A/N: These chapters just keep getting shorter and shorter…

Also…this is where the story gets part of its M rating. There's a sex scene. I did cut a great deal of the original content because I found myself really uncomfortable dealing with that subject, but I didn't take the whole thing out. I'm not sure why I did the scene in the first place, probably just to stay true to the conventions of the genre, specifically the Halloween movies. Or you could blame teenage hormones. Take your pick.

Anyway, on with the show.

Chapter Six

When the doorbell rang at precisely seven o'clock, Ben jumped up out of his armchair in the living room to answer it. Joey, Alice, and Katie were standing on the porch, smiling and dressed in elaborate costumes. Joey was wearing a cowboy outfit, complete with hat and belt buckle. Alice was dressed in a 1950s-era pink poodle skirt that fell down to mid-calf. And Katie was radiant in a flowing masquerade gown that trailed the floor and glittered in the light from the foyer.

Ben, who had dressed in his new vampire cape, grinned widely to show off his fake fangs and said, "Welcome to my home," in his best (and really quite terrible) Transylvanian accent. "Please do come in."

"Why thank you," said Alice, smiling and nodding her head to him, leading the others inside. Joey and Katie followed, the latter smiling shyly at him.

"You look beautiful," Ben said, dropping the phony accent.

"Thanks," Katie said. "My mom helped me with the finishing touches, but it's actually just a dime-store costume."

"It still looks good," Ben said, and he immediately felt like an idiot. But Katie just smiled, thanked him again, and followed the other two into the kitchen, where Ben had set up the snacks and drinks. As agreed, there was no alcohol. Just soda. No one complained, however, and they were chatting pleasantly in minutes.

"You know, I've never been in here before," Alice said, gesturing around the room. "In the Myers house. I've always been scared of it. But you're right, Ben. It's just another old house."

Ben wasn't sure if she truly meant it or was just telling him this to make him feel better. He wondered vaguely if Katie or Joey had put her up to it. But he appreciated it all the same and smiled gratefully.

The doorbell rang again, and Ben hurried to answer it. Miranda entered, wearing a tight-fitting biker jacket that was only zipped up to the cleft of her breasts and showed off every curve and dip of her stunning body. Ben looked away quickly, trying to keep eye contact as he said, "Welcome to my home," again in that Romanian tone.

Steve was right behind Miranda, wearing the same thing he'd been wearing that day at school, a dark t-shirt and blue jeans. There was a brown paper grocery bag in the crook of one arm. "So what are you supposed to be?" Ben asked, grinning. "Came dressed as yourself? My, that's really scary."

"Fuck you, asshole," Steve said, grinning, and he playfully punched Ben's arm. "My costume's in the bag. Didn't have time to change."

He entered after Miranda, and Ben shut the door, making sure it was locked behind him. He joined the others in the kitchen. "Where's the beer?" Steve asked, looking around at the soda bottles.

"Sorry, no booze," Ben said, pouring himself a drink. "Help yourself to some Coke, though."

"You didn't tell me it was BYOB," Steve sighed. "Oh well. Coke will have to do, then."

Ben felt the need to explain. "Since my parents were kind enough to provide the house tonight, I didn't feel it was right to bring alcohol behind their backs, especially since they specifically said no booze."

"Hey, man, I was kidding," Steve said, raising his eyebrows. "Don't you know a joke when you hear one?"

Ben blushed and said, "Sorry. I've been a bit edgy today."

"We've noticed," said Steve. "What, did you see a ghost on the way home or something?"

Ben teetered on the edge of telling them all about the dark figure he'd thought he'd seen in the drugstore and the stranger who had chased him home, but decided against it. He didn't want Steve to think he was paranoid, which he already seemed to anyway.

"So this is the Devil's House. Sorry," he added, glancing at Ben, "the Myers house. This is what it looks like on the inside." Steve looked at one of the drawers in the counter and pulled it out. "And here's where little Mikey got his knife forty-five years ago, the night that started it all."

"Can we please not talk about it?" Ben asked. He was starting to feel uneasy again, even though he was surrounded by people.

Steve glanced at him, seemed to understand, and changed subject. "I'm gonna go upstairs and change into my costume," he said.

"I'll help you with the back zipper," Miranda said. Steve shrugged and the couple left the kitchen and started up the stairs.

But Miranda didn't lead Steve to the bathroom like he was expecting. She led him to Ben's room. "So this is the place," she said. "This is where he killed his sister."

"Yeah," Steve said, gazing at the bed, "This is where it all began. This boring-ass little town hasn't been the same since that night. They really should open this place up as a museum or something, you know?"

Miranda laughed. "You'd have to convince Ben and his parents to move out first."

Steve grinned and quirked an eyebrow. "I don't think it would be too hard to get Ben out of here. Did you notice how skittish he's acting tonight? He's totally freaked!"

"Yeah," Miranda agreed, nodding. "Still…" She trailed off, and silence fell between them for a moment. Then Miranda smiled. "Mm," she sighed, turning to face Steve. "Isn't it so exciting, being here in the Devil's House? In Judith's bedroom?"

She moved closer to him, and their bodies touched. Steve blinked, a little surprised. Then he smiled too, his eyes full of lust. "Yeah," he said, "it is."

He kissed her roughly, passionately, sticking his tongue in her mouth and moaning with desire. Miranda reached down and pulled down the zipper of his jeans. "So that's what you meant when you said you'd help me with my zipper," Steve said, grinning.

Miranda grinned slyly back and said, "Yes. That's what I meant."

Steve reached up and pulled down the zipper of her biker jacket. "Ooh, naughty girl," he muttered. She wasn't wearing anything under the leather. Her breasts were released from their constraint and blossomed out before him, full and round and smooth. Steve felt himself growing stiff, creating an unpleasant pressure in his jeans. Miranda reached in and coaxed him out, holding him in her hands, caressing the long, solid shaft.

She moaned once, and that was the only permission Steve needed. He pulled the jacket completely off and pulled down her pants. Miranda pulled his shirt off over his head and lowered his jeans. Wrapped up in each others' arms, they lowered themselves onto the bed, Steve on top. Miranda gasped. "Shh," Steve cautioned. "It wouldn't do to have Ben find us doing it in his bed."

Miranda giggled and moaned as they descended into mad, thrashing carnal delight. The bed squeaked and creaked softly beneath them, mingling with their gasps and moans and murmurings.

These sounds masked that of someone else breathing heavily. So lost in each other were they that neither of them noticed the dark shape standing in the doorway, watching their every move. It tilted its head to the side as it observed their coupling, the eyes hidden in shadow by the pale white mask it wore, its fingers slowly stroking the handle of a long, shiny butcher knife clutched in one large, trembling hand.

A/N: …well that was awkward…