Jessica
by Laura DeLuca
Wilbur was used to going to his
college formals alone. He thought the Halloween Ball would be no different.
He’s amazed when a beautiful girl in a Victorian costume displays an interest
in him and even more amazed to find himself alone with her on one of the campus
nature trails. What Wilbur doesn’t realize is that another woman has her eye on
him too. The White Lady returns every Halloween to take revenge on the men of
the campus for her brutal murder. She has chosen Wilbur as her next victim.
Excerpt
Wilbur
thought he was going to collapse when Jessica wrapped one arm around his waist.
He could feel her fingers, soft as silk, touching the nape of his neck with her
other hand, and it made his flesh tingle. She even went so far as to lay her
head on his shoulder. Her hair brushed against his cheek and the fresh, flowery
scent made his vision blur. At first he thought it was just his allergies, but
then the whole room and all the people in it seemed to
change. The woman all wore full lacy gowns with their hair piled up in fancy up
dos, while the men waltzed beside them in tailored suits with long tails and
top hats. Even the music had changed from the typical sappy love song to a
classical ballad played by a string quartet. He swore he saw the musicians in
the corner; their bows sliding effortlessly over the strings of their
instruments while their fingers pulsated in perfect vibrato. Even the floor
under their feet had changed from the faded gymnasium floor, marked with the
lines and circles of the basketball court, to hand laid tile in intricate
patterns reminiscent of a Victorian ballroom.
As they
circled the dance floor in an oddly quickened pace, the faces of the dancers
started to transform even more. The beautiful nineteenth century ballroom aged
and decayed, as did the men and women that surrounded him. Grotesque monsters
with bloated skin and empty eyes dragged their decaying limbs in slow motion.
Wilbur watched them with growing horror, almost forgetting about the girl in
his arms. The monsters noticed the stranger among them. They reached for him
with fingers green from rot. Catching his breath in fear, Wilbur pulled away
from Jessica and very nearly stumbled to the ground.
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