MicroHorror

The dried leaves crackled beneath his feet as he wandered the night, tightly gripping the old cord tied to his jack-o’-lantern. Mysterious noises whispered in the wind, but it was the shout of a young, gravel-toned voice that caused him to quicken his pace. “Hey, puke brains, come back here or we’ll get you!”

He ignored the warning as he dashed into the woods, the ache of the black eye he received upon his last encounter with Marty the school bully urging him on. He lifted his red devil’s mask to see better as twigs tore at his cheap plastic costume. The footsteps of Marty and his two buddies grew louder, until a hand on his shoulder yanked him backwards. He landed on his back with a jarring whack and breath rushed from his lips as Marty’s knee sank into his stomach. Marty threw back the hood of the dirty sheet that was supposed to make him a ghost and stared wickedly at his whimpering victim.

“Brian, when you gonna learn to do as told. If ya make me mad, I’m just gonna beat ya worse!” Brian’s ears filled with the muffled laughter of Marty’s similarly clad ghost stooges. It was the first punch to his head that sent Brian’s mind reeling back a week to his last beating.

He had been enjoying the last warm day of October with a swim at the creek when Marty and his hideous henchboys had pounced upon him. One of them had hit him from behind. Upon his fall to the muddy bank, all three proceeded to kick at him. But it was Marty who had to finish him off with a blow just below his right eye. He didn’t hear or see his attackers depart. Suddenly he found himself cradled in the gentle arms of a lovely lass with hair the dark color of ink. She applied a sweet-smelling green paste to his injury and spoke softly. “This will help your hurt. I’ve created it from the forest’s blessed bounty. The woods help all who are good.”

“Thank you,” Brain muttered.

The young woman lifted Brain to his feet. “You will feel better, trust me. And I want you to take a special gift with you from this forest,” the kind woman said as she pointed to a pumpkin that grew at the gnarled base of an oak tree.

“Next week is Halloween. Can you carve that pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern?” she asked.

Brian nodded.

“Good. Do so and you’ll be protected.” Brian picked up the pumpkin and turned to find that his new friend had disappeared. But her spirit remained, watching him and remembering… remembering her own assault long ago in these woods.

It was in an age when witchcraft was feared. Her healing skill and special knowledge of the forest had brought the men to her door with accusations. They dragged her through the woods, ripping her worn garments. She found herself at the creek to be judged. Her protest brought only a harsh slap. Bound, she found herself dunked into the creek. She fought for a chance to breathe but couldn’t.

And then came the boy, bullied just as she had been.

Marty’s fist slammed against Brian’s chin. Tears trailed down Brian’s face.

“What a baby,” Marty mocked. “Hey, baby, you get some good candy tonight? Well, we’re gonna take it!”

Marty grabbed the jack-o’-lantern and reached within.

“Hey, it’s hot inside,” Marty muttered. Then his eyes widened in horror as the jack-o’-lantern closed upon his hand. “Get off, get it off!” Frantically, he waved his arms about. Now tears welled in his eyes till he saw blood trickle forth from his wrist. “No!” Marty fell to the ground wiggling in pain. Brain slowly stood and watched while Marty’s friends backed into the woods. Marty’s head snapped back as he wailed when the jack-o’-lantern severed his hand and kept its prize within.