They all noticed the child in their midst. Their cloudy eyes and rotten brains had perceived him from his first step onto the revered grounds.

“Boooooyyyyyy,” said one.

“Youuuuunnngg,” replied another.

“Freeeeeshhhhhh…”

“…sooouuuulll,” said the other, finishing the first one’s sentence with a nod.

They could sense the others stirring around them; they didn’t have much time. The pair began closing in, when they saw that Marion had already gotten to him.

“Noooottt faaiiiiirr,” pouted the initial speaker.

“Weeeee saaaawwwww hiiimmmmm,” said the second, “fiiiiiirsssttt!”

But then the gate squeaked again.

“Cooolllleecctooooor,” they whispered, grinning.

They disappeared like smoke.

This is part twelve of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part thirteen!

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