When your friends dared you to go into the old, abandoned house at the end of your street you scoffed. Seriously…on Halloween? What a cliche. But even though you were skeptical you still felt that familiar tingle creeping up your spine.
That childish “what-if?”.
Everyone passed 1st grade had heard the urban legends that anyone who entered never came out again. They were flimsy at best but as you made your way into the house you didn’t know what you expected to find.
With every footstep the floorboards creaked and groaned. The air was thick with dust. The wallpaper was peeling away and the only light to be found peeked through the boarded up windows. It didn’t help that it felt like you were being watched.
You entered the living room and nearly jumped out of your skin when the TV snapped to life with an ominous hum and low squeal.
“Wow wee! Is it Halloween again already?” You recognized the puppet excitedly flailing on the screen.
It was Baahby. Images of Saturday cartoons, pyjamas and sugary cereal flashed before your eyes. You used to watch him when you were little…didn’t they cancel the show years ago? Slowly you creeped towards the ancient television.
How did this thing still work?
“Trick ‘R Treating is my favourite!” Baahby exclaimed with a goofy befanged grin on his face.
You felt a giggle bubble in your chest. The little lamb always knew how to make you smile but now he was dressed as a vampire.
You sat down in front of the woodgrained monstrosity; the flickering pictures drawing you in. You questioned how a place this old still had electricity; but only briefly. The bright sounds and colours pushed away all those distracting thoughts.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” Baahby jumped around excitedly, “Can you help get all my friends in the Halloween spirit?”
You found yourself nodding as the world around you faded into the background. All the mattered was helping Baahby.
You helped the lamb fly around like a bat by yellling “Batty Bat!” and flapping your arms with his. You counted all the pumpkins yourself…even if you had to wait for Baahby to tell you what came after 2. Then you watched as the puppet snuck up on his friends.
AND BIT THEM! …That part was a bit scary…but instead of Baahby’s friends turning into vampires they all turned into babies. What a silly pickle. You giggled as they toddled around in their costumes.
“Is everyone ready to Trick ‘R Treat!”
The puppets danced around the pumpkin patch but Baahby soon stopped.
“Oh no, one of our friends isn’t ready yet…”
You gasped. Who could it be? The lamb turned to look at you and that’s when you felt a sharp pain in your neck.
“There, soon everyone will be ready…”