A Trick or Treat (Halloween Stories.)

Sandi and the Zombies.

She sighted the zombie in the cross hair of her scope and lined up a perfect shot and gently squeezed the trigger.

“Goodbye pizza boy.” Sandi Griffin said as her target’s head disappeared.

She scratched another mark on the roof next to her; she never bothered to count them. There was only one that mattered and she was still waiting for that kill.

“Sandi, we got another radio message from Daria. They’re unable to secure the ground floor of their building. We’re on our own.” Quinn Morgendorffer said from behind her.

“So are they.” Sandi muttered loudly as she rose to her feet and brushed her pants off.

The moans of the undead drifted on the wind as the sun began its slow dip into the horizon, darkening the sky.

They moved toward the center of the mall roof, where a tent city had been set up and everyone that Sandi and Quinn had managed to save milled around aimlessly. The largest group stood around a radio listening to the reports coming in from around the world of the takeover.

It had started in an instance and one by one every major city had fallen then the infected had spread out like creeper plants until nowhere was safe.

Sandi leaned her rifle; a custom 30-06 against a rain collection barrel that stood outside the tents the former fashion club had setup for themselves. She looked at the empty tent that stood next to hers.

:Take it down Griffin, quit torturing yourself.: She thought as Tiffany carried three plates over to their area and pulled a crate next to the lawn chairs already sitting there.

“She might still be out there, hiding somewhere. Jane said on the radio that there are still lots of small pockets of people.” Quinn said knowing the source of her friend’s sudden coldness.

“You heard the screams over the phone, they got in and she’s dead.” Sandi said as she sat down in one of the chairs.

Sandi stared out into the falling waxing darkness as she scoped spoonfuls of the meal into her mouth, trying not to think about what might be in it. Tiffany sat in silence but the reason was clear if you looked at her, a bloody bandage covered her throat, where a glass shard had almost ended her life. Unlike some outposts, they had several doctors and each claimed that as long as the medicine held out, she would survive long enough to not need it anymore.

Quinn was untouched physically but mentally she was as scarred as Sandi herself.
:At least we knew what was happening when my parents turned. She spent a day thinking she had murdered her own mother and father.: Sandi thought bitterly.

“Helicopter!” Someone said and pointed to the light moving over the town.

“I’ll make sure the flares are working.” Quinn said and headed off to another part of the roof.

Sandi shook her head as Quinn jogged off and finished her meal. She hated the down time more than anything, it gave her too much freedom to think and she didn’t want to live inside her head tonight. She grabbed her rifle and started back toward the edge of the roof to try for a few more kills before her aim started slipping from fatigue. Tiffany didn’t follow her but that was normal, two days of killing former friends, family and classmates had been enough for her. She refused to even touch a gun now.

:Chris and Sam are ok, the military got them to a safe zone and the radio still lists it as safe so they’re alright.: Sandi thought as she switched on the night scope and locked on what had been a child.

She turned off everything and squeezed. Another mark on the wall.



Quinn watched as the helicopter circled first the mall and then the school where her sister had rounded up another batch of survivors and secured the roof after bringing up as much of the supplies from the lunchroom as was possible.

: Damn it, why didn’t I listen to you Daria. You and Jane knew what this was before the first attack in Lawndale. We’d all be up in the mountains with all that food you stockpiled in the first week of reports from the west coast. But no I had to convince Mom and Dad it wasn’t that bad. I couldn’t believe it when you left but you came back, you were safe and you came back and pulled me and Sandi out of Tiffany’s house and got us armed. Then I went and got separated from you again. At least we aren’t eating school food over here.: Quinn thought looking at the fires burning on the roof of the school and wondered which one was her sister’s.

She watched the helicopter fly off heading to McNair Air force base and had to fight the urge to join those already screaming for it to come back and save them.

She heard the crack of Sandi’s rifle and knew that another soul was set free from the torment so many were being forced to endure. Sandi never missed, not since the first time, the shot that cost Tom Griffin his life at the teeth of Linda Griffin.

She made sure the sentries were set around the edge of the mall and the single entrance from within before returning to their area and falling into her chair, Tiffany was still sitting in hers.

“She’ll be over there for a while. With the fires from those idiots with the gas bombs still burning she’ll be able to keep thinning them out all night.” Quinn informed her.

Tiffany looked at her and nodded before glancing over to the unused tent.

“Stacy might still be out there, she said she had an escape route, remember.” Quinn said but she didn’t believe it.

Tiffany just nodded again.

“God, I mean if she would just talk about it. It’s not like we didn’t know about them, they’ve been hooking up off and on since freshman year. We could help her deal.” Quinn said finishing weakly.

Tiffany tapped her left breast lightly and Quinn understood.

“Her heart is broken, I know, I know.” Quinn said sadly.

A sudden scream sounded and ended in a wet gurgle coming from the stairs entrance sped across the roof.

Tiffany didn’t move as Quinn jumped up and ran toward the screams that were now repeating from several throats, but now she could hear the snarls as well.

She arrived to see the door closed but the boards that had been nailed up were gone. Several of the fast ones were attacking different people. She calmly pulled out the Glock 22 that had become her best friend and strolled over the closest feeding ghoul and pushed the barrel against her head and pulled the trigger. The victim held his hands to his stomach that was ripped open and closed his eyes as she pointed the gun at his face and fired.

Six zombies had breached the roof and she put down 4 of them herself and all 7 injured.
Mrs. Li stood with a baseball bat over the former student she had put down and the long haired guy wearing an open vest was cleaning the axe he had used to take out the last one.

“What happened?” Quinn demanded.

Several people pointed at a huddled form on the roof.

“It was quiet and I just wanted to go downstairs and use the restroom while it was clear.” Timothy O’Neil cried from where he lay on the roof top.

Quinn looked at him and saw he had no injuries and then looked at the bodies he had created.
:Again!:
The echo of the shot carried into the still night.

His body joined the others off the side of the roof.

Sandi returned to their camp several hours later and sat next to Quinn and reached over and touched the bowed girl on the head, gently pushing it back until their eyes met.

“It had to be done. How many people did his stupidity or cowardice kill. He opened the door at the Drugs N Stuff to let in that infected guy and all those people in there died, except for the few we got out. We should have done it four days ago, who knows how many people would still be with us.” Sandi said justifying Quinn’s actions.

“I know and that’s what hurts. We didn’t do what needed to be done and people keep dying because of it.” Quinn cried and Sandi embraced her, pulling her up from her chair holding her tightly.

“Just a few more days, those things are already rotting and dropping on their own. We just have to stay alive.” Sandi said almost convinced herself.



Morning brought entertainment with it.

“What’s on today?” Quinn asked as she joined Sandi at the edge of the roof.

“Take your pick; we have a platoon of army regulars on channel left and fleeing for their lives refugees on channel right.” Sandi pointed out.

“Refugees, where are they headed?” Quinn asked as she picked up a pair of binoculars.
“Downtown.” Sandi said coldly. “Looks like they came from the church on Chambers Ave and they’re heading right into the slaughter chute.” Sandi finished.

“They’re dead already, they just don’t know it yet.” Quinn swore and she turned to see the group that was trying to get the attention of the refugees but it was pointless, they were too far away.

“The army isn’t going to fair any better. They just moved into ambush alley.” Sandi said pointing toward what had been Dega Street.

Quinn lifted the glasses and started following the soldiers and waited for what she knew was coming.

The road was narrow, lined with small alleys and littered with debris. She could already see several undead making for the soldiers who were about to get a crash course in zombie combat.

It wasn’t pretty, half the men ran when the first wave came out of the buildings and alleys, leaving the remaining group without a lot of needed firepower. Quinn lowered her glasses when a horde of semi fresh runners came around the street corner in the path of the deserters. It was over for the soldiers as well.
:At least they’re going down fighting.: Quinn thought as the gunshots started.

She turned to check on the other group but decided against it as Sandi lowered her range scope and shook her head as the screams started from what had been Main Street, now it was just another quick path to whatever paradise or hell you believed waited on the other side.

“Radio message from the school.” Mrs. Li called to them and Quinn ran toward the radio tent, Sandi walked calmly behind her.

“This is Quinn, over.” Quinn said into the mic.

“Hey sis, we got some news.” Daria’s voice came from the speaker.

“Your suppose to say over, over.” Quinn snarked into the mic.

“Well if you don’t want the news, over.” Daria said and Quinn could hear her sister’s smirk.

“Go ahead, over.” Quinn said.

“Have you seen these things dropping on their own yet, over.” Daria asked.

“Yes, over.” Quinn said, feeling her heart beat speed up.

“Says on the internet that whatever is making them get up is burning out the muscle tissue so they fall back down after about a week or so, the west coast is clearing out. You guys have enough food to hold on that long? Over.” Daria explained.

“Yes, over.” Quinn cried into the mic.

“Quit your crying.” Her sister’s best friend’s voice came from the speaker.

“Bite me Jane, over.” Quinn tossed back.

“Just a little while more and it’ll be over but we have to keep anymore of these things from being made.” Sandi said from behind her.

“What do you mean?” Quinn said turning to look at.

“We knew those people were going to die, we should have taken them out. Now there’s that many more of them and that much longer we have to hold out.” Sandi said calmly.

“Are you there…. …. over.” Daria said from the speaker again.

“Yes, over.” Quinn answered.

“We heard shots last night. What happened, over?” Daria asked.

“Someone decided to take a stroll and let some zombies on the roof. We killed the zombies, finished off the wounded and dumped the bodies, over.” Quinn answered.

“I hope you shot O’Neil in the face, over.” Daria said already knowing about the man’s previous screw ups.

“Yes, over.” Quinn answered still crying.

“Alright, just keep it together, I love you.” Daria said.

“I love you too, over.” Quinn cried into the mic again.

“Good, just keep it together and trust Sandi. She’ll get you through this.” Daria promised before signing off.

“Contact you again tomorrow; we have to keep these talks short to conserve battery life, over… Jane says I’m supposed to say over and out.” Daria said and ended her transmission.

“Understood, over and out.” Quinn answered.



Sandi made her way back to the roof edge and started firing again.
:I’m not sure what I prefer, having to put Stacy down myself or having to search through a city of rotting corpses to find her.: Sandi thought as she took out Kevin Thompson as he shambled into the mall parking lot.

They had raided a gun and ammo shop on their way to the school and her ammo could in theory allow her to kill the entire county twice over, so wiping out the infected in one town wouldn’t be a problem.

She targeted one after another all day, dropping dozens and then hundreds of the rotting corpses.
It was nearing 5 pm, right after she dropped half the cheerleading squad, when she saw her.

Her body was bloodied and torn but her face remained untouched, that beautiful face that always looked so pure against her hands as she held it between them before kissing her and as Sandi drew the deepest breath of her life she spotted the gift in her former lover’s hand.

A small glass ball with a frosted rose was clenched tightly in the undead hands of Stacy Rowe.
:I love you.: Sandi thought as she fired.
Sandi let out the air in her lungs as the bullet flew through the air toward her target.
Stacy jerked and dropped to the ground, still holding the orb.

:It’s over.: Sandi thought as she laid down her rifle.

She walked back to her tent and sat across from Tiffany who was flipping through a magazine she had read a dozen or so times already.

“I killed Stacy. She’s gone.” Sandi said quietly and Tiffany put down her reading and started making hand gestures. Sandi stared at the gestures the girl was repeating for almost a minute before she understood.

“She’s free now, yes. I couldn’t let her stay like the others and I couldn’t let someone who didn’t love her take care of her. I don’t think I can ever pick up a gun again. I’m done.” Sandi said as the feelings of sadness and completion competed within her.

Tiffany pointed to herself and nodded understandingly.

“Who was it for you?” Sandi asked and felt foolish for asking someone who couldn’t talk.

Tiffany cradled her arms and rocked them like a baby.

“Your mother.” Sandi said nodding.

Tiffany pointed at herself and nodded.

The moans from around the building continued as the two girls sat and waited, their missions completed.

All that was left, was to live.

Scarlett Tale.

Scarlett closed her bedroom door and started stripping off her clothes. A warm wash cloth aided in removing the flesh colored makeup from her arms and face.

She viewed herself in the mirror and marveled at the smooth white skin that covered her body, giving the illusion of stonework.

She showered quickly and redressed in something different, something tighter.

She didn’t need to feed often but when she did she liked to enjoy herself. :Because playing with your food is half the fun.: She thought wickedly as she checked her short skirt and skintight top in the mirror.
“Good thing I don’t need to breath.” She said as she headed back out of her room and out into the night.

She moved through the streets inspecting the available fare but nothing appealed to her until.

He drove his jeep up onto the grass staring at her as he passed and fell on his face as he tried to climb out but his current state of drunkenness was more responsible for that than she.

“Hey babe.” Kevin said as he picked himself off and started toward her.

“Hello tasty goodness.” Scarlett replied and swayed over to him.
She allowed him to inspect her with his eyes until she was sure he was hooked.

“You want a beer.” Kevin offered pointing a cooler in the back of his jeep.
“No, I never drink … beer.” Scarlett jested, knowing he wouldn’t get the reference.
“So what’s up babe?” Kevin laughed.

“How about we skip the small talk and you take me someplace where we can get out of these wet clothes.” Scarlett purred.
“Um my clothes aren’t wet.” Kevin said shaking his head.

She moved next to him and ran her tongue up the front of his football jersey and smiled, staring into his eyes.
“They are now.” She said seductively.
“OH.” Kevin said as he finally understood. “Let’s go babe.”

She walked around to the passenger side of the jeep and climbed in as he managed to get into the driver’s seat.
“This is going to be a night you’ll never forget.” Kevin promised.
“I’ll make it good for you too.” She promised.
: Seeing as it’s the last time you’ll ever get any.: She smirked as he backed off the grass.


Scarlett left his body laying on the blanket he had thoughtfully stowed in the back of the jeep and walked back into town.

She paused to watch the two outcasts make their way home from the local hotspot and followed them, listening to their conversion and trying not to laugh.
:Maybe it’s time for these two to get a taste of the real dark side. I certainly won’t mind breaking them in for a hundred years or so.: She thought and let out a small chuckle as a plan formed.

“Daria and Jane, I think you’re going to like being evil, I think you’ll love every bloody minute of it.” She said to the air around her.
Their fates were decided in an instant, now there was just a matter of timing.

:Soon.: Scarlett thought as she made her way home.

Shaggy Tale.

Franklin Meyers awoke in his bed to the sudden and powerful itchy feeling that ran through his leg. He climbed down from the top bunk and hurried into the adjoined bathroom and turned on the light.
His shaggy appearance had him earning his nickname and he lifted his leg and pulled off the bandage there and quickly rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
The entire area around the dog bite he had gotten just 6 days ago was covered in a thick fur that itched enough to drive him half out of his mind.
His breath was coming to fast and he could feel the walls closing in on him as everything started to ache.
He ran from his room and out the back door then into the field that bordered his family’s home.
: Stupid dog, must have given me some kind of rabies or something.: He thought as the pain increased.
He dropped to his knees as the collar of the t-shirt he had worn to bed started choking him. He ripped the shirt free from his body and screamed at what was underneath.
His bones seemed to be rearranging themselves under his skin. His boxers came off next and he struggled to stand only to discover his joints were realigning themselves. He screamed as the pain became unbearable and threw his head back to give full voice to his cries and then he saw it and understood.
It hung in the sky like a gentle balloon, full in all its majestic might.
The moon called him and his body was answering.
The man waned and the wolf would wax.

The beast left the fields and raised its nose to the air to sense out its needs. His needs were few, feed, mate and sleep. A life at the whim of the shinning sky but a life still.
Food was plentiful and the smells reached him quickly and he was off.

Brittney Taylor was walking along the side walk dragging her poodle behind her when she heard the first noises in the bushes. Her poodle quaked in fear and pulled at the leash trying to run.

“Bad Fu-Fu, we don’t run into the street.” Brittney scolded the frighten animal. She heard the snarl behind her but never got the chance to turn. A weight crashed onto her back and a cracking pain robbed her of the ability to move. She fell to ground but felt nothing until a tugging sensation on her neck. The blackness came next.


He was still hungry when he left the yellow furred meal and quickly he moved to find more. He saw the white skinned one with a meal of its own but instinct kept him back from her as she dinned. The next scent was a dark skinned male who fought when he attacked. The food’s strength was nothing to the beast save a well earned meal.

Next he found the pair. A blond haired male and redheaded girl alone next to a car embracing.
The beast leapt on the male first, quickly ending his meek struggle and turning his attention to the fleeing female.
He overtook her and cornered her against a tree preparing to strike.
The stick smashed into his face before he could react.

“BAD DOG, YOU’RE A BAD DOG.” The redhead screamed at him.
He moved closer and sniffed the air around her as the other need came forth.
The stick swung again as he approached.

“BAD DOG.” She screamed at him.
He pulled back and howled and waited for her to respond.

“GO AWAY.” She screamed at him.
He leaped up and knocked her to the ground and sniffed at the coverings on her body.

“NO.” The redhead screamed and flailed against his fur. He pulled away from her and whimpered softly.
The redhead struggled to regain her footing and rushed him kicking at his face.
A part of him wanted to bite and claw but the strongest part curled his body up and whimpered again.
She stopped her attack when her strength depleted and backed away as he uncurled and moved again toward her.
He continued his whimper until he brushed against her letting her feel his strength as he rubbed his back against her legs.

“Be a good doggy and go fetch something.” She said clearly frightened.
He howled again to the moon and pushed her gently with his nose until she sat.

“Please don’t hurt me.” She begged as he yawned showing off the bloody teeth from his eating earlier.
He rested his head on her leg and whimpered gently again. She hesitated them rested her hand on top of his head causing a tremor of pleasure to move through him.

“Good doggy.” She coo’d at him as she began petting the back of his head and neck.

He was young and he kept his new mate with him enjoying her attention until the moon waned and the man began to wax.
Quinn watched as the beast that had killed Jamie and frighten her so badly started to change.

:Your not such a bad puppy, well except for the killing people part.: She was thinking as the fur started to pull out on her hand and its limbs jerked as the bones shifted.
She pushed the mass of quivering flesh and hair off of her and smacked away the clumps of hair from her pants. She knew she should run but her legs were locked into place until the beast was gone and the boy remained.

“Ohhh god.” Shaggy said from the ground as he tried to turn over.

“Oh my god.” Quinn said turning around embarrassed as soon as she realized he was naked.
Shaggy stood and looked down at his dirty mud, blood and hair caked body and turned to see Quinn struggling to control her breathing.

“It wasn’t a dream.” He said and fell back to the ground.
Quinn peeked around and saw him sitting on the ground covering his face with his hands and walked closer still uncertain what was happening.

“Get away from me.” He yelled toward her.

“Hey you’re the one that wouldn’t let me leave all night long.” Quinn retorted back.

“You have to get away from me before I hurt you too.” He cried.

“I know you.” She said as she moved closer.

“We go to school together.” He answered.

“You killed Jamie.” She said confused as she knelt next to him, the fear gone completely.

“I killed a lot of people last night.” He said sounding tired.

“You’re a werewolf.” She declared.

“Certainly seems that way.” He answered as the sun continued to rise.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” She asked.

“I thought werewolves weren’t supposed to remember what they did, but I do. I know why I didn’t hurt you.” He sighed.

“Ok, why.” She pressed.

“Because you don’t kill your mate.” He answered and raised his head for the first time and looked through her eyes into her soul.

“What?” Quinn said and bounced to her feet.

“I don’t know what you think but killing my date and holding me hostage all night long is not the way to my heart.” Quinn fumed down at him.

“Tell that to me tonight, when I come looking for you. I marked your scent. I’m sure sometime after moonrise I’ll come calling.” He answered.

“Can’t you control it?” She demanded.

“No, yes, maybe. I don’t know. It seemed like there was something there but I couldn’t make it work. Maybe as time goes by I can learn to control myself.” He said and yawned, reminding her of the beast.

“We need to get you out of here before the cops find Jamie.” She said suddenly.

“Why do you care?” He asked confused.

“I don’t know but wrap this around your waist and let’s get to my house. I need to talk to my sister.” Quinn admitted as she handed him her jacket.

“Hey sis, I have a werewolf in love with me, what should I do?” He mocked as he covered himself as best he could.

“Do you have a better idea?” She said harshly.

“No.” He answered, blushing slightly.

“Then let’s go.” She said and started walking in the direction toward the higher end middle class suburbs.
He caught up to her and blushed as he warned her.

“Just so you know, I think it … I mean I was jealous of that guy you were with. You might want to lay off dating until we figure this out. At least during the full moon.” He warned her.

“This just keeps getting better and better. I’m not having puppies, let’s just take that off the table right now.” Quinn groaned.

“Um did we, do something I don’t remember.” He said surprised.

“No but it was pretty clear you were let’s say excited.” Quinn blushed.

“Got any silver.” He asked.
“I don’t know, why?” She asked.
“So you can just kill me to put us both out of misery.” He groaned clearly embarrassed.
“Daria will know what to do.” Quinn said firmly.




“Ok, let’s pretend I believe you. What do you want me to do?” Daria asked her sister and the barely clad young man with her.

“Whatever you brains do to solve problems.” Quinn complained.
“I just don’t want to kill anyone again.” Shaggy said calmly.

Daria sighed and picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number.
“Hey Jane, you still got that lion cage your dad brought back from Africa. I’m going to need to use it tonight. Quinn and I with a guest will be sleeping over.” Daria said into the phone.