Halloween Returns

Remembrance

The doorbell resonates through the empty house, and I trip on my tail, almost falling down in my hurry to answer it.

When I open the door, chills run down my spine, and at first, I am not sure why that is. Although the trick-or-treaters I expected are nowhere to be seen, there doesn't seem to be a reason for my discomfort. However, I know better.

My breath gets caught in my lungs as I lower my eyes to find another lock of dark brown hair on the ground. It could be a prank, but I know better.

I would have recognized that silky hair anywhere. After all, how many times have I run my fingers through it? How many times have I moved it out of his piercing blue eyes?

I quickly grab the hair and lock the door. Then I proceed to check all the windows. Only then do I shakily sit on the sofa, the same one where I last kissed his soft lips, that remembered happiness that I am unsure was ever real. Our time together feels like a sweet dream that turned into a nightmare.

I can never fully recall what happened that fateful night. All I get when I try to remember are broken pieces, each one containing more horror than I can bear.

There was blood. Screaming.

What haunts me to this day is the image of blood dripping down his forehead, in a slow but steady stream, his eyes pleading for help.

No help came. I was too weak. Too scared.

It took him away.

When I finally managed to pull myself together, every trace of him was gone. There were no signs of struggle, but I knew what happened.

Long nails, digging into his flesh. Evil red eyes. Enormous teeth biting into his neck as life slowly drains out of him.

It's a never-ending horror that I keep reliving every Halloween. What terrifies me is that I am close to the truth.

The pieces are coming together. Soon I'll remember.

The hair in my hand shifts while I scream in horror.

My head hits the table as memories overwhelm me.

James sits next to me, his hand wrapped around my shoulder as we watch a movie. Suddenly a clawed hand emerges from the TV, soon followed by a horned figure with a long tail swishing back and forth in delight.

Before we can do anything, James is grabbed, and claws dig deep into him. Moments later, the monster starts to feed on his flesh, its eyes never leaving mine.

"You're next," he says before they vanish.

My eyes snap open only to be met with fires of hell from the Devil's eyes.

"I see you never forgot me," he says, pointing at my devil costume.

"It was fun torturing you through flashes, but now you're ripe for the picking. Your time has come," Devil says, his teeth latching onto my neck.