Halloween Queen

A quick short story in honour of Halloween (tonight) in Australia...

Halloween Queen

Her name was Sarah. She was the new kid in class with the girl next door looks. Tom could not believe his luck when she agreed to hang with him and his mates from chess club for Halloween. Tom's mum was working late that night as she did most nights, a single parent trying to keep a roof over her head and two teenaged boys fed. Tom was parent free, home with his two mates and brother almost through the boss battle of Mario Brothers when the doorbell rang. A little too eager for his mates, Tom ran for the door.
"That'll be Sarah," he announced as he disappeared.
"Whatever," replied Gery and Tom's younger brother Brad together.
"Jinx!" Brad shot with a grin, a moment before Gery tried to say the same.
The boys pelted each other with potato chips. When Gery cried "Stop damn it!" The other two whacked him on the arm.
"Jinx remember," smirked Brad smugly.
Tom ignored all this, the front door in his sights.
"Hi," Sarah said with a coy smile as Tom welcomed her in.
"Wow..." Tom sighed. "Um... I mean come in," he added hurriedly.
Sarah wore the Little Red Ridinghood costume from Crazy Dave's, the cheap shop in the town's Main Street. Tom tried to tell Sarah that she looked amazing, but for some reason what he was thinking didn't want to come out.
"You've dyed your hair?" Tom said in disbelief.
"Nice of you to notice, Tom," purred Sarah. "Back home they called me Queen of Halloween. Anything and everything for the character... Ya know?"
"Nice!" Replied Tom with a touch too much enthusiasm.
"So what are the plans for tonight?" Sarah asked as she headed deeper into the house. "Scariest night of the year..." She added, leaving Tom by the open door.
"We've almost reached the bonus levels..." Tom explained, hurrying after Sarah.
"Hi boys," Sarah smiled.
"Hey," said Brad.
Joe and Gery both waved enthusiastically.
"What's their problems?" Laughed Sarah musically.
Tom shrugged. "Beats me."
"I've jinxed Gery," explained Brad, shrugging as if it should have been obvious. "And I guess Joe can't talk to girls..."
"Guys this is seriously lame," said Sarah. "I'll give you all ten minutes to costume up... We're checking out the abandoned mansion.
"Sweet!!" Brad squealed. Joe and Gery both gave an eager thumbs up.
"Noooooooooo way!!!" Blurted Tom. "Remember Brad, we promised mum we'd never open the door tonight and we'd not leave the house..."
Brad pointed to Sarah. "So who let in Goldilocks?"
"Um... Goldilocks?" Questioned Sarah. "Firstly my hair is black, not blonde... Secondly the red hood... Thirdly the basket has got to give it all away..."
"Goldilocks? Blonde hair? Man... I can't believe I did not get that before now!" Murmured Brad, slapping himself on the forehead with a harsh "smack!!!"
"Dibs on the Luigi costume!" Gery stated, bolting for Tom and Brad's shared room. As he passed by all the boys he got a thump on the arm.

'This is lame...' Tom thought to himself, thirty minutes later as Little Red Ridinghood, Luigi, Mario and Gery and Tom dressed as ghosts stood outside the gates of the big, old house on the hill.
The gates "squeaked" loudly as the rusty hinges protested against their use.
"Come on!" Whispered Sarah, eagerly skipping up the gravel drive way. She was at the great front doors before any of the boys moved.
"Last one there has to kiss her," stated Brad, looking at the other boys before bolting up the drive.
Joe gave Tom an elbow to the ribs before rushing off too.
"See you there... Lover boy..." Laughed Gery.
Tom watched them all disappear into the old house. "This is stupid... We should be home..." He muttered. "Guys!! Wait up!!" Tom yelled as half a minute later he strolled up the drive at his own pace.
The door swung open soundlessly, a complete contrast to the gates. The parlour was gloomy, even darker than the night. As Tom stepped in he meakly cried "Brad? Guys? Sarah?"
There was no reply. Three noisy steps in and Sarah's voice was suddenly in Tom's right ear.
"You never asked what the basket was for..." The young girl asked.
The lights flicked on and Tom gaped at his friends hanging by their necks from the rafters.
"Queen of Halloween the newspapers called me back home... Fifteen dead and counting..." The voice in Tom's ear whispered.
"Huh?" Cried Tom in disbelief. As he turned around the knife tore through the sheet he wore and bit into his neck.
"Tom you sweet boy... The basket is for your head..."



Happy Halloween everyone!!!