Halloween Dare: Trick Or Treat

He cursed himself for accepting the dare.  He never believed in ghosts or haunted houses. He thought it was an easy way to make a few bucks if he spent a night in a haunted house.  
 
Now he found himself in the most deserted house of the small town, reputed to be haunted.  He had lain on his camp bed and hoped sleep would come soon.  Certainly, he did not relish the pitch darkness of the house or outside it.
 
Without any rational explanation he found himself hovering between nowhere and the balcony.  He saw all the houses of the town light up in a flash of multiple lightning.  It seemed to him as if the whole town trembled as an earthquake rippled below the ground.  The balcony seemed to disintegrate, and he found himself falling, falling, and falling right down into an abyss.
 
He wanted to cry in alarm. Sweat oozed out from all over his body. He woke up on the camp bed.  He tried to get up but found himself paralyzed.  The darkness engulfed him like a bed cover. Suddenly he thought he saw a flash outside the bedroom in the corridor.  Lightning?  He had no way of knowing.  
 
Finally, he found he could move his hand and grasp the bottle of rye.  The liquid seared his throat.  It was not easy to drink as he laid flat on his back.  The heat was now intense, and he sweated profusely.  He tried in vain to pull up the bed sheet to try and wipe his face.  The only thing that moved was his heart that was pumping away like mad.  Relax.  No ghosts about.  It was only in the mind.  Tomorrow he would gain those extra bucks.
 
It was then that he felt something moving over his body.  In the pitch darkness he could not see what this could be.  Suddenly a pair of malevolent eyes glared at him out of nowhere, seemingly without a face.  Then he heard the growl.  He wanted to scream but could not.  Sweat poured down his face and his heart pumped away like a rocket propelled to hell.
 
His friends found him next day, cold dead, a small cat sitting on his chest.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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Kiser Avatar
October 24, 2020 at 9:50 PM
Chilling piece, I feel the fear here. I was thinking werewolf until that ending. Well crafted Victor.
Crabtree Avatar
October 23, 2020 at 8:34 PM
A great story, Victor. I had to read it again. :)
Rodrigues Avatar
October 21, 2020 at 9:12 AM
Scary and humorous...deadly my friend! Don’t let this happen to you!
Fowler Avatar
October 21, 2020 at 5:51 AM
Nothing to fear but fear itself...I love a good scary story Victor, which this is! Thank you for sharing to. Linda
Daniel Avatar
October 21, 2020 at 2:31 AM
What a surprising horror story, Victor! You write with such finesse:) I wonder why we associate cats with horror always, even my short story has a cat in it:)
Buehler Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 8:49 PM
Reading this was great fun, Victor. So nice for Halloween. Scary though. :0
Roper Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Oh, wow! Exciting write my friend. Hugs Eve
Rose  Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Oh my you tell a really good creepy story Victor, I love the cat effect, that cinches it, thanks for entertaining my curiously devilish mind,
Y. Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 2:15 PM
WoW! Victor, You have penned such a well written and engaging “ Halloween “ write? Poor guy needed extra cash so went into a haunted house. Was it really haunted or was all in his mind?Whatever the case he didn’t make it out because of a paralyzing fear. What he thought was a monster was a cat. Stellar story at its best. Excellent job my friend:-) Alexis
May Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 8:02 AM
"It was only in the mind" You tell a great story Victor, great last line..best wishes
One Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 6:13 AM
Chilling storytelling my friend...
Pandit Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 6:11 AM
A killer ending, Victor. Your story is aptly done in the spirit of Halloween.....vivid details. You are a great story teller!
Crabtree Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 5:43 AM
This is a great story, Victor. Poor man. I think deep down he really believed in ghosts :)
Cunningham Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 3:47 AM
You are a great story teller Victor, you're in the Halloween mood. Tom
Andresen Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 2:29 AM
- A really scary story, Victor - Vividly described ... can he feel anxiety :) - If it's for a contest, I wish you luck - Have a ghost-free day :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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