The Very Very Late Halloween Story Because Iâm a Professional Dweeb
((Here it is hope you like it anyway <3))
It was late at night on October 31st, and a certain Jollywoodian couple was far from asleep. It had become a tradition for Kindly and Fluster to tell scary stories on Halloween after the day was done. After all, both of them had been reading storybooks of all kinds their whole lives, and were gifted storytellers. They would always make up whatever they could or share old legends and myths, many of which Fluster had picked up in his days as a traveler.
They had been sitting on their bed for hours on end, sharing stories that had no names and that drifted from improvised fables of fictional beasts to supposedly true stories of the paranormal. The two thought of it as almost a contest to see who could tell the best one and/or scare the other the most, and Fluster was just finishing one of his.
âThe t-two dwarflings ran as f-f-fast as they could ou-out of the forest. Th-they both escaped the creature unharmed, b-but every year when October rolls around, s-some say they can st-still hear it...rustling in the trees.â He spoke in a low, sinister voice, the lone flickering candle on the nightstand creating the perfect mood lighting.
Kindly sat across from him on the bed, listening intently and sipping at some apple spice tea. Once Fluster finished, they smiled and nodded. âNot bad, pumpkin,â Kindly said playfully, âbut hereâs one thatâll really scare ya!â They set down their tea and cleared their throat dramatically.
âIt was a windy fall night, and a dwarf named Lily was on her way home from work. Lily was a hard-working kind of gal who had just moved into a new home. It had been abandoned and was pretty run-down, but she figured with a little determination, she could fix it up in no time. She had many jobs, and usually didnât come home until late at night. It would be her first time sleeping in her new house, and she hoped for a good nightâs sleep considering how tiring her day had been.
Once she arrived, she took in the musty smell and made her way to the bedroom. She collapsed on her bed and wouldâve been out like a light, but a noise caught her attention just before she was able to drift into sleep. It was coming from somewhere outside the bedroom. It sounded likeâŚscratching. It was faint, like something hard rubbing against wood. Lily didnât have any pets, and she had made sure there were no rodents or anything of the sort living here before moving in. Curious, she reluctantly got up and walked out to the hallway. She suspected it was a branch hitting the outside of the house, but when she stepped out of the bedroom and waited for the sound to come again, she realized it was much closer. After a couple more scratches, she was able to pinpoint the sound. It was coming from a door at the other end of the hallway. She had been told that it was a closet, but she hadnât thought to look inside.
Cautiously, she took a step forward, and as soon as she did, the scratching got louder and a bit faster. She jumped at the sudden change, but crept on down the hallway. Her need for sleep was, at this point, the last thing on her mind, being replaced with adrenaline as she became more and more anxious about the source of the scratching.
It seemed to get louder and hastier with each movement she made; she thought she heard a âthumpâ replace the scratching for just a moment. As she pressed on, hindered by a sense of dread and fueled by curiosity, she heard another âthump,â and then another, until the thumps became louder as well. Soon the scratching was completely replaced by something now hitting on the door.â
Kindly paused for a moment to take a gulp of tea (for added suspense). Fluster was wide-eyed, invested in the story. He was visibly uneasy, and he could tell that Kindly had saved their best for last. They were good at keeping the listener interested as well; not once had they lost eye contact with him. They once again cleared their throat and continued.
âThe hallway seemed to go on forever. Lily tried to imagine what could possibly lie behind that door, which only worsened her fear. After a few more steps, the thing began banging on the door, each time the sound echoing down the hall. By the time Lily reached the door, breathing heavily and frozen directly in front of it, the wood seemed ready to break from the force. She extended a shaking hand towards the doorknob, the wild pounding growing ever angrier, even more desperate to escape. Lily didnât know what to expect, but she clutched her hand around the doorknob and swung the door open. What she saw-â
The story was again put on hold, this time interrupted by a loud crash of thunder. The two screamed in shock, grabbing each other tightly. Fluster sat there trembling for a moment before coming to his senses and calming down a bit. They looked at each other, a little embarrassed that they had both gotten so shaken just over thunder.
âHe-hehehâŚm-m-maybe we should get to sl-to sleepâŚâ he muttered with a sheepish smile.
Kindly nodded nervously. âYouâre right, sugarpie.â They said, calming themself as well, âI, uh, think thatâs enough scary stories for one night.â They smiled and kissed his forehead.
Fluster snuggled closer to them, realizing how tired he was. The couple laid back, both ready to fall asleep, when they heard a small noise. It was coming from the bedroom door, and it sounded likeâŚscratching.
ââŚDi-did you hear that?â said Fluster after a moment of silence. He was answered by more scratching, and they sat up and looked at the door, then at one another, too afraid to suggest what it might have been. They got out of bed, gripping each otherâs hands, and tiptoed over to it. They both cautiously placed a hand on the doorknob.
âOn three.â Kindly said, their voice shaky. âOneâŚâ
âThree!â they both shouted as the door swung open. They saw nothing outside of it at first, but once they looked down at the floor, they couldnât help but start laughing. It was their rabbit, Coffee.
Fluster smiled and picked her up. âLooks like we were af-f-fraid for nothing.â He said with a laugh.
âI guess someone couldnât sleep, huh, girl?â Kindly said to Coffee as they petted her head. The bunnyâs nose twitched, and she leapt out of Flusterâs hands and onto the bed. They giggled. âYou can sleep with us tonight.â
Kindly and Fluster got back into bed and soon fell fast asleep, with Coffee snuggled happily in between them.
 The next morning, Fluster awoke to the bunny sitting on his chest, staring at him. He smiled and petted her for a moment, then let his hand fall. He probably wouldâve gone back to sleep had she not decided to kick his stomach lightly, as if to say: âHey, wake up!â
He jumped awake. âOkay, okay.â He said quietly, seeing that the other was still asleep. âY-y-youâre hungry, huh?â She dashed out of the room with Fluster shuffling slowly behind. He got her some breakfast, then decided he should do the same for Kindly and himself. When he went back to the bedroom to put his hair up, Kindly had just awoken.
They sat up to stretch, greeting their husband with a lazy smile. âMorninââŚâ
âGood m-morning, sweetheart.â He walked over and kissed them while brushing his hair. He soon was back in the kitchen, starting to make them some omelets. Kindly joined him, almost falling asleep at the table.
While they were eating, Fluster recalled the previous night and began to wonder about something. âHey, Ki-Kindly?â
âYeah, sugarpie?â they said, much more awake now.
âHow-how did the st-story end? What was behind the d-door?â he asked curiously.
Kindly thought for a moment then confessed, âIâŚdonât know. I was making it up as I went, and I didnât think of an ending. The thunder was kind of a lucky break!â They said, laughing.
A little surprised, Fluster chuckled as well. âWell, do y-do, um, do you wanna th-think of one now?â he said hopefully.
After brainstorming a bit, they nodded and prepared to continue the story. âWhere was IâŚoh yeah, she was just opening the door! AhemâŚâ
âLily closed her eyes and yanked the door open, knowing there was no turning back. Terrified, she kept them closed for a moment before slowly beginning to open them. It was, in fact, a closet, but it appeared empty. Before she could react, however, she felt a rush of coldness, like a gust of wind had just blown right through her. She looked inside the closet for holes that air might blow through, but found none. She stood there, unsure what had happened or what to do when suddenly, a slow, echoing voice came from behind her.
It was a question; one that sent chills down her spine, and in the moment, she wouldâve rather done anything than turn around. She gulped and hesitantly replied.
âWhyâŚhave you come here?â
Lily was trembling. âIâŚI just m-moved in here...â Her voice came out faint and squeaky.
âPlease donât hurt me!!â she interrupted, overtaken by fear. Ready to flee, she spun around and faced the source of the sound. However, she would never have guessed that she would see what she didâŚa dwarf. It was a normal looking woman, except she floated above the ground, and was completely blue in color. To Lilyâs surprise, she waved and grinned.
âYouâŚwillâŚnot believe how long Iâve spent in that closet; Itâs just crazy!! I mean no oneâs lived here in soooo long, so thereâs no one here at night to hear me! Then you come along and whoopty doopty schmoodily-doo, Iâm out and kicking again! Well, not âkickingâ per say, hahah!â
Lily was dumbfounded. âYouâreâŚyouâre aâŚghost???â
âOh! Where are my manners? My nameâs Lucky! I was buried here, and then this house was built over my grave. When I came back as a ghost and tried to leave my grave, I ended up trapped here! In a teeny tiny closet no less!â the ghost said, crossing her arms, âBut I digress; Now that Iâm out, I can finally have some company! Welcome!!â
The living dwarf came to her senses and thought. Lucky wasnât really dangerous; she seemed awfully friendly, and maybe theyâd get along. A ghost like her didnât really seem like a bad housemate.
She shrugged to herself in a âwhy notâ sort of way. ââŚThank you. Guess I wonât be all alone here after all!â She gave way to a chipper smile.
Recalling how tired she was, Lily went back to bed knowing she had gained two things; a haunted house and a new friend. Â â
((AAAAND THERE IT IS FOLKS))
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