Joseph Stephens and the Hallows End part 2 of 4

Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams stared in amazement at the town before them. The mustached skeleton, Bob, had led them to Hallows End, the town dedicated to Halloween and misfits. “This is totally worth almost dying” Joseph said as his eyes were alight. Jaye’s excitement matched Joseph but he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings. His expression was guarded as he examined every monstrous villagers. “Where do you want to go first?” Asked Joseph with child like glee. Jaye’s serious expression melted away to form a silly grin “Anywhere that looks like the most fun” Jaye exclaimed.

Bob led the two friends down the main street. Along the street were the townsfolk, they ranged from skeletons, ogres, trolls, ghosts, imps and vampires to name a few. Joseph also saw a number of creatures that he couldn’t name. The creature whose body was made of ooze, with a snake-like tail for legs, five long tendrils instead of arms and a head with five screaming faces, was a new sight to Joseph.

Along the Road there were many kinds of structures, some were simple brick buildings with strings of lights along their exterior while others were large, brightly lit and in the shape of pumpkins, skulls, bats and trees. The one casino in town was in the shape of a devil’s head, with windows for eyes and a large mouth for a doorway. The entrance was covered in sharp ‘teeth’ and bright yellow lights shined from the ‘eyes’ of the building. Two large horns jutted up from the top of the casino, each horn was over fifteen feet high. Joseph immediately walked towards the casino but was stopped short by Jaye. “We could win so much money, I just know it!” Joseph protested. “Or lose our heads in the process”

Bob had continued to obliviously march down the street. Joseph and Jaye quickly caught up to the skeleton before he even noticed they had left. Ahead of them was the popular tavern, “The Grinning Jack”, a structure in the shape of a Jack-O-Lantern, with a large crooked grind carved into it. The eyes, nose and mouth had sharp edges and light poured from each hole. The tavern was both eerie and welcoming at the same time, which was how most of Hallows End felt.

“This town is really well lit for a town full of monsters” Joseph commented. Bob coughed, or made a coughing noise to signal his displeasure. Skeletons can’t cough. Or grow mustaches. “That is racially insensitive, not all monsters lurk in dungeons and caves. Some do, and we actually have a part of town where lights are banned, but still. Please do not assume things” Bob lectured. “Ok, ok. Sorry. Jaye and I have fought our share of aggressive beasts and are used to a certain atmosphere. But this place really shows that everyone can live together in peace” Joseph said. “Well almost everyone. We are here because of unruly skeletons right?” Jaye added. “Yeah, thats true. Apparently not skeletons” Joseph commented. “Not all skeletons, ok? Not all skeletons, just some are unruly” Bob shot back.
The troop entered the Grinning Jack tavern, inside was decorated with orange and black, it was rustic and had strings of lights along the ceiling and around the stairway railing. The bottom floor was an open room with a bar, bar stools, tables, chairs and a more private corner with a booth. The upstairs was reserved for rooms for staying the night. The door to each room was partially visible from the bottom floor and was decorated with a pumpkin and each pumpkin had the room number printed on it.

Bob led the group to the bar. “This is the best place to start. Everyone is very chatty when they drink. Also the bartender is a nice guy” Bob explained. Behind the bar stood a man with an orange cloak, a green and black shirt, black pants and a jagged looking sword on his belt. His face was covered in scars and scars that ran along both sides of his mouth and around his eyes made him look like a human Jack-O-Lantern. “Names, Pumpkin Jack. how can I help you?” Asked Jack. The two looked at eachother “Well do you have pumpkin beer? Or would that be an insulting generalization?” Asked Joseph. Jack laughed “No, we do have pumpkin beer, thats the theme after all” He shrugged and poured two pumpkin beers.

“We also are looking into this skeleton problem. I guess all the skeletons are acting up and committing crimes?” Jaye told Jack. “Not ALL skeletons” Bob piped up. “Yeah, some skeletons have been breaking laws but this is a town of monsters and criminals, we arent worried about a few skeletons. I can assure you I’ve faced worse” Jack replied as he traced the scars on his face with his index finger.

Joseph turned to Bob. “Are we here to save the day or are we just running errands?” Joseph said, his tone turing less friendly. Bob was startled by this shift in his new friend. “Many townsfolk dont take it seriously but I am worried that this is a sign. The skeletons were peaceful and now most of them have gone and started attacking people and stealing things. I am not only worried about skeleton reputation but ALSO worried that the dreaded Necromancer is returning to power. He is the only one who has such sway over the undead” Bob stammered. Jack rolled his eyes and went about his business.

    Joseph and Jaye considered what Bob said but before either of them could speak, a female voice chimed in. “It has grown worse. Your friend with the fake mustache is correct to be afraid” The group turned and saw a woman with raven hair and pale skin approach the group. Her piercing green and blue eyes looked over the group as she spoke. “I have heard that skeletons who go to the casino come out in a frenzy and no longer care for the laws and rules of Hallows End” She added.
    “My mustache is actually real. Skeletons can grow mustaches, its a real mustache” Bob protested. Joseph was not only enraptured by the beauty of this stranger but also excited that they now had a reason to visit the casino. “SO, I guess we are heading to the casino!” Joseph said. Jaye was about to protest but decided to quietly go along with it. He took a healthy swig of maple syrup and readied his claw hammer for the inevitable trouble they would find themselves in.

    Joseph began to leave the tavern but stopped short. “I’m Joseph by the way. It is a pleasure to meet you. What is your name?” Joseph asked the raven haired woman with his most charming smile. “My name is Lynara. It is very nice to meet you, Joseph” She said with a smile. When she smiled her mouth moved but her eyes stayed intense and concerned. “I could help you if you wish. I know a little magic and am also concerned about the threat to this town” She added. “Of course! The more the merrier!” Joseph replied without discussing it first. Without another word Joseph raced towards the casino with the new girl in tow, Jaye following cautiously behind and Bob scrambling to keep up.
    The group raced to the casino, Lynara’s long hair and dark black and purple robes blew in the wind as they ran. She had a black, leather belt tied around her robes and tucked into the belt was a magical talisman, Joseph hadn’t noticed any of this.

    The group arrived at the casino shaped like a devils head and Joseph quickly walked in. The inside was awash with bright lights, sounds and smells. Food and drink flowed from table to table, the games and tables were decorated with flashing lights and buzz words like “Winner” and “Cash”. “Time to investigate” Joseph declared with a determined look in his eye. The group made its way through the busy casino. Joseph kept a watchful eye out for a skeleton of any kind. His keen eyes scanned the room for skeletons. He completely forgot Bob was a skeleton.

    “I don’t know if I should be in here. What if the evil magic of this place turns me into a lawbreaker?!” Bob said nervously as he rubbed the ends of his boney fingers together. “Oh, that is a good point! We could use Bob as a guinea pig” Jaye suggested. “T-that wasn’t the point I was trying to make” Bob protested. “Just sit down and play one of the cheap slot machines and we will watch. If you start to change we will stop you” Joseph assured the mustached skeleton. “Yeah, by force if we have to” Jaye said clutching his claw hammer. Bob returned to being nervous.
Bob sauntered over to a slot machine and sat down. Put a coin in and began to play. He lost. Then he tried again. Then he lost again. With each loss he looked at the two friends with a pleading expression. Then on the third try he won, coins began to spill out of the machine and lights flashed from the machine. “Ahh! I broke it!” Bob cried. “No, I think you won” Joseph replied. “OH! Right! Of course I did. I am of course a very successful business skeleton” Bob retorted as he groomed his mustache with confidence. Jaye scooped up the coins and dumped them into a large cup, then handed it to Bob.  “Do you feel evil yet?” Jaye asked. Bob gave the question some serious thought. Then replied “No, I feel the same”

As Bob played the slots a pair of casino bouncers appeared from the shadows. Both were skeletons, one was the skeleton of an ogre and one was a human skeleton. Both wore flashy suits and carried clubs. “Greetings, friend” Said the human sized skeleton. “My name is Handsome Johnny and this is my associate Grux” Replied John the handsome skeleton. “SO Handsome!” Jaye said with a smirk. If Johnny had a face he would be scowling.

“We have a very special offer for you. Something to seriously consider” Johnny told Bob. Bob was sceptical but nodded “Alright, I will listen to your offer. I am after all a very good business skeleton” Bob replied. Johnny nodded “right, right. So, who are these humans. Are they your servants or something?” Handsome Johnny asked. Joseph and Jaye looked at eachother then Bob spoke up quickly. “Yes! Of course. So if you want to offer me anything, I will be bringing my SERVANTS” Bob replied looking at Joseph and Jaye. “As you wish, sir” Joseph and Jaye said reluctantly. The two friends didn’t want to get separated from Bob at a time like this.
Lynara at this time was watching from the back. Her form was translucent as she moved and the skeleton bouncers never once noticed her presence. Even Joseph had a hard time keeping an eye on her lovely figure.

The skeleton bouncers then escorted Bob and the group away from the slot machines and through the casino. They walked past the loud, blaring machines, the cheers of winners and the sobbing of losers. They finally arrived at a red door marked private. They pushed the door open. The doorway led to a very swanky hallway that was somehow even more expensive looking than the rest of the casino. The hallway had several doors on the right and left but the bouncers continued down straight until they reached a golden. They pushed open the door and led the group into a large room where the owner of the casino sat.

A large skeleton sat behind a very expensive desk. The casino boss was almost fifteen feet tall and towered over his skeleton ogre henchmen. This monstrous skeleton wore a tailor fitted suit and fedora. The room, his chair and desk were all large enough to accommodate his size. Joseph, Jaye, Bob and invisible Lynara were now all faced with a room full of thugs and a giant skeleton in a suit. The threat to their safety was rising and they had to rely on Bob to talk them out of this situation.
Lynara was concerned, Joseph was worried and Jaye was eating.

Joseph Stephens and the Hallows End part 1 of 4

               The evening was cool and damp, trees rustled in the wind and the full moon hung up high in the sky. Joseph Stephens and his best friend Jaye Williams layed on the cold earth, sprawled out and surrounded by piles of fallen leaves.

      Previously Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams had an adventure to save the magical Autumn Forest from the destruction caused by the ice and fire brothers, Ignitious and Glacius. They accomplished their task and set out to return home but before they could go home, they were whisked away by a mysterious force. The two friends vanished in a gust of wind and brightly colored leaves.
Joseph and Jaye found themselves on the outskirts of the brightly colored Autumn Forest and on the border of the sickly gray and green colored Haunted forest. The Haunted Forest came to be when a necromancer used his foul magic to in an attempt to become immortal. The evil magic cursed the surrounding section of Autumn forest, changing it into the dangerous Haunted Forest.
Joseph stood up and brushed the dirt from his pants. Jaye stayed on the ground and stared up at the break in trees that separated the beautiful Fall foliage and the reaching, menacing branches of the Haunted forest. “Two very IN tourist destinations. But which to choose?” Smirked Jaye as he moved his arms and legs to make snow angels in the dense layer of leaves on the ground.
“Well I’d say we could go back to the Autumn Forest but this spooky looking forest looks neat” Joseph said as he stretched out his back. “Yeah and maybe I’ll get lucky and you will die from a monster attack” Jaye said smiling and still laying in the leaves. “Luckily for me, you aren’t lucky” Joseph said giving Jaye the side eye.

     The two friends began to investigate the edge of the Haunted Forest. Joseph was looking at the gnarled trees, each one had bark so twisted that it looked like a screaming face. Jaye was filling his pockets with leaves from the Autumn Forest.

    As each friend carried on their somewhat important tasks, a figure emerged from the Haunted Forest. The figure approached Joseph and Jaye with a brisk stride. Joseph turned around to see a skeleton with a mustache, wearing a suit.

   “Don’t be scared, I come in peace” The skeleton quickly declared. Joseph stood unflintching. “I’m not scared, you aren’t very intimidating. You are also shorter than me and are wearing a fake mustache” Joseph pointed at the skeletons face. “It’s real! Ok, it is a real mustache. Skeletons can grow mustaches, I shouldn’t have to keep explaining this” the skeleton replied suddenly flustered. The skeleton then collected himself, straightened his suit and tie, rubbed his skeletal hands together and decided to start over.

   “Hello, my name is Bob. I am a skeleton, I live in the Haunted Forest. I run many very successful skeleton related clubs and I used to be an accountant for a successful tavern in the Autumn Forest. I am also responsible for summoning the two of you here, and I apologies” Said Bob the long winded skeleton. Joseph sighed “I need to get a second phone dedicated to all the magical creatures, elementals, seasonal entities and humans that need my help on a regular basis. Right Jaye?” Joseph said then called over to Jaye Williams.

   At this point Jaye was very busy not paying attention. Instead he was crushing Autumn Forest leaves into a powder. He then used the end of a knife to form lines of crushed leaf powder and proceeded to snort each line of autumn leaf powder. Jaye’s head shot back “Ohhh, shhhhii...Ok, ok ok” He muttered then reached into his bag and pulled out an amber colored glass jug of pure uncut maple syrup. Jaye took a long healthy swig of his maple syrup jug, then closed it back up and stashed it away.

   Joseph sighed “are we ready yet?”. Jaye bobbed his head and fidgeted with his clothes. “Yeah, yeah yeah, lets do this” He said, not knowing or caring what he agreed to. Bob was horrified.
“So whats the problem Bobert” Joseph asked casually. “Just Bob if you please” Bob said as he absent mindedly touched his mustache then straightened his tie.
“So, I heard you helped Patches with a band of ruffians and now I need you to help me. This is a nasty band of skeleton thugs that don’t care about rule OR order! I can reward you for your efforts of course” Bob explained as the thought of disorderly skeletons gave him a nervous fit.
Joseph Stephens reached into his bag and pulled from it a sword with a pumpkin on the pommel. “Just point the way and we will instill law and order”. “At least as long as its fun” Jaye commented. “Yes, as long as its fun” Joseph agreed. Bob’s concern grew.
“Ok, well. Follow me gentlemen…” Bob trailed off as he watched Jaye wipe crushed leaf powder from his nose. “Follow me, uh, comrades” Bob walked forward into the Haunted Forest with Joseph and Jaye in tow.

   The forest was dense and gray, twisted branches grew together, blocking out the sunlight above. Skeletons could see in the dark but Joseph and Jaye needed to light a torch.
The forest floor was made of dark gray and black dirt, green moss and pieces of previously alive creatures. Tree branches slowly reached out to grab Joseph and Jaye as they walked. One branch snagged Joseph, so he retaliated with a slice from his sword. “I forgot to mention, the Haunted Forest is super dangerous to anyone who isn’t already dead. A safe path opens on the eve of Halloween, but it isn’t Halloween yet so stay close and hopefully the forest will leave you alone” Bob said calmly.
“We should have asked for half of our reward up front” Joseph muttered.

   The route was covered in blocked passages, improvised short cuts, walking in circles and the occasional near death experience. As they walked they came across a Jack-o-Lantern sitting on a rock. A warm glow was emtted from the holes carved in the shape of a face. Joseph’s first reaction was to touch it and admire. Bob turned around and saw his new companions interacting with the mysterious pumpkin. “Please don’t touch that!” Bob shouted.

   Joseph touched the Jack-o-Lantern and nothing happened at first. “It’s just a pumpkin” Joseph said. “This is the Haunted Forest. Everything is Haunted, nothing is safe” Bob explained. Just as he finished speaking the Jack-o-Lantern’s light began to glow brighter and brighter. The light changed a sickly green and howling laughter could be heard echoing through the air. Then the laughing suddenly stopped and the light from the pumpkin went completely dark.
Joseph and Jaye stared at each other in silence as the now lifeless, Jack-o-Lantern sat. “Lets try not to think about that too much” Joseph said. “I am pretty sure you’re cursed for life now” Jaye said. “More cursed than your normal bad luck” He added.
After an hour of walking and great effort to forget about the laughing Jack-o-Lantern, the group finally arrived at Hallows End. This was a town for monsters, humans, undead and any creature who didn’t fit in anywhere else. It was also the number one best place for a Halloween party and at that moment was being plagued with a crime wave from unruly skeletons.

  Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams looked in awe at the wonderfully spooky town before them. It was here that their adventure began.

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.

Skeleton picnic 2 I mustache you a question

            It was a cold dark night in the haunted forest, ghosts moaned in the distance, rustling could be heard in every direction and occasionally a menacing laugh would echo through the trees. The Haunted Forest used to be part of the Autumn forest, which was a forest full of life and eternally stuck in autumn. The whole Autumn forest had towns, animal life, brightly colored flowers and autumn colored leaves on every tree. Then a necromancer built an awful spire of evil magic on the western most end of the autumn forest. The corruption from his undead soldiers and evil magic twisted the trees and brought spirits up from the netherworld. After the Necromancer’s defeat the haunted forest remained cursed and haunted.

 

            Soldiers brought a powerful mage to heal the haunted forest  and while they successfully drove out the spirits in the southern edge, the forest never returned to its full beauty. So the humans of the Autumn Forest grew to know their neighboring forest to the west as the Haunted forest and the southern edge of the haunted forest became known as the Dark Forest. The Dark Forest was no longer haunted or cursed by magic, but the trees were black as coal and never grew bigger or bloomed with flowers or leaves. This is important because in order to survive a trip to the haunted forest, someone would have to be as fearsome and powerful as the forest itself.

 

            On that cold dark night in the haunted forest a figure casually walked along a broken path. The figure had its hood up and stood about five and a half feet tall. The figure stepped into a clearing to find a group of skeletons all mashing their teeth and guzzling down beans and wine. This event was some sort of picnic for skeletons.

 

            The figure watched for several hours, fascinated by the sight. It wasn’t a well known fact that skeletons were in fact quite social. The figure stepped out into the clearing and was instantly noticed by the entire group. The figure stepped forward. The figure was a boy, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, track runner pants and casual white and black sneakers.

 

            “Sorry kid, humans aren’t allowed!” Shouted one of the skeletons. The whole picnic of skeletons turned to look at the boy and some of them stood up menacingly. Bob the skeleton, who had organized the picnic, stood up and walked calmly over to the boy. “Excuse me, how did you find this place?” Bob asked calmly as his fellow skeletons seemed angry and confused at a human visiting their picnic.

 

            The boy had pale skin and the hood from his sweatshirt hid half of his face. He had short dark brown hair and one visible eye that was a striking blue. “I am searching for something, the forest…” The boy stopped and chose his words carefully. “The forest, led me here. It let me in. Trees moved out of my and apologized when I bumped into them” Explained the boy. A look of fear washed over the entire group of skeletons. “W-what are you?” Asked Bob who tried to stay calm but was so nervous his totally real and not fake mustache almost fell off.

 

            “I-I don’t know” Replied the boy. He sounded sad and confused. He stared down at the floor in shame. Bob realized that this boy might have parted the most dangerous forest in the land, but he was still just a boy and seemed lost as well. Bob patted the boys shoulder with his skeletal hand. Bob’s skeleton fingers felt hard and weren’t very comforting. The slender bones of each finger provided no warmth or softness, it was like trying to comfort someone by placing a bare tree branch twigs over their shoulder.

 

            The boy looked up at Bob and smiled. Though a skeleton hand isn’t comforting the kind gesture was. Bob was pleased and placed his hand on the boys back, leading him to the group of skeletons. “So what is you name? Are you hungry? We have red beans!” Bob said, proud that he actually had human food to offer the human. This was the only time of the year Bob ever had any food to offer anyone, as the skeletons don’t eat and the beans are just for ceremony.

 

            “my name is John. John Pharris. Yes, I am hungry, thank you” the boy spoke slowly and carefully with each word as if trying to keep some secret or truth from slipping from his lips. John sat down at the table at was given a bowl of cooked red beans. The beans had been cooked hours ago and were now as ice cold as the frigid October winds. John didn’t care about the taste or temperature of his food and began eating the red beans a few at a time, picking them up with his hands and chewing each bean carefully. The skeletons watched in wonder and amazement.

 

            “I haven’t seen a human eat in hundreds of years, did we all used to eat like that? Did I used to eat like that?” Asked a skeleton wearing a medieval era shirt and pants. “Probably, though I remember eating with a fork and also being more refined” Bob replied, posturing himself up and rubbing his mustache between his forefinger and thumb bone. Bobs mustache was a black and bushy mustache that was almost long enough to touch his cheekbones and the mustache curled up at both ends.

 

            “D-do any of you guys know about the grave wagon?” Asked the boy after a few moments of silence. None of the skeletons wanted to answer and possibly incriminated themselves. Earlier, during the picnic, Bob mentioned that many humans blamed skeletons for the grave wagon attacks on human cities. “We are as equally aware of the Grave Wagon as any other creature is” Bob explained.

 

            “You guys seem nice, I don’t think you guys are involved” Said John. “We didn’t say anything about being involved one way or another” Bob said nervously. “I felt it. I can’t read thoughts but I feel intentions. You are worried about me blaming you for what happened to me…” Replied John but then trailed off. His eye stared off into the air as if watching a horrible memory reply in his mind. “What happened to you boy? I would like to help but I don’t know who or what you really are” Explained Bob. Some of the other skeletons had crept away and left the picnic out of fear of the child and fear of humans in general but the majority seemed to share Bob’s concern for the boy who seemed to have been one of the few humans in history who survived the Grave Wagon’s attack.

 

            “My town was attacked out of nowhere, this was years ago. I’m fourteen and was barely nine when the grave wagon attacked. It appeared out of nowhere as if it was a hologram or an illusion. Things poured out of the wagon, monsters or shadows. I escaped with my parents. The town crumbled behind us as we drove away in our car. I was so scared the whole time.” John explained but had to stop. The memories were still painful even after all of these years. A single tear fell from his one visible eye. “I escaped with my parents as the trees came to life and attacked us. It was like the trees in this forest. But when I came to this forest the trees were nice to me. The trees from my town weren’t nice when they came to life. The car crashed and my parents and I survived the attack” John explained. “Geeze, maybe the kid should have some wine too” Said one of the skeletons, a skeleton dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, who sounded sympathetic and wished that he could get drunk after hearing that story.

 

            “My parents and I got separated years ago and I’ve been on my own ever since” John added, not responding to the offer of wine. “We don’t know where the Wagon is or where it comes from. We also don’t know how you survived the forest coming here. The trees here aren’t nice, this is the Haunted Forest, unless you are undead like us you wont be able to get through the forest easily. I’m a skeleton and the trees are still jerks to me!” Bob exclaimed in indignation. “How did you get the trees to actually move for you?” Asked a skeleton wearing a fancy party dress in the style of the nineteen twenties. “I was injured in the attack. The grave wagon’s magic struck me…” John said, his words trailed off as his right hand lifted up and pulled his hood down.

 

            The entire right side of his face was a black shadow with no hair or nose. Half of his mouth was a human mouth and the other half was a row of sharp teeth with no lips. His left eye was a striking blue and his right eye was an empty socket if darkness. “This explains some things. The Forest is afraid of you, its afraid of the Grave Wagon’s magic. I can assure you whatever evil magic the Grave Wagon uses, it does not come from this forest. I don’t know if it even comes from this world” Bob explained. He was concerned for the boy and was the first one to even not recoil in fear at the sight of John’s full face. Bob had seen worse looking monsters and didn’t even flinch at the shadowy face of John.

 

            John lunged forward and gave Bob a hug. John hugged Bob around his chest, Bob’s ribcage and spine were easily felt through Bob’s suit jacket and raggedy shirt. “Thank you. I needed someone to treat me normal. I don’t think I can live with humans anymore” John said, tears welling up in his one eye. Bob patted the boys head. “I know what will cheer you up” Bob said putting one finger in the idea to gesture that he had a good idea. Bob reached into the pocket on his sports jacket and pulled out a small bushy mustache. “I always have back up” Bob whispered so that the other skeletons couldn’t hear. Bob stuck the mustache to John’s face in one quick motion.

           

            John moved back and felt the bushy mustache on his face. The new facial hair distracted from the razor sharp teeth on the right side of his mouth and made John look slightly more human and also slightly sillier. “Look what I just grew!” John announced with a laugh. The last of his tears trickled down his face as a loud laugh escaped his mouth.

 

            “Boys can’t grow mustaches! Especially that fast!” Shouted the skeleton with a t-shirt and jeans. “Of course he can! Look at that skin! Human skin grows hair” Bob said, defending John’s new mustache. “SKELETONS CAN’T GROW THEM EITHER!” Shouted a skeleton in a flak jacket. “IT’S REAL! OK YOU GUYS?! ITS REAL!” Bob shouted back. “It’s real” Bob said to John. “It’s a real mustache, the others just like to tease me” Bob explained to John. John winked at Bob. “Don’t worry, I know it is” John said. If Bob had skin he would have given John the biggest smile.

 

            John the survivor of the Grave wagon and Bob the skeleton talked and ate red beans for the rest of the evening. John didn’t have anywhere to go and had run out of leads for chasing the Grave Wagon. That’s when Bob told John of a town full of monsters and spirits called Hallows End. Since the Haunted Forest had already accepted John as a fellow monster, John could travel to Hallows End unhindered. Bob also explained that a few of the leaders of Hallows End were as old as the forest itself and might know more about the Grave Wagon. John would go on to visit Hallows End and even learn some secrets along the way. But that is another story for another time.

 

            For now I suggest treating yourself to some good food, warm blankets and if you see any skeletons with mustaches say Hello.

Skeleton Picnic

Deep in the Haunted forest, on a cold night in October, thin shambling shapes traveled to a clearing of dead grass and one large table. The table was a giant tree stump that was carved into the shape of a table and was in fact still rooted into the ground by the massive roots that once fed a mighty tree. The stump was once a giant tree but now it served as a permanent table in this clearing. The clearing could only be found by those who already knew were it was and anyone traveling through the Haunted Forest would never find it by accident.

 

            The Haunted forest liked to trick travelers and lead them to their doom. The Haunted Forest let people safely travel to the Halloween village of Hallows End, but they were only guaranteed safety on Halloween day and the morning after. This strange clearing with its equally strange root table was so private that it must be host to the most evil and gruesome of events. On this chilly October night, the clearing had become the grounds for the Skeleton Picnic.

 

            Spooky skeletons shambled through the Haunted Forest unhindered by its trickery and curses. The clearing soon filled with undead figures, each dragging large heavy bags. Their bones rattled as they walked, the sounds of uneven foot steps echoed through the area as an army of skeletons shuffled and staggered over the dead grass. They all made their way to the center table with their bags. Each bag was hoisted up and dropped hard on the root table.

 

            Each of the bags spilled open when they hit the table revealing plates, cups, lanterns, miniature pumpkins and many jars of red beans. The skeletons got to work setting up lanterns in the clearing, the dark of night was pushed back into the depths of the forests by the small lights of a dozen lanterns hung up on metal rods. Each rod was stabbed deep into the ground and had a small hook on the top. The lanterns were hung from the hooks and would sway slowly in the cold October wind.

 

            The Skeletons set up the dishes in a big circle around the table and placed bottles of wine scattered through the center. Large jars of red beans were poured into oversized wooden bowls. The skeletons all sat on the ground in a circle around the wooden stump table, once they were all positioned they remained silent and motionless.

 

            A skeleton wearing a black vest, brown coat and brown pants, stood up and began to speak. “Greetings everyone, I am glad to see everyone was able to join us. Well, everyone except that Steve…” The Suit wearing Skeleton paused mid announcement and muttered curse words under his breath about Steve the skeleton. “Everyone who takes this picnic seriously made it, and for that I am grateful. As most of you know, I am Bob the treasurer of the “skeletons for the banning of dogs” club and also in my past life was an accountant for a promising tavern in the Autumn forest” Bob the Skeleton announced. “Yeah, accountant and a skeleton with a totally real mustache that isn’t fake” shouted a skeleton wearing torn jeans and a t-shirt. Several skeletons laughed and elbowed each other in the rib bones. Bob stared at the t-shirt wearing skeleton for several seconds, if he had a face his eyebrows would be furrowed. “Yes, it is totally real, So I am not sure why you said it like that” Bob said as he straightened the mustache on his face.

            Bob began again with his announcement “For those of you who are new here, Welcome and I hope you make it a tradition to join us every year. We are here to enjoy the company of our fellow Skele-brothers and sisters and talk about issues we skeletons face. Now before we get to all of that lets enjoy our traditional meal of red beans and wine” Bob announced as he adjusted the collar of his coat.

 

            The skeletons each took turns pouring red beans into their bowls and wine into their cups. The Wine and red beans had been a tradition of the skeleton picnic for over a hundred years and no one could remember why they even served food and drink at all. Many of the skeletons just assumed it was left over habits from being alive.

 

            The skeletons all started eating and drinking, immediately staining their torn clothes and the ground below them with red wine and bean paste mashed. The skeleton group ignored the wine and beans falling through their ribcages and onto the floor and pretended to have taste buds and stomachs. While many skeletons made fun of Bob for his totally real/not real mustache, every skeleton did some amount of pretending at one point or another.

 

            Bob stood up looking official as he straightened his red stained clothes and made a noise that resembled a human clearing their throat. “I have a few announcements, this is news that is relevant to all skeletons but I will have to settle for informing the skeletons who actually showed up at this meeting. First. The Grave Wagon has been active again. Every year this giant machine appears from the fog and decimates human cities. Normally that would not be a skeleton problem but many are saying that skeletons are involved. I refuse to believe this but I must mention it anyway. Humans and the monsters of Hallows End are whispering about skeletons and possessed humans being the culprits. Even if this is false, the fact that others believe it to be true will make our travels harder. So for now I urge skeletons to stay in the haunted forest and if any skeleton IS responsible for this destruction they need to step forward and take ownership of this carnage so that the rest of us wont be dragged down by his or her actions” Bob announced in a serious tone. Whispers and muttering was heard among the skeletons. Most seemed genuinely upset by this news but some cheered at the thought of humans being destroyed.

 

            “Secondly some goblin scientists have found that bone can grow hair and that it IS possible for skeletons to have some hair on their head or face” Bob said with conviction. “Your MUSTACHE is FAKE!” Shouted a skeleton in a blue hooded sweatshirt, his boney hands forming a cone in front of his mouth as to echo the words further across the table. “ITS REAL!” Bob Shouted back, his neatly pressed clothes becoming as ruffled as Bob’s nerves were. Bob touched his mustache to make sure it was on tightly, he did this as a reflex and didn’t realize he was even doing it.

 

            “Last bit of news Nyx and Poe, the self proclaimed Czars of Halloween have asked me and many skeletons to help with this years Halloween party. They say it will be important for skeletons and will be lots of fun. I don’t always agree with humans having such leverage in Hallows End but if they make a party that shows how fun and helpful skeletons are, maybe it will combat the bad press bestowed on us by this dreadful Grave Wagon” Bob explained to the group. More muttering could be heard. Many of the skeletons liked the sound of a skeleton themed Halloween party and were more concerned with the fun it could provide than the positive reputation that Bob was so worried about.

 

            The party continued on after the announcements. The cold October wind blew through the dark Haunted forest but the skeletons didn’t have skin and didn’t feel the cold. The talked and ate red beans unfazed by the cold Autumn air. The night lingered on and fog drifted into the clearing from the surrounding forest. The skeleton picnic was on its one hundred and eleventh year and the members of the picnic had been undead for a range of years. Bob had been a skeleton for almost fifty years and though he was in charge of the meetings he wasn’t the founder.

 

            Autumn was in full swing and Halloween approached slowly and steadily. It was in October that the Haunted forest and surrounding area would be more exciting than any other time of the year. The bravest of mortals might seek such excitement and if they were careful and wise they would not only find excitement but would also find that they still had breath in their lungs on November 1st.

Halloween Carnival part 2

  The day of the Halloween Carnival had arrived, it was a cold autumn night, the invisible face of the moon stared down at the earth below. On the border of the Autumn Forest and the Haunted Forest was a clearing, on the clearing was the site for the exciting and new Halloween Carnival.

 

            Lights beamed into the air signaling all to come and join the fun, giant black metal gates surrounded the carnival and only had one entrance through the front. People slowly and cautiously approached the new carnival. Music played, ticket sellers waited in their booth by the front gate and Charles Orchard was in his human form yelling into a cone that amplified his voice. “Welcome, ladies and Gentlemen! Children and pets! This is the first annual Halloween Carnival, where scares and fun wait around every corner. The Carnival may seem spooky but this is a safe, family friendly adventure. If you loved the joys of my Autumn Carnival, try the scares of my Halloween Carnival” Charles shouted, his voice echoed through the clearing. The carnival was new and strange but seeing Charles Orchard there made the people feel more at ease. His Autumn Carnival was a yearly tradition and many residence of the Autumn Forest knew him personally.

 

            The large gates opened with an eerie creek that echoed through the clearing. No one said a word and the whole clearing was dead silent, then suddenly a marching band came pouring out of the carnival to greet the guests. The loud band music broke the silence with a sledgehammer as the band danced, marched and shot confetti out of their instruments. Most of the band members appeared human, but some were a little strange looking, so strange that the locals just assumed and hoped they were wearing costumes. Most notable band members were a goblin hopping along cheerfully with a baton, a horse headed man in a tuxedo playing a trombone, and ghost of a woman who wore old style clothing, had a knife sticking out of his back and played the trumpet.

 

            The crowded seemed to warm up to the strange marching band and some were even dancing along with the spooky scary skeletons that danced along behind the band. Charles beamed with pride as it seemed his plan was working.

 

            The inside of the carnival was filled with creepy rides and fun Halloween themed treats. Snack stands were placed at the entrance to entice people to part with their money in exchange for purple slime apples, which were just caramel apples with food coloring, or Devil sandwiches, which were spicy meat sandwiches with a tangy-sweet sauce on a red tomato bun and little toothpicks sticking out to look like horns.  The stands also had various kinds of candy, apple cider, and fruit punch with fake eyeballs floating around in each glass.

 

            At the center of the Carnival was the Pumpkin Tree. Charles Orchard took a seed from the magical Autumn Carnival tree and planted it in soil from the Haunted Forest, the result was an autumn tree that grew pumpkins from the branches, like an apple tree, but instead of apples this tree was filled with small pumpkins with glowing Jack-o-lantern faces. The pumpkin’s faces glowed with green, purple, blue and red light and were most certainly not edible.

 

            If you traveled further into the carnival you wound find rides of all sizes. There was the dead drop ride where people are lifted into the air slowly, then suddenly dropped causing fear and shrieking from the terrified patrons inside the box. There was also a towering set of metal beams with a Jack-o-Lantern at the top. Guests would get into a little lift at the bottom and then brought up into the pumpkin, then the pumpkin head would spin around super fast, insane laughter would echo out of the Jack-o-Lanterns mouth as the people inside the pumpkin screamed. Lastly an actual haunted mansion was at the Carnival, it was a huge house filled with things that would scare even the bravest of souls. Charles found lesser creatures from the Haunted Forest and trapped them in the mansion, but put up a spell to protect the customers.

 

            The carnival also had rides for kids and the faint of heart. The Bat flight ride would let people soar over the carnival while riding on a giant mechanical bat. The Bat even had a cartoon-ish vampire voice that recommended food and rides to people new to the park. The Kids of the Autumn forest enjoyed the bouncy pumpkin, which was a giant inflated pumpkin that had bouncy floors and a ball pit to mimic pumpkin guts and seeds.

 

            Games dotted the carnival, such as Halloween hunt, where you shoot a pellet gun at incoming Halloween themed monsters. The carnival also had a game called Cat claw machine, where you control a claw that looks like a black cat, with each claw hook being a cat let. Kids would hover the cat over spooky treats and small stuffed animals like plague rats, skeleton mice and poisonous frogs.

 

            Charles wished there were more rides and attractions but he was on a deadline. He hoped this Halloween his carnival would be a huge success so he could keep adding things and make a new one every year.

 

            While the crowds of people laughed, ate and screamed in terror a familiar face was walking among the humans. Pumpkin Jack, the man with the carved face walked through the Halloween Carnival and smiled at all the good cheer toward Halloween. He spotted Charles and patted him on the back “Good work Chuck, you did good” Said Pumpkin Jack, who was dressed in all orange and black as usual. His jagged pumpkin-carving sword was strapped to his belt, but everyone assumed it was fake or didn’t seem to notice.

 

            Charles could feel the joy and entertainment that the park was bringing everyone and it brought a warm smile to his face. Then a sense of dread over took him, he looked toward the Haunted Forest and saw an uprising of shadow fiends, ghosts and spirits gathering behind the Carnival. Charles looked at Pumpkin Jack, who also saw it. The two ran along the outer gate of the carnival, they ran as fast as they could in hopes that they would be able to intercept the shadow fiends before they reached the carnival.

 

            When Charles finally reached the group of spirits and fiends he noticed the Czars already standing between the fiends and the carnival. Pumpkin Jack and Charles quickly went to join their friends. “You won’t stop us human!” shouted a towering shadow creature carrying a black hammer. The shadow hammer had runes written into the side and Charles knew right away what they were. The shadow hammer was forged with shadow magic and physical magic, letting the wielder attack any ghost, spirit, shadow or human with crushing force. “Whats going on? We had a deal! Don’t you already feel the fear from the scary rides in my carnival?” Asked Charles. The leader of the small army laughed. “You promised a feast of fear and so far we’ve only had a snack. There isn’t enough fear to satisfy all of us. We all helped build your human entertainment and now we want the feast we were promised” said the shadow fiend leader. “Gentlemen, it doesn’t matter the size of your meal, this is a guaranteed yearly meal that you wouldn’t normally have. This is one meal you don’t have to hunt for, one meal that is delivered right to you. You all did a wonderful job helping build the rides, but now you have infinite years ahead of you of annual free meals. A month of work and now you have guaranteed fear to eat every Halloween. This carnival will go on for as long as I live and I plan to live a very long time” Explained Charles calmly. Some of the angry spirits and shadow fiends seemed satisfied with that for an answer. “ALSO if you go any further I will put every one of you whimpering spirits so far in the ground you won’t ever see the moon again!” Shouted pumpkin Jack who was holding his jagged pumpkin sword. Jack’s blade was also able to cut and destroy any ghost, shadow fiend, monster or human. Pumpkin Jack was older than most of the creatures in the haunted forest and the power of his sword was a product of absorbing years of dark energy from Hallows end and the Haunted forest.

 

            Between the rational explanation given by Charles and the convincing threat from Pumpkin Jack, the majority of the shadow fiends and ghosts decided to slink back into the Haunted forest and enjoy their free meal. The shadow leader and his closest followers decided to press the issue. “You don’t scare me, Pumpkin boy. My hammer can kill anything, no matter how old you claim to be. So I think its time to feast on those humans. Their pure fear will taste even better than this manufactured fear you are feeding us” Said the Shadow Leader as he began to march forward.

 

            Nyx and Poe, the Czars of Halloween, pulled their weapons out from the straps on their back. “I was hoping not to mess up my suit” Said Poe as he brushed his black and white suit with the back of his hand. “I was hoping to mess up someone’s face, so this works out” Said Nyx with a creepy smile. The Czars of Halloween, and Pumpkin Jack all charged forward with their weapons ready to strike. Charles stayed back and began to chant. After a few seconds Charles was able to create a barrier around the Halloween Carnival. The barrier let humans come and go, but anything supernatural couldn’t pass through into the carnival, the barrier also hid the fighting that was about to ensue outside.

 

            Pumpkin Jack charged forward and slashed like a maniac at the Shadow leader, Pumpkin Jack used to be a human sailor at one point in his life, he had sword skills, grace and a peaceful mind, now he had the mind of an animal and went berserk whenever he was in a fight. The shadow leader was able to block each sword strike with his shadow hammer but he was having a difficult time keeping up. The giant shadow monster swatted his large hand at pumpkin Jack then used both hands to slam his hammer into the ground. The ground shook and spirits rose up from the ground and began to latch onto Jack, sapping his strength with their supernatural powers.

 

            Poe ran toward Jack and swung his Axe scythe. The great blade sliced through the air, sending a spirit blade forward at Jack. The spirit blade went through Jack but only made contact with the summoned spirits. The Spirits all cried out as Poe’s special ability forced them back into the earth from where they came. The shadow leader melted into the ground and reappeared behind Poe, striking him in the head with a quick but deadly punch. The force of the punch sent Poe stumbling sideways before he crumpled to the ground. Nyx shouted in anger and alarm and rushed toward Poe. Nyx and Jack pulled their swords out and attacked the shadow leader at the same time. The force of two pumpkin swordsmen attacking at once was too much for the leader. Each strike of either sword left a trail of fire and burning wounds. The shadow leader tried to block with his hammer but the force of the sword strikes were too much and ever time a sword struck his hammer, the shadow hammer would shake and start to crack.

 

            The two swordsmen attacked with the force of an army of wild animals. The shadow hammer began to glow orange-red as it heated up. Poe finally stood up with a determined and deadly look in his eyes. He charged forward and swung his axe with all of his might, straight down at the shadow leader. The leader blocked and the force of Poe’s strike broke the already weakened hammer. The shadow leader flew backward as his hammer exploded.

 

            “uh…huh, fine. You win. But you can’t kill me. No matter how much I am sliced. Only a shadow fiend can kill another shadow fiend” Said the Shadow leader. Just then Pumpkin Jack realized he hadn’t seen Charles. The group of friends looked around only to see Charles in his true Shadow fiend form. A hulking shadow monster was ripping ghosts and spirits apart with his bare hands, then eating the ones who weren’t completely destroyed.

           

            Charles had been fed so well over the years from the Autumn Carnival that his true for was as big if not bigger than the shadow leader, who was an older shadow fiend than Charles. “You dare attack my carnival? You attack MY PAYING CUSTOMERS?!” Charles shouted, his voice shook the ground. Charles jumped in the air and landed next to the shadow leader. Charles had horns, glowing yellow eyes and jagged teeth inside his giant mouth. Purple and black swirls moved through his whole body as if he was a liquid, a smoke and a solid all at once. The shadow leader melted into the ground to escape but Charles reached into the ground after him and pulled the leader out, lifting him up in the air.

 

            Before the Shadow leader could beg for mercy Charles took a big bite out of the leader, crunching off his head with little effort. He dropped the leaders body in a slump, which quickly melted away. Charles opened his mouth, pulled the leaders head out of his mouth and held it up in the air. The leader’s head was still alive, losing his body didn’t seem to slow him down. Charles summoned a pumpkin out of this air and smashed the leaders head into a pumpkin. A face appeared on the pumpkin, it wasn’t carved but instead it looked as if it was painted on by glowing purple paint. The spirit paint appeared in the grim visage of the Shadow fiend leader. The spirit of the Leader was now trapped in this special pumpkin for all eternity, as long as no one smashed it open. Charles stashed the pumpkin away in a pocket that he seemed to open up out of the air.

 

            The Czars of Halloween seemed shocked and surprised, Pumpkin Jack looked like he had seen this kind of thing before and was unimpressed. “Well I am glad that is over” Said Pumpkin Jack. “Yes, me too! Thank you so much for your help. It may have seemed like I had everything under control but I certainly couldn’t have done it without you. The shadow leaders hammer alone would have put me down for the count” Said Charles as he slowly morphed into his human form.

 

            The customers of the Halloween Carnival had no idea that their lives were in danger and if asked they would say that they had a great time and looked forward to going again next year.

The Halloween Carnival part 1

        The night air was crisp and cold, each gust of wind howled and the full moon hung in the sky as it stared down at the world below.  

            Deep in the haunted forest was the Halloween loving town of Hallows End. Anyone inside the borders of Hallows End would see monsters for their true nature. No ghost could stay invisible and no shape shifter could hide their identity. Villagers of other towns would come to Hallows End for a yearly Halloween party and anyone who knew the magic of the town would be unsettled to see that the moon had a menacing grimace and eyes that fixated on the earth at all times. Many decided to believe it was the magic of Halloween playing tricks, but the creatures of Hallows End knew that they looked upon the moons true face. 

            Charles Orchard, the owner of the Autumn Carnival made his way through the Haunted Forest. The Haunted Forest was full of wild spirits, screaming pumpkins and gray, leafless trees that oozed green slime when injured. Charles Orchard had determined eyes and strode through the dangerous forest with purpose in each step. The man wore a black suit with a bright orange shirt, black top hat with a black and orange striped band at the base of the hat and a purple leaf sticking out of the side of the hat. Charles walked with a cane decorated with a silver pumpkin for a handle.  

            Soon Charles reached a clearing that lead to the ever-popular Hallows End. It was a week before Halloween and the town was lit up with orange, yellow, red and purple lights, brightly lit signs, and lanterns with green flames and Jack-o-lanterns on every corner and by every house.  Charles took one step into Hallows End and his appearance immediately began to change. His clothes stayed the same but his skin turned black as coal and his form became less solid. Charles Orchard wasn’t a human from the Autumn forest, he was a shadow fiend from the Haunted forest. It was entirely possible that he was the only friendly shadow fiend in the world. He delighted in seeing others smile and laugh and if he grew rich from it, then it was even better. While other shadow fiends fed on terror and pain, Charles was nourished from being around happiness and good will. The love of the Autumn carnival and the fun from the rides was enough to feed Charles for an entire year. 

            Shadow fiends didn’t care about hurting humans but Charles didn’t want to see anyone suffer, so he came up with a plan. He would make a Halloween Carnival that would scare AND delight humans once a year. By creating scary rides on the edge of the Haunted forest, the human fear would feed the Shadow fiends and keep the humans safe all at the same time. He would also be able to get a second, smaller meal of happiness and good will each year. He would use this extra energy to strengthen his magic, making it easier to teleport and maintain his Autumn and Halloween Carnivals. 

            Charles smiled warmly as he saw that production was ahead of schedule. His almost featureless face curled into a smile that would send most running for the hills but it was hard to look warm and lovable when he was in his true shadow form. Villagers of Hallows End and even monsters from the Haunted Forest pitched in the help to build the Halloween Carnival. For the residence of Hallows End the carnival would spread more Halloween fun throughout the land, the spirits and wraiths of the Haunted Forest only saw the carnival as a means to be well fed every year. Regardless of motivation, Charles was happy to see so many people working together. 

            The Czars of Halloween stepped out from a pumpkin shaped tavern holding beer mugs. They were both smiling and their smiles widened when they saw Charles. “Charles my friend, how are you?” asked Nyx who was dressed in a black and orange suit, a long sword was strapped to his back, the pommel was in the shape of an angry looking Jack-o-lantern. Poe waved “Hey”. Poe wore a black and white suit and had a large scythe shaped axe strapped to his back. No one was expecting trouble but the Czars of Halloween were not only chill Halloween loving dudes but also the fierce protectors of Hallows End. 

            “Boys! Everything is going wonderfully! We almost have all of the rides ready and when the construction is complete I will be able to teleport everything on the human side of the Haunted Forest” Charles said excitedly.

            The Czars of Halloween were in their late twenties and were still mostly human, but were often referred to as boys by the older inhabitants of Hallows End. Some monsters, including Charles, were hundreds of years old. For the Czars be relatively young humans and still be so respected, was quite a feat.

            Days passed since that day and Halloween was right around the corner, the Halloween Carnival had been completed and all was ready for the grand opening.

            This Halloween day promised to be one that no one would forget any time soon.

Assault on the Dark Spire part 2

         The Necromancer stood up as blood gushed from his wounds. The Ancient dark magic staff had expended all of its energy, but the evil staff had a mind of its own and was determined to retake as much energy as it could. The staff began to absorb the dark power of the Haunted forest, the cursed clearing, the undead minions and the Necromancer himself. Dark energy swirled around the Necromancer but he refused to give up the staff even though it was killing him. He held it tight against his body as the dark energy stripped the flesh and organs from his bones. The undead minions all collapsed to the ground and their souls were released into the air. The demons of the Haunted forest fled from this realm as they feared their energy would be drained from the mad Staff’s power.

            The Mayor could barely stand and had to watch the madness unfold as he struggled to his feet. When the energy and flashing light faded the Necromancer stood before the Mayor as a skeleton. The Skeleton was fused with the power of the staff. The Staff held his magic, his life force and his soul and the Necromancer held the Staff. It was even more important to him now than it had ever been.

            The mayor couldn’t fight and even if he could he didn’t know how to kill a skeleton wizard with so much power. The Mayor stood up defiantly. He didn’t think he could win, but he had to try. He had to fight, even with his last breath. “Foolish Mortal. I have been reborn. I am the most powerful undead wizard of all time. I have been reborn as a Lich and my power surpasses all. I have power over death itself!!” The Lich Shouted. At that moment Death appeared. The Grim reaper wore a black cloak and carried a scythe, he floated in front of the Lich and his cloak seemed to fade into the shadows. “As a mortal you tried to bend the laws of life and death to your will, you twisted the laws of reality to match your selfish desires. I cannot take mortals before their time so I had to sit and watch as you sinned against nature. But you are no longer mortal, you are an abomination that claims to have powers over me. Alright then Abomination, do your worst” Death said, its voice came from the air and not its skeletal mouth. Each word that Death spoke echoed and sent chills down The Mayor’s spine.

            The Lich wasted no time and held out his staff sending his strongest spell at the Grim Reaper “Lord of Death, you shall bow to me!” Shouted the Lich as the magic of the staff blasted the Grim Reaper and surrounded him. Death spun his scythe through the air and the magic spell dissipated. “Fool” Death said then in a blink was next to the Lich, then in another blink the Grim Reaper had slashed his Scythe through the Lich.

            The Lich was thrown back and damaged but was not destroyed. His life force was safe within the Staff. The Lich was quite possibly immortal, but he was not stronger than Death itself. The Grim Reaper summoned a dark portal below the Lich. Shadowy hands rose up from the portal and grabbed onto the Lich, dragging him down into the ground. The Lich screamed as the shadow hands pulled him into his dark prison deep down into the earth. The ground shook and the Lich slowly disappeared underground.

            “Thank so much” the Mayor said as his voice quaked with fear. He knew Death was a natural force and not a villain like the Lich, but it was still terrifying to be in its presence. Death nodded to the Mayor “You have also contributed to this victory young Mayor. You and John Baines” Said Death. “What will happen to the Necromancer? Or the Lich or whatever he calls himself” Asked the Mayor “He will be sealed underground for eternity. But I fear he will regain his power one day and return. He will return but will need to use all of his energy to do so. Only then will he be able to be destroyed once and for all. So I hope that there will be mortals as brave as you when that happens” Death explained.

            “I want to be there when he comes back. I will do anything to make sure the Necromancer doesn’t come back to destroy the world” The Mayor said. The Grim Reaper was surprised “it is within my power to do this but there is a price. You will be immortal, free from dying of old age, but you can still be killed by other means. Also you will only be immortal while standing on these Hallowed grounds. You may leave the forest to see your family, but as you reach the end of your life you must never leave the forest or you will die the second your foot touches the outside world” Death explained.

            The Mayor was overjoyed to have a chance to protect his people and the people of the world. “Thank you so much for this chance, I will not let it go to waste. I promise. But these grounds are not hallowed or holy, are they?” Asked the Mayor. “Yes, this was once the burial site of many heroes of the ages. This was the site for the heroes of not just the Autumn Forest but of many lands as well. The Necromancer corrupted that energy and turned it to dark energy. The land and forest will be forever scarred, the Haunted forest will be free from demons but the spirits and creatures of the night still lurk within. The land will remain blackened and twisted but the dark energy has been removed and sealed within the staff. This land is once again a holy land, the burial site of heroes and many dead who lost their lives to the Necromancer” Death Explained.

            “Speaking of Heroes” Death said. Then appeared next to John’s body. “Arise John Baines, you have not left his world yet” Death said. The mayor watched a ghost of John appear and step back into his body. John’s eyes opened and he slowly stood up. “John you have done well. I know you have heard what the Mayor has asked of me. I ask you now, do you wish to join him in guarding this land or will you move on to the afterlife?” Asked Death.

            “I wanted to be free for so long. Now I am free from the Necromancer’s curse and I feel as though a weight has been lifted. I would very much like to go to the afterlife, but I cannot rest as long as the threat of the Lich is still present” John said. “Very well John. I will make you immortal as long as you stay within this land. Magical weapons and spells can still kill you but you have nothing to fear from mortal weapons. Since you have already used up your lifespan you cannot ever leave this forest and if you do, you will die. When you and the Mayor die you will go to afterlife and welcomed as heroes” Death explained. John and the Mayor nodded to show they understood.

            “Before I leave, I will bestow one more gift” Said Death. The Grim Reaper floated over to the ground where the Lich was buried and stuck his finger into the ground, pulled it out then dropped a small seed into the earth and buried it. “This plant will sap the Lich’s power, delaying his return and making him more vulnerable. The plant will grow over the years and it will transform the dark magic of the Lich and the land into the holy energy this land once had. After a time the land might actually recover and become a place of beauty again. What the plant grows into is entirely up to you. It will take any form you wish. But protect it with your lives” Death said. Then before John or the Mayor could say anything, the Grim Reaper vanished.

            John walked over to the seed and looked down at it. “It can grow to anything? What should we grow it into?” Asked John. “I have always been fond of Halloween, the people in the Autumn forest never get into it as much as I do. Maybe we can grow it into a symbol of our victor, a symbol of a new holy land of the dead, a symbol for Halloween. What do you think, John?” The Mayor asked. “It sounds like you want to grow a Jack-o-lantern” John said with a sigh then smiled. His smile was determined but a little frightening “If we are going to live in this hallowed end of the world and grow a Jack-o-lantern as a symbol, then I guess you can call me Jack” Said Jack, his broad smile and wide eyes combined with the scars on his face really did make him look like a pumpkin that was carved on Halloween.

“Alright Jack, consider this your new life. And if we are going to start a new life and actually have to live here, we might as well make it more comfortable” the Mayor said. “What like build a house?” Asked Jack. “No, we build a town” Replied the Mayor.