The Halloween Fright Night

It was dark and gloomy on Halloween night. The wind whistled through the trees, and blew the flames encased in Pumpkins down and down. Decorations of every sort had appeared in windows, turning the street into a place of terror and fear. Young children were enraptured by the amazing figures and pumpkins that dominated every porch garden and window. All except one showed the spirit of Halloween. The empty house of Biddenden Road stood silent, empty and without festive looks or spirit. It was a single entity that stood out from all the others in that place, as it was the only one without any reason to exist.

George stood silent in her costume, waiting for her friends to join her. As Liam emerged from his door, she tried to look as if she was ready to go and collect the priceless candy waiting behind every door.. But in all truth she was nowhere near ready, with her shoes untied, her costume torn and her hair so frizzy it didn’t match her look. Liam reached her, and studied her carefully. “Are you supposed to be a witch, or a troll?” He laughed at his statement, just as Joe and Josh appeared behind him. Liam had no idea of their next trick, and was startled when they both shouted ‘BOO!’ right behind him. George giggled at him, as he cowered in shock. “Don’t that!” He complained, as his face settled into its usual crooked smile. “Are we all ready now?” Joe nodded, Josh half nodded, whereas George shook her head altogether. “One moment.” She knelt down on the path and took the two strings on her cloak in her hands. They felt rough and old, as her costume was ancient. Practically all her family had wore it, at least once. She tightened them a little, adjusted her hat then bent down to take care of her shoes. The boys rolled their eyes, each with a murmur that made George notice the sheer hunger they had in their eyes. “Don’t go candy crazy like you did last year…” She told them sternly, as her mind caressed through the memories she had of last October. Josh had got mad when someone hadn’t given him a lolly, so he had thrown his bucket down and stalked off. The person at the door had looked at George uncertainly, and then had put a single lolly in Josh’s tub. The three remaining had left within seconds, only to find Josh silently bent double with laughter. George shook her head wildly. “That had been last Halloween, at that awful house down the road. But she knew of an even worse one, and they were planning to visit it in a few hours time.

George grinned manically. They had already got quite a lot of sweets, and the night was still young. The moon hung in the sky, endlessly bright and a source of great comfort for some animals and people alike. Liam came bounding down the path towards her, a happy smile spreading rapidly. “Must be our biggest fetch yet!” He laughed, as he looked at the sweets adoringly. “Yeah, well save them.” George muttered, but a laugh escaped her pursed lips without fail. She always laughed at Liam; he was the funniest person she knew. Josh and Joe appeared behind her, and attempted the same feat as they had with Liam. It didn’t work. George had turned to face them before their mouths were even halfway open. “I’m not thick.” She pointed out bluntly, as they growled in displeasure. “Darn…” Joe whispered as they set off to the next house. The temperature was dropping slowly, and it was easily felt on their skin. George rubbed her arms, the cold sweeping over her. Rain appeared slowly, little patches of wetness springing up on windows and cars. Eventually the four reached the last house, old and beaten. Immediately Josh backed off, clearly frightened about something. “What’s the matter?” George asked kindly, her teeth chattering over the howling wind. “Nothing, it’s just… Nothing.” Josh stared at the house carefully, examining every part of it for no more than 2 seconds. “Shall we go knock?” Liam had spoke this time, although his voice was barely distinguishable against the other noises that could be heard. George nodded, and opened the rusty gate carefully. Josh, Joe and Liam remained outside, while George moved silently towards the door.

Embedded in the wood were three nails, each supporting a knocker of some sort. The first was cold and made of brass, which was in the shape of a Lion. Another knocker was clearly copper, brown and morphed into resembling an Eagle, The third and final knocker was the strangest, bright green and in the shape of a coiled serpent. “Which should I knock with?” She called to the others, who were frozen to the spot with either the cold or the indistinguishable signs of pure terror. “T-t-the s-s-serpent.” Joe managed to stutter. “The Eagle!” Josh muttered quietly. But Liam said his answer loudest, so George decided to do his. “Knock with the Lion!” George nodded absent-mindedly, then grasped the cold metal and banged three times. Knock. Knock. Knock. Nothing happened for a few tense moments, during which George used to examine the house more carefully. It had messages drawn all over the walls. She read some carefully. A common one was ‘Beware of the Knocker you choose.’ She cocked her head at this, wondering what on earth it meant. And then she found out. The door swung dramatically open, and a fully grown lion leapt out. A serpent and Eagle soon followed, all ghostly in appearance and character. George leapt aside quickly, just as screams echoed through the soundless night. The four friends bolted away, leaving their sweets behind. Without a word they ran, stormed into their houses and into their rooms without hesitation. It wasn’t fear that had drove them back; it was terror which had.

The next morning, they all remembered the miraculous events of the previous night. Only then did they notice several things. One, they were still fully dressed. Two, there had been ghostly things in number 56. An thirdly, the sweets they had dropped in their efforts to escape were piled high on their beds. Each with a small note embedded there.

‘Sorry I scared you last night, my projections always scare everyone away. All that talk of the three knockers- They have nearly nothing to do with it. Apart from the fact that they each represent what form I take when I open the door. I would have been scared if it had been me looking in- for fear is what Halloween is most well known for. I hope you enjoy your sweets, I had the courtesy to return them to you. Have a nice Halloween passing!

Sirius Morpheus