(Guest, thank you. Pretty much everything is based on something real, though I am taking years of Halloween and putting them into one party. The party is very loosely based on one I go to every year. The fan fic version is much more extravagant though and has many, many more people involved. The chainsaw guy is based on a guy I saw on one Halloween while trick or treating. He really did go around chasing people with a toy chainsaw. I avoided him. 😂
Qelah22, thank you. I was hoping for humor, though I'm not really confident in writing it.)
Chapter 8 - The Haunted Houses
After the race, Jacob revealed that the haunted houses were ready.
"What?" Malek asked.
"It's better just to go through it rather than me explaining it." He had gathered all the Tok'ra, and they followed him to a house with a yard completely covered in decorations. They could hear strange sounds, chains, crazy laughing, and screams.
"Is that an angry cat?" Lantash asks, feeling Martouf shudder as they were reminded of Bastet.
"It's just soundtrack," Jacob assured.
"What did they do to the poor cat?"
"They didn't hurt a cat. Actually, they have cats. They would not hurt one."
"I don't like angry cats. The sound is…shrill." He frowned. "I will tolerate the noise."
"We walk through the house and get scared."
"That does not sound fun," Yosuuf replied.
"Pretend to get scared."
"That sounds less fun," the Viking Tok'ra said.
"Just go with it."
"It will be educational," Freya said, getting bored waiting while others were going in. She didn't bother waiting for the others.
Daniel followed her.
"Has anyone noticed that most of all the laughing sounds the same?" Aldwin asked as they went inside.
"What do you mean?" Malek asked.
"It's often 'Mwa ha ha!' Sometimes with extra ha's."
"Yes, now that you mention it…" Lantash added. "That's how Billy was laughing too."
"Guys, this is supposed to be scary," Jack said as he followed. Talking kind of kills the mood."
They walked through a fog that was mostly settled at their feet.
"What are those?" Aldwin whispered, pointing to many small lights, shaped like tailed humanoids.
"Those are ghosts," Daniel whispered back.
Lantash saw movement behind a curtain before horned human jumped out and screamed.
"Very scary," Aldwin replied calmly when no one reacted.
He shrugged and went back behind the curtain.
They followed a path of Jack-o-lanterns with more ghosts on the walls. They could hear screaming in front of them, and some in the back, mostly by children. Soon a group of them ran passed, laughing and giggling.
They passed cackling witches, then Malek felt something against his leg.
"He's supposed to be upstairs," one of the witches said before approaching.
Malek looked to see a purring black cat, rubbing his head against him. He reached down, letting the cat examine his hand before petting.
"He's very friendly," Lantash said.
"Yeah. He always been." She said as she picked him up. The cat purred even louder as she pet him.
The witch left as they went outside to see graveyards everywhere. There was a coffin with a voice screaming…
"Let me out!"
"That's a little creepy," Aldwin admitted.
They went through the backyard to the neighbors through a gate. The second house clearly had a castle theme on the outside.
"This one might be…more than you want," Jacob said as he read the warning sign. "It even has an age limit."
I am very curious as to what needs a warning, Selmak admitted.
"It's dungeon themed," Jacob added. To what degree that they went, I have no idea.
They all went in, having been warned. They immediately noticed how cold the air was.
Malek frowned slightly, seeing setups of dummies in chains and in various torture devices. It was sometimes a bit too familiar.
"It is part of history," Anise said as she approached, having backtracked.
"Mark said they go big on every holiday," Jacob added. "He wasn't kidding."
"Go big?" Gete asked.
"They go all out. Decoration wise." He looked around. The foggy floor. The sounds. Fake blood on fake dungeon walls. "I'd love to see their Christmas."
This house had so much going on that they weren't the only group to be hanging around.
"Are these based on real executions?" Lantash asked.
"Well, not specific people, but…" Jacob looked around. "We have a violent history."
Most worlds do to a degree, Selmak thought as she felt his shame. Many of them are still violent. That's why I always ask potential hosts if they are good people. It's not so much the answer they give, but the feeling I get from them. Their reaction. If they are holding something back. Anything that might suggest that it is not someone I want as a host.
Jacob followed the other Tok'ra out. I'm glad I passed the test.
Your reaction immediately told me that you were a good man.
He grinned, though he had already known that.
On the way out, they had to "escape," which merely meant ducking under a false wall at the doorway.
"That reminded me of home," Gete said after, slurring slightly. "Er, I meant the scary themed walkthroughs, not the devices…though we had those too. Well, my Father did…and now…my grandkids."
"So they went directly from your dad to your grandkids?" Jack teased.
Gete grinned. "They did in a way. I got sick and had to move when my father was still alive."
"Remind me not to get arrested at your home," Jack replied.
"Just tell them you know me," he replied before retreating. Aldwin staggered slightly as he had not been ready for it.
Jack grinned. He had never seen a stumble from a transition.
To be continued…
(The friendly cat is based on a real cat. He stays outside his house, on the sidewalk, because he loves being petted, even by strangers. I've been petting him for years now.)