The Halloween Sacrifice

**A Flicker in the Dark**

The light flickered on and off, casting the room in partial darkness. It was a cold November night, and everywhere was eerily quiet. Something jolted Angelina from a deep slumber. She opened her eyes briefly, thinking she heard a noise outside the window. Turning her head, she was startled to see it ajar, a frigid breeze blowing in and chilling the air. Glancing at her husband's side of the bed, she was shocked — he wasn't there.

**The Laughter in the Walls**

Yawning, she tried to settle back to sleep, assuming Patrick was either relieving himself or working late again. But a nagging premonition told her something was wrong, though she couldn't pinpoint it. Sighing, she punched her pillow into a comfortable shape and closed her eyes. That's when laughter echoed from the wall: "Ha, ha, ha."

She bolted upright, frowning, and checked the window again. Teeth chattering, she hurried to close it but slipped on the icy floor. Her head cracked against the hard wooden boards. Stars exploded in her vision as she tried to orient herself, but her hand slipped again. "Ow!" she exclaimed. Brushing hair from her eyes, she noticed the blood on her fingers. "Patrick! Patrick!" she screamed, but no answer came.

Crawling on hands and knees to the door, she used it to haul herself up. With a shaky breath, she groped her way to the stairs leading downstairs.

**The Girl on the Stairs**

Suddenly, the light steadied, its brightness blinding her. Blinking it away, she saw a girl of about ten standing four steps below, head bowed, long hair covering her face. She wore a blood-soaked white sleeveless nightgown that fell just below her knees. A jagged bone protruded from her right hand, where three fingernails were missing — blood dripping from the wounds, tapping rhythmically: tap, tap, tap.

"Who are you?" Angelina asked, stepping back. No response.

"How did you get in here?" She glanced around, confirming this was her house. Still, silence.

A voice rasped from the shadows: "Angelina, my darling, your blood is needed for the sacrifice. Ha, ha, ha."

**The Chosen One**

Her heart leaped into her throat. Whimpering, she retreated further, refusing to descend. Then the light snapped off. She stumbled backward onto the landing, her rear slamming into a flowerpot by the bedroom door. Wheezing in pain, she focused on the shuffling footsteps ascending the stairs. The girl's voice chanted, climbing one step at a time: "She is the sacrifice. We need her blood for the birth of the Halloween. Her blood is the key to breaking the Dark One's prison. Ha, ha, ha."

The light flickered on. Angelina stared in horror — the girl had no face, just a blank, featureless void heading her way. She screamed.

**It Was Only a Dream**

"Angelina! Calm down, it's only a nightmare," Patrick said, cradling her as she gasped for breath, unable to speak.

"What was the dream about?" he asked, easing her back onto the bed.

"I saw blood... a kid with no face," she panted, checking the window to ensure it was locked. "It was open, breeze blowing in. I couldn't find you. Laughter from the wall."

"Huh. That's some dream, babe."

"Yeah, you can say that again."

"Do you mean a face like this?" He turned, revealing a blank void where his features should be — just like the girl. She screamed and fled the room.

**The Pumpkin Heads**

At the landing, three pumpkin-headed figures snapped their jagged teeth at her. Laughter mocked her from behind.

**A Dream Within a Dream**

A sharp slap across her face snapped her awake. Dazed, she focused on the blurry figure at her bed's foot. It sharpened into her mother's furious glare. "Do you want to bring the roof down on us with your screaming?" her mother fumed.

"Where am I?" Angelina croaked.

"Isn't it obvious, fool?" her mother snapped.

"I was at my husband's house." She avoided her mother's eyes, scanning the unfamiliar room.

"And when did you marry?"

"Wait... I'm not married?"

"You must be mad. Get out of bed and help in the kitchen — your brother's bringing a guest named Patrick."

"Patrick?"

"Don't question me. Get dressed." Her mother stormed out.

**The Shadow That Clings**

Angelina sat frozen, butterflies churning in her stomach, the dream clinging like a shadow. Then laughter seeped from the wall: "This is just the beginning. Ha, ha, ha."

Screaming, she bolted from the room.

The Fall of Kar

The dark one has been the terror of the celestial realm. He has been the cause of war, disease, drought, famine, and all manner of evil beings. He had used charm to interbreed species of different breeds and create monsters that he used as an army.

From Hero to Monster

He used to be a mortal. He used to serve humanity and fight for justice. His name is Kar, a remarkable young handsome man who grew up in a modest village in the southern end of the world. His village community lived a simple life. They were isolated from the other parts of the world, and very soon they were getting attacked by bandits. Their food was carted away, and some of the people were kidnapped and ransom was demanded before they were released. Some unlucky ones were killed.

Kar made it his duty to defend his people, and very soon his praise reached the ear of the divine authority, who bestowed power on him so he could carry out his duty. And he did justice. He cleared his village surroundings of bandits, and when he returned home, he took one of the most beautiful women as a wife.

A Joyous Celebration

It was a joyous occasion, and everyone was happy. There was drinking, games, and lots of fun. Everyone wanted to be part of the celebration. Everyone wanted to tell their grandchildren that they were part of Kar’s story. It was a feast that would be the talk of the town for a very long time.

But then that night, tragedy struck.

The Wedding Night

Kar had retired to his chamber with his bride Elora.

“You’re the best thing to happen to me,” he had told her as he gazed into her eyes.

“And you too. You made my heart beat, and my love for you grow every second,” Elora had told him.

And he had bent to kiss her when he heard a laugh. He had turned, seeing a man standing at the door, hands folded on his chest. He wore black, and his face was obscured by shadow.

“Who are you?” Kar asked, readying his power to act at the first sign of threat.

The man walked casually toward him, hands spread apart, and when he was a few feet from Kar, he stopped and said, “I’m just a messenger.” And with a flick of his hand, Elora’s neck was broken.

Kar was stunned. He couldn’t act. He was just standing there looking at the man who was grinning while he dusted his hands. And then he screamed. He used all the power he had to crush the man, but the man just batted it aside and muttered, “Too weak, fool. I’m no bandit or a puny human.”

The Devil’s Bargain

Kar watched helplessly as the man walked away. He had cried to the divine one, who ignored him. And then the devil had told him to serve him for a thousand years, and he would bring Elora back to life. He had told him he wanted a monster. He wanted to swim in blood. He wanted to see people suffer and die. He wanted their anguish to be a constant melody to him.

And so Kar had accepted. Thus the war started, and lots of people were dying. So the divine one intervened and imprisoned Kar. And the only thing to save him was blood from the descendants of Elora.

Author’s Note: This story connects to the larger lore of the Dark One. Which part scared you most — the dreams or Kar’s fall? Drop a comment and tell me!

You might also enjoy:

The blood curse in The Curse Of The Anderson Bloodline 

or the ghostly dread in She Walks Past Me Everyday But She Has Been Dead