Who Said Halloween is the Scariest Night of the Year?

Who said Halloween is the scariest night of the year? Loretta does. Now.

Loretta and her boyfriend, Doug, were taking a day trip driving through the rolling hills and farmland south of their home. Amish communities rose up along the state highway and passed behind their car. Autumn was late this year despite its scheduled appearance in September. Here it was Halloween already, and the trees were still ripe with bright yellows and reds in the maple and oak trees long past their usual time.

In fact, nothing seemed to be in the right time. The three hour trip seemed to be dragging on forever and the sun was beginning to set behind the nearest hill to their left. Twice already the car had stalled for no readily apparent reason, and Doug's eyes searched the road ahead not for traffic but for any sign of a service station where they might find a mechanic to diagnose the problem before darkness really set in.

"I can't believe this," Loretta complained. "We should have been home an hour ago, and now we're going to miss the party."

"If the car doesn't quit again we should be home soon, sweetheart," Doug replied. "But if I find someone to look at it I'm going to pull over and let him."

"Well, if you think that's best, but I'll miss the kids in their costumes."

The short exchange had grabbed their attention just enough that neither one noticed it had turned completely dark. The road snaked back and forth between trees and fences, around and over small hills and never quite straightened out more than a hundred feet or so at a time. What had started as a four lane highway was now a well worn two lane blacktop.

"When did we turn off the main road?" he asked while turning his head to look at Loretta.

Doug slowed the car a bit more so he wouldn't overdrive his headlights and it was the instant his foot backed off from the accelerator that the shape flew past the front of the car.

"Look out!" Loretta screamed just before the impact.

Doug and Loretta were thrown forward and saved by their seat belts, but the car had stalled again. Doug just looked at Loretta.

"Are you ok, Loretta?" he asked. His voice cracked due to the sudden stress.

"I think so," she replied in a whisper. "What was that? What did we hit?"

"Probably a deer, and I suppose I should go see if it's ok."

"No! It's too dark."

"I'll leave the headlights on and you can turn on the cabin light, Sweet heart."

Loretta had grabbed Doug's arm in a vice like grip. "Please stay in the car, Doug," she almost begged. "Something isn't right, and I'm scared."

"Alright, Baby, then let's see if this car will start."

Doug turned the key in the ignition; the engine turned over, started, and then idled. It ran rough now, but seemed safe enough for Doug to put the transmission in reverse. The car lurched when it dropped into gear and Loretta grabbed his arm again.

"It's OK, Loretta," he said. "I have to back up to see if there's anything in the road or if whatever we hit made it into the woods."

"A a alright," she stuttered still whispering.

Doug didn't bother to look to the rear or even check his mirrors. If he had looked he would have seen a large dark shape immediately behind the car. Doug gently pressed his foot down on the accelerator, the engine raced out of control and staggered backwards into the shape and the engine died.

"BANG!" Something heavy struck the trunk lid and brought the car to another standstill. Loretta whimpered and Doug cursed.

"This is too much," Doug grumbled. "What happened? Did both tires drop into a pot hole at the same time?"

"I don't know," said Loretta, "but it's getting cold; can't you feel it?" She was nearly in tears, and clung desperately to Doug's arm.

"Look, Baby, I have to see what happened. If the damage is too bad we'll have to walk to the next town."

"I'm not going anywhere, and you're not leaving me alone. Not even for a second!" Loretta's voice was strident even though she wanted to scream and just be home safe and sound.

"I have to look, Loretta. I didn't look the first time and see what happened? If I don't look it could get even worse."

"Aren't you scared, Doug?" Loretta asked.

"Come on, Loretta, it's only Halloween. The transmission is having fits, that's all, but I have to see if there's any damage beyond that."

"No! Don't leave me alone, Doug. There's something out there and we hit it twice."

"I have to look, Baby," Dough told her. His voice was still confident and unruffled, but even he was beginning to feel something was out of place.

"Just sit tight, Loretta, I won't be more than a minute or so."

Doug opened the door and slid out of Loretta's grasp, leaned back in and cupped the back of her head with his hand and whispered, "It's ok, Baby, I'm just going to make sure there's no damage to the car." He kissed her forehead then backed out of the cabin and closed the door.

Doug took the three steps to the front of the car and let the headlights hit him full on so Loretta could see him. He looked into the windshield just in time to see the dark shape grow and fall on him. No time to run, no time to scream, but he knew Loretta had seen the terror in his face.

Loretta sat in the car and watched Doug move forward then into the light of the headlights. She saw the dark shape grow and the look of absolute terror on Doug's face as the shape devoured him.

Loretta was alone now.