About right around the time Shilo belted out the loudest scream she’s ever done, the mothers had just finished making plans for next weekend. Shilo’s scream reverberated off the walls of the kitchen. The mothers all looked at each other confused. Amelia’s mother stood up.
“Was that…”, Amelia’s mom was beginning to say before,
“Shilo!” Shilo’s mother interjected.
....
In the garage, the dads jump at the horrifying scream. They look around.
“What was that?” says Amelia’s dad.
Just then, they hear Shilo’s mother yelling from inside the house. Instantly, the dads rush inside, running into the moms.
“Where’s Shilo!” yells Shilo’s mother.
“Mommy… daddy!” screams Amelia, her voice distant and faint.
“Amelia!” her father yells.
....
The parents hurry outside to the back.
Amelia’s father is ahead of the group running in the direction of the sound. He stops when he sees the line of pumpkins leading up to the stable. The rest of the group arrive and take in the view. The air was thick with fog, and the moon cast an eerie glow over the trees. The stable looked abandoned, with broken windows and overgrown weeds and spider webs. A chill ran through them.
“What is this?” asked Josiah’s father.
Amelia’s dad shakes his head. “I have no idea.”
“Look!” yells Shilo’s mother.
She rushes to a piece of Shilo’s costume on the floor. Scattered around are pieces of costume from the other kids. The parents study the pieces then look at the stable.
“They must be inside”, says Kimmy’s mom.
“Then let’s go get them”, says Amelia’s mom.
....
Amelia’s dad opens the door.
“Are you guys sure this is a good idea?” Kimmy’s mother asked, clutching the arm of Kimmy’s dad.
“Our kids are in here somewhere,” Amelia’s dad replied, though he felt uneasy.
They walked slowly through the dark hallway. As they stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind them, and the lights flickered. The sound of distant whispers filled the air, sending shivers down their spines.
The parents called out to their kids, but there was no response.
They ventured further into the haunted house, the floorboards creaking beneath their feet. Suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared at the end of the hallway, its eyes glowing red. Kimmy’s mom screamed, and her dad pulled her close.
“W-w… who are you?” Shilo’s dad stammered.
The figure vanished, and the whispers of the kids came echoing loudly, haunting:
“Help us… we’re trapped…”
The parents’ hearts raced as they followed the voices. The room was filled with old, dusty furniture and cobwebs. In the center of the room was a large, ornate mirror. As they approached, the mirror fogged up, and the words Find us appeared.
“This is too much,” Amelia’s mother said, her voice trembling. “We need to find the kids and get out of here.”
They searched the stable, each room more terrifying than the last. In the feed area, they found a table set for dinner, but the plates were covered in dust, cobwebs and what looked like butcher knives. The green punch with worms oozed all over the floor.
In the grooming section was a cracked mirror and murky water on the ground. The walls had red streaks that read Mommy Daddy Help Us.
As Amelia’s parents entered the next stable, the air grew colder. The floorboards creaked under their weight, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the darkness. At the far end of the room, they found a door with a sign that read Enter if you dare.
The other parents joined them. Amelia’s dad hesitated, but her mom pushed the door open into a hidden room. Inside, they found a room filled with old toys and children’s drawings. In the center of the room was a large, wooden chest. The whispers grew louder, urging them to open it.
With trembling hands, Amelia’s dad lifted the lid. Inside, they found a note that read, We just wanted to play with you.
Just then, a spotlight appears on the wall with photos of the kids taped together side by side. The parents slowly approached, jaws dropped, eyes wide.
Tears filled Amelia’s mother’s eyes as she realized what was happening. Amelia’s dad holds a long stare at the photo of Olivia, as he too comes to understand what is going on. The other parents do the same for their children.
“I think we know what this is all about”, Amelia’s mother says, gently touching Amelia’s photo.
The others nod in agreement.
Just then, the lights turn off startling the parents into a gasp. The sounds of steps behind them capture their attention, and they turn around quickly only to find the terrifying grim reaper charging at them. Its eyes brighten with every move, glaring at the parents.
The parents scream falling over each other, cowering against the wall. It was as if they were being swallowed by death itself and they could do nothing but scream their last scream they’ll ever scream.
But suddenly, the lights come on, the reaper is nowhere to be seen, and all is quiet.
The parents recover and look around, confused. Then, the kids appear from behind a curtain, their faces filled with concern.
“Mommy, Daddy, are you okay?” Amelia asked.
The parents look completely dumbfounded.
“It was only a joke,” says Josiah.
At that moment, Mr. Grimsby pulls the curtain on the reaper machine. He waves nervously at the parents, Sebastian at his side.
The parents, confused at first, slowly began to laugh out of relief, but nervousness too. The kids run to their parents, who pull them into a tight embrace.
“We’re so sorry. We didn’t mean to scare you that bad,” says Josiah.
Josiah’s dad looks at him proudly. “Are you kidding? That was awesome!” He gives Josiah a big high-five. Josiah’s mom, on the other hand, is still shaking fear out of her.
Shilo holds her mother tight. “Are you ok mom? I’m sorry.”
Her mother only kisses her forehead. “Oh sweety, I’m just happy you’re ok.”
“Yea, you really had us going for a loop there,” adds Shilo’s dad.
Kimmy’s parents keep their hold on her. “Uh, mom, dad, you can let go now. You’re kind of hurting me,” Kimmy says.
“Oh no, not a chance. We are never letting you go,” her dad says.
“That’s right. I’m holding on to you forever,” says her mom. Kimmy couldn’t hold her smile.
Amelia’s dad looks at both Amelia and Olivia with authority.
“Care to explain yourselves?” he says.
Amelia is about to answer when Olivia interjects. “It was my fault.” Amelia looks at her sister surprised. Olivia continues. “All we ever want is to spend Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, doing something together. Something fun. Not to be sent to play by ourselves, away from you. Just one activity is all we’re asking for. But every time we do, you get annoyed and send us away.”
Her dad looks at her confused. “What are you talking about? When have we done that?”
Olivia looks at him more seriously. “Last year, I planned a movie theater night for us on Halloween night. We were going to make popcorn from scratch, bake cookies, and have root beer floats, your favorite. You left us with a stranger to babysit us. Do you remember?”
The memory hits her dad like a punch to the gut. He remembers and is filled with guilt. “The night of the haunted mansion party,” he says shamefully.
Olivia nods. “When I tried to stop you, you yelled at me. Told me I was acting like a baby.”
Her dad thinks a moment, then his eyebrows rise, and he nods, “Well, you were.”
Laughter escapes Olivia.
Olivia’s dad chuckles. “But I get it,” he says. He pulls Olivia and Amelia in close and hugs them tight. Their mother joins them.
“I’m sorry”, he says.
“We love you girls,” their mother says.
“We love you too,” say Amelia and Olivia together.
“By the way, how did you pull all this off?” asks the dad.
“Oh, well. That is all Amelia. She made all this happen,” says Olivia.
“With a little help from my friends,” says Amelia.
She nods to Mr. Grimsby and Sebastian, who approach carefully.
“Hey there, Walter Grimsby”, he says extending his hand.
“I know who you are Mr. Grimsby,” says Amelia’s dad shaking his hand.
“Yes, right. Well, I do hope we didn’t cross a line too much here. Your little one told me what she wanted to do and, well, I couldn’t resist. But I do apologize for any trouble.”
“It’s alright. Somehow, I believe we deserved it,” says Amelia’s dad looking at them. “But this is a one time thing, right girls?”
The sisters nod.
“Right, well, we best be going, right Sebastian?” says Mr. Grimsby.
“Do we have to grandpa?” Sebastian says, disappointed
“I’m afraid so. We’ve overstayed our welcome,” says Mr. Grimsby.
Amelia’s dad stops him. “Well, it is Halloween night, and this is a party. Would you care to join us, Mr. Grimsby? You and your grandson?”
Mr. Grimsby smiles. “That would be great, thank you.”
....
The parents and Mr. Grimsby continue to marvel at the decorations of the stable.
The kids congregate once more.
“That was crazy!” says Sebastian.
“I know! Did you see the look on their faces?” says Kimmy.
“I know, right!” says Shilo.
“I have to admit, that was some prank,” says Olivia.
Amelia can only smile. “It was perfect.”
“Hey, the night is still young. What do you say we dive into the candy,” says Josiah.
All the kids agree.
As they left the stable, the family felt closer than ever. Everyone headed back to the main house.
Olivia held Amelia back. Amelia looked at her curiously. Olivia waited until the group was out of ear’s reach.
“What you did tonight, you didn’t have to but thank you”, says Olivia.
Amelia smiles. “You’re my sister.”
For the first time, they hug each other. They start walking back to the house.
“So?” asks Olivia.
“So, what?” Amelia says confused.
“What you got planned for Thanksgiving?”
Amelia smiles, then turns to her sister and winks.