Nestled far from any major city worth noting, a small quaint village by the name of Cherry Hill had chosen a rather strange name for its town. They did have a hill somewhat nearby that stood out amongst the vast farmland surrounding it, but the hill bore no cherries. In fact there wasn't anything on it except for a large house that was currently abandoned. Anyone could easily see the house on the hill from a great distance as they traveled around the area.
Now the people of Cherry Hill were a suspicious lot. They had spent generations cultivating fear and paranoia into their daily lives to insure that irrational action was easy to come by if needed. Few other neighboring villages could claim such a heightened feel of hysteria that seemed to eke out of the very buildings.
In fact, the village had just recently entered into a riot after they found a demonic visage in one of their produce. That was after you looked at it for several hours, you could make out something that looked kind of like a face, especially after you pushed the mold around it a bit. Nonetheless, the village folk were at arms about this horrible catastrophe that has struck their poor community. Scouring the countryside for a culprit, the ignorant and irrational mass quickly found their scapegoat.
It would probably be a rather unfortunate turn of events for Vrumugun#47, who was merely passing through the region to fill in for Vrumugun#46. That one had an unpleasant encounter with a great oak tree that unfortunately fell on him.
The villagers quickly accused the Copy Men as a warlock or some other bad thing. Sweeping him up in the movement, they dragged him to a specially prepared pyre for such occasions that required live burnings. Tossing the hapless fool onto the already burning flames, they gave a big cheer as the inferno quickly consumed him. After all was said and done, the hysterical mob quickly disassembled to whisper about this dark event for generations to come.
Back to the titled place, the villagers of Cherry Hill had their own tale about the dread House on Cherry Hill. Mothers always remind their children to stay as far away from the accursed place as possible or something horrible that they haven't quite taken the time to think about will happen. Whenever anyone would mention the place, a hushed silence would always settle down as the villagers cast shifty eyes at the speaker. Despite the social stigma applied, it was a popular taboo subject for the villagers to discuss to visitors that were being used as scapegoats for things.
The legend of the House on Cherry Hill was a surprisingly short one, due to the fact it required that everyone five and up be capable of repeating the tale in the village. Back when the people of this town were a lot less suspicious about everything, an eccentric man from the city came to this place on a cartload of gold. Deciding that a house on top of the hill would grant him the best view of the entire place, he proceeded to hire workers to construct one there. Strangely enough, not a single accident or fatality occurred during the building phase and it was actually completed on time. Growing bored with the region, the man decided to abandon the place despite wasting lots of money furnishing it. It had been abandoned so far, with not a soul entering the place leaving alive. Of course, since no one has ever entered the place that claim couldn't be discredited.
And so the House sat there waiting for someone to enter and test her courage against the horrors that were imagined to be in there by people who had too much time on their hands and would be better occupied working.
News of such a theoretically "Haunted House" had caught the ears of many, even those that weren't exactly in this plane of existence. Trapped in the imposed ancient laws of the world, the evil primal derived of fear that sought to bring down ultimate darkness on Hallow's Eve, the scarecrow man himself, Jack Hallow.
"Man, all this floating stuff gets boring." Jack fumed to himself as he drifted in this prison that prevented him from escaping until 73 more years have passed. "If I knew that this stupid clause would leave me trapped here all the time, I would never have signed that contract." He grumbled to himself.
"Don't be mad, master." A black blob of darkness assured.
Glaring angrily at the only company that was provided for him in this empty prison that surrounded him, he paused to examine his candle. The last thing he wanted to happen was for it to go out again and Jack would be forced to waste countless days trying to get it lighted up again. Wilson the blob, the only form of conversation in this place, was terribly unhelpful.
Jack had spent most of the past two years fuming on yet another defeat in the long line of disastrous defeats that had been the story of his not quite eternal life. It was amazing how close to victory he was in every single one. Well, except that incident the first time he got himself into this gig, where he was banished by a simple command. Groaning to himself, he really didn't want to even think about how disappointingly quick that one went.
Currently he was burning with revenge, but then again so was the candle in his head.
"Curse Lina Inverse. Curse Zelgadiss Grayword! Curse Gourry Gabriev! Curse Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune! Curse Filia Ul Copt! Curse Xelloss! Curse Arthur Roelle! Curse Hellmaster Fibrizo!" Jack raved in fury at his current state.
"But isn't Hellmaster already dead?" Wilson the blob interjected.
Pausing in reflection, Jack commented, "I do believe you are right, which kind of makes me cursing him futile. Nonetheless, all of my curses still stand."
"That's a lot of curses," Wilson sweatdropped as Jack continued to rant onward.
"When I get out of here, I'm going to make all of you pay. Except the fact that many of you may already be dead by that time, not counting the dragon and the mazoku." He concluded scratching the top of his pumpkin head. Hanging his arms down in despair, he sighed, "Oh who am I kidding? I'll probably get stuck with a whole bunch of new people and get my butt kicked again."
"Go for it boss!" Wilson cheered on.
Whacking the blob, Jack yelled, "That's not a good thing."
"Oh."
"Talking with you would be mind-numbing if it wasn't the fact that I got a candle in my head instead of a brain." Jack muttered to himself. Reaching into his straw filled chest, he reflected, "At least I still have the heart of child in that bottle here."
"Boss," Wilson inquired stretching a pseudo pod up, "Why don't you just get your revenge on those meddling inbred adventurers right now?"
"Because you idiot, as bound by the ancient laws of this land, I, Jack Hallow, can only come back to the real world every seventy-five years to bring the eternal night to the world and thanks to my latest defeat in the Halloween '99 fic I must stay here until the cycle comes full circle." Jack explained.
"But the rule say that Jack Hallow can't come back to bring the eternal night to the world until seventy five years have passed. It doesn't say anything about preventing Jack the Hallow from coming back to wreck revenge on those that defeated him." Wilson offered.
Jack stood dumbfounded for a moment.
"I can't believe after all these centuries you finally generated a brain for yourself." He exclaimed as Wilson floated there.
"Actually I do believe I'm still a single cell organism," Wilson commented.
"Forget that last comment," Jack groaned to himself. "But thanks to that bending of the rule, I can finally return to the real world and wreck my revenge. Jack the Hallow is coming and payback is a female wolf!"
"Don't you mean a bitch?" Wilson questioned.
"Yes," Jack muttered. Strike a dramatic pose, Jack yelled, "This Hallow's Eve, Jack is back! So let's change that title to the story!"
"No way," SephZero typed.
"Worth a shot," Jack shrugged before he dematerialized out of his prison back to the real world leaving Wilson all by himself.
"Wow, it's so quiet here," Wilson reflected as he drifted silently.
Jack the Hallow's escape from his prison didn't go unnoticed as a certain spinning cone of darkness floating in the astral plane felt a remarkable jab of hate directed toward him. Well, a jab is a light word, more like a piercing spear of rage and utter hatred to be more exact. For a Mazoku such a thing can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.
Shaking off the effect, Xelloss remarked, "Well, you don't get that every day."
Floating in the astral plane for a few moments longer, Xelloss shifted himself to the material plane as he took his typical priest form upon entry, hovering in the sky as he looked down upon the vast land of the Demon Peninsula below him.
"Interesting," Xelloss smiled as he studied the gathering dark clouds, "it seems that our friend has found a loop hole in his contract."
Xelloss hadn't bothered considering how to deal with the annoying Primal since Lina defeated it during last Hallow's Eve coming of '99. Quite frankly, Xelloss was surprised that Jack hadn't figured this out sooner. Though due to that fact, Jack would obviously be coming after Xelloss for his responsibility in the Primal's last defeat and many more before. Xelloss considered warning the others about this little problem brewing in the horizon.
Considering for about a second.
"Let's see what the old scarecrow cooks up this time," Xelloss smiled as he decided now would be a great time to pick on a certain gold dragon that was also an acquaintance of said scarecrow.
Lina and Gourry strolled down a dirt road as they made their way slowly toward the village of Cherry Hill. It was certainly a detour from their previous destination, but after receiving an invitation to come stay at the Haunted House of Cherry Hill, Lina decided that it would be in her best interest to go considering Jack the Hallow himself signed it.
It was almost by pure accident that two even managed to cross path again since the whole dreadful affair with Jack almost two years ago. Lina had found Gourry hopelessly lost in his feeble attempt to follow the instructions presented on the invitation. She managed to drag him onto the right path and the two have been walking for some time.
Looking at the invitation questionably, Gourry asked, "So why do you think about the part of the invitation that swore his revenge against all will be fulfilled?"
"That it's probably a bunch of hot air," Lina shrugged. "I mean, why the heck did he add 'the' into the middle of his name?" she asked.
"Because it makes his name different?" Gourry offered.
Shaking her head, Lina returned her concentration back to the road, the village of Cherry Hill couldn't be that much further away according to her directions. From there, they would head to the House on Cherry Hill, though even from where they were walking it could be easily seen. She heard rumors about it being haunted but didn't give them much credit considering the region's reputation.
Lina had some reservation about dealing with Jack again, but she felt if she didn't fall into his trap the first time and get it over with, it would only encourage the scarecrow to try something even stupider. Their last encounter with that primal creature was mind numbing at worst, Lina secretly hoped that Maryu Gaav wouldn't come around this time. Hellmaster was bad enough the first time.
"I wonder if everyone else is going to be there too?" Lina muttered out loud.
"I thinks so," Gourry commented, "it is kind of nice to have everyone back together though."
"Well, it may be nice but I can do without both Jack and Xelloss. They're nothing but trouble." Lina remarked as they came upon the entrance of the village of Cherry Hill. "I wonder if the people here have seen the others come by?" she wondered.
"Well, why don't we ask?" Gourry offered as Lina raised an eyebrow.
"You've got to be kidding." She muttered.
"Have you seen a guy who use to be a chimera, a princess of Saillune, a mysterious priest, and a dragon girl with her tail showing?" Gourry called to the townsfolk.
Lina on the other hand had a meeting with the dirt road.
"Why doesn't he listen to me?" Lina groaned as she pulled her face up.
"Yup, they passed through here," Gourry informed Lina as she got up and dusted herself up. "Apparently, they already went to the house. " he continued pointing at the house on the hill.
The sky darkened around the house and lightning and thunder crashed behind it. All of the villagers quickly scuttled to their shelters, leaving Lina and Gourry alone.
"Is that typical?" Lina inquired as Gourry blinked. Placing her hand to her head, Lina explained, "The lightning and thunder?"
"Apparently yes," Gourry remarked pointing at the house again.
Said effects occurred again.
Shaking her head, Lina could tell it was going to be a very weird episode coming up real soon. Taking a deep breath, she guessed that it would be better to face it right here and now, before it started to get to her. Besides, what could be the worse that could happen?
"Come on Gourry let's go!" Lina said as they marched forward to the house.
The path to the house despite leading to an abandon building was well taken care of with the vegetation trimmed to a suitable level. Overhead quickly darkened as clouds started to cover the sky and rain begun pouring down on the two. By the time they had run up to the porch, torrential rain was pouring as lightning and thunder crashed above.
"Talk about a freakish storm," Lina gasped soaking wet. "I'm going to give that Jack a piece of my mind when I get my hands on him." She promised herself as she pushed the door open.
The two entered a large hallway that led up to massive stairway split off half way to lead to two different sides of the second stories. To each side of the base of stairs were doorways, each with a massive chandelier shining light overhead. The doorway to their right was slightly ajar through which the sounds of conversation could be heard.
Sticking his head out of the opening, Xelloss greeted, "Ah Lina-san and Gourry-san. We were wondering when you would come. Why are you just standing around there?"
"Because we got caught in a freakish storm," Gourry commented as they proceeded into what appeared to be the recreational room of the house.
Zel, Amelia, and Filia were all present in the room, sitting by the fireplace as Filia poured out tea as they took in the warm heat of the fire. The three raised an eyebrow at the rather soaked condition that Lina and Gourry were in as Xelloss followed behind the two.
"What happen to you two?" Amelia questioned as Lina pulled off her cape to dry it by the fire.
"It was that freaking rain," she complained as Zel looked at her questionably. "What is with that look?" Lina demanded as Zel pointed to the neighboring window.
The open window revealed the great view of the landscape that spread out below the hill as it revealed a perfectly sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Smearing her face against the window in shock Lina turned to face the others.
"You should have at least heard the storm?" she hazarded to question.
"We didn't hear anything since we came here," Filia remarked as she sip her tea. "I must admit, I still have an aversion to coming here," she remarked coldly as Lina blinked.
"How come?" Gourry decided to ask.
"Xelloss kidnapped her here," Zelgadiss explained as Filia shot a glance at Xelloss who merely smiled and waved.
"Kind of like the last time," Amelia added.
Digging her had into her hair in frustration, Lina demanded, "Okay, I just about had enough of all this silliness. We know you're here so let's just cut to the chase."
"Subtleties aren't your forte," Zel commented as Lina shot him a glare. "If you want to get this done with that's fine by me." Zel shrugged as the light in the place dimmed.
A subtle throbbing seemed to emanate through the house, as the flames in the fireplace became a brief flicker in the encroaching darkness. Drapes quickly obscured the windows and doors slammed shut throughout the place. Amongst all this activities an increasing chuckle started to echo throughout the chamber culminating into deafening laughter.
Materializing in a puff of black smoke was a large disembodied pumpkin head with a candle inside illuminating it. Floating in the air, its face twisted in a gleeful smile as it slowly came to hover over the less then enthusiastic group.
"Welcome, I hope you've made yourself at home." Jack laughed as he looked down on them.
"What a ham," Lina grumbled.
Jack's face twisted into a scorn as he countered, "Silence you!"
"So what's with the head? Did you lose the rest of your body?" Amelia questioned looking up at the floating pumpkin head.
"Ha, like I should answer such a trivial question," Jack sneered at the question. "I won't even grace it with an answer."
"Isn't that, in itself, an answer?" Gourry inquired scratching his head.
"Yup," Zel nodded in agreement.
Barely even glancing at Jack, Filia agreed, "Probably is."
"Enough of all this chatter!" Jack fumed as smoke started to come out of his eyes and mouth. In a fit of coughing, the pumpkin head sputtered around a bit blinded by the smoke. The group could only watch as it painfully ricocheted off of the bookcases and the wall.
"This is pathetic," Lina groaned to herself. "Why don't we just cut to the chase where I blast you with a Dragu Slave and we can all get on with our lives?" she inquired preparing to start up a spell.
"I would never," Jack coughed as the smoke finally dissipated, "you think that I would go through all this trouble just to end it like that? I would certainly say not!"
"I vote for it," Zel replied calmly as Jack's mouth hit the ground.
"Sounds like a great way for justice to triumph over evil," Amelia agreed as well.
Scratching his chin for a moment, Xelloss reflected, "Well, I have nothing against that conclusion. Quite frankly, I have some reservations about whatever Jack is planning on doing."
"I would disagree with Xelloss on principal," Filia stated, "but I think Lina's conclusion is for the best."
"You people are so mean!" Jack wailed as tears poured out of his eye and into the mouth cavity putting out the candle. "What about the thirteen ghosts that I brought to torture you for the night?" he inquired as water poured down onto the floor.
"Not really interested," Zel commented crossing his arm. "I think Scary Movie 1 & 2 killed the parodying off scary movies genre." He explained as everyone else nodded.
"But that's my gig, if I don't get do that then I'll never appear in another fic." Jack complained bitterly.
"Them's the break," Xelloss stated.
"But I was going to rip-off every convention in the whole haunted house genre," Jack complained as he spun around madly.
"Do you smell something burning?" Gourry interrupted as everyone paused for a moment.
Meanwhile outside of the house, a mob of the villagers had gathered around the place in a circle, pitchforks and torches in hand. Having set fire to the pile of hay stacked against the house, they gave a big cheer as the building quickly caught aflame. The fact the whole thing was made up of dried wood didn't help the situation anymore.
You see the villagers were getting a bit concerned that there were so many people visiting their haunted house that they all feared. Now no one actually had the guts to actually see whether it was haunted and frankly they were also afraid that the place's reputation might get despoiled if one of the people in there came out alive. After some ill-conceived ideas were thrown around while under the influence of alcohol, it was agreed that the best solution was to set the place on fire and kill all the hapless people inside. Plus it was a great way to get the community together.
"Burn them all!" the villagers chanted as they watched the place go up in a brilliant inferno.
"Not to sound like I disapprove of this practice, but don't you think this sort of thing is going a bit too far. I mean there are people in there." One of the villagers questioned.
Everyone paused from their revelry as they looked at the guy.
"He's not one of us. Throw him in the fire!" Someone finally yelled.
And that's just what they did, picking him up and hurling him, helpless, into the burning conflagration. Their cheers of joy quickly doused his frantic screams, as he was hideously burned alive.
The flames quickly got out of control and spread quickly down the hill along all of the dried up weeds that populated the hill. In a matter of hours it had burned down the village and washed over the entire Cheery Hill farmland. Later historians would comment on how the blaze spread across the Demon Peninsula and was probably the worst conflagration to the hit the place in the last century.
So let us lament on poor Jack's tale, not even getting the decencies to have his name in the title and his plan torn asunder by a bunch of crazed villagers. Languishing in his prison, candle snuffed out, Jack pondered on the reason for his failure. Certainly the making fun of scary movies convention has gotten sour in recent times, but was it really the true cause for his downfall. But what was the true moral of this story?
Perhaps the problem simply was... Location. Location. Location.
By the way, the villagers of Cherry Hill are looking for a potential scapegoat to blame for the fire that burned down their village. Anyone stupid enough to apply should prepare for a good pressing by the villagers. They have a whole bunch of rocks set aside for just such an occasion.