Jervis Tetch and Jonathan Crane stood in their front yard, surveying the scene. The autumn air was crisp, and the leaves crunched under their boots as they walked around the lawn, discussing their plans for Halloween. This year, they were determined to create the scariest haunted house the neighborhood had ever seen.

Jervis, wearing a tattered hat and a grin that hinted at mischief, pointed to the massive oak tree that loomed over the yard. "I'm thinking we hang some of those ghostly figures from the branches," he said. "The kind that sway with the wind."

Jonathan, his eyes gleaming with excitement, nodded. "Perfect. And we'll have a fog machine going underneath, so it looks like they're floating above a graveyard." He had already brought out several crates filled with fake tombstones, all with chilling inscriptions that would unsettle any passerby.

The two worked together, positioning the gravestones and draping them in cobwebs. Jonathan's expertise in fear was evident as he arranged the scene with meticulous care, ensuring that each element would invoke a sense of dread. Meanwhile, Jervis focused on adding whimsical touches, like eerie jack-o'-lanterns with twisted grins and lanterns that flickered with an otherworldly green glow.

As the sun set, they set up the main attraction: a life-sized animatronic scarecrow that Jonathan had designed. It stood at the center of the yard, a ragged figure with hollow eyes and long, clawed fingers. "This will be the pièce de résistance," Jonathan said proudly. "When someone gets close, it'll lunge forward and scream."

Jervis clapped his hands in delight. "Oh, that's brilliant, darling! It's terrifying." He leaned in to kiss Jonathan's cheek, leaving a small smear of pumpkin pulp where he'd been carving earlier. Jonathan chuckled and wiped it off, a rare smile spreading across his usually serious face.

They spent hours perfecting the setup. Jervis hung bats from the porch, each one with wings that flapped when a sensor detected movement. Jonathan installed speakers hidden among the decorations, rigging them to play ghostly whispers and creaking sounds that would echo through the yard. Together, they created a world that was both eerie and enchanting, blending their talents in a way that only they could.

When they finally finished, the yard was transformed into a haunted landscape, a mix of dark elegance and chilling horror. Jervis stepped back, admiring their work. "We've really outdone ourselves this time."

Jonathan nodded, satisfaction in his eyes. "Anyone who dares come through here is in for a real fright."

As they walked hand in hand back to the porch, the first few trick-or-treaters approached, their faces pale as they took in the sight. The ghostly figures swayed in the wind, the scarecrow's eyes glowed, and a low, eerie fog crept along the ground. The children hesitated, glancing at each other nervously.

Jervis gave Jonathan a playful nudge. "Shall we?"

Jonathan grinned, his voice low. "Oh, absolutely."

With a press of a button, the scarecrow sprang to life, lunging forward with a bone-chilling scream. The trick-or-treaters shrieked in terror and ran, their candy bags bouncing as they fled down the street.

Jervis laughed, his eyes twinkling as he squeezed Jonathan's hand. "Happy Halloween, love."

"Happy Halloween, Jervis," Jonathan replied, pulling him close. Together, they watched the chaos unfold, content in their perfectly frightening creation.

,

Halloween night was in full swing, and Jervis Tetch and Jonathan Crane were ready. They had set up two large chairs on their porch, a bowl of candy between them, and an inviting—if ominous—glow from the jack-o'-lanterns lined up along the stairs. The scarecrow loomed in the yard, its red eyes glowing in the darkness, while the fog rolled around it like a living creature.

Jervis adjusted his hat, making sure it sat at just the right angle, and grinned at Jonathan. "Do you think they'll dare to come up this time?"

Jonathan smirked, leaning back in his chair. "If they're brave enough to make it past the yard, they've earned their candy." He gestured to the bowl of sweets. "But we'll make them work for it."

The first group of trick-or-treaters approached cautiously, a mix of superheroes, ghosts, and witches. They paused at the edge of the yard, eyeing the scarecrow. It stood as still as ever, but Jervis had hidden a motion sensor that would trigger a slow tilt of its head whenever someone got close. Sure enough, as the kids inched forward, the scarecrow's head turned, and the LED eyes flashed brighter. The children jumped, shrieking, but one brave little witch took a deep breath and led the group forward.

Jervis clapped his hands in delight. "Oh, look at this brave soul!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. "Come closer, children, if you dare."

Jonathan rolled his eyes playfully, but there was a glint of pride in them. "Welcome to our haunted lair. What have you come for? Candy… or something more sinister?"

The children giggled nervously as they reached the porch. Jervis made a show of offering the candy bowl, and each child reached in, eyes darting around as they grabbed their treat. Jonathan leaned forward, his voice a low whisper. "But beware… the scarecrow watches."

The kids scampered off, some laughing, others casting wary glances back at the yard. Jervis beamed, turning to Jonathan. "You know, you're really good at this."

Jonathan shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's easy when you've got the right inspiration."

More trick-or-treaters came by as the night went on, some more hesitant than others. Jervis loved seeing their reactions—some were delighted, some terrified, and a few tried to sneak around the scarecrow as if it might spring to life at any moment. Jonathan, for his part, kept up his eerie commentary, always knowing just how to make the kids jump.

At one point, a group of teenagers swaggered up, trying to act unfazed. Jonathan watched them with interest, and as they neared the porch, he casually reached behind his chair and triggered a hidden fog machine. Thick mist swirled around the scarecrow's feet, and it let out a soft creaking noise as if shifting in place. The teens stopped in their tracks, but one of them stepped forward, determined not to be intimidated.

"Nice decorations," he said, though his voice wavered just a bit.

Jervis smiled sweetly. "Why, thank you. But remember, sometimes things aren't as they seem…"

Jonathan added, "Especially on Halloween night."

The scarecrow's eyes flashed, and one of the teens yelped, stumbling back. They all broke into laughter, and the group moved up the steps, holding out their bags. Jervis handed out candy, laughing along with them. "You survived our haunted yard; you've earned a treat."

When the teens left, Jonathan leaned back, satisfied. "Not bad, Tetch. I think we've scared just about everyone tonight."

Jervis nodded, leaning over to rest his head on Jonathan's shoulder. "I think it's been perfect. It's our tradition now, you know—putting a little fright into the night together."

Jonathan wrapped an arm around him, giving him a rare, genuine smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the evening wound down, they watched the moon rise higher in the sky, the fog drifting through the yard, and the flicker of candlelight dancing inside the jack-o'-lanterns. The scarecrow stood tall, keeping watch over their haunted home. And side by side, Jervis and Jonathan shared the magic of the night, their hands intertwined and hearts full of mischief and love.