The Halloween Collection by Indie Eclective Page B

it on her
legs.
    “Eyeballs!” the ghoul cackled gleefully.
    “It’s peeled grapes.” Anna sighed, bored, as
she rummaged around inside the bowl.
    The girls shared a laugh, relaxing as they
tried the other bowls before moving forward in the haunted
house.
    “Ok, guys this is lame.” Anna put her hand
on her hip and stared at them.
    “We could make it more interesting.” Lauren
leaned in as if she had a secret to tell.
    “What do you have in mind now, Lauren?”
Keegan raised an eyebrow.
    “Well, they have the upstairs closed off,
but I bet we could get up there unnoticed. It’s dark in here and
everyone is occupied.”
    “I like how you think.” Anna smirked.
    No one was paying attention to them so they
casually walked towards the stairs and quietly made their way up.
The stair beneath Keegan’s boot made a loud creaking sound halfway
to the top. It caused them all to giggle nervously.
    Once they made it to the second floor,
Keegan laced her arms through her friends’ and they shuffled down
the long hallway, huddled close together. It was dark, but,
thankfully, the glow from streetlights streamed through the windows
giving a little illumination. The frightening music drifting up
from the floor below gave Keegan the creeps.
    “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.” Lauren
gripped their arms tighter.
    “Shhh, be quiet.” Anna elbowed her.
    A closed door waited for them at the end of
the hallway.
    “Should we open it?” Anna asked.
    “I don’t know. Maybe we should just go back
downstairs.” Lauren’s voice wavered.
    “Let’s just peek in. We can’t sneak upstairs
at a haunted house and just run back downstairs.” Keegan grasped
the handle and pushed the door open.
    It was a large, empty area with high
ceilings and a beautiful crystal chandelier that swayed gently
above the center of the room. The walls were wood-paneled, dark and
dingy with several empty, built-in bookshelves.
    Anna pushed Keegan through the door and
followed behind her with Lauren hanging on to the back of her
dress. They had only taken a few steps on the scarred, hardwood
floor when the heavy door slammed shut behind them. Jumping, they
exchanged wide eyed looks.
    Lauren ran over and tried to open the door,
but it wouldn’t budge. Planting one foot firmly against the wood,
she grasped the antique door handle and tugged with all her
might.
    “You’re going to hurt yourself. Let me try.”
Anna pushed Lauren to the side. Wrapping both hands around the
doorknob, she jerked and twisted her body, groaning with the
effort.
    “If you guys can’t do it, I’m not going to
bother,” Keegan joked when Anna finally pulled away.
    “Guys, we’re locked in a haunted house. No
one would even hear us if we tried to scream over the noise below.”
Keegan wrapped her arms around herself and stared up at the
chandelier.
    “Do you think that is where the woman was
hung?”
    “Shut up, Anna! You’re freaking me out!”
Lauren inched closer to Keegan.
    “I wish we could see better. Try the light.”
Anna reached over and flipped the switch, but nothing happened.
    Anna laughed, closed her eyes, and willed
the flames to rise from her palms. “We almost forgot I’m a witch.
Ready made flashlights.” At least there was something she could do.
Anna had just recently gained a mentor to teach her about her
powers. It was a slow process and she had a long way to go.
    “Well, use your witchy ways to get us the
hell out of here,” Lauren’s voice cracked as she spoke.
    “Wasn’t this your bright idea, Lauren?”
Keegan glared at her and tried the door herself, but it still
wouldn’t budge. She banged on the door and screamed. “Help us!” But
no one came to their rescue.
    “At least we can see better thanks to Anna.”
Lauren sounded relieved.
    Suddenly, the chandelier started swinging
more forcefully. They watched it with their backs pressed against
the wall. Keegan squeezed tight to Lauren whose entire body
trembled. Anna’s hands were