"Treats for Adeline" by Elizabeth Voss & Peter Tackaberry
Cemetery Dance's A Halloween Short Story ebook series
Readers unfamiliar with "Treats for Adeline" by Elizabeth Voss & Peter Tackaberry may prefer to read these notes only after reading the story.
As it was, we’d had no thrills, no chills, causing me to feel even more reckless than usual. That and the fact that this Halloween would be my last for trick or treating since I would turn eleven next fall. So really, it was now or never.
Whatever the reason and against all good sense, I bent down to my sister’s ear and whispered, “You know . . .”
Curious, she cocked her feline head.
Coming closer now: “They say she gives the most unusual treats.”
“Who?” Adeline asked.
I rose, saying, “The lady on the bluff.”
She blinked in alarm. “What about those dogs?”
“What about them?” I shrugged, though my stomach lurched at the thought of the pack of wild dogs that roamed the ravine below the bluff.
“They’ll get us for sure.” Adeline protectively tucked her tail beneath her arm.
“You’re the one who wants a scare.” I fingered the flap of rotting flesh pasted to my cheek. “This, Adeline Taylor, will be your scare. Take it or leave it.”
She surprised me by nodding, cat ears bobbing: “I’ll take it.”
I could have said no, then. I should have laughed and said, Only kidding.
"Treats for Adeline" by Elizabeth Voss & Peter Tackaberry is a lonesome, moody trick-or-treating horror story. Two young sisters go to the isolated house with a reputation. They are given a choice of treats. The older, savvier sister makes the wrong choice.
Jay
