Short Stories: 10-31-18

Life Copies Art?

  Isaiah was finished getting ready for the ball when his sister brought the pickup truck over. You know it's going to be a fun time when Charity wore a beautiful red gown and red flowers while driving her dirty '08 pick up. 
    Isaiah sat patiently in the pickup truck, his suit crinkling. After a long drive, they came up to the beautiful white mansion on the hill. It was surrounded with blue and purple flowers, and the pearly white building itself had vines with purple morning glories on them. They parked their car near the small cherry blossom tree, further from the building. Isaiah fidgets a little, and Charity rubbed his shoulder, causing him to look up.
     "Hey, I know you're nervous."
     "I'm not that nervous."
     "You kidding? I haven't seen you this nervous since you attempted to ask Quinn Baxter to junior prom. Now that was fun." Isaiah glared at her. She giggled. "No offense."
     They got out of the car, and they walked to the door. There was a little pumpkin sticker on the door. A short girl with a pink wig came to the door and gasped. "Charity!" She hugged her, and they both laughed happily. Isaiah smiles a little. They pull apart. "I thought you were still in Boston?"
     Charity nodded. "I was, but they let me come back for Halloween. How could I miss Ruby Baxter's super fun Halloween party?" They giggled with each other, and Ruby finally noticed Isaiah. "Isaiah!" She jumped up to hug him, and he awkwardly hugged her back. "Gosh, you grew! I remember when you used to be my height, what happened??" She pulled back with a bright smile. He chuckled a little. "Hormones I guess?" They all laughed together.
     They all went inside to the house, a beautiful ball room inviting them in. It was huge, two large stairwells on either side of the room, a large white door at the top. The large chandelier shone bright, and there were many tables with food on them. Halloween decorations were everywhere, and little masks laid on the small mahogany table. There were already a few people, some Isaiah recognized- Olson Martin, Ginny Castle, Monty Ferrah, and...
    Isaiah froze, looking towards the girl with short blue hair, and blue eyes. Her freckled tan skin was covered in an angel costume. She wore makeup, but she didn't really need it. Isaiah blushed brightly. He looked down at his pirate costume; he must've looked dumb.
    Ruby and Charity came near him. Ruby looked up and yelled, "Hey, Quinny!"
    The blue haired girl looked up and walked over regretfully. "I thought I told you I hate being called Quinny?"
     Ruby giggled and punched her gently. "Oh well. Oh! You remember Isaiah right?"
     Oh god, please no.
     Quinn looked at him, then her eyes light up. That surprised him. "Hey, what a coincidence!" She said happily. "It's good to see you, Butler."
     Isaiah shyly smiled. "Thanks, Baxter." He replied.
     The cheery and lovely mood was changed by a loud scream. The four teenagers turn to the ballroom, and were horrified. All the teens ran from the room to the outdoors.
    Monty's head rolled on the ground.
    Isaiah looked up and he sees a man on a horse.
     But he had no head.
    The four of them ran upstairs, as everybody panicked. The horse shrieked, and the headless figure put Monty's head into a large sack. The horseman began the hunt.

    "Oh, my god!" Ruby exclaims. "What the hell is going on?!"
     "Ruby, shh!" Charity replied cautiously. "He could hear you."
     "What was that thing?" Quinn was panicking, as she paced around the bedroom.
     Isaiah was thinking, and thinking. Then he was starting to remember.
      "The headless horseman."
    The four girls looked at him with bewilderment. "There was a tale about him. A guy named Ichabod Crane is stuck in a town with folks being haunted by the monster. It's hard to say what he does, but some parts of literature says that he decapitates his victims in search of the proper head."
     Charity shook her head. "That's a fairy tale."
    "So maybe it came true?"
    "Okay, but how?"
    "Look," Isaiah replied. "I'm not sure, but maybe we can figure out how to get rid of him by finding out his weakness."
     Quinn snapped her fingers. They looked at her. "I remember- didn't he try to cross a bridge, but he died?"
    Isaiah nodded. Ruby look defeated. "We don't have a bridge, guys," she replied with sorrow. "Isn't there another way?"
     Quinn shook her head. "There is one bridge, the one near the river."
     "That's like a mile away!"
     "I'll drive us," Charity said, getting up. "I have a plan."

     Isaiah hated this plan. He didn't wanna be bait, but whatever. He snuck downstairs quietly as the girls escaped through the window.
     The headless horseman saw him, and immediately chased after him. Isaiah was in fear as he ran out of the mansion. Isaiah ran until he reached Charity's car. He ran in the backseat, sitting next to Quinn. Charity slammed on the gas and drove. He was almost just as fast as them, slicing the bumper. Ruby screamed. Quinn opened the sun roof and attempted to fight back, until Isaiah dragged her back in. "No need for you to get hurt!" He yelled.
     They finally got to the bridge, and drove over it. The horseman stopped in the middle of the bridge. He looked around like a confused puppy, and the friends watched with caution. Suddenly, the bridge completely collapsed. The horseman fell to the bottom of the stream. All of the teens got out, and whooped and cheered.

     But the cheer dies quickly the minute the police sirens blared through their ears.

Charity Butler, F
Isaiah Butler, M
Ruby Baxter, F
Quinn Baxter, F
Responsible for the deaths of seven teens, 16-19.
Comment(s): Claims that a headless man riding a horse committed the crimes. Most likely lying.

Isaiah was quiet in his small jail cell. He was separated from the rest and put in a cell near the exit. He looked in despair towards the window, as he hear the shriek of a horse in the middle of the night.