A Hallow’s Eve
Stop being such a baby and finish your half of the circle.” Isabela demanded- in the way big sisters do.
Tears welled in Jackie’s eyes, but she wouldn’t cry. This was to help mom get better. She finished the last rune circle, stood, and dusted her knees. “Finally!” Isabela exclaimed. “Come look.” Isabel said, beaming with accomplishment. Jackie nervously stood next to her. One lantern was barely enough to illuminate the basement, but the chalk rune stretching across the stone floor was perfectly visible. All magic runes consisted of the same three rings, one large outer ring, and two smaller inner rings. Inscribed along the innermost ring were five words of power, arranged to form a five-pointed star.
Isabela removed dad’s straight razor from her pocket. “Now it just needs our blood and it’s finished. Here, I’ll go first.” She dragged the blade along her palm, a crimson line following its edge. Jackie hid her hands behind her back. Her gaze focused on the razor’s sharp edge. “It’s ok, it doesn’t hurt.” Jackie considered her sister for a moment. Then she held out her hand. Jackie flinched at the initial sting, and then it was over.
“Now we hold hands.” Isabela took her sister’s unbloodied hand, and dragged her into the innermost circle, “And we press our blood here.”
A flash of unease on Isabela’s face made Jackie shrink. “Are you sure?” Jackie asked.
“Stop worrying.” Isabela steeled her face once again. “I’m sure.”
They pressed their bloody palms to the circle and for a moment nothing happened. Then the rune they drew shone brightly, shadows wisping off its edges. Jackie tried to pull her hand away but it was stuck. Isabela’s cool composure morphed into panic when she realized she couldn’t pull her hand away either. Dozens of small hands shot from the five-pointed star around them and dragged the sisters downward into a pool of shadows forming beneath them. They were plunged into absolute darkness.
A loud coo made Jackie jump. Isabela was still tightly gripping her hand.
“Where are we?” Jackie asked.
“I- don’t know.” Isabela’s voice was uneven.
The cold stone of their basement had been replaced with damp dirt and moss. Wind howled through the trees and bushes around them. They began to shiver. Something brushed Jackie’s arm and she screamed.
“It’s just the trees.” Isabela tried to reassure her.
“Just the trees. It’s just the trees.” Jackie repeated to herself, tightly shutting her eyes.
“Is it?” A deep voice rumbled through the forest.
They turned and shrunk back from the two glowing eyes glaring at them. The clouds above them parted, and the moonlight cast itself upon the beast standing only a few steps away. Hunched on all fours it resembled a canine; its teeth were razor sharp, and its spine a line of knobby protrusions. It clicked its fangs together, “Naughty girls who venture too far at night, make good meals.” It creaked with each step it took towards them.
“Get behind me.” Isabela said. She puffed out her chest. “Leave us alone. I’m a magician.” A small flame sputtered to life in Isabela’s hand.
The beast unfurled to its full height and bellowed a laugh. Its head snapped back to look at them. “What is a bit of fire to do against me.” Saliva dripped from its maw.
Jackie watched the beast from behind Isabela’s back, and how it twitched, even when standing still. “You remind me of Bubbles.” Jackie said. Isabela whirled around and gave her a face that meant to stay quiet. The beast cocked its head to the side; its gaze lingering on Jackie. She took a step forward. Then another. It craned its neck until it was an arm’s length away from Jackie, but she didn’t shy away from it. Isabela was still trying to stand between them. Its snout wiggled trying to take in their scent. Jackie placed her hand on the canine’s snout, its warm damp breath was pungent. “I’m not scared.” Jackie said. “My dog, Bubbles, shakes when she’s in pain too.”
The creature leaned into the warmth of Jackie’s hand, and she gently caressed it. With a thud the beast collapsed to the ground and rolled over like a puppy exposing its belly and wagging its tail. Jackie and Isabela exchanged excited looks. They both fell to their knees and hugged the beast.
*
“And that’s it for your first game of Dungeons and Dragons!” Dad said with a large smile.
Isabela groaned, “But it was just getting good! C’mon, can’t we keep playing.”
“No sweetheart, it’s bedtime.” He looked at Jackie with a joyous smile. “Jackie, did you have fun?”
Jackie nodded ecstatically.
Dad picked the pair of them up and carried them to their beds. He set Isabela down, kissed her forehead, and said, “Good job protecting your little sister.” He set Jackie down and did the same. “You were so brave.” He tickled her stomach.
She giggled. “Do I get to keep her?”
Dad smiled. “Of course, princess.”
He walked to the light switch and paused. “Happy Hallow’s Eve. I love you both.”
“Love you too.” They both said in unison.
Thank you all for reading my story! It’s a bit different from what I normally write, but it was fun nonetheless! This story was actually for a Halloween writing competition that my University put on- the theme was spooky. I tried to balance eeriness with a bit of goofy Dungeons and Dragons fun!
-Phuong Nguyen
Phuong Nguyen | Books, Stories, and More 