The Many Works of Pat Hatt
36
- Published:
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October 10, 2016
Category:
WEP: All Hallowed Sky
I had narrowly missed killing a young boy in a Frankenstein costume. My jittery, frail hands unable to deal with the kickback of my father’s pistol. My silent prayer must have been received as my mishap was mistaken for a firecracker and no one was hurt. It was the first time in recent memory that I was thankful for old age. I had never killed anyone during the past forty-eight years of hunting the Halloween Murderer down. This year I was determined to end the cycle which left me on edge, a fact I’m not proud of. But if the cops wouldn’t do anything, this crazy old bat would. He had taken my father and husband from me. They hadn’t run off like the cops said. He had killed them on Halloween starting with my father. The forty-seven other men hadn’t run away on their wives either. No bodies found doesn’t mean this killer wasn’t out there.
I narrowed his hunting ground down to the town carnival. All of his victims had come through there during Halloween night. He was a clever killer, saving his urge for when his disguise wouldn’t be discovered. But even the most clever criminal slips up. After fully vetting them, I had taken every last cent I had to bribe the carnival crew into all wearing the same costume. He would stick out like a sore thumb because few parents ever dressed up when attending.
After cozying up to Stan, the head of security, I snatched his keys, giving me full access to the place. The night before I had broken into the fun house and Halloween maze. I destroyed them, figuring that preventing another murder was worth a few distraught faces. All the other rides and games were out in the open. There was no way he could strike at the carnival without me noticing from my perch atop the town water tower. I settled in as the night dragged on, keeping my itchy trigger finger off my pistol.
The cheerful cries of children at play reminded me of the family I always wanted but never got to have with my late husband. He was the only man I had ever loved and ever will. The only emotion eclipsing such love was my hate for the man who took him from me. A hate I let fester as the night dragged on.
I took notice of a shooting star overhead as the carnival began to close down. Soon the light of the full moon and stars was all that guided my sight. I was beginning to think my plan had worked too well until I saw it. One of the staff was being lured away by a hooded figure. I had no shot so I climbed down the ladder as fast as these old bones could take me. I shuffled across the carnival grounds and his victim’s screams pierced my very soul. I clutched my pistol and jumped out from behind a game stand, aiming it at the figure’s head. He was bent down and sucking the very life out of the poor worker.
I screamed for him to freeze but he ignored me and then tapped the bones with his finger, turning them to dust. I fired every round I had left into him and they went right through. He turned around, revealing only a darkness where his face should have been. I was too old to be scared of such a presence and began screaming obscenities at him, demanding answers. That is when he started to glow as bright as that shooting star I had seen earlier.
He threw his hood back and nearly blinded me with the light shining forth. The glow subsided and finally I had come face to face with the Halloween Murderer, whose figure and words blew any theory I had created over the years away. He turned out to actually be a she. A she that looked like a Playboy model mixed with the style of some bimbo from ancient times. Again I demanded answers and then her cheeks puffed up with a disgusting grin.
Her name was Cassiopeia and she had been placed in the sky by Poseidon after fifty sea nymphs demanded she be punished for boasting about her beauty. She went on to explain how she needed to consume fifty loving men in order to free herself from Poseidon’s trap in the sky, a representation of the lovers each sea nymph had taken. Her only reason for choosing my town and my husband and father was that is was convenient and they cared too much. That got my blood boiling and I snatched up the hammer from that strong man game and, with strength I never knew I had, I reached it above my head, ready to bash her brains in.
I swung at her gaining a single moment of pleasure as she burst into stars before me. But the moment faded as she reformed. She cackled and told me how she liked my spirit. She further insulted me by saying I could be her if I wasn’t so old and ugly. She then showed me the final piece that would unlock her from Poseidon’s grasp. With a wave of her hand her starlight drained from her and into me. I then shot up into the sky, becoming a shooting star that you may have seen that Halloween night.
The last thing I heard of my time on Earth was her dreaded cackling. And here I remain, a constellation in the stars named after the woman who killed my father and husband. My only chance at vengeance being my willingness to kill fifty men over fifty years when the moon is bright on all Hallows Eve night. Is my pain worth causing other families such heart ache? That is what I have until next Halloween to figure out.
Words: 984
And there we are. I mixed the two. Got an idea and away I went with both themes. Turn out good? Turn out bad? Feel free to judge away at my pad.
Enjoy life, forget the strife.
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36 Comments
2016-10-10 19:18:07
You did it! I didn’t even try to put the two together, but you did and I loved it! Congratulations.
2016-10-10 19:43:19
Glad it was grand as I worked the two in in my land
2016-10-10 23:30:34
Wow. Intense. At first I thought you were going for a Men in Black sequel…
2016-10-11 01:28:53
haha no aliens are had today at my pad
2016-10-19 04:48:52
Hey Pat! You clever thing, you. What a great weave of HALLOWEEN and CONSTELLATIONS. Creepy story, much? Loved it. The murders continue!
What a great entry!
Thank you.
Denise 🙂
2016-10-19 11:37:26
The idea popped in and I gave both a spin. Glad it was enjoyed.
2016-10-19 04:58:58
I am pretty certain the ‘crazy old bat’ won’t cause others to endure the pain she felt.
I hope she shines brightly in the skies.
Loved this – thank you.
2016-10-19 11:37:59
Yeah, she will hopefully make the right choice.
2016-10-19 10:14:42
Bet impressive combination of the two prompts. Both creepy and informative, with a moral dilemma thrown in good measure. I liked it. Quite different from what I’m used to from you.
2016-10-19 11:38:29
I can take the humor out when need be at my sea haha
2016-10-19 12:25:55
I love a good supernatural murder mystery! It’s even better when the murderer has an unusual motive.
If I may offer one small critique, and this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine: The murderer taking the time to explain their motive in detail.
2016-10-19 12:59:30
haha yeah, it is a bit of a pet peeve of mine as well that I make fun of a lot. But I used it, oh the shame lol
2016-10-19 16:29:24
You most certainly did! Wow! A murderer from the stars! Beautifully done! Kudos to you and your amazing imagination!
Just curious, does she come back as a beauty and find it just as easy to attract men into her killing grip – or is ugliness her curse too?
Thanks for participating in the WEP Halloween/Constellations Challenge. Can’t wait to see what you do for the December Challenge. 🙂
2016-10-19 17:48:19
Was fun to do, we’ll see what December brings. She would have the curse of ugliness as well, such a fate.
2016-10-19 17:12:51
I liked this story. I wish the old woman did not have to pay such a price for that Cassiopeia but I liked the way you blended the legend into your story.
2016-10-19 17:47:00
Legends are always fun to use. Yeah, she got screwed over big time.
2016-10-19 21:42:25
Oh, boy, how deliciously horrible.
2016-10-19 22:20:19
Horrible indeed in the end
2016-10-20 09:38:49
Wow! A murderer from the constellations themselves. Liked the retelling of the Cassiopeia tale in a tale format. Superbly combines the Halloween and Constellations prompt. Enjoyed reading this story.
2016-10-20 11:19:08
Glad it was fun as I gave both a run
2016-10-20 14:28:46
I love how you combined the two themes, great job!
2016-10-20 14:40:38
Got both in for the win
2016-10-20 22:08:14
Good and evil
All wrapped in one
Tho is fifty lives
Wirth it or is none
She only killed
The ones that care
Yet evil hides
Everywhere
2016-10-21 12:01:38
Evil is within
Always trying to win
Have to stray away
Or you shall pay
2016-10-20 23:56:42
Whoa hoo. To be a constellation might be interesting. Too bad she is filled with hate. Loved the story.
Nancy
2016-10-21 12:00:55
Could sure peep on all that way.
2016-10-21 00:39:03
So, it seems vengeance served cold may not be a good idea. . . All Hallowed Sky is seamless. A great combination.
2016-10-21 12:00:32
Yeah, have to be careful when going down the vengeance road
2016-10-22 18:03:58
Very nicely done! You mixed the two themes so well and I especially enjoyed the lines, “But if the cops wouldn’t do anything, this crazy old bat would.”
Very entertaining and while there was darkness it was also funny and light at the same time. I appreciate it not being too dark since creepy or scary isn’t my thing, but it was just dark enough.
Well done. Thank you for the enjoyable read! :o)
2016-10-22 20:08:56
Added a touch of humor, not as much as usual though, haha
2016-11-03 10:52:55
Congratulation on the spooky tale! I do enjoy a story that includes the constellations. Maybe, some time in the light will change her plight on Halloween night.
2016-11-03 11:36:22
You never know how it shall go with the light
2016-11-03 12:35:34
Very much in keeping with the Haloween creeps.Tops with your imaginations Pat. A killer from the constellations! How nice! Could even throw insults on the old lady – something any woman could not stomach!
Hank
2016-11-03 15:45:05
Everything worked in as the imagination flew away. Thanks for the read.
2016-11-03 23:44:42
You did a great job. Not surprised you won a writing contest. 🙂 Big congrats!
2016-11-04 10:23:05
Thanks indeed!
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