Another 500 Word Spooky Story For Halloween

Writing a complete story in 500 words sounds like a difficult task, there is so much that needs to be included. An introduction to set things up, the main body of the story and a finale – which in the case of a Halloween tale is bound to be a spooky twist. Yet, somehow, despite the restrictions, and despite it not being my typical genre, I managed to write two tales which I entered into my publisher’s annual Halloween Spooky Short Story competition. One of them is told in my previous blog and the other is reproduced below. Even though I have no expectation of success, I hope you enjoy the tales. Perhaps, this one is not so much a blood-curdling tale as a tale of curdled blood.

Second Spooky Very Short Halloween Tale

‘That smells delicious’, Adam said as Howard brought in the main course, a roasted joint that looked as good as it smelt.

Adam wasn’t sure why he had accepted the invitation for dinner, he hadn’t seen Howard since they had left school, 25 years ago. It had, however, been a long journey back to his home town for the school reunion last night, and he was staying on for a couple of days. To tell the truth he had been a little disappointed with the turn out at the reunion, but Howard had been kind enough to invite him to dinner and he had nothing better to do, though he had expected some of the others to be there.

‘You didn’t fancy becoming a butcher like your old man, then?’ Adam didn’t have a lot in common with Howard and was trying to make polite conversation.

‘No’, Howard responded, ‘Dead animals who have done us no harm? No thanks. In fact I rarely eat meat but I thought I would do something special tonight. Prepared this myself, Dad taught me some skills, this is boned and rolled thigh, quite an unusual cut.’

‘Well, if that black pudding you gave us for starters is anything to go by, this should be a real treat.’

Howard took the compliment with a wry smile, replying, ‘You need very fresh blood. Something else Dad taught me.’

‘I did wonder if Pete Foster might be joining us.’ Adam asked Howard, who had seemed to be getting on famously with Pete yesterday evening.

‘He felt a bit guilty, I think. You know. How he treated me at school.’

A shudder of guilt passed through Adam. He hadn’t been kind or pleasant either, back then. Howard, had been the butt of many of his unpleasant jokes and cruel pranks.

‘Well, he was a bit of a wild one, wasn’t he?’ Adam reminisced. ‘Remember that tattoo he got in sixth form, the dagger and serpent. Got into trouble for that, so did the guy who did it. Pete had lied about his age.’

‘Don’t be too hard on him,’ Howard was conciliatory. ‘It was a long time ago, and he did call round this morning. Honestly, he’s learned the error of his ways, no more Mr Nasty.' Howard cut Adam a few slices of meat and a chunk of the crackling he had roasted separately. ‘Help yourself to veg,’ he added as he passed the warm plate across.

‘Oh, forgot about the napkins’, Howard exclaimed, standing up. ‘Let me get you one, they are in the unit behind you.’

Adam looked at the slices of meat. They really did look and smell delicious. His eye caught something odd on the piece of cracking. His brain had barely registered the snake coiled around the dagger hilt before everything went black.

Howard pulled the hood over Adam’s head, tying the cord tightly round his neck.

‘Dad’s coming for dinner tomorrow, he likes black pudding, too.’