Samhain - Spirit of Halloween Read online

  Written & Illustrated by

  Will sketch harris

  Copyright © 2018 by SketchBoox Entertainment.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Published in Germany

  First Edition, 2018

  www.sketchboox.com

  For Cora, Zoe, Xavier and Robin

  the welcoming committee

  Chapter One

  *School bell rings*

  It’s finally lunch time.

  Just like the rest of the class, I’m shuffling to get out of Professor Meyers' class finally. He always likes to throw in a last-minute assignment our way if he can.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Damn, too late. Meyers stands and shouts over the crowd.

  "Please do not forget to read chapters nine through twelve in your texts books this weekend, you will be quizzed on it next Monday. Be prepared.” Professor Meyers was cool, but he doesn't cut us any slack for a minute. I don’t know if I ever had a teacher like him in my last school.

  “Derrick,” Meyers calls on me as I’m packing my backpack.

  “Yes, sir?” I reply.

  “Good job on today’s reading young man. I can tell you’re really interested in this classics. When you find the time, you should stop by to check out our book club, we could always use another member.”

  I’m shaking my head ‘yes,’ but my mind is telling me to get the hell out of there. As soon as I finish packing and jump up, Gina Romero is standing right next to me. Wait. Was she waiting for me to finish with my bag this whole time? Be cool, Derrick.

  “Hey,” Gina says. “You dropped this!”

  “Oh, thanks,” I reply, grabbing my beaten up moleskin sketchbook from her.

  “Sewn-On Smile... nice." Gina is referring to one of the stickers on the front of my book. There are a lot of stickers, but for some reason, she noticed that one, my favorite indie band. Impressive. I didn't know anyone outside of my hometown even heard of them.

  "Their early stuff was the best," Gina continues. "I heard the lead singer disappeared or went missing, so they needed to replace him. Weird."

  “Yeah–“ I'm really impressed now. "There are rumors, but... I got my own theories."

  "So why don’t you sit with my friends and me today at lunch and we'll share creepy conspiracy theories together. We got plenty of room." Gina seems pretty genuine so how am I supposed to say no to that invitation?

  She notices the hesitation in my face. "I told them you were the new kid in town and they wanted to say 'hello.'" Gina smiles pretty wide.

  Once again, I’m shaking my head ‘yes’ but this time I actually mean it.

  "I gotta stop at my locker first," I say humbly.

  As we walk out the door together, Gina moves slightly faster ahead of me before turning to say, “No problem, see you soon?"

  “Sure.”

  “Cool.”

  Upon arrival at school today I expected the worst. I mean, it is October 31st. Halloween. This is my favorite holiday, but the first time I’ve spent it in a new town. Where I come from, this day usually means dumb pranks, like dropping a bag of burning shit in some poor nerd’s locker. Not mine, by the way, but I’ve heard stories. Anyway, I'm at my locker holding my nose just in case. I have to open the locker door slowly. The last thing I want is an angry opossum jumping out and gnawing my face off. Don't laugh. I heard stories.

  All clear.

  Yeah, I got lucky this year.

  Well to be honest, after my first week in town. I immediately found my social life in the competent hands of Robbie Haley and Bradlee Mancini; two of the least famous, yet relatable people in my new school. Robbie is one of those tall, lean fellas, who managed to be on the wrestling team thanks to nepotism. His dad was all-state wrestling champ back in the day. Robbie... not so much. Bradlee is a chubby kid and a bit of a sneaker fiend. He's also a pretty badass drummer is too nervous to show off his skills.

  I spot the two of them walking down the hall towards me pretty fast. Robbie approaches me with the creepiest of grins, while Bradlee has his eyes locked on his new kicks. I feel like they got some crazy idea on their collective minds. That's when Robbie leans on the locker next to mine and has his hands pressed together as if to pray to me.

  Geez, here it comes.

  "Derrick, bro! Did you just walk out of AP Lit with Gina frickin' Romero?" Robbie asks in an ever so thirsty way. "Dude you two were smiling at each other. What's up with that?"

  I glance over at Bradlee in confusion. "What's wrong with him?"

  Robbie cuts Bradlee off. "Don't avoid the question dude, are you guys cool?"

  "I guess. Gina invited me to sit with her at lunch."

  "Perfect." Robbie is glaring into the air. "I want you to throw a Halloween party at your house, tonight. Invite Gina and her buddies today at lunch."

  "Wait." I start to say. " I'm all for a Halloween party gut isn't that kinda last minute? Who does that? Besides, why would they come to my place anyway? I don't know them."

  Robbie continues. "Are you kidding? Your dad moved you guys into the creepiest house in town. Right behind a cemetery? It's perfect! And don't worry about Gina's friends. Those guys are at every party. They'll show. What d'you say?"

  I'm silent for a bit. I look down the hall at Gina and her friends. Then back at Robbie who is still in his prayer pose. What is his deal? That's when Bradlee rolls his eyes and chimes in with a heavy breath. Clearly, Bradlee is exhausted by this idea, and I'm only guessing that Robbie has been talking his ear off about it all morning.

  "Robbie really wants to impress Gina Romero. You know he's had a crush on her since middle school right? Loverboy here wants to finally man-up and ask her out."

  Naturally, I palm my face for a not-so-quiet laugh. The other kids walking by seem alarmed by how hard I’m trying to hold it together. "I'm sorry bro, but what the hell?"

  "Don't listen to Bradlee." barks Robbie. "What this big mouth is trying to say is, we are not the most popular guys in school, right? Not so good looking..."

  "Speak for yourself," Bradlee insists.

  "Shut up, Bradlee!" Robbie yells. "So I'm thinking, why not change that with the biggest bash ever?"

  I take a step back for a second. My interest has peaked, but I'm still not convinced. I'm not sure what kind of element this party will attract and so far, I've managed to avoid the assholes around here. Maybe Robbie is right though, this party could give us a little more cool points with the rest of the school.

  Bradlee suddenly smacks my arm."Amytiville Horror."

  I give him a frown. "Which year?"

  "'79 bro, come on."

  "I'll allow it," I answer. "An American Werewolf in London."

  "Ooooh good one." Bradlee starts considering his counter-attack now.

  "Oh no, can we stay focused guys?" Robbie is seriously annoyed. "I hate it when you two nuts get distracted with this game. Stay with me now.... the party. We need to have a party."

  "Okay Robbie chill," I do my best evil genius impression, pulling at the obviously non-existent goatee on my chin, grinning fiendishly. "But we gotta do this right. Nobody is getting in without a costume, something to contribute to the event, or ready to do something crazy tonight."

  "Cool!" Robbie agrees. "Let's do it then, bud. Party time."

  It's at that very moment we're actually noticed by Veronica Brewster, the most popular girl in the entire school. Veronica just happened to be best friends with Gina Romero. The two girls have a s
mall clique right behind them which says to me that they're a pretty big deal around here. Not the mean girls though. I don't get that vibe at all. As Gina gets closer to us, Robbie is tapping his foot super-fast. I mean it's ridiculous, yeah she's hot, but the poor dope breaks out into cold sweats as soon as she smiles at him. It's pathetic.

  "Did I hear somebody say party?" Veronica asks.

  "Yes," Robbie replies with ignorant pride. "And you lovely ladies are cordially invited to join us at my pal Derrick's house for the festivities. What do you think?"

  "Great," Gina exclaims. "Where would that be?"

  "The old Cross house," Robbie brags. The silence in the hall right now is disturbing. Suddenly everyone is looking at us like we lost our damn minds. I don't know what is surprising them more though. The fact that I live in the most notorious house in all Halcyon or that I got the sack to host a Halloween party in that place.

  Veronica cringed. "Wait a minute, hold up. Do your parents know the history of that place? Why would you move in there?"

  "It's just a temporary spot, we're looking for something else closer to town." Of course, I was lying through my teeth. I have no idea what our immediate plans are. I've been in that house for nearly two months, and I didn't hear anything about us moving.

  "Well I think it's cool," says Gina. "Being inside a real haunted house on Halloween night? Even you know that would be pretty dope V."

  Veronica sighed. "Alright, but I'm only doing this 'cause you're my girl."

  Gina laughs and nods her head while Veronica breaks out her magic wand, aka her smartphone. I lean forward to get a peek yet I don't know what she's typing or who she plans on sending it to, so I'm hoping she keeps it subtle. All I know is that while Veronica is tapping away on that screen, Robbie is opening his locker way too fast. I hear something lightly scratching around from the inside, and I try to stop him.

  "Dude, wait!"

  "Christ!" Robbie jumps right out of his skin when a large rat claws on to his shirt. He takes off down the hall without even looking back at us dying of laughter.

  pumpkin party

  Chapter Two

  It's at Veronica Brewster’s special request that I have just the right amount of decorations and music for our impromptu Halloween bash. Veronica is that girl in school who basically knows everyone and plans everything so when she agrees to come to my party, the stipulation is made very clear. Veronica will make it "dope AF." I make myself clear that I take Halloween very seriously. Everyone has to dress up. She agrees. Veronica wants to go as a sexy witch, which I tell her is way too cliché, but my words fall on death ears. My first lesson when dealing with the opposite sex. Don't tell them what to wear.

  Gina didn’t have much to choose from in the party store and was about to give up, so we all stop at the local vintage shop after school. It's dark in here. The owner set the mood just right for her special sale today. Candles, incense, decorations, and dark music. Nice touch.

  "This place is awesome," Veronica tells us. "They really have everything here so look around and find what you want. I'm going to help my girl pick out the right outfit."

  Robbie and Bradlee were a bit overwhelmed. They never hung out with girls before. Especially not pretty ones. They definitely haven't gone shopping with a girl other than their moms. My boys and I are playing it cool though. We chilled by the counter with our hands in our pockets. This is awkward.

  Bradlee tries to break the silence. "The Blair Witch Project. Ha ha ha, what'cha got?."

  "Carrie."

  “Damn!"

  After waiting here for what feels like a lifetime, the girls come back out from the changing room. Gina has on this old dress and lots of antique jewelry. She has her hair tied up in a wrap, some gypsy-like earrings and a wicked pair of steampunk boots that gave her costume that final touch of badass. When the girls approach, I can't help but comment.

  "Nice." I give her the approval nod.

  "Thanks." Gina winks.

  “Hmmm, where did you find this dress, dear?" the old shop owner asks. “Surely it’s not one of mine, this one doesn’t even have a price tag."

  "Yeah, we found this one in a box behind that curtain," Veronica explains. "Don't worry we'll pay whatever for it. Just ring us up."

  “Curious," the lady says. "My son was supposed to throw that box out ages ago. Well okay, the customer is always right, yes? You children have fun trick or treating and don’t eat anything before letting your mothers check it first.”

  Gina smiles, “Yes ma’am.”

  We all look at each other to see who’s going to laugh first. I can't help but insist that we leave. "Guys let's get out of here. We really got to get the party set up."

  ***

  It was meant to just be a small gathering, me, the fellas, Gina and her girls, and a few of their friends from the school. So far so good. My parents have another event to attend in the city center, so they are pretty cool with this idea, saying as long as it gets me out of my anti-social bubble, whatever that means. Bradlee, who came dressed up as Chucky, keeps wasting his time debating over horror movies. I don't get it, he's not going to win this. Naturally, I'm hitting him with better movies while wearing a Jason costume. Which by the way is 100% authentic, so I'm not letting Robbie get away with his cheap imitation of a Freddy glove and hat that was clearly homemade. Then Robbie pulls me to the back of the room, and we start exchanging some private convo. Robbie turns in Gina’s direction and smiles, his face lighting up like a jack o’lantern. Veronica is chatting her ear off about something or other. I don’t know why, but they look incredibly distracted by Robbie.

  “Bro, look at them me checking me out —“

  “What? Man, they’re probably laughing at your goofy ass,” I say. “Stop smiling so much.”

  I don’t want to be mean to one of my only friends here, but it is my party. So I make my way across the room to get to know everybody as best as I could over the music in the background. Before I could start on my second cup of whatever the hell this is that I’m drinking, the guest list expands to about twenty or thirty faces in my new home. I squat on the couch and look around. Then, of all people, Gina flops right beside me. “Hey, you!”

  “Hey,” I say. “Are you having a good time? I’m having a great time. So many people.”

  “Relax,” Gina giggles. “Everyone here is really cool. You just gotta mingle a bit.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” I take a deep breath.

  “Okay check it out,” she continues. Gina goes into this scan of the crowd, giving me a basic who’s who in the room. I’m trying to focus on her words, but I can’t help but notice… well… her. She smells amazing. I almost forget that there is a crapload of people surrounding us because Gina is so hypnotizing right now. Yet, Bradlee snaps me out of it.

  “What are we on?” He screams in my ear as he jumps on the back of my couch.

  “Uhhh, D," I answer.

  “Dawn of the Dead ’04!” He says with drunken confidence.

  “The Evil Dead ’81!”

  “NO! You suck.” Bradlee stumbles back into the crowd.

  Gina is cracking up. “What the hell was that about?”

  “Don’t ask.” I shake my head in shame.

  Suddenly the crowd gets incredibly loud.

  “YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!” Ace and his entourage show up, and it proves to be quite a spectacle. Screaming and giving pounds to the crew as he enters. Ace is quite a character because he is always bringing the show with him wherever he goes. Like some kind of popular dictator, they do whatever he tells them to do and never ask any questions. Really, it’s worse than the Mafia, but that’s how this guy is. Ace rolls up in his ’69 Mustang with all of his wrestling buddies close behind and other miscellaneous paparazzi; after that, we know that things were going to get crazy. And as soon as he arrives, Veronica begins to frantically tweet about everything that was going down. “Are you serious?” I ask.

  “Shut up boy, I’m trying to concentrate," she replies.r />
  Gina giggles again. “Veronica is the only person I know that could turn a simple little get together into a ‘be there or die a social misfit’ event. This girl is good.”

  Scary stories

  Chapter Three

  About two hours into the swing of things now and I’ve finally mellowed out. We’re all in little groups chatting it up, and Veronica starts lighting candles around the room. Even though I’m a big fan of the paranormal and also have a few authentic items in my bedroom that my mom finds questionable to her Christianity; I’m pretty cautious on nights like this. Then again it’s pretty laughable when Robbie is trying to tell scary stories to a bunch of high school kids with a flashlight and horrible voice acting. Then Robbie goes into his favorite topic of the party. He insinuates that my house is haunted. It’s not fresh news to me, but apparently, my parent’s new place is something of a local legend.

  Robbie goes into detail. “So everyone knows about the old Cross family that used to live here, right? No? Okay, well they had this really twisted tale. See, the owner was a groundskeeper around town, and he had a daughter named Abigail. She wasn’t too right in the head, and the other kids around town teased her, calling her all kinds of names. Some even threw stuff at Abigail or tormented her. To get his revenge, old man Cross would kidnap those mean kids and let his dear Abigail slaughter them one by one. Eventually, the townspeople of Halcyon hunted him down and tortured that sicko until he died. His daughter Abigail, she’s been locked away in Shady Green Memorial Hospital for the last ten years. To this day, you can still hear the whispers of the dead children buried out back in the yard. Those kids are still angry, and they won’t cross over until someone pays for their eternal unrest. There’s a curse on this property ladies and gentlemen. Watch out.” The crowd is still as if everyone here is expecting to hear the voices of the dead children. Funny.