Midsummer Mayhem

Tonight was the night. Today was Midsummer Eve. There was barely any light left. Everyone was gathered in the living room wearing pajamas. They all seemed to know what to do. I felt weird being the only one that didn't.

"Alright, tonight is Midsummer Eve. You all know what will happen. Everyone but the children will be downstairs ready for anything that might get in the house. Kendra and Seth, show Hazel what to in the attic," Stan ordered.

"Come on. Let's get to bed," Kendra said taking my hand.

I let her lead me up the stairs as Seth trailed behind.

"When the sun goes down, someone will lock the door. We are to stay in our beds and wear these," Kendra commanded handing me some foam ear plugs. "There is a border of salt around the bed. The salt keeps them out. If we broke this line, they would easily get in and kill us. Another thing, never open that window. No how much you want to, resist the temptations." Kendra glared at Seth, who gave her a guilty look in return.

I hopped into the side of the bed closest to the window. We all lay there for a few minutes as the light from the window got darker and darker. Click. I heard the door lock. I began to tremble. I expected to hear noise, but instead, all was silent. I rolled over to look at Kendra.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. As long as we stay in bed, nothing will happen," she whispered.

Suddenly, a soft glow appeared out the window. I lifted my head to look. The fairies were floating into the hollow pumpkins, just like Dale said they were. I thought of the Fairy Queen and smiled. A hand grabbed my forehead and pushed me down. It was Seth. He shook his head at me as if to scold me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. And that's when I heard it.

A blood curdling scream filled the air. I covered my ears and flinched. Other odd beastly noises joined in, and that's when it started getting out of hand.

"It got crazy really fast!" Seth whispered worriedly.

My body tensed up at the worry in his voice. Was something wrong? Just then, everything stopped.

"Something's definitely not right," Kendra confirmed my thoughts, "Don't worry, Hazel, remember they can't get in."

I hope she's right. I didn't want to die. But why was it so quiet. Seconds passed by. 1…2…3…. The wind didn't howl, and the bed springs didn't squeak when I shifted positions. 13…14…15…. My face felt hot when I touched it, and I began to sweat. 26…27…28…. What's going on?

BOOM! We all jumped up at the tremendous sound. And once more, the ghostly wails and moans interrupted the eerie silence. But, something about them wasn't right. They sounded so far away. I wanted to look out the window so badly. I leaned my head and shoulders just high enough to see outside. Nothing was in the yard. They were all clustered around what looked like a giant crack in a hill far away.

"Get down!" Kendra hissed.

"It looks like they're clustered around some humongous crack on a hill," I reported.

Kendra gasped and turned to look at Seth, who was as white as a ghost.

"Bahumat," he whispered.

"I'll go to the window to check," Kendra said.

"No, I'll go," I volunteered, "You said yourself that we can't get out of bed. What would your grandparents think if they found out that you were snatched up by one of those things?"

Kendra thought about it for a second. "Alright, but make it quick."

I slowly slipped out of bed and walked over to the window, making sure I didn't step on the salt. I peeked out the window and tried to see what they were doing. It was surprisingly easy to see in the dark. I don't know why. I rested my head against the window.

"Well?" Seth asked.

"They're just standing there," I replied.

BOOM!

I stared wide-eyed as a black, three-headed dragon with three horns protruding from its head. It ran like a human, except for the fact that it had three legs and arms, three tails, and spikes sticking out all over its body.

I quickly ran back to the bed. But as I ran, I tripped over a loose floorboard and fell to the ground right in front of the bed. I quickly recovered from the fall and jumped into the bed.

"Hazel! The salt!" Kendra shrieked pointing at my tank top.

I looked down to see a ton of salt all over me. I looked down at the ground. The salt border had a gaping hole in it.

"Oh no!" I gasped.

Clang! The gates! They were broken! I tried to patch up the hole in the border, but it was no use. The hole was too big.

"What do we do?" I cried.

"I don't know this has never happened before!" Seth cried.

I heard the shrieks and screams of the creatures get closer and closer. Just then, a deafening roar erupted just outside the house.

"Was that Bahumat?" I asked tears welling up in my eyes.

The shook their heads. I was about to cry when I remembered what that naiad said.

So, the little fairy is frightened. Some heroine. She can't even look at me, sisters.

I have to be strong. If I really am the "heroine", then I must act like it. I wiped away my tears with the palm of my hand. It became quiet again. I slowly got up and walked to the window. I looked back at Kendra and Seth. They were shook their heads and beckoned me to come back. I just ignored them and slowly walked over to the window. Bahumat was nowhere to be found and the monsters weren't in the yard. I sighed in relief. It seems like it's over. I smiled to myself.

In a quick movement, an eye the size of the window pressed up against the glass. We all screamed and fell backwards in surprise. Then, as quickly as it came, the creature left. I scrambled away from the window as a human boy, about my age, crashed through the window. He ran over to me. I tried to crawl away, but he quickly picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. I screamed once more.

"Let go of me!" I yelled and pounded on his back.

Seth ran up to him and tried to kick him in the ribs. He missed and the boy easily punched Seth in the face. Seth fell over on his back, blood streaming from his nose.

"Seth!" Kendra ran up to her brother.

The boy stopped to look at her.

"Long time, no see, Kendra," he said with a malevolent look in his eyes.

She stared up at him with rage but couldn't speak. He smiled at her.

With an innocent look he said, "S-s-sorry, Kendra."

Then, he jumped out the window and suddenly spread two black, scaly wings. He let out a jet of flames from his mouth. A dragon. All I had time to say were two words.

"Help…me…."

My eyes closed, and I slipped into a world of darkness.