This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

​

 

 

Small candles casted haunting shadows of deformed shapes against the dimly lit walls. A macabre display of severed limbs, intertwined with faded white webbing lay scattered around the small living room. Puffs of fog exited a compact machine resting in the far corner, sending the smell of musty air across the room.

    Standing in front of the front door, Taylor adjusted the bow on the back of her sparkling blue Cinderella costume. She peeked through the peephole at the guests awaiting on the other side as her smile spread across her face. Pushing her round glasses back up her narrow nose, she lifted the bowel of Snickers and flung the door open.

    “Trick or Treat,” three girls sang in chorus.

   “Awww, aren’t you the cutest things,” Taylor beamed. She bent down in front of one of the girls clothed in the same costume as her. “I really like yours.”

    “Thank you, I like yours too,” the girl’s voice cracked.

    Taylor turned towards a figure covered in only a white sheet with two eye openings. She paused and narrowed her eyes. “Let me guess, all you’ve gotten are Rocks.”

    The sheet nodded. Taylor shifted her focus on the last girl and ran her fingers through the soft fabric of the butterfly wings. “What a cute butterfly you make.”

    “Thank you,” the girl responded.

    “One thing for sure, none of you will be getting rocks this year. Take as many as you want,” Taylor said.

    The girls dug into the bowl and snatched as many bars as they could fit in their tiny hands before dashing off.

    Taylor offered a wave to the parents standing underneath a streetlight on the sidewalk and closed the door. She spun around to face two of her friends in a heavy makeout session in the dimly lit room. A veil of sadness fell over her as she made her way over to the kitchen, stopping along the way to suck down half of a drink that rested on an end table next to a pair of cat ears.

    “Get your own drink,” a girl’s voice chimed out.

    “Sorry, Sam,” Taylor said, picking up the ears. “Is Jacob in the kitchen?”

    “Taylor, let it go. He made the decision to dump you for that fucking slut, don’t go groveling to get him back, he’s not worth it,” Samantha said.

    “I have to put closure on this.” Taylor handed the ears over to Samantha and then turned to the two making out on the couch. “I don’t know why Melissa invited him.”

    “She’s known him since grade school, so it’d be hard to tell him not to come,” Samantha replied.

    “Yeah, I guess. It’s just hard, you know?” Taylor said.

    Samantha wrapped her arms around Taylor. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”

    “Oh, I know. I’ll be back out in no time,” Taylor grinned.

    Samantha took a seat on the recliner facing the couch and watched Melissa get

felt up by her boyfriend, Jason. Never one into the party scene, Samantha would’ve blown off tonight’s escapade if not for Melissa hounding her endlessly and then spending the day before setting up the display of horror. Melissa, who considered herself a beauty queen, never used her good looks to get what she thrived for. With her flowing blond hair, devilish blue eyes and a figure most women would die for, Melissa remained grounded by a calm, yet, mischievous demeanor. She was in essence, the polar opposite of Samantha.

    Samantha took a sip from her strawberry daiquiri, leaving a black smudge of

lipstick on the glass. She wrestled in her seat, often adjusting the cat ears on top of her silky brown hair. She looked down at the near empty glass, peeking up occasionally to see how far Jason made it.

    Fascinated at the live porn show going on before her, her eyes remained glued to the couple. Jason’s hand shuffled in between Melissa’s leg, sending her into a kissing frenzy. Reaching down the top of her black witch’s costume, Jason freed one of Melissa’s breasts. Her hands glided up the soft fabric of Jason’s tan costume shaped like a certain part of a man’s anatomy, stopping by the baby smooth skin of his face.

    Samantha chuckled, causing Melissa and Jason to look at her.

    “What’s so funny?” Melissa asked.

    “First, your tit is hanging out. Second, if you want to fuck, my bedroom is right around the corner. Third, you’re sitting there making out with a guy in a dick costume,” Samantha said.

    “You just wish that it was you,” Jason quipped.

    Samantha cocked her head as the doorbell chimed. “In your dreams, dick boy.”

    “Go hand out some candy and let me finish,” Jason said.

    “I think it’s Taylor’s turn,” Samantha said.

    “She got the last one,” Melissa replied.

    Samantha huffed and headed over to the door. She reached into the bowl of Snickers bars, peeked over her shoulder to see if Melissa and Jason were back at it, and cracked open the door to shield the kids from what was happening behind her. Before her, two boys, not much older than thirteen, stood wearing football jerseys.

    “Hello, you sweet looking pussy,” one of the boys said.

    “Aren’t you a little old to be trick or treating?” Samantha asked.

    “Old enough to know what I’d like to pet,” one boy responded.

    The other boy stood silent. His eyes glued on Samantha.

    “What’s up with your friend?” Samantha asked.

    “Probably his dick,” the boy chuckled.

    Samantha tossed the Snickers in their bag.

    “Can I have your. . .”

    Slamming the door in their faces, Samantha leaned against it and shook her

head.

    “Okay, you two,” Samantha said to Melissa and Jason, “show’s over.”

    “Fine.” Melissa shoved her breast back into her low-cut top and removed Jason’s hand from her skirt. Sinking back onto the couch, Jason exhaled a soft groan. Melissa leaned over and landed a kiss on his lips.

    “Later,” she purred.

    Melissa stood up, removed her witch’s hat and set it on the couch. She flung her hair behind her back and sat crossed legged on the floor. “Gather around peeps. Got a story to tell.”

    “Another urban legend ghost story?” Samantha said.

    “Oh, this isn’t an urban legend, now get your ass over here,” Melissa replied, searching the room. “Wait, where are the nerds?”

    “Taylor, Jacob,” Samantha screamed. “Melissa’s going to bore us.”

    Taylor emerged from the kitchen and straightened her sparkling tiara and took a seat on the couch.

    “On the floor,” Melissa smirked. “Where is Jacob?”

    “He’s talking to his girlfriend,” Taylor responded softly.

    “Listening to your ex talking to his new squeeze?” Jason joked.

    “No. I was ahead of the game and left before he spoke,” Taylor responded.

    “He better not be jerking off in there,” Melissa screamed towards the kitchen. “I don’t think Sam wants to be cleaning your mess up.”

    Samantha made her way over to the group, which had formed a circle.

    “Wait,” Melissa held up her hand. “Grab a candle before you sit.” Taking a candle from the bookshelf, Samantha handed it to Melissa and took a seat next to Taylor.     “Yeah, let’s make it official.”

    Samantha glanced over at Taylor, licked her index finger, and rubbed a stain on Taylor’s dress. “Food goes in the mouth,” Samantha quipped.

    “Thanks, I was having a hot dog and some ketchup dripped off,” Taylor said.

    “Better wash that right away when you get home,” Samantha said.

    “Are we going to talk about sloppy eating habits or get into some scary shit,” Melissa said.

    Jason strolled over to the group. They watched him struggling to take a seat next to Melissa. Samantha was the first to chuckle before Melissa joined in. Taylor sat in silence watching the events unfold.

    “Take that damn thing off,” Melissa barked.

    “No.” Jason felt Melissa’s stare cut through him. “Alright, fine.”

    Jason lifted the costume over his head and tossed it to the side. He reached

behind him, lit a half-rolled joint and took a puff before passing it over to Melissa to make the rounds. The chorus of coughs faded amidst a cloud of smoke and washed out eyes. Melissa straightened her back and tucked her hair behind her ears.

    “Okay, this is the tale of the servants of Satan, who, on every Halloween night, are sent out across the world to gather souls for their Master.”

    Taylor let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, catching everyone’s attention. Melissa shot her an evil look and smirked. She knew that Taylor would be the only one not to be amused by the story she was about to spew. Being the “brains” of the group, Taylor would not fall prey to any sort of supernatural yawn, or cheap jump scares.

    “Just listen.” Melissa’s smirk grew into a smile as she continued. “They choose Halloween so they can blend in with the rest of the ghouls and goblins. They start by entering the body of a child, to catch their prey off guard. It could be that boy dressed as a vampire, or that little girl,” she shifted her eyes over towards Taylor,       “dressed as a princess.”

    “Funny,” Taylor said. “It makes no sense.”

    “This shit never does, now shut it and let me finish,” Melissa continued. “The first person they lay their devilish eyes on, will become possessed. Their souls become a one way ticket to hell. They’ll slaughter people in ways unimaginable, until their reign of terror ends at midnight and they vanish into the depths of hell until Satan sends them out next Halloween.”

    “Yeah, get to the point where you knew this family and how this had happened to them,” Samantha added.

    “As a matter of fact, my pussy friend, I do.” Melissa stood and began to stalk the group. “Last Halloween, I was at my parents home, this girl named Amber butchered her mom, dad and two brothers a few houses down from us. I'm not talking about gunshots to the head, I'm talking brutal decapitations, insides spilled out to the floor, blood splattered everywhere. A good old-fashioned slaughterfest. The poor family never saw it coming. In the end, Amber slit her throat and bled to death next to her dead family. That wasn't the only case that year, or any other year before or after. Dallas, Chicago, Seattle... the list goes on.”

    Melissa continued to roam around the group, peering at them through squinted eyes. She squatted behind Samantha, rested her hands on her shoulder, and leaned into her ear.

    “How many trick or treaters have you seen, Samantha?” Melissa whispered.

    She proceeded over Taylor. “What about you?”

    “The same amount as you,” Taylor quipped.

    “Maybe, they've already been here and one of us is waiting for the perfect

opportunity to kill its first victim.”

    A gentle cold breeze blew through the room, extinguishing the candles, tossing the living room into darkness. Taylor and Samantha let out a yelp, while Jason chuckled in delight.

    “Very funny,” Samantha said.

    “What did I do?” Melissa asked. “Did you see me do anything?”

    “Jacob, I know you’re waiting back there, just come out,” Samantha, shouted. “I don’t know what you guys did to my place, but you’re going to put everything back the way it was.”

    “Hush,” Melissa commanded.

    “Will you let her finish so her and Jason can go fuck,” Taylor said.

    “I agree. Thank you, Taylor,” Jason beamed, flashing Taylor a wide opened grin.

    Taylor rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

    Samantha’s muscles tightened as her eyes adjusted to the dark. She was able to make out the form of Jason’s across from her. Behind him, Melissa stood with her arms stretched outward. Her heart stood ready to explode from her chest. In her mind, Samantha tried in vain to talk herself down from the ledge of terror that swept over her.

    She shifted her hand over to hold Taylor’s in comfort. Covering her hand over Taylor’s, the chill Samantha felt sent shivers through her soul. She faced Taylor, only to be greeted by penetrating red eyes.

    “Holy shit.” Samantha scurried back until she hit the couch. “What the fuck.”

    “What is it?” Taylor asked.

    “Your fucking eyes,” Samantha said, pointing.

    “What about them?”

    “They were...”

    Taylor cocked her head in confusion. “What?”

    Samantha surveyed the room in a daze, unsure if what she’d just seen was a

trick of the mind. She looked back at Taylor, whose eyes were now normal. She lifted herself up on the couch and searched for the first pillow she could find.

    “That’s enough. I don’t want to hear anymore.” Samantha snuggled the pillow close to her chest.

    “Come on, Sam, it gets better,” Melissa said.

    “Her eyes were red. Fucking red. Didn’t you see it?” Samantha barked, pointing at Taylor again.

    “What are you talking about?” Taylor asked.

    “Denial is the first sign that a person is possessed.” Melissa added with a smirk.

    “Possessed? What?” Taylor said.

    “The worst part of it, they can jump from body to body, so you never know who it possesses until it’s too late,” Melissa said.

    “I saw it,” Jason said, bluntly.

    “Yes, they were,” Jason added.

    “So you did see it?” Samantha sobbed.

    “Oh yeah. They were red alright. Red from all the weed she’d been smoking.”

    “Screw you, Jason,” Taylor said.

    Samantha buried her head in the pillow, listening to the echoes of laughter from her friends. Unable to wipe away those red eyes staring back at her, Samantha began to rock back and forth.

    “Wait, I’m not even close to being done,” Melissa said.

    “I think that’s enough.” Taylor sat next to Samantha and cradled her.

    Samantha would have none of it. She slid away from Taylor and moved to the far end of the couch.

    “Look at the time.” Melissa pointed at the round clock on the wall. “It’s 11:12. Midnight is not that far away.”

    “I said that’s enough,” Taylor shot back.

    “Ever so close.” Melissa inched towards Samantha’s face.

    “Melissa, knock it off,” Taylor exclaimed.

    “Will we be able to survive?” Melissa whispered holding up her hand towards Taylor.

    “Get that hand out of my face,” Taylor barked.

    “Satan,” Melissa bellowed.

    Samantha screamed, and then broke down, tears flowing down her cheeks. She shot up from the couch and dashed towards the light switch. She frantically flipped the switch, only to have nothing happen. Her breathing became erratic as panic set in. Faster she moved the switch until it snapped off in her hand.

    “The fucking lights aren’t turning on,” Samantha said in a panic.

    “Relax, you probably blew a fuse,” Jason assured. “Where’s your fuse box.”

    “Down stairs in the basement,” Samantha answered through heavy panting.

    “Before I go.” Jason turned to face Melissa. “How does it end?”

    “Really,” Taylor snapped, walking over to stand next to Samantha.

    “Get away from me,” Samantha yelled at Taylor.

    “Alright,” Taylor snapped, creeping away from Samantha.

    “I want to know how the story ends,” Jason said.

    “Nothing. That’s basically the story,” Melissa answered.

    “That’s it?” Jason replied, disappointed.

    “Yeah. What, do you think we’re in some kind of slasher flick?” Melissa joked.

    “Lame,” Jason said, rolling his eyes.

    Jason turned on his cell phone flashlight and made his way over to the door. Reaching down, he attempted to turn the handle. When it didn’t move, he added a little extra force.

    “You wanna unlock the door?” Jason said.

    “There’s no lock on it,” Samantha’s voice shivered.

    Jason aimed the light at Samantha and then Taylor. When the light glazed

across Taylor’s face, it illuminated the face of a creature smiling back with dark, decaying teeth.

    “What the fuck.” The light danced across the room as Jason dropped the phone and stumbled back.

    “What is it?” Melissa asked.

    “She’s right.”

    “Guys, the story is over. There is no more. You can cut this shit out,” Melissa

exclaimed.

    “Seriously, there’s nothing wrong with my eyes,” Taylor added.

    “Bullshit,” Jason said. “It wasn’t just the eyes. Your entire face was...”

    “Was what.” Taylor said

    “It wasn’t... you,” Jason added.

    “Have you guys been smoking different shit and not including me, ‘cause if you were, that’s fucking rude,” Melissa said, crossing her arms.

    “You’re freaking out Sam even more,” Taylor said.

    Samantha stepped away from Taylor, and dashed into the kitchen. With the

blinds shut tight, not a glimmer of moonlight was allowed to enter. Other than the thumping of her racing heart, sound had vanished.

    “Jacob?” Samantha whispered.

    The thumping became louder.

    “Jacob, please don’t do this to me,” she pleaded.

    Her throat became dry and swallowing became a chore. She felt her way to the kitchen table and took the first cup her hand came across. She didn’t care what she was about to ingest as long as it cured her throat. The thick fluid slid down her throat causing her to grimace. She took out her phone and flipped on the flashlight to inspect what she’d drank. Its contents were a deep red, much darker than the wine they’d consumed. She dipped her finger into the cup and lifted it in front of the light.

    Out of the corner of her eye, Samantha caught an object resting amongst the plates of food on the kitchen table. Horrified to step closer, Samantha moved the light across the table. The white webbing that laid over the black tablecloth was a deep red of tangled mess. The light shimmered from Samantha’s nervous hands the more she inched her way across the table. Intertwined within the webbing, soaked chips of red laid in front of a bowl.

    The light came to a halt on the oval object that first caught Samantha’s attention. Her mind denied the sight her eyes gazed upon. The pale head of Jacob sat amongst the chaos. His lifeless eyes stared back at her in a plea for help. His cell phone partially protruded from his mouth. Cups, filled to the top with red liquid, surrounded his head in a perfect circle. Samantha froze, her complexion turning as pale as Jacob’s. In a sudden shift, Jacob’s eyes sprung to life. Spitting out the cell phone, he gave Samantha a toothless grin.

    “Damn bitch cut off my head,” Jacob cursed.

    Samantha’s scream echoed through the kitchen. She turned her head in pure horror, and collapsed to the floor. The world moved in slow motion; spinning in an uncontrollable vortex. She lifted her hand in a vain attempt to call the police, but her trembling hands and fading sight denied her.

    “Sam!” Taylor shouted, bursting through the door. “Sam, are you okay?”

    Jason and Melissa followed, nearly pushing Taylor into the table.

    “What’s going on?” Melissa asked.

    “Sam, what happened?” Taylor asked.

    Samantha became deaf to her surroundings. She peeked up at the clock on the microwave that read 11:31 before staring at the floor, unwilling to look up to see anymore. Taylor’s hand resting on her shoulder startled her, causing her to let out another scream.

    “What the fuck,” Melissa exclaimed.

    Taylor stood and caught a glimpse of what Melissa was looking at before she bumped her shoulder running out of the kitchen. She flipped on her phone light and shined it on the dismembered head, then to Jason lifting one of the cups. He dipped his finger in it, then realized what it was that was on his finger. He dropped the cup, sending sprays of blood in all directions.

    “Get her out of here,” Jason said.

    Taylor tried to move Samantha, but she’d curled herself into a tight ball that

wouldn’t move.

    “You’re going to have to help,” Taylor told Jason.

    They lifted Samantha up and took her back to the living room and sat her stiff body on the coach. Melissa stood in the center, frantically trying to push the dial pad on her phone.

    “I can’t do anything,” Melissa said, nervously.

    “Let me try.” Jason took out his phone, only to be met with the same problem that plagued Melissa. “It won’t register anything I press.”

Melissa ran for the front door. She shook the handle trying to turn it, only to have it not move. She began pounding on the door, screaming for anyone to hear her.

Frustrated, Melissa turned to face the group and threw her phone at Taylor.

    “You fucking killed him,” Melissa screamed.

    “I didn’t kill him. You guys don’t know when to stop. This is all a sick joke,” Taylor said.

    “Sick joke? My friend’s head is sitting on the kitchen table,” Jason hollered back.

    “You were the last one to see him alive,” Melissa accused.

    “He was alive when I came out here,” Taylor said.

    “This isn’t some urban legend. This shit is true and you’re possessed,” Jason said.

    “I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” Taylor said.

    “Explain your eyes that Sam and I saw?” Jason asked, firmly.

    “If I was really possessed, don’t you think I would have killed you all by now?” Taylor asked.

    Melissa walked over and picked up her phone. Within an inch of Taylor’s face, she peered deep into Taylor’s eyes. “How do we know you won’t?”

    “Fuck you, bitch.” Taylor shoved Melissa. “It could be any one of us. We all

answered the door at the same time. How do we know it’s not you? Or Jason? Or how about Sam? You said so yourself that they can be deceiving. That they move from person to person.”

    “Everyone just calm down. I got my phone to work.” Jason ran his finger across the screen. “Yes, it’s work...”

    Lifted off the floor and formed into a circle, the group’s arms pulled back, their heads forced upward to stare at the dark ceiling and leaving their fragile necks exposed to whatever stalked them below. Their phones levitated before their eyes.      The screens flickered, turned off, then back on. The time flashed 11:37, and out of the speakers, a voice boomed in a hollow, careless tone.

Only twenty three minutes left. I bet you wish you could look down and see which one of your friends is stalking you, ready to send you to meet my master. We know it’s not Jacob. He was ahead of the game.

    The voice’s tone shifted, becoming one they were all familiar with.

    “You’re probably thinking it’s me,” Taylor said, coldly. “I was the last person to be with Jacob.”

    The high pitch tone of the doorbell broke through, followed by a constant

knocking. Just outside the door, salvation could be waiting. Melissa opened her mouth in an attempt to force out a scream. When she was met with nothing but air, Melissa fought to break herself free from the unseen force.

    Fight all you want. Try to scream all you want, it’s not going to help. The crazed voice paused with the echo of the doorbell and then continued. Help just outside those doors, and you can’t do anything. The only thing now is to try to guess which one I’m in. Since my playtime is almost over, I’ll need to speed things up.

    There was a moment of silence before the grotesque sound of gurgling swept through the air. The constant sound of one of their friends being dissected drowned out their heavy panting of fear. The slow drip turned into a constant flow, hitting the newly formed puddle on the soaked carpet. A long, sickening sound of an object hitting the floor sent waves of nausea through them.

    A deadly calm fell over the room. Without warning, they were released, dropping with a splatter on the carpet. In unison, they raised their heads in morbid curiosity and gazed upon intestines coiled and sitting in a pool of blood. Next to her internal organs,

    Taylor’s exposed stomach lay sliced opened, exposing what was left of her innards. The last of her blood slid down her sliced neck, staining her once light blue dress. The ends of the sparkling tiara were shoved deep within her eye sockets; the crown covering the bridge of her nose.

    Standing above Taylor, Jason stood motionless. The knife he gripped tightly in his hand dripped the blood of his friend. He looked down at the carnage in disbelief and released his tool of death. The knife fell straight, striking Taylor and sinking deep inside her cheek in a disgusting slicing sound.

    “I didn’t do this. You have to believe me,” Jason, pleaded in shock.

Keeping her eyes glued to Jason, Melissa took a stunned Samantha by the arm, and retreated back. Pressed against the couch, Melissa held Samantha, burying her face into her side.

    “Let us go,” Melissa pleaded.

    “I’m not holding you here.” Jason took a few steps back. “The last thing I remembered I was in the air, unable to move. Next thing I know I’m standing over Taylor’s body.”

    “It must have moved to him,” Samantha cried, pointing at Jason. “It was in Taylor, I knew it.”

    “It’s not in me,” Jason stated.

    “How the hell do you kill it?” Samantha asked.

    “How am I supposed to know?” Melissa screamed back.

    “It’s your fucking story,” Samantha yelled back. “How does the legend go?”

    Melissa crept forward keeping Samantha close. She reached over and pulled the

knife from Taylor’s head. Jason bolted towards Melissa, but halted when she held up the knife. Scampering back to the couch, Melissa's trembling hand kept the knife aimed at Jason.

    “You have to cut off the head of the one it possesses,” Melissa said. “Cut the ties.”

    “I want to get out of here,” Samantha’s shaking voice pleaded.

    Melissa lifted Samantha and crept back towards the kitchen. “Stay. Away.”

    “Melissa.” Jason took a step forward. “It’s not me.”

    Searching the room, Melissa spied two silver bookends on the bookshelf. Waving the knife in front of her, she shielded the bookends from Jason until her searching hands behind her picked one up. She let go of Samantha and tucked the bookend behind her back. Her face became relaxed as she flipped the knife over in her hand, gesturing for Jason to come get it.

    “He’s right,” Melissa said.

    “What?” Samantha exclaimed.

    “He would’ve killed us by now,” Melissa said.

    “Right,” Jason said, moving closer. “I would’ve killed you. . .”

    The bookend caught Jason on the right temple. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as his still body dropped to the floor. Melissa pulled Samantha into the kitchen and crawled under the kitchen table. Samantha’s heavy breathing rang through the dead silence. Cupping her hands over Samantha’s mouth, Melissa slowly peaked her head forward to find Jacob’s legs still lifeless in the other room. She got as close as she could to Samantha’s face and removed her hands from her mouth.

    “Chill,” Melissa whispered. “I’m going to go out there and end this.”

    Samantha shook her head frantically.

    “It’s the only way,” Melissa said.

    Samantha continued to shake her head with wide eyes.

    “Look, I can’t do this if you’re going to freak out anymore than you already are.        That is, unless you want to do it.” Melissa extended the knife at Samantha who cowered in fear. “Then chill the hell out.”

    “Are you sure that will do it?” Samantha quivered.

    “There’s only one way to find out.”

    “Why don’t we wait until midnight?” Samantha asked.

    “Do you want to take that chance?” Melissa inquired.

    “What if it moves into one of us before he dies?”

    Melissa pondered the question.

    “How do we know for sure?” Samantha questioned.

    “I’ll just do it. Now stay here, and don’t make a sound,” Melissa ordered.

Melissa spun around to be greeted by a pair of legs standing by the table. She let out of brief yelp and swung the knife, slicing one of the legs.

    “Shit,” Jason screamed.

    In a desperate attempt, Melissa took another swing, narrowly missing the other leg. Yanking Samantha with her, they dashed from under the table. Unable to get their footing, they struggled to make it past Jason and back into the living room. Reaching the basement door, Melissa attempted to turn the handle.

    “Stop it,” Jason yelled, limping into the living room. “How many times do I have to tell you it wasn’t me.”

    “Get the fuck away from us.” Melissa began sliding her hand through Samantha’s  silky hair. “What do you want me to do?” Jason asked.

    Melissa leaned over and kissed Samantha on the top of the head.

    “Watch,” Melissa said.

    “Watch what?” Jason replied.

    Melissa raised her head. Her eyes glowed as they stared back at Jason. He tried to step forward but found himself unable to move. Melissa pulled Samantha’s hair, yanking her head back. She lifted the knife to her mouth and slid her tongue across the blade before rubbing Taylor’s blood on her lips.

    “Yummy,” Melissa said.

    Jason watched Samantha’s horrified eyes shift to the wall behind him. Unable to turn, he desperately tried to calculate the time.

    Melissa waved the knife in front of Samantha’s face. “What do you think? Across the throat? In the head?”

    “Take me. Let her go,” Jason pleaded.

    “Oh, I’ll come back to you, don’t worry.”

    “You haven’t been in Samantha. Why kill her?”

    “Why?” Melissa busted out in laughter. “‘Cause it’s so enjoyable. Have some fun while doing work for the Master. He only lets us come out and play once a year so why not take advantage of it.”

    Jason glanced down at a tearful Samantha who mouthed, fifty-five.

    “If you don’t make up your mind on how to kill her, I’ll have to decide,” Melissa coldly stated.

    “Are you going to go back with one less soul? Won’t your Master be upset?”

    Jason asked. “Make that two. Or did you possess Jacob before you chopped off his head?”

    “Three out five isn’t bad. Though I must admit, I wasted way too much time even though I enjoyed the time we spent together.”

    Jason peeked down at Samantha. Fifty-nine.

    Melissa pressed the knife against Samantha’s neck. To Samantha, the minute hand seemed to move in reverse. Hidden in the darkness, the second hand counted whether she lived or died. Her heart palpitated, causing her head to become weak.

Tighter the cold steel pressed against her throbbing vessels.

    “Well, it's been nice chatting with you, but duty calls,” Melissa said.

    Samantha closed her eyes and waited for the end that never came. The knife fell from her neck and landed in front of her. Freed, she collapsed to the floor.

    “No!” Melissa screamed. “Not yet!”

    Jason watched Melissa tumble to the floor. Freed from the bond that held him,       Jason lunged at Samantha. Picking her up, he carried her away from the unconscious Melissa. He moved over to the basement door and reluctantly placed his hand on the handle. He took a deep breath and turned. Swinging the door open, he carried

    Samantha went down the stairs into the basement. He reached over and flipped the light switch, spreading light throughout the musty room.

    “Everything’s going to be alright,” he said, setting Samantha down on an old

recliner. “I’m going up to get Melissa. Wait here.”

    “Don’t leave me,” Samantha pleaded.

    “It’s okay. It’s past midnight. It’s gone.”

    “How do you know?”

    “I saw it leave Melissa.”

    Samantha nodded. “Promise?”

    “Promise.”

    Jason headed up the stairs and slowly opened the door further. He searched the wall for the light switch and flipped it on. The room lit in red. He looked up to see the light bulbs from the ceiling fan drip blood onto the beige carpet that only showed signs of its true color. Taylor’s blood laid splattered on the walls; her intestines spread out in front of her. He stepped over her mutilated body, his feet squished in the soaked carpet.

    “Melissa?” he whispered.

    He moved with caution to the couch where Melissa laid slumped over. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead the closer he got to where she rested. In the back of his mind, he expected her to jump to life and kill him. He extended his hand and tapped her shoulder.

    “Melissa?”

    Melissa lifted her head. Jason prepared himself to be met with the red eyes of death that greeted him before. Fearing the worse, he picked up the knife, keeping it at his side. He cocked his head and watched Melissa wipe the blood from her lips.

    “Melissa?”

    Melissa gazed at the blood smeared on her hand. Wiping the blood on the couch, Melissa looked at Jason in a panic state.

    “Did I?” she asked.

    “No, Sam is safe downstairs,” he said.

    Melissa glanced down at the stained knife at Jason’s side.

    “Get away from me,” she said.

    “Relax, it’s over. It’s past midnight.”

    Melissa dashed past Jason, pushing him to the side as she ran past. Slipping on Taylor’s inner remains, Melissa stumbled, her right arm entering into Taylor’s warm insides. Letting out an ear-piercing scream, Melissa tried to gain her footing, only to have her feet slide on the slick carpet. She took hold of Taylor’s body for leverage and pushed herself over the corpse.

    “It’s over. It’s gone,” Jason yelled.

    Melissa paid no attention to the pleas from Jason. She scampered on her knees to the basement door and reached for the handle. She glanced back to see Jason slowly moving towards her. Melissa fought with her blood soaked hands to turn the handle. Peeking over her shoulder, Jason stood behind her, knife poised to strike.

Melissa turned back against the door. She inspected her surroundings for escape but found herself cornered.

    “Melissa, stop. Trust me, it’s gone,” Jason pleaded.

    Melissa eyed the knife. “Drop it then.”

    Jason raised his arms, turned, and tossed the knife behind him. Spinning back around, he felt Melissa’s foot smashing into his groin. Grabbing his balls, Jason felt the shock rip through his body. He curled over and fell to the floor.

Melissa turned around and desperately tried to grip the door handle. Keeping Jason in her sights, she wrapped her hands on her black costume and rubbed the handle of any smeared blood. She spied Jason, still holding his nuts, slowly getting on his knees. She turned the handle and slammed Jason in the head with the door.

    The impact caught Jason off guard. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard the basement door slam shut. He struggled to get to his feet, facing the same problem Melissa encountered on the slippery carpet. Sliding across the floor, he reached the door and opened it, gazing down into the dimly lit room.

    Jason stood for a minute to catch his breath. With each step the stairs creaked, testing his nerves. Holding the wall for balance, Jason walked down and into uncertainty.

    “Sam? Melissa?” he called out, calmly.

    Placing his foot on the final step, Jason caught a glimpse of Samantha standing in front of a chair, her arm gliding back and forth.

    “Sam?”

    “Just a minute,” she answered.

    Jason peeked down at a pair of legs twitching from a black witch’s dress with each movement of Samantha’s arm. His mouth froze open as he watched Melissa’s hands try helplessly to take hold of Samantha’s arms. He took a step forward before freezing in place.

    “Sam?”

    “I’m almost done,” Samantha barked.

    Melissa’s legs slowed, then came to a peaceful rest. Her arms that fought for resistance, fell limp to her side. Samantha turned to face Jason, holding Melissa’s head and stilled face in front of her own. Shards of flesh dangled, blood dripped at a constant rate in a sickening rhythm.

    “She should have never given me the knife,” Samantha said.

    She lowered Melissa’s head, divulging a face of cracked and grey skin. A smile spread across her face, exposing darkened and crooked teeth. Samantha raised Melissa’s head, catching the drops of blood in her mouth. She glanced backed down at Jason, the red eyes pierced through him, his heart in beat with the blood tapping the floor.

    “How is this possible?” he asked.

    “How is this possible?” Samantha mimicked Jason before tossing Melissa’s head to the side. “I don’t know how it’s possible. All I know is you’re the last one of the evening so I’m going to have fun.”

    Samantha strolled up to Jason and placed her lips by his. A tongue, split in the middle in a reptilian way, caressed his mouth. She dropped her hands to his crotch and in a swift motion, tore his pants off.

    “Let’s see what we have.” Samantha’s voice hissed in an older tone.

    Long, pointed nails circled around his crotch, ripping into the flesh. Samantha raised his penis with her index finger, revealing his testicles. She poked them with the tip of her nail just enough to cause Jason to flinch.

    “So tender,” she said.

    In a swift push, her nail penetrated into his left testicle. Samantha grinned at the sound of Jason screaming in excruciating pain. She dug deeper, shuffling her nail around, tearing his sack wide open. Pulling her nail out, a small circular object rested at the end of the pus covered nail.

    “Look, I found one of them,” she chuckled.

    Jason’s screams drowned out Samantha’s voice. She lifted her nail up and

waved it in front of him.

    “Will you be quiet,” she screamed.

    Without hesitating, she shoved his testicle into his mouth and forced it shut. With his nose held closed, Jason had no choice but to swallow.

    “Yummy,” Samantha said.

    She belted out a laugh that sent chills through his body. She went to work and promptly removed his other testicle and repeated the process. As Jason began to lose consciousness, he felt Samantha grab what was left below. It would be the last thing he would feel. Slicing across the base, Samantha cleanly removed his penis. Jason forced his eyes shut from the pain, closing them as tight as he could.

    “No, no. Don’t shut your eyes.” Samantha peeled his eyelids back, then removed them with her nails. Tears filled his eyes as he watched Samantha wave his manhood before him.

    “Aww, you don’t want to see this?” Samantha dropped the penis on the floor.

    “Okay.”

    Jason’s sight went dark the moment her nails tore into his sockets. Samantha worked around, plucking out his hazel-colored eyes and watching them fall to the floor.

    “I see you,” Samantha laughed before stepping on them.

    Samantha noticed Jason’s breathing slow to a halt. Her red eyes narrowed in disgust. Frustrated that the night was coming to a close, Samantha punched her hand through Jason’s chest and out the back in an explosion of flesh and organs.

With Jason still attached to her arm, Samantha leaned down to pick up Melissa’s head. Tucking it under her armpit, she reached over and dragged Melissa’s corpse off the chair. Samantha struggled to get everyone up the stairs and into the living.

    Dropping the remains of Melissa next to Taylor, Samantha lowered her arm and let Jason slide off. She turned and faced the clock sitting on the wall that read twelve thirty seven. Releasing a sigh of disappointment, Samantha made her way over to the clock. Removing it from the wall, she spun the knob in the back. She placed it back on the wall, and took a step back and watched the minute hand snap  

    “That story never gets old,” she remarked.

    The entity belted out a high pitched laugh as its nails slid across Samantha’s

throat. A steady stream of blood exited Samantha, flowing down her already soaked costume. Being released, Samantha struggled to gain strength. She ran her fingers through the life draining from her throat. Her eyes rolled back before she collapsed next to the remains of her friends.