I went to her immediately, latching onto her like a lifeline. With a narrow eyed glare tossed over my shoulder at the four hulking assholes staring at my back, I whispered, “Trust me, you don’t want to fucking know.”
“Do try and keep up, because quite frankly, you might never be found otherwise,” Auntie Fe announced ominously, her colorful robe swooshing around her ankles as she led us into town. “And if someone hands you a flyer for the Golem Grove Café or the Hangry Forest, best to avoid them.”
We walked into town as a group, my aunties leading the charge. Apparently, it was time to tour the town and pick up a few things. I thought we were all a bit skeptical, as the last time we’d visited town, it didn't go so well for us. Flashes of clowns and men standing under gas pumps filled my head. Yesterday had been quite literally a perfect cocktail of every nightmare I’d ever had. It was perpetually night in this place too, which didn’t help. I felt myself jumping at every movement in the shadows. It was disorienting, and I didn’t quite understand how it all worked.
“What’s a Hangry Forest?” Freddy asked.
“There are so many ways I could answer that, Freddy dear, but alas, they might not warm you up to this place. Your family lives there, right, Jessica?” Pip reached over and gave Jessica a little pat on her fuzzy spider head.
“All four hundred of us!” Jessica chirped. My eyes widened, and I saw Freddy visibly shudder as she added, “We multiply every full moon. I really miss my cousins twice removed on my cousins’ other side. Great family. Maybe we could visit them sometime.”
I was already shaking my head, and Freddy looked stricken by the thought. Maybe the big guy had a fear of spiders he never told me about.
“Does anyone else recognize that dummy?” Jessica pointed her little leg at the shop across the street. We all turned to look, but all I could see was a big, bright pink sign spinning in a circle with sparks coming out the sides.
Hello, candy shop. Come to mama.
“It’s the doll from the motel—” she started to say, but my brain was so far beyond reliving that nightmare.
“Sure, Jessica... I’m so here for this!” I murmured, still staring at the candy shop. I was positive that particular spot used to be a hardware store back in the mortal world.
In fact, the entire expanse of Main Street seemed to be utterly transformed. Smiling jack-o’-lanterns lined the streets, along with tall flickering lamp posts and colorful banners. Street vendors were on every corner, selling treats from little wagons and carts. But that wasn’t the only thing that was different.
All around us, townsfolk laughed, talked and enjoyed their day—I mean night. My eyes were wide as I spotted a pair of what I could only describe as trolls, walking along and pushing a smaller version of themselves in a stroller. On the street corner were a few teenagers, who, instead of skin, had scales covering their bodies from head to toe. I saw horns, tails, scales, fur, and fangs everywhere. I saw translucent skin, glowing eyes, wands, witch hats, and all sorts of other impossible things.
It was as enchanting as it was terrifying. We truly were in a different dimension. This place was like Halloween come to life, even down to the sweet smell of pumpkin and vanilla in the air. On our run through here last night, we’d been the only ones around and all the shops had been closed up. I guessed it had something to do with what the aunties had said about how creatures could only travel to the mortal world on Halloween night. I supposed it made sense for it to be a ghost town, so to speak.
I wasn’t even sure Maddie noticed all the creatures, because she seemed to have tunnel vision. With an excited squeal, she took off with a skip in her step, black hair flowing behind her towards the Pumpkin Eater Candy Shop without waiting for any of us. I laughed as I watched her go. Maddie’s love for sweets was a thing of beauty, and not even the fact that we were stuck in another dimension could deter that woman.
“Oh fuck yeah, finally something normal,” Freddy muttered with a begrudging smile before following behind her just as fast. I watched him sidestep a pair of boys who passed him, coming close enough to stop and try to sniff him.
“Guess we’re going to the candy shop,” grumpy Jason muttered as he dragged Norman with him, leaving me with my aunties and Michael, who still looked like he didn't feel well from the shock of the whole snake thing.
When he saw me studying him, he smirked and squared his shoulders, then turned to the guys walking away and called out, “Have fun licking all those lollipops. Don’t stop until you hit that spot!” I shook my head when he only got the middle finger in return.
“Shall we?” Auntie Pip asked. “I haven’t had cobwebbed candy in forever.” I swear to god, she clicked her heels and took off running into the shop, her cloak flapping behind her.
Auntie Fe rolled her eyes as we followed behind at a normal, leisurely pace, trying not to look like tourists. The shop was quaint from the outside, with a little wooden door adorned by painted golden letters. The windows were filled with candy displays, and when we opened the door, instead of a bell or a chime, there was what sounded like a tinny witch’s cackle.
“Ladies first, Carrot Top.” Michael gestured towards the shop door, which he held open after Fe let herself in.
With a sigh, I entered the shop, wishing things could go back to how they used to be with the guys. Why did life have to be so complicated?
My eyes widened as human
