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‘’ Trick or treat? ‘’ he said as he propped up Sonya in his arms. Sonya was just old enough to start trick or treating, and he had been eager to capitalize on that. Adults already loved kids in costumes, but siblings in coordinated costumes were a ticket to the premium candy.
‘’ Oh ‘’ the old woman smiled ‘’ what do we have here? ‘’.
Sonya smiled, pulling up the hood of her little red riding hood costume. Newt pretended to growl and curled his fist to resemble a paw, his fake wolf ears falling over his eyes.
The old woman dug her hand into the pumpkin shaped bucket she was holding, giving him and Sonya both full sized chocolate bars.
‘’ Thank you ‘’ he chorused alongside Sonya.
His Mom smiled as the two children charged towards her. She was uncharacteristically awake for a change, her hair properly brushed and everything.
‘’ So how are you liking your first Halloween sweetheart? ‘’ she got down on your level and playfully pinched Sonya’s cheeks.
Sonya grinned and held up her new chocolate bar ‘’ I love it ‘’.
‘’ And how’s my little wolf doing? ‘’ she said ‘’ you’re not cold, are you? ‘’.
Newt’s face scrunched up in disgust and he shook his head. Wearing a jacket over his costume would defeat the entire purpose, and would frankly be an insult to the very concept of Halloween.
‘’ Alright, alright ‘’ she laughed at your denial ‘’ but tell me if you get cold and I’ll-’’.
‘’ I’ve got fur, I’m not cold ‘’ he insisted.
‘’ Let’s get going ‘’ Sonya tugged on his sleeve.
Newt took her hand and began running to the house across the block. Just as he got to the door, he felt her hand slip out of his.
‘’ Sonya ‘’ he turned around to see an empty street behind him. ‘’ Mom? ‘’.
His eyes darted around the empty block of his cul-de-sac. He turned back and banged on the door ‘’ Mr. Cooper ‘’. He faintly remembered his dad inviting him over for barbecues. ‘’ I need help! ‘’.
The door slowly creaked open, as if pulled by an invisible force.
‘’ Hello? ‘’ he squeaked, he cautiously took a step inside. The house was filled with shadow.
Out of the darkness, a trickle of red began leaking, pooling at his shoes. A strange crunching sound echoed throughout the empty house.
‘’ Newt ‘’ a strangely familiar voice whispered.
The house lit up to reveal Sonya’s body laying on the kitchen floor like a discarded rag doll, her costume covered with blood.
He screamed and rushed to her side. Her hand was cold in his.
‘’ Sonya, Sonya ‘’ he desperately shook her ‘’ I-I’ll get mom, I don’t-’’.
Her body disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Newt whipped his head from side to side to see he was lost in darkness.
‘’ Mom! ‘’ he screamed, feeling like he had lost any maturity he might’ve gained since his last birthday.
In the distance, he saw a woman hunched over. He recognized his mother’s usual bushy blonde hair.
‘’ Mom! ‘’ he ran towards her, a hand reaching out towards her.
‘’ Newt ‘’ her voice shook, black liquid had begun pooling at her feet ‘’ don’t come any closer ‘’.
He ignored her and wrapped his arms around her middle ‘’ Mom, please ‘’. Her shaking hands attempted to push him off.
‘’ Newt ‘’ he looked up to see her face had nearly been overtaken by black veins. He still didn’t let go ‘’ baby, run! ‘’.
‘’ No, no, no, stay with me! ‘’. Her body evaporated to a pool of blood, staining Newt’s clothes. ‘’ Mom! ‘’.
The blood traced a line to the body of a golden retriever, whimpering on its side.
‘’ Max ‘’ Newt squeaked, frozen in place.
Max whimpered again before his body was pulled into the shadows.
‘’ Hi Newt ‘’ a familiar voice whispered.
Newt swiveled his head around, finding only shadow in every direction.
A blurry figure stepped out of the shadows. A boy with messy brown hair with moles scattered like constellations on his face.
‘’ Thomas? ‘’ Newt said.
Thomas’s clothes were covered in blood and viscus. His usual warm eyes had turned cold.
’ Newt, it’s not real, ‘ another Thomas said to you inside your mind.
He took a shaky step back as Thomas continued to advance.
‘’ You’re disgusting ‘’ Thomas sneered ‘’ a weak sniveling waste of a boy ‘’.
‘’ You’re not real ‘’ Newt said weakly, not truly believing the words himself.
‘’ Wanna test that? ‘’ Thomas lunged at you like an animal on a hunt.
…
He jolted out of the bottom bunk he never slept on and fell onto the cold concrete floor.
‘’ You’re pathetic ‘’ Thomas said, his voice echoing in every corner of Newt’s mind.
‘ It’s not real ‘ the voice in your head was nearly inaudible.
‘’ Your father didn’t want you ‘’ his limbs felt heavy and useless. ‘’ WCKED should have left you to die like your mother. Then you wouldn’t be taking up space and forcing your sick perversions on me ‘’.
‘’ Y-you’re not real ‘’ Newt said to himself ‘’ you’re not real, T-Tommy loves me, he said so himself, he- ‘’.
He was cut off by a kick to his stomach. He looked up to see Thomas staring down at him.
Thomas’s lips curled into an uncanny smile ‘’ is that what you think?you think I’d be sick enough to love you? ‘’.
Newt screamed and tried to punch him. He slipped through like he was made of wind.
His vision filled with the image of Thomas and Teresa bathed in sunlight. Thomas smiled and wound an arm around Teresa’s waist and pulled her into a kiss.
It wasn’t Thomas, or Teresa for that matter. They both looked too clean. But he couldn’t make it go away.
‘’ Why would anyone love you? ‘’ Thomas said ‘’ they’d have to be as sick as you to do that? ‘’.
Thomas came back into vision and tilted Newt’s chin up.
‘’ Y-you’re not-’’ Newt said.
Thomas slapped him across the face, the pain lingered for far longer than usual.
‘’ I hate you ‘’ Thomas said ‘’ from the very moment I knew I was tied to you. I wish I never met you ‘’.
Unwanted tears pricked at his eyes. And he was far too weak to stop.
‘’ I don’t know what you want ‘’ Newt cried.
‘’ I want to be free of you ‘’ Thomas raised a knife and stabbed it into Newt’s chest. Newt didn’t fight back, he let the pain consume him until there was nothing left.
But it didn’t end there.