As part of the closing ceremony for this event, here's the third and final part to our Halloween story this year written by Tina:
The nights had grown colder as autumn crept in. Rain batters against your window so violently you fear it might break, and the wind howls through the trees. You lie awake in bed, the blanket pulled up to your nose, attempting to count sheep for what feels like the umpteenth time this night.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Goosebumps prickle your skin. You strain your ears, trying to identify the sound, but you hear nothing over the rain beating against the window pane. After a few moments you sigh and roll over, restarting your count.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
That sound again. You push back the covers and are at once hit by a rush of cold air. Rubbing your biceps through your pyjama shirt as you walk, you make your way over to a wooden door. You stop there a moment, simply staring.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
You jump back a step, the sound becoming more desperate. Peering through the peephole, you see a cat. In the flickering light from your porch you can see her golden fur is matted and soaked. She’s holding something in her hand, but it’s thrashing back and forth so fast you can’t quite make out what it is.
Unlocking the door, you pull it slightly ajar and peek out. When her eyes meet yours relief at once seems to wash over her.
“Please, help me!” She is waving what appears to be a spatula. “My daughter has gone missing!”
You quickly pull open the door and usher her inside. The rain cascades off her body like a waterfall and begins to pool on the floor around both your feet. She attempts to wipe her face on her green apron, smearing her lipstick a little in the process. You lead her over to the sofa before going to boil some tea.
“It’s my little girl, Katie,” she begins, “we took a trip to the park that borders The Woods this evening. I took my eye off her for only a second and then she was gone! The Woods have taken her!”
She’s trembling, her spatula cutting through the air as if it has a life of its own.
“You’re the only one who can help! Please, I beg you, save my daughter before The Woods and its spirits take her soul!”
The Woods are the epitome of danger - everyone knows that. It was drilled into your head as a tot — by parents, teachers, authorities — to never step foot in The Woods. People rarely talked about it. Rumour had it the air was cursed, so heavy with toxins that if you were to so much as breathe it in then it would curse you too. Spirits lurked in the shadows, waiting for the next lost, na?ve villager who had the misfortune of stumbling into their midst. Stories circulated, passed down through the generations, becoming so convoluted over time that it was hard to tell what parts were truth and what was merely exaggeration.
You sit back and sigh.
The kettle whistles. Your escape card. You conceal your expression as you turn away from her, not wanting her to see your face. You mull over her request as you pour the tea. Hardly anyone who went into The Woods came out alive. But if you didn’t go then what horrors could befall that kitten?
You hand Kaitlin a teacup and saucer, and then head straight for the coat tree and haul on your jacket.
“Wait! You mustn’t go into The Woods unprepared! There are a few things you’re going to need.”
Kaitlin sets down her teacup and scurries over to you. She taps lightly at your sleeve with her spatula.
“First things first, you’re going to need a disguise. Something that will let you sneak past the spirits of The Woods unnoticed. If you don’t they’ll surely spot you. And when they do…” she shivers.
You look down at yourself, not sure what kind of disguise Kaitlin is envisioning. You begin to take off your coat.
“Secondly, you’re going to need a totem.” Kaitlin glances around the room. “Something that you can look at that will keep your thoughts sharp. The fog that shrouds The Woods will steal anything - even your mind.”
Tossing your jacket on the sofa, you give the room a once over. You’ve no idea what Kaitlin is now searching for in your kitchen.
“And lastly, you’re going to need some sweets.” She pulls a jar out of your cupboard, presenting it to you.
“For Katie?”
She shakes her head.
“It’s rumoured that Jack, the Czar of Halloween, lurks in The Woods in anticipation of October 31st. On that night he emerges, taking candy from those rich in treats and tricking those who aren’t.” She sets the candy jar down with a loud thunk on the coffee table. “Make sure you’ve plenty prepared.”
“Please, save my naughty kitten!”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Goosebumps prickle your skin. You strain your ears, trying to identify the sound, but you hear nothing over the rain beating against the window pane. After a few moments you sigh and roll over, restarting your count.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
That sound again. You push back the covers and are at once hit by a rush of cold air. Rubbing your biceps through your pyjama shirt as you walk, you make your way over to a wooden door. You stop there a moment, simply staring.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
You jump back a step, the sound becoming more desperate. Peering through the peephole, you see a cat. In the flickering light from your porch you can see her golden fur is matted and soaked. She’s holding something in her hand, but it’s thrashing back and forth so fast you can’t quite make out what it is.
Unlocking the door, you pull it slightly ajar and peek out. When her eyes meet yours relief at once seems to wash over her.
“Please, help me!” She is waving what appears to be a spatula. “My daughter has gone missing!”
You quickly pull open the door and usher her inside. The rain cascades off her body like a waterfall and begins to pool on the floor around both your feet. She attempts to wipe her face on her green apron, smearing her lipstick a little in the process. You lead her over to the sofa before going to boil some tea.
“It’s my little girl, Katie,” she begins, “we took a trip to the park that borders The Woods this evening. I took my eye off her for only a second and then she was gone! The Woods have taken her!”
She’s trembling, her spatula cutting through the air as if it has a life of its own.
“You’re the only one who can help! Please, I beg you, save my daughter before The Woods and its spirits take her soul!”
The Woods are the epitome of danger - everyone knows that. It was drilled into your head as a tot — by parents, teachers, authorities — to never step foot in The Woods. People rarely talked about it. Rumour had it the air was cursed, so heavy with toxins that if you were to so much as breathe it in then it would curse you too. Spirits lurked in the shadows, waiting for the next lost, na?ve villager who had the misfortune of stumbling into their midst. Stories circulated, passed down through the generations, becoming so convoluted over time that it was hard to tell what parts were truth and what was merely exaggeration.
You sit back and sigh.
The kettle whistles. Your escape card. You conceal your expression as you turn away from her, not wanting her to see your face. You mull over her request as you pour the tea. Hardly anyone who went into The Woods came out alive. But if you didn’t go then what horrors could befall that kitten?
You hand Kaitlin a teacup and saucer, and then head straight for the coat tree and haul on your jacket.
“Wait! You mustn’t go into The Woods unprepared! There are a few things you’re going to need.”
Kaitlin sets down her teacup and scurries over to you. She taps lightly at your sleeve with her spatula.
“First things first, you’re going to need a disguise. Something that will let you sneak past the spirits of The Woods unnoticed. If you don’t they’ll surely spot you. And when they do…” she shivers.
You look down at yourself, not sure what kind of disguise Kaitlin is envisioning. You begin to take off your coat.
“Secondly, you’re going to need a totem.” Kaitlin glances around the room. “Something that you can look at that will keep your thoughts sharp. The fog that shrouds The Woods will steal anything - even your mind.”
Tossing your jacket on the sofa, you give the room a once over. You’ve no idea what Kaitlin is now searching for in your kitchen.
“And lastly, you’re going to need some sweets.” She pulls a jar out of your cupboard, presenting it to you.
“For Katie?”
She shakes her head.
“It’s rumoured that Jack, the Czar of Halloween, lurks in The Woods in anticipation of October 31st. On that night he emerges, taking candy from those rich in treats and tricking those who aren’t.” She sets the candy jar down with a loud thunk on the coffee table. “Make sure you’ve plenty prepared.”
“Please, save my naughty kitten!”
You stand on the edge of The Woods, shivering in your werewolf disguise, staring into the darkness. Ahead of you, the trees bend and thrash in the storm - at constant threat of being uprooted by the next gust of wind.
Taking a deep breath, you make that first step across the threshold. At once your gaze drops to the lantern clutched in your hand. The candle inside is shielded from the harsh wind, but still you can’t help but fear that the spirits will find a way to snuff out the flame.
Branches crunch underfoot as you creep through The Woods. You keep your lips tightly sealed, attempting to keep your breathing level, not that anyone would ever be able to detect your presence over the roar of the wind.
What was that? You dare to look back over your shoulder. No one is there, but still your blood runs cold. Every direction looks the same. Is it even possible to get out of The Woods yourself before dawn comes, never mind with a lost kitten in tow?
You curse, losing your footing on the leaves.
The world is turning upside down.
You tumble in the dark. Thorns pierce your side as you roll downhill through a seemingly endless cluster of bramble. A loud splash and water fills your mouth, your nose, your ears. You flail in the water, struggling to push yourself up onto your knees. Your costume clings to your frame like a second skin, chilling you down to the bone.
You take off your mask and toss it aside, gasping for air. You take a moment to catch your breath before beginning to fumble around in the water for your lantern. When you feel it’s metal handle under the water you tug, only to discover the candle has gone out. You let it drop back into the water and begin to stand.
Freeze. You drop back down into the stream. Facing away from you, you see someone ahead of you. He has a large bulbous head and his body is draped in a purple robe. You fail to keep a little squeak from escaping your throat at the sight of it.
The creature turns around.
You pull out a voodoo doll and hold it up high in front of you, waving it like a stake.
“What have you got there, pumpkin?”
“I—I—”
You lose all control of speech as the creature comes forth and snatches the doll from your hands.
“Is this a trick or a treat?” He tugs at one of the doll’s arms. “It’s a curious looking thing, isn’t it?”
You rise to your feet. “A-Are you Czar of Halloween?”
“You can call me Jack,” he says. He still continues to fumble with the doll, pulling at a piece of loose string and watching as the doll’s side begins to unravel.
“I brought you something.” You reach into your damp bag and produce the jar of candy Kaitlin had found in your kitchen.
He drops the doll in the mud and hurries forward, swiping the jar. Twisting open the lid, he reaches inside and rakes his hand through the colourful wrappers, picking up a handful of sweets and then watching as they fall through his gloved fingers.
“This is good, very good,” he says, “you may pass.”
A light shines from within his head, his features glowing in a way that should be menacing - but you find it somehow comforting. You progress deeper into the The Woods, attempting to ignore Jack cackling behind you.
Taking a deep breath, you make that first step across the threshold. At once your gaze drops to the lantern clutched in your hand. The candle inside is shielded from the harsh wind, but still you can’t help but fear that the spirits will find a way to snuff out the flame.
Branches crunch underfoot as you creep through The Woods. You keep your lips tightly sealed, attempting to keep your breathing level, not that anyone would ever be able to detect your presence over the roar of the wind.
What was that? You dare to look back over your shoulder. No one is there, but still your blood runs cold. Every direction looks the same. Is it even possible to get out of The Woods yourself before dawn comes, never mind with a lost kitten in tow?
You curse, losing your footing on the leaves.
The world is turning upside down.
You tumble in the dark. Thorns pierce your side as you roll downhill through a seemingly endless cluster of bramble. A loud splash and water fills your mouth, your nose, your ears. You flail in the water, struggling to push yourself up onto your knees. Your costume clings to your frame like a second skin, chilling you down to the bone.
You take off your mask and toss it aside, gasping for air. You take a moment to catch your breath before beginning to fumble around in the water for your lantern. When you feel it’s metal handle under the water you tug, only to discover the candle has gone out. You let it drop back into the water and begin to stand.
Freeze. You drop back down into the stream. Facing away from you, you see someone ahead of you. He has a large bulbous head and his body is draped in a purple robe. You fail to keep a little squeak from escaping your throat at the sight of it.
The creature turns around.
You pull out a voodoo doll and hold it up high in front of you, waving it like a stake.
“What have you got there, pumpkin?”
“I—I—”
You lose all control of speech as the creature comes forth and snatches the doll from your hands.
“Is this a trick or a treat?” He tugs at one of the doll’s arms. “It’s a curious looking thing, isn’t it?”
You rise to your feet. “A-Are you Czar of Halloween?”
“You can call me Jack,” he says. He still continues to fumble with the doll, pulling at a piece of loose string and watching as the doll’s side begins to unravel.
“I brought you something.” You reach into your damp bag and produce the jar of candy Kaitlin had found in your kitchen.
He drops the doll in the mud and hurries forward, swiping the jar. Twisting open the lid, he reaches inside and rakes his hand through the colourful wrappers, picking up a handful of sweets and then watching as they fall through his gloved fingers.
“This is good, very good,” he says, “you may pass.”
A light shines from within his head, his features glowing in a way that should be menacing - but you find it somehow comforting. You progress deeper into the The Woods, attempting to ignore Jack cackling behind you.
Part Three
As you progress deeper into The Woods a thick fog begins to seep through the trees. You can’t see more than a few feet in front of you, barely feeling the rough bark of the tree trunks before you walk right into them.
With no lantern to guide your way, and Jack’s glow a distant memory, you’re lost in a maze - trapped by the winding trees.
A creak and a shudder. The sky is collapsing inward. You barely scramble out of the way before a tree plummets into the dirt, the ground trembling underfoot as you’re coated in a spray of mud.
Looking around you realise you have no idea where you came from, and no idea where you are going. Heaving a sigh, you sit down in the soil by the fallen tree and wipe the dirt off your face. Sludge seeps through your already destroyed costume yet you can’t do anything more than grimace.
Why did you accept this impossible challenge? If you can’t face this storm how on earth was a little kitten meant to be able to conquer the elements and protect herself from the territorial spirits. You lean back against the trunk, resting your head against it and staring up into the sky. Not a single star, nor the moon, could ever shine bright enough to pierce through this horrendous fog.
You close your eyes. Your heart rate is off the charts and you begin to try and level your breathing. As you exhale your stomach begins to rumble. It’s been hours since you’ve eaten. You reach into your rucksack and pull out the only thing remaining: a small plastic tupperware container in which Kaitlin had packed two pumpkin cupcakes: Katie’s favourite treat.
A tremor. A crash. A distant scream.
Your ears prick and at once you’re shoving the box back into your bag and hauling it over your shoulder, stumbling in your haste to get moving. Your footsteps are like thunder, loud and heavy, slapping hard into puddles and splashing water up the insides of your legs.
Another quake, stronger now. A boom as a tree nearby hits the earth.
You follow the sound, darting between the trees and jumping the overgrowth, your palms beating off the trees as you try and find a clear path between them. Ooof! A dull pain echoes across your stomach, knocking the wind out of you. You fall forward, kissing the ground, your arms sprawled in front of you and your knees knocking against something hard.
Your fingers comb the grass, unsure what this mound of earth is. But then you hear it - muffled heavy breathing that is not your own. You take a tentative step back and press your hands against the dirt wall, feeling your way down until you feel a natural alcove. Your fingers trace it’s curved border as you crouch, hearing the sound become louder now.
Slowly reaching inside you feel something moving, soft. Then a scream tears through your throat as a sharp twinge of pain spreads up your finger. You draw your hand back fast. Another scream comes back at you, higher in pitch.
A small body darts out of the alcove, brushing your side, before taking off between the trees. No time to waste, you’re on your feet and chasing the silhouette.
“Katie, is that you? Katie!”
Barely visible now in the fog, you see the shape come to a halt.
“How?” A pause to choke back a sob. “How do you know my name?”
You stop running and instead kneel down in the soil. You take off your bag, dropping it down beside you.
“Your mother sent me to find you,” you say, “she also sent me something to give you.”
Katie doesn’t say anything. Her sniffles are barely audible over the wind, but you can still hear them.
You pull the tupperware container out of your bag again. “Pumpkin cupcakes. They’re your favourite, right?”
In the dark you can see her ears twitch. Then a twig snaps. Her appearance becomes clearer as she walks toward you, taking small steps.
You open the container and take the cakes out, holding them out to her. She hesitates a moment, before coming closer. She plucks both the cakes from your hands, inspects them, then hands one back.
“You eat one too,” she says.
She’s waiting, her eyes on you. You peel off the paper and bite into the sweet, soft sponge. She follows suite.
As you sit there with Katie, watching her munch on her cake, it occurs to you that your vision is a little clearer now. While the fog still persists, the sky is lightening to grey in wake of the rising sun.
“Let’s go home, Katie.”
Her paw slips into your damp hand and you begin to lead her away, now able to faintly see a trail of your own footsteps in the mud. You follow them home, swerving through the trees, only finding difficulty when you reach the bramble bushes you fell through earlier in the night.
As you approach the end of The Woods sunlight begins to pierce through the trees. Someone is waving in the distance. You can hear their voice, but the words are muffled, inaudible. You grip Katie’s paw a little tighter as you approach.
Stepping over the threshold of The Woods, your vision warps and then clears. Kaitlin jumping for joy ahead of you, running forward and wrapping her arms around her kitten.
“You’re safe!” Kaitlin’s almost sobbing as Katie nuzzles into her chest.
They remain on the grass, wrapped up in their moment, for several minutes before Kaitlin seems to remember you’re there. She releases Katie and approaches you. “Thank you for saving my naughty kitten.”
Next, here's the winners of the Deceitful Disguise contest:
First Place by Miharu with 81 votes
Second Place by PandaNikita with 48 votes
Third Place by Jake. with 46 votes
Below are the other top entries which were nominated into the poll but did not place in the top three:
Truffle
DaCoSim
Cadbberry
Lily.
aleshapie
pandapples
DaCoSim
Cadbberry
Lily.
aleshapie
pandapples
And as a recap, the winners of the 'Spell'ectibles Creation contest and the Sugar Stash Counting contest:
In First Place, from Laudine, is the
In Second Place, from Debra, is the
And in Third Place, from Zandy, is the
p e p p e r
Sej
stargate
Jacob_lawall
Moose716
Jake.
Lily.
BlueCheeseMonkey
Slammint
Blizzard
Uly
aleonhart
King Dad
TheCreeperHugz
Buddy
Lily.
happinessdelight
p e p p e r
ANC
Campy
Haydenn
ime_rbs
Rhea
KawaiiLotus
PrayingMantis10
kikotoot
lencurryboy
Botari1999
Reese
Zandy
Cyberint
3dsatackman
stargate
Jacob_lawall
Moose716
Jake.
Lily.
BlueCheeseMonkey
Slammint
Blizzard
Uly
aleonhart
King Dad
TheCreeperHugz
Buddy
Lily.
happinessdelight
p e p p e r
ANC
Campy
Haydenn
ime_rbs
Rhea
KawaiiLotus
PrayingMantis10
kikotoot
lencurryboy
Botari1999
Reese
Zandy
Cyberint
3dsatackman
toadsworthy
Rasumii
spamurai
fink
TheCreeperHugz
Flyffel
Libra
Gracelia
DoubleR
TheAhPoCawdOh
Witch
Snowfell
pandapples
Blizzard
mother of all llamas
Rasumii
spamurai
fink
TheCreeperHugz
Flyffel
Libra
Gracelia
DoubleR
TheAhPoCawdOh
Witch
Snowfell
pandapples
Blizzard
mother of all llamas
Finally, please take our ending survey for this event right here to help us guide future events. Thanks for participating in Halloween this year and we hope you had a blast! Look forward to Christmas soon!
