Chapter 2: Old Legends

Jerry rushed into his apartment and immediately went to bedroom. He pulled a suitcase from his closet and filled it with every article of clothing he could manage to stuff in it. He pushed down on the lid but it had to much, he tried again until he finally broke down. He fell to his knees and began to cry. Everything he had ever loved in his life was gone and now he had to leave the city where his dreams came true. Jerry slowly tried to get up but he tripped and knocked into the nightstand. A framed photo fell next to him shattering the glass. He picked up the photo, it was of him and his three friends when they were kids, Jack was the tallest of them all of them, Barry was blind in one eye but could beat any two eyed person at a game of darts, and David who was the only white kid in the group that they kept around to make fun of for being fat, but they still liked him.

(1986)

Jerry, Barry, Jack and David were all sitting in a tree carving their names into it's bark with their pocket knives. Jerry looked down the road and saw a truck filled with feed and other farming supplies coming this way. He whistled to get his friends attention, "Truck's coming." They all watched the truck slow down and stop right infront of their tree. It was Ed Harley, the owner of the general store on his way to make a some deliveries. He got out of his truck holding two bags of beef jerky, "Special delivery." He threw the bags up in the tree, one being caught by David and the other by Barry. Jack pulls out a small sack full of quarters, "Here's what I owe you and a little extra Mr. Harley." Jack throws the sack and Harley catches it with one hand, "You kids enjoy."

"Thanks Mr. Harley." They all said as he got back in his truck and drove off. They all took part in the feast jerky, to them it was the best thing in thier small little community. Jack climbed over to David and took his bag while he was distracted by his snack, "If you keep eating like this the branch wont be able to support you fatty." David tried to punch Jack but the branch snapped and the two came crashing down to the ground. Jerry and Barry came rushing down after them. Lucky for them they were fine but the beef jerky was everywhere. Jerry was pissed, "You idoits spilled the bag. That was all of our spare cash that went into that." David picked up one of the pieces and brushed it off before eating it. The others were disgusted but David didn't mind, "It's still good." David said with a full mouth.

"This is boring waiting for something to happen." Barry picked up a stick and threw it as far as he could, "Yeah but that's life here. We all wait around until something interesting happens then we all gawk at it until we get bored." Jerry took a clean peace of jerky from the bag that hadn't spilled. While looking at it he came up with an idea, "Let's go steal something from old Haggis and sell it at the flea market to some stupid travelers." Barry and David were all in on the idea but Jack wasn't to fond of it. Unlike his friends he actually believed that Haggis was witch with great powers and a connection to satan himself. He tried to change his friends minds, "That's boring guys. How about we go swimming or try to catch some possums with homemade traps." Everyone could see through Jack's terrible attempt to hide his fear.

"Jack must think she'll send Pumpkinhead after us. Is that Jack? You scared of the big bad Pumpkinhead?" Jerry said mocking Jack's fear. David pretended to be a monster and growled at him trying to scare Jack but he was punched in the shoulder by Barry, "Will you all knock it off. Jack if you're to scared to go then Jerry, David and I will go by ourselves. We'll meet at my house later." The three turned and walked away leaving Jack to swallow his fears and run after them. The journey there was surprisingly short but the closer they got a strange aura came upon them. It was suddenly grew colder, it chilled them to the bones. The wind became more heavy and sounded like screaming to them. When the cabin was in sight the forrest became silent. No birds chirping, no more wind, just silence. Turns out they were all scared of Haggis. Jerry was the first to sneak up to the house leaving his friends in the bushes.

Jerry slowly sneaked on to the porch. He looked through the front window and didn't see anyone inside. He signaled his friends to join him but they stayed in the bushes so he flipped them off and moved towards the front door. As soon as he reached out to open the door it swung open and Haggis stood. He was paralyzed with fear as his friends all ran away leaving him to the clutches of the witch that stood infront of him. She smiled, "Jerry Hall. I Never took you as the thieving type." He was to scared to respond. She had somehow known about his plan despite thinking of it only moments ago. Jerry quickly turned around and ran as fast as he could, the witch just laughed as she closed the door to her home.

Jerry kept running and didn't stop until he made it home where his father was working on the engine. It would probably be fixed by now if he wasn't drinking so much. Jerry sat down on the front porch, his body shaking and gasping for air. His father noticed his shortness of breath, "What got you out of breath?" He asked his son. Jerry was quick to lie, "Oh, we were just playing football, decided to get food, forgot my wallet, ran here to get it." He prayed in his head that it would work, "You're poker face needs work." Jerry should have prayed harder as his dad closed the lid. He walked up to his son and got real close to him, "Now I'll give you another chance to tell me the truth. Why are you gasping for air?" Jimmy had no other choice. He told the truth, "We wanted to see the witch." Jerry's dad slapped the boy so hard it knocked him down. He took off belt and began beating the boy mercilessly, "I TOLD YOU NEVER GO THERE." He yelled as beat the boy. If it wasn't for his mother coming out to stop him his dad would have beaten him until he passed out.

(Present)

Jerry put the photo back on top of the nightstand and looked at his suitcase overstuffed with clothes. He couldn't stop thinking about Haggis and Pumpkinhead, it was if his mind had been taken over but he knew what he must do. He pushed down hard on his suitcase making it finally snap shut. He sat down on the bed wondering to himself if the legends were true, if she really was a witch and that she could summon Pumpkinhead. The more he thought about it the more rage built up inside him. All Jerry wanted to do was see that mob boss on the ground gasping for his life just like his son did. His eyes teared up at the thought of his son but he knew now was not the time for grief. he grabs his suitcase and leaves his apartment in a hurry.