The Halloween Collection by Indie Eclective Page A

for one of Santa’s helpers at the
mall. Anna rocked an awesome witch outfit—it was all black but
ripped-up, and, of course, she had a broom. Lauren wore a flowing
purple fairy dress, wings and a magical wand.
    “This is hilarious.” Anna laughed. “We spend
our whole lives hiding who we are from humans, and one day a year
we can be ourselves.”
    Lauren lived downtown, so they decided to
walk. They wanted to see all the kids trick or treating.
    “We probably should have worn jackets.”
Lauren wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her arms.
    “Yeah, but then no one could see our cute
outfits.” Keegan twirled around and laughed.
    Anna looked up at the crescent moon in the
dark sky and sighed. “I love this time of year. Halloween is the
best day ever.”
    “You know they say this house really is
haunted. I wonder if it will be scary.” Lauren turned to face the
girls as she walked backwards.
    “Turn around before you hit Harry Potter.”
Keegan laughed.
    Lauren turned to see the group of children
dressed in various customs. The cutest was a tiny girl about two
waddling in a big pumpkin outfit. Her little arms were sticking out
on the sides. The costume was much too big, which only made her
cuter.
    “I wish we could get some of their candy.”
Keegan eyed the pumpkins as they walked by.
    “Keegan, you are always thinking about food.
Don’t even think of taking candy from a kid.” Lauren shook her
head. “Anyway, back to the haunted house. Aren’t you guys a little
scared?” Lauren bit her lip, her eyes wide.
    “It probably is haunted.” Anna shrugged. “We
all know spirits are real. I heard a woman was murdered by her
husband and her ghost still lives in the house.”
    “How did he kill her?” Keegan looked at Anna
curiously.
    “Well, there are several stories, but the
most common one she was found hanging at a height that meant there
was no way she could have done it herself. It was over fifty years
ago. I doubt it’s a true story.”
    “That’s creepy. I think I’d be worried if
her husband’s ghost was haunting the house.”
    When they reached the house, the line was
around the corner. A loud scream startled the girls, causing them
all to laugh. Of course there was screaming, it was a haunted house
after all.
    “The house does look kinda scary,” Lauren
whispered. She swallowed hard and wondered to herself if this
really was a good idea.
    Keegan looked up at the big grey house,
shivering.
    The paint was chipping off of the weathered
walls. On the porch, an old rusty swing moved gently as if someone
was in it. Some of the windows were cracked and a couple of
shutters were barely holding on. Leaves floated all over the place
despite the fact the breeze wasn’t very strong.
    Suddenly, the screen door opened and slammed
loudly, causing everyone waiting in line to jump.
    Someone laughed. “Those are some good
special effects.”
    People relaxed and laughed.
    An hour later, it was finally their turn to
enter the house. Keegan grabbed a hold of her friends’ arms after
they entered through the main door. Haunting music was blaring and
cobwebs were all over the place. Once they turned the corner a
screeching dude in a zombie mask jumped out at them.
    “Wow, that was really pathetic.” Keegan
rolled her eyes and they pushed by the zombie.
    Cliché haunted house decorations were
everywhere. Giant cotton spider-webs graced the doorways, while
skeletons that rattled and moaned hung from the rafters. In one
room, a strobe light flickered on walls splattered with red, and in
another, a man dressed as a vampire threw open the lid to his
coffin, startling them. Keegan had to grin at it all.
    They came to another room with a long table.
The ghoul behind it motioned for Keegan to come closer.
    “Go ahead. Stick your hand in this
bowl.”
    The opening of the bowl was just big enough
for a hand. Narrowing her eyes at the girl, Keegan did as she was
told and squealed, jerking her hand out and wiping