Hey guys! So, I found out about this thing called Ectober, and naturally I had to participate ahah. It actually started yesterday, so I'll skip that theme and do it sometime later. Anyway, here are the themes for anyone who wants to participate late like me. c;

October 25: Graveyard/Ghost Hunger

26: Blood Blossoms

27: Seven deadly sins/revenge

28: Dissection

29: Ghost Stories

30: Dia De Los Muertos/Circus Gothica

31: All Hallows' Eve

As always, read and review! c:

Blood Blossoms

"Jazz! The sandwiches exploded again!" I sighed as I opened our microwave, which was a mess of cheese, chicken, and lettuce. Or ectoplasm, who knows?

"At least they didn't come alive." Jazz put down her broom and sauntered into the kitchen, surveying the microwave. It was spring cleaning day, and we'd been doing nothing but that. Dad wouldn't let us out of the house until the house was dirt-free, and more importantly, ghost-free. "Go get Mom and ask if she wants anything else. Preferably not microwaveable." I laughed and bounded up the steps, my black ponytail swaying. I pushed into Maddie's room, not bothering to knock. As soon as I walked in, a light smell wafted into my nose, making me sneeze repeatedly. Probably some weird perfume. She wasn't anywhere in sight, but something else did catch my eye. There was a packet of seeds on her drawer that looked like it was sparkling. That must be where the smell is coming from, I decided. I walked over and picked it up, studying the label. Blood Blossoms. My head started pounding, and I realized I must be allergic. Curiosity got the better of me though, and I kept inspecting the packet. Mom wasn't much of a gardener, why would she want flowers all of a sudden? It was a pretty flower, and I can see where it got its name. The petals were blood-red, much like a rose's. I started to find my vision go blurry, and put the packet down. It was strange, alright. I sat down on the bed for a moment, and my headache began to lessen. My mother walked out of the closet, and I didn't even notice until she came up next to me.

"Danielle, sweetie? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine." I quickly straightened up, not wanting her to ask anything else and have me go to the doctor's. I didn't need anyone picking over my body temperature or my blood type. "Why do you have, blood blossoms?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Just something I found." My mom bit her lip, and I knew there was something she wasn't telling me.

"Found?"

"I was cleaning my closet." She laughed nervously. "I planted some and they've just started blooming, they're really quite pretty." I decided to stop pressing the subject, since mom was just as stubborn as Danny.

"Dani!" Jazz called up the steps, breaking the silence. "I need your help!" I stayed put for a second longer, hoping she'd say something else.

"Well, go help your sister." She just gave me a reassuring smile, and I decided to forget it. After all, how harmful could some roses be? I went back down the steps, walking a little slower. Jazz was standing in the kitchen doorway, looking less than pleased.

"What'd she want?" I mentally blanked, totally forgetting why I went up there in the first place.

"Uh, she said she wasn't that hungry anymore." My sister eyed me suspiciously, but she dropped it. "Since I cleaned the kitchen, you can go do the yard."

"But I'll be out there alone!" I whined, not wanting to work in the sun.

"I'll send Danny to join you in a minute." She rolled her eyes, and motioned me towards the back door. I got a shovel and walked into the green grass. The first thing that came to my mind was that awful smell. I was about to go back in and complain when I heard Danny's sneakers coming down the steps. He'll be able to work out here, so why can't I? I was just as good as him, probably even better. With renewed determination I walked towards the smell, and immediately my headache came back. But the flowers were even prettier in the sunlight. They seemed to be glowing. I shook it off, heading towards the weeds. I tried shoveling into the earth but I found myself barely being able to lift the shovel. Pull yourself together, Dani! But I couldn't. I leaned on the fence, trying to ignore the intense pain that began spreading through my entire body. I saw Danny's frame come through the glass door, and his eyes widened when they locked with mine, which were slowly drifting shut. I think he called out my name, but my mind went fuzzy. Then, as strongly as the scent of those flowers, I remembered what he'd told me once.

"Blood blossoms were used to ward off evil spirits in the middle ages, and they actually worked. Don't eat them at any cost, because even getting to close to them can be deathly poisonous."

My hand slipped, and I fell to the ground like a rock.