver, since they were on the other side of the gas pumps, but he thought he saw a glimpse of long blonde hair. All the while, Orville kept his eyes on the new arrival. They stepped from behind the pump. He was right. It was a girl about eighteen, long, blonde hair, longer legs. Instantly, Orville felt his crotch come alive. God damn, he wanted to fuck her on the spot. This called for a change of plans. He'd planned on taking the woman in Pajama's hostage, having her drive them somewhere secluded and lie low, but White Chocolate got trigger happy and fucked that up, so we'd settle for just taking her car and some supplies and high tailing it.

But now Blondie had dropped into their laps, and if he was lucky, she'd be riding it later tonight after he was done, Cherry could have a go. She'd like that. Orville licked his lips at the thought. From behind the counter. Another urgent beep as the blonde pressed a button on the pump. Finally giving up, she walked, frustrated towards the store. Here we go, Orville whispered. The blonde pulled the door open, making the bell chime as she unknowingly stepped into hell. Jimmy, you awaken here, she asked, a second before seeing the blood. Jimmy, nope, Orville stood.

The colt pointed at her. Jimmy's on break blood, the girl said, biting her lip. Did you sure did, Cherry said, as she walked towards them, carrying an overstuffed bag of groceries. How sweet fresh meat. She's also going to be all right out of here, ain't you? Baby? The girl looked down at the bodies, then up at Orville and Cherry dumb struck right, Orville said, a bit annoyed, He took the blonde chin with his hand and forced the girl to nod an agreement. Right. He took his hand away, leaving bloody fingerprints. Who are you, the girl asked, her voice quivering.

I'm a demon. Orville answered, straight from Hell. I eat up little girls like you. You're gonna kill me, depends. What's your name? Sweetness? Lauren? Lauren? Well Lauren? Where were you headed this fine afternoon? The girl took a deep breath. To my parents for dinner, to her parents for dinner. Cherry mocked, and where do said parents live? You don't want to go there? Please, I'll take you anywhere else. Orville snapped his fingers. Where do they live? I don't want anybody to get hurt, she offered up. Orville snapped his fingers again. Where defeated? She sighed, outside Hillbury on Old Gorge Road.

Sounds homie, just the folks there, sweet pea, Yes, only child. He grabbed her ass. Great let's mount up road trip, Cherry said, doing a little dance. Lauren looked down at the dead bodies. You're just gonna leave them there like that. Cherry looked down at the bodies. They're dead, honey, they ain't got anything to worry about. Now move your ass. They filled up the gas tank of Lauren's Chevrolet hatchback and loaded up the back with several bags of groceries. Orville had formulated a new plan. They'd go to the parents' house, maybe spend a day or two laying low.

This massacre would be all over the news. He could take the time to have some fun with Lauren. Orville looked over the car. We're all set, sweet pea. You know the way you drive. Shotgun, Cherry shouted, Sorry, honey, I gotta keep an eye on our driver. You'll have to ride in the back seat. Oh fuck. Cherry kicked the car tire. I never get Shotgun. Orville slid into the passenger's side and glanced at the blonde. She had her bloodstained fingers near her mouth. Did she just lick the blood? No? No, couldn't be just a trick. His eye played on him.

Orville watched the trees on both sides of the road pass by, their branches stretched out towards him like skeletal arms. It wasn't fall yet, but all the trees had lost their leaves. What's with the trees, he asked out loud to nobody in particular. Lauren, who was focused on the road, answered him that's because of the original Hillbury. There was a chemical spill back in the eighties. Shit really, Cherry said, poking her head in from the back seat. This spooked Lauren, whose hand slipped on the wheel. Easy there, girl, Orville said. He slipped his hand to Lauren's bare leg, running his hand up under her skirt.

Can't have you crashing, Cherry slapped Orville on the shoulder. Lay off, let her tell the story. Orville's hand moved away from Lauren's leg, allowing her to pull her skirt back down. There's no real story, just some company spilled a bunch of chemicals near the town. Killed all the trees and grass, poisoned the water. A few people got sick. All the townsfolks moved to new Hillbury. She pointed past Orville. You can see part of the old town there through the trees. There. Orville and Cherry turned. As the dead trees flew by. A few dilapidated houses could be seen, weathered, abandoned, and forgotten to time.

Your parents live all the way out here. It'll be much easier that way, away from prying eyes. Orville smiled at this thought. No need to worry about all the screaming. My parents like it out in the country, away from the hustle and bustle. They're a little old fashioned. Orville let his eyes wander to the girl's chest. Her tits were nicely sized. He got hard as thoughts of burying his face and them ran through his mind. Not you, though, huh. You like the tight, tight, cramped modern world. That's a hell of a commute for daddy, Cherry piped in.

Cherry knew what he was thinking, and it pissed her off. He could tell dead kind of works from home. Lucky him, Orville said. He looked at the sky growing dark as the evening crept in. The car sank into quiet as Orville turned his thoughts to what had to be done. The parents shouldn't be too hard to control, especially since he had the girl and the gun. Besides, in a day or two, the happy family would be dead as dog shit. Orville looked at the girl, seeing her as yet another decayed corpse left in his wake.

Too much quiet, Cherry barked from the back seat. Turn on some tunes or good idea, he said. He turned on the radio, cycling through the channels, most of it was static. The first actual station he got was a religious one. A woman was preaching, screaming the words in a frenzy, Exodus four to twenty five. You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me. The woman's voice was raw, like her throat was bloody. Ah nope, Cherry interjected from the back seat. The next station he found was a pop station. Dubstep strained the car speakers. Hell fucking no.

The next station, Kenny G Was playing his heart out crap. Next, Orville switched it again. Black sabbaths paranoid assaulted their ear drums. Hell yeah, Cherry squealed. It was dark before they got to the house. Lauren drove without the headlights on until Orville said something. She was so nervous she must have forgot to turn them on. I can take you anywhere, she pleaded, Please just don't involve my parents. Really, I'm sorry. Sweetness, But no even if he somehow took pity on her, and it was too late now Anyway, on the left side of the road, a large house loom, lights burning quaintly in the windows.

This had to be the place. It was the first man made structure they'd seen in miles. Lauren pulled off the road down on a long dirt driveway. Off to the house's right, a large walled in cemetery loomed, its stone walls ancient and crumbling. Whoa creepy, Cherry said, pressing her face to the window. A graveyard. Your parents live next to a fucking graveyard, Orville asked, Dad's the caretaker, Lauren answered, as she pulled up to the house. When the town moved, the cemetery stayed. They still bury people from the new town here. They got out of the car.

Orville glanced up at the house. It looked old, but in pretty good condition. Daddy probably had a lot of time on his hands to keep the place nice, won't Mom and Dad be surprised, Cherry said, doing a little skip. Lead the way Princess. Orville reached in his jacket and pulled out an old switchblade. He held the blade to Lauren's side. Don't think of being a hero. This old girl is Sally killed my first dog with her. She'll gut you all the same. Understand, Yes, good, let's go meet the folks. Lauren pushed open the door, Orville right behind her.

The house looked homey, he thought, would be ashamed to make a mess of it. Mom, Dad, I'm here. Orville could hear a TV playing in one of the rooms. The smell of something good cooking hung in the air. A middle aged couple stepped into the room. Their looks of joy turned to questioning looks upon seeing their guests. Honey, who are these people? The mother asked. The father looked at Orville, the recognition visible on his face. Look who's come to dinner? Daddy? Dear, Orville says, behave He flashed the colt in its holster. Oh god, Mom stammered, what do you want?

Some grub would be cool. They're the ones on the news serial killers, Lauren's father said, Has our little rest stop made us splash already? Orville said, putting his arm around Lauren. He could see the father's face light up with anger and then helplessness. This thrilled Orville to no end Orville might have to make Daddy watch as he fucked the girl's brains out. Why don't we mosey into the dining room and eat? Mom and dad led the way as Orville walked, with Lauren Cherry following behind. What do we have in mom? Orville asked, roast? But it's still in the oven, she answered, looking nervously at her husband.

I should get it, Cherry. Why don't you help mom get the food? Orville winked at the mother. I'll entertain pops. Cherry frowned, Come on, you, old bat. She took the woman roughly by the arm. Where's the kitchen? Orville pulled Lauren tight to him. He took a whiff of her hair and skin. Your daughter smells great, Daddy, ever have a piece? He could see the hate burning in the man's eyes. Orville half wanted him to try something. He ran his hand roughly over Lauren's chest. Bet she tastes great too. As he hoped this was too much for Dad, Orville pushed Lauren out of the way and sent the girl sailing into a small stand.

The father charged at Orville, swinging at him with his huge fist. Orville sidestepped the swing and grabbed the man by the throat. He slammed him down hard against a nearby table. The mother appeared in the doorway, Cherry right behind her. Get the fuck back in the kitchen, Cherry. Cherry did as she was told, pulling the woman back to the kitchen. Orville pulled out sally and sliced a large gash across the man's right cheek. Bad dad. He took a quick glance at Lauren. Hey, princess, where's the basement? Lauren stood, unsure on her feet. Please don't hurt them, Just go not gonna happen basement now, or Daddy loses an eye.

Lauren led them to the basement door and nervously opened it. What are you gonna do, Lauren pleaded. Orville dragged her old man to the stairs. All Orville could see were some old woodstairs descending into darkness. Can you fly, daddy? Orville took the man by the collar and threw him down the stairs. Lauren screamed her guts out as her father was swallowed up by the darkness. Orville thought he heard the sound of bones breaking as the man hit bottom. He looked at Lauren. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It's possibly survived, maybe, she sobbed. Why Orville his lips.

You don't want mom to get the treatment? Do you no good? You'll do what I say. Then she nodded, here's what I want. He knew she'd still have a room here. The kid moves out, but the folks always keep the room untouched. Stuffed animals sat on the bed, silent judgment on their furry faces. Orville turned on the radio on the girl's dresser. Stevie B's Postman song was on. Not sexy, but Orville didn't want to wait anymore. He pushed the stuffed animals off the bed, scattering them to the floor. He hopped on the old bed, its springs creaking and protest.

Okay, sweet pea, show time strip. Lauren gulped. Cherry watched the mom trying to prepare dinner. Like all hell hadn't just broke loose in the other room a few minutes ago. She had to hand it to the old bat. She could keep it under control. It had grown quiet. Now, what could be going on? Cherry thought, before she investigated that. The smell of the roast caught her limited attention span fully. Cherry stabbed a big slice of it with her knife and took a large bite, sending juices dribbling down her chin. So good, mommy, she said, I think I just came in my panties.

The woman didn't answer. She cut off a slice to replace the one Cherry took Bee for pork. Cherry asks, I can't nail the taste. Putting down the carving knife, mother cleaned off her hands with a towel. Pork. It's damn good, mom Why do you do it hurt people? Cherry thought for a moment, because it's something to do. Lauren stood in her bron panties nervously trying to emulate a sexy dance. Orville watched. It was time. He could wait no longer. Come here. She walked toward him, her face pale white. Orville was a little bit disappointed in her choice of playing pink panties and bra He'd hope they'd be something a little more exciting, or at least funny.

Lauren sat down next to him, her body shaking. Undo my pants. Cherry was getting a little nervous. Where was or She didn't hear anything out in the dining room. Maybe Orville was getting rid of the dad. She watched mother as she washed the carving knife. When can we go out there, she asked? The food will get cold. Just hold your horses. Don't you have any other food to get ready? It was weird. The whole time they were in the kitchen. She didn't see the woman prepare anything else. No vegetables, no potatoes, no stuffing, nothing. Did they only eat meat?

The meat had made her thirsty. Cherry walked over to the fridge. She could go for something cold. It was too much to hope these fucks had beer. She pulled open the fridge door. Sitting there on a large plate was a severed human arm, with a rather large chunk cut out from it. Cherry suddenly felt very weak. Behind her came noises. No human ears should ever hear, the sound of flesh and bones stretching moving. She spun around. The woman looked different now, her skin grayish, her eyes black. Long teeth protruded from her mouth, and her hands had become claws.

We can't eat just any flesh, she growled. It has to be dead first, the father said, standing in the door. He was a little bloodied, but looking very much like his wife did now the only thing between Orville and Lauren was his boxers and her underwear. He felt like a boy on Christmas morning. He told Lauren to pull down his boxers. They fell to the floor. Here he took her head, lowering it toward his excited dick. He leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling. The girl was pretty good at this. There was a gunshot somewhere downstairs, followed by Cherry screaming in horror.

What the fuck? But it was already too late. In the next instant, pains sliced through him. He felt something warm splash his chest. He was almost too terrified to look down. His crutch was covered in warm red blood. The small stump where his dick had been was busy pumping more out. As he started to slip into shock, he looked at Lauren, whose body was undergoing a horrible change. She spat blood from her mouth, along with his severed manhood. I twitt you to leave us alone. Orville could hear the heavenly chorus calling him? They sounded like howling wolves.

Party in the woods by Joe Salmat Tristan and Beccha made their way down the wooded path behind Tristan's neighbor's farm. Josh and Emily went to bed pretty early, so for years Tristan had brought friends down here behind the farm to explore the woods. As he got older, he explored less and came to the woods to drink and party with the girls from town. Becca was new to town, just moving here a month ago. Tristan was infatuated as soon as he saw her in the hall in school, her long brown hair flowing behind her. He followed her after school, trying to come up with something to say to her to spark a conversation.

It paid off, though, he thought, as he sneaked a glance at her behind the moonlight through a break in the trees. She carried a bottle of Jack Daniels in her right hand. It was already missing a quarter of the brown liquid inside. She was more of a drinker than he was, he noted with a He couldn't keep his eyes off of the way she walked the curve, swaying back and forth. It was mesmerizing. The swaying stopped in front of him. Tristan, did you hear that? She whispered to him. Hear what? He asked at a normal volume, sh something in the woods, she replied.

Do you guys have bears around here? She asked, with a little bit of fright in her voice. I didn't hear anything. Don't worry. I've been coming here since I was a kid. There's nothing out here that can hurt us, he said, and smiled that famous smile that got him the girl on numerous occasions. Becca still stood there for a moment. When she didn't hear anything, she began to walk the path again, but cautiously Tristan snuck up behind her and grabbed the bottle from her hands. She let out a scared yelp as he laughed at her.

He took a big gulp off the bottle, letting the alcohol burn his throat. Are the others meeting us up here? Becca asked. She wouldn't agree to coming out to the woods with the guy she'd just met unless others were going to be there. He scrambled to find another couple to come along. Yeah, it's not much farther now. We got a little fireplace from an old house, Tristan said. It must have been from the seventeen hundreds. He said, sounds cool, becha said, thinking of the fireplace. Tristan frowned. He should be able to see it from here.

He knew Greg and Beth were already there. He saw Greg's car down by the side of the highway on the way over. Maybe he was just lazy, He thought the moon was hidden by the boughs of the trees above. Tristan made his way in the dark to where he knew the stone chimney was. He could barely see the lighter stone in the darkness. He felt around to the right where he stacked the kindling. It felt wet, but he didn't remember it raining recently. Greg, if you pissed on our wood, I will kill you, he called out to the night.

He hoped Gregg heard him as he banged Beth or whatever they were doing. He grabbed a book of matches from his pocket after stacking the wooden branches into a small T piece shape with pine needles and last falls leaves underneath. I can't see anything, Becca said from behind him. One second, he said, masking his disappointment. She was one hell of a looker, but she seemed kind of annoying to him. He struck the match, which blinded him for a second with its brightness in the almost complete dark He instinctively moved the match to the pine needles under the wood before it burned out or the wind got it.

He saw spots in his vision as he gently blew on the pine needles. Yes, he called out, as the fire came to life. It wasn't piss on the sticks. It was a darker, thicker color. It reminded him of the bottle Becha carried. Hey, Babe, can I get a drink? He said, getting to his feet. The stick were catching now and the light from the chimney was spreading. Becca didn't answer him. Babe, he said, and turned around. Becca was standing in front of him, ten feet away, with the bottle still in her right hand, her widened eyes staring past him towards the chimney.

What the hell's gotten into you? He said, and took a step closer, but she didn't move. He watched as the bottle slipped from her hand and struck the ground, spilling its contents. What's wrong with you? He said, grabbing the bottle off the ground to save its contents, which he tried to pour down his throat. He stopped with the bottle to his lips. Becca still hadn't moved. He started to get a creepy feeling and turned towards the fire. The light from the flames illuminated the immediate area. The stack of wood he had piled there yesterday was definitely wet, but it was also red.

It looks like something bled all over it. His eyes fell to just in front of the stack of wood, and he saw the source of the blood. Greg, naked to the waist, lay on the ground, twisted and away. Tristan could only describe as wrong. His face looked behind him, and several vertebrates stuck out from a gaping hole in his neck. His eyes were wide open in fear, similar to Becca's. He turned towards his would be girlfriend, but she was still looking in the same direction. Tears streaked her cheeks and a sob escaped her lips. He turned back to see what she was looking at, and that's when he noticed Beth.

Blonde hair mixed with crimson blood covered her young face from the caved in skull before it sunk into the opening that her missing lower jaw left behind. She was completely naked behind the woodpile. Tristan approached her body carefully. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. She had large scratches or claw marks cris crossing across her naked breasts at an inch deep, filled with rivers of blood. One of her legs was missing, just missing. How does that even happen? He couldn't see it anywhere, but he did find her lower jaw. It looked like some sick bastard tried to rape her with it, but all it did was tear her pubic area.

Teeth peeked out from between strings of her mangled genitalia that hung from her body like the streamers on a five year old girl's bicycle. Panics started to settle into Tristan. He stepped backwards, away from the mangled corpses of his high school friends Becca. He called out, run. He turned himself to run and saw a horrid sight. Behind Becca, who still hadn't moved from the same pace position, stood three humanoid shapes. Their eyes reflected the firelight from the chimney. Beca Tristan managed to say before the creatures moved in an instant. Two grabbed his date and held her arms behind her back.

He heard a sickening pop as one of her shoulders were dislocated violently. The pain seemed to break Becca out of her shock, she screamed. The third creature charged Tristan. He managed to land a punch on the monster, but it didn't seem to have any effect. He grabbed him and forced him to his knees, placing one of its large clawed feet on the back of his legs so he couldn't get up. Help me, Tristan, Becha called out, it was her last words. One of the creature's hands suddenly protruded from her lower abdomen, tearing out of her flesh with a violence Tristan had never witnessed before.

No. He called out in horror and began to sob. He swore The creature holding him mocked his cry. Tristan saw the moment Beca died. He could see it in her eyes, the moment it ceased to be Becka and became only a sack of meat. It was worse than the mangled corpses of his friends. Watching her die like that, Becha's body fell down to the ground. The two monsters fought over her, tearing pieces of her flesh off in front of him, the same flesh he was admiring just a short time ago. Tristan couldn't take it anymore.

He put his head down, letting his hair cover his eyes, but the creature holding him reached down with its gray hand and pulled his hair until once again he was facing Beca. Not only did they seem to enjoy killing, but it seemed they enjoyed making him watch. He cried out. When the two creatures finished dividing up Becha, they began to eat. Tristan struggled, but the creature's strength was too much for him. He clenched his eyes closed to block out the horror in front of him, but the creature seemed to know it dug a dull nail into the back of his neck every time he closed his eyes, only letting the pressure off when he opened them again.

Closed or opened, he was being tortured. He kept them closed as long as he could take the nail digging him, never in the exact same space, then opened them until the pain from the nail was replaced with the evisceration of his date. It seemed to go on forever. He couldn't take any more. He tried to move again, but the third creature that held him did so diligently. Go on, get a bite. Tristan called out to his captor. It was the only thing he could do, mocking his torturers. He had no way to track time, but at least fifteen minutes past.

As he watched his date disappear peace by piece down the gullets of these hellish creatures. He couldn't take any more and closed his eyes to escape. But his ears picked up on the wet snapping of teeth through flesh and bone. It reminded him of tearing the wings off of a chicken for dinner, and it made him want to throw up. The holding him down pushed him all the way to the ground. He opened his eyes and looked at what was left of Becca. At that point, he did throw up, but it had nowhere to go.

Being forced down to the ground, he breathed in his own vomit and thought he was going to drown. The creature yanked him back up to his knees. As the other two approached, he was pulled all the way to his feet, and with the last act of defiance, he kicked the groin of the creature right in front of him. It stepped back from the impact, then reached out with its gray skinned hand and grabbed his chest tearing cloth and flesh away from his body. He screamed. The pain was intense. Just fucking kill me already, he yelled out, just wanting it done.

He couldn't take any more, do it, you cocksucker. The monsters didn't heed him. One of them grabbed his hand and held it out. The first creature that had been holding him the whole time switched places with the one that tore a piece out of his chest. It looked him in the eye with an evil intelligence behind its gaze. As it slowly and deliberately raised his hand to its mouth and bit off his thumb. He screamed out into the night. He held on to a slim hope that Josh or Emily might hear him in the quiet country night.

They had just had a newborn, so maybe they would be awake feeding it, he thought. The creature bit off his middle finger and smiled. Tristan's blood and flesh still sitting in its gaping maw. Its body shook with small convulsions with a grunting sound. A shiver shut up Tristan's back as he realized it was laughing at his misery. And there you have it, my spookies for more reasons to spend the rest of the summer politely declining invitations. Tonight, we learned that haunted mansions make terrible first date destinations. A one dollar bargain can become extremely expensive. Serial killers should always ask about dietary restrictions.

And nothing good has ever followed the words let's party in the woods. Halloween may still be waiting at the end of the calendar, but ghosts, monsters, and cursed objects clearly did not receive that memo. So thank you for celebrating Summer ween with us, and make sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app to Weekly Spooky. Join us every Wednesday for a brand new scary story, and every day of the week for a little something scary to keep your Halloween vibes going all year long. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a quick trip to make to a party out in the woods.

But I'll see you all real soon.