HALLOWEEN

Chapter 6

Karen pushes the front door open, her fingers stumbling with the house keys, she held them close as she moved into the living room. She held the paper bags full of groceries close, her eyes scanned upwards and she noticed the back door that was open ajar. She stopped where she was and slowly turned her head to the stairwell, she swallowed the lump in her throat and moved around into the kitchen where she placed the bags down on the counter top.

"Ray?" She called, her voice swimming across the room. "Allyson?" She turned back to the stairs, her eyes never leaving the structure. "Is there anybody home?"

The back door opened, Karen jumped and turned and looked at Ray.

"Karen?" He asked, removing his safety glasses. "What's wrong?"

She raised her hand and walked towards the stairs. As she looked up, Laurie swung down.

"Gotcha!" She said loudly. Karen gasped and moved back, hitting the wall with a heavy thud. She was aiming her gun at Karen. "You're dead!"

Ray rushed over to his wife, his hands grabbed her shoulder supportively and held her close. "What're are you doing in our house!?"

Laurie scoffed. "Do you mean how did I get in your house? You side window was wide open".

"Mum!?"

"You have no security system, Karen! Anybody can get in!" Laurie protested. "Sometimes I can't tell the difference between your stupidity and ignorance".

"Laurie, I can take care of my own family!" Ray yelled, anger flooding him.

Laurie spoke over him. "The bus crashed".

"What?" Asked Karen.

"Look, I have a plan. Where is Allyson we need to get out of here now".

Ray pointed at the gun in her hand as he approached her. "Put down the gun".

"Hey. Hey! Back off!" Laurie said as she lifted the gun.

"Put down that gun!" Ray went on as he got closer. "You're in my- put down the gun!"

Laurie looked over his shoulder and over at Karen who was rubbing the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

"Mum. You need help and you are not welcome here until you get it" She said loudly, moving her hands around in anger. "I won't subject Allyson to it".

"I have tried to protect you and prepare you!" replied Laurie, her eyes glistering with tears. "Now we have to hunt him down".

Ray shook his head and chuckled and stepped away as Karen walked over and grabbed her mother around the arms gently. "Yeah. And I am trying to prepare dinner for my family", she wrapped her hand around Laurie's arm and began leading her to the front door.

"The world is not a dark cruel place, it is full of love and understanding. And I won't stand here and allow you to convince me otherwise".

Ray had opened the front door and was ready to close it when Karen pushed her mother outside.

Laurie turned and lifted the gun. "Do you have a gun?" She asked, she tried to force it over but Karen yelled,