Parents Beware! (A Hallowe’en Tale)

Warily watching innocents
parading on the edge of darkness,
portraits of miniature monsters,
haunting deserted streets.

Howls from a  local asylum,
like sirens, scream of wizards,
devious deviners hovering
over fresh young blood.

Heart beating irrationally,
I pause to calm my breath –
turn to find my charge gone
disappeared into the haze.

I retrace my steps – No!
She’s evaporated, snatched –
vomit rises in my throat,
while goblins stalk shadows.

Frantically, I hunt, search
stashes, grasping for clues,
night closing in; I shiver
at the ominous laughter.

Curiosity caught her –
twilight’s call, visions
enticing – unaware of
vulnerability, eager-eyed

as any student of fright –
hissing cackles circle
the unsuspecting morsel
of flesh, drooling fangs

connive – bumping into
evil, she tries to run, is
swallowed up, lost, stench
of morbidity closing in –

find her, crumpled –
a broken bird – princess
dreams dishevelled, streaks
of tears on muddied face.

Tend to her in the shadowy
hours, dissuading fears –
All imaginary, I persuade,
just costumes like yours..

Yet, even I feel the lingering
snarl of beasts, the undeniable
chill in the air; I snuggle her
tight, and say an extra prayer

as Night wraps her in his
ebony cloak and feverish and
afraid, she is whisked away
to another mortifying realm.

(A ghoulish tale, written a few years back and submitted here for Manic Mondays 3 Way prompt:  ominous.)