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“We should be back in town by now,” Nita muttered, her frustration etching lines across her forehead as we trudged down the unpaved dirt path.
“You’ve been saying that for the past hour,” I said, adjusting my slightly askew cowboy hat. My gaze swept across the unfamiliar trees flanking our path. “I don’t think we’re anywhere near the Falls. These woods aren’t at all familiar.”
“Just keep walking,” Nita insisted, her determined voice also carrying an undercurrent of mounting anxiety. “We’ll find a house. Or something.”
“It’s your fault, Nita,” I said, pointing a finger at my sister. “You led us here!”
“Me?” Nita shot me an incredulous glare. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but you were the one in my way-”
“You bumped into me!”
“That was because I was trying to avoid the truck!” She huffed, throwing her hands up. "I'm not arguing about this anymore. I’m gonna walk ten feet ahead.”
Her witch robes billowed behind her as she quickened her pace.
“Hey, wait up- oofs!” These new cowboy boots pinched with every step. “Sure. Go ahead!” I yelled back. “You’re the one refusing to take responsibility for this mess!”
“Help!” A piercing cry shattered the forest's silence. “Someone help me!”
“Huh?” I spun toward a dense, tangled bush. “Who’s there?”
“Taka? Is that you?” the bush answered. “I’m in here! I’m stuck!”
“Nilam?” I rushed forward, pushing aside leaves and branches. Soon I found her, still dressed in that pirate costume, but tangled in a nightmarish web of vines.
“Taka!” Nilam exclaimed as I helped her out of the vines. “And oh, Nita, you’re here too!”
“Nilam?” Nita approached Nilam, ignoring me as she dusted off the branches and vines from Nilam’s costume. “How did you end up here?”
“I- I don’t know.” Nilam blinked, disoriented. “Where are we? This is the middle of the woods, isn’t it?”
“But I don’t think we’re anywhere near the Falls,” I interjected. “Something’s different about this forest. Something… strange.”
“Where’s my hook?” she asked.
“Should be behind the bushes,” I said. I dove back in, soon managing to retrieve Nilam’s pirate hook.
“Thanks, Taka.”
“We need to move ahead,” Nita urged.
“Sure. You okay, Nilam?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Nilam readjusted her hook on her right hand. “Let’s go.”
We pressed forward on the dirt path, each of us still holding our Jack-o-lanterns.
“So, how did you two end up here?” Nilam asked, breaking the tense silence. “Weren’t we supposed to split up? Or… is this some secret plan to team up against me for a bigger Halloween haul?”
“I didn’t-” I began. “She bumped into me!”
“I didn’t mean to!” Nita retorted.
So how did we end up here? This was Halloween three years ago, and we’d just turned ten.
People often call us the king and queens of trick-or-treating in Gravity Falls. And it’s not hard to see why – people love it when we dressed up together as demigods, space wizards, or zombies. But not every Halloween or Summerween went off without a hitch. Sometimes, we couldn’t agree on a theme, and that Halloween was one of those times.
After days of bickering, we couldn’t settle on a group costume. Nita wanted to be a witch. Nilam insisted on a pirate. And I wished to be a cowboy myself. So we ended up with separate costumes.
The night began on a sour note as we dressed up, refusing to talk to each other. Dad ended up accompanying Nita, my cousin Aurora stayed close to Nilam, and our other cousin Aurelia kept me company. Mom stayed behind to pass out candy.
Little did we know, our inability to compromise nearly ruined everything.
“Trick or treat!” I greeted, holding out my Jack-o-lantern with a smile.
“Aww, look who it is!” Mr Blubs-Durland beamed. But his cheerful expression faltered. “Wait a minute… where are your sisters?”
“Oh, uh, they’re not feeling well tonight,” I replied.
“Hmm… I see.” He rubbed his chin. “Alright then. Here you go. Enjoy!”
After dropping a couple of candies into my Jack-o’-lantern, he closed the door with a nod.
I glanced down at my haul and my face fell. “Circus peanuts? And a Mr Adequate-Bar?” I groaned as Aurelia led me toward the next house. “Mr Blubs-Durland always gives out Kinder chocolates and all-flavors peppermints!”
“You mean he gives you guys Kinder chocolates and peppermints,” Aurelia corrected with a knowing look.
“By now, my lantern should be overflowing.” I sighed, peeking into my Jack-o’-lantern. It was half-full of loser candy like Banana Splats and Chewy Sours, instead of premium ones like Sherbet Slurpers or Icelandic Scorchdroppers.
“Didn’t I warn you that you won’t have much luck trying to haul candy by yourself?” she said, offering a sympathetic smile. “Why not meet up with Nita at-”
“No,” I answered flatly. “Our costumes would clash.”
Aurelia shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
Suddenly, a sharp crack rang overhead as something hit the concrete, causing both of us to jump.
“What the-” She turned around to find a boy with a pallet gun perched in a tree. “What are you doing up there? Are you trying to hurt my cousin?”
The boy didn’t reply but dropped down the tree and bolted down the street.
“Hey, come back here!” Aurelia yelled, breaking into a run. “You won’t get away with this!”
“Well, well. Look who we have here,” a low, mocking voice said. “Dressing as the sheriff today, eh?”
I gulped as a shadow loomed over me. Jason Gleeful stood before me, decked out in a soldier costume that was as loud and gaudy as his usual personality.
“Oh, hey, Jason,” I managed to squeak, gripping my Jack-o’-lantern a little tighter. “Uh, happy Halloween, right?”
“Nice haul you got there.” Jason sneered, stepping closer. “Must be stuffed with some good candy, huh?”
“Uh, not really,” I stammered, backing away.
“Let’s see about that.” He snatched the lantern from my hands and tipped it forward. His glee soon turned to an expression of disgust as he dug through the contents. “What is this junk? Gummy rubber chairs? Broccolli toffee? This is all loser candy!”
“Yeah, that’s all I’ve got,” I muttered, my head hanging low. “Can I have my lantern back now?”
“Pathetic,” he spat, tossing the lantern at my feet. “I tell you what, go hit some better houses and come back here with some real candy for me.”
“I’m not doing that,” I said, my voice wavering despite my attempt to sound firm.
“You don’t have a choice, Taka,” Jason growled. “Get moving before I-”
Without thinking, I pushed past Jason and bolted down the street.
“Get back here, you little twerp!” Jason shouted, but I didn’t dare look back.
I darted around a corner and squeezed through a narrow gap between two houses, hoping to lose him. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I kept running until-
Crash!
Someone barreled into me, sending us both tumbling down a hidden slope. Dry leaves and dirt flew around us as we rolled, the world spinning in a blur. Finally, we came to a jarring stop in a thicket of trees, the damp earth pressing against my back.
“…and that’s how I met Nita,” I finished, gesturing dramatically to my sister as I recounted the chaotic story.
“I see.” Nilam glanced between the two of us. “Why did you crash into Taka, anyway?”
Nita huffed, crossing her arms. “I didn’t mean to! I was with Dad, and then some kid on a scooter came out of nowhere and bumped into me! I fell on the road, and there was this truck – so I ran to the other side and ended up crashing into Taka. Then we both rolled down… here.”
“That’s… an interesting story,” Nilam said.
“What about you?” I asked.
“Well, I just tripped and fell into a bush as Aurora and I were running across the park,” Nilam said with a sheepish grin. “So, uh, what is this place?”
“Maybe it’s Gravity Falls, but, like, back in the 19th century,” Nita suggested, her eyes scanning the eerie, overgrown thicket lining our path. “Or earlier.”
“So we time traveled?” Nilam asked.
“Or… maybe we ended up in another world,” I said. “You know, like that movie The Two Lost Stepbrothers with no purpose in life where they wandered into some strange forest wearing a cone and a kettle on their heads.”
Nilam frowned. “So like, we got knocked out or something, and now we’re just imagining all of this?”
“I think they had actually gone to Unknown Land,” I said. “It couldn’t be all just a dream.”
“Didn’t the writer say all of that was supposed to be a dream?” Nilam challenged.
“No,” I corrected, crossing my arms. “The older brother just thought it was a dream, but the events were real. Like, what’s that about the bell that glowed in that frog’s chest at the end?”
“Yeah, but didn’t he also say-”
“Will you two stop it?” Nita snapped, cutting across us. “This isn’t the time to argue about movies! What matters right now is figuring out how to get out of here.”
“We weren’t even arguing!” I retorted, shooting her an annoyed glare. “And quit acting like you’re in charge, Nita. You don’t have any better clue about what’s going on than we do.”
“Acting like I’m in charge?” Nita rounded on me with her arms crossed. “I’m trying to keep us focused so we won’t wander around like clueless idiots!”
“Oh my gosh, both of you shut up! You’re both making it worse!” Nilam butted in, exasperated. She jabbed her hook in my direction. “Taka, that’s just a story, so whether the writer said it’s a dream or not, it doesn’t matter.” Then she whirled on Nita. “And you! Stop acting like you know better than the rest of us.”
"Hey- be careful with that pirate hook, Nilam,” I advised, noting its sharp point.
Nita’s eyes narrowed. “And who had to rescue you from that bush?”
“At least I wasn’t the one who rolled down a hill and started this whole mess!” Nilam shot back.
“Well, you should thank Taka for that,” Nita countered.
And that was it. The three of us exploded into full-on shouting, our words tumbling over each other into an incoherent mess, none of us listening to what the others were saying. None of us noticed where we were going as we pushed past each other and kept jabbing fingers and arguing.
Suddenly-
SPLAT!
Nilam’s foot came down hard into something squishy. In her panic, she grabbed onto Nita, who shrieked and toppled sideways… straight into me. The three of us tumbled down in a tangled mess, rolling across the ground until we landed with a hard, messy thud.
I sat up, dazed, wiping at something sticky on my hands. My eyes widened.
We had landed in a pumpkin patch – but this wasn’t just any ordinary patch. Pumpkins sprawled out in every direction, their shapes and sizes as varied as the stars above. Unfortunately, the three of us had smashed right through several of them, leaving a splatter of pumpkin guts and shattered shells all around us.
“Oh, great.” Nilam groaned, sitting up and tugging a string of pumpkin goo out of her hair. “That’s just perfect. Now I’m covered in pumpkin guts.”
“Why are there pumpkins here?” Nita muttered, looking around in disgust as she flicked pulp off her sleeve. “Who puts a pumpkin patch in the middle of the woods?”
“I don’t think we’re in the woods anymore,” I said. I pointed back toward the slope we’d tumbled down. “That’s the path we were on… we must’ve rolled down here.”
“So if this is a pumpkin patch, does that mean there’s someone looking after these pumpkins?” Nilam asked, scanning the rows of pumpkins as we stood and dusted ourselves off.
“Maybe these are Aunt Mabel’s," Nita said, her tone a bit hopeful. She squinted into the distance. “And there’s a village over there. We should take a look.”
“Okay- Ah!”
“What?!” Nita exclaimed, spinning toward her in alarm.
Nilam lifted her foot, revealing a squashed pumpkin stuck to her boot. “I stepped on another one!” she groaned, trying to shake off the orange pulp now clinging stubbornly to her shoe.
“Oh, it’s just a pumpkin,” I said, brushing off her reaction as I moved closer. “No big deal. Now-” Squelch. “Huh? What the…?”
I froze, glancing down at my own foot. I had stepped straight into another pumpkin, its hollow shell collapsing with a wet squish beneath my weight. I jerked back, shaking my foot as chunks of sticky pulp clung to the sole of my boot. After a few frantic shakes, the gooey remains finally dropped off, landing on the ground with another sickening splat.
“Guys, stop moving!” Nita snapped, her arms spread wide as if trying to hold us in place. “We’re making an even bigger mess than it already is!”
“Right, because standing here like scarecrows is such a great idea,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “I dunno, Nita, but I don’t think we should be here in the first place.”
“I’m just saying we need to be careful!” Nita fired back, shooting me a sharp glare. “You’re always so clumsy!”
“Uh, guys?” Nilam’s voice wavered as she pointed her hook to the far end of the patch. “We might have a bigger problem.”
We turned to look, and my stomach dropped.
Out of the shadows beyond the pumpkin patch, rectangular figures began to appear. They began to march in slow, heavy steps, the dry grass crunching under their feet.
“Run,” Nita breathed.
We didn’t need to be told twice. The three of us bolted, stumbling over vines and broken pumpkins as the mysterious figures moved in, their slow but relentless steps echoing behind us.
“This is all your fault!” Nilam shouted as we ran.
“My fault?!” I yelled back, leaping over a gourd. “But Nita-”
“Stop arguing and run!” Nita screamed, grabbing both of our arms to keep us moving as fast as possible.
However, one of us tripped, and we all stumbled, hitting the ground in a tangle of limbs and squashed pumpkins. The rectangular figures loomed closer, their shapes sharpening under the pale moonlight.
“Are they… doors?” Nilam murmured, her voice trembling.
“Seems to be,” Nita whispered back, her eyes wide as saucers.
The figures encircled us, tall and foreboding. Their edges seemed worn and splintered, as if they’d been salvaged from forgotten houses. Yet, they moved with a haunting fluidity, their frames creaking softly with each step.
“Er, hello,” Nita stammered, attempting an uneasy smile. “We’re just lost kids trying to find our way back- Aah!”
We screamed as the doors lashed out, wooden hands – thin, spindly, and splintered – grabbing each of us.
“Let us go!” Nilam shouted, kicking at the air.
“Where are you taking us?” I yelled as I squirmed, but their grip was unyielding.
They didn’t answer. Silent and unyielding, the door-creatures (or door-men?) marched forward with long, deliberate strides, heading toward a looming barn at the heart of the pumpkin patch.
As we approached, strains of a strange, folksy tune drifted through the air and reached our ears. The barn doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. Strings of flickering bulbs hung from the rafters, casting eerie, swaying shadows across the hay-strewn floor. Inside, more door-men milled or danced about, their frames clicking softly as they moved. A small ensemble in the corner played a hauntingly discordant tune.
The moment we were carried inside, the music screeched to a halt. The barn fell into an eerie silence, every door-man turning their eyeless frames toward us.
“Well, this is not what I expect civilisation to be,” Nita remarked.
“Well, well, by Pella!” A massive door-man spoke, their voice sliding through the mail slot like sandpaper. “What do we have here? Trespassers in my pumpkin patch?”
“Us? Trespassers?” I glanced around. “We’re just lost kids trying to find our way back home.”
“Can someone give us a ride home?” Nilam asked in a small voice.
The mail slot widened into what could be described as a grin. “Lost, huh? Funny how lost kids always find their way to me.”
“Well, er- we’re just passing through,” Nita squeaked.
“Folks don’t tend to ‘pass through’ our town,” another door piped up.
“They’re not supposed to be here,” a third added, its tone rising with suspicion. “Maybe they’re here to steal our crops. To ruin our party.”
“Well, now, hold on everybody.” The large door-man raised a wooden hand. “Let's not jump to any conclusions. So, how’d you three end up in this little town of ours?”
Nita’s explanation spilled out in nervous, halting breaths. “We were trying to get home. We came from the woods, saw your farms, hoped to find help. We didn’t mean to step on your pumpkins!”
A chuckle scraped through the large mail slot. “Heh, now let me get this straight: you come to our town, you trample our crops, you interrupt our private engagement… and now you wanna leave?”
We exchanged panicked glances.
“Uh, yes,” I replied in a small voice.
“But we didn’t mean to!” Nilam repeated.
“We just want to go home!” Nita pleaded.
“Right… So three little kids, one dressed as a cowboy, a pirate, and a witch. You could’ve joined the festivities, y’know! But it saddens me that you don't wish to stay here with us…” His voice grew ominous. “So I have to punish you for your transgressions.”
We gulped as a chorus of agreement rumbled through the barn. “Oh no…”
“So, let’s see… By the by-laws of our community, I find you guilty of trespassing, destruction of property, disturbing the peace, and…” The door-man leaned closer. “…murder.”
“M-Murder?!” Nilam yelped.
The door-man leaned back with a creaking laugh. “Oho, no, not murder! That was just a joke. But for your actual crimes, I sentence you to…” He straightened up with a dramatic pause. “…a few hours of manual labor.”
“Manual labor?” I echoed, blinking in confusion.
“Wait, what? Really? That’s it?” Nita asked.
“Don’t make me reconsider,” the door-man warned, his grin tightening. “You’ll gather pumpkin seeds from the town, plant them properly in the field, and then harvest enough pumpkins for our party. Complete your tasks, and maybe we’ll consider letting you go.”
“That sounds… not too bad,” I ventured, though I was still hesitant. Was there a catch to all this?
“So, wait… We first need to gather pumpkin seeds from the town?” Nita asked.
“It’s our town’s tradition!” the door-man said. “Go door-to-door, collect the seeds, and bring them to us! This is how we prepare for every celebration.”
“So like trick-or-treating,” Nilam murmured.
“Release them!” the door-man ordered and the hands gripping us slackened. We collapsed onto the barn floor in an undignified heap, gasping for breath. Our jack-o-lanterns clattered to the ground beside us, rolling slightly before coming to a stop. We scrambled to our feet, brushing off dirt and sticky pumpkin pulp as we picked up our lanterns.
“Now go,” the door-man growled, his tone darkening again. “And don’t return empty-handed.”
The doors before us opened wide, and without further prompting, we moved out into the cool night air.
Gathering the seeds turned out to be much harder than we expected. The village looked completely deserted under the pale glow of the moon.
“Hello?” Nita called out, her voice breaking the silence. “Helloooo?”
Her shout echoed eerily down the empty streets, bouncing off the crooked buildings and faded wooden signs.
“See anyone?” I asked, scanning the windows and alleyways.
“I see the both of you,” Nilam quipped with a smirk.
Nita and I exchanged an eye roll before I muttered, “This place feels completely empty.”
“Thanks for stating the obvious, Taka,” Nita scoffed, throwing me an exasperated look as we walked past shuttered houses and dust-coated porches.
“Well, I’m just saying,” I replied, kicking at a stray pebble. “An abandoned ghost town doesn’t seem like it’s offering us pumpkin seeds.”
“There’s gotta be somebody here,” Nita insisted, peering through the window of a boarded-up shop. “Not everyone can be dancing back at that barn party.”
“Finding someone is going to be like searching for a needle in a haystack,” I muttered as we walked past an actual stack of hay. “Why don’t we just head back and tell them no one’s here? We’re wasting time.”
“Taka, stop whining,” Nita snapped, planting her hands on her hips as she turned to face me. “We’ll search this place, and if there’s really no one here, then we’ll figure out another plan. This place isn’t that big and we got a few hours.”
“Fine.” I sighed. “But don’t blame me when we come back empty-handed.”
“Well, then, which way should we go?” Nilam asked as we reached the centre of the village. Three paths stretched ahead, each lined with ramshackle houses and crumbling fences.
“Left,” Nita said. “That way looks more promising.”
“No way,” I argued, pointing to the middle path. “That leads to a bigger cluster of buildings. If there’s anyone still around to give out seeds, it’s probably that way.”
“And I say we try the right,” Nilam said, gesturing toward the faint glow of a distant lantern. “Looks like there’s someone still staying up late.”
“Could be a street lantern, though,” I said.
We all glared at each other, an argument threatening to spiral.
“Let’s split up,” Nita finally said. “I’ll take the left, Taka can check the middle path, and Nilam goes right. We’ll meet back here in half an hour. Deal?”
I hesitated, glancing at the paths again. The idea of splitting up in a ghost town wasn’t exactly comforting.
“Fine,” I muttered. “But what if something happens to us?”
“Just yell,” Nita said firmly. “This place isn’t that big. We’ll hear each other.”
Nilam grinned. “Don’t worry, Taka. I’ll scream extra loud just for you.”
“Ha-ha,” I replied dryly, adjusting my bag.
“Seriously, though,” Nita said, her tone softening. “Be careful, both of you. And let’s get moving.”
We exchanged a brief nod before each of us headed toward our chosen path. The moonlight grew dimmer as I ventured down the middle road, the crumbling buildings towering on either side. My footsteps echoed faintly – the sound unnerving in the oppressive quiet.
"Isn’t it odd that door-men still live in houses with doors?" I mused aloud as I wandered the empty street. "It’s like living behind a wall of your own flesh… or, well, maybe not if the wood’s different, or- Never mind."
Shaking off my own rambling thoughts, I picked a house at random and knocked on the door. The sound echoed, hollow and loud, before the door creaked open. A door-man stood before me, its surface polished and adorned with ribbons along its knobs and edges.
“What do you want?” the door-man demanded, its voice sharp and grating.
“Erm, we were asked to collect seeds-”
“And what might you be?” he cut me off, its knobs clicking irritably.
“A cowboy!” I said quickly, tipping my hat. “You know, Sheriff Beans from Grandpa the Kid?”
“A sheriff, eh?” The door-man’s frame leaned closer, its hinges groaning. “And where are the two companions you’re supposed to be protecting?”
“My- er- what?” I stammered.
“Word travels fast in this village,” the door-man said, straightening up. It pulled out a couple of seeds and dropped them unceremoniously into my lantern. “Best to step up your game before the deadline, little boy.”
“Wait! But I-”
The door-man slammed the door shut with a resounding thud. I turned back to the empty street, inspecting my meagre haul.
“Two seeds only?” I groaned. “This is gonna take forever!”
Then I heard footsteps scuffling against cobblestones. I turned to find Nita approaching toward me through the darkness.
“You?” I blinked. “I thought you were going left.”
“Well, that road led me back here,” Nita said. “How’s trick-or-treating for you?”
“Never been better,” I said with a little sarcasm. “What about you?”
“Not much luck,” Nita admitted, shaking her head.
Moments later, Nilam appeared, her own lantern nearly empty. “You two aren’t doing any better, huh?”
“This isn’t working,” I said, letting out a frustrated sigh. “Maybe we should stick together instead of splitting up.”
“But our costumes don’t match!” Nilam protested. “How are we supposed to trick people into giving us seeds if we don’t look like we belong together? It’s not like we have extra costumes lying around to change into!”
“Maybe we don’t need to,” Nita said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “A cowboy, a witch, and a pirate... Hmm, what show combines all three?”
“I dunno,” Nilam replied, shrugging. “Unless it’s some crazy universe like the Indestructi-Buddies Cinephilic Infinite Megaverse. Or Dungeons, Dungeons and More Dungeons, but that doesn’t really have pirates… Or maybe Space Trek, with their space wizards and…”
The three of us froze, exchanging wide-eyed looks. It hit us all at the same time, like a lightbulb flickering on.
“Jackpot,” I said, grinning as a plan started forming in my mind.
After a little makeover, the three of us approached another house. We’d ditched our hats, Nilam took off her hook, and Nita stripped the straw off her broom, transforming it into a makeshift staff. My clothes and Nilam’s already matched – scruffy and ragged like space outlaws. After Nita adjusted her witch’s cloak, borrowing Nilam’s sash to make it appear more like a robe, we were all ready to go.
“Would this work?” Nilam asked, her words filled with hesistance.
“It’ll work,” I said confidently, though I wasn’t entirely sure myself. “Let’s just roll with it.”
Nita took the lead and knocked on the door. After a moment, it creaked open to reveal another door-man, its frame angular and imposing as it loomed over us.
“What do you want?” it asked, its voice flat and unwelcoming.
“Excuse us,” Nita began, clearing her throat. “We’re, um… collecting seeds for the big party tonight.”
The door-person’s mail slot twisted into a frown. “You’re not from around here. Why should we give our seeds to strangers?”
“We’re not just strangers!” I blurted. “We’re from… the new TV series of Space Trek!”
“Space Trek?” The door-person tilted their frame, unconvinced.
“Right!” Nilam jumped in. “I’m a space pirate!” She struck a pose, adjusting her eyepatch. “Sailing the stars and plundering alien loot.”
“And I’m a space wizard of the Deji Order!” Nita added, twirling her cosmic staff. “Defending the Galaxy with the Force.”
“And me,” I said, showing my toy pistol, “I’m the space cowboy, tracking bounties and uncovering treasure in the wildest corners of the universe.”
The door-man leaned closer, inspecting us with what seemed like growing curiosity. Finally, it pulled out a tiny sack of pumpkin seeds and, without a word, dropped them into Nita’s lantern.
We exchanged triumphant smiles as the door creaked shut behind us.
“Success!” Nita whispered, cradling the lantern like it was filled with gold.
“Let’s hope our luck holds,” Nilam added as we moved on to the next house.
And hold it did. These door-folk proved as generous with their seeds as our neighbors back in Gravity Falls had been with candy. Something about working as a trio sparked their giving spirit.
Lanterns full and spirits high, we trudged back to the farmhouse, the cool night air buzzing with anticipation. The pumpkin seeds rattled faintly with every step, a satisfying sound that signaled our success.
“Not bad for a bunch of misfit space adventurers,” I said, grinning as the barn came into view.
“See? We should have stuck together,” Nita replied, her staff resting over her shoulder.
“Hey, I suggested that first,” I pointed out.
“Guys…” Nilam cut in before another argument could erupt. “It was everyone’s idea. Now let's return these seeds before our parents start worrying.”
"Right, of course." I caught Nita's eye, and we shared a chuckle.
The large door-man and their companions were already waiting for us in the barn.
“We’ve brought the seeds,” Nita announced as we held up our lanterns.
The door-man stepped forward to inspect our haul. It opened each lantern, peering inside before finally nodding in approval.
“You have fulfilled your first task,” it said, its voice resonating through the barn. “The seeds will ensure a bountiful harvest for our celebration.”
“So, we should go out and plant them, right?” I asked.
“Hmm…” the door-man drummed his fingers on its edge. “I’m impressed by your haul, and you’ve done enough for tonight. Just leave your lanterns here, and walk out through that door. Then you’ll soon be on your way home.”
“Really?” Nilam asked, straightening up.
“Yes. Now go!” The door-man’s voice sharpened. “Before I tell my people to make a meal of you!”
We hurried through the door and rushed across the field, the cool night air whipping against our faces.
“Hey, where did all the pumpkins go?” I asked, scanning the now-barren field.
“Maybe they picked them all and stored them,” Nilam suggested.
“Let’s move faster before they changed their minds,” Nita said.
We picked up our pace, the barn shrinking behind us as we hurried toward the village’s outskirts. The eerie silence of the village felt even heavier now, the moonlight casting long shadows over the barren field where the pumpkins had once been.
Finally, we came upon a road. Not a dirt path – a smooth, well-paved country road. A weathered sign peeked out from the roadside brambles, and we hurried forward to read it.
“Gravity Falls: 1 mile,” Nita read aloud, her shoulders relaxing. “We can manage that.”
“Right then.” I pointed down the road. “This way.”
“Guess the moral here is to stick together,” Nilam mused, her voice light but thoughtful as we headed towards town.
“Yeah,” Nita agreed, brushing some stray pumpkin pulp off her sleeve. “And maybe we should coordinate better for next Summerween and Halloween. Ugh, we didn’t even get any candy this time!”
“I’m sorry,” I said after a moment. “Maybe we could have done cowboys next year instead. I shouldn’t have insisted on my get-up.”
“And pirates for Summerween!” Nilam brightened. “And witches and druids for another year…”
“Actually, I’m done with the witch thing,” Nita said. “I’m thinking Princess Zorda next time.”
“Then I’ll be Lieutenant Dink,” I said with a smirk.
Nita rolled her eyes but smiled. “Of course you will. But if we ever can't decide again, let’s flip a coin or something. That way it will be fair.”
“So, themed costumes from now on?” Nilam asked.
“Definitely,” I said. “For as long as as there are Summerweens and Halloweens to conquer!”
We shared a hearty chortle before Nilam nudged the both of us. “King and queens of trick-or-treating, forever?”
“Forever,” we agreed.
About twenty minutes later, we reached the familiar streets of Gravity Falls. Despite the late hour, the town was still buzzing with Halloween energy – kids in costumes darted between houses, their candy bags or jack-o-lanterns swinging wildly as they shouted and laughed. Sweat trickled down our faces, and our footsteps dragged as exhaustion finally caught up with us.
“Well, we made it,” Nilam said.
“Nita! Nilam! Taka!” A familiar voice cut through the festivities of the night. “Where are you?”
We froze. Ahead, we spotted Mom and Dad moving through the crowd, their eyes scanning every face.
“Mom! Dad!” we shouted back as we broke into a run.
They turned, relief washing over their faces as we threw ourselves into their arms.
“Where have you been?” Dad asked, rumpling each of our hair. “We saw you fall down that hill, and you just disappeared! We’ve been searching everywhere for you!”
“We’re fine, Dad,” Nita assured him. “Really.”
“You’re all filthy,” Mom fussed, plucking bits of pumpkin pulp and dirt from our hair, her brow furrowing. “And your clothes… What happened to your costumes?”
“Let's get the kids home first, Paz,’ Dad said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “They must be hungry and tired.”
Later, over some chocolate birthday cake Auntie Mel baked for us, we tried explaining to our parents our bizarre adventure. Our parents seemed skeptical, but even Dad admitted Gravity Falls held many mysteries he hadn’t uncovered. He suggested we might have stumbled into a hidden realm of door-folk that Halloween night, although when we returned to that hill, we never managed to find out the way back to that mysterious village. Not like we really wanted to.
Looking back, I suppose the real lesson was about staying together and celebrating what truly matters – family, friends, and the magic of adventure.
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