Halloween.coms group story (The Ethel Town Witch)

[Laurie Strode]

And?! ...

[Haunted Horseman]

Geez, what a demanding audience Sorry Laurie, just took a break for a couple of days. But never fear, the story shall continue.

[Haunted Horseman]

"Psst, Psst", Phil heard a sound coming from the bushes around the courtyard. He quickly swung around and shined his flashlight beam on the origin of the sound. He could see the image of a man's head poking through the bushes. " Phil..??.its' Bob". Phil slowly lowered his arm and let out the breath he was holding way too long. "Bob, what are you doing in the bushes, I thought something had happened to you." said Phil. Bob emerged from his hiding place with Jane and Magwai right behind. "Phi, you don't know what just happened. Four figures in cloaks, 3 black and 1 red, made their way from President's Hall and into Ivy Hill, they were carrying torches." Bob cried.

Phil paused for a moment, clearly processing the information he had just learned. "Okay, Bob, this might be good news, you said they came from President's Hall, that would mean that there is good chance that the building is now empty of our adversaries. Did you see if they were carrying anything like a book or scroll." Phil asked. " No, no books or scrolls, just torches." responded Bob.

"Alright, we have no time to lose...Oh I'm sorry, who is this young lady?” asked Phil. "Jane Accardi" the scared and shaking girl responded. "Well it looks like we won't need your help Ms Accardi, I was going to ask you to act as a distraction so we could gain access to the Chancellor's office." explained Phil. "But, Phil..." interrupted Bob. "There is more to it now." As the group made it way toward the front steps of large, gothic building, Bob described how he learned of Jane's little sister and an undetermined number of additional children who had fallen victim to the witch's spell.

The double doors that guarded the entrance to President's Hall were left unlocked, yet not a light was on in the stately building. Magwai and Taz, as if acting on instinct quickly entered seemly unafraid of what lies in the darkness within. "Lets us take a look first" Magwai said as his tail crossed over the threshold of the entrance and he disappeared into black hallway.

[uncletor]

"You might not have a use for Jane, but I do..."said a voice behind them.
Both guys turned to see the Chancellors wife. She was in a black robe and was wearing some sort of gold chain with a amulet on it...and she was holding a gun on them.
"We have to move fast...get in there.." she said between her teeth as she motioned them inside."I need a human offering to my dark god, and she looks okay to me.."
For whatever reason, Phil asked;"What's happened to the chancellor??"
"Dead. Hung himself.." the wife replied, but as casually as if she was giving the time."Can you IMAGINE that?? Finally SEES one of our ceremonies and finds out what we REALLY DO and can't live with 'the shame'. Great. Now I have to get this show on the road FAST...even our group just can't HIDE a body...we have to let the authorities do their thing..Guess it's a good thing he didn't leave a note..Funny thing..he got rid of that damn Codex translation just before he stretched his neck...any of you guys able to help? Girls life in exchange..otherwise.."

[uncletor]

Hootch hated it.
It was always the kids that got to her. Years and years as an Emerg Nurse, and they could still slip in and wound her, no matter how tough she thought she was.
Right now, she was leaning against the brick wall outside emergency and couldn't decide if she wanted to throw up or cry. Maybe both.
She heard a cat meow. It was being held in the arms of a husband/wife team who were coming out of Emerg.
They had come up with a little girl's cat..the dang thing wouldn't shuddup and eventually the family thought it sensed the girl was in trouble and wanted to see her owner at the hospital...so they brought the cat down and thought it might SOMEHOW cheer the kid up.
Naturally they ran into nurse Heartacher...The Crank...so by the book she passed printers ink and Britanicas. The Harpie had tossed them out.
Hooch winced. Animal/pet therapy had more evidence going for it then a lot of proceedures that were accepted by The Crank.
"Hey folks..."she said as they passed her."Wanted to take the kids cat into see her?"
The two were on the verge of tears, and could only nod.
"Well, I guess I should NOT tell you that there is an open door at end of the loading bay..and of COURSE I should not mention that the nurse smoking over there is a blood enemy of the lady who threw you out..OR mention that she loves, loves loves cats and will JUST fall in love with that one...No, no...no...I should NOT mention that...

[uncletor]

"Hey Hooch...take a look at this.."
It was Fred, with his 'I got a secret' smile.
He offered her two photos...same lady, same time, it seemed to her..she recognized the person in the photo as the Chancellors' wife.
Hooch didn't get it and told him so.
"Check out the CARS in the background."
Photo one had a 'Cuda from the seventies..Photo two was this year's Volvo.
But the lady looked the same.
Hooch felt that old chill."...and I bet you are going to tell me she has never had WORK done.."
"Not unless it's some Spanish hackjob joint below the border, and she doens't look like the kind who would entrust her looks to just any bodyshop."
Hooch smiled."What else?"
"Ever CONSIDER how DIFFICULT it would be to get ROBES for a satanic or occult service? You wouldn't be able to sew them fast enough, and most folks don't have a Singer machine that would handle the job..besides where would you get a PATTERN???
"So I checked out all the tailors around here that make robes for choirs or graduations, or ministers or OTHER THINGS...our little lady there came up with a row of cherries again, just like a slot machine."
Hooch was smiling herself now. "She's always been a huge huge pain in the fundament...you gonna go over and see her??"
"Just came to pick you up boss lady..by the way...is there like, a pet store nearby?? Fish market??"
"No...light industrial...why??"
"All damn night long I've been hearing cats meowing around here...and it's like the vacant lot behind the hospital is FULL of them...and not WILD ones either...and the raccoons won't go NEAR them.."
"Okay...THAT'S interesting..."

[uncletor]

Phil turned to the chancellors wife and said;"Okay. You win. Let the girl go, and I'll give you the codex translation I have...it'll work...it's the newest, most MODERN translation...it's like chosing between a spoon and blender..
"And to show my good faith..I'll volunteer to read from it for you.."
This got Phil a stare and shake of the head. She didn't get it.
PERFECT, Phil thought..perfect, perfect, perfect...SHE DOESN'T KNOW..
"You can't read it because you are a witch, and because it will kick up a charge and maybe KILL you...you need a shill to do the reading and I can..heck, I translated the whole thing, didn't I???"
"Okay, run along Hillary. You two..lets' GO.."
I have ONE shot at this, Phil said to himself..find the area in the book that is the owners manual, point the wand at her and blast her to kingdom come..if I'm lucky, she'll be shovelling coal with Lee Harvey Oswald by dawn.."

[Haunted Horseman]

With that, Bob and Phil began their trek across campus at gunpoint. The witch stayed two steps behind, close enough that a shot couldn't miss, but far enough to avoid any sudden motions that might separate her from her weapon. Jane had run off in a different direction as soon as she was released from the painful grip of the witch. It took her a while to get over her fear but once she did, she decided she couldn't leave Bob and Phil to their peril. She was going to have to help, but how. What could she do?

Meanwhile, the witch had overlooked Taz and Magwai, who had entered the darkened President's Hall, scouting the area before the Professors entered. As Taz and Maqwai emerged from the building they saw Bob and Phil being lead away by the witch. "Another fine mess, right Bob" Magwai mumbled to himself as he turned to Taz. "They're heading toward the Library and the Codex." Taz stated. "Looks like the Cats will have to save the Human's once again. Lets go, we need to get to the Library before them and warn the Colonel. The witch won't know what hit her when we're done." The two darted across the quad and around the dorms. They would surely get there well ahead of the witch and her captives.

[Haunted Horseman]

Jane, stopped to rest at one of the benches that were scattered about campus. She needed to collect her thoughts, catch her breath and figure out her next move. She was worried about so many things right now. What would become of Bob and Phi? How was her little sister doing? Did Bob know what he was talking about? Could his success of failure hold the key to whether or not her sister would survive? And what type of help could she get for Bob and Phil? She couldn't go to the University authorities, the chancellor was dead, or at least that is what that crazy woman with the gun said. If she told her story to the police, they either dismiss her as a Halloween prankster or lock her up for psychiatric evaluation.

Her mind drew a blank; she bent over dropping her head into her hands in sheer frustration. As he rubbed the tears from her eyes, her attention was drawn to a little dedication plaque at the base of the Japanese Maple in front of the bench. It read " Generous gift of the Nursing Staff of St. Bernard's Hospital, M. Hooch." Why did that sound so familiar and why did she think this was important? " Hooch? Hooch?" She repeated the name over and over. That's it, Jane remember now, during the summer semester, she remembered attending a lecture given by M Hooch on the paranormal. It was all just for fun then. But now this was serious. Jane remembered, that she was part of a Ghost hunting team. Maybe not exactly what she was looking for, but it was close. At least she wouldn't look at Jane like she had a screw loose.

How would Jane find her? What were the chances that Hooch was at the hospital tonight? She had to take that chance. Jane made the decision; she was going to St. Bernards. It was only a 1-mile from the Campus. She could make that trip in no time. Finally all those years of high school track and cross-country would be used for something other than keeping her figure.

[Haunted Horseman]

Bob and Phil slowly walked toward the library. Both knew that stalling was in their best interest. They still had several cards to play. Taz and Magwai, Jane, and yes even the Colonel. This game of chess was far from over, but they had to play it smart. Right now that meant playing along with the old crone and letting her think she already won the day.

"Awful quiet, aren't we boys", she said as they inched across the quad. "You wouldn't be thinking of doing anything stupid, now would you? I'd strongly advise against it. Now lets pick of the pace, I'm not playing; move your asses." She screeched. Phil responded calmly, "Madam, I can assure you, you have nothing to fear from two near middle aged men, who have long since, seen they days of youthful heroics fade away."

That earned an evil chuckle from the chancellor's wife. "Maybe, you're not as dumb as I thought. Youth is what it's all about, Youth runs this world, and I'm going to keep mine. And you two are going to help me. So keep moving."

[uncletor]

Dinky was happy most days. He loved humans. They fed him.
This kept him him happy. What was NOT to love about them?
Dinky had started out as a tiny little orange kitten, and had grown up to his present Big Cat state. He was tubby and plush and could put you to sleep with his purrs. Forget the stuff about one pound overweight equaled 15 pounds in a human...forget he could clean the couch with his gut. Dinky was big and dug it. His constant stare was for folks to rub his belly.
But tonight, he was on the road.
Usually, when Halloween rolled around, Dinky spent it not TALKING but singing. Sinatra. Almost all cats could sing like Sinatra, put only Sinatra had figured out how to dangle and tease and play with a lyric and melody like a cat could.
Dinky had just done "Strangers in the Night" when he was caught up in the latest fad. The cat loved fads as much as humans, and didn't even TRY to figure out where the idea came from. He just KNEW he had to go the hospital emerg..so did a lot of others. He passed six on the way there.

[uncletor]

Hooch had a cute running war with Dr. Starkweather that was almost funny.
Doctor Starkweather was a new guy, and very much by the book. Always made fun of any treatments that might be considered 'new age'. Hooch usually tried to make the folks comfortable and would offer anything they liked to get them feeling more positive. A fave collection of poems. A book. A religious item like the book of common prayer.
Whatever.
Doc Starkweather would just shake his head and make a face.

When Hooch came back in from outside, it was more bad news..combined together, the stats seemed to show the kids were sinking...Dang.
Then one girl stirred and coughed and looked up.
Her cat was sitting on her chest and purring. Would stare down her throat as if it was exploring a cave of monsters..The parents suddenly caught sight and burst into tears.
The cat was scooped up in the mothers arms and startled..as if to say:"What?? What???"
The daughter meanwhile sat up and asked what was going on. Where her bag was. How come she was inside.
And then Hooch caught sight of the second cat.
It was curled up in the arm pit of the little boy two cots over. It's nose was sort of smelling. The kid was beginning to stir.
Then Dinky walked in. Waddled up to a kid out cold. Hopped up on the end of the cot and flopped down with a splat on the feet and just LAYED there..nobody seemed to mind.
Starkweather was beside Hooch now, and was turning white.
"What do you think of pet therapy NOW??" asked Hooch.
The doctor put his fingers in his ears and said:"La-la-la-la-la I AM NOT LISTENING...I AM NOT SEEING ANY OF THIS. If this violation of hospital protocol SEEMS to be WORKING..I don't want to KNOW.."
Hooch laughed as a siamese walked back and forth between another kid and the head board of the bed he was laying in.
Two more kids were stirring.

[HalloweenGeneral]

Bob and Phil had just walked into a dark room only lit by the hundreds of candles on the floor. In the middle of the room there was a five pointed star with a circle inside it. The witch locked the door and and told them to stand still. While she busied her self Bob told Phil "While her back is turned we could take her." ,but Phil replied "she may look like meek person, but I have a feeling that she could do more to us than we could imagine."

[Haunted Horseman]

Jane started to jog along the road from the campus to the Hospital. She had to pace herself or she'd never make it. She was not a natural at long distances, sprinting was her strong point. All the issues and concerns that were swirling around in her head kept her mind occupied. It was hard to concentrate on her breathing and her pace. Her path took her on Halifax road which ran along side the outskirts of Ivy Hill Park and Reserve. This was a problem, she thought. She remembered the fear she felt when she saw those 4 hooded figures making their way passed President's Hall and into the woods. Would she encounter them along the way? She had no intention of entering the domain of Ivy Hill, but she just being so close made her very nervious. Jane knew how to handle it though, she'd look straight head, never turning to her right, never taking even a moments glimpse into the dark woodland. Of course, this resolution made it even harder now. She again turned her attention to the road, she was approaching a darkened section of the road, no streetlights, about 100 yard, then she would enter the warm glow of the Hospital's parking lot lights. It was getting very windy now, leaves were rustling about and few were even hitting her in the face. She could feel a list mist forming. It was a cold rain forming. Just what she needed. No matter, she was almost there, 40 yards now. "Kick it" she said to her self, "come on Jane, this is your strength, down the final stretch, into your sprint"

[uncletor]

Hooch was outback on break...taking it all in.
In the biggest example of pet therapy she had ever SEEN the kids were coming out of WHATEVER it was that they had been under.
Parents were crying. Kids were coming to. Cats were smugly walking up and down the aisles...curling around ankles as if to say;"See, makes you want to treat me with more RESPECT??? Huh???"
But there was something OUT there now...
Okay, TWO things..
First there were MORE cats in that back lot...Lots more...
And on the outside edges, she was SURE she had seen some shapes of people...People in robes, she thought, but let it go...had to stop watching THE LEOPARD MAN so much...
Then this white object starts coming out of the far far woods..
The other girls hadn't SEEN it yet. They were talking about t.v. themes..Hey,work in a hospital LONG enough and you wind up talking about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING...one girl was saying how the theme form BONANZA was the best ever, but nothing on the show could ever match the excitement of the theme song..from then on, the show was down hill.
And Hooch suddenly saw something that TOTALY matched the theme.
There WAS something white that was coming towards her at top speed. And she was SURE now that there WERE guys out there in robes..black robes.
The white thing was some college kid she wasn't sure she didn't recognize coming at her at a digging out pace..the robes were coming at her at defensive end speed to nail her broadside..
Their collision was only a matter of time..the theme song from Bonanza would have worked perfectly.
And then, like that dang parting of the Red Sea in the Ten Commandments, it happened...
Wave after wave of CATS sprang up and covered the meanies. Danced on the heads. Completely engulfed them. Pulled them down.
Could you DROWN under cats? Sure looked like it.
And Hooch suddenly understood why they were worshipped in Egypt.
The big fat orange cat she has seen earlier that had flopped on the feet of the sick girl was by her ankle..it seemed to enjoy the view and smiled.