Tap. Tap.
The man, far too pale by human standards, grinned wickedly. Turning to face his audience he brandished his knife gleaming dully in the pale moonlight. They thought they were hidden, crouching in the foliage, trying oh so hard to keep silent.
Please.
The women had no idea she was in any danger until it was far too late. Lunging he dove on top of his prey.
Thump. Thump.
Matt paused in his chewing and blinked. Why was there people knocking on the door? The porch light was off which, by the ancient laws of Halloween, meant that this house wasn't. giving. candy.
The first knock had been promptly ignored, blamed on obnoxious teenagers, but a moment later a second knock had sounded, the sharp sound echoing softly through the house.
Matt quirked his brow and waited. Maybe if he ignored the persistent knocking they'd leave?
Bam. Bam.
Maybe not.
With an irritated huff Matt muted the television, cutting off the terrified wails, and freed his legs from the confines of his hoodie. Standing, he stretched allowing his stiff muscles to loosen and relax, clutching the bowl of candy to his chest, he sauntered to the door.
Yanking it open he was met with the unimpressive sight of a little girl, dressed plainly in a pair of overalls and a bright pink shirt. A dark pruce cloak covered her tiny form, dragging lightly on the ground.
"Trick or treat." she grinned widely, holding out her sack expectantly. Matt sized her up with a half lidded gaze.
"Sorry kid. No more handouts for the night."
He began sliding the door shut, fully intending to return to his horror movie marathon, when the shrill voice spoke again.
"Trick or treat." She insisted, grin never faltering.
Matt glanced up and down the street. It was mostly empty, save for a few stragglers here and there. It was noticeably dark. Everyone was turning in for the night, leaving the street near pitch black, save for the few patches where street lamps spluttered yellow-white light onto the sidewalk.
"Halloween's over, kid. Try starting a little earlier next year, yeah?" he suggested. This time he allowed her time to turn and leave before closing the door.
Instead she remained rooted to her spot. "Trick or treat." she repeated.
Well. This was getting creepy.
Matt quirked a brow. What was her problem?
With a shrug Matt slid the door closed, muttering a quick "Sorry." before it clicked shut.
He turned ready to resume his late night movie marathon before pausing. Without wasting a second he quickly turned to lock the door, sliding the dead bolt silently into place. Creepy little girls who refused to leave got locked out. It was the second ancient rule of Halloween.
It was a relief that Edd and Tom were currently snoring in the next room, if they knew he'd locked the door cause some kid was stalking the house he'd never hear the end of it. 'Course if they were awake he wouldn't have been the one to answer the door. Curse destiny and it's twisted fate.
With a content sigh, Matt flopped back onto the couch. Pulling his knees back into the confines of his hoodie, he picked up the remote and un-muted the television allowing the horrified wails to filter through it's speakers.
What the hell? Matt squinted. There on the screen, was the unmistakable cloaked form of the child who had demanded candy not even a minute before.
Leaning forward, Matt experimentally changed the channel, flickering briefly, the image of a cowering man was replaced with a different film. Nothing changed. The child's form remained on the screen grinning wickedly.
Shuddering, Matt rapidly switched the channels, the screen flipping wildly from channel to channel, hoping to rid the screen of the figure. Each channel yielded the same result.
Tightening his grip on the remote, Matt made to stand to unplug the damn thing. Forget abnormal, this was straight up demonic, and he was not dealing with another one of those cases.
Just as the bottoms of his feet brushed the carpet the lights began to flicker wildly. Matt pulled back with a start and shrank into his hoodie, eyes widening fractionally.
Tearing his eyes from the madly flashing lights, Matt returned his gaze to the television screen where the ever present form of the girl,(Demon? Ghost?) had remained. In a blink she had crouched, gathering her weight under her in preparation, and, with a delighted giggle, lunged straight out of the display, ruby eyes flashing from beneath her hood.
With a cry, Matt instinctively pulled his hands up to shield himself.
The lights spluttered out completely casting the house in darkness.
Edd was already halfway out the door of his room half a second after hearing Matt scream.
The hallway never seemed so long before as the brunet bolted down it's length, cursing as he entered the living room. The frighteningly dark, empty living room.
"Matt?" Edd called out uncertainly, fear creeping ever so slightly into his tone.
Nothing. Silence hung heavily over the area, save for the dull hum sounding from the blank television. Edd hesitantly stepped further into the living area the light from the blank television casting an eerie glow chasing the shadows to the far corners of the room.
Where is he? He thought desperately.
"Matt! If this is a prank, you better hope I don't find you!"
The sound of bare feet shuffling across the carpet went unnoticed, the soft whistling of a knife cutting through air, did not.
Tensing, Edd spun around, barely avoiding the tip of the blade aiming for his exposed back. He stumbled slightly and fell, his knees digging into the plush carpet.
Jerking his head up, Edd was met with the sight of his attacker raising the weapon threateningly, preparing for a second strike. His eyes widened momentarily before clenching shut, digging his fingernails into the carpet he waited for the inevitable agony.
Much to his surprise, it never came. Cracking open an eye, Edd slowly looked up again. His attacker was stock still, they seemed almost...reluctant, the hand wielding the knife shook slightly.
Edd squinted. Even in the dim lighting, he could make out the spiky orange hair, and lilac hoodie.
Dropping his pleading expression into a glare, Edd lurched to his feet and shoved an accusing finger into Matt's chest.
"What the hell Matt! Are you insane? What are you trying to pull?!"
The man in question abruptly jerked away from Edd, shaking his head violently he grit his teeth and clenched his eyes shut, concealing the scarlet and golden irises.
"She's in my head, Edd!" he choked out. An eye slid open revealing his normal emerald iris.
Run. he silently pleaded
Edd quirked a brow, "What are you talking about?" he took a step forward. "Who's-"
His question was cut off as Matt's body gave a sudden wrench. Clutching his head in his free hand he groaned, gripping the handle of the knife tighter he curled inward.
Edd recoiled briefly, shock crossing his features, before he quickly reached forward. Whatever the hell was happening, it wasn't good.
"M-"
Before his name could even be formed Matt snatched his head up, wide eyes revealing the ruby red leeching into his sclera and irises narrowing into bright golden slits. An unnaturally wide grin stretched itself far, far too wide across his features.
Gathering his weight beneath him Matt lunged. Swinging forward, he plunged the knife deep into Edd's torso, the soft flesh practically begging the blade to drive itself deeper.
Edd froze, cold pain spreading outward from his chest even as a dark crimson blush started to seep outward from the wound, staining his light green nightgown. He lifted his head, eyes tearing away from the handle protruding from his torso to follow the arm attached to it.
Matt's features were still twisted up into a dark smile, his eyes reflecting gleeful sadism, or at least half of them were, the other half was grimacing, horror shining through the dark scarlet.
Edd gasped as the knife was ripped away leaving behind a ragged gash. Dizziness overtook him almost immediately as blood flowed more freely and he stumbled back away from his friend.
He stopped as the vertigo reached it's climax and he swayed in place, bringing his hand up to clutch at the fabric of his nightshirt. He heaved, no matter how much air he inhaled he couldn't seem to bring in enough. He pitched forward as his legs gave out underneath him and landed on his knees and suddenly his cheek was scraping roughly against the carpet.
Gasping lightly over and over again he clutched his nightshirt tighter,and curled around himself. A terrifying numbness had begun to creep outwards from the wound and the sickening dizziness returned full force, he allowed his eyes to shut, comforting oblivion claiming his conscious.
The knife had hit home, so easily with Edd being as close as he was. He had looked up in shock, eyes locking with Matt's own horrified gaze.
No.
Matt gagged inwardly as the knife was jerked back and blood began to spread across the light green fabric. Edd staggered away from him before collapsing in a heap completely. He was vaguely aware of the high, delighted giggling echoing in the back of his mind.
This couldn't be real, he refused to accept it. He wouldn't accept that he was currently possessed by some sadistic demon. He wouldn't accept that the blood dripping off the knife with a dull thump, thump, thump, was from the man on the floor in front of him. And he wouldn't accept that he was the cause of that blood. He outright refused to believe that he had stabbed one of his best friends and couldn't even do anything about it.
Edd was dying. And you're doing nothing about it
Not yet, anyway.
There was one other person in the house that would be able to help. Gritting his teeth, Matt forced a single syllable through his locked throat, much too quietly.
"T-"
Grunting he tried again, contorting slightly with the effort. She had frozen him completely, not allowing even a single muscle to twitch, and instead she observed his struggle silently.
With growing frustration, Matt growled lowly. Directing all the energy he could muster into the next attempt, he finally managed to break through the paralyzed muscles
"Tom!"
