"Oh cut it out John," the girl replied, slapping him on the arm.
"Cool." Kathleen's eyes sparkled mischievously. "This should definitely be fun!"
Sera stared up at the house. Candles lit some of the windows on the lower floors, and jack-o-lanterns had been placed in all of them. In the attic, the lights were on, and a few people were moving about in front of the windows. Sera realized that they were the people who had already gone through, and had now begun the party. The line inched forward as they moved toward the doorway.
Halloween music poured out as the door opened to let in groups of people. No one appeared in the doorway, and no lights lit up the foyer. Sera tried to peer inside, but it was impossible to see anything in the darkness. She glanced back through the line, her eyes landing on an Egyptian princess in a body hugging gold dress. All of her exposed skin was painted gold, except for her face, which was exquisitely layered with makeup. Her brilliant red hair was flowing around her shoulders, and her head was topped with a gold tiara.
Sera felt a wave of annoyance as she stared at Michelle, who was flirting with a man dressed as a musketeer. He touched her shoulder but Michelle slapped his hand away as she snapped at him not to mess up her makeup.
"How did that bitch get an invitation?" Kathleen demanded, hands on her hips.
"Kathleen..." Sera warned.
"No way Sera, that was the best thing about tonight!"
"She comes to all the parties here, I'm sure she's made more than a few friends. Just ignore her."
"You know I can't. She gives you dirty looks at all the parties, and she still won't lay off Liam. All she does is talk about what a jerk he is, but you know she's just waiting to make a move on him."
Sera felt extremely uncomfortable as she glanced back at Michelle. She was amazingly beautiful, and tonight it really showed. She knew that Liam couldn't stand her, but she had to be tough for a man to refuse, and Kathleen was right, Michelle did want Liam.
Finally making it to the front of the line, they found a man dressed as a troll that took their invitations. The door swung open and Sera found herself faced with complete blackness. "Welcome to the House of Hell," a voice from behind the door said. "Enter at your own risk."
Sera walked into the foyer, followed by nine other people. The door closed behind them and a small light came on to illuminate the floor around them. "Awesome," Kathleen whispered in her ear.
"This is ridiculous," a cool voice said from behind her. "How old are we?"
Sera bristled at Michelle's condescending tone, and tried to push away her disappointment at having to go through with her. "Oh no," Danielle whispered.
A man stepped out of the shadows, startling them all, and causing Sera to take a step back. He wore a vampire costume, and was covered with so much makeup that Sera couldn't tell who he was. "I see you were brave enough to enter. I have to warn you that not all of you will make it through alive. If you wish to leave now, please, be my guest." Sera bit back a smile as she recognized Jack's voice. She had never expected to see him so dressed up for Halloween, and she found it charming.
"How corny," Michelle sneered.
"I see we have a disbeliever," Jack continued. "They are usually the ones that don't make it. Now, follow me to your death."
He walked away from them and toward the kitchen. They followed him down the dimly lit hall, past the swinging doors. "Welcome," he announced. "To the kitchen of death."
They stepped into an elaborately decorated death scene. On the kitchen table lay a torso with blood dripping out of its neck, and stumpy legs. A man stood by the sink holding a bloody knife, his white apron was covered in blood. "Have you brought me presents?" he asked, lowering the knife.
"Yes, master," Jack answered.
"You have done well. Come forward my children, and see what I have for you."
Sera cocked an eyebrow at Jack as he grinned down at her, his hazel eyes twinkling merrily. "Cute costume," she whispered.
"And you're looking lovely tonight," he said low. "Now move before I have to drink your blood."
Sera laughed as she moved forward, a little thrill of excitement flowed through her. She loved haunted houses. "Come." The man with the knife gestured them closer to the sink. They crowded around the sink to stare down at a bloody, decapitated head. "This was my brother. He stole my girlfriend, now I need a new one. What about you sweetie?" he asked Kathleen.
"I love a man who knows how to protect himself," Kathleen replied laughingly.
"Oh baby!"
They all jumped as the head in the sink uttered the words and opened its eyes to look at them. A few of the girls screamed and jumped back, and then everybody began to laugh nervously. "I need a girlfriend too," the head cried.
A shrill scream filled the air as a figure dressed in white came rushing at them. Sera yelped and stumbled into Danielle. "They're mine!" she screamed as she charged at them. "You can't have them!"
One of the men broke out laughing, and the terror fled Sera's body. "Come now!" Jack cried. "We must leave this room if we are to survive."
