1
September 30th – 11:59 PM
A carved pumpkin sat on a bail of hay on the Simmons’ Farm in the cool night. The candle inside was flickering on its last life. Knelt down in front of the pumpkin, a dark figure sat. He’d been watching the house for hours - keeping an eye on Carly Simmons, the beautiful 20-something in charge of the annual Halloween Festival. This would be the last year she would be in charge of anything.
The figure glanced at his watch as it struck midnight. October 1st – it was time to set the plan in motion. October was going to be remembered in Stewart Hollow from now on, but not because of the annual celebration. There was a new tradition taking form.
The figure’s palms were sweating and his heart was pounding. It was all part of the experience – the tradition.
He watched as Carly passed by the kitchen window and then stood up. Sheltered by the night, he crept through the yard and towards the house - knife in hand.
October 1st – 10:15 AM
October had begun in Stewart Hollow, Oregon. The summer’s warmth was fading faster than usual, and the trees had turned a bright orange-yellow with only hints of green remaining. Dying leaves littered the streets of downtown.
Stewart Hollow was a small town with only one really busy, name-fitting street – Main Street. It was home to dozens of shops and diners. People did all their shopping there instead of heading into the city for the larger franchises.
A beat-up mail truck pulled up along the side of the road where people were walking. It came to a stop and its’ hazard lights began to flash. An older man, dressed in the required light blue uniform, stepped out of the truck with a hand full of letters and magazines. He walked two doors down from where he parked to the Sheriff’s Department.
Inside, the receptionist sat at her desk. Bethany Kidd was an older woman, and had been with the department for over twenty years.
The mailman walked through the front door, rattling a string of ringing bells. Bethany looked up and smiled.
“Good morning, Abe,” she said in a friendly tone.
Abe smiled back, and dropped the stack of mail on her desk. “Good morning, Bethany. Happy October.”
“Same to you. Bring us anything good today?” Bethany rhetorically asked, while fingering through the stack of letters.
Abe smiled. “The planning committee called me last night. Looks like we’ll be in charge of the bake off this year. Mary has some really good recipes she’s been tinkering with.”
“Like?” Bethany grinned, knowing he wouldn’t tell.
“It’s a secret.”
“C’mon, Abe. Just a little hint?”
“Sorry, Bethany. I’ve sworn an oath to protect Mary’s recipes until the festival.” Abe turned and headed for the door. He tipped his hat on the way out. “Until next time.”
The bells jingled once more as he left.
Sheriff Ben Carter, tall dark and fairly young for his position, approached Bethany’s side. “I bet that if good old Abe there wasn’t married, you’d be all over that. Am I right?”
“All over that?” Bethany laughed at his choice of words and then nodded. “You bet I would.”
Carter laughed, and watched Bethany finish going through the mail. “Anything good?”
She pulled out two letters from the stack and tossed one of them aside – the electric bill.
“That can wait.” Carter joked.
“This one is addressed to the Stewart Hollow Sheriff’s Department.” Bethany handed the letter to Carter. He looked it over for a minute. There was no return address, and it had been postmarked from within the town. What caught his eye was a small pumpkin sticker at the bottom right corner.
“Early Halloween card maybe?” Bethany asked.
“Let’s find out.”
Carter tore it open and pulled out a folded piece of notebook paper. Once unfolded, he stared at a boldly typed message. Bethany saw a look of confusion in his eyes.
“What is it?” She asked, as her playful manner dissipated. He looked up from the letter, and finally laid it out in front of her.
My demons have a thirst,
And my hands reek of death.
By October 31st,
In peace this town will rest.
Take heed on what I’ve said,
For this October will run red.