Ken wasn't thrilled to be taking his niece and nephew out 'trick or treat'n' on Halloween. He couldn't say no to his sister when she had asked him to do it as a big favor to her. She had always taken her children out on Halloween herself, but she had to work this year and needed her brother to take them for her. Kim promised to repay him sometime when he needed a favor in return.
Ken waited for the kids to get ready. Thank goodness, they were young enough to have to come back fairly early for bedtime. He figured an hour or two and the whole ordeal would be over with and he would be on his way home.
Sandy and Bud jumped through the doorway and screamed "BOO!" at their Uncle Ken, both giggling when he jumped a little. Sandy was eight years old and her brother, Bud, was ten. They were pretty good kids as far as kids go. Sandy was dressed up as a Princess, crown and all. Bub was dressed as a vampire, his hair slicked back with some shiny goo and fake blood running down his chin. He had a black cape and the teeth associated with vampires. To Ken, he look like a small version of the old movie guy, Boris something or another... Especially when he kept saying, "I vant to suck your blood."
Off the three of them went, into the night to scare people out of their goodies. The kids were excited as they skipped down the sidewalk, anticipating the treats they would get during the evening. Ken walked along scowling and wanting the evening over with quickly. "Ah hell," he told himself, "it's not going to kill me to take the kids out."
The plan was to go up and down the block to houses that obviously invited costumed guests, then over to the next block and so on, until the children were tired of it and ready to go home.
The three passed a lot of others out gathering treats as they were. Superman, two pirates, a cute cheerleader, a couple of clowns, Donald Duck, several cowboys and a cowgirl, Batman in cape and pointed mask, Wonder Woman or Xena, Ken wasn't sure which...goblins, bandits, Cinderella, a Fireman, an M & M candy, a Robot and a number of other odd looking creatures. People were generous and the kids sacks were half full by the time they reached the end of the second block. But the children weren't ready to call it a night just yet, so on they went, to the third street over from home.
Ken noticed by the end of the third block, both kids were dragging their feet a little. He watched Sandy yawn and knew it wouldn't be much longer before they could head back. He heard Bud ask, "Uncle Ken? Do you think we should go to this house? It's awfully dark.."
Ken looked up at the house they were standing in front of and saw a candle burning in the window near the door. It was hard to tell if the door was open or closed from the distance they were standing. He watched as someone peeked from behind a curtain and smiled to himself. 'Someone trying to be scary' he thought. "Sure, why not? This is the last house on the block guys...go get your treat and then we head for home."
While his niece and nephew walked towards the house, Ken stood looking up the block, watching ghosts crossing the street and witches scurry after them. He smiled to himself, thinking of all the fun Halloweens he'd had over the years. After a few minutes he realized the children hadn't returned yet, and looked back towards the house they had gone to. He was startled to not see the kids on the sidewalk or at the door of the dark house. He looked around thinking they had gone on to the next house while he'd been daydreaming, but didn't see them.
Ken walked quickly up the walkway to the house the kids had gone to and started to knock on the door. Before his knuckles hit wood, the door opened. He didn't see anyone standing there and wasn't amused. This wasn't very funny, it was actually frightening that the kids were not visable. "Hello?" he called into the dark house. "Excuse me? Are you there? My kids came to your door and now I don't see them! Hello? Somebody here?" he was growing more nervous. Where did Sandy and Bud vanish too? This was starting to piss him off and scare him a little at the same time.