The Crimson Hand on Halloween part 2

            Rumford and Samantha Gould had reached the hidden crypt of Joroth the Undying. The man who had died so many times that the only thing keeping him together is a powerful artifact. Rumford is kept bound to his skeleton through Samantha’s magic and Samantha is a mortal who can die but also doesn’t seem to age.

Three false immortals facing off in a crypt on Halloween night.

            Joroth wasted no time in charging forward, holding his jagged axe in his hands as he did. The bandit lord was decorated in his armor, his purple bandana was tied around his chest piece, his leather pants had mostly rotted away along with any muscle or skin. The bandit slashed his axe downward. Samantha and Rumford quickly dodged as the axe buried itself into the stone flooring. Rumford changed into his specter form, taking on the appearance of a shadow as he floated through the air. He lunged at Joroth, skeleton arms emerging from Rumford’s shadow cloak. The skeleton arms grabbed a hold of the axe and tried to wrestle it free from Joroth’s grasp.

            Samantha moved in while Joroth was distracted and punched with her crimson hand, the glowing crimson glyphs on her hand pulsed with energy, delivering searing pain with each punch. Joroth could still feel pain and shouted and recoiled from the supernatural burns. Rumford grabbed the axe out of the bandit’s hand and floated above him with it. Rumford swung the giant axe, slashing Joroth across the back. Samantha attempted to rip Joroth’s soul from his body, hoping to bypass the undying magic of the relic. Samantha reached into the bandit leader’s body and grabbed a hold of his spirit but when she pulled back his spirit wouldn’t budge. The bandit screamed in pain but was able to muster enough strength to grab Samantha’s arm. The glyphs on her arm burned Joroth as he touched them but he did not relent. Joroth squeezed Samantha’s arm with all of his might. Samantha felt the bones in her arm break. She screamed and jumped backward.

            Joroth stood up and charged at Samantha while she was cradling her broken arm. He slammed his weight into her, sending her flying into the wall of the cave. Rumford flew forward and slashed with Joroth’s axe. the axe spun in circles slashing multiple times as it went. Joroth was covered in broken pieces of armor, necklaces and trinkets, so Rumford didn’t know which small, mundane looking object was the source of his power so he continued to slash wildly.

            Samantha pulled a sword from her belt. It was her sword that Joroth used to kill Rumford. Not only was it her sword that was used but if Samantha didn’t try to be heroic and save the town, Rumford wouldn’t have been killed. Samantha run at Joroth, rage building in her eyes and pain searing from her broken arm. Rumford moved like a shadow, slashing Joroth at any opportunity he could. Joroth was distracted for the moment and didn’t see Samantha’s approach.

            Samantha ran past Joroth and stabbed her sword at Rumford. The specter was immortal but reflexes kicked in and he blocked with Joroth’s axe. Samantha’s sword pierced the head of Joroth’s axe. the jagged weapon cracked, Joroth looked in disbelief. The weapon then broke, releasing stored magic into the air. The mighty bandit lord scrambled to pick up the axe fragments but it was too late. Joroth’s hands began to crumble, then his body and his head. The undying axe was destroyed and its wielder went with it. Samantha realized that the axe was his most prized possession and a simple minded creature like Joroth would proudly display his power instead of hiding its source.

            The enemy had been defeated, Samantha and Rumford had their revenge and now stood with smiles as their long quest finally came to an end. “I think I know the answer, but what do we do next?” Rumford asked. “We find a way to restore you, or a way for us both to pass on to the next life peacefully and together” Samantha replied, the determination still bright in her eyes. Rumford let out an echoed laugh. “I like that plan, but I meant how do we get out of here”

            There was a door to the crypt but it was sealed and meant to keep Joroth locked in. After several hours of attacks from Rumford’s super natural powers and Samantha’s searing Crimson Hand, the door finally gave way. The two broke through a small piece of door and ventured above ground. The night air kissed their skin as the bright full moon illuminated the land. Clouds drifted over head and fog lingered along the ground. They stood in a graveyard, which was strangely beautiful that night. Once Joroth was finally dead, Samantha felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and she began to see beauty in the world.

            A half a land away, Hallows end celebrated Halloween long into the night. Drinks filled mugs, fireworks filled the sky and Jack-O-lanterns laughed into the night. Samantha and Rumford rested among the tombstones. They cuddled and held each other as they did when Rumford was alive. “I’m sorry I was so distant for all these years” Samantha said. Rumford ran his skeletal hand across her face “I understand that looking at me reminds you of what you lost. I know I am technically trapped in my own body and bound to serve you through dark magic, but even if you freed me right now and set my soul free, I would still follow you like nothing changed. I want to haunt you forever” Rumford said, trying his best to be romantic but then realized that his words could be considered creepy. Samantha laughed “You always followed me around like a stray pup, I expect it will always be like that. If we are like this for another hundred years, I will feel blessed to have another hundred years with my adorable skeleton pup” Samantha said sweetly as she ran her delicate fingers along Rumford’s shoulder bone.

            The adventures of the crimson hand were not over but this chapter of revenge is finished. Happy Halloween.

The Crimson Hand on Halloween part 1 of 2

 

“Travels beware, if you visit Hallows End on Halloween, don’t journey any deeper into the Haunted forest. If you go any deeper into the forest you will find only Death” – Wisdom from the Autumn Forest residence.

            The clock struck midnight and Halloween had arrived. The entrance to the Haunted Forest would be revealed and any who dared travel the path would find Hallows End. Samantha and Rumford stood in front of the forest as flickers of light began to dance at the edge of the forest. Blue wisps danced and spun around the large, dead husks of trees. The air trembled, the moon shone down brighter and the trees began to move. The husks uprooted themselves and crawled backward with unnatural motion. A path was made, stretching on into the darkness. Samantha and Rumford had seen the Haunted woods path open many times.

            The moment stood in time, drawn and framed like an art show of memories. The hundredth time that Samantha and Rumford watched the Haunted Forest open on Halloween night, one hundred Halloweens together. Ninety of those Halloweens we spent looking for revenge, but the ten good years they had together were the best years they had in the entirety of their unnaturally long lifespan.

            The couple entered the Haunted Forest, the full moon hung over head and as Samantha entered the forest for the hundredth time she looked up and saw the moon had a large grinning face. This unpleasant smile was only visible for a second before the pair entered the forest. The forest was thick with tangled husk like branches, which blocked out the sky and obscured the sight of any smiling moon. Samantha decided to not read into this as an ill omen and continued walking. Blue spirit wisps danced around the trees lighting the way to Hallows End. If Samantha didn’t know better she might be fooled into thinking the wisps were friendly or happy. The truth was the spirits of the forest wanted to seem friendly on Halloween so visitors would leave the path. The only safety assured was on the path, leaving the path for any reason was almost certain death.

            As Rumford walked along he pulled his cloak tightly around his chest. He didn’t like being reminded that the green flame in his chest was just his wisp bound to his body and without Samantha’s crimson hand, Rumford would have been a dancing wisp like the ones in the forest. Samantha tucked herself under Rumford’s arm, showing a strange level of affection that she had not shown in almost eighty years. “I love you Rumford” Samantha cooed. Rumford stopped walking. He might have been a literal heartless monster but his soul could still feel and her sudden warmth made him pause. “I love you too, Samantha” He muttered back, then quickly added “This isn’t the end for us, you know that right?” Samantha smiled “I know. We will get revenge. I just realized that I’ve been on such a tireless hunt for your killer that I forgot to appreciate that I still have you around in some capacity” Samantha replied, her voice filled with sorrow. “I know what you mean. When you don’t age its easy to let decades fly by without even holding hands. I’m not even a person anymore” Rumford replied. Samantha looked sad and held Rumford tighter and the two continued to walk.

            The darkness of the path gave way to warm flickering lights in the distance. Hallows End was just ahead and set to accept visitors. The town of monsters was a sight to behold, creatures of different sizes lived and worked in harmony, the houses were built by the residence and made to fit the needs of the occupant. Some homes were one giant room and made of fire resistant wood, some looked like more traditional multi-room, average sized homes and some were small with hundreds of rooms. Mouse sized creatures lived in apartments in one of the first ever apartment buildings. There was a tavern near the center of town that was shaped like a giant pumpkin and painted orange, adorned with colorful lights and streamers for the upcoming festival. The entrance of town had a giant wooden sign that read “Welcome to Hallows End” the letters were written in red paint but the color could be confused for blood. The monsters in the town painted the buildings with orange, red, purple, lime green and black paint and some of the fancier buildings had designs of black roses, bones, or haunted trees. The home of Yarkov the giant had a picture of a dog on it, Yarkov loved dogs but never found one so deep in the forest.

           

            Samantha and Rumford had been to the town many times in the past hundred years and every year the town added a new structure, it could have been a new house, a shop, a bench, a statue or even planted some new trees. The town was ever changing, which was part of its charm. This year Samantha and Rumford arrived with a mission, it wasn’t a year of festivals, study or vacation, it was a year of revenge. Samantha marched toward the center of town with purpose and navigated the town with the familiarity of a resident of Hallows End. At the center of town was a giant Jack-O-Lantern with a smiling face, sharp features and a flame burning brightly inside it. The pumpkin was a real pumpkin but it never wilted or died, the flame was real but it never burned out. The Hallows End pumpkin grew from a seed dropped by a necromancer and when the pumpkin grew it absorbed all the magic of the surrounding area. This magical Jack-O-Lantern had been a source of magic, protection, light and pride for the inhabitants of Hallows End.

            Samantha reached into her back and pulled out the ancient stone pumpkin that she bought of the ship captain in Mist Harbor. The air shifted and the wind began to pick up. Fallen leaves rustled against the dark gray stone of the towns square and the residence all felt a change. Samantha hadn’t done anything yet but the town was already reacting to the stones power. The stone began to glow and would get brighter the closer it was to the Hallows End pumpkin.

            Rumford and Samantha looked at each other one final time before touching the stone against the pumpkin. The stone reacted to the stored magic of Hallows End and was lifted out of Samantha’s hand. The stone slammed down into the ground and melted into the black and gray stone floor beneath them. Samantha started to see the face of Rumford’s murderer flash in her eyes. Then it was all she could think about, soon it was all she could see with her eyes. The world spun, the night sky sank into the ocean, the Haunted Forest trees melted away and soon all was dark. Emptiness replaced reality as Samantha drifted off into the endless void.

            It was ninety years ago when Rumford lost his life. Samantha and Rumford had been married for nine years, they enjoyed traveling, going to Hallows End for parties, Rumford enjoyed studying monsters and Samantha started to see the appeal of it as well. The two didn’t own a house and they never settled into a single town. Rumford was used to traveling as a scholar and Samantha made up her mind many years ago that she wanted to travel the world.

            One day in the village of New Leaf, Samantha and Rumford were having lunch under a tall maple tree. They had been visiting the outer lands, places that experienced all four seasons throughout the year instead of just one. It was Fall in these lands and the colors of the turning maple made Samantha feel at home.

As the two ate they started hearing screams coming from the other side of the village. Samantha stood up but Rumford grabbed her arm “Honey, what could we possibly do to help?” Rumford asked. From his viewpoint, he was an outsider and lacked any special ability to help anyone. He also was terrified at the mere thought of Samantha being harmed in any way.

            “Coward, we have to help!” Samantha chided as she pulled her arm away, then ran off to help the villagers. Rumford hung his head as he got up to run after his wife. Rumford was cowardly when it came to fighting and any kind of serious danger and wished that Samantha was a little smarter about the dangers of the land.

           

            When the two arrived they saw that bandits had begun to raid the town. These men and women were dressed in skulls and wore purple bandanas. They were the most organized and aggressive group of bandits that Samantha had ever seen. The bandit lord, who went by the name Joroth, was the meanest of the group, he wore a helmet made of broken bones and carried a large two handed axe with jagged and bloodied edges. The bandits called themselves the “Sweeping Death” and weren’t interested in survivors.

            Samantha wasn’t a warrior but she knew how to use a sword and a bow. She snuck through the village with Rumford behind her. The two easily evaded the mob of bandits and found Joroth.  The bandit king was drinking wine straight out of the cask. His two massive hands wrapped around the barrel like gorilla mitts as he lifted the cask and drank. Wine poured out of an axe shaped hole in the top.

            Samantha drew her bow, her delicate red hair blew in the breeze, her long hair would give her an indication of the winds direction allowing for a better shot. Samantha fired the arrow and it found its mark straight into the bandit leaders chest. Joroth dropped his wine and stumbled backward but stayed on his feet. “Find the lil’shits that did this” He uttered. The bandits swarmed the area, it wouldn’t be long before Samantha was caught. Thinking fast she grabbed Rumford’s hand and the two of them ran, heading for the edge of town. Just as the two were about to reach the edge of town they ran into one of the bandits.

            Without hesitation Samantha drew her sword and lunged, stabbing the bandit through the lungs before he could call for help. “ok lets leave, please” Rumford pleaded. Before they could get away a giant axe came twirling past them and hit a tree, splitting the tree in half. “I’m not letting a single soul escape” Yelled the bandit leader. Joroth had caught up with them and was now charging forward. Samantha readied her sword and lunged just as Joroth was close. The experienced bandit leader sidestepped the sword attack, grabbed Samantha’s hand and cuffed her across the face. Samantha was sent backwards from the force of the attack.

            Rumford found his courage at this moment, he took off his baggy cloak and grabbed the sword Samantha dropped. The scholar charged with his sword, stabbing the bandit leader in the side. This did not kill Joroth, who seemed to have supernatural strength. Joroth roared and punched Rumford. He grabbed the sword that Rumford dropped and walked towards the fallen scholar. “No survivors” The bandit muttered insanely. Instead of running away, which is what he wanted to do, Rumford stayed to fight. He couldn’t risk Samantha being killed because he was a coward. Rumford reached into his bag and pulled out a flame crystal. This magical artifact was so rare that scholars refused to use them, in case the crystal was ever damaged.

            Rumford decided that protecting his wife was more important than any rare artifact. He lifted the crystal and hurled the fire gem at the Bandit leader. The crystal exploded and engulfed the bandit in flames. The explosion was bigger than Rumford anticipated and was also swallowed by the flames. The burned and half dead bandit continued to charge forward and stabbed Rumford through the heart. The bandit collapsed to the ground as did Rumford.

            Though Joroth appeared very dead, he was not. He held a mystical artifact that always kept him on the verge of death but could never die.

            Samantha opened her eyes in present day. The Hallows End Magic had worked. The Crimson Hand and her undead lover had finally found the crypt of Joroth the undying.

            The two stood underground in the crypt made to house the most vicious man in the land. Lights flickered on and the ground rumbled. Joroth the undying rose from his giant coffin like a lumbering beast. His skin was missing in pieces and the skin he did have was still blacked from Rumford’s fire bomb. The time had arrived, time to kill Joroth the Undying.

((Side note, The details explaining how Rumford was brought back to life and Samantha’s Crimson hand will be explained in Crimson hand Origin 2. for now, I want to finish this Halloween themed story before finishing back story))

Crimson Hand Origin

Rain fell from the sky, beating the ground like fingers tapping on a drum. Samantha and Rumford Gould had left Mist Harbor but the rain followed them. “No one enjoys our company as much as the rain” Rumford joked.

A chilled breeze blew through and rustled their cloaks. Samantha wore her cloak with her hood up and her black leather gloves. She wore a sleeveless tunic and black pants. She wasn’t bothered by the chill in the air but had to keep her appearance and her hand covered at all times. Rumford looked like he was preparing for a blizzard with all of his layers of clothes. He wore enough clothes to cover any trace of bone or hint of green glow from the flame in his chest. The only spots visible were his eyes and the skin around the eyes. Rumford didn’t feel hot or cold, he didn’t get tired or need to eat or drink, so he carried all the extra clothes, watched over Samantha when she slept and remained covered as often as possible.

The two approached the Autumn Forest, the forest of autumn colors, honey, apples and maple. The air was always cooler there but it never snowed. Leaves fell from the trees and blew in the breeze but the trees were never bare. The Autumn Forest was a beautiful sight for most but not for Samantha.

Samantha was born in the small village of Honeydew, her life was quiet, peaceful and boring. Every day was greeted with beautiful fall colors and a cool breeze to temper the midday sun.

            When Samantha turned nineteen, she decided to leave her village in search of adventure. Her journey started on a clear and sunny day when the sky was a bright blue and the air was crisp. She was a spunky youth with a sharp tongue, a warming smile and plans for adventure. She knew how to plant and harvest crops and orchards, she could chop wood, hunt and ride horses. Samantha was prepared for the long road ahead and understood that life wouldn’t always be fair or kind outside of her village.

            The sunlight danced through the swaying leave of the forest and speckled the ground in golden rays. Samantha’s horse trotted along the well-treaded path from the Autumn Forest to Bright Harbor. Samantha spotted a dark haired traveler on the path. He had olive skin, black hair, brown eyes and wore layers of robes. Samantha rode up next to the man as he walked along the dirt road, his robes kicking up dust as he went. “I rarely see travelers on these roads” Samantha called to the man. The robed man flinched in surprise as he turned quickly. “H-hello. Yes, I’m traveling” The man said nervously. Samantha gave a suspicious look at the nervous man. “Is everything alright?” Samantha asked as she slowed down. The man’s face started to relax “Yes, thank you. I just need to get to Hallows End before the Halloween festival is over.

            “You are going the wrong way for that. If you want, I can take you” Samantha said. She planned on going to Bright Harbor but a spooky town of monsters all celebrating at once could be fun as well. “My name is Samantha, whats your name?” Samantha asked as she helped the man onto the horse. “Rumford” Replied the man with a big smile.

            Hallows End was a town deep in the Haunted Forest, a forest so dangerous that no one had ever returned from the forest once they entered it. Once a year the forest would magically open into a straight path leading to Hallows End. The bravest residence of the Autumn Forest and some tourists would go to Hallows End every year to celebrate Halloween. While the Haunted Forest was extremely dangerous, the town of Hallows End was one of the safest places in the world. Large monsters kept the peace and the town was founded on peace with all who enter as friends.

            Samantha knew where the path would open and knew when it would open. She road her horse to the entrance of the Haunted forest on the night before Halloween. The two arrived at the edge of the forest and set up a small camp. There was a visible line where the curse of the Haunted forest ended and the start of the healthy Autumn Forest began. there was no noticeable entrance of any kind but Rumford was an outsider and had to trust Samantha knew what she was doing.

            Rumford was slow to open up, he huddled into his robes like a turtle in his shell but as the night went on he loosened up. Samantha turned on her charms, she was witty and sarcastic and this connected with Rumford’s dry sense of humor and love of sarcasm. The difference was Samantha seemed fearless and Rumford was more timid.

            The cool night air blew through the Autumn Forest and swept over Samantha’s camp. The wind made the flames dance. The fire danced to the song of the wind, spreading light and heat out into the cold dark night, the flames spat little embers up into the air like a dancer throwing confetti. The embers popped and sizzled before burning out and drifting down to the earth as harmless ash. Rumford shyly laughed and smiled as Samantha told stories about the Autumn Forest and her small adventures she had so far. Rumford couldn’t take his eyes off the red haired woman from the Autumn forest. He stared at her pale face through the crackling flames, her green eyes were fierce and pushed back the darkness of night just as much as the roaring flames did. He saw a heroic woman who just started her journey, a conqueror of lands and a force to be reckoned with.

            Samantha tried her best to tell her boring stories to pass the time, she looked at her new traveling companion and realized that there was a cute and funny guy hidden in that pile of hair and robes. Samantha didn’t think her stories were very interesting but Rumford hung on her every word. Stories of scaring bears away from the fish she just caught, or shooting an arrow at a bandit who tried to run off with and old ladies money. These weren’t big battles between wizards and demons but a shut in like Rumford was enthralled.

            “So enough about my stories, what about you?” Samantha asked, as the light from the campfire glinted in her eyes.  “I study monsters, supernatural events and magic. I wanted to study Hallows end for the longest time but had to wait till the right time when the path opened. I also had to wait till the head scholar approved of my journey” Rumford explained. “So…” Samantha muttered but trailed off as she chose her next words. “what you are saying is, while everyone is partying on Halloween you are using it as a chance to study?” Samantha asked with a sly smile. “Yes” Rumford replied innocently. “NERD!” Samantha shouted then burst into laughter. She playfully threw her pillow at him and continued to laugh. This kind of remark would usually annoy Rumford but somehow when the words came from Samantha he didn’t mind at all. He smiled and felt embarrassed but also happy that something he did made her laugh.

            The two met on that day, the night before Halloween, one hundred years ago. Present day, Samantha and Rumford Gould, husband and wife, Crimson hand and Ghoulish bodyguard, road to the entrance of the Haunted forest. Rumford turned to his wife as the approached “Remember when we first met? All I wanted to do was study monsters” Rumford joked. “NERD!” Samantha shouted with a big smile then punched Rumford’s arm. She heard the sound of his shoulder bone crack as the joint popped out of place. The air went dead and the two were silent. “Its fine, I’ll fix it later. Ya know, I used to love monsters and now I AM one” Rumford tried to joke. Samantha winced and looked like she was going to cry. “You will never be a monster to me” Samantha said, looking Rumford in the eyes. Rumford had a flash back to that first night they met. The dark of night, the cold wind, Samantha’s pale beautiful face and her tender look, it was all just like that night, so much so that he could imagine the flames crackling and he could see the flaming glint in her eyes.

            “We will get revenge” Samantha said. Her whispered voice floated away like a hushed wind.

Mist Harbor

            Halloween was fast approaching, it was the day when people celebrated with costumes, tricks and treats. It was when the barrier between the world of the living and the dead was weakest and it was also the day when Samantha Gould’s husband, Rumford, was killed.

            Samantha ‘The Crimson Hand” walked briskly, her black, hard soled boots clacked against the cobblestone path. The sounds of her footsteps echoed through the alleyways of the dreary city of Mist Harbor. Fallen leaves gathered along the gutters and in alleys. There was little sound in the city that night except for footsteps, distant conversation, the sound of dried leaves being crunched underfoot and the scraping sound they made when the wind blew them across the stone walkways.

            Light rain drizzled over the city, trickling over anything that wasn’t covered by rooftops or tree branches. Mist harbor had several spots in the city spaced out for planting trees and while the population stagnated the tree growth boomed. Tall trees dotted the city landscape, with leaves of bright orange and yellow. With each breeze the branches would shake loose a few warm colored leaves. The leaves danced as they drifted slowly to the ground. Clusters of leaves floated through the air like autumn snow, while the gentle rain pattered the ground. The citizens of Mist Harbor missed the delicate balance of earth, wind, and water, as most of them were indoors getting warm or asleep.

            Samantha wore a long black cloak with her hood up, black leather gloves, a deep red shirt and black pants. Her green eyes shone brightly through the darkness in a supernatural way. She walked with purpose through the run down alleys but with every step forward a stranger took two steps towards her. The stranger moved quickly with menacing intentions. The dark and foggy back streets of the city were the perfect place for criminal activity and anyone could lose their life if they weren’t careful.

            Soon the stranger was right behind Samantha when he drew a dagger. He stabbed his dagger forward but his hand stopped an inch from her back. A glowing green eye peered behind the stranger. “You should be more careful with sharp edges” growled a menacing voice from the shadows. The attacker screamed, followed by crunching sounds and blood spilling out into the gutters and drains. “You are getting slow” Samantha chided, continuing to walk without missing a step. “Sorry my love, I guess I am getting old” Replied the voice, this time the voice was soothing and sweet. 

            Samantha made her way to the docks just as a large cargo ship arrived. She stood there patiently and unflinching as cold wind blew in from the sea. The ship’s captain waved when he saw Samantha. The gruff old man smiled at her and she returned with a slow nod. The crew unloaded crates of pumpkins, ale, wheat and lumber as the captain met with Samantha. 

            “It wasn’t an easy find, but we found it” Said the captain of the cargo ship. “You don’t need to give me the hard sell, I know it is rare and I know you have it. So how much do you want for it?” Samantha asked impatiently. The captain smiled, the corner of his lips moving the hairs in his bushy beard. “Well I-“ The captain began to say but stopped. He looked behind Samantha and saw a figure standing just outside the docks, covered by the shadow of a building. The figure was medium height, dressed in a cloak and had glowing green eyes and a ghoulish face of half bone and half skin. The captain had to look twice to make sure he saw it correctly. The dark of night clouded the vision and when the captain looked again, the figure was gone. “I-I’ll take whatever you think is fair” Said the captain, who no longer wanted to stay in this port.

            “Captain, the men are requesting shore leave” Said the first mate of the ship. The captain turned to the first mate and with a pale face “Like HEL- I mean, no. We have a schedule to keep. Tell’em that we will stay at the next port and the first round is on me” Replied the captain.

            Samantha paid the captain what she thought was fair and received a large heavy pouch. The captain hurried off to his ship and as soon as the rest of the cargo was unloaded and paid for, he set sail for the next port. Samantha gave a devilish smile “You just enjoy scaring people, don’t you” She said to the air. “I get bored being just a shadow sometimes” Replied a voice, carried on the wind.

Samantha was usually reserved and quick to smirk or say something sarcastic but her lover’s words stabbed at her heart. Rumford was being playful but there was truth in his words. Samantha often claimed she didn’t have a heart and when people used to tell her that Rumford was too good for her, she would agree.

            Samantha was dwelling on the past as her hands opened the large pouch that the ship’s
captain gave her. Inside the pouch was a round, pumpkin shaped, stone. It was the size of  a babies head and about as heavy as a baby head made of solid stone. The stone had a Jack-O-lantern face on the front. This wasn’t any generic Jack-O-Lantern face, it was the twisted and pointed face of the Hallows End Jack O Lantern. In the town of Halloween and monsters was a Jack-O-Lantern that was larger than a horse. It looked like a pumpkin but never wilted and always had a flame burning brightly at its core. This small stone pumpkin was the key to the center of Hallows End.

            Samantha and Rumford Gould knew they would have to return to Hallows End one day and it was this Halloween when Samantha would finally deliver vengeance to the one who murdered Rumford.

The Crimson Hand

It was a dark moonless night, the stars sparkled in the sky, wood smoke plumed from chimneys and the cold air of the night left a delicate layer of frost on every surface not sheltered by a roof or heat.

The Dragon Roots Inn was a quiet inn and tavern on the edge of town, they served travelers with a place to spend the night and provided the townsfolk with a place to drink and relax. The doors of the inn opened and two cloaked figures entered. They were both bundled up in layers of clothes, two genderless lumps of clothes and cloaks walked through the tavern and ambled up to the bar before sitting down. The two slowly unraveled layers of clothes from their bodies.

“what can I get fer ya?” asked the bartender as he relaxed both palms across the top of the bar. “One order of whatever stew you have cooking, two pints of ale and some bread. We also need a room” Said the cloaked figure on the right. The one who spoke had a soft feminine voice, it sounded like velvet on the ears or a relaxing breeze on the ocean. The bartender was taken back by the cloaked figures voice and wished he could hear the food order again so he could re-experience it. The bartender snapped out of his daze in a second, smiled and then walked off to the kitchen.

The Dragon Roots Inn had an exterior of stone and wood with a strong foundation. The interior had a softer appearance of wood flooring, rugs, lanterns giving off a soft light and a roaring hearth in the back with the tables and chairs. The floor was made of walnut and the tables and chairs were made of maple. Someone in the corner played soft music on a loot and the patrons of the tavern were mostly quiet, either too drunk or sleepy to cause much of a ruckus.

By the time the food and drink arrived the two figures had removed most of their extra clothing and placed them in neat piles next to their chairs. The cloaked figure on the right with the soothing voice was a woman with pale skin, bright green eyes and red hair. She kept her cloak on with her hood covering most of her hair but her face, neck and a single tunic was visible. She wore warm pants and sturdy boots and chose to keep her leather gloves on. She picked up her pint of ale and quickly drank down half of it before setting it back on the bar and turning to her stew.

The second figure was a man with paper white skin and pale brown eyes. There was a slightly glow of green in his eyes but most people blamed the lighting when they saw it. The man had removed a few layers but his skin was all covered except the area of his face between the top of his forehead to the bridge of his nose. Black hair could be seen on his hairline on the sides of his head but otherwise he was covered. The male figure didn’t drink or eat, he rested his arms against the bar and looked around the tavern as if to keep watch while the woman ate.

The tavern was quiet for a moment but then another strange visitor arrived. The door slammed open and a man wearing metal chest armor and a cloak walked in. this person was a Wolf-kin, a humanoid wolf species. Wolf-kin had better sense of hearing and smell than humans as well as slightly better reflexes and worse impulse control. They had bodies like humans but were mostly covered in fur, had wolf like heads with shorter snouts than wolves, their ears sat on the corners of their head, lower than a wolf but higher than a humans. Some wolf-kin had sharp claws instead of finger nails, some had fingernails like humans. This Wolf-kin had sharp claws. He walked into the tavern with frost still melting off of his cloak and fur, unfazed by the cold. “It smells like death in here” Growled the wolfman.

The bartender looked worried but tried to act calm. Any patrons who were conscious either went up to their rooms or left the tavern entirely. The only people besides the wolf were the cloaked figures and the bartender. The woman continued to eat and drink. She finished her own ale and started on the ale placed in front of the man. The man never looked back at the wolf but his head was raised in alert. The man stared dead eyed at the shelves behind the bar as he listened to the wolfman walk forward.

The wolfman sat right next to the woman eating and rested his weight on the bar. “I’m looking for someone. A woman who has a price on her head” Said the wolfman in a deep grizzly voice. “We’ve had plenty of women come and go all week” The tavern keeper nervously explained. “This one has cruel green eyes, she has magic, delicate frame, red hair” The wolfman continued as if the bartender never spoke.

The man in the cloak stood up and walked up to the wolfman “Listen, sir. There is clearly no one else here. So why not move along. You are making me on edge” Said the cloaked man, his voice was listless and dull. The wolfman looked at the cloaked figure. “are you the guard of this tavern?” Asked the Wolfman as he stood up. “Sir, there’s no need for any trouble” Said the tavern keeper. “Stop calling me sir. My name is Feroes and I’m no ‘sir’. Not everyone who wears armor is a knight” Growled Feroes the wolfman.

The cloaked figure stood unmoving with bored eyes. “I am not a guard and unless you intend to cause trouble, there wont be any need for a guard” Replied the man. Feroes stepped closer so that his short snout was almost touching the man’s covered nose. “I am looking to collect on this witches head and make big bag of gold when I do. I will cause as much trouble as I want until I find this woman” Snarled the Feroes the wolf.

In one quick motion the man moved his arms forward and shoved Feroes. The force of the shove knocked the sturdy wolfman off balance. He fell backwards and landed on a table, crushing the table under his weight. “Now leave, or I will make enough trouble for the both of us” threatened the cloaked man in his normal bored tone.

Feroes we shocked that he was taken by surprise like that. He had very quick reflexes and was sturdy enough to take a shove. By his own logic he should have been able to stop the shove and if he didn’t, he certainly shouldn’t have fallen backward with such force. Feroes blamed this as a fluke and decided not to drink so much before going on a hunt. “You are a deadman” Feroes growled. The cloaked man sighed. “Just finish him quick, honey. I’m tired and want to go to bed” Said the woman in the cloak, who was still eating.

            The cloaked man sidestepped Feroes’ attack but was over confident and wasn’t prepared for a follow up attack. The agile wolfman missed his lung but then swiped his claws upward slashing the cloaked man’s face. the man’s face was revealed, this shocked the bartender and Feroes but annoyed the cloaked woman. The cloaked man had been hiding a jaw and part of his face that was completely bone. A faint green glow could be seen behind his collar as if he had a light in his chest. The man sighed which was just a noise created to show annoyance but no actual breath was expelled. The man didn’t have a throat or lungs. He was a walking, thinking, animated skeleton with pieces of flesh, eyes and hair for appearance. “what are you?!” Yelled Feroes, who now understood why the Tavern smelled so strongly of death.

            “I am the specter of Rumford J Gould, and YOU have spent to long disrupting my quiet evening” Proclaimed Rumford who ripped open his shirt to reveal a bare ribcage and a large, floating, green flame taking up most of the room in his chest. The flame pulsed and sent green flames up into Rumford’s head and shot out of his mouth. Rumford spewed spectral flames, which engulfed the wolfman before he could get away. The fire quickly died down to reveal that the bar was unharmed but Feroes was on the floor severely injured. “My flames only burn the living because it only looks like fire, its more of a death magic that only hurts living things” Rumford explained to the terrified bartender. The bartended nodded and muttered “thanks for not burning the bar” through trembling lips and a shocked expression.

            Rumford gave a jovial wave to the Bartender and his eyes moved like he was smiling. Since he didn’t have skin on his mouth he couldn’t actually smile. Then his eyes turned serious as he marched over to Feroes. Rumford’s heavy leather boots clunked against the wood flooring as he approached. Feroes looked up and started to speak but could barely move. “People call me a monster. They call ME a monster. You are the monster here” Feroes uttered in a weak voice. “If you think I’m scary, you should see my wife” Rumford replied while towering over the fallen wolfman. The woman in the cloak stood up, turned around and walked up to Feroes.

            “You were hunting me. I’m not a necromancer or a wizard, but yes it was me you were looking for. Tell the other bounty hunters that I just want to live in peace and am not worth the trouble. I will make sure I am not worth the trouble” She threatened as she removed the warm winter glove on her right hand. Her skin on her forearm, wrist and hand were covered in glowing crimson markings. They were an ancient language no longer remembered and were etched permanently into her skin. “They call me the Crimson hand, and though I don’t like the name, I will use it to strike fear into anyone who comes after me” Crimson hand said as she thrust her hand forward. Her hand went through Feroes’ arm without breaking the skin, then she grabbed down onto the bone in his arm. Feroes screamed in pain. the grip felt like burning but if you set every nerve in that area on fire.

            Crimson let go of Feroe’s arm and retracted her hand. “I could do that to your heart, your brain, I could even pull your soul right out of your body and bind you permanently to that chair!” She said pointing to one of the tavern chairs. Her voice went from a delicate lovely tone to the voice of a deadly killer. Crimson’s smile returned, she then turned around and walked up the tavern stairs. “Rumford darling, be a dear and pay the Tavernkeeper for any trouble we caused as well as anything we still owe for the bed and food. I will be upstairs” She called to her husband.

            “I’ll be up in a bit honey” Rumford called back. Then he turned to Feroes “You can leave whenever you have the strength. I suggest you tell everyone what happened unless you want to be turned into a haunted bar stool” Rumford let out a strange laugh then walked off. He paid the Barkeep who was hiding behind the bar, gathered up the clothes that he and Crimson left on the floor then went up the stairs to bed. He wrapped his body back up in clothes and his cloak so the light of his green flame wouldn’t keep his wife awake.

            Feroes and caught the bartender looking at him before shrinking back down behind the bar. Feroes was eventually able to hobble out into the cold. He left the village and when he returned to the capital’s bounty office, he had a very important story to tell the other bounty hunters.

Halloween Comes for Ignitous

In the spirit world there were four major lands, each based on a season experienced on earth. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall all had lands with their own climate, forests and other terrain. In the land of summer on the eastern edge of the searing desert was the summer forest. The summer forest was a brisk ninety to a hundred degrees, then going outward toward the desert the temperature went up until finally reaching the volcano lands, where the air was hot enough to burn human hair.

            The spirits and warm weather animals played and enjoyed their warm days while Autumn arrived for the people on Earth. The warm weather was slowly cooling in the summer forest, causing the inhabitants to panic. A dark shadow swooped over the land like a hawk looking for prey. These disturbances alerted the attention of July, the ruler of Summer land. She was a large woman who loved parties, attention and summer heat. She was popular among her own people but had a tendency for sticking around on earth longer than many humans would like. Her overstaying her welcome would cut into the Fall season. This year she behaved herself and was in the summer lands with her people.

            The large shadow was joined by smaller shadows and the cold air began to pour in from above. The sky darkened as glowing white ghosts and wisps descended into the forest. Maniacal laughter echoed through the trees and pumpkin headed plant creatures sprang up from the ground. Spirits of Halloween had arrived in the summer lands and were searching for someone. Floating Jack-o-lanterns with glowing eyes scanned through the now darkened forest as bats and hawks flew above the treetops. The summer forest was in a panic.

            The spirits of Autumn and Halloween had come for Ignitious the flame spirit, who, with his brother Glacious, attacked the Autumn Forest and severely injured the leader Patches. Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams chased to two brothers out of the Autumn forest but the spirits of Halloween wanted revenge on the brothers for their disrespect for the natural order of the seasons.

            Ignitious was mostly recovered from his injuries thanks to the heat of the Summer Lands. The Halloween spirits had already spotted before he figured out that he was the target of this attack. The bright flames that made up Ignitious’ body was easy to spot in the now darkened sky and before he could escape he was set upon by bats and pumpkin monsters. The flame spirit sent out a wave of flames, sweeping up the bats in the flames and making the monsters run for cover. The trees of the Summer Forest were heat and flame proof, so any fire that hit the green leafy trees quickly went out. Ignitious wasn’t a spirit of the summer lands and didn’t really care about the forest, so even if the trees weren’t fire proof he still would have used his fire powers without restraint.

            Ignitious took off flying like a fireball, he was headed for the volcano where his powers would be strongest. He shot through the forest with ease and entered the searing desert. The large shadow from the sky descended down and landed in front of Ignitious before the spirit could go any further. Ignitious collided with the shadow causing a fiery explosion. When the flames died down the shadow still stood. Bats fluttered away and shadow creatures melted off the figure and escaped into the ground, revealing Patches, the spirit of Autumn and the leader of the Autumn Lands. “Did you really think you could surprise attack me like a coward, attack my lands, claim my forest for yourself and I wouldn’t do anything about it? Just because Joseph and Jaye kicked you out of my forest doesn’t mean there wont be consequences!” Patches’ voice boomed as flames erupted out of his pumpkin head and dark magic jumped from his body like electrical sparks from a power line.

            “I beat you once before, do you really think you can take me this time?” Ignitious said with a fiery smile. “You had your brother to help you and you attacked me when my back was turned. In a fair fight you wouldn’t last a minute. I am the king of Autumn and Halloween, you are rogue elemental spirit” Patches shouted as he walked towards Ignitious. Patches was tall and thin with a body made of hay, roots and flames with a large pumpkin head on his shoulders and a carved face that moved like a human face. While the two spirits prepared to fight the invading spirits of Halloween and Autumn made a circle around the two, so that Ignitious couldn’t run away from this. Cold air blew through the desert as the night sky and full moon loomed over head for the first time ever in this land.

            Ignitious spun around bringing flames up from the ground and carrying them with him as he charged towards Patches. The King of Fall didn’t flinch at the flames and easily side stepped the attack. Patches was quicker than he looked and was determined to show this menace why he shouldn’t mess with the Autumn Lands. Patches melted into the ground like a shadow and shot forward with lighting speed, then before Ignitious could realize that Patches was gone, the shadow of Patches sprang up from the ground in the form of a giant shadowy wolf head with blazing red eyes. The shadow wolf head chomped down on Ignitious and shook the spirit like a dog shaking a piece of meat. Ignitious sent flame bursts out from his body in an attempt to break the shadow wolf’s grip but the flames had no effect. When Patches decided he was done he slammed Ignitious into the ground, then the shadow wolf head formed back into the pumpkin headed spirit.

            Ignitious charged condensed flames into his hand, making a fireball hotter and stronger than his normal steel melting flames. The flame spirit launched his powerful ball of flames. Patches, who didn’t have bones or a spine, bent himself in half to avoid the fireball. Flames shot across his back as he narrowly dodged the attack. While Patches was still bent in half he charged forward, his pumpkin head growing larger and his mouth growing wider the closer he got to Ignitious. Shadows rose up from the ground and whooshed forward like wind, wrapping around Ignitious. Patches came within inches of the flame spirit then contracted his pumpkin head and ‘breathed’ out dark magic flames from his mouth. Dark flames engulfed the flame spirit, damaging the fire elemental while remaining harmless to any of the Halloween spirits caught in the blast.

            Ignitious dropped to the ground as purple mist streamed from his head like steam. The group of Halloween spirits parted on two sides, on the right side a group of Autumn spirits dragged a large wooden crate into the fighting circle and on the left the ruler of the Summer Lands, July emerged onto the scene.

            “What is going on here?!” July shouted. “Ignitious and his brother attacked me, beat me almost to death and tried to claim my forest as their own. This is my payback” Patches explained. The Halloween spirits all called out and shouted in agreement. July stared at Patched with a furious look but switched her heated gaze down to Ignitious. “You said you needed to rest in my lands because you were injured from a fight, you never told me you tried to upset the balance of the seasons and attacked a king! What happens when you recover? Were you going to attack him again? What about attack me and claim my Summer Forest? Or were you going to go pick on the Spring bunny?” July shouted in outrage.

            “I’m not your subject you old crone! I don’t owe any of you anything! When I recover I am going to gather my gang of flame spirits, some dragons and anyone else who will follow me and make you all pay!” Ignitious spat. “OH no you wont!” July shouted grabbing Ignitious by the neck with a powerful grip and slamming him to the ground. She then threw all her weight down onto the flame elemental, sitting on him so he couldn’t escape. The Halloween spirits sniggered at the sight of the feared flame elemental being sat on by the mighty Summer Spirit.

            “I figured the brothers would try to attack again, so I made these crates to transport the two of them. I will keep them somewhere safe until they agree to not attack anyone. Ignitious will be riding in a crate made of summer wood and Glacious…” Patches trailed off as he gestured to a second box being dragged up. The second crate was made of a pale wood and was covered in frost. The autumn spirit dragging the crate opened it revealing Glacious trapped inside. “I found him in the Winter forest and figured the trees of Winter could hold him as well as anything” Patches added.

            July used her firm grip to pull Ignitious out from under her and threw him into the large box made of summer wood. “I am glad to see you taking care of things, but next time you should tell me ahead of time before you invade my forest” July said sternly.

            Patches apologized to July and explained that he didn’t know ahead of time if she was in on the attack or not. The two crates were then hauled off by Halloween creatures, Patches apologized again, bowed like a gentleman then opened a portal made of autumn leaves and swirling wind. The group of autumn spirits, Halloween spirits and Patches all left the Summer lands. Then the moment the portal closed the night sky turned to a bright summer day, the air warmed up and environment quickly returned to normal.

            Ignitious and Glacious learned a lesson that most spirits already knew, don’t disrupt the natural balance of weather and seasons and sure as hell don’t mess with the King of Halloween.

October thoughts and feelings

Sit back and relax with your favorite hot beverage, forget the world, forget the summer and the winter, you are safe now.

            Rain trickled down from the overcast sky, fog floated peacefully over the land, a gentle breeze carried smells of wood smoke and baked goods. Up on the grassy hill sat a small bakery, the bakers moved quickly, unhindered by the sleepy haze of the day. The Autumn festival was fast approaching and the “Maple Hill” bakery was tasked with contributing pumpkin and maple related baked goods.

            The fog drifted down the hillside toward the heart of the town where the smell of fresh ground coffee, rain and freshly raked leaves all mixed into the air. Carts, wagons and old fashioned cars chugged along the road as pedestrians walked up and down the sidewalk. The people wore warm coats and scarves, they looked up at the shop windows as they passed by and sipped their hot coffee. The shops were bustling with Fall colors and treats of the season. The rain continued into the night, the people filed out of the shops and all headed to their homes. Warm lights began to glow from lanterns, street lamps and shop windows. The gentle rain speckled the shop windows and the raindrops reflected the light from inside the dimly lit stores.

            Night settled over the town and the sounds of owls in the distant forest, the light tapping of rain on the rooftops and the crackling of a wood fire could be heard in the town. Lights in the distance bobbed and shook as they traveled down the road leading out of the town. Fog cleared away to reveal the lights were lamps attached to a horse drawn carriage. The carriage was black and glistening with rain water, the carriage driver wore a long heavy coat, black leather cloves, boots and a wide brimmed hat. He sank down into his coat, pushing his neck more into his collar, like a bird pushing their head into their feathery body to stay warm. The horse was chestnut brown with a white diamond shape on its head. It had plane black leather straps attaching it to the carriage and overall was a healthy horse that wasn’t bothered by rain or chilly winds.

            The carriage rode out of the town and along the countryside. The road twisted along through a path that cut through wild country. To the right of the path was a slope leading down to a valley and a large field of green grass turning yellowish for the season. The sun began to rise over the field, its golden rays shining down and reflecting against the mist and the morning dew. The grass swayed gently in the breeze and the rain gave way to sun. The sunlight made the world sparkle and shine but since it was Fall the air stayed cool and pleasant. The morning air was fresh and clean, it awoke the spirit and invigorated the mind.

            Along the same country road, while the grassy field shined bright with swaying golden grass on the right, to the left was the base of a sturdy and ancient hillside. The hill stood overlooking the town and the surrounding forest. Old stone relics littered the cliff peaks, old stones from another age. The trees that lined the hillside were bright with autumn colors. The cool air had arrived and made the trees blush red and ignite with orange and yellow. This hill was almost the size of a mountain and was too big for anyone to live on but the sturdiest among the village would climb the hill and marvel at the view below. Standing on the top of the hill would let someone see the autumn forests and valleys for miles. An ocean of auburn, ochre and amber, colors of the fall all swaying and dancing like a field on fire. Surrounded by stone relics and staring at an amazing view, someone might wonder if the ancient people believed their hill was the highest or most important point in their small world.

            The world goes on though and while we all hate to leave the hillside and the sleepy town, we all must continue. Time flows like a river, taking us past many sights and experiences, we can only hope to truly enjoy these experiences while the sights are still visible. The road, not the river, takes us further into the world. This is when things get darker and maybe slightly more fun.

            The road twisted and turned, it flowed past a small village. This village is where the carriage driver stopped, but this is not where we will stop. The road took us further down into the forest, a forest of dark green pines, mossy oaks and sleeping beasts. The afternoon light was barely visible through the thick canopy of treetops. The fog was heavier and the sound of roaming creatures could be heard. The forest was dark and full of terrors but it was still day and the creatures of the night were asleep, dreaming of their next kill. The forest stretched on but in the distance was a glowing orange light, dull but distinct. The light was alluring and so it was followed. The light became clearer and more lights joined in. All the lights were floating in the air like spirits in the afterlife.

            The lights seemed to float in the darkness until it was revealed they were orange pumpkin lights hung from a solitary maple tree. A bright orange and red maple tree adorned with large pumpkin shaped lights. Each light had a tiny flame burning inside. The flames caste pumpkin shaped shadows out into the forest. At the base of the tree was a stone gargoyle with a wildly uncomfortable smile and its arms pointing to the right. To the right was a path leading out of the thick pine tree forest. The haze of the forest parted near the exit of the forest and the path led out toward a lively city full of bright orange, purple and green lights, dark colors and decorated with Jack-O-Lanterns. The city was full of carriages, old cars and people. The people wore black cloaks, gothic dresses, and bright green or orange with strange hats. Overall they seemed a little odd.

            The night fell over the city giving emphasis on the darkness of the city and the brightness of the lights. The warmth felt in the homes and cafes pushed back the creeping cold of the approaching season. This city was full of magic and mystery. It was they type of city where adventure or certain death could be waiting in alleys and pathways. From that point the path stretched on but we will go no further.

            It is not time to tell the story of the places beyond and the time has already passed for stories of what came first. This was not a story of villains or heroes, it was a story of a land and the sights inside of it. It was a story of nature, humanity, and pizza burps.

Crescent Farms

Mist lingered through the night air, light rain pattered onto the farmer’s wooden roof and the crescent moon cast dim light down on the wheat field below.

Robert lived and worked on his farm miles from town. He was relaxing in his comfortable, blue chair after a hard day of work. Robert looked up from the book he was reading when he heard a “thumping” sound coming from his field. “Thump thump” the sound was steady and unlike any sound Robert was used to. “Thump thump” continued the sound making it hard to ignore.

Robert stood up from his seat, closed his book, set it on his wood end table and walked toward the door. He opened his door and peered outside. “Thump thump” continued the noise. The sound was louder now and clearer with the door open.

Robert followed the thumping sound and was led into his wheat field. It was Autumn and his wheat was tall and almost ready for harvest. The sound was always the same “thump thump” then silence for several seconds, before it happened again “thump thump”

Robert walked to the middle of his wheat field where he found a glowing orange light. “thump thump” went the noise, and the light pulsed with the beat of the thumping. Robert walked carefully up to the light and found a large pumpkin in the middle of his field. He stared at the pumpkin and waited. “thump thump” went the sound and the pumpkin pulsed with light in sync with the sound.

Robert decided to leave, glowing pumpkins and strange noises couldn’t lead to anything good. Before Robert could leave he heard the loudest thumping yet. A ghostly figure with a shovel slammed his shovel into the dirt “thump thump” echoed the ghostly shovel “Wheat?! We need PUMPKINS!” Yelled the ghost. His voice was shrill and turned Robert’s blood cold.

The giant pumpkin burned with a bright orange light as a fiery Jack-O-Lantern face appeared on it. The ghost flew straight at Robert and brought his shovel down on the poor farmer. “thump thump”

One week later the whole town was surprised by the mysterious disappearance of the farmer and newly grown pumpkin patch on his property.

Happy October!