It was beginning to get dark and he could see children dressed in their costumes. He saw this every year; he was getting bored of picking one or two of these brats to feed on. He wanted something different this year. He wanted to frighten, kill and feed; he would have his fill before this night was over. The sleeper hid amongst the shadows, watching and waiting.
*
Bella, Gemma and Elli came first then the boys arrived carrying the crates of lager. Christine and Jenny had arranged the food on the pasting table and set up the music which was playing through the speakers they had placed in the corners. The eerie lighting of the jack o lanterns and a few low powered bulbs gave out a subdued illumination which added to the Halloween scene.
They had all dressed up in various fancy dress costumes. Christine had dressed as a witch, Jenny was a zombie and Elli was Morticia from the Adams family. Bella had dressed as a green witch and Gemma went as a vampire. The boys had all dressed as vampires with various versions of the Count Dracula look.
'Hey this is great' Danny said to Steve as they set up the bar.
Johnny, Carl and Stuart agreed. This was going to be a party to remember. They had already taken a few photos on their mobiles and uploaded them to their facebook accounts.
The party was lively, the music was playing; they were all eating, drinking, dancing and enjoying themselves…until the sleeper arrived.
*
The sleeper heard the sound of the music coming from the barn, he was drawn by it. He knew this was going to be fun, he didn't get much fun. He moved from his hiding place in the shadows and he walked through the barn wall and mingled with the young people. He was really going to enjoy this. He was spoilt for choice, which one of these spirited souls would he choose first?
Danny saw the shadow whisk past him and felt the cold chill as the sleeper entered. The others felt the cold chill but didn't take much notice. They were too busy drinking and dancing and laughing to worry about it. Danny was the one that the sleeper had chosen, he was drawn to the corner of the barn by the sleeper.
Danny collapsed and the others thought he had been drinking too much, even though the party had only just started. Jenny went over to Danny she shouted Christine and Steve over. Danny didn't move when they tried to revive him.
'What the hell's up with him?' Christine asked Steve, she didn't want any trouble or they wouldn't be allowed to do this anymore.
'Something’s happened to him, he isn't moving, he looks dead'. Jenny screamed out.
They stopped drinking and dancing and Elli turned the music off.
'Someone call an ambulance' Gemma shouted above Jenny's sobs.
Johnny dialed 999 on his mobile, an ambulance was on its way.
The sleeper was feeling good now; he had sucked the life out of Danny. He had done what he set out to do. Danny's soul was inside the sleeper along with all the other souls he had collected over the years. He hadn't finished yet though, there was still time to get at least one more soul before he had to return to his infinite hell.
The sleeper picked Elli, she was unaware of what was happening, she was drawn to the other corner of the barn. She couldn't resist, she felt the sleeper as he invaded her body with his cursed soul, he dragged her soul out through her mouth as he sucked her breath away, Elli collapsed in a corner of the barn.
The two dead friends were beyond all help and hope now. Nothing would bring them back. Their deaths would probably be reported as death by misadventure, caused by too much alcohol, even though it wasn't...
The high pitched sirens of the ambulance shattered the sleeper's calm; he drifted back into the shadows. The sleeper knew that he would have to return from whence he came, he was happy but cursed. This was his lot. He was saddened that he had to leave this world until he could return again next Halloween.
*
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Chapter 19
“Cursed` Me”
Kay D. Ziegler
Bedford, Indiana, USA
Morning rose like any other day for priestess Medusa. No sun greeted her as she bathed in the river Ameles. No warmth to stroke her cheek as she dried and dressed herself on boulders that had settled on the pebbled shore. With no light, no birds knew to come and greet her as she stumbled, sandal-footed, up a well-known path back to her chambers, where Medusa was anointed with lavender-infused olive oil by none other than Athena herself.
“Autumn solstice is upon us, young one,” remarked the golden-gowned goddess as she ran a brush through Medusa’s long, dark locks.
“Indeed, mother goddess,” replied Medusa as she looked down at the olive silk that today’s outfit was made out of.
“You do not seem pleased with this, Medusa. Tonight is a time for celebration! Your heart should be light and filled with mirth.”
“I do not look forward to the sacrifice.”
“It is your firth! What an honor.”
“I do not even want to go.”
“What would you rather do?”
“Travel south. I wish to see the sun and hear the birds. I do not recall the last time I saw such a sight.”
Athena stopped brushing the younger priestess’s tresses. “Absolutely not,” growled the yellow-haired woman. With her anger, thunder boomed outside Medusa’s window.
“Why not?” demanded Medusa as she stood and faced Athena. She planted her fists on her hips. “You’re just jealous of my looks and want to hide me away. Is that it?”
“Shut up, you insolent little girl! You know that not to be true,” shouted Athena as the woman’s eyes flash in anger and rain began to pound against the window. “The southern wilderness is dangerous! It’s filled with lustful men and vile beasts who’ll rip their pray to shreds.
Medusa glared at her mentor, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she strode from the room into her walk-in closet. Looking at her costume, the priestess sighed and fingered the white silk of the bodice and skirt. I’ll look like a dove, thought Medusa, after examining the gossamer wings attached the garment as well as the feather-covered mask. Although she had never met one in person, she had seen drawings of them in the scrolls and tomes held within Athena’s library.
*
Dressed in the dove costume, her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and settled amongst her wings. Behind her disguise, she stared at the people who gawked at her. “Why are they staring, Athena,” she whispered to the Goddess, who was dressed as a warrior.
“Shouldn’t they? You look ravishing,” said the woman as one of the guests took her by the hand and led Athena onto the dance floor just as the musicians began to play.
Wandering around the party, she examined the gods and goddesses and the priests and priestesses all dressed in the Autumn solstice finest. They dressed as ghouls and goblins, faeries and pixies, birds and beasts of all kinds, and as moral soldiers and healers.
Medusa stopped at the table piled high with festive treats. After choosing candied figs and finger-shaped cookies decorated with almonds and fruit jell, she poured herself a glass of spiced cider. Sipping on it, the young priestess looked out at the crowd, but saw nothing.
“My, it must be Aphrodite herself! Never before was there a glorious and more ravishing woman than the dear goddess of love,” boomed a young man from behind her.
Medusa jumped as she turned to face the speaker. He was dressed as a lion, although the only clue to his costum
e was that his mask had a mane. This man was gorgeous. Dressed in only a waist wrap, she noticed as firm and formed his body was. Tight, golden curls peeked out from under the sides of the disguise and his sparkling blue eyes peeked out at him from behind the mask.
“I am not Aphrodite. I’m not even a goddess,” Medusa corrected.
“Oh, really? You should be! What is your name, fair maiden,” asked the young man.
“Medusa.”
“A fine name for a fine girl,” replied the lion. “So, shall we go bob for fruit? Or would you care to carve a gourd? Or, would running your fingers through food while blind-folded be more to your liking?”
With each of those suggestions, she shook her head. None of those things interested her. She told this man so.
“You don’t want to be here.”
“No.”
“Where do you want to be?”
“Not here.”
“Then, where?”
“Nowhere.”
“There’s got to be a place, Medusa” said the young man. He smiled at her as he placed a hand upon her upper arm and rubbed it gently. “Where is that place? I can take you. Just tell me.”
“I can’t. I’m not allowed. Athena will be furious!”
“We’ll be back before she knows you were gone. Now, tell me, where is this place?”
“What’s your name? I don’t travel with strangers.”
“Zeus.”
Medusa raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t quite sure she believed him. “Well, Zeus… I’d like to see the south,” she replied slowly. When he offered her his hand, she glanced at Athena, who was enjoying herself and then took his hand in her own. Dashing outside, they climbed atop his Pegasus and flew off into the night.
*
Landing on a shore, Medusa walked through the wet sand up and down the reef. Her eyes were closed as she let the sun bathe her face. Listening to the gulls and the waves crash against a rocky cliff, the priestess smiled. “This is gorgeous,” she said to Zeus, who walked hand-in-hand with her.
“You are gorgeous,” retorted the god as he pulled her close to him.
She gasped and opened her eyes. She stared at him and began to quake as he picked the dark-haired priestess and kissed her lightly upon the lips. Medusa pressed her hands against his chest to push him away. “I can’t,” whispered the woman as she slipped from Zeus’s grasp and headed up the beach.
“You can. You will,” Zeus said in a firm and serious tone.
“No, I won’t. Take me home…” Medusa snapped as she headed towards the Pegasus.
“Now, now, you wanted to come here. I did something for you. You do something for me,” purred the man as he grabbed her arm and squeezed.
Medusa’s knees gave way as Zeus forced her down so she was lying in the sand. As he straddled her, the wings of Medusa’s costume snapped. “Get off of me,” sobbed the priestess as he slipped her dress up and kissed her neck, arms, and chest.
*
A few hours later, they returned. Medusa was pale and dirty. Her costume hung from her shoulders and the wings were limp and torn. As she walked back to the temple, she glared at Zeus, but did not say a word.
Athena was the first to see them. “Where did you go?” demanded the goddess. She crossed her hands over her chest as she stared at the young woman.
“It doesn’t matter,” Medusa spat.
“What happened?”
“He raped me!” the broken girl screamed, pointing at Zeus.
“I did something for her and she did something for me,” replied the god in a calm voice. “She was quite the alluring lady out upon a beach of the south.”
“Not only did you disobey my orders, but you let a man invade you! You are no longer welcome here, you dirty thing. You monster,” shouted Athena. Raising her hand, she transported the Medusa and herself away from the temple.
In the midst of desolate island, the two appeared. The sandy landscape was littered with dead trees and dark rocks. No sun shined on this corner of the world.
“You are banished her forever more for you do not deserve the presence of man or god. No longer are you pure, but a monster,” growled Athena. She held her hand up again and with palm out, the goddess chanted a curse upon Medusa.
The woman screamed as he hair fell out in chunks and snakes replaced her dark locks. “Oh gods,” she moaned as her skin tightened and cracked. The woman fell to her knees as Athena left. Looking up, she discovered her horrific power. A bird flew overhead and as it glanced towards her, it fell to the earth as stone.
“Cursed` me,” whispered she.
*
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Chapter 20
“Lost Cause”
Ellen McKinney
Plano, Texas, USA
Autumn was my favorite time of the year. I loved the aroma and sounds. I can hardly use any of my senses. I do so miss feeling fabrics and the softness of a kiss, to taste a candy apple, smell pumpkin spice, and see the wonderful colors and to hear the crackling of a warm fire.
I lie dormant all year except for the month of October. My name is Maria Alonzo-Hudson. Who am I? The real question, one might ask what are you? I am a specter, a ghost, an apparition, spirit or a presence of one’s imagination. Most pass my ghostly presence as Halloween fun.
How did I die? I was raped and stabbed repeatedly with some sort of sharp object. An object that was never found nor was the murderer caught.
My case was noted as a lost cause, but I want to think one day it will be solved so I can rest in peace. My husband Detective Rabb Hudson tried to solve my murder, he gave it his all, did his best, but I became a cold case. I am cursed to roam in limbo and only in October. My reasoning was because I was murdered on the thirty-first.
If only I could reach my husband, I want to help him solve my case. I was able to haunt the people around him, but I cannot reach him. What sight I do have was because I got a glimpse of the perp who killed me and when I say glimpse they were dressed in black and I did not see a face.
My little daughter Brie liked to dress up for Halloween and I miss making her costumes and taking her trick or treating. I did pass tradition to her, now she does for her own daughter, my granddaughter. I would always remember her as a small child and she would remember me as a young woman, she was still quite small when I was murdered.
The years have flown by and my ghost was still around, but my case was no closer to resolution. It was a terrible curse for me to still be here.
Brie also became a detective such as her father maybe my lost cause would be found again. But, events happen and I am unable to reach her either. What events you ask?
I am limited as to where I may roam the nature of the beast I suppose or I am doomed to walk the earth in limbo. I get caught up haunting one person and until they hear me I cannot move on, a person in particular was someone close to my heart or was.
I came up behind her, she was my best friend when I was alive, Mallory Chestnut she was sitting at my kitchen table or what was my kitchen table having breakfast with my husband. I cannot cite them for being a couple. My death brought them together, but she left her husband for mine.
My breath was like a whisper and I could see the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she was feeling coldness only a specter can bring.
“Did you feel that?” she asked Rabb.
“Feel what?” he replied as he placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. He was always one for cooking. I was not my talents lay elsewhere or did.
“The briskness in the air,” she replied.
&nbs
p; “The weather is changing.”
“It was more than that. I think Maria is trying to reach me.”
“A ridiculous notion, the dead don’t contact the living. Plus she’s been dead for fifteen years why now, why would she try and contact us now?” I had been calling out from the grave, he just cannot hear me.
“The notion is not so ridiculous if you make a statement such as that. Her murder was never solved and she is not resting comfortably.”
“Are you listening to us? She’s dead and buried.”
“It makes perfect sense,” she said sugary as if a light bulb lit up over her head. Yes, I was putting the idea there for her.
“Does it?” he asked.
“Sure it does, tomorrow is the anniversary of her death.” Of course it was the anniversary of my death and it took you long enough to realize it, I was being a very sarcastic ghost. Okay, I have every right to act as I do, I was murdered give me some credit.
She was so on the right track and I was reaching her, it had only taken years wasted on her every October.
“I have exhausted every avenue my on trying to solve this case.”
“Get a fresh pair of eyes to look at her file,” Mallory said with a seeming knowledge of how a detective worked.
“Like who?” Rabb questioned, “No one wants to take on this lost cause least of all me.”
“Lost cause,” Mallory hollered out, “How can Maria be called a lost cause? She was someone dear to so many people including me.” I was putting words in her mouth. Whether or not she wanted to mean what she said was altogether a different story.
He gazed at her stunned she was yelling at him. He then said something that came to a shock to me. “I thought you wanted her out of the way so we could be together?”
I said such wonderful things about him looking for the killer and the killer was haunting me. The blame should have been directed to him all along.