Runaway Halloween

Chapter 3

Not knowing who, or what, was outside, Melanie continued to look at the visitor.

It stared back at her, placing its face as close to the glass as it could to her without coming through.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The visitor splayed it's fingers of one hand. "Five times," it said, before stepping back from the window. "Five times," it repeated once more, turning to walk back down the garden.

Melanie ran from the window to the door. "Who are you?" she shouted as the door opened.

The visitor remained by the window, watching her run from the house into the cold air. She looked around, while remaining close by the door. Seeing no one, her gaze then went back to the window.

The visitor remained.

Going back inside the house, she grabbed her coat.

With it on, she looked at the window once more, "I don't know who you are, but you're not going to frighten me in my own home," she said.

"Five times," was all the visitor said, before moving from the window to continue its journey deeper into the garden.

"You remain there. If you are big enough to try and frighten me while I am here alone, you should be big enough to frighten me when I come from the house and you can show me who you really are." Inside herself, she shook as she went to the door once more.

The visitor turned its back on her. "You're never able to see the real us until it is too late," the visitor drew out.

As Melanie opened the door, she felt a big gust of wind enter her home.

Placing one foot on the pavement outside, she shivered when she felt the coldness beneath her feet. "Show me who you really are!" she ordered, searching the garden from where she stood. As she looked at the place she thought the visitor would be stood, no one was there.

"I said, you can never see us until it is your turn."

She looked in the direction of the voice, but there was no one visible.

Walking from the door, she closed it behind her to go a little deeper into the garden. "Where are you hiding?' she asked the empty air.

No answer.

"Show yourself. If you don't, I am going to call the police to see what they can do."

"And you really think they can find us," the voice laughed. "If you're unable to see us, what makes you think they would be able to?"

After that sentence, she heard a few people laugh.

"Melanie, listen to them," this time, a different voice. "You will never be able to see or touch them without there being a barrier between you."

She liked to think she recognised that voice. She had not heard it for a while. A tear came to her eyes. "Brian?' she asked.

No answer.

"He has been running from us for too long," she heard. "We had to come and collect him."

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" she asked.

"Melanie..." she heard, before the door opened by itself.

She turned her head, and watched as the wind whirled its way through her home. Melanie ran back to the door, trying to close it. With her hand on the handle, she tried to pull it close, but was unable. Once she thought she had gained the momentum, something pushed it back open and it was like fighting an unseen force.