. .This story was first told on a school trip, in a desperate attempt to keep a restless class from overwhelming their teachers and parents. Each child (real names not included) explained their worst fears, and in accordance to the rules of narrative causality, had an entire chapter dedicated to facing them. Except Davie. Davie’s …
. . Anton sprung to his feet. “Then you’re behind everything!” Chuck laughed. “Yup, I planted one of those little seeds on every single one of you and my trackers followed all of you home.” “But we have nothing to do with anything!” Daniela screamed. “And you’d have been perfectly safe if you just ignored …
. . “Well I hope you’re feeling better after getting that off your chest,” the Caretaker said, “and good call running away from a stranger, especially when you’re on your own like that. Now, before I call your parents to come in and take you all home, perhaps Chuck might entertain us with one final …
. . “I haven’t used the toilet at home since,” Nina said. “I wait until I’m at school now.” Chris pointed to his finger. “Was the ring black? And you said, what was that word?” Nina nodded. “Iridescent? It reflects different colours when you turn it, like holographic paper.” “The ring my dog was given …
. . Scott squeezed the last of the grey water from the mop and leant it against the wall. “My parents didn’t want me going to school for a few days after that,” he said, “but I had to see. I checked that grave on the weekend with Trystyn, the one I saw the dead …
. . “Interesting tale, Freya,” the Caretaker said, “but like I told young Helen here, I got a feeling your troubles are over tonight. It’s Halloween after all, and you know what that means.” Freya said nothing and the nod she gave was uncommitted. Half the hall’s floor was clean now and only the other …
. . “So,” Chuck said. “You’re really a wimp after all. Shouldn’t have told me you wouldn’t hurt me, wimp.” “I said I don’t want to hurt you,” Trystyn said, “but try anything, l’ll keep my promise and you’ll spend the rest of your life drinking dinner through a straw.” The Caretaker pulled them apart. …
. . “Something tells me your sleeping problems will be over tonight,” the Caretaker said. Helen hung her head. “I don’t think so.” “Oh, I do. Firstly, anybody putting in this much hard work is going to have a tough time staying awake, and secondly it’s Halloween. This is the night all lost souls and …
. . “Well that explains how you got all those new clothes then, don’t it, poor boy?” Chuck said. The Caretaker snapped his eyes at him. “Don’t start, kid.” Chuck scoffed but said nothing more. The Caretaker pointed at the bags. “Alright, everyone, line up between here and the bins, and we’ll relay these bags …
. . The Caretaker tied a trash sack shut and threw it into a growing pile of sealed rubbish. “Did you ever find out what it meant?” he said. Daniela shook her head. Behind her, Chuck chuckled at a whisper from McQueen and the Caretaker sighed. “Care to tell us what’s so funny, McQueen?” “Nothing, …
. . “That dog’s been following me,” Chris said. “Wherever I go I see him. He’s probably watching now.” “So where is he then?” Chuck said, holding a hand over his eyes and making a scene of searching the room. “Here boy, come on!” He whistled and patted his lap. “Try looking out the window.” …
. . And that’s what happened,” Wyllow said. “Yeah right,” a voice from the other end of the hall said. Probably Chuck. A boy from the year above gave Chuck a scowl. “She’s telling the truth,” he said, then turned to Wyllow. “My dad read about that in the paper. We’ve been keeping an eye …
. . “That’s a load of crap,” Chuck said. “You have to be nuts to think we’d buy that.” Livia shook her head. “It really happened. I swear to you.” “You fell in the canal and banged your head. You can’t trust what you remember.” Livia shrugged. “That could also be true.” A sharp whistle …
. . The Halloween Ball had been, as it had been every year, a resounding success. The students were worn out by six-thirty and the staff got to relish the only night of the year children had nightmares about them for a change. The Manic Maze, a set of narrow cardboard tunnels and budget costumed …
A new web serial, set around a dark fantasy bubble universe of primal, carnal, biosphere islands. But before we delve into those waters, a short story for those Halloween nights of trick or treat, and the horror of missing out when you’ve been placed in DETENTION