I thought it might be fun to write our own Halloween story again this year. Most of you are familiar with this game. I'll begin the story then everyone can add as much or as little as they'd like before passing it to the next person.
The day was cold and overcast with drizzle coming down almost like a promise of worse to come. It fit my mood perfectly. I haunched my shoulders and drew my jacket closer about me as I trudged through dry fallen leaves, that despite the damp still crunched. I scowled and kicked at a few that clung to my shoes. "Stupid car," I mumbled, "Figures it'd die when I'm way out heaven knows where... A gazillion miles from no where." As I walked looking for help, the day's events tumbled across my mind. First, my electric had gone out during the night causing me to be late for work. I had scooted through a fast food drive through for coffee and had managed to drop the thing in my lap. Nothing like arriving at work not only late, but looking as if I had hastedly tossed on anything in the hamper AND peed myself to boot. Of course that fat horn toad of a boss raked me over hot coals for being late, and dumped a ton of work on me . Seated at my desk, the computer picked then to go down. Lovely...
Of course that caused me to miss my deadline - and resulted in my getting fired. To say I left work angry is an under statement, I slid behind the wheel of my car and tore off in a burst of rage. Which is why I missed my turn off and managed to get myself completely lost before the car died. The sky darkened and I pulled the flashlight from my coat pocket, proving to myself I wasn't a total idiot - I had thought of taking it from the glove compartment before leaving the car. The beam was feeble at best, inwardly I groaned , with my luck it'd die soon. The drizzle was speeding up and becoming a sodden rain, trickling down inside my collar and soaking me. I scanned the road in both directions looking for signs of another car out on the road. Apparently I had picked a road not only less traveled but quite possibly never taken. Over head thunder tolled like some ancient bell, and lightening split the sky. That settled it, I spun on my heels and started back for the car. At least I KNEW where that was, and whether it ran or not, at least I'd be drier then out here. I started a slow trot, slipping in the mud. I hadn't gone that far had I? Hadn't I left the car right here? I turned in a small circle, starring with the aid of the dimming flashlight. There was the gnarled old tree...there was the leaning sign post... but no where was my car to be seen! "Great...just flippin' jumping beans great... while I'm looking for help my car gets towed..." Now, I really had no choice but to keep walking. Since I hadn't seen or heard a tow truck I started in the oposite direction of where I had been hiking assuming that's the direction they must've taken - away from me. Suddenly the rain cleared, and the moon came out. It struck the leaning sign post lighting up the words, "Goback"...what a funny name for a town...
Then I realized that was no name for a town, it was a warning, but I whispered to myself, what exactly are they trying to tell me? And who are they? As I fumbled with my flashlight, I realized that the battery had gone dead. I knew I had just put fresh battries in, so I didn't know what to think, then I heard a strange noise. It made me leap out of my shoes, it was that loud. I looked to my left and low and behold there was a cemetary. Fog had settled in and it was getting thicker over the tombstones. I was shaking so bad my teeth were rattling, and then I saw it....
Emerging from the tombstones as if if materializing from the mist itself, he came shuffling forwards. I could not make out any features in the thick fog, and it appeared to be little more then a shapless grunting mass. "H-hello?" I called out...
I closed my eyes, I felt a sensation run up and down my spine. It was drafty outside, the cold penetrated right down to my bones. I felt a whisper of a touch on my arm, but still I kept my eyes squeezed shut, so tightly shut you would have thought they were glued that way. The touch seem to go right through me. A cold chill went to a hot blaze on my skin where I had been touched. I started to float, my mind started to relax and then I knew what was happening........
or at least I thought I knew..surely that thing from the cemetary had killed me. Yet, I sensed I was being carried. I assumed into the grave yard where the creature would plant me 6 feet under. NO! This is not what I want! My life can't end this way! I tried to rouse myself...
But my eyes were so sleepy, my head was empty of thoughts. Just when I thought I was a goner, I heard a voice that seem to come from above, yelling "wake up my dear before it is too late". I then came alive, fell to the ground and started running for my live. I almost made it out of the cemetary but........
tripped on a tree root, that hurtled me onto the grass. I felt someone grab me from behind and pull me to my feet. I whipped around ready to fight - "Debi! What are YOU, doing here?" I gasped.
She didn't answer me, but signaled me to follow as she turned and began threading her way through the tombstones. I scrambled after her in the dimness, having lost my flashlight at some point. The rain had stopped and the moon was bathing everything in its soft light. "Debi! Wait! How did you get here? Where are we going?" I called to her back. My only answer is that she would pause until I had almost caught up with her, then with long sure strides she'd proceed leaving me to trail. She stopped in the doorway to an old crypt and allowed me to catch up. Prehaps it was a trick of the moonlight, but she appeared paler then I remember and her hair normally so well kept, was tumbled about. She pushed open the door...
The door creaked and groaned moving aside just enough to allow passage. When I stood there uncertain, Debi took my hand and led me in. I was shocked at how cold she felt. "Dang! Didya sleep in a freezer or what!" I jested, when she didn't answer I said," Only kidding. You want to borrow my sweater? You're freezing!" Still no answer, but a scraping sound was heard, and before my eyes I saw the lid on a coffin slide open. I now gripped Debi's hand in abject terror. Tugging at her, I cried,"Let's go!" She held firm, smiling. I shrieked as a hand appeared and a figure rose into sitting postion within the coffin! This could not be happening! Slowly, the figure turned towards me,"Good evening." "Mus!? Is that YOU? What the heck is going on?" I was torn between hugging and slugging the guy we called the gentle giant at work.
Mus didn't seem to hear me, it was like he was in a trance like state. He kept walking towards me but I noticed he had a limp, and one of his eyes were bloodshot. As he walked toward me he slipped and fell to the hard cold ground. I took advantage of this simple miracle and starting running the other way. I heard grunts and screams but I kept on running. I had almost made it out of the cemetary when.....
out of nowhere, Trish stepped in front of me. At least she resembled the Trish I know. She'd gone missing several weeks ago, and no one knew her where abouts. We both screeched each other's names at the same time. We didn't stop to figure things out, but clasping hands ran for the gates full tilt. We found them not only closed but locked. "Think you can climb it?" I gasped air. "Too high." "What if I boost you?" "M-maybe..."
Hurriedly I dropped to my hands and knees next to the ivy covered wall and let out a soft grunt as Trish mounted my back and reached upward. I straightened up as I heard her feet scrapping the wall as she hauled herself to the top. Laying across the top of the wall she reached down and I reached upward as far as I could. Too short! Our hands were a good 2 inches apart. I backed up for a running start, and hurtled myself forwards leaping for her outstretched hand. She caught me, ensnaring my wrist, and began pulling me upwards. I was nearly there, my free hand's fingers brushing the top ledge, when I felt my leg being unmerceriliously yanked!
Screaming I kicked at whom-ever was yanking me with my free leg, as Trish vailiently clung to my hand pulling in the opposite direction, while trying to maintain her position at the top of the wall. Yanking hard she lost lost her balance hurling herself over the edge on the other side. This extra force was enough to pull me free and up. I was unable to stop, and still gripping Trish's hand, followed her over. Together we layed at the base of the wall. Slowly, Trish stood up and helped me to stand. "We can't stay here -" she froze, her eyes widening with abject horror, staring at something over my shoulder. Slowly I turned. Didi and Musical stood barely a foot away. "My God! Are you two alright?" Didi seemed full of concern. Spitting out his false teeth, Mus said, "I can't talk with those stupid fangs in my mouth! Dang, girls - you ok?" Slowly I put my hand out and poked each of them. "Y-your real! And you're you!" They looked at each other guiltily. "Yeah, sorry our joke backfired like that. " "Joke!?" Trish flared. "So when we got seperated- you and Mus cooked up this scheme?" "Well, just on you,: Mus said, "But when you" he looked at me, "stumbled in...we couldn't resist getting you too." "Really," Didi chimed in, "I mean- haunted graveyards??? Are you two tweleve or something?" Just then a low keen howling was heard, from behind the wall and an eerie wailing joined it. We all looked at each other, of fear apparent. "Ummm - let's discuss this over coffee at some well lit diner," Mus said, his long legs carrying him off. "Car's over here..."
