Halloween is just around the corner… So you know what that means! YES! A brand new update of "In Honor of Halloween"! But I changed my formatting from "lame to scariest". I'm just going to write the one-shots in any way I want.
Just a warning: This is MUCH scarier than the last two chapters. And there was a story like this that actually happened in my state. So, this is fiction, but the story is real.
Oh yeah.
Disclaimer: I don't own SSBM, or the plot for that matter. Basically I own nothing. Cheers.
X.X.X
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
That is the sound of his nails hitting against the pavement of the sidewalk. They are at least three inches longer than his finger, sharpening unnaturally at the end. Instead of being smooth on the outside, each nail is rough, and vile to touch. But the insides of his nails are worse than the outside. The insides are coated with filth. Pieces of flesh, bile, scalp, dirt, chewed gum, blood and other items that cannot be distinguished.
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
That's the sound of him dragging himself against the sidewalk. He had no legs to walk on, nor any feet. He used his abnormally long arms and nails to pull himself around.
Chunks of wild, matted, grizzly ginger hair protrude out of his scalp. His skin is a sickly, sallow white-yellow. Rancid breath emanates from his dry, cracked lips. A quarter of his yellowed teeth are missing. His beard hasn't been combed, shaven or trimmed.
The man stopped suddenly. Apparently he heard somebody, because he quickly dragged himself to a bush. You couldn't even hear the rustling of the bushes as he buried himself deep within.
The man had not heard wrong.
X.X.X
Ring! Ring! Ri—
"Hello?" a young girl by the age of ten answered. She had a polite, bored, questioning voice when she answered the phone.
But her response was only a deep ragged breathing. Color drained from her face, as she curiously listened to the breathing. It was frightening, and strange. Just as Nana was about to call her brother to listen to this strange noise, she came to a conclusion.
"Young Link!" She shouted into the phone, annoyed and amused at the same time, "Quit it!"
The breathing ceased followed by a shout of laughter, "You have to admit, Nana! That was pretty good!"
Nana felt the blood rushing back into her face, giving her warmth. "Yeah sure," she admitted grudgingly with a smile on her face, "So what's the call for?"
She twisted the coiled telephone wire around her index finger as she waited breathlessly for his reply. She screwed her eyes shut and wished for the right answer.
"We-ell…" he began stretching out the word, "Mrs. Landry called. She said that we need to work together for typing up that story about the stray cat for the news. Then we need to send it to her by tomorrow morning at school."
"…And?" Nana raised an eyebrow for emphasis, though she knew he couldn't see it.
The young Hylian let out a frustrated breath, as though her skull was so thick he couldn't put a simple sentence past it, "I need you to be over my house, or else we'll both fail this assignment. And that's not good."
She shoots… She scores! "Uh… well… I have to be home by five…" Nana glanced at the clock. It read 2:56 P.M.
"Well… Can you come?!" Young Link asked impatiently.
"…Yeah. I think I can. Lemme ask Popo if I can," she said. She hugged the mouthpiece to her chest, so that Young Link couldn't hear what she was saying.
"Hey Popo! POPO!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Whaa…?" Popo asked. Popo had a long day today. He had Cross Country Practice today, so he was really tired. He was thinking of hitting the sack when he was finished with his math homework.
"I'm heading out to Link's house, k? It's for a project," she told him.
"Yeah sure. Just be home by five," Popo said, "You know what could happen if you aren't."
Nana rolled her eyes. Like she really needed to be reminded of that. "Sure, whatever," she muttered. She packed her belongings, smoothed her hair down, and checked herself in the mirror to see if she had any eye bogies.
"Oh and Nana…" Popo called to get her attention.
"Now what?" She asked irritably.
"Don't do anything stupid to, or in front of him," Popo said. He was fully aware of what Nana was feeling towards Young Link.
"Yeah alright mum," Nana emphasized on the last word.
"No need to be so mean," Popo mumbled tiredly.
Her response was slamming the door.
X.X.X
He watched her leave. But he didn't make a move. After all… His policy is after five o' clock.
But his mouth curved into a hungry, feral grin anyway.
X.X.X
"So… you want to edit this part?" Young Link asked. His attention was totally absorbed onto the screen. He looked zombie-like. And… cute. Nana grinned inwardly at the thought.
"Yeah, because it makes the story sound far-fetched," Nana said, forcing her attention onto the computer which they were typing up the article.
"So what should I put?" he asked. He reluctantly forced his eyes off the computer and turned to focus his attention on her.
Nana sucked in breath through her teeth. She thought for a minute. Then she smiled, "I know exactly what."
She reached for the keyboard but Young Link snatched it away from her, "I can type faster. Just tell me what to put…"
"Let me! I won't be able to say my idea that well if you type it," Nana protested.
They argued for a couple minutes. And finally—
"It's my computer," Young Link pointedly said.
Nana irritably loosened her hold on the keyboard.
"Alright. How about… 'The tabby was spotted by Ms. Fibster who immediately asked Mr. Darby, the janitor to catch it. It was later revealed that the tabby was pregnant. The cat is a very lovable stray. If anybody would like a pregnant tabby, please contact Ms. Fibster at Nana asked.
Young Link rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then he flashed a grin at Nana who smiled partly to herself and him.
"You know… That's not a bad idea after all…" Young Link said. He immediately began poking away at the keyboard, looking up and down so fast that his head appeared almost blurred.
Presently, Link came in the room and he set down a plate of chocolate chip cookies. He gave Nana a crinkled smile before telling her, "Just giving you the head's up Nan, but it's a quarter past four. It's not safe to be out after five…"
"Oh puh-leaaaaze!" Young Link scoffed, "You're not griping on about that stupid legend, are you?"
Link frowned at his younger self, "I would've thought you would be taking this much more seriously! It's true! Already three children from Huntsville are gone. And their bodies were never found!"
Young Link merely rolled his eyes and turned back to the computer, poking away at the laptop.
"Don't worry; I'll be heading out in about fifteen more minutes. It's only a fifteen minute walk back," she assured the kindly elf.
Link smiled at her, "Thank goodness Young Link is friends with somebody responsible like you."
Five minutes passed… then ten… then twenty…
"Whew!" Nana sat back, as two pieces of paper landed neatly on the table, fresh out of the printer. She picked them up, shuffling them properly, smelling the fresh ink.
Young Link smiled tiredly, "I would be sitting my butt off for about two more hours if you hadn't come. Thanks Nan," he sighed, relaxing in his chair.
A ghost of a love-struck grin flitted across Nana's face. She was grinning for one reason; he'd called her Nan. Something he'd never called her by before.
"It was nothing…" she grinned normally at the boy who grinned back at her.
Her eyes wandered over to the clock. Then she started.
5:05 P.M. it said in its eerie green glow. She was REALLY late!
She jumped up and immediately began stuffing things into her bag, "It's been nice staying with you, but I need to get home," she said hurriedly, grabbing her pencil and stuffing it into her bag.
Young Link opened his blue eyes, startled, "Wait… aren't you going to stay?" he asked.
"I can't. Its five minutes after five! Popo'll kill me!" Nana fretted.
She swung her backpack over her shoulder and just as she was about to take a step, a warm hand closed around her wrist.
When she turned around to look him in the eye she was a little surprised.
"Be careful," he whispered to her, intensely. His eyes showed worry. Like he knew something terrible was going to happen. The light in his eyes were so intense and mature, that Nana only held his gaze for a split second; it was too much for her.
"I will," she replied.
His hand was still around her wrist. In other circumstances, Nana would have been in heaven. But now, she was anxious to get home.
"Uh… Link?" she asked.
"Oh," there was his normal look again, "Right," a hot blush plumed over his cheeks, "Sorry," and his hand left hers.
Nana smiled a goodbye at him and swung the door behind her.
X.X.X
He'd been rewarded for waiting patiently. He couldn't wait. Blood would be shed tonight.
X.X.X
Home… Home… Home! The voice rang over and over into her ear. It was turning dusk, and the last of the kids playing outdoors were being hustled in by their mothers.
She ran as fast as she could, huffing and puffing, her nervousness increasing by every minute. All memories of the magical afternoon she'd spent with Young Link were now long gone, replaced by a sinister voice singing softly in her ear about what lurked in the dark.
Halfway home, the street was completely deserted, giving it an eerie look. Nana ran as fast as she could. Perhaps it was that warning that Young Link gave her, or perhaps it was dark, deserted area in which she was running in. Whatever it was, it did not allay her sense of paranoia. She was drowning in fear.
No matter how tired she was, she kept running. Finally there was the familiar blue one-story house called home.
She sighed in relief, and walked up the porch.
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
She froze, and turned around; scanning whatever her keen eyes could lay on.
Nobody in sight.
So why…?
She paused for a second. Then she frantically dragged herself up the porch, and tried the door.
Locked.
She rattled it, just to make sure.
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
Color drained from her face. Panic had never wracked her body this much before. She tried to knock, but her cold, numb hands couldn't clench into a fist.
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
There was pounding in her ears, as she heard the sound of his nails hitting the pavement. She clenched her eyes shut and imagined his sickening grin.
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
Her eyes shot open. She slapped at the door. The pounding in her ears got louder, quicker. A rushing sensation coursed through her. Her heart was beating a wild tune, a tune that her ears heard.
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Nana slapped frantically at the door. Why wasn't Popo opening the door?
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
"Open the damn door Popo! It isn't funny! He's… he's here!"
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
She opened her mouth to scream, but her throat seemed to have tightened making it impossible yell. The only thing that came out was a weird squeak. She hammered the door with her currently useless hands.
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
Nana dropped to her knees. The rushing… the pounding… she couldn't bear it.
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
A dawning realization came to Nana, Popo must be asleep… He was so tired! Why didn't I bring the spare key—?
DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG!!
Nana frantically turned around. She dropped her backpack. Was this the sticky end she would meet?
There was a scrabbling noise as man pulled himself up the wooden steps. Nana gave a blood curdling scream.
But Popo must've been deeply asleep because he didn't hear it. Or if he did, he was too scared to open the door and let her in.
He was just as scary as Nana anticipated. His eyes were bloodshot, rolling madly. There were his cracked, dry lips as if he'd never moistened them before. Bushy, matted eyebrows the color of a dirty ginger sat thickly above his piercing black eyes. They stared at Nana with an unreadable, desperate hunger. His skin is peeling in various places, rotting in others, but otherwise a sickly yellow color. He grinned at her in a feral way, exposing his rotting teeth that were yellow and stained with blood.
And he had no legs. This scared Nana really badly. No legs, no knees, no feet. He just dragged himself with those frighteningly long arms of his.
His nails were what frightened Nana the most. They started out broad and ended very sharp at the end. And whatever lay behind them, Nana couldn't tell, but she knew bits of skin and blood were one of the items. That was the story Popo told her.
She closed her eyes slowly. Images of the ones she loved most flashed in her eyes. Popo… Link… Zelda… Ness… Kirby… Young Link… the last name brought anguish to her. She'd never told him how she felt. She would die, and he would never know... how she felt.
Something knocked her down, and she felt something land heavy on her. A disgusting, hot odor filled her nostrils, and she confirmed that the man had knocked her down, and the fetid scent she smelled was his breath.
She was afraid of what he would do next.
She opened her eyes to stare at his black, beady eyes. The man gave a harsh bark of laughter.
"How does it feel, to know you will die, and you can't do anything about it?" He asked. Nana noted how rough, and calloused his voice sounded. Like he seriously needed to clear his throat.
Nana clenched her jaw together and tried to hold a brave face. Inside however, her heart was beating a furious tattoo against her chest. She would die. She'd never thought about death much. And now, the thought terrified her immensely.
"Brave little wench, aren't you?" he gave another harsh bark of laughter, "So… any last words before you die by the hands of me?"
Nana found her voice at last, "Yes. I have one message," and she told them to him in a shaky breath.
Things were happening too fast. She tried to stay calm. But her panic was fighting to get out. She couldn't breathe or think anymore. Everything was a blur. No more a deadly struggle.
The man grinned a sick grin at her. He was clearly enjoying her struggles.
"Here… Let me make this easier for you…" he raised a claw, while still wearing that sickening grin of his. It wasn't entirely sane. Neither were his beady black eyes that shone with insane happiness. They glinted madly, like two small orbs in the darkness.
And those yellowed-brown claws swiped down on her…
X.X.X
Popo awoke with a grunt. He was momentarily confused by his position. Then he realized that he must've fell asleep sitting up, waiting for Nana.
Nana must've gotten home anyway. Popo had put the spare key underneath the doormat, and though he hadn't reminded her, he assumed Nana knew.
He glanced at the clock. It read 6:30 AM. Popo was usually an early bird. Nana was the complete opposite. But Nana still had thirty more minutes to sleep, so it didn't really matter.
Popo yawned, and stretched his arms as far as possible. He rubbed his eyes, and went to do his usual morning routines.
Then he had breakfast, which really awakened him.
He still had ten minutes on his time, so he decided to go outside and check the newspaper.
He unlocked the door, opened it and cursed.
His first impression was that Herman and Nathaniel from next door, had thrown a massive balloons filled with red paint in them. Those pesky twins were certainly mischievous enough to do it. There were splotches and smears of red everywhere. Handprints and boot prints too.
Then he looked closer. Is paint really that drippy? For indeed, it wasn't as thick as paint should be.
And what was that foul odor that was wafting up his nostrils? It was a metallic sort of smell. He took a step forward before realizing with horror.
It's blood! A big shock came upon him, and he almost swooned on the spot.
He looked down and gave a yelp.
There was a message written in bloody letters. It was in a bold, rough, hasty scrawl that was barely readable. He knew it wasn't Nana's writing. Nana had neat, small handwriting and her spelling skills were killer. So she couldn't have written this terrible message that explained why she wasn't here:
BRUDER, Y DIDNT U OPIN DE DORE?
X.X.X
The deed was done. And he felt no regret. In fact, he was satisfied. It seemed as if drinking and bathing in her blood cleansed him. Of course, he didn't know when he started doing this; he only knew it was an addiction, like a drug.
Killing the young, brown haired and eyed girl had made it unsafe for him to linger here. All he knew was that he had to go. To another neighborhood.
He stared at the mutilated corpse. For once in his life, he felt a tiny twinge of sorrow. It was only there for a fleeting second. Then, it was swept away, forgotten in the cold air. He dragged himself to the body. He flicked a strand off the face that looked exactly like Nana and stared at her blank eyes. They were like shut windows, deprived from light. The only look they seemed to look was horror.
To another, sane person, it would be an unnerving sight. But not to him. He was staring at her with an insane look in his eyes.
As if his touch might've hurt her, he picked her up gingerly, gently, like that of a mother picking up her baby when he cries.
He stared at her once sweet face, which was now mottled with blood, and slashed at. There was no remorse in his expression.
No regret.
No uneasiness.
No tension.
Just a look. He dropped her to the floor gently. She hit the dirt, lifeless corpse that she was.
He smelled her sweat, blood and flesh as she came in contact with the earth.
And then dragged himself away.
No remorse.
One year from now, he would come back. And he would pick out a new victim. Perhaps, the brother? Or quite possibly the blonde kid, the girl had fancied.
Years passed since Nana Glace was gone. Her body was strangely never found, though there were liberal amounts of blood around the Glaces' porch.
Deaths continued. Bodies were never found. But curious, bloody messages were scrawled on the front porches of ones the victims loved most.
But he, the psychopath, was never caught. And probably never would be.
X.X.X
A little freaky, huh? The scariest part was that there was a man who had no legs who lived in my state and killed people. They never found him, though he's probably dead by now because he disappeared when I was about three.
Well… Anyway. I would say Happy Halloween, but Halloween is over! And so is Saint's Day! So um… please review!