User blog comment:CrashingCymbal/Halloween Writing Competition 2013/@comment-24500997-20131024035322

"Fear itself is controllable, all you have to do is tame your emotions." was one my my fathers favorite quotes. My dad was an author himself, didn't go on to be a world famous author. But it brought enough money to make our lifestyle stable.

My father died back on Halloween night, 2007. I lived in the streets of Chicago. He died while walking home from the local gas station near my house. I've always had this burning hatred, a grudge, being locked inside my heart ever since. But I knew, for sure, I couldn't turn over into the temptations of killing.

As I walked home for school, reciting that quote. I saw people preparing for this years Halloween, setting up alarms, locks, and even some inflatable Halloween figures. Such as scream pumpkins, and all that. Nothing new. As I approached my house, I took a couple of quick glances behind me. Everyone seems to be talking about the new lady who just moved into our neighborhood.

How rude.

I speed-walked to my kitchen, being careful to not step on my little sisters toys. My mom had gone off to work, and my sister was staying with my aunt, who lives in another neighborhood. I sat down and ate the wonderful meal my home had made me. As I cut up the porkchop, I noticed something odd about it. It had this little, red tint in it, and had a hole going through one part to another. I shrugged it off and went on with my meal, it was nothing new.

Or as I thought.

After eating my after school lunch, I just sat in front of my T.V until it was time to go to my friends house. We are going to just give out candy and do some fireworks. Changing into fresh, comfortable clothes. I headed off to my friends house, who lived just down the street.

As I walked to my friends house, I started to feel a bit lightheaded, a bit woozy in this case. I sat down on the curb to regain my focus. But it wouldn't go away, as time passed. I started to get weaker and weaker. My vision started to fade, I could hear whats going on around me much more precisely. I can hear kids laughing, fireworks going off, water draining into the sewers.

I passed out.

Even though I passed out, I could still hear what was going on. I could feel me being lifted up, and put on a soft, comfortable mattress a few minutes after I passed out.

As I regained consciousness, I could feel a cold, sharp, feeling in my arms. It seemed to go from my elbows, to my fingers. It did not hurt, frankly. It just seemed to be irritating.

I heard footsteps, coming up the stairs, into the door.

Was the new neighbor.

"Oh, you seem to have awoken, from your deep slumber, my darling!" she said, with a happy, but sadistic tone.

"Who are you, exactly? Everyone seems to be saying stuff behind your back" I said, with a shaken expression. I was petrified, the way she dressed, the way she put her make up on, her posture, seem to scare me.

"Oh, I'm no one, how about we play a little game. I love to play this with children, but I get more fun with you, rebellious teenagers. I know everything about you. I will test your fear, and measure your sanity. If you give in, you will be an addition to my collection."

I couldn't speak, I was scared. I let her move on with this.

I watched her, one by one, strip down to what she actually was.

She was a devil.

She looked at me, I could feel her glare burn deep into my eyes. She took a knife, and playfully, pressed the blade lightly into my skin.

"Do you want to give in, I can see it in your eyes. Oh? I can see you thinking about revolting against me. Don't try that my dear, I know many ways of torture."

She was right, I was thinking of going against her. For the next hour, she was striking fear into my heart.

The methods of fear got worse and worse, as she put images into my eyes, for which will scar me for my life.

"Oh, I see you will not give in. You're strong, I would let you go. But, you're a keeper. Regards to your family!"

She took another kind of knife, with a curve that would have any scared an emotionless person. With ridges that would hurt even more.

I wanted to panic, but I couldn't, I couldn't give in.

I remembered my fathers quote.

I recited it in my head, and started to say it out loud after a while. I was scared, but I knew I could not give in.

I looked up, and did not see her there.

I woke up, gasping for air, it seem to be all a dream.

But the cold, silvery feel of the knife felt real, it all seemed so vivid. I was in my bed, my mom came into the room and told me that my friend saw me on the streets, unconscious.

As my mother gave me some warm milk and her savory food. I started to wonder, does the dream have any connection to my father?

I sat down on my bed. I heard a gurgling sound coming from downstairs, then an instant spill of either water or juice.

I heard footsteps, rushing up the stairs.

The door opened quietly, I anticipated who it was.

It wasn't my mother, nor my friend, nor my aunt.

It was her.