A night of witches, ghosts, and pumpkin lanterns

Fragrant candles in pumpkins

Golden autumn was in full bloom in a quiet suburban neighborhood of a small American town. Fallen leaves blanketed the streets in a yellow carpet, rustling under the feet of passersby. The crisp air smelled of chimney smoke and the spicy aroma of cookies from the home of the sweet old Mrs. Evans.

Around the neighborhood, homeowners eagerly prepared for the scariest holiday of the year. Mrs. Brown and her daughter Emily were hanging garlands of dried leaves and pumpkin lanterns on their porch. Emily watched in admiration as her mom decorated their home in orange and black, bringing to life her ideas for the décor.

Next door, Mr. Johnson was setting up creepy skeletons and ghosts on the lawn. He carefully planned the placement of each piece to create the perfect graveyard atmosphere. His wife, Susan, hung cotton spider webs on the trees, while their kids ran around, stretching them between the branches.

Further down the street, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were inflating a giant pumpkin, which was set to become the centerpiece of their yard. They smiled as it slowly filled with air, taking on its whimsical shape.

Scented candles inside pumpkins lit up the yards with a soft golden glow. Children eagerly picked out costumes for the upcoming Halloween, trying on scary masks and fake fangs. A joyful excitement filled the air, signaling the arrival of the most mystical holiday of the year.

But Liv, who lived at the very end of the street, could only look out the window sadly. Her mother, a plump, deeply religious woman, despised this holiday with all her heart. In the prayer house, her favorite pastor always preached before the holiday that Halloween was the worst day of the year. Every year, on the eve of Halloween, the pastor would ascend the pulpit, his gaze turning stern, and his voice taking on a solemn tone. He would scan the congregation with a strict look and begin his speech: "Beloved brothers and sisters! The day is once again upon us when the forces of evil try to take our souls. Halloween is a celebration that glorifies the devil and the supernatural. Those who partake in it are committing a sin and betraying our God of Light!"

The pastor would slowly sweep his eyes over the silent congregation, as if searching for anyone who dared to defy his words.

"This holiday is nothing more than a pagan ritual, where they worship pagan gods and demons! Following the traditions of Halloween leads straight to hell, where sinful souls suffer for eternity. I beg you, my dear ones, do not fall for Satan's tricks!"

The congregation would murmur in response to the pastor's fiery speech. Liv discreetly wiped away a tear, knowing that her mother would take the pastor's words as law. She understood that during the entire holiday, her mother would be praying endlessly, protecting their home from the "devil's schemes."

"Reject everything associated with Halloween! Do not give in to the temptation of dressing up as monsters and demons. Do not participate in pagan rituals and feasts. For all of this leads to eternal damnation!" The pastor's voice rang out like a bell, calling his flock to righteousness. Liv, remembering today's sermon, sighed bitterly, realizing that this year again, she'd be stuck inside while everyone else celebrated. For her mother, the pastor's words were above all. In moments like these, Liv prayed to the true God, begging for her mother to one day understand that she was caught in a cult...

Everyone knew to stay away from Mrs. Decker's house. If one of the new kids tried to get closer than a meter to the house, concerned neighbors would lead them away. They knew what might happen. For instance, last year, someone had the misfortune of knocking on Mrs. Decker's door. The door had flown open so fast that the poor kids didn't even have a chance to say the familiar "trick or treat?"

The plump, angry woman twisted her thin lips in disgust. Her brows furrowed so deeply that every wrinkle on her unpleasant face could be seen. Glancing at the children holding out cute pumpkin-shaped baskets, she took a deep breath and yelled, "Get out of here, you little devils! Get out, servants of Satan!"

Even though Mrs. Decker always chose "trick," no one dared to cover her small, shabby, peeling house with toilet paper. Some kids truly believed she was a real witch! In reality, she just hated children and, especially on Halloween, was ready to practically devour anyone who dared to turn her house into a free TP distribution center.

Liv often tried to convince her mother that she had fallen into a real cult. Donating to the church was fine, as long as it didn't exceed five dollars. But in return, the girl would only receive slaps and be sent to her room to pray. In those moments, she always thought of her school friend and her mother. Mrs. Brown and Emily. The woman was religious too, but unlike Mrs. Decker, she attended a regular church every Sunday. She made small donations, went to confession, and baked ginger cookies for the congregation. In general, she behaved like a true Christian. Emily was always neatly dressed, and her chestnut hair was carefully braided. Before school, her mom would kiss her on the cheek and wish her a good day. Liv would sigh secretly every time, watching Emily chat happily with her mom, holding hands. She longed for simple expressions of love and care! Sometimes, she even envied the lightness and openness in Emily's relationship with her mother. Her own life seemed gray and joyless in comparison. Liv was so different from her friend.

Mrs. Decker donated almost all of her salary to the church. To be honest, she didn't earn much. She was fairly educated and used to work for a pharmaceutical company. But one day, an illness struck her so hard that many medications had little effect on her body, acting only as placebos. That was when she found a brochure in her mailbox. It was unremarkable, barely noticeable, and had probably been lying there for two weeks. Those who created this useless piece of paper seemed to know about the family's problems. In large letters, the text proclaimed: "The House of Prayer 'Miracles of the Lord' guarantees healing from any illness! Our devoted congregation receives blessings from God Himself and is freed from their ailments. Visit our house, and you will witness true miracles!"

Now, she worked at a tailor shop, because pharmacies were, in her view, pure evil.

That day was a fateful mistake in the life of a then-very-young girl. If before, the money had gone to a noble cause—her mother's treatment—now it went straight into the pastor's pocket in the sect. By the way, the illness had gone into remission, which her mother constantly reminded her of when praising her beloved pastor. Maybe it really was a miracle? And Liv truly was an unbelieving sinner? Although... If you think about it, Mrs. Decker had continued her treatment during that time. Yes, a very difficult question...

Her mother had no qualms about spending their last pennies, giving and giving. She justified it by saying there were people who needed the money more than Liv and herself. Those words always infuriated Liv. And what about them? Didn't they need it too? The roof leaked sometimes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner consisted of canned food. On special occasions, her mother would make boiled eggs for breakfast and boiled potatoes for lunch. For dinner—those cursed canned goods again!

Because of poor nutrition, Liv was very thin. She looked like she lived on water alone. At fifteen years old, she was also tall—171 cm. Now imagine! A skinny girl with bags under her eyes, pale skin covered in freckles, as if someone had sprinkled them all over her body. Her long, unkempt red hair was always braided into a messy braid. Her clothes were gray and dull... Liv couldn't remember the last time her mother bought her something new. Imagine how awful she must have looked among her peers! Especially considering that many kids could be worse than the scariest monsters...

Fortunately, after realizing that her beloved mom wouldn't spend a single cent on her, Liv quietly started stealing small amounts from her mother's wallet. This had been going on since she was twelve. Honestly? She didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. By thirteen, she realized that a stolen dollar wouldn't get her far. So, after school, she began working small jobs here and there. She babysat for the neighbors, handed out flyers... Oh, what didn't she do?

After saving up some money, Liv went on a good shopping spree at a thrift store. Yes, the clothes were second-hand, but they were in great condition! Much better than the ones neatly folded in her closet. To be honest, she hid these new clothes—sometimes in her worn-out school backpack, sometimes under her mattress (where she also stashed her makeup). Her mom couldn't find them... Otherwise, the clothes would end up in the next charity donation...


                                                   ***

The long-awaited evening was approaching. Liv had already told her friend Emily that she wouldn't miss the holiday tonight. She was fed up! Enough! It had become unbearable to listen to her mother scream, "That cursed holiday is celebrated only by the servants of the devil!" every time. Asking for permission in the hope that her mother would show mercy this time was pointless. She had tried explaining to her mother many times that Halloween was just a fun family celebration, but her mother remained unyielding.

Sneaking out through the window of her small bedroom seemed like the best immediate solution. It was impossible to stay within those four walls, especially since the atmosphere of the room itself made Liv feel stifled and depressed. Her room was tiny and oppressive. The peeling gray wallpaper was coming off the walls in places, revealing jagged gaping holes. The old, rotting floor creaked with every step, threatening to collapse. In the corner stood a small bed that Liv barely fit into anymore, as she had grown considerably taller over the years. Her thin mattress sagged under the slightest weight, and her pillow was so flat it felt like it wasn't even there. Opposite the bed was a decrepit chest of drawers, its drawers barely clinging to their slots. On its cracked surface sat just a few belongings: a family photo, an old, tattered book that resembled a Bible (though it wasn't), and a worn-out glass trophy. That was all Liv could call her own. Surveying her dark and uncomfortable dwelling, she felt like a prisoner trapped within these four walls. She was desperate to escape and dive into the festive Halloween atmosphere she could see from her window!

Changing into something somewhat suitable for the occasion—a mustard-colored sweater, a black skirt, and her trusty Converse sneakers—she decided to apply a bit of makeup. She added some dark, slightly shimmery eyeshadow to her eyelids and red lipstick to her thin lips. Liv knew her mother had long been asleep. She always went to bed early. So, sneaking out would be fairly easy. Locking the door to her room, Liv determinedly walked over to the window. Lifting the frame, she climbed out.

The evening promised to be fun...