The Crumbling of Statuaries

It was evident the majority of the community realized the creaking house owned by the geezer did not match the rest of the street. The owner had vacated due to the impatience of having the door be rang for what seemed like an eternity those Halloween nights, leaving the home vacant to all. The bricks on the side eroded ever so slowly, yet for years it stood without collapsing. The door was painted red, but the decades had chipped away to reveal black underneath. Shingles had fallen off, siding was rendered useless, and no one seemed to have the decency to trim the lawn that grew into tall savanna grass. The residence with the lights off was left by the man with the stubbly chin and hunched back that matched his personality. However, at ten o'clock p.m. when the twilight had become its darkest, the lights were fully illuminated. Music and oblivious laughs rang outside onto the yard and gravel road.

"What kind of a fool leaves their door unlocked on a night like this?" He cackled as he set down his coal shaded rat mask, revealing his brown wild eyes on a middle aged body. The chip bag crinkled when it open. He plopped one inside, feeling the pride in that it was his suggestion to bring the celebration at the strangest house on the block. "What an imbecile!"

"Yes, well... Are you sure he's not returning tonight Marvin?" The woman with hazel eyes peered all around her surroundings while in her slim fitting mouse costume that resembled a knock off of a beloved female Disney character. The inside was much cleaner and nicer than the outside, but still unsettling. The walls were pale with outdated wallpaper. Windows hung drapes of thick maroon velvet. The old man was an obvious collector; given the odd main attraction of decorations were... statues. Animal statues of various species made of pure stone. The detail was so lifelike, but the sculptures lacked pupils in the dead eyes. Bats, bobcats, cranes, and the largest seen by the party was a howling coyote. Even without pupils, the music couldn't drown out the feeling of being watched. The girl came to the conclusion it was just Halloween messing with her head. She shuddered as she shrugged the feeling off. "You sometimes lack the ability to remember none of us should even be here."

"Oh Clarice, is the punch going to your head? That old pile of bones isn't coming back any time soon tonight. This is perfect! I didn't even have to decorate." Marvin tapped on the head of a life size fox figurine that was placed upon a nightstand. It sounded hollow while being cold and smooth to the touch. "What a creep!"

She sighed. "I'm just a little frazzled tonight."

"You just need to relax," One of the twins in the matching zebra costumes said. The tail on his pants had fallen off, and the black stripes had faded into the cloth.

"I suppose."

The second twin who's costumed was stained almost to a brown cranked up the stereo. It didn't take long for popcorn and various kinds of chips to appear on the carpeted floors. The laughing and conversing continued. The air was a frosting chill, but the body heat warmed it nicely. The punch bowl had to be refilled, and the uninvited guests were gloating at the break in by celebrating. This would be a night to remember.

Then the lights flickered.

At first it was just a little. The costume wearing adults thought nothing of it. The building was old, so surely it would have some electrical problems. It was when the walls and the chandelier of fragile glass began to shake they felt true concern. Marvin gripped the edge of the concessions table, nearly losing his balance into the costume that functioned as a huge footy pajama. The vibrations were so violent the curtains on the windows unraveled, blocking the outside world's eyes. The music continued to play, but the participants stopped using their mouths. One woman shrieked when she accidently fell over. Some shouted a little when two of the lamps blew their fuses, exploding and sending sharp fragments of the bulbs to the floor. Just as fast as it came the tremor stopped.