Trick or Treat

Jayne stared at the TV, ignoring the hustle and bustle outside. Halloween was in full swing as children darted from house to house with excited trepidation, squealing and laughing as they ran.

She sat in the dark with the curtains closed, hoping the house would look empty and she would be left in peace. She countered any knocking by turning up the television; she found nothing rewarding about entitled children with high expectations.

As the commotion died down, Jayne decided to head up to bed when there came a knock at the door, purposeful and loud. Jayne looked at her watch and frowned. Another knock.

Answering it, she gasped at the remarkably realistic costume - a little wolf boy. She rolled her eyes at the child’s effort. Fine. I’ll grab my purse. Leaving the door ajar, she headed to rustle up some change. She was surprised to find the doorway empty when she returned. She poked her head out but was greeted only by the cold autumn air.

She shrugged and closed it. Heading upstairs, she was almost at the top when she heard the rumble of a low, throaty growl. She stopped and listened as her eye-line reached the darkness of the hallway above; the only noise was the creaking of the wooden stairs under her weight. She took another step. There it was again, growling. She stared into the darkness in front of her as big yellow eyes appeared above razor-sharp teeth. Jayne screamed as the creature pounced.