A/N: Here's a Halloween story for you guys! Pre-Thor with the usual Loki-whump, brotherly banter an' all that stuff you guys seem to like. ;) Only been working on it the last couple weeks so I hope it's not horrible, although I'll be happy if it's at least a little creepy. There are three chapters (not including this prologue). I'll try to post the next update soon since this prologue is so short (likely today). Obviously, I recommend reading this in the middle of the night with all the lights off, heee; you know you want to.

Rated T for: blood mostly, minor violence, but the rest is highly subjective as far as how disturbing it is. If you can watch Hitchcock you're probably fine.

Have spooooky fun! (Yes, I'm lame.)

What Grows In Darkness

Prologue

The man looked out the window, peaking through the heavy curtains as his nervous eyes twitched to and fro, searching for something. Something in the dark. He stepped away for a moment, only to rush to another window and repeat the same frantic searching. His hand unconsciously went to touch something on his chest, beneath his clothing.

Hearing something creak behind him, he whipped around and pushed his back against the cold window.

No not yet, not yet! the man's mind screamed. Nothing could touch him, not now. No, not now.

Everywhere he looked was darkness; where had all the lights gone? Oh yes, he had let them all burn out, hadn't he? Scurrying over to the nearest lantern, he checked it for fuel. With shaking hands, he lit it after several tries. He sighed at the dim comfort, even if he knew it would make no difference.

Carrying the lantern in his right hand, he squinted his eyes at the vast room. It wouldn't matter, they would find him. Eventually they would.

Another creaking noise at the top of the stairs to his left made him turn, just as a small toy ball began to clatter down the steps. Slow at first, then picking up speed as it bounded down. The man choked on a whimper as he watched it with wide eyes, then, when it bounced against the window across from the base of the stairs, he couldn't take it anymore; with a yelp he ran from the room, heedless of his direction.

He closed the door behind, then gasped when he realized he'd entered the games room. No... His heart beat restlessly in his chest as he looked about. It was quiet, no sign of movement. Then, out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw movement- he didn't care what it could be, he rushed to the other side of the room and clung to the wall.

No not yet...

He shut his eyes and didn't- couldn't look. He held tightly to the lantern but its light now gave little comfort. He held his eyes closed and his head hurt from the strain, but he didn't dare open them. Holding his breath next, he heard something... something on the other side of the room, something...sliding, sliding across the floor toward him.

No no no.

It drew closer.

He wanted to open his eyes but he couldn't!

Only a few paces away now, but it was impossible!

The wood creaked only one step away from him and he couldn't help it- he opened his eyes.