Stone Cold Revenge, Hugs.And.Kisses [bill gates books recommendations TXT] 📗

always wondered what the graveyard of her hometown looked like. When she reached the top of the hill she was surprised to see a little girl in front of a small tombstone. The girl couldn't have been more than six years old. A few purple flowers lay on the ground in front of her, a kind that she never seen before, like small purple lilies. Shock wondered why she was out here all alone on Halloween. Stepping closer she saw the traces of tears on her face.

"Are you ok?" Shock asked.

The girl turned to her, rubbing her eyes, "Yeah."

There was a moment of silence, "Who was it?"

"Oh," the girl said, turning back to the tombstone, "She was my older sister."

"I'm sorry," Shock said sadly, though never had any siblings herself.

"Don't be, I never met her," The girl said, "She died before I was born. Eight years today."

Eight years today, that meant… Shock looked at the little tombstone. Etched in the stone was a ribbon design that bordered the edges. Printed over the curved top was the name she never thought she'd see again,

Samantha Shelton

October 31

Beloved daughter, we will miss you.

If that was her tombstone, then the girl was her… Shock stared at the little girl in front of her. Yes, she could see it now. Her father's eyes, her mother's hair, the girl even had the hawk nose Shock had when she was little, which she thankfully had grown out of. The girl looked thoughtfully at the tombstone in front of her.

"I always come up here when I want to be alone, since no one likes coming here. It's nice to bring flowers to put on the graves so they don't look so lonely. When the spring comes and I have more flowers I'll give one to everyone here," The girl continued, "Is it weird to love someone you never met?"

Shock was quiet for a moment, "No. I don't think it's weird at all… But I don't understand, if you weren't crying for her, why where you crying?"

The girl sighed, "I was fighting with my mom again. She won't come trick-or-treating with me and she wanted me to wear some stupid princess costume. She doesn't even like Halloween; she thinks it took Samantha away from her. But my dad doesn't think that. He thinks that she was meant to die on her favorite day of the year."

Mom. There was a word she hadn't used for a while. They hadn't left each other on the best of terms. Their last words to each other screamed through a closed door. If she could go back… Shock gave a quick smile and sat down.

"I wouldn't know anything about that, but I think that Samantha wouldn't have minded dying if she had had any fun that night."

The girl looked at her in surprise, "You knew my sister?"

"Yeah, I was her best friend. She called me that night, said that she couldn't come trick- or- treating with me 'cause she was grounded. I saved some candy for her…" Shock made her voice break; this was too easy, "When I heard the news, I couldn't believe it. I ran all the way to… to… where her house used to be. I… found this," she pulled out a little witch's hat, "She was a witch for every Halloween I knew her."

"That's the hat from the picture my dad showed me once," the girl stared in awe.

Shock offered it to her, "Take it. Samantha would want you to have it. You could hide it from your mom and put on when your dad takes you out."

"Really! You'll let me have it?"

"Of course, it's way too small for me anyway. I really came here to give it back," Shock handed the girl the hat and watched her put it on, "See? Perfect fit."

"It's amazing! Thank you!" The girl smiled one of the biggest similes that Shock had ever seen. Her heart melted.

Shock noticed that the sun was almost gone, "You should get home now. Angry or not, your mom will still worry about you."

"Your right," The girl started to get up and walk away, but turned around and said, "My name's Violet."

"Violet, that's a pretty name. Say Violet, could you do something for me?" Shock asked.

"Like what?"

"Could you apologize to your mom for me? The last time I saw her I said some pretty mean things, could you tell her I'm sorry? That I didn't mean them."

"Sure, but what's your name?"

Shock laughed, "Your mom used to call me Shock."

Violet giggled, "Ok, I'll tell her."

"Oh but tell her after Halloween is over, if she knows before she might know I gave you the hat."

"Got it, thank you again! Bye!"

Violet skipped down the hill and out the graveyard. Shock sighed, she hated deceiving her sweet little sister. But in the end they both got what they wanted. She quickly left the graveyard. No sense waiting around to meet her mom when she hears that Violet had been talking to her long dead sister.


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Shock folded the piece of paper with a drawing of Violet on it and put it in her pocket. It was time to leave. She picked up her traveling satchel and headed downstairs. The boys were already waiting. Barrel and Kevin were told about Violet when Lock Shock fond them gasping for breathe in the living room. They had changed from their regular costume clothes to torn and tattered human clothes to avoid suspicion on the trip. Lock had to style his hair and wear a hat to avoid anyone noticing his horns. Kevin and Lock already packed their backpacks and Barrel heaved a duffle bag filled with food to last them, with Barrel's appetite, two days tops. Klondike was chewing on his leash impatiently. Lock was setting up the last of the booby traps in front of the door. If any one even dared step on the front step they would trigger the hidden mouse traps.

Barrel and Kevin were told about Violet when Lock Shock fond them gasping for breath in the living room.

"Did Reaper say where we supposed to meet him to get to this Land of the Dead place?" Kevin asked as he helped Lock set up a hidden catapult.

"No," Shock said sullenly, "He said he'd come to us."

"Then we better get outside before he's dumb enough to knock," Barrel said, heading for the door.

"That won't be necessary," Reaper said stepping out of the shadows.

"How did you-!" Lock stammered nearly setting off the catapult.

"Don't ask," Reaper said smugly.

The boys dropped what they were doing and stood with Shock, who said, "Ok how dose this work?"

"We need to be underground," Reaper responded, "I'm aware that you have a basement?"

They all crowed into the elevator uncomfortably. Even though the elevator was pretty big, no one likes being in confined spaces with Death. When they were all in the basement Reaper walked toward an empty space of wall, pulling out his scythe from thin air. He plunged the blade into the stone, cutting it like butter, and carved a door shape in the wall.

"This doorway will lead you into the Land of the Dead. The realm where dead souls gather and live. Unlike us, when most die they find themselves in this realm. If my memory serves me right there is an old skeleton by the name of Elder Gutknecht. He might know the answer to this mystery. While you are there it would be wise that you keep your half-alive selves a secret. For if there is one wish that the dead share is to be alive again, and some will do anything to make this wish come true. Stay close together and trust no one. For if someone down there is really behind this crime then you may be in grave danger. Do you still wish to continue?"

"Yes," they answered in unison, Klondike barked once.

"Then it is time. When you are ready to return simply return to the door and knock three times. The door will open again and you'll be right back here. Be sure to block the door when you come back."

They nodded. Reaper opened Death's Door.


A Bad Feeling

Chapter 6 A Bad Feeling

Déjà Vu. The stone staircase was eerily like the one in the portal to the Mortal world. After a few minutes of going downward Shock finally saw an eerie green glow coming from below. When they emerged the gang found themselves in an alley, lined with open coffins. The green light came from a street light at the end of the road. They walked to the end and stared in fascinated awe at the town square. It looked almost exactly like Halloween Town. However, one thing was a clear; everything was fully and truly dead. The houses looked like they were condemned, like this is where they came when they were torn down. The buildings where a little more modern, they only looked half a century old compared to Halloween Town manors and town homes. The center of the square had a horse statue instead of a fountain. The shops looked like the ones back home except they sold things like spare arms and legs. Another thing different about this world was the sky. It wasn't even a sky at all, it was a ceiling. The so-called sky had roots falling from the dirt ceiling, making everything feel closed in and claustrophobic.

After gaping for a while they noticed something important, no one was there. The streets were empty, the shops were vacant, nothing moved. "Where is everyone?" Lock whispered, "Didn't Jack say this place had thousands of people in it?"

"There're supposed to be," Shock whispered back.

"Where should we go?" Barrel whispered.

"Why are we whispering?" Kevin asked normally.

Before Shock could think of a comeback, music started flowing their way from down the street. Klondike's ears picked up and he tugged on his leash. They exchanged glances then followed the music. Down two blocks and a corner turn the group came to the source of the music, a pub called The Ball and Socket. The place was so packed that they could barely fit through the door, it seemed like all of the dead had come to the show. Turns out the music was being made from a skeleton band up on stage. One of them, most likely the leader, stood out, he wore a bowler hat and had one eye that slid from socket to socket. Music died away and Shock heard the lead skeleton ask for one last request.

Over the crowd someone shouted, "Corpse Bride!" This sent a wave