I wanted to make something special for today. Hope you like this little horror story. Happy Halloween!
Lake Forest Graveyard
Halloween 2005
Rain is beating violently on the windows of Chicago's Orphanage. Caleb and I are playing cards together on his bed waiting for the thunderstorm to pass so we can finally go trick or treating in the streets. We were forced to wear those stupid ghosts costumes. If you can even call that a costume. An old sheet with two holes for the eyes can't be seriously called a costume. However, Jeanine, the headmistress, said that 8 year old children cannot dress as headless zombies. It was a brilliant idea if you were to ask us, though. And to be honest, we didn't understand what the problem was, our last foster home allowed us to watch these movies. Anyway, we could clearly see that it wasn't real blood, it was too clear to be real.
Now, we are just waiting to be adopted again. Together. It has always been like that for us. Together or not at all. The first persons who tried to tear us apart learnt from their mistakes faster than they thought.
I slam my cards on the others loudly to carve my victory in the bedding.
"I won!"
He throws his cards on mine before crossing his arms in defeat.
"That's not fair!"
"Try again?"
I deal the cards again when Jeanine walks in with two women trailing behind her.
"Beatrice, pack your bag. "
"Why?" I ask with a suspicious look.
"You've been adopted."
And with these words, the two women each grab one of my arms and drag me out of the room despite my screams of protest so they don't take me away from my brother. We've been together since birth, abandoned in the same fire station the day we were born. And he needs me.
My cries aren't enough to convince them because after giving me three blows in the corridor, I am taken to Jeanine's office where a man and a woman are obviously waiting for me. They stand up upon seeing me. Me, I only stare them down.
"Is she little Beatrice?" The woman asks with a smile.
Jeanine pushes me forward while pinching discretly my arm so I don't throw a tantrum. All in good time.
"It's indeed her. She is a bit shy but you'll see. She's an angel. Right, Beatrice?"
They brought me back to the orphanage faster than you can think. Caleb was waiting for me of course.
And this is how years passed, one after the other, we would be adopted but they'd send us back faster than when you put a letter in the mailbox.
We didn't have to wait long for our 18 years old so we could finally leave. Good bye orphanage. Welcome to freedom.
At 21, we were hired in one of the bar in the city. Since then, I've been a barmaid whereas Caleb works as the security. It pays the bills and we don't have to leave under the bridges again. We've done that but it's all in the past now.
Halloween 2022
Mondays are our days off but even if we were to work, we wouldn't have gone. This is a tradition for us.
I'm putting the finishing touch on my make up for our tour tonight. This night is kind of special and is important for us both. Today is our birthday. Our 25th birthday.
Before going out, I take my baseball bat to complete my zombified cheerleader costume. It is more a weapon to protect myself than an accessory. My shorts are showing a lot of skin but I have to do everything necessary to get these candies. Caleb puts on his clown mask and we are gone.
Trick or treat!
The first eleven houses are no trouble whatsoever, families congratulate us on our costumes and give us each candies. Age doesn't matter for them, Halloween is a holiday meant for everyone one.
However, the twelfth house is entirely different. We ring the doorbell and two young -stupid- girls in their early twenties open the door.
"I can't believe my eyes. Aren't you both a bit too old for that?"
"Trick or treat." I simply say.
"Halloween is for kids. Go away."
They slam the door in our face and I turn to face Caleb, a victorious smile on both our faces.
" A trick it is."
We go back home to put away our bags and take everything we deem necessary for our trick.
Around midnight, the streets are empty and the lamppost turned off. We approach the house in the dark where only the light in the living room is on. I'd bet my life they are watching an horror movie. We walk around the house so Caleb can pick the lock on the backdoor.
In silence, we each go our own way to make sure they are indeed alone on this big house. Yes. Apart from the goldfish, they are alone.
One for you. One for me, Caleb.
The two girls are huddled on the couch without noticing me standing behind them.
Three… Two… One…
The fuses blow, they scream. The house is left in total darkness and silence. I stay put against a wall where I'm sure they won't pass by.
"Fuck, I thought I'd peed myself. Wait, I'll fix the fuses. My father taught me how to do it."
She takes the phone out to get some light and go to the fuse box where Caleb is waiting for her. The second one sits back down and scrolls with her thumb on social media feeds on her phone, waiting for her friend to come back. I'm just waiting for the scream of her friend to start the game. And I don't have to wait long.
At the first sound I hear, my baseball bat flies to hit her temple. She crumbles on the floor, not entirely knocked out but not far from it. After turning the lights on, Caleb joins me while dragging the girl by her ankle. The bump on her head proves that she's far from getting back on her feet but more aware of her surroundings than her friend.
"What the…"
Her cries overwhelm here. She must not be that stupid then if she understood what's happening here.
"Trick or treat." I tease again.
When she is about to scream, I hit her again but with my bat this time.
"Rules are simple. You make too much noise, I kill you. See? Simple."
"And… and.. If I d-don't make noise?" She answers, her body shaking.
"You die too but it won't be painful for you. Are we clear?"
Her tears double. She understood that there won't be a happy ending for her tonight.
"Why do… do you.. do…"
I crouch next to her while studying my bloody bat.
"Why? Well… every person has a right to do what makes her happy, and it's because of people like you and your friend that's it's not always possible."
She tries to plead with me but nothing works. But, she followed the rules so to reward her, Caleb slit her throat in one swift motion. Now, to her friend.
Half an hour later, Caleb is loading their car as I take care of the packing. I dissemble the bodies in three parts. The head, the torso and the legs. Nothing complicated in that. Once everything is loaded in the car, we make our way to the lake.
Lake. Forest. Graveyard.
In this order. Always in the same order.
Lake. Forest. Graveyard.
The route will take around half an hour. As he is driving, I inspect both heads resting on my lap.
"She was really pretty the first one. Don't you think?"
"Mmhmm."
"Wait, I'll make her prettier."
I start to braid her long blond hair as I stare in the lifeless eyes of our second victim.
"It's really a shame she didn't follow the rules." I comment.
Her face stuck with an horrified expression will stay that way forever.
"She had such soft hair too."
The road in the middle of night is lonely so we don't take too much time to reach our first stop at the lake. However, from afar, I can see a group of three men that seem to have fun with their tents and campfire.
"Shit." Caleb breathes.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Option C?"
"Fine. I'm coming in five minutes."
As we approach, Caleb slows the car a bit as I jump from it as he drives. I run to the three men, mimicking a sprained ankle. The two girls' blood on me will be rather convincing.
"Help me. Please, help." I scream.
They all stand to get close to me.
"God, what happened to you?"
"I hitched a ride in Chicago but the guy tried to attack me. Please."
One of them helps me to seat by the fire to warm me up. However, they don't try to call the police because we all know there is no mobile network available here.
"Do you want to go to the police station?"
"Yes, he could come back."
They watch one another as if to decide what to do.
"Peter, we have to go with her. Did you look at her? She's bleeding."
"And what? We leave our stuff here? No way! It cost a fortune!"
"The psycho could come back for her!"
"So what? 3 against 1, he wouldn't try it. Grow some balls, Al."
"Are you totally crazy?"
"Fine, we'll go. But we take our stuff with us. Okay?"
The one who wanted to go looks at me to make sure I am okay with that.
"Yeah, go on. You're already kind enough to bring me there."
"We'll be quick." He promises.
They work quickly and I stand aside. The third one walks to their car and I follow him quietly.
"Is there enough room for the four of us?" I ask as I observe the seats when he opens the car door.
"Are you kidding me? Did you see this beauty? Of course there is enough room. But, you'll sit on a blanket. I'm not ruining my seats for you. This is authentic…"
He can't finish his phrase as I take my dagger from my boot and slit his throat. Sorry for your seats but now, they are ruined. I pocket the car keys in case they have the opportunity to run.
I walk slowly back to the fire camp where they are both still packing their stuff. Now this will be a tricky one.
Then the idea pops in my head when my eyes lay on the bottle of vodka. I get closer to the thinner man. Peter I think is his name.
"Are you almost done? I'm not comfortable being here."
His eyes throw daggers at me. Bingo. He's a short tempered one. And with alcohol flowing in his veins, this will be easy.
"You're going to wait patiently. We told you we'd take you there."
"Calm down Peter. She almost got kidnapped. I can understand she wants to get the hell out of here."
"Yeah well, she'll wait a bit more."
Strategically, I move next to the fire and the bottle. I bend to take one of their bags to the car and make sure they see me stumble a little. They both take a few steps toward me, Al to make sure I am alright and Peter because he was scared I destroyed his beloved tent that 'cost a fortune'.
"Wow, slow there."
Once they are close enough, I smash the full bottle of vodka on Peter's head and push him in the flames. He ignites immediately. Al doesn't get a second to think because I jump on him, the blade under his throat. His eyes filled with fear are begging to be let free. He also doesn't get a second to react as I pierce his heart with my blade.
In a flick of my wrist, I throw my favorite dagger to the human torch that would gather an entire village with his screams. It doesn't take long for his screams to stop and his body to drop. Oh shit, I'll have to put out the fire to retrieve my dagger. I quickly pour the closest water bucket on the torso, where my blade is sticking out. I take it quickly as the body is still sizzling.
I hear footsteps behind me.
"Fuck Tris, you could have waited for me at least."
"Sorry, that was too tempting. Come on, don't be upset. The next one are for you."
He groans for a few seconds before helping me dissemble the three men the same way we did the two girls.
The original plan was to throw the legs in the lake while tying bricks to the ankles but it seems the car will help us. We put all their stuff in the trunk with the five pairs of legs on the backseat before using the slope to push the car in the lake. We observe as the car fills with water and sinks slowly. When the last bubble has reached the surface, we leave for the second spot.
I wouldn't be able to explain why this order is so important but with Caleb's obsessive disorder, we have no other choice than sticking to the plan. We got used to proceeding like that for the Halloween nights. The legs in the lake, the torso in the forest and the head in the graveyard. It's kind of comforting to follow this routine. And for Caleb, it's an obligation.
Of course, in our everyday life we do not fallow the same plan. It's even unusual that we hide the bodies in different spots. For Halloween, this is different, we do things big.
I lay the three new heads on the backseat and insist that we keep the windows open. Peter's carbonized head emits an awful odour of roasted pig, or maybe is it his hair?
The second spot isn't far away. This forest is known as haunted around here but nothing is stopping us. Moreover, is there something more frightening than us at the moment?
I take the shovel then help Caleb to pull the bag holding the torsos. The five of them together weigh a ton. After fifteen long minutes of walking, we reach our usual spot. Caleb digs a meter on the left from last year's spot while I flip through our three new guest's wallets. I pocket their money then look at their identity cards.
"Albert. That's an old name for such a young man." I comment as I sit on a tree trunk.
"You're one to talk, Beatrice." Caleb replies with a smile.
I throw a pine cone that lays at my feet as he snickers.
"Dig. I'm freezing here."
"I'm not surprised, look at what your wearing. You should have put some pants on."
I look at my yellow shorts that, I have to admit won't keep me warm tonight.
"Still, hurry up."
"Well, I only had two to bury at the beginning."
"Caleb, please."
He doesn't add to that and even offers his coat. What would I do without him? Once I've helped him roll the five torsos in the hole, he quickly covers them again and we leave, after covering the fresh hole with dead leaves.
As I see last year's spot and if we had some more time, I probably would have asked Caleb to dig up the three persons, just to take a look. Unfortunately, we have to hurry. Maybe next year.
Once back in the car, I curse that Peter that is not only forbidding me from closing the window but also turn on the heat. Now that I think that we have a one hour long drive to the graveyard, I'm almost tempted to throw the damn head on the road.
I take out my phone that tells me it is already 2. 30 am. We've been really slowed down. Caleb turns on the radio and starts humming to the rhythm of the song. He hits his fingers on the wheel and I'm surprised when I start singing the lyrics.
These moments are my favourites. The ones where I am with my brother and we don't have a care in the world.
We reach the graveyard where the Prior family is buried. We walk to the family tomb that protect our parents' caskets. Our mother died after giving birth and our father, three months before that.
Our aunt was the one to abandon us at the fire station. We only know because we searched for our family when we turned 18 and found our father's sister to tell us the truth.
She is now buried in this graveyard but not with the family. She doesn't deserve it so she is a bit everywhere in the ground so her soul may never rest in peace. I'm not sure if the State even knows she's dead.
Once we're standing in front of the tomb, We each take a head to bury it all around. This way, our parents will always have souls to protect them in the afterlife. At least, this is what Caleb feels with his disorder. I'd do anything to ease his mind and help him.
A few hair fall from my ponytail that I wipe away from my face with my dirty and bloody hands. We're almost done for tonight. Then, we'll be able to continue our routine.
That means ridding the world of poor excuses of human beings. We see so many of them at the bar that we can spot them the moment they set their foot inside. I usually put a little something in their glasses and Caleb lead them away when the drug takes effect and does what needs to be done. It's as easy as it seems.
Caleb sighs loudly next to me, he must be exhausted after the night we had. Going from 2 to 5 bodies is never easy. It's tiring.
"Sit down, I'll take care of the last one." I offer.
He gives me a smile full of gratitude and sits. I walk back to the car when I notice a police car with the blue lights on and a person approaching while looking around with a flashlight.
For a second, I inspect my clothes covered in blood and sigh. I'll have to trick the police. Once again.
I drop the keys on the floor and cover them with leaves before walking to the police officer patrolling ahead.
Ready to defend myself if needed, I keep walking to the man. My dagger is hidden in my boot again. As I approach, I can make out the features of the policeman in front of me who is definitively not a stranger. His smile drops when he sees me.
"Is everything alright, miss?"
"Captain Eaton, you have to help me."
"Let me guess, there are heads buried in the entire graveyard?"
"How do you know?"
"I think I know you quite well, miss."
"Good, then you should know I go by Madam."
He returns my smile but stops this little game and kisses me passionately on the lips. When I pull back to breathe , he rubs my forehead, probably to wipe some dirt I must have put there.
"How did you know we'd still be there?"
"I had a feeling you would. You should have told me."
"I know you'd rather have been with us tonight than going to work."
"It's true. I never grow tired of spending the evening with my smoking hot wife. Are you done?"
"No, just one more. Caleb's resting, the evening was kind of eventful."
After picking up my keys, I take the last head in the car. This one's the girl with non-braided hair. I glide my hands in her hair to get a good grip on them before going hand in hand with my husband to the tomb. I use the time to explain what happened during the night.
As we arrive, he greets Caleb then insists on digging the last hole. Probably to feel like he was able to participate at the 2022 edition.
Once he is done, he holds me in his arms.
"Are you coming home with me? I'm done with work."
"Of course… I mean, are you okay with that Caleb?"
"Go home with your husband, it spares me the detour."
After a hug, I watch him go back to the car. I take the opportunity to kiss once again my man. He has an odd look but happiness shines on his face.
"What is it?" I whisper.
"I just though of how we met. Do you remember?"
"How could I forget?"
And it's true, how could I ever forget it? I had just turned 19, Caleb had the flu and I was on my way to get rid of the body of this asshole who tried to assault a girl in a dark street. Just this time, I had decided to go in a new forest because the road I used to take was closed. I found myself in this new forest. I had wandered with my shovel to find a great place when I heard familiar noises. I tiptoed slowly to make sure I heard right. And there he was, as perfect as a Greek God, pushing a dead body in the hole he just dug. I still remember the smile that lit up my face. He must have sensed my presence because his eyes landed on me and my body burst in flames. I was immediately drawn to him and one thing lead to another, he helped me bury the body.
And we saw each other again after that. For our third date, he gave me the best present ever. A victim. It was one of the best thing he ever did for me.
Six months later, we were married. Caleb confessed he was very happy for me and that he couldn't think of a better husband for me. And he was right.
Tobias guides me back to his car but doesn't let me sit down. He pins me to it after turning off the lights. His mouth takes mine again and his hands touch my body like they always do.
"Your costume… you're driving me crazy."
"You like it?" I innocently ask while wiggling my hips under his hands.
"I hope you're kidding. I love it! I'm just disappointed I wasn't able to enjoy it the entire night."
"I'll make it up to you at home."
He opens the car door for me after kissing me one last time. My seatbelt in place, he starts the car to drive home. However, he is a bit too silent.
"Tobias, are you angry? "
He sighs.
"No… I mean… I wanted to be there. It was your birthday…"
I bit my tongue as I watch ahead of me. Then a brilliant idea pops in my head.
"Turn right on the next road."
"Why?"
"Do you trust me?"
By way of a response, he turns right. We haven't done one kilometer that we find the house there that is always rented for parties and tonight, it is full of young student ready to party until dawn. I noticed it when we drove by with Caleb.
Tobias understands immediately what I mean and turns his head toward me.
"I love you."
He parks a bit further down the road behind the trees and after stopping the car, jumps out of the car. He opens the trunk, shoves his uniform after changing his clothes and offers me the machete he keeps safely there. He keeps the hammer for himself then slams the trunk to close it.
"Ready?"
"With you? Always?"
Our kiss is feverish and filled with excitement just thinking of what is going to happen. I am careful not to cut him with the blade then take the outstretched hand with no hesitation.
"I thought we were supposed to slow down a bit, Love?"
"Tonight's Halloween, honey. What were you expecting?"
"You're right. Tonight is unlimited."
He seals his promise with a kiss on the back of my hand.
The night isn't done yet and I know we're going to make the most of it. Happy Halloween to us!
To be honest, I had fun writing it so I'm considering writing more OS with our favorite couple as psychopaths.
The last chapter of 'The maid' will be posted maybe tomorrow or the day after.
