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“Are you sure we’re not too old for this?” Dipper asked as he walked alongside Mabel. The twins were dressed to match, with Dipper as a Ghost Harasser, and Mabel as a “Category 3” ghost. SFX slime she’d smeared all over herself dripped as she walked, but she couldn’t be prouder of her handiwork. “Too old for free candy? Never! Besides, nobody can resist the kings of trick or treating!”
Dipper pushed his bangs down again, wishing that he hadn’t had to leave his hat behind, when they reached another house. Although the sacks they held were nearly half-full, Mabel wasn’t done yet. She’d probably give up trick or treating over her own dead body.
The door opened after Dipper rang the doorbell, and they said in unison, “Trick or treat!”
“What’re you supposed to be?” A gruff voice asked. The stranger remained hidden, and Dipper squinted to get a better look. Annoyed, he replied. “I’m a ghost harasser. She’s a ghost.”
“Be nice, Dipper!” Mabel scolded, before she held out her sack with a polite smile, although it dripped with green ooze. Dipper did the same, though a bad feeling surged up inside him. They thanked the man, and left.
“That was weird,” Dipper said bluntly, but Mabel laughed.
“He’s just getting into the spirit of the season,” Mabel insisted. “Come on, let’s get back.”
Mabel and Dipper returned to an empty house, and after washing off the slime, Mabel joined her brother on the living room floor. Dipper smirked. “You’re not gonna try to eat these without taking off the wrappers again, are you?”
“Of course not,” Mabel replied, pretending to be offended at the idea. She peeled the wrapper from a piece of chocolate, and took a bite. Her eyes went wide.
“Uh, Mabel, are you okay?” Dipper asked. “You look green.”
“I feel kinda funny,” Mabel mumbled, as her stomach churned. “I think I’m gonna—” Immediately, she began retching. It felt as if the contents of her stomach were trying to crawl back up her throat. Vomit and blood poured out of Mabel’s mouth as her puffed cheeks turned blue, and she convulsed on the floor. Beyond the hysteria, Dipper was screaming her name, until at last, Mabel fell still.
“Mabel?” Dipper croaked, and he turned his sister onto her back, before his own breath was stolen from him. The sight left him at a loss for words. Vomit was caked around Mabel’s mouth, and the whites of her eyes were bright red. A low gurgle rumbled from her throat, but there were no words. There was no question. They’d made a mistake stepping foot near that house.
Always check your candy, they say, but Dipper never imagined someone doing something so depraved, so cruel…
And he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life without Mabel. Without looking, without giving himself a second to reconsider the idea, he retrieved a piece of candy, and he took a bite, and even as he lay on the carpet, choking and vomiting, all he could think was, At least I’ll be with Mabel again.
It was a cruel lesson to be taught, yet one well worth learning.
On Halloween night, the Mystery Twins forgot the most important rule.
Always check your candy.
THE END