A raven did its nightly call as a girl rocked herself back and forth singing a Halloween song, trying to calm herself down. The girl sat in a white sponge-like room wearing a straight jacket tossing, turning, groaning, and flinching at every sound outside her white cushioned prison. Her eyes were fixed at the door. She'd try and escape the mental institution that had kept her prisoner there, but every attempt was in vain. Those attempts led her to now wear a mask, to cough out her screams and cries. She once had blonde hair, but now it was a tangled rat's nest of greasy black. He's coming tonight. He said he would. I know it. But they think I'm mad, insane, crazy, and this paranoia has just been stuck in my head for that year. BUT I'M NOT! HE'S COMING! He's coming to finish what he started last Halloween and they say I'm safe. They try and reassure me, but I'm not. I know it. They are wrong! He'll come and he doesn't care who he'll have to get to as well. Even If I do escape, he'll find me, I know it. And once he finds me I'll... the white sponge-like door opened as if listening to her fearful thoughts Die...

~~~

It started out so normal last year. The girl I once was can no longer be the same after looking into the eyes of a murderous stalker. I never even suspected it would ever happen either...

"Maria, are you coming?" Rica asked, looking at her blonde friend staring at the storm clouds.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," I replied, quickly catching up with her and Luke.

"What are you planning to do for Halloween anyway?" Luke asked us.

"I plan on going out to do some trick-or-treating, how about you Maria?" Rica said proudly.

"I think I'm going to stay home with my family this year," I said, staring at the ground.

"What? Why?" Luke asked, trying to meet my gaze.

"I love Halloween, but I think I'm getting a little too old for i-" just then Rica slapped me (not hard though).

"You are never old for trick-or-treating and you are coming to my Halloween party at 8:00 tonight."

I almost laughed at how Rica was acting, but I nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there. In my Halloween costume too."

Luke seemed happier that I was getting excited about Halloween again. The conversation continued as we reached my house. "I'll be there at 8:00, but I'll have to be home by 12:00," I said, opening the door.

"All right, see you later," Rica said.

I turned to Luke. "How about you?"

He seemed to smile at my question. "I'm not going to be at the party, but you will see me tonight..."

"Good to know, well I'm going to get ready, later," I said, closing the door.

I ran upstairs, greeting my little brother with a pat on the head and rubbing my dog, Inu's, stomach. I left into my room and put on my gothic Lolita costume I was going to wear to the party and my parents came in. "You know I honestly don't like you wearing things like that," dad said sternly.

I looked down, but he put his hand on my shoulder. "But it is Halloween, so I'll let it slide," he grinned.

"You look so beautiful in that, I need to get my camera," mom said leaving the room.

"Mom!" I groaned.

My dad just laughed. "Don't worry, I'll help you escape without a picture getting taken. Come down in a few minutes so we can drive you over there," he said closing my door.

"Okay, dad."

After the door shut, I picked up my boots and started to tie them, but I heard this screaming sound and a dog's barking. I thought it was just kids getting scared, after all, it was Halloween, so I finished tying my boots, but I heard the scream again and it was not the sound of just short fear, but a shriek of bloody murder. Something was definitely wrong.

I opened my door and poked my head outside. It was quiet now, Inu wasn't even barking like usual. "Mom? Dad? Is everything okay?"

I heard no response and walked cautiously down the stairs. Once I reached the last stair, I saw bloodstained walls. It was so violent I couldn't even put it into words. I looked down and saw Inu, dead from a cut to his stomach. I covered my mouth and my eyes widened at the horrifying bloodshed I would only think would happen within a horror movie. "Don't be afraid, Maria... Everything's fine now..."

I looked up at the entryway with the most blood and saw Luke. His white shirt was stained with blood, as well as his hair, and he held in his hand a bloody knife. "It was only an accident... I tried to stop myself, but..." he laughed insanely, "Now there's just you and me left..."

He staggered towards me with that knife and I backed up to the door. "I'm sorry, my dear, but... I can't let you live... Once you're dead, I'll kill myself..." he said in a cold voice.

I opened the door and ran out. I didn't stop. I fell twice, but got up and ran. I never seemed to stop, but now...

~~~

Now, just like Luke's white shirt, the white sponge-like mental room was stained with blood. Maria was lying on the ground, eyes open, mouth open, and blood coming out from her mouth due to the stab wound in her stomach. The deed had been done. "I'm sorry... I never wanted this to happen... I just wanted to talk with your parents, but as they usually do, they tried to shoot me with a gun. I had no choice unfortunately," he said, looking at the bloody knife.

Luke laid beside Maria and stabbed himself. "I just wanted you to have a happy Halloween, I didn't want to hear those bloody screams..." he said, voice dying off.

The raven screeched at its perch and flew off into the darkness. The sad deed had been done...