A/N: surprisingly, this wasn’t meant to be for Halloween, it just turned out that way! Sorry it’s a bit shorter than my other works!

“Ma’am, are you okay?”

Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash against her left temple.

“What does it look like to you?” She asked the man, who had parked his car on the side of the rode to come to her aide. ‘A true gentleman indeed.’ She thought, bitterly.

The man chuckled and tipped his hat, “Jus’ thought I asked, jus’ in case you weren’t dressed up or anythin.”

Carey studied the man. Yes, he would do just fine.

“You know what? I’m not doing too great,” she lied easily, “I could use a ride, I’m just going right outside of town.” She said, tossing her blonde hair to the side.

The man looked at her for a moment before he said, “Well, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t help a lady in need?” He opened his truck door as Carey climbed inside.

As soon as she closed the truck door, the man took off driving.

Carey looked at him, a gleam in her hazel eyes, “You’re such a kind soul, might I know your name?” She asked him.

The man tipped his hat, “Doug, and you are?”

She smiled as she pointed to a deserted spot on the side of the rode, “Carey,” she said her name first, “right here is good to pull over.”

Doug gave her a confused look, but obliged as he pulled the truck over.

As soon as the truck parked, Carey gave him a gleaming smile, showing her off her bright teeth, when she did, Doug let out a gasp.

Carey licked the blood off of her fangs as she remarked, “I’m really sorry to do this Doug, I really am. You seem like such a sweet soul.” She grabbed the back of his neck, causing Doug to let out a sort of strangled scream.

“What-what are you?” He stammered out.

Carey giggled, “I think you know that answer yourself, partner.” She winked as she leaned towards his neck.

“This will be quick in painless if you don’t squirm, I hate having squirmes when I’m hungry.”

As she sank her fangs into his neck, Doug’s screams filled her ears.

“Please, stay back. My god, what the-“

A GREETER, mid-’70s, nearly pukes at the sight of Carey’s wound. Carey blows right past the old man.

Customers look over in shock. A mother covers her Childs's eyes. Carey is headed straight to Customer Service.

JANET, 39, a clerk wearing a bright red top stands at her post.

“Next! Hi, welcome to Targ- oh my-“

“I need to talk to a manager.”

“Ma’am I think you need a doctor.”

“What is it with you people and ma’am’s?”

Janet doesn't know how to respond. She is horrified at the sight of her.

”I need to return this.”

Carey lifts a large tub of white cream. The label reads AGELESS BEAUTY: FOR DAMAGED SKIN. Janet tries to be composed.

”Okay, well, is there something wrong with the product?”

A small chunk of rotten flesh peels off Carey’s cheek and plops down onto the glass countertop. They just stare at each other.

”And you're sure this came from our store?”

”Don’t test me, Janet.”

”Right! My apologies, I just don't know what's gotten into me today,”

Janet is barely holding it together, she looks down at her computer screen , about to faint, sweat drips down the side of her pale face. She takes a big gulp.

”Can you please explain the problem?”

”I did exactly what the instructions said to do. Now look at me.”

Janet’s eyes are locked onto the screen, feverishly typing away at the keyboard.

”Are you getting all this?”

Janet pulls out her walkie.

”Need manager approval at register five, now!”

KYLE, mid 20’s, comes out from the back room.

”Janet, remember what we said about manners okay?”

Kyle looks up at Carey but doesn't acknowledge her horrible appearance.

”And we have got to do something about this look, Janet. Are you sweating?”

Kyle inspects Janet. Carey leans in.

”Just give me back my money so I can get the hell out of here!”

”Whoa, whoa, excuse me ma'am who died and made you Lucifer?”

Kyle looks over the situation.

”Okay let's see, product return, defective, rotting flesh, oh Devil not this again, I said to remove all the creams from aisle six!”

”Can we please just get on with this.”

”Sure thing, I just need to see a receipt.”

Carey lifts up the receipt, it's covered in dried blood. Kyle carefully reviews the ticket.”

”Ah-ha, I see, unfortunately, this purchase has fallen out of our 14-day return policy.”

”Listen here you little shit, do it or else.”

Carey's eyes turn red. The ground shakes and the lights dim. Kyle looks on, totally unscathed.

”Yeah, see, we stand by our return policy. If you'd like you can call this 1-800 number and file a grievance.”

The room is now surrounded by the flames of hell. The walls crumble into a distorted reality. Carey is no longer human but realizes there is no hope.

”Fine, I'll take the store credit.”

”Excellent, thank you for shopping at Target.”

“Ma’am are you okay?” Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her left temple. But “okay” was subjective at this point, after They had arrived. No one was certain from where They came, either another planet, another dimension, it didn’t matter. The outcome was the same. Fight or die.

“I’m fine,” Carey remarked. In truth, she fought off a few of Them on her way here, They had leapt from a tree and clawed her face. But she had prevailed. She left their bodies on the road. Either some of the roving wild dogs, or more of Their kind, would dispose of them. “I just need these,” she indicated the small pile of goods on the counter.

“You’re covered in blood,” the young man commented. “Yes, yes I am.” Carey didn’t offer any more information. “Okay then, it’ll $15.45. Are you should you don’t need any help?”

“Nah, just these supplies, thank you.” He looked at her purchases, Twinkies, Surge Cola, Bowie knife. Standard purchases these days. Carey handed the cashier the money, and went to put her goodies in her rucksack.

“You know, I get off shift in an hour, if you need anyone to protect you on your walk home,” the cashier said sheepishly. Are you kidding? Carey thought. Hitting on me, when I am covered in blood? When all this shut is going on? “No, I can quite handle myself. But be careful, I took out three of Them on my way here.”

“Them?” The cashier didn’t seem all that bright, and this question confirmed it,

“Um, yes, you know, the creatures that invaded? Three legs, four arms, vicious? They took out out infrastructure a few months ago, killed thousands?”

“Oh, I missed that. I was playing Fortnight.” “You were playing a game? You missed the invasio—you know what? Never mind. I’ll be off. Stay safe.”

“We can play Fortnight together,” the cashier waggled his unibrow.

Carey stormed out, ignoring this last comment. She hit the road again, on her own, ready for what may come her way.

A mile away from the store and its idiot cashier, she sat by a tree. Eating a Twinkie and guzzling some soda, she examined her new knife. It would server her well in the months to come. She spared a thought for the cashier. He was an idiot, but he was kind. Pity They wouldn’t care. Perhaps his ignorance would be his bliss. Well, there was nothing she could do for him. It was everyone for themselves in this new world.

She climbed the tree, belted herself in, and feel asleep.

Ma’am are you okay? Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her left temple. Well my husband of 4 years has done it again, we got into a fit this morning over breakfast. I don’t know why he hates me so much I’ve always been there for him he looks at me in disgust he a good person he just needs some help to see. I thought I was helping him. I know he’s been cheating on me but I don’t say anything because I’m scared he will hurt me again. but this morning I was done with the bullshit. I made him breakfast before work. he didn’t want what I made and he threw the plate. At first I cried then I was like bro wtf I just made this shit for you. So I took the hot pan of oatmeal and threw it on him. he got mad and here I am talking to you.

“Ma’am are you okay?” Carey laughed at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her left temple. Carey abruptly stopped laughing when he saw that Alyssa was dead. I had to stop myself from chuckling at this. I pretended to run in, even managed a (in my opinion) convincing scream when I looked at Alyssa’s body. “Oh, Carey. What happened?!” I cried at him, falling into his arms and letting my crocodile tears soak his shirt.

He was so shocked. Pale. Yet he still tried to comfort me, bless him. “It’s okay,” he soothed. But his words were hollow. I let him hold me for a moment; he was warm and it gave me a chance to smile.

Eventually he killed the moment by saying: “We have to call the police, Hannah.” “I already have,” I said, looking him in the eyes. Poor Carey was too lost, mourning his precious Alyssa to question my claim. I’d never really liked Alyssa. She was annoying and fake. Yeah yeah you can call me fake too for what I’ve done but that’s different- if someone were to ask me if I‘d killed multiple people, I’d answer truthfully. It felt good to smash Alyssa’s brains out with a framed photo of her and Carey (which she’d cropped me out of).

I suggested we wait outside for the cops, and Carey followed me in a stupor. It was freezing cold, a good excuse to snuggle up next to him. “Oh Carey,” I sobbed, “how could this happen?” I think I deserved an Oscar. “I think I’m cursed,” he whispered blankly, “almost every relationship I’ve had since college has ended in death.” It was snowing angelically. I held him tighter. I wished I could comfort him- give him closure- about what had happened to all his girlfriends. How I’d saved him from them all.

Aria was so stuck up and rude, it nearly killed me to make it look like an accidental OD instead of an affair gone wrong. Sophia was selfish and hogged him, so I made her write a letter (where she mentioned how she’d never loved him) before hanging her. Eva-Marie wasn’t good enough for him. I thought we could’ve been friends in another lifetime so I just chased her away.

“Maybe it’s fate?” I offered meekly, “Perhaps it’s all leading you to the right person.” He looked at me with affection and said, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Hannah,” I’d thought this was the moment. He was seeing me in a different light. We would kiss and be together forever. But then he continued: “you’re such a great friend.” Those words drove a knife into my heart. So I drove my knife into his.

I hear ambulance sirens approaching (I called them to escape suspicion) and Carey’s ragged breathing. I lie down next to him. “I’ve always loved you Carey,” I say before I plunge the knife into my own chest.

“Ma’am are you okay?” Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her left temple. She was the clumsiest waitress ever to walk on this planet. With at least four accidents a day no one knew how she was still working here. Some people say that she was homeless and had nothing. Other people say that her boss had a thing for her. Some people even thought that she was bribing her boss. There were many reasons as to why people thought she hasn’t been fired yet. But only she really knew the reason why and she was no way near ready to tell anyone. The embarrassment would be endless. She thought that she had rather keep that to herself. That was the only secret she was keeping. But what everyone in that place didn’t know is that secret she has been able to keep for an eternity is what’s keeping the world from exploding. Quite literally.

“Ma’am are you okay?” Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her temple. “Do i... do i loook okay to u?!” she starts laughing hysterically. the waiter slowly grabs the phone from her apron, planning to dial 911. Carey saw her going to grab that phone and pounced. knocking the waiter to the ground causing her to bump her head on the ground. “that should teach u not to ask stupid questions.” before leaving, carey grabs the phone and smashes it on the ground. the waiter still recovering from the fall, stumbles onto her feet and watch as carey wobbles off down the street. everyone staring at her and moving out of her way when walking. but no one stopping to ask if she was okay.

"I have clean clothes at home." Carey replied. "Yeah, but your head is bleeding. I need to call for help." said the young woman who just finished locking up the antique store on 109 street. Carey, looking frail, and about 70 years old grabs the young woman by the wrist and stares at her for a few seconds before whispering "You call no one." "You're hurting me!" says the young woman. Carey just laughs. The young woman struggles. "Let go!" Her hand turns purple, then blue. Bleeding at the wrist, she smacks Carey over the head with her free hand. "AAAAHHHHHH" Carey squeals and falls to the ground. The young woman starts running, before bumping into a tall man; a man taller and wider than any man she's met at university. Her face slams into his leather jacket that reeks of cigarettes. "You have to help me." She says. "An old lady just attacked me back there, I think she's ill! She-she was covered in blood!" Pointing at nothing behind her. "Come with me." He says. "What's your name?" "Hailey." "Hi Hailey. You know, that's one of the funniest pick up lines anyone's ever used on me. You live around here?" "That wasn't a pickup line - I'm serious. Look!" She shows him her bleeding wrist. "Oh, wow. Bad day at school? Did you get into a fight with your boyfriend?" "No!" she yells. "It was the old lady, you're not listening! You're no help. Goodbye." Hailey keeps running, taking turns through residential areas. She tries pulling out her phone to text for help, but in pulling it out, throws it a few feet in front of her - cracking the screen as it bounces into a puddle between the sidewalk and the road. "No!" Hailey sighs loudly in disbelief. "Ma'am are you okay?" She hears from behind her. It appears to be Carey, cleaned up with no wound on her head anymore. "My sister ran off, I think she's hurting people." "Stay away from me!" Hailey yells. Noticing Hailey's wrist, she gasps "My god! Did she do this to you? Carey? We're twins. She escaped the clinic." "What clinic? Yes I saw her when I was finishing up my shift at the antique store." replies Hailey "The antique store?" Carey's twin asks "Yes the one on 109 street." "We used to live in the basement suite of that place, before they turned it into an antique store." says Carey's twin. "She had blood everywhere, she said she had clean clothes at home. Do you think that's what she was referring to?" Hailey asks. "Yes. We have to go help her. I'm Geri, by the way." "Hailey." Hailey and Geri search for Carey far and wide on their way to the antique store. "GERI!" Carey yells "Carey? What happened?" "The clinic! They wanted me to do tests. I said no. They said I had to." "What kind of tests?" Hailey asks. "Physics, trigonometry, algebra. My brain exploded." "OK, but my wrist?"

Carey dipped her finger in the bloody wound and slid it down her cheek, leaving a scarlet line that arched like a smile across her face. She slowly licked her blood-covered finger, savoring the coppery taste.

She glanced up at the woman who knelt over her, forehead wrinkled in concern. Her eyes widened at Carey’s response and she stood, fear replacing the worry in her eyes.

“Oh, my dear, I have never been better.” Carey’s head throbbed deliciously, flooding her with satisfaction like nothing else. She relished the confused and horrified look in the woman’s face, but knew that if she tried to help or call the authorities it would only complicate matters. That wouldn’t do.

In one swift motion, Carey flicked open a switchblade, leaped up, and thrust it into the woman’s chest. She clamped her hand over the woman’s mouth to muffle her scream, and stabbed her repeatedly until the woman finally stopped thrashing and gulping and heaving. Carey slowly, tenderly, lowered the still body to the filthy pavement and rose.

“Thank you, my dear,” she whispered. She dipped a finger in the soggy mess of the woman’s chest and reverently lifted it to her mouth, sucking until her finger was numb. With her other hand, she caressed the woman’s face, then picked up her switchblade and thrust it into her own abdomen.

Glorious, stabbing pain pulsed through her body, flooding her senses and clouding her mind with a tantalizing haze. She pulled the blade out of her body, relishing the feel of the warm metal sliding through her flesh, and cupped her hand over the bloody fountain spurting from her. She must have hit something important. Good.

She dropped to her knees, feeling deliciously drowsy. She raised her hand, dripping with blood, and licked it. Once. Twice. The familiar taste calmed her, comforted her.

Her body wavered back and forth. She didn’t want to die. Not yet.

She lifted the switchblade and gazed at it. She kissed it softly, lovingly, bade it farewell. “I guess you’ve pleased me for the last time, old friend,” she whispered.

She fell forward onto the woman’s soft body. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the pull, and drifted asleep in a featherbed of pain.

“Ma’am are you okay?” Carey chuckled at the question. She was covered in blood and had a nasty gash at her left temple. She then responded ,“I know we both see this blood gushing from my head. Yes. Im perfectly fine. Thank you.” The man was perplexed by her sarcasm. He seemed stuck for a few moments and didn’t know what to do for Carey but call for help. He finally pulled out his cracked up IPhone and dialed 9-1-1. Carey was losing consciousness as the man was giving information to the operator. She tried to hold on long enough to at least hear his name, but she blacked out with only a handsome face to remember. His skin was very pale and his short curly hair was so blonde that it looked golden. His eyes were bright blue and they glowed as if he was an angel. There was no sign of facial hair but his body was so masculine that he still appeared to be in his early thirties. Hours went by and Carey began to gain conscience. She noticed the machine she was hooked to and felt something similar to tape on her temple. She was too weak to panic. “You’re awake! I was so worried about you! You won’t be shopping alone anymore due to your two left feet!”, her best friend Ann shouted when she noticed Carey was awake from her slumber. “Where is he?” Carey asked. Ann looked confused until she realized who she was talking about. “Thank heavens for him! I was told that while out shopping you looked a little distracted by something and tripped over your shoe lace and busted your head on the clothes rack! Some guy name Johnathan called the ambulance.” She was holding in laughter as she explained the situation. Carey bursted out in laughter as she remembered and was instantly embarrassed. “I was such an asshole to him but he’s the reason I fell! Nobody told him to be so fine!” Ann couldn’t hold back the laughter any more and let loose at her clumsy best friend. As the girls were laughing, the doctor came in to check on Carey. He was relieved to see that she woke up. “Carey! Im going to give you a quick check up and also you have a visitor. Would you like me to invite them in after your check up?” He asked in his goofy yet proper butler accent. Carey was happy that someone besides her best friend cared enough to check on her. She then shouted “Send them in please!” To be continued...