Chapter 3
Venom
I moved swiftly moved through the darkness, so that my parents would not see me. Even though they were in the house and I had the darkness on my side to hide me, I still did not want to get caught. It was such a long ways from my house to the patch, but tonight it seemed even further. I needed to get in and out of there quickly, for no one needed to see what I was doing. As soon as I saw the small glowing lights far off, I knew I was getting closer, and before I knew it, I was there.
Every year around this time, people from miles around would come to me for pumpkins. I had a reputation of having the largest, healthiest, and most pumpkins in the whole town. I worked all year long tending to them, and when Halloween finally came around, it was worth all the labor. I made a lot of money each year selling my harvest. On average, I lost about half of my crop. After that I took the best pumpkins and set them aside, and took the reaming ones to carve my own jack-o-lanterns. The ones set aside were saved for their seeds, and then used to grow the best pumpkins for next year. There were also a select few that I did not allow the towns people to buy, for they were the best pumpkins, and I needed them to grow more blue ribbon winners. Yes, I would also enter the county fair with them, and of course every year I would win for largest pumpkin and best pie. Pumpkins were my hobby, what could I say?
As I ran to the center of my field, I grabbed a small bag that sat just next to one of the larger jack-o-lanterns. The field was full of small glowing lights being emitted from the pumpkins, and in a way it was creepy and beautiful at the same time. I crouched down to the wet earth and wrapped my arms around a very large pumpkin. Using most of my strength, I pushed the pumpkin to one side. Underneath, where the pumpkin used to rest, was a large hole dug into the ground. It was very dark, and it was hard to see what was in there. I reached into the bag and pulled out a flashlight. I flicked the switch, and shone it down into the whole. Worms squirmed around and dug there way back into the earth, trying to hide themselves from the light, and beetles scattered about from fright. I searched around a bit before I found what I was looking for. I reached down inside the hole, which was as deep as the length of my arm.
I pulled out a small wooden box that was covered in dirt. I set it onto the ground and wiped the top off. Unhinging the latch, I opened it. Small spiders scurried out and across the ground. Inside of the box was a small vile in which contained a transparent liquid of a golden color. I had been saving it for quite a while and decided that tonight was the night to use it. Inside of the vile was just enough snake venom to kill a single person, slowly if I might add. The symptoms were those of any snake venom. First, the victim would run a high fever, sweating and experiencing dizziness. Then they would slowly become insane, not being able to tell the difference of reality and fantasy. And last but not least, they would bleed from the inside while the venom killed off all of their body tissue. Eventually they would die, that is if they did not receive treatment soon after injection. It was the perfect substance for my revenge. Although I knew that Allison would not want this, it felt right to me. I had to get revenge on those boys.
I took the vile and stuck it in the bag. Inside, the bag also contained the flashlight, a small knife, candy, an empty bottle, a blowgun and dart, a small pumpkin, and various other items. I took the bag, threw it over my shoulder, and ran over towards the oak tree that stood just next to the field. In the tree was a large, hollowed out hole. I reached deep inside the hole and pulled out a long staff. I had had the staff for a long time. It was carved from a branch from that very same tree I kept it within. I tied my bag to the end of it and headed back towards town.
I made my way up the road looking for signs of where the boys may be. It wouldn't be too hard to find them, especially on Halloween. Every year they would go around the town terrorizing children and playing tricks on the town's people. Last Halloween, they even went as far as to burn someone's house down. Everyone knew of them, and they weren't hard to point out. Every Halloween they wore the same costume, which were jack-o-lanterns on their head with long green capes. They called themselves The Poltergeists.
One would not believe how many years I have been accused of working with The Poltergeists. Since I am the major pumpkin distributor in town, they all immediately suspect I am the one selling them pumpkins for their costumes. Having anything to do with these kids is considered almost being one of them. I did encounter them once, attempting to by pumpkins from me, but I refused to sell them any. With that response, they smashed my pumpkins. Later that night, I caught them trying to steal them instead of buying them. I have since then convinced people I do not provide them with pumpkins. But why take my word? Take a look for yourself. The jack-o- lanterns used as part of their costumes are of low quality, so low to the point that they are rotting away almost. Green and brown, discolored, not even the right shape for pumpkins. One could easily tell they are not my work.
It wasn't long into my travel to wear I heard my first sign. I could hear children, young children, crying. I started running. I couldn't lose this chance. These children had to know something about The Poltergeists. I finally came into view of the children and began to slow.
"Are you guys okay?" I said in a concerned voice.
"Our candy is gone!" One of them cried and held out an empty paper bag. Another one did the same, and a little girl sat on the ground with tears in her eyes.
"Do you know who took it?" I asked.
"Pumpkin people! They took our candy," the little girl whimpered.
"Okay. Don't worry kids, I will get your candy back." I untied my bag and reached in, pulling out handfuls of candy. "Here, you can have my candy." I put the candy into their bags, and their tears slowly became dry.
"Thank you Pheonia."
"You're welcome. But could you guys do me two favors?"
"Yea!"
"First, which way did the pumpkin people go?"
"That way," pointed a little boy.
"Okay, and second, go get a lot of candy!"
"Ok! Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Now you guys get going and get some more candy." I smiled at them as they walked off, admiring the candy I had given them. How great it was to be so young. Sometimes I wished I were little again. I tied my bag back onto the staff and headed towards where they had pointed. Until now, I hadn't realized where they had directed me. It was right into the forest.
Venom
I moved swiftly moved through the darkness, so that my parents would not see me. Even though they were in the house and I had the darkness on my side to hide me, I still did not want to get caught. It was such a long ways from my house to the patch, but tonight it seemed even further. I needed to get in and out of there quickly, for no one needed to see what I was doing. As soon as I saw the small glowing lights far off, I knew I was getting closer, and before I knew it, I was there.
Every year around this time, people from miles around would come to me for pumpkins. I had a reputation of having the largest, healthiest, and most pumpkins in the whole town. I worked all year long tending to them, and when Halloween finally came around, it was worth all the labor. I made a lot of money each year selling my harvest. On average, I lost about half of my crop. After that I took the best pumpkins and set them aside, and took the reaming ones to carve my own jack-o-lanterns. The ones set aside were saved for their seeds, and then used to grow the best pumpkins for next year. There were also a select few that I did not allow the towns people to buy, for they were the best pumpkins, and I needed them to grow more blue ribbon winners. Yes, I would also enter the county fair with them, and of course every year I would win for largest pumpkin and best pie. Pumpkins were my hobby, what could I say?
As I ran to the center of my field, I grabbed a small bag that sat just next to one of the larger jack-o-lanterns. The field was full of small glowing lights being emitted from the pumpkins, and in a way it was creepy and beautiful at the same time. I crouched down to the wet earth and wrapped my arms around a very large pumpkin. Using most of my strength, I pushed the pumpkin to one side. Underneath, where the pumpkin used to rest, was a large hole dug into the ground. It was very dark, and it was hard to see what was in there. I reached into the bag and pulled out a flashlight. I flicked the switch, and shone it down into the whole. Worms squirmed around and dug there way back into the earth, trying to hide themselves from the light, and beetles scattered about from fright. I searched around a bit before I found what I was looking for. I reached down inside the hole, which was as deep as the length of my arm.
I pulled out a small wooden box that was covered in dirt. I set it onto the ground and wiped the top off. Unhinging the latch, I opened it. Small spiders scurried out and across the ground. Inside of the box was a small vile in which contained a transparent liquid of a golden color. I had been saving it for quite a while and decided that tonight was the night to use it. Inside of the vile was just enough snake venom to kill a single person, slowly if I might add. The symptoms were those of any snake venom. First, the victim would run a high fever, sweating and experiencing dizziness. Then they would slowly become insane, not being able to tell the difference of reality and fantasy. And last but not least, they would bleed from the inside while the venom killed off all of their body tissue. Eventually they would die, that is if they did not receive treatment soon after injection. It was the perfect substance for my revenge. Although I knew that Allison would not want this, it felt right to me. I had to get revenge on those boys.
I took the vile and stuck it in the bag. Inside, the bag also contained the flashlight, a small knife, candy, an empty bottle, a blowgun and dart, a small pumpkin, and various other items. I took the bag, threw it over my shoulder, and ran over towards the oak tree that stood just next to the field. In the tree was a large, hollowed out hole. I reached deep inside the hole and pulled out a long staff. I had had the staff for a long time. It was carved from a branch from that very same tree I kept it within. I tied my bag to the end of it and headed back towards town.
I made my way up the road looking for signs of where the boys may be. It wouldn't be too hard to find them, especially on Halloween. Every year they would go around the town terrorizing children and playing tricks on the town's people. Last Halloween, they even went as far as to burn someone's house down. Everyone knew of them, and they weren't hard to point out. Every Halloween they wore the same costume, which were jack-o-lanterns on their head with long green capes. They called themselves The Poltergeists.
One would not believe how many years I have been accused of working with The Poltergeists. Since I am the major pumpkin distributor in town, they all immediately suspect I am the one selling them pumpkins for their costumes. Having anything to do with these kids is considered almost being one of them. I did encounter them once, attempting to by pumpkins from me, but I refused to sell them any. With that response, they smashed my pumpkins. Later that night, I caught them trying to steal them instead of buying them. I have since then convinced people I do not provide them with pumpkins. But why take my word? Take a look for yourself. The jack-o- lanterns used as part of their costumes are of low quality, so low to the point that they are rotting away almost. Green and brown, discolored, not even the right shape for pumpkins. One could easily tell they are not my work.
It wasn't long into my travel to wear I heard my first sign. I could hear children, young children, crying. I started running. I couldn't lose this chance. These children had to know something about The Poltergeists. I finally came into view of the children and began to slow.
"Are you guys okay?" I said in a concerned voice.
"Our candy is gone!" One of them cried and held out an empty paper bag. Another one did the same, and a little girl sat on the ground with tears in her eyes.
"Do you know who took it?" I asked.
"Pumpkin people! They took our candy," the little girl whimpered.
"Okay. Don't worry kids, I will get your candy back." I untied my bag and reached in, pulling out handfuls of candy. "Here, you can have my candy." I put the candy into their bags, and their tears slowly became dry.
"Thank you Pheonia."
"You're welcome. But could you guys do me two favors?"
"Yea!"
"First, which way did the pumpkin people go?"
"That way," pointed a little boy.
"Okay, and second, go get a lot of candy!"
"Ok! Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Now you guys get going and get some more candy." I smiled at them as they walked off, admiring the candy I had given them. How great it was to be so young. Sometimes I wished I were little again. I tied my bag back onto the staff and headed towards where they had pointed. Until now, I hadn't realized where they had directed me. It was right into the forest.