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This is an erotic horror story and might not be suitable for everyone. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Thanks for reading! Friendly criticism is always welcome.
Enjoy.
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"Hey move it!" The sound of a car horn jerked Tom Kitchers attention to the green light in front of him. He stepped on the gas and slowly drove his black Tacoma forward. As soon as there was space a zombie driving a white lifted F-150 swerved around him and flashed the bird. Tom shook his head. He'd had to work late preparing spreadsheets to go in the month end reports. Even though it was a Saturday and he was supposed to be off, his boss at Jahvid Gren and Ellis LLP insisted on his staying . He checked the clock, almost seven. He brushed his tousled light brown hair out of his eyes as he drove towards Terria Mesa and home. Most of the homes along the Mesa were beautifully decorated for Halloween. With large blown up cats, fake graveyards, boiling cauldrons with smoke machines, spider webs, goblins and ghouls, the Mesa was one of the prime trick-or-treat zones in all of San Diego. His was one of the few houses that remained undecorated until the last minute.
Not wanting to get toilet papered, he'd stopped by the big Halloween warehouse and purchased a couple of decorations. Some sticky pumpkins, cat and bat shapes for the windows by the front door, a headstone that read "M. T. Tomb" and a couple plastic light-up pumpkins. Tom felt it was half an effort but something was better than nothing. He'd gotten some bulk bags of candy for the hordes of trick-or-treaters that would come by.
Tom lived in a quaint house in the northern corner of the dead end on Oren Ct and he was in no hurry. Evelyn would be home and angry about something. Their marriage of three years was slowly falling apart. They rarely had sex anymore and it always felt perfunctory. He highly suspected her of cheating on him. He cringed at the self pity that stabbed his heart when ever he thought about it. Between home and the stress at his job he was being torn apart.
As he pulled into the driveway he saw elderly Mrs. Hartog walking towards him on the side sidewalk. His window was rolled up and he waved congenially but she started rushing towards him with a smile on her face and he knew he'd have to talk to her. As she came hurrying up the grey poof of hair on hair head barely moved, even with a light autumn breeze. Her teeth looked very white against her too red lipstick. She kept her body in good shape and Tom couldn't see any pudge through her solid black track suit.
"Evening Mr. Kitcher." Mrs Hartog said as Tom rolled his window down.
"Good evening." Tom replied. He tried hard to look exhausted to hurry the conversation but he didn't have to try very hard. Deep dark pockets had formed under his eyes and his face held a sallow sheen from staring at a computer screen all day.
"How is everything? At the home I mean. I've been hearing a lot of... noises you know. Yelling. Coming from your house." She tilted her head and said "I live just over there Tom," she pointed across her body to the house on his left. " Look if things aren't alright just say something. I know it's none of my business what goes on between you and your wife but I just want the best for two young people, especially as attractive as yourselves. If you need to talk fell free to call me OK?"
"Well, when things are good they're really good and when they're bad they're really bad. Thanks for your concern Billye. I'll think of that." Tom felt dead as he said it but he desperately wanted to mean it. Mrs. Hartog looked sincere enough. She smiled back at him.
"Well, it's good to see that you finally got in the holiday spirit." She said looking in the cab at the decorations. " I'll see you around Tom. Don't be a stranger." And then she continue her walk down to the end of the cul de sac.
Tom sighed and pulled into the garage. As the garage door was grinding closed he saw Evelyn, silhouetted in the kitchen doorway, leaning against the frame with her legs and arms crossed. She didn't say anything as Tom got out of the car. He walked towards her holding his briefcase.
"Hey babe. I got some things for the yard." He leaned in to give her a kiss but she turned away and walked inside.
"There's some cold spaghetti on the table for you." Evelyn said flatly. Without another word she walked into the living room and turned on the TV.
Tom wanted to follow her into the kitchen but decided against it. He threw his spaghetti in the microwave and waited, listening to the sounds of the seasons commercials from the living room. Tom barely tasted the spaghetti as he sat in the kitchen. Finally he worked up the courage and walked out and stood in the living room.
Evelyn was gorgeous, that was one of the things that had originally drawn him to her. She was a few inches shorter than him at 5'9". She kept her body toned with yoga and regular jogging. She had the stereotypical sun-kissed blonde hair of Southern California and the fake breasts to match. Tom looked at her sitting on the couch. How had they fallen into such malaise? Sure he'd been working a lot but they used to have fun going out, hiking, surfing, trying new restaurants, meeting other couples, but gradually that had stopped. They'd had some intense arguments over the last year. She wanted a baby and Tom wanted to wait another year. He knew that she felt her clock ticking but he just didn't think he'd be a good father working so much. It was always the same arguments that they wound up yelling at each other. If the dishes weren't done it was because he didn't want a baby or she was pressuring him into having one.
"So you're going out tonight?" Tom asked. She brought her green eyes up to look at him for a moment.
"Yea. We're going to the Lamp Light." Her movement was slow and disinterested. The Lamp Lighter District in downtown San Diego was hosting a huge party covering several blocks and a lot of the bars and clubs were participating. Tom had told Evelyn weeks ago during one of their ritual screaming matches that he didn't feel like going out and so she'd made plans with out him. Now he regretted the whole thing but it felt too late to try to invite himself along.
Tom sucked in some air and looked around the room as though he could find something to talk about. "Look, I..." He started and Evelyn glanced back over waiting for him to say something. "Well, have fun tonight."
"Ok." Evelyn sighed and rested her cheek against her fist.
"What are you watching?"
"Nightmare on Elm St. Just until Eric and Jenny and them show up." She said without taking her eyes off the movie.
Tom sat down on the sofa chair and tried to watch the movie. He'd always detested horror movies.
"I need to start getting changed." Evelyn got up and walked into the back bedroom. Tom shut his eyes and breathed deeply. It seemed like whenever he tried she didn't want any part of it and whenever she tried he'd pushed her away. They just weren't on the same page anymore and it hurt. He watched Nightmare on Elm St for a while before getting bored and changing the channel. Faux News was running a special on razors in candy apples and teen sex parties that parents should be on the lookout for.
After an hour went by Tom got up and glanced down the hallway. The light was still on. "She's taking her sweet time getting ready" Tom thought "either that or she just doesn't want to be around me." He remembered the decorations in his car and went out to place them in the yard. The night was getting a little chilly.