I woke up feeling refreshed. Finally, it was Halloween day. That feeling from before lingering. The book sat on my desk, flipped open to a page I hadn’t left it on.

  Did I forget to close the book?

  No, there was no way I had forgotten. When I got home, I set the book down and went to bed. So why was it open? And why was the page missing?

  KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

  “Jake! Zack’s at the door waiting for you!” I heard my mom yelling from downstairs. The smell of bacon filled my nose. My mom always cooked pancakes and bacon on Halloween. It was our tradition, just mom and I.

  Rushing down the stairs, careful not to trip, I reached the kitchen. Mom was standing over the stove, bacon sizzling while pancakes cooked.

  “I’m gonna let Zack in mom, could he eat with us before we head out?”

  “Of course honey.”

  Walking over to the door, I opened it. It creaked softly, sounding almost like a witch’s cackle. The sound startled me for some reason, even though I’ve heard it thousands of times before. Maybe I was on edge because of that book. Maybe.

  Pushing past me, Zack made himself at home. “Took you long enough, I’ve been waiting for almost an hour out there.”

  I knew he was exaggerating. Zack was notorious for being late to everything. The only time he was ever slightly on time was when he benefitted from it, like free candy on a holiday.

  “I doubt it, you were probably out there for a couple minutes.”

  “Yeah right, more like a couple hours. Why are even up this late? It's Halloween, you should be up early”

  “I am up early. Its Saturday and I’m up at nine. I’d say that’s pretty early for me.”

  “Boys, breakfast is ready.” My mom’s voice cut through the air. Silencing our bickering.

  Zack jumped up and rushed past me. Acting like this was his house, which it basically was. He came over every day anyways.

  …

  Finishing up breakfast, we grabbed our bags and got ready to head out for our costumes.

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  “Be back soon mom” I called out behind me. The door creaking once more. The sound echoing in my ears. Fading, but not disappearing.

  The Autumn Day was cozy. Wind blew lightly through the trees. Making it sound like the spirits whispering their stories. The air was warm, a small hint of pumpkin floating in the breeze. Leaves crunching beneath our feet.

  Looking around, the sun was beginning to set. The trick-or-treaters starting to fill the streets. In search of the houses with the best candy. Yet in that crowd, a treater stood out among the rest.

  Their skin glowed lightly beneath the setting sun. Their clothes looked used, as if they had never taken them off. But the one thing that stood out the most was their eyes. Deep red, with slit pupils. Their gaze seemed to cut deep into me.

  And with just a blink, they were gone. Swallowed by the ever-growing number of kids on the street.

  …

  Finally dressed and ready, the sun nearly down, we headed out.

  “Alright, thoughts on my costume” Zack asked.

  “It’s alright. Definitely could use some more fake blood.”

  “Pshhh, you’re just jealous of my awesome costume. I bet you wished yours was half as good.”

  “Yeah right, mine is way better. I mean look at all this fake blood.” I gestured toward what used to be a white jersey. The pads on my shoulders weighing me down slightly.

  We strolled the already filled streets. Scanning each house for the best candy.

  “Look, I drew this map.” Zack said as he pulled a white paper from his pocket. “Each of these squares are houses that give full sized candy out.”

  I don’t know what he meant, this paper didn’t look anything like a map.

  “Bet. Now where’s the closest?

  “Obviously right there” he said, pointing at the house directly in front of us.

  Looking straight ahead, the house was big. Cheap Halloween decorations filled the lawn. Cotton webs littered the trees. Walking closer, two jack-o-lanterns sat on the porch. Their candles illuminating the porch with a soft orange. Their carved eyes seemed to stare at me, as if to watch my every move.

  KNOCK KNOCK

  Zack had knocked on the door. While we waited for the door to open, I couldn’t help but look around. The thing I had seen earlier was burned into my mind.

  What was it?

  Scanning the far trees, I caught a glimpse of something.

  A shadow.

  Maybe.

  I was interrupted by the creak of the door. The same witchy creak as my own.

  “Trick-or-Treat!” Zack said excitedly.

  Yet what stood in the door seemed off. Something wasn’t right about it.

  It reached out, two full sized Twix in hand. It reached toward our bag and dropped them in. Its cheap plastic mask hung loosely on its face, failing to hide its eyes. Deep, milky white. Staring at me.

  I stumbled backwards. Nearly falling down the stairs before Zack caught me.

  “Yo, you good? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  Y… yeah, I’m good. Let’s go to the next house.” I turned around ready to head out. Not before quickly looking back. But the door was shut and the lights off. Nobody was home.

  And whatever was in the trees was gone as well. Almost as if it was never there.

  “Next house here we come.” Zack yelled out excitedly.