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.

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.

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!

Autumn Train

It was the end of summer, the night brought a temporary break from the heat. The crickets chirped and the humidity of the day still lingered in the air. I always loved going for long walks around my old apartment building but in the summer, I delayed my walks till night.

 

            The city streets were empty in my part of the neighborhood. I lived in a historic district of the city, it was quiet, affordable and I was still close to the store if I needed anything. Behind my apartment were old train tracks and every night I would hear the train rush by and shook my apartment as it went. My apartment wouldn’t so much shake as gently rumble, it was more soothing than it sounds.

 

            I always loved trains and the sound of trains in the distance relaxed me, so on this particular night I left my usual walking route and headed for the train tracks. I wanted to see the train up close for some time and that night was a perfect night to finally see it in all of its fury and speed.

 

            I walked off the sidewalk and down a grassy hill, the warm summer air stuck to me like wet clothes. The closer I walked toward the train tracks the cooler the air became. Walking away from the concrete and tall buildings afforded me the chance to feel a cool breeze of a changing season. I knew I was silly to hope for Fall weather so soon, but that didn’t stop me from quietly wishing it to myself.

 

            I heard the train approaching in the distance but didn’t see it or the lights. I ran closer to the train tracks, running through wild grass that reached my shins, it was damp and scratchy. A chest high wooden fence stood between the tracks and me. Knowing I couldn’t go further without risking my life, I held onto the wooden fence posts and leaned my body forward in anticipation of seeing the train rush past me.

 

            I heard the sound of a trains horn and the sound of it barreling down the tracks but I couldn’t see anything. The sound grew closer and closer till finally it sounded like it was right in front of me. I saw a blinding light flash then an enormous train barreled passed me.  It was twice as big as any train I had ever seen, it barely fit on the tracks. It was made of black metal with orange stripes across the side, it had an old fashioned look to it, like it had been made a hundred years ago. There was one big light on the front and steam poured from the front of it. It dragged a long trail of cargo carts, all of them were wooden boxcars with green, orange or black paint and some weren’t pained at all.

 

            The rush of the train kicked up a cold breeze that blew through the field. The blast of cool air felt like a winter wind had blown through me. I shivered and stepped back. I convinced myself that the wind was from the train’s movement and the only reason it felt so cold was because I was used to the summer heat, but when I turned around I saw the grass around me was covered in frost.

 

            The frost quickly melted from the grass and as it did I turned back to the train just in time to see the last car and caboose fly by. Another winter wind was kicked up and blew through the field.

The train disappeared into the night and left no trace that it had ever been there. The only thing that remained was the cool air that pushed back the heat and the memories I would always have of the mysterious train from that night.

Autumn Moon

Far away, out into space sits a large ball of rock that floats around our planet. It is called the moon. It is not magical or mysterious, it doesn’t even produce its own light. Yet, when I hear the word moon look at the moon my mind races with scenes of fantasy.

Joseph stared up at the full moon in the night sky. It was bigger than he had ever seen it and had an orange tint to it. Joseph was mesmerized by the sight of this glowing, light orange ball floating in the black sky, surrounded by millions of sparkling lights. A cool wind blew through the neighborhood and Joseph shivered. His mother told him there was going to be an autumn moon tonight and he rushed out to see it, forgetting his jacket.

Many of Joseph’s friends wouldn’t have cared about such a thing and many adults didn’t either. They couldn’t see the magic of it, they couldn’t see the mesmerizing beauty of a full moon. Whether its silver or light orange, it invokes a sense of wonderment and mystery. Moonlight shined down and the light bounced around through the fog of the cool autumn night. It was far from Halloween, but this was the kind of feeling Halloween always gave Joseph. The feeling that maybe when the lights go out and on a full moon anything is possible. The dull traffic and bright sunlight is gone and people are home, winding down for the night or resting in their beds. The world seems quiet and beautiful for a few simple moments.

Joseph wished people could see the world as he did, that they could see how much joy simple things could bring, The cool autumn air, a rainy day, a quiet foggy night,  or even a harvest moon.

Viewing day

Under a beautiful dark purple night sky full of stars and a glowing green moon sat Dylena. She lay sprawled out on the ground. The purple shade flowers and pale blue grass was soft and smelled sweet as always. Dylena was excited tonight because it was the one day a year that the window would appear outside of town. In the rather average land filled with boring spirits and shadow creatures, one day a year a magical window would open and show another world. A place that looked wonderful and scary all at the same time.

Dylena stood up and stretched, he mind unable to think of anything else besides seeing the magical window again. Others knew about this window and there was a yearly celebration that counted down to midnight. Then in front of all the villagers magical images would flash before them bringing wonder and excitement. Dylena was odd though, she loved the holiday more than anything else. She would decorate her home and even dress up in her best cloths for the occasion. And when it was over, she thought about how wonderful it would be next year. The day was celebrated as “viewing day” the day to view the unknown and try to learn the secrets of it all. Dylena’s interest or even obsession in the window came mostly because of how she looked. Unlike the other attractive glowing spirits or the sleek shadows. She was pale, taller and made of a more solid material. Some villagers would boast that they were so light they could float, but Dylena was more like a skinny tree, solid and bound to the ground, cursed to only travel by walking with her legs. So since she felt like an outcast she hoped that during Viewing day she might eventually spot someone or something that looked like her. Each year she hoped, but each year she was disappointed.

This was a new year though and Dylena raced down the hill to town. In only a few hours the Viewing would begin and she wanted to be ready. She quickly went to her house and changed her clothes. She changed from the typical linen body wrappings that most people wore to a lovely black dress with small glowing lights she would put in her long black hair. The dress was to make her look elegant like the shadows and she hoped the soft lights made her more attractive to the spirits and wisps of the town.

Then she heard the horn and music started to play. Dylena’s red eyes flashed with excitement. Then she ran from the house and into the town square to meet up with everyone else. From there the town would march out to the viewing spot, singing songs about the mystery of the window and playing their little holiday drums. Dylena sang at the top of her lungs and smiled as they all marched. Once on the outskirts of town the town’s people gathered in a circle around the spot they expected the window to appear. They talked and ate various holiday foods. Some creatures could only ingest mists or vapors but more enjoyed solid foods, various meats and cake would be served that night for everyone to enjoy. Despite being a bit of an outcast, Dylena had a few people to talk to and was friendly to everyone. She enjoyed her various colored deserts and a sweet meat of a forest dweller. Which looked like fat monkeys.

As the night grew late the people sat eagerly waiting for the Viewing. There was a rumble, then suddenly a flash of light. The villagers made happy squealing noises as the window began to form. Dylena looked in wonder through the portal. It showed images of a dark blue night sky, the pale white moon, green ‘grass’. Large trees made of wood, colored in bright orange, red and yellow leaves. Everything was solid, like her. The people were strange though. They almost resembled Dylena’s shape, but they wore cloaks and hoods, strange colorful clothes and some even carried weapons. The creatures of the window not only looked different than the people of her world, but they also looked different from eachother. How odd it was to see a group of creatures and no two looked alike. One had a large orange head with hollow eyes, some were covered in white cloth. Some had faces of pink skin others had rubbery demon faces. It was terrifying and fun all at the same time.

After a few hours the window started to fade. The villagers sighed and began to walk off. Dylena stayed though. She usually stayed until every last trace of the window was gone for good. This night though after everyone left, the window stayed open, half faded but still visible. Since the crowd was gone Dylena could get as close as she wanted for the remaining time she had with the window. She even tried to touch it, hoping that one day it would be more than just an image.  Others have tried to interact with it, but none have been able to touch. As if it didn’t exist. No sound, smell, taste or touch, just the sight of another world through a hole in the air. Dylena put her hand up to it, wishing she could visit this land, wishing the night lasted a little longer. Her hand passed through the window as always, she closed her eyes and sighed.

When she opened them though, the world looked different. The Sky was dark blue not purple, the stars didn’t scream into the night and the moon was a pale white or yellow. Dylena’s mind raced, as it became a possibility that she had crossed over into the window world.

John Nasher was getting too old for Halloween, or at least that’s what his friends and even parents said. He was sixteen now but loved Halloween and tried to get the most out of it every year. He would still do parties and dress up but this was his last night to trick or treat. Even at sixteen he felt too old to be trick or treating. His friends agreed to go with him though and the free candy was nice. So here it was, his last Halloween as a ‘kid’. John walked out of his house wearing a vampire costume, Pale skin, a cloak, red eye contacts and fangs. He looked pretty great. He walked down the street of the little suburban neighborhood and was going to meet up with his friends when he saw a strange glow. The glow faded then suddenly there was a quick flash. John could see again he saw a beautiful girl standing in the street wearing a gothic black dress, shiny stuff in her hair, pale skin and the same red contacts that he had. “Nice costume” he said to her. He was startled but didn’t know what else to say. “Whats your name?” John asked. The girl looked around as if seeing the world for the first time, when she looked at John she smiled. “My name is Dylena, nice to meet you”