Dark Madness

The crisp fall leaves ruffled in the cool breeze, surrounding Veronica Wesley as she sped on the dark sidewalk towards the Halloween Bash at Marshal’s.  Her thin legs almost buckled underneath her from the agonizing walk, but she was lured from the relief with the promise of chocolate.

                “Ricky?” Questioned a familiar voice from a flickering street light.

                “Enya!” Veronica dashed over to her tan friend, squeezing her frail body. “I thought you weren’t coming!”

                “Nah. The step-monster released me from the dungeon for this extremely special night. Wasn’t that so nice of her?” 

                “Wait, she didn’t blow fire at you? Explode about the dangers of wrapped candy at Marshal’s?”

                Enya giggled, “she did start a speech of how chocolate is bad for your soul before I plugged my ears.”

                “Pure torture, she is.”

                “Let’s get to the party before she changes her mind, and runs me over with her new jeep.”

                “Let’s.”

Enya zigged-zagged down the paved street, as if she was high from sugar already. Veronica ran after her, coming to an abrupt halt at Marshal’s house.

                The condo had eerie lawn objects strewn on the dry, brown grass. Skeletons and mushy, electronic hands littered the edge of the pavement. The full moon set a spooky glow on the haunting items, sending shivers down the girls’ spines.

                 Veronica reached for the plastic; monster shaped knocker duck taped on the door, and gave it a light tap.

                “Who dares to enter my house?!” A fake voice growled from the speaker on the back of the knocker (Marshal’s infamous impression of a scary knocker from old horror movies).

                Before they could laugh at the bad impression, the old door creaked open.

                “Vello?” Marshal stood in the doorway dressed head to toe in black attire, except for…

                A pink, fluffy tutu.

                “Are you a ballerina or something?” Veronica stepped inside.

                “I wanted to look original.”

                “It’s original, all right.”

                The inside of the house was… perfectly decorated for the occasion.

                Rubber skeletons were chained up against walls; blood oozed from some mysterious source on the floor; and gigantic, furry spiders dangled from the ceiling. There was blood red punch in a black cauldron that someone probably already spiked; jiggly, green jello hands; and cute bat cupcakes sitting on the snack bar, untouched.

                Clumps of people were mashed together in their cliques, costumes glued together. The crowd throbbed with energy, dancing to the music. Veronica and Enya joined a random group, and started to party.

                “There you are,” Enya’s boyfriend, Ryan hugged her from behind. “I thought you weren’t coming!” 

                “But I did! Why is everyone so surprised!?”

                “Because your step-mom grounded you for life when you snuck out to see me. She couldn’t have given you a free pass. She’s strict.”

                “Touché,” she met his waiting lips.

                Veronica rubbed her ears. “Does anyone else hear a noise that sounds like nails on a chalkboard?”

                Enya frowned, “um… no?”

                “Maybe you’re delusional,” Ryan shrugged, receiving a punch from Enya.

                “I’m serious,” she cringed. “It’s worse.”

                “How about you take the weight off your feet for a little bit? I know you’re tired.”

                “Okay." Veronica sat on a metal fold-up chair by the food, and massaged her head.

                “I knew you weren’t the party type.” Veronica looked up to see her ex, Devin gazing down at her.

                “Go away, Devin.”

                “No. I need to talk to you.”

                “Go away. My head hurts.”

                “Well that’s what you get for coming-“

                “Go away!” She yelled above the noise.

                “Fine. Whatever.”  He strolled away to pester someone else.

                The noise in her head sounded like a scream, but Veronica knew that nobody could make such a noise. She thrashed her head to the side, hoping it would shake off, but the scream howled on.

Veronica exited the condo, begging for the night’s quietness to clear her head. It in fact, stopped suddenly. She breathed a sigh of relief, and saw something white flash from the corner of her eye behind a bush.

“Who’s there?” She twisted her hair behind her ear. The branches on the bush ruffled. A twig snapped.

“Who’s there?!” She repeated, searching behind the foliage. Nothing but dirt.

Veronica’s heart fell to her stomach, but she covered up her stupid, scared feelings. She rushed back to the comfort of the party.

                “Feel better?” Enya spotted her as she was catching her breath.

                “Yeah,” Veronica lied.

                “Good. I think I left something outside, though…”