Halloween. Year 2017. My sister has been bugging me since last week about what she should wear today. From the girly frock of a princess to a vibrant and colorful butterfly, she kept on asking me what suited her best. I never suggested anything. In fact, I just ignored her. As it turns out, she never really needed me. She has decided what to wear on her own. Now, she’s wearing a robe, a white long-sleeved polo, black skirt, red and yellow necktie, knee-high socks, and black school shoes. Her hair was down and it was frizzy, which is part of the costume. “Huh, since when did you even like Harry Potter? Do you even know who you are?” I ask.
“Shut. Up. And FYI, I’m Hermione Granger,” she replies with a British accent. “Since when did you know how to speak with a British accent?” I tease her. She just throws me a disgusted look and trots away, waving her wand endlessly and casting fake spells here and there.
I’m not dressed up as anyone. I’m not really into costumes. Besides, I’m not gonna do Trick-or-Treat. I’m planning to stay in my room until midnight and read. I go to my room and position myself on the bed and travel into the fictional world. I do that often. So often that sometimes, I forget which events happened in real life and in books. Have you ever experienced that? I bet you have. I hear my mom shouting “bye” and the front door closing. I just read.
I stop reading. This scene is bugging me. Nothing interesting. I switch to my laptop, open my Facebook, and just scroll through my news feed. One article caught my attention. The heading says, “Redwater’s Most Famous Serial Killer Escapes from Prison”. I read the article. It says here that Gardner Lavon, a 30-year old guy, has escaped from 5 years of prison. He’s been caught because of murder. He’s killed children. He’s Redwater most famous serial killer, with him having killed at least 20 kids last October 31, 2012. Why have I never known about this? There’s no picture of him included in the article. My mind is going crazy. If he escaped, there’s a 90% chance that he will come back to Redwater’s and kill anyone he sees within his radar. That means my mom and my sister are not safe. Dang. I’m being paranoid. Why shouldn’t I? A cold blooded-killer is roaming the streets of my town and is probably going to kill us all!
I go to the living room and turn on the TV for news. I go through every news channel I can find, hoping for any updates about him. None. How could this be? How could he not be on TV? Could this just be a prank or something? Maybe. But what if it isn’t? I go to the porch outside. People don’t know about him. They’re still running around happily, knocking on each door and trying to get some treats. I get back inside and suddenly, Gardner Lavon is on the news. “Gardner Lavon has escaped prison and is now roaming the town of Redwater. We recommend for citizens to stay inside their houses. Do not stay outside until the murderer is caught”, the reporter says. I call my mom but her phone isn’t answering. I peeped out the windows, most of the people are going inside, having heard the news. I call my mom again. This time, she answers. “Mom! Hey! You need to get back here! It’s not safe out there!” I shout into the phone, my tone all worried. Tears start to well in my eyes.
“Hmm. Sorry, dear. Your mom can’t go to the phone right now. She’s dead. Oh, and count you sister in. Do you want to be next?”
They’re dead. He killed them. There’s a stabbing pain in my chest. I never knew this day would go like this. I end the call and I immediately drop the phone. I check all windows and doors, locking them as I do so. I close all the curtains and hurriedly go to my room. How could this be? How could he have done that so fast? Fat tears are running down my cheeks and I start to sob. The lights are all turned off now here inside. Suddenly, screams echo from outside. He’s near. I take a peep through the curtain, one by one, the houses on the street go dark. So much for a serial killer. I hear a scream from my neighbor’s house. Their lights went off. My house is next. I’m shivering. I don’t have anything here with me for protection.
I hear the front door being kicked. The floorboards creak. “Come out, come out, wherever you are…,” a husky voice says. I hide under my bed. The creaking of the floorboards start to get louder… He’s getting closer… closer… The door to my room opens and I try my best not to whimper from fear. Help me. Please. Call the police. I know you can help me. Please…
Hurry up…
He’s getting nearer…
“Awe, c’mon kid! Show yourself!” he shouts, his voice hoarse and loud.
I close my eyes…
Help me…
He pulls me from under the bed and I start to scream.