Peggy Peggy Sands is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.) Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
All Hallows’ Eve
by Peggy Peggy Sands
The moon rose over the trees and flooded the ground with soft light. Tall shadows dressed as princesses and superheroes patrolled the sidewalks,while echoes of “Trick or Treat” rang through the crisp night air.
She watched as the two boys left the safety of the street and followed the deer path through the woods. Greedy little beasts, she thought, in such a rush to get to the rich side of town, and the promise of full-size chocolate bars and bags of chips, the strict warning to avoid the wood had been completely ignored.
She followed the boys, her crooked walking stick in hand, as the hem of her long dress stirred the twigs and dirt, a dust mist floated behind her.
The two boys tramped along the path, oblivious to the hungry eyes that watched. Their excited voices grew louder with each step as they got closer to their hallowed destination.
She could smell the sour breath and see the eyes begin to narrow. She quickened her pace, and tightened the grip on her walking stick.
The path was now lit up by a river of moonlight and she could no longer hide in the shadows.
She raised her stick up, pointed it at the eyes now wide with recognition, and whispered “Not on my watch.”
The eyes narrowed again and then were gone.
The boys ran out of the wood, shouts of “ I’ll race ya” and “we love candy” trailed behind them.
Loved this story!