PREPARE FOR YOUR NIGHTMARE

Riks had ushered people out of her place an hour before the party was to finish. The last pair of disgruntled teenagers left, complaining how lame the party had been without any alcohol. Riks however had ignored them, kept up a happy face and yelled "Happy Halloween!" to passing trick-or-treaters and leaving guests. Only after handing out the last batch of candy to some 10 year olds did she hang up a sign saying 'Halloween is a foreign holiday and is not celebrated here', and unmasked her serious face.

"Let's get to work."

Siana and Riks got busy cleaning up the house and yard in a flash. The sinks sparkled and the chairs gleamed, as if no one had ever thrown up on it. She could still smell the strong lemon fragrant in the air as Riks climbed up the water tank to the roof and took down the stereo from the gutter pipe.

Siana was trying to clean up Riks room for her. She felt sorry for Riks because the party had ended a bit depressingly, but no matter, they would probably amuse themselves by scaring the little kids trick-or-treating. Sweeping the last bit of glass into a bag, Siana noticed a strange picture on the wall. A large pumpkin with eyes that looked so…evil. Standing up, she moved closer to it for a better view…

A hand grabbed her shoulder. Siana jumped back and screamed.

"Calm down man," whispered Riks. "Have you got any other clothes?"

"No. This is all I brought besides some CDs and cola," Siana said indicating to her cat costume.

"Okay, I'm going to pack some stuff and then we're going." Riks walked out the room.

"Going where?" Siana asked loudly.

Riks popped her head around the door and said "To get Annabelle of course" and then she walked off again. Her head came back around the corner.

"Uh, you better come with me Siana." She nodded towards the pumpkin. "You don't want to hang around that thing by yourself."

Siana obligingly followed Riks into the kitchen. Riks opened a packet and started filling up water balloons. "Here take some," she said.

"What's this for?"

"We might need them. Y'know, it is Halloween night."

Siana did not believe the water bombs were meant for trick-or-treaters, but she still took one and put it in her bag. Riks picked up two and then marched into the garage. Finding her uncles battered baseball bat, she popped it in Siana's bag.

"Just in case."

Siana was becoming a bit nervous. First water balloons, then a baseball bat? In her bag?

"Er, Ricks?"

"Yeh?" She replied selecting an ornamental Chinese umbrella by the door.

"Where are we going anyway?"

Riks went back into her room and came out carrying some clothes.

"You wanna get changed?" she asked Siana.

"No I don't want to get changed," Siana snapped. "Riks if you don't tell me where we're going, then-then I'm going to… I'm going to walk out this door!" She took a step towards the front door to show Riks that she meant it.

Riks stared at her for a while, then said "Let me get changed and I'll show you where we're going." She walked into the bathroom.

Siana was left standing there feeling rather stupid. It was true; sometimes she just didn't trust Riks. She wasn't normal, that's for sure, but then again, that's why Siana liked her. Plus, Riks still seemed sort of…pure. She was good-hearted, but sometimes it came out wrong. Siana was still standing there thinking things over when Riks came out of the shower.

She was wearing a loose black shirt with khaki brown pants, and was stomping her feet into new converse shoes.

"Ready to go?"

Riks walked back into her room, and Siana followed. Riks stuffed her Halloween costume into her bag and pocketed the water balloons. Siana had noticed the pumpkin again. It still gave off bad vibes, but it drew Siana towards it. She was nervous, but still moved closer, and closer. If she reached out she could touch it. Should she?

Siana felt Riks behind her. "What is this Riks?" she whispered. Riks didn't reply, but Siana didn't care. She didn't care about anything. Her eyes fluttered, and then became blank, hypnotized by the pumpkin.

"See you on the other side Siana." She felt Riks shove her forward. Hard.

"Hey!" she cried out in surprise, snapping out of her daze. But she was already falling. Shielding her face with her hands, Siana braced herself, but felt nothing. Suddenly she was falling into darkness, Riks words echoing around her as she fell into the void.

Boy did Riks feel bad. She hadn't had meant to push her that hard. She hoped that she did not land on a pike on top of a building. She also hoped that Annabelle had not died of fright. Halloween Town is pretty scary when you're alone. She could hear the ghastly music in her ears and snapped "Alright! Alright! I'm going." But she stood there listening to it.

I am the who when you call 'who's there?'

I am the wind blowing through your hair…

She closed her eyes, took a deep breathe and walked at the pumpkin …bang!

"OW!" Riks rubbed her nose. She had run into the wall! The sound of wild laughter was all around her.

"Shut up! That's not funny!" She carefully touched the pumpkin. Her hand became hazy and went through the wall.

"Oh, now you work," she said grumpily as she fell into the darkness. The laughter died away, and the world soon forgot there was ever a Riks.

I thought the story might have become a bit too dramatic and serious, so I tried to lighten things up. I also drank a lot of milo. Mwahaha o