Story 7: Halloween Comes True by Zack Caldwell

[ken barber]

Tanner Sinclair at first glance appeared to be your average twelve year old with a small frame and pale skin topped off with fine black hair that appeared to be in a perpetual state of messiness. He wore a t-shirt and jeans which clearly had seen better days. If someone had paid him any attention they would have noticed his sagged posture and the bruises that showed through the tear in his t-shirt.

The sounds of nearby traffic merged with the sounds of birds flittering about and chirping in the park behind the young lad. People walking or running in the park paid no attention to the boy and the few that did, did so only in so far as to avoid what they thought to be a hoodlum. All of which Tanner paid little attention. His thoughts were still on the events of a few days ago.

Tanner slung his backpack over his shoulder and with his free hand pulled his tie loose. He hated having to wear a uniform to school and he hated, even more, Manwurst Preparatory School for Boys. The only small blessing was that he lived close enough to be able to go home each day while most of the other boys had to live in the dorm. Tanner, while from a well to do family was not by any means one of the richest. A fact that Charles L. Pettyfer the third constantly pointed out to Tanner, he would go out of his way to put down Tanner when surrounded by his preppy entourage.

Tanner let out a sigh as he turned the handle of his front door and pushed it open. A light beeping sounded. Tanner closed the door and entered a code into a keypad near the door and the beeping stopped. Tanner turned to start for the kitchen when he thought he heard something. He stopped and tilted his head as if it would help him to locate the sound. Then he heard it again, a muffled squeak like sounds. It sounded as though it was coming from upstairs. A quick look at the grandfather clock told him that his parents would not be home for another couple of hours.

He allowed his backpack to slide of his shoulder and let it slide to the floor near his feet. Making his way to the stairs he looked up to see the late afternoon sun pouring through the four foot window depicting a forest scene in various tinted colors, that bathed the stairs, walls and floor. Carefully, Tanner put his foot on the first stair and then the next as he slowly made his way upward. The squeaking was a little bit louder. His heart began to beat faster and his hands began to shake and sweat. Taking a breath, Tanner continued up to the second floor landing and looked around. To his left was his parent's bedroom and to his right was his room and game room. Listening he heard nothing at first and then he heard what might have been a voice. It seemed to be coming from his parent's room. He could tell the door was ajar so he crept forward. Nearing the door the sounds became clear, in addition to the squeaking he could hear a woman, not his mother he realized.

"Give it to me, baby!" said the female voice.

Peeking through the crack of the door Tanner could see his father on top of a woman with his hips thrusting up and down.

"Yeah take it. You know you love it." replied Tanner's father in an almost grunting tone.

Tanner's eyes went wide in both shock and wonder. His mind told him to run to his room, his body, however, refused to move as he was transfixed by the sight before him. The sounds coming from his father and woman started to become more intense and vocal. Tanner felt wetness in his pants and a gasp escaped from his lips. Tanner's father stopped in mid thrust looking over his shoulder to see Tanner at the door. Red faced with rage Tanner's father flew out of the bed and rushed toward Tanner, his erect penis leading the way.

"Damnit, Tanner." The tone and look on his father's face, freed his body and he turned and started to run for his room only to feel a hand grab his shoulder and he spun to face his father in time for a fist to hit him in the stomach. Tanner cried out in pain at the impact and doubled over falling to the floor. A kick to his side was followed by his father screaming.

"Get your faggot ass to your room. I will deal with you later. I'll teach you to never spy on me."

With those parting words Tanner watched through tear filled eyes as his father walked back into the bedroom slamming the door behind him. Tanner managed to get to his feet and stumble his way into his bedroom and lay on his bed crying.

After falling asleep an hour ago, Tanner stirred awake he started to turn over when he felt the pain near his stomach. He barely kept himself for yelping from the pain. He did not want to attract his father's attention. He hoped to be able to avoid his father until his mother gets home. After some careful moving he was able to see his bedside clock. His mother would be home in an hour. Tanner managed to get out of bed and shed his school clothes. Looking into the wall mirror mounted on his closet door he could see a bright red and purple bruise near his upper left abdomen near his ribs. Movement caused Tanner pain and a moment to catch his breath. Despite the pain he managed to get his t-shirt on. Getting his jeans on was a bit more problematic bending over to put on and pull up his jeans caused lots of pain. By the time he got his jeans on his face was once again streaked in tears.

Crashing noises caused Tanner to turn to his door. His father seemed to be tearing things up and he was getting closer. He had never seen his father this angry and never had his father hit him. Fear gripped him. With little option Tanner went to his window and opened it. Looking out he could see the slope of the roof and a short distance the old oak tree. Climbing out the window, the sandpaper like tiles dug into his feet, realizing he had forgotten to put his shoes on. He turned, nearly slipping, reached back into the window to grab his shoes when his bedroom door burst open.

The shock of seeing his father, or he thought it was his father, caused him to lose his footing and tumbled down the roof scraping exposed skin and ripping his shirt. Going over the edge of the roof, Tanner screamed and for a brief moment felt like he was floating in mid air and seconds later landed on his mother's compost heap. Pain ripped through his side, he would of screamed out in pain, but the breath being knocked out of him made that impossible. What felt like minutes to Tanner was only a few seconds, when he was able to catch a rasping breath.

He could hear furniture breaking coming from his room above and fear quickly found its way past the pain driving Tanner to his feet. In a half hobble and half run Tanner fled his home.

The pain in Tanner's side was now throbbing and he was having some trouble breathing. He stopped and leaning on a fence he tried to calm his breathing. Looking around he tried to figure out where he was. He realized he was in the Sherwood neighborhood; outside old lady Haggerty place no less. He was only a few blocks from school. If he could find his way into the gym, he could get what few things he had in his locker, the important of which were his running shoes. It was at that moment he began to feel the burning sensation from the bottom of his feet. A quick look, in the dimming light, showed his feet were scrapped and bleeding.

Shattering glass near where he was standing shocked Tanner causing him to jump and look toward the woman, old lady Haggerty, yelling at him.

"Get off my lawn, you damn hoodlum or the next one will be on target."

To prove her point she lifted her arm holding a mason jar and brought it to a throwing position. Before Tanner could bolt he caught movement from the bushes to the right of the old lady. His mouth dropped open and he started to scream to warn the lady, who was already looking towards the ruckus and she screamed as a large man, naked with grey pasty skin lunged for her sinking his teeth into her neck.

All pain forgotten Tanner shot off like a bat out of hell for the school and help. Tanner began to feel lightheaded and his breathing was labored. He slowed from a full on run to a light jog. He needed to rest and he stopped. A moment later he wished he had not stopped as the pain started rolling back double time. He fell to his knees and sobbed as tears streamed down his cheeks. To his shock a wet tongue started licking his face. Looking up he looked into the face of a German shepherd. Once the dog was looking the boy in the face he sat back on his haunches. Tanner looked into the eyes of the dog and he felt as if the dog knew him and what he had been through. He felt a sense of safety flood through his body.

"I do not know what is going on dog. I need to rest."

The strength went out of him and he slumped to the ground passed out. The German shepherd stood up, sniffed Tanner and licked his face a couple of times then took the boy's shirt in its mouth and began to pull the boy across the grass.

Tanner's eyes fluttered open and he blinked several times as sun light was falling across his face. Raising a hand to shield the sun from his eyes, he was able to tell that he was look out of what appeared to be an arch. Movement on his left side caught his attention and looking he saw the head of the german shepherd resting on his shoulder with large brown eyes watching him intently. Tanner started to push himself to a sitting position causing the dog to sit up. When his head bumped wood, Tanner realized he was inside a dog house. A shiver moved through his body as the chilled wind flowed through the open arch.

Tanner reached out and took the medal on the collar of the dog and read the name Angel. Tanner looked at the dog with tears filled eyes. "Thank you Angel" The dog, tail wagging, licked the boy's face. Tanner put his arms around Angel and hugged his newest friend. Climbing his way out of the dog house was a painful endeavor and he wondered how Angel managed to get him inside to begin with. Standing up he allowed a moment for the sun to warm his body. The moment was short lived as a cold wind blew down the side alley he found himself in.

He made his way to the end of the alley and looked out. He could see people in their yards fetching the morning paper or getting into their cars for their morning commute. He quickly made his way to the sidewalk heading in the direction of his school. Angel took up position beside the young boy in a protective manner. Without thinking Tanner placed his hand on Angel's neck an act that caused Angel's tail to wag in a sign of contentment.

After several minutes of walking a rolling grumbling sound came from Tanner's stomach. Angel stopped and looked at Tanner with a cocked head suggesting puzzlement.

"I haven't eaten since lunch at school yesterday." As if understanding Angel circled Tanner and moved several paces down the sidewalk and turned back to Tanner. Tanner started to cross the street to head towards his school, but Angel was not having that as she ran up and blocked Tanner and then ran back to where she stood a moment ago.

"The school is just over there." Angel moved a few step down the sidewalk away from Tanner and looked back at him. Not sure why, but he decided to follow his new friend. After walking a few more blocks Tanner could see the local park. Angel lead over to a bench and sat down looking at him. Feeling hungry and not having much energy he sat on the bench and Angel laid her head on his lap. Tanner stared at his dirty and cut up feet trying to figure out what he was going to do. A low whimper from Angel brought him out of his thoughts as he looked up and his eyes beheld the angelic face of a young boy about his own age. The morning sun behind the boy gave his blonde hair the look of a halo. The boy moved closer blocking out the sun and Tanner could see the boy's blue eyes and dimples that punctuated a broad smile.

"Hi" replied the boy. The sound of his voice sent a shiver down his spine, or was that the chill in the air. Tanner found his voice. "Hi."

"My name is Jacob. You look like you could use this more than me right now." He sat down next to Tanner and handed him a brown bag. A bit confused Tanner took the bag and looked inside to find a breakfast sandwhich. He looked up to say thank you but the boy was gone. Looking around he could not find the boy. Growling from Angel caused Tanner to spin around to see the grey pasty man who appeared to be his father lung at him.

Tanner's body jerked as if in a jumping manner and he landed on soft padding with a constant beeping coming from his left. Tanner quickly grabbed his side and there was no pain, looking he could see he was wearing his pajamas and the beeping was coming from his bed side clock. Letting out a sigh of relief Tanner fell back on his bed and turned off his clock. A nightmare, it was all a nightmare he thought.

Getting up he went to the bathroom to pee and wash his face. Afterwards he walked out into the hallway and looking across he could see the door to his parents room was open. He could smell bacon coming from the kitchen downstairs. Tanner made his way down the stairs and he could hear the tv on in the den. He heard a long shrill sound coming from the tv. He stopped at the door to the den and saw that it was empty. "This is an emergency alert. As of this morning October 31, the CDC has issued a quarantine order for the city of Rockville. Everyone is ordered to remain in their home until contacted by civil authorities. A viral outbreak mimicking rabies, but more severe appears to be affecting the citizens of Rockville. Please remain in your home and avoid contact with anyone who appears sick or showing rabies like symptoms."

Turning towards the kitchen Tanner flashed back to his nightmare, when he sees the grey pasty form of his father rushing him. Tanner started to run for the stairs when the sound of crashing glass caused him to turn back in time to see a black and brown mass of fur slam into his father both falling to the ground. It took a moment for his brain to fully comprehend what he just saw. It then dawned on him. It was a dog. Coming around the corner was a german shepherd. "Angel?" The dog wagged her tail and ran up to Tanner and with teeth tugged on Tanner's pajama pants pulling him toward to the door. Like in his dream he felt safe with the dog and quickly moved with the dog who was now leading the way outside.

The neighborhood was in a state of disarray as people were fighting each other or packing their cars to get out. A gunshot from his right startled him and he quickly followed Angel who led him away from the chaos. "I guess Halloween has come true, Angel"

Edited October 31, 2015 by ken barber