Halloween Decorations
“Come on, Shannon ! Hurry up, they are going to be here soon!”
“Alright, alright! Let me just put this last trap in place! Hold your damn horses!” I closed the closet door with a grunt, making sure the latch caught so that it wouldn’t open on just anyone then headed downstairs.
“This is going to be the best Halloween ever!!” My partner, Shelly, screamed in my ear, giving me a bear hug and jumping up and down. This was her typical behavior; she was a very excitable person. I, on the other hand, was very calm person; we balanced each other out pretty nicely. I gave her my best smile, pried myself out of her arms, all the while saying that I knew this was going to be great, and that yes, we were going to have the best decorations out of anyone ever. That was always Shelly’s goal; to have the best decorations out of anyone else in the block. Halloween was her favorite holiday and she went all out every year. This year we were trying a different strategy for our decorations and this was bound to be our best year yet.
I heard “Carol of the Bells” ring through the house and knew that the guests had arrived. I quickly kissed Shelly on the cheek, “Come on, love, let’s get this party started.” Shelly let out a little squeal and went to answer the door.
I smiled as she started letting people in, talking excitedly to them about the holiday. We had been together for five years and it still amazed me how excited she got over the little things. The decorations were usually her forte, but this year I had the decoration idea and she latched on like a leech, no pun intended. I was so happy that she liked my idea and we had been planning it for a year. The time was finally at hand, and as the guests were commenting on our home I did a mental check to make sure everything was in place.
I put on a huge smile, “Welcome everyone! This year we decided to invite you guys to help decorate our place! We seem to have run out of ideas, so we thought our friends could help us this time!” Everyone giggled, excitement coming off of them in waves. I sniffed the air and Shelly shot me a disapproving look, also noticing the change in their pulse but choosing to ignore it; we didn’t want to give away the game too early after all.
Shelly shooed everyone into the living room, pointing out the art pieces and statues we had collected over the years, all the while making sure they sat in their correct spots. Not spots that they knew were theirs, but the seats we had chosen for them. She was such a master at this; I couldn’t help but admire how she moved everyone without touching their minds at all. I would have had to give at least a tiny mental nudge and I was older then she was; I picked the right girl. I unfortunately had become comfortable and had let myself go, but she always kept busy mentally and physically so she was always in top shape no matter what the situation called for.
I brought out the snacks and started putting images into their minds, changing their focus so that they wouldn’t notice when others around them started dying; or notice themselves dying for that matter. Shelly kept up the pleasant talk while I set off the first trap. From above the couch, attached to the ceiling by a wire, an axe falls down and implants itself into the first victims head. He doesn’t even flinch, just stops talking and slumps over a little.
“Aw man his blood is going to get on the new chair!” Shelly seems very upset about this and walks over to him, trying to move him in such a way so that the blood will fall mostly on the floor.
“Sorry love, I didn’t think about that… We can clean it! We’ve always been able to.” I reassured her as I moved on to the next victim. I could feel one of the victims trying to break free from my mental hold. I tried to strengthen the hold as I killed the next person with the spring loaded knives. Once I hit the button, they sprang from the entertainment center and implanted themselves into the second victim. They hit their mark nicely, one going into the throat, one in the eye and one right in the heart. I went over to the knife victim and plunged a couple more knives into her stomach and chest, just for good measure.
“Why did you add those extra knives? Three were fine!” Shelly looked so upset at me that I had to laugh. “I don’t know, I just think it looks more… authentic if there are more knives! Like those dummies…” Shelly stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “Fine… but I get to kill the next one!” I stepped away from the guests. “Go ahead love…”
Shelly contemplated how she wanted to do the next one in. We had a few more traps and some weapons but she couldn’t decide. “Oh! I know!” I looked away from Shelly for a moment because I felt that tug again of someone trying to break free. I looked closely at the victims but didn’t see anyone trying to move. All of a sudden I hear the whir of a chain-saw. “Really? The chainsaw? The neighbors are totally going to hear that!”
“Don’t worry I already put a cloak over their minds! They won’t hear a thing. Besides, this will make some good blood work for the hallway!” I sighed, she was right. I let her do her thing while I concentrated on the last remaining victim. She was the one that kept trying to pull lose from me. I kept my focus on her, a smile playing across my lips as I heard Shelly laugh and exclaim over her blood art.
“Shannon ! You have to come and see this! It looks amazing!”
“Coming!” I glanced wearily at the last victim but didn’t feel any tugs, so I went to join Shelly in the hallway. I admired her work, noticing the severed hand pinned to one of the walls. “Very nice!” All of a sudden I felt a tremendous tug on my mind and heard a gasp out in the living room. “Shit…” Shelly looked at me, her eyes wide; she had felt it too. We both ran to the living room but the girl was already gone. I focused on her energy and found that, instead of running to the door, she had run upstairs. I looked at Shelly and rolled my eyes. “Man what an idiot. Why were we her friend again?” Shelly guffawed, “To murder her for our Halloween decorations?” I starting laughing, “Oh yeah. Well you stay down here and work on the decorations; I’ll go and find our ‘friend’.”
“Come out come out wherever you are!” I was still chuckling as I walked up the stairs feeling for this last victim. I finally felt her in my mind in the last room in the hallway. I could sense her rapid breathing and knew she was very close to a panic attack. This excited me to no end and I couldn’t wait to taste her blood. “I know you are in here!” I smiled as a scream escaped the victims mouth. I walked into the room without making a noise, heading straight for the closet that she was in. I threw open the door, my smile widening as she screamed even louder. I felt Shelly smile downstairs; she was enjoying this as much as I was. I grabbed the victim, holding on tight even as she started to struggle, flailing her limbs and even trying to bite me. I laughed again as one of her teeth chipped on my skin; it wasn’t impenetrable but it was hard to break, especially with human teeth. I picked her up and brought her to the top of the stairs, lifting her over my head. “Shelly! Look at this! I just had a great idea!” With those words, I threw the victim down with all my strength and once the body hit the floor it exploded. Literally. Her blood and guts splashed all over our walls, her head pooped off her neck like a corkscrew, landing on top of our kitchen table. Our house was painted with her insides. Shelly was cheering and clapping her hands as she was sprayed with the gunk, enjoying every minute of it.
I ran downstairs into Shelly’s arm, our voices joining together in laughter, embracing each other over the ruined body. “You had such a good idea for the decorations this year!” Shelly said, licking some of the blood off of her hands. “Why thank you! I thought so too! Now I can’t wait until the neighbors see it!” I kissed Shelly, tasting the blood of the last victim on her lips. “Maybe we should straighten up a little bit before trick-or-treaters start showing up, though. And of course, have ourselves a little snack!” I eyed the knife victim; she looked delicious.
“Oh definitely! And maybe you can use your mind a little more so next time one of the victims doesn’t almost get away!” I shoved Shelly in front of me, laughing as she almost slips in the gore. “Whatever! That’s why I have you!”