Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-24996913-20140801224650

As the countdown for trick or treating wind down, I could not help but think of the story every parent in MoonBridge told their young child as they prepared their costumes in excitement.

There is a tale centered around a young girl who once lived in this town. The girl's parents, though loving and supportive, never allowed the girl outside of the house. Well, the exception being halloween. She was deformed. Her face, though exceptionally beautiful on one side, on the other, resembled that of the most vivid nightmare. Unusual and misplaced tumorous growths destroyed the beauty of the other half. Putrid secretions trickled down the growths, causing her to carry around a small pumpkin decorated towel on her hip whenever the filth threatened to ruin her clothes. The captivating blue iris of her right eye was undoubtedly overshadowed by the blackened abyss in the left. Her parents understood that she would draw a panic within the outside world. So she was forbidden from the outside world, 364 days out of the year.

Alice, the young girl, would always cheer and dance whenever Halloween rolled around. All year, she waited, marking off the days that passed in too slow a fashion. Year round, she watched from her window, smiling as the neighboring kids hopped off of the school bus after a tiring day of learning. Though the kids outside longed to get out of school, imagining the bountiful opportunities to play with their friends outside of the school's building, Alice dreamed and wished she could experience public school. She longed to join them. She longed to make friends. But, she understood she was different. Without a doubt, she knew she would not be accepted.

So she patiently waited for Halloween, and, when it came, she laid out her costume excitedly on her unicorn decorated bed spread before reaching for the golden mask on her nightstand. Staring intently upon the gold plated mask, a blurry reflection of her face was seen. Whenever she caught sight of her own deformed face, she would become explosive. Quickly, she began crying, beating herself in the head with a closed fist. Then, she began screaming, alerting her parents. They had gone to great lengths in order to make Alice's life easier. No mirrors were present in the home. Not so much as silverware or gleaming dish-ware could be seen. Any reflective surfaces were tossed out or held captive in the basement.

After calming the rampant Alice down, comforting her with the thought of trick or treating, her parents then helped her dress in her costume. Seconds later, after staring down at her Egyptian inspired garb, wielding a crafty asymmetrical wig draped slightly over the golden mask, she was peppy once more and ready to trick or treat.

Alice promised her parents she'd be careful as she headed outside. Once the door closed behind her, registering she was outside of her prison of a home, she soaked in the fresh air before running towards the house next door. There were kids huddled around the doormat, digging their hands into a huge bowl of candy as Alice approached. The woman holding the bowl looked up as Alice inched forward, shining an inviting smile.

"Trick or treat," Alice said, smiling though her smile was not perceivable behind the mask.

"You're so adorable. Go ahead, dig in," the woman said in a warm voice.

Alice dug into the bowl, clutching a handful of candy before throwing it into her bag.

"Thank you," she said, waving goodbye before heading towards the next house.

Kids ran passed her in all directions, laughing in excitement and ranting competitively on who had more candy. Alice found joy in being so close to them. All year long, all she could imagine was being among them even if only for a day.

Once Alice made it to the second house, she noticed only one boy at the doorway, waiting for the residents inside to greet him with a bowl of candy. She recognized the boy from countless altercations she'd witnessed from her bedroom window. The boy was a bully and, because he was much bigger than the kids their age, he reigned over the neighborhood like a mad delinquent. Still, she approached the house slowly.

Just as fear began to eat away at her courage, the door opened.

"Trick or treat!" They shouted in unison.

The boy quickly looked over at Alice who's hand was wrist deep in the bowl of candy before them. He reached in, smashing Alice's hand as she tried to pull away.

"Hey, don't grab too much! I have to give candy to everyone else too," the man said.

Alice finally pulled her hand out of the bowl, rubbing it as it throbbed. Before walking off towards the next house, she thanked the man for the candy.

"Give it all to me," a voice behind her threatened.

Alice turned to see the boy, staring sternly into her eyes.

"Are you retarded? I said give me the bag," he said, tugging at it.

Alice fought back, unwilling to lose the bag of candy she had anticipated all year. The boy, seemingly tired of the tussle, finally let go, pushing Alice to the ground as the power struggle ended. He quickly hovered over her as she laid in the dewy grass defenselessly, threatening to beat her brains out. And, attempting to make clear of his violent intentions, with brute force, he pulled off Alice's mask. Once he held it in his hands, staring at the horror of her face, the once threatening demeanor evaporated. In its place came laughter. The boy began taunting her, holding up the golden mask to her face as he joked about how ugly she was. Alice began rocking back and forth, hitting herself in the head as she's done so many times before. But, as she drowned in the taunts of the boy standing before her, not even the blows to her head could silence the urge within her. So she stood up, screaming for the boy to quiet. Being that he was a pompous bully, he continued mocking her.

Rage filled within Alice. Without so much as a thought, she grabbed the golden mask from the boys grip before pummeling him with it... Blood splattered all over Alice and stained the golden mask as she assaulted him. Blow after blow after blow until his face was no longer recognizable. Once the urge within her silenced and she was certain of his demise, Alice stood, placing the mask in it's rightful place over her face before continuing to the next house.

Countless neighbors complimented her blood spattered costume before she finished up her trick or treating pursuit. All of the other kids had gone inside long before she did, eating their candy while their mothers insisted it would rot their teeth.

The boys body was found later that night by the resident of the house. The authorities believed the boy was killed by a man. One with enough force to completely cave in the poor child's face. No one suspected the innocent, small girl could have done such a thing. There were no witnesses, forcing a manhunt to break out as pandemonium stretched across the secluded town. Alice's parents knew she had killed the boy, but, instead of going outside, asking the officers to take her away, they ordered her to the bath, burned the crimson soaked garb, and buried the blood stained golden mask in the basement.

She would need it for next year. 