Before we get the ball rolling, some things to know. This is a Halloween only quest. It last...
Halloween Quest
- Thread starter Nottheunmaker
- Start date
- Horror
-
- Tags
- horror short fiction
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 11
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 2
-
Statistics (2 threadmarks, 1.3k words)
User Total Nottheunmaker 2 Threadmarks Reader mode
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
Before we get the ball rolling, some things to know. This is a Halloween only quest. It last from sundown to sunup, my time. To note, it just went down. The plan here is for me to write a post, give you an hour to vote on it, and then I get half an hour to write it. I'll probably take a little long on the updates, but I've never done something like this before, so bare with me.
Now this will be a horror quest. I'll do my best to make things scary. It'll also get campy at some point, I'm sure. But the goal here is to have fun, so don't be afraid to vote! Yes I may kill you a few times, but don't let that discourage you! If you're clever, strong and brave, you'll make it through the night! That said, don't be stupid. You're just a guy for this quest, so keep that in mind if you make up a plan.
That's all I have for now. Update will be posted after this. Then I'll be off to carve a jack-o-lantern and be Halloweeny. Time for fun!
Now this will be a horror quest. I'll do my best to make things scary. It'll also get campy at some point, I'm sure. But the goal here is to have fun, so don't be afraid to vote! Yes I may kill you a few times, but don't let that discourage you! If you're clever, strong and brave, you'll make it through the night! That said, don't be stupid. You're just a guy for this quest, so keep that in mind if you make up a plan.
That's all I have for now. Update will be posted after this. Then I'll be off to carve a jack-o-lantern and be Halloweeny. Time for fun!
First
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
There's a chill in the air and the leaves have turned red and yellow. The candy, decorations and costumes had been on display for a month now, though you thought having them out that early was tacky. Just like Christmas really, every year it comes sooner. That said, you're been completely ready. Candy in a blow, some saved out for yourself, a tacky witch sitting on a hay bail in your front yard. You got this.
Yep, you've got you Halloween on. It's not much compared to some of you neighbors, but you're not that into the holiday. Unless you had a party to be at, Halloween was for the kids anyway. You'd be at a party right now, but after last year you'd rather stick around. Not that the party sucked. The party was fine. It was okay. Fun even.
That you came home to a tree full of TP with your house and car egged was not. And they knocked over the candy bowl.
So you were going to be here keeping look out, on your own sadly. Friends are all busy with their own plans and there's no family around. It'll be fine, a throwback in a way. Just you alone handing out candy, hanging around with a few scary movies for company. Like your first year of college.
...It sounds pretty sad that way doesn't it.
You startle little when you hear a loud crash. You look around and try tuning your ears, but you can't quite tell where the noise came from. But it's so close to sundown and the trick or treaters will be coming around soon. Whatever it is, you need to take care of it fast.
[] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
[] Bathroom. Damn it, you think you left the window open. Did someone throw a rock and break the mirror? Granted, with that mirror, it'd almost be a relief.
[] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
Yep, you've got you Halloween on. It's not much compared to some of you neighbors, but you're not that into the holiday. Unless you had a party to be at, Halloween was for the kids anyway. You'd be at a party right now, but after last year you'd rather stick around. Not that the party sucked. The party was fine. It was okay. Fun even.
That you came home to a tree full of TP with your house and car egged was not. And they knocked over the candy bowl.
So you were going to be here keeping look out, on your own sadly. Friends are all busy with their own plans and there's no family around. It'll be fine, a throwback in a way. Just you alone handing out candy, hanging around with a few scary movies for company. Like your first year of college.
...It sounds pretty sad that way doesn't it.
You startle little when you hear a loud crash. You look around and try tuning your ears, but you can't quite tell where the noise came from. But it's so close to sundown and the trick or treaters will be coming around soon. Whatever it is, you need to take care of it fast.
[] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
[] Bathroom. Damn it, you think you left the window open. Did someone throw a rock and break the mirror? Granted, with that mirror, it'd almost be a relief.
[] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
ChildishChimera
A umbran summon
- Location
- New York
[X] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Basement never fails.
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
[x] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up apumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
I ain't going down to the basement. :<
I ain't going down to the basement. :<
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
[X] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
Something did happen outside of our house before so it makes sense to assume that the noise may be coming from outside.
Something did happen outside of our house before so it makes sense to assume that the noise may be coming from outside.
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
AnonymousRabbit
Rabbit Faced
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
Vote Tally : Horror - Halloween Quest | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.4
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
No. of Votes: 4
EtchedSteel
AnonymousRabbit
Krekian
reborn214
[X] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
No. of Votes: 3
ChildishChimera
FixerUpper
RhapsodyOfLife
[X] Bathroom. Damn it, you think you left the window open. Did someone throw a rock and break the mirror? Granted, with that mirror, it'd almost be a relief.
No. of Votes: 1
veekie
Total No. of Voters: 8
##### NetTally 1.7.4
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
No. of Votes: 4
EtchedSteel
AnonymousRabbit
Krekian
reborn214
[X] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
No. of Votes: 3
ChildishChimera
FixerUpper
RhapsodyOfLife
[X] Bathroom. Damn it, you think you left the window open. Did someone throw a rock and break the mirror? Granted, with that mirror, it'd almost be a relief.
No. of Votes: 1
veekie
Total No. of Voters: 8
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
... that image is already getting me.
chocolote12
A Penguin Flailing Against The Keyboard Of Life.
Are those steps going downwards or upwards?Vote Tally : Horror - Halloween Quest | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.4
[X] Basement. Is something knocking around downstairs again? Probably rats hiding in the stupid leftover junk from the last owners. You hate it down there, always feels creepy.
No. of Votes: 4
EtchedSteel
AnonymousRabbit
Krekian
reborn214
[X] Outside. Did someone tip over your display? You'll need to get it set back up quickly. Was someone mad you didn't set up a pumpkin? But it's so wasteful...
No. of Votes: 3
ChildishChimera
FixerUpper
RhapsodyOfLife
[X] Bathroom. Damn it, you think you left the window open. Did someone throw a rock and break the mirror? Granted, with that mirror, it'd almost be a relief.
No. of Votes: 1
veekie
Total No. of Voters: 8
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
They could be going both ways, since there's no telling if the stairs lead to a second floor, extend to a different room, or continue down to the basement. Maybe it's a combination of them?
Second
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
With little hesitation you head for the basement. You're sure that's where the crash came from. You need to jimmy the handle a few times to get the door open, it's always been sticky and you don't go down there much. You think the last time was half a year ago when you bought an election in to install some lights.
Opening the door and staring into the darkness, you remember that for some reason the lightswitch was set into the wall at the bottom of the stairs. You can already feel your skin crawling at the thought of going down there.
You summon your courage and walk the steps, one at a time. The clopping of of your shoes is the only sound to accompany you .You reach the bottom, and you swear you feel a chill blow past you upon reaching the switch. Give is a slightly too fast flick, and the room is bathed in dull white light.
The basement would be very open if it wasn't so cluttered and clustered, filled with furniture covered in white sheets. Leftovers from the last owners. You'd like to clear it out, but never had the will to just throw it all away, and the you can't find the people who used to live here. Haven't really organized it at all, much preferring to leave it alone.
A piece is out of place though. You had cleared out one corner because the dry wall needed to be striped and replaced after the basement had flooded in a nasty thunderstorm, but some chair or lamp is sitting there alone now. You can't tell which it is, it's covered by a sheet like everything thing else down here. Tall though, nearly as tall as you. As you walk over you wonder if this thing being knocked around was what made the noise.
You grab at the thing to move is to one bunch of knick knacks or another, but a slight tug doesn't budge it. Surprised, you try again, getting a firm grip on a pair of rounded edges. You pull, and then pull harder, struggling against the weight to no avail. It's like it's bolted to the floor.
You step back from it, and notice that the sheet doesn't go all the way to the ground. It hovers a bit above it, leaving about an inch exposed. Oddly you don't see any legs or a stand. How can that be? You pull the sheet off to get a look-
You blink.
There is nothing under the sheet.
You stand very, very still, trying to process what's happening. A knock behind you and you spin to see nothing. Then there's a stepping noise to your left, but all you see are a few sheets lazily blowing. Then there's a thumping, the hollow sound of steps on the stairs. You slowly walk over, looking up the steps to the hallway above.
Then the door slams shut.
Then you slam into the stairs. You're pushed into them, the wooden corners of the slats digging into you chest and stomach. With all your panicked might you flip yourself over and the weight lets up. Your eyes madly dart around for your attacker, but there is nothing, nothing but you and the furniture. The light flickers, then dies and the room is plunged into darkness. Before you can even think to try the switch you hear the sound of shattering glass.
All is still. Stock still. You are locked in place, not one piece of cloth shivers in the dark. The room grows cold.
Then a cloth rises from a chair. Not all at once. First a flutter, then more of a push as it's frees itself from a chair. A vague outline takes shape, taking the form of a head on shoulders. It draws near you, as if taking slow, stilted steps. The closer it gets, the colder it gets, the more it takes shape. The sheet starts being drawn in on the head, a pair of holes where the eyes would be and a larger hole below them.
It stops a foot in front of you, spasming in place. A jerk of the head has it reeling backwards, and it wails. The sound is eerie and piercing and loud, deafening you in it's volume. It shocks you out of you paralysis, and you dash up the stairs, slamming into the door trying to force it open. You shack and twist the knob, and even with all the noise you can hear the heavy creak of slow steps behind you.
You twist and pull and push, growing more and more frantic as the steps grow closer, and start trying to bash the door open with your shoulder. The feel the heat of your fear being sucked away, sucked behind you and the chill that replaces it becoming stronger with the steps getting nearer. You can feel it reaching over to grab your neck-
The latch slips and door flies open, sending you spilling out onto the floor. You kick at nothing, but catch the corner of the door with your heel and knock it closed. You wait a moment, then another. Nothing happens.
You force yourself to be calm. You need to think straight, get a grip on yourself, you need to… need to...
You hear more banging. From the bathroom and the frontdoor.
[] Frontdoor
[] Bathroom
[] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
Opening the door and staring into the darkness, you remember that for some reason the lightswitch was set into the wall at the bottom of the stairs. You can already feel your skin crawling at the thought of going down there.
You summon your courage and walk the steps, one at a time. The clopping of of your shoes is the only sound to accompany you .You reach the bottom, and you swear you feel a chill blow past you upon reaching the switch. Give is a slightly too fast flick, and the room is bathed in dull white light.
The basement would be very open if it wasn't so cluttered and clustered, filled with furniture covered in white sheets. Leftovers from the last owners. You'd like to clear it out, but never had the will to just throw it all away, and the you can't find the people who used to live here. Haven't really organized it at all, much preferring to leave it alone.
A piece is out of place though. You had cleared out one corner because the dry wall needed to be striped and replaced after the basement had flooded in a nasty thunderstorm, but some chair or lamp is sitting there alone now. You can't tell which it is, it's covered by a sheet like everything thing else down here. Tall though, nearly as tall as you. As you walk over you wonder if this thing being knocked around was what made the noise.
You grab at the thing to move is to one bunch of knick knacks or another, but a slight tug doesn't budge it. Surprised, you try again, getting a firm grip on a pair of rounded edges. You pull, and then pull harder, struggling against the weight to no avail. It's like it's bolted to the floor.
You step back from it, and notice that the sheet doesn't go all the way to the ground. It hovers a bit above it, leaving about an inch exposed. Oddly you don't see any legs or a stand. How can that be? You pull the sheet off to get a look-
You blink.
There is nothing under the sheet.
You stand very, very still, trying to process what's happening. A knock behind you and you spin to see nothing. Then there's a stepping noise to your left, but all you see are a few sheets lazily blowing. Then there's a thumping, the hollow sound of steps on the stairs. You slowly walk over, looking up the steps to the hallway above.
Then the door slams shut.
Then you slam into the stairs. You're pushed into them, the wooden corners of the slats digging into you chest and stomach. With all your panicked might you flip yourself over and the weight lets up. Your eyes madly dart around for your attacker, but there is nothing, nothing but you and the furniture. The light flickers, then dies and the room is plunged into darkness. Before you can even think to try the switch you hear the sound of shattering glass.
All is still. Stock still. You are locked in place, not one piece of cloth shivers in the dark. The room grows cold.
Then a cloth rises from a chair. Not all at once. First a flutter, then more of a push as it's frees itself from a chair. A vague outline takes shape, taking the form of a head on shoulders. It draws near you, as if taking slow, stilted steps. The closer it gets, the colder it gets, the more it takes shape. The sheet starts being drawn in on the head, a pair of holes where the eyes would be and a larger hole below them.
It stops a foot in front of you, spasming in place. A jerk of the head has it reeling backwards, and it wails. The sound is eerie and piercing and loud, deafening you in it's volume. It shocks you out of you paralysis, and you dash up the stairs, slamming into the door trying to force it open. You shack and twist the knob, and even with all the noise you can hear the heavy creak of slow steps behind you.
You twist and pull and push, growing more and more frantic as the steps grow closer, and start trying to bash the door open with your shoulder. The feel the heat of your fear being sucked away, sucked behind you and the chill that replaces it becoming stronger with the steps getting nearer. You can feel it reaching over to grab your neck-
The latch slips and door flies open, sending you spilling out onto the floor. You kick at nothing, but catch the corner of the door with your heel and knock it closed. You wait a moment, then another. Nothing happens.
You force yourself to be calm. You need to think straight, get a grip on yourself, you need to… need to...
You hear more banging. From the bathroom and the frontdoor.
[] Frontdoor
[] Bathroom
[] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
All of these sound like bad options, but I've gotta go with
[X] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
Because while it gives others the time they may need to break into our house, it also makes sure that we don't get ganked from behind while we deal with any other unwelcome guests.
The other two options look to me like they'd just invite more grief into our home and we don't really have a means to defend ourselves (yet). So I'd prefer to put a more permanent stop to one threat before addressing other ones.
EDIT:
While it may be a ghost that just laughs at our attempts to barricade it while phasing through the door, trying some measures to keep it inside wouldn't hurt. I hope.
[X] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
Because while it gives others the time they may need to break into our house, it also makes sure that we don't get ganked from behind while we deal with any other unwelcome guests.
The other two options look to me like they'd just invite more grief into our home and we don't really have a means to defend ourselves (yet). So I'd prefer to put a more permanent stop to one threat before addressing other ones.
EDIT:
While it may be a ghost that just laughs at our attempts to barricade it while phasing through the door, trying some measures to keep it inside wouldn't hurt. I hope.
Last edited:
chocolote12
A Penguin Flailing Against The Keyboard Of Life.
[X] Front door
-[] Get your gun. Also, actually load it. Also, turn the safety off.
Write-ins probably aren't allowed, but still...
-[] Get your gun. Also, actually load it. Also, turn the safety off.
Write-ins probably aren't allowed, but still...
Last edited:
ChildishChimera
A umbran summon
- Location
- New York
[X] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
If we don't have a gun, then blunt force trauma is the great equalizer. I'd caution against using a bladed weapon like a knife, since if our character doesn't know the basics of how not to cut themselves, it could end up backfiring on us. Also, blunt weapons are a lot more common around a normal, everyday household.
Nottheunmaker
Altman be praised
- Location
- USG Ishimura
No write-in unless I say other wise, and you don't own a gun.
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
WELP. So much for shooting whatever horror pops up next. I guess we're gonna have to bash his/her/it's head in with a candlestick or something if we choose to fight, or if it's faster than us and then try desperately to GTFO.
CommanderBlade
Blade Commander
- Location
- Vale
[X] Ignore the banging. Barricade the basement door.
Just beat feet to the basement and start tossing heavy shit at the door.
Just beat feet to the basement and start tossing heavy shit at the door.
chocolote12
A Penguin Flailing Against The Keyboard Of Life.
Bah, do you even America.
