Page 1 of House of Horrors

One

Jason

Halloween, 1978

Halloween is built on chaos and rebellion, when misfits can run wild. Tonight is for us.

Energy buzzes beneath my skin as I get ready for the best night in Grimwood. I bang my head to metal music, walls shaking from the vibrations reverberating through the freestanding speakers. A walnut cabinet doubles as my bedside table, and a lava lamp bubbles away on top. I lace up my scuffed black combat boots, a lit cigarette dangling precariously between my lips.

In preparation for the greatest drum and guitar riff known to man, I straighten, fingers poised to play air guitar. But instead of jamming out, I’m interrupted by my bedroom door slamming open.

My back stiffens instantly, excitement replaced by coiling tension. My heartbeat thuds in time to the music, angry and fast. Labored wheezing fills the room, the intruder sounding like he’s about to pass out. I roll my eyes, pretending that my pulse hasn’t lurched into my throat.

I already know who it is.

Jerry.

“For fuck’s sake,” I mumble around my cigarette. I take one last puff before stubbing it out in the amber, glass ashtray beside me.

Jerry storms in, followed by his new wife, Deborah. She’s nice enough, but Jerry doesn’t deserve her at all, even if she’s only with him for the money. My dear father is an asshole who treats other people like shit, and he deserves to die alone.

I hate him.

Jerry yanks the power cord from the stereo, causing the music to stop abruptly. My nose crinkles in irritation, but I bite my tongue. I watch him step on magazines as he lumbers across the room, my gaze narrowed and jaw tight. There’s never a good reason for Jerry to appear. My muscles tense up, ready to defend myself, and I raise my chin defiantly as I match his stare.

“How many times have I told you, boy, about your music?” Strained from climbing the stairs, his red, sweat-drenched face twists into a scowl, eyes bulging as a vein in his forehead throbs. My room in the attic is too far from his armchair, so the only reason he makes the trek is to shout at me or use me as a punching bag after a few drinks.

Rolling my eyes, I take a deep breath to keep myself from doing anything stupid because I don’t want him ruining my night. “Chill! It’s metal, Pops.” It’s meant to be played loudly.

His eyes narrow as the tension between us intensifies. One wrong move and everything will explode.

Suddenly, his wife, my new stepmom, pops out from behind his large frame.

“Hi, Jason.”

Debbie’s manicured hand wraps around his arm as if she’d be able to hold him back. She doesn’t know yet that he would turn on her and “teach her a lesson” just like he does to me. He’s an abusive piece of shit.

And one day I’ll kill him for it.

“Hey, Debbie.” I keep my voice steady while I pick at where the black polish is chipping away from my short nails.

Jerry’s nostrils flare like he’s scenting the air for my fear, but I’m not scared of him. Not anymore. “So, what do you want?” I force out, my gaze unyielding. Jerry’s right eye twitches in response to the attitude in my tone, and I’m surprised when he doesn’t comment on it.

“You need to take your little sister with you tonight. Daisy wants to go to the haunted house, but Debbie doesn’t want her to go alone.”

Fuck. No.

The plans I’ve made aren’t suitable for someone like her. She’ll likely snitch on me, and I’d get beaten within an inch of my life.

There are things Jerry tolerates. Drinking, smoking, and an attitude that shows his son isn’t a complete pushover. But drugs? He’d likely murder me himself.

But Nicky, my best friend, said he has a new concoction to test, and I’m not going to let Jerry or some brat named Daisy ruin my fun.

I think about how she runs around the house in nothing but a bra and little panties, showing off the soft curve of her ass. And the way she looks at me with hungry eyes. If she were anyone else, if she could be a simple, anonymous fuck, I would impale her pretty pussy on my cock and be done with it.

But she isn’t. Instead, Daisy is a problem. Daisy is trouble.

Her nails are claws that try to sink themselves into me. Danger lurks behind her sultry smirk, and I know if I give myself to her, even for one night, I’ll never be the same. Because Daisy won’t ever let me go.