Scariest Night of the Year by Cate Mckoy
I was suddenly awake and didn’t know why. I felt a slight chill that brought my eyes to my bedroom window. The window was closed. It was Halloween. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. Correction, it was two-oh-two in the morning on November first. I removed the covers. I realized I was squinting to make out the numbers on the clockface. Why was my vision blurry? The chill caused by an unknown draft carried me from my bed to investigate.
answering the phone? It was supposed to be a quick answer. Rinnnng! How many was that?
I opened my bedroom door. The chill increased. I stepped out into the hallway. The cold floor made me think of my forgotten slippers. I turn back to grab them. A loud thump froze me on the spot. Slippers forgotten again, I turn and reach for the hall light. The dim light hadn’t helped vision. I rubbed at my eyes.
Thump! Crash! “Noooo!” The scream holds me frozen on the landing, too scared to take the last six stairs. I look at my phone annoyed. Galvanized by the abrupt silence, I hang up and redial. For several seconds, the only sound is the creepy quality of my cellphone’s ring.
Suddenly, a loud shattering of glass made me jump in fright and press the last number to complete my call. Trembling, I put my cellphone to my ear. I take the first step down. Crash! Startled, I almost drop the phone. It’s incessant ringing adding an eerie echo to my surroundings.
delaying the moment when I round the entrance to the living room. I know the sounds I’ve heard is coming from there.
Crash! Thump! I take another few stairs. I am almost at the curved landing. The draft’s chilly air rushes pass the skin on my arm, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. The feeling of a presence behind me is so strong I snap my head behind me. Nothing is there but the empty stairs.
I take the first step of the last six. The frightening sounds begin again; horrific Thumps sounded repeatedly, scaring me back into my bedroom to grab my phone. screaming that tells you someone is in serious trouble, terrifying thumps that I punched in the numbers nine and one, leaving off the final number. Gripping my had a rhythmic cadence that didn’t bode phone tightly, I again leave my bedroom. well for anything. They weren’t happy sounds by no stretch of the imagination. Tiptoeing to the top of the staircase, I peer down the stairs. I see nothing in the I take two steps and the harrowing sounds darkness and am unable to see around of struggle and shattering glass become the curved landing that led to the final so loud I cover my ears. I take the last remaining six steps. steps in a rush. I stand in the foyer,
I take two more steps, have a moment’s pause, why is emergency services not
My grip tightens on my still ringing phone. I step quickly around the entrance into the living room.
Simultaneously, my eyes widen at the horror that greets my eyes, my blood curdling scream joins the other scream - 24 -
