The day is October 31st, today is the first day I taste the sensation of Trick and Treating. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tZaQQymBJ
However, I’m not alone, I’m joined by twin brother Jimmy. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkZDOO7g2Y
Jimmy: “Mom, we’re going to be late.”
Jimmy I imagine is jumping up and down with excitement in his white Knight costume.
Mother: “Sorry, I just wanted to take one last look at my boys.”
???: “We’ll come back home...mother.”
I came out of my room with a pirate costume ready to leave the house but Mother stopped me.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaFl4fXHBJ
Mother: “Awww, Timmy you look adorable why did you pick a Pirate as your costume?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLXESM4Y8L
Timmy: “….I think because they look like they’re having fun.”
Mother: “….Well, I hope you have fun out there too, you two are almost 15 years old. I think you deserve to experience this at least once in your lives.”
Jimmy: “Thanks a lot mom!”
Timmy: “We should get going soon right mother?”
Mother agrees and takes us to the front door just in time to beam her signature smile to the neighborhood parents and kids. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZG1S8jk44
She then kneels down to give us our orders:
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Come back in an hour746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2BDkrRotJ
Don’t Get too much candy
Stick Together
Mother Loves you
We’re agreed and hurried to get some candy but I couldn’t help but look back at her….waving to us. Truly, today must be a special day. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFWKkXiUYO
Jimmy: “Okay, what houses should we hit first Tim?”
Timmy: “I don’t know, this is our first time out here maybe we should just go around to random houses.”
Jimmy: “I wish mom went with us, she would know what place would have the best candy.”
Timmy: “Come on Jim, we’re big kids so this should be no problem!”
I bump my fist in the air to psych myself up, despite being scared I can’t help but also feel an extreme amount of excitement.
Jimmy: “R-Right, we got this. It’s just some stranger's houses, what's the worse that can happen….”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWoCI5HAzj
Timmy: “They could decide to not give us candy.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiH9y8gsCf
Jimmy: “R-Right, I guess….”
We just walk around gazing around at the other kids dressed up in stuff ranging from Dragons to cars, even stuff I’ve never seen before.
Lucky…
Jimmy: “Hey Tim, how about that house?!”
I look towards what Tim was pointing at and see a green normal house with many pumpkin decorations.
Timmy: “Sure, why not. Did the pumpkins catch your attention?” 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXf2ILmMqV
Jimmy: “I guess, they seem….familiar. I think we can get some good candy there!”
I nod in agreement, we slowly approach the house and knock on the door ready for anything. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4t64fgR3I
The door opens up to reveal a smiling man and woman holding a box full of candy.
Skittles, Gumdrops, Candycorn, and Kit-Kats! My mouth begins to salivate at the new candy I’ve yet to experience.
Timmy and Jimmy: “Trick or Treat!!”
Kind Woman: “Oh, a Pirate and Knight what an adorable combination.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4jq1dMN9W
Kind Man: “Agreed sweetheart, I think these two are actually new to the neighborhood.” 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFFsxU2AhS
Kind Woman: “You’re right, I don’t think I’ve ever seen these two before. What’re your names?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzLNH7Vqav
We tell them our names and they gift us with a genuine smile. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc944YTYFL
Kind Woman: “Adorable!”
They reward our bags with an incredible amount of candy, more than I expected.
Timmy and Jimmy: “Thank You!”
Kind Woman: “You’re welcome you two, good luck on your next house.”
We nod and was about to leave until she went to pat my head, I by reflex….pushed her head away. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhkNXNTLMo
Kind Woman and Kind Man: “??”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtdoxVfSoC
Timmy: “Haha, sorry about that I want to keep my hair clean for a picture I’ll take later.”
Kind Woman: “Oh...I’m sorry, I hope you enjoy the candy.”
Timmy: “I will, let’s go Jim.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx0rWoi0TH
Jimmy: “Huh, oh...okay.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65dizUkOX3
We leave our first house and bounty intact, however, I think I need to keep myself in check better next time.
Jimmy: “Tim, are you okay?” 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sK8d0uszB
Timmy: “You’ve never asked me that before, what’s up?”
Jimmy: “I don’t know, just felt like I have to.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIKa9hHrLA
Timmy: “Is that right….I’m fine. I’m actually great, you made the right call concerning that house! Let’s get even more candy, I’ll follow your lead”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61KnG9ZlkP
Jimmy: “Um, okay.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CVjl5OpUT
We then hit 4 more houses, gaining even more candy then I know what to do with. No incidents, just fun and laughs all the way through. It was actually easier than I thought, I felt very comfortable during this trip. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfUKTm1ZaV
Timmy: “Let’s hit one more!”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVSjjTaXTX
Jimmy: “I-I don’t know, we have 15 minutes left in the hour maybe we should go back to mom.”
Timmy: “Oh come on, just one more won’t hurt. It will be real quick, I’ll even pick a random one. We’ll get in and get out.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZGIZth4CR
Jimmy: “Mmmm, okay.
Timmy: “Great!”
I spun around with my arm and finger outstretched, whatever my hand points to is the place we’ll go.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GeT5U2tJL
After 3 spins, my finger points to a purple extravagant house that looked like a mansion more so than a house. Yet somehow it blends in with the other normal buildings. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBzs4HnU6D
Timmy: “Well, what are we waiting for?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AEf6aefg0
Jimmy: “….Y-Yeah, let’s go.”
We head to the front door of this beautiful place and knock on the door.
Timmy and Jimmy: “Trick or Treat!”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVdWIrP205
What greets us after the door slides open is a tall beautiful woman with long raven hair that smiles as soon as she sees us.
???: “Welcome to my home children, my name is Valara.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxY3ZmKcRg
Her voice was amazing, it was sweet and captivating enough to block out all other sounds.
Jimmy: “Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”
Timmy: “What are you talking about, we get the candy and leave. What’s the problem?”
Jimmy: “….I-I don’t know but-”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPSQO0wJs8
Timmy: “If you don’t want her candy that’s fine.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE7N1KR9DY
I turn my back to my brother and face Valara.
Timmy: “Do you have any candy for this weary pirate?”
She smiles sweetly.
Valara: “For you, I think I have the perfect piece. You’re lucky, I was almost out.”
She turns her back to me and reaches for some candy inside near the doorway.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrXVXVmgIk
She comes back with a purple swirly lollipop and hands it to me.
Valara: “Here you go dear.”
It looked amazing and since it came from her, I wasted no time in unwrapping it and go for a lick.
Jimmy: “STOP!”
I stop in my tracks and look towards my brother bewildered.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcip7usr5ft
Timmy: “What’s wrong with you?”
Jimmy: “I-I don’t know! I just don’t think you should it, what would mom think?”
At hearing him mention mother, I have even more reason to eat it. I shove the candy in my mouth and it tasted….incredible.
Timmy: “This is our night, she has nothing to do with this.”
Valara: “I hope you enjoy the candy Timmy, I don’t want to intervene with this family drama so I’ll exit your stage.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGEJBgrBSz
Valara gracefully goes back into her home while I walk away with the Lollipop in my mouth.
Jimmy: “Wait, where are you going!”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC5TSQvXsY
Timmy: “Home, where else? You’re acting weird Jimmy.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPi3Ws6TpD
Jimmy: “….I guess you’re right.”
We began the walk home and kept silent for most of the way. I noticed my brother fidgeting in the background and looking around frantically. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but it’s getting creepy.
After some time, he looked to the ground with 5 minutes left before out hour is up and just….froze.
Timmy: “What’s wrong now?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjS37yKuaY
I turned around with the lollipop almost completely gone to see Jimmy staring at the ground in shock. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnOmYxoGwn
Time seems to freeze and all noise around us stops. The world only holds us now.
Jimmy: “Why didn’t you ask that woman how she knew your name?”
Timmy: “Is that what this was about? I don’t know, it just didn’t seem important. Maybe she overheard us, I know she’s a nice person.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMQGPfLs1B
Jimmy: “How could you know that!” 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLwhCbwqxU
Timmy: “What’s wrong with you Jimmy, I’m going to leave you if you keep acting like this.”
Jimmy: “You know, I’ve been getting a deep sense of Déjàvu ever since we went to our first house. I…guess I now know why.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI626EQxaY
Timmy: “What are you-”
I follow his gaze to the ground and see it.
I understand now. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQZeOFIr2u
Jimmy: “Why….why would you do this!?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsau5HfCY0O
It says: Tim = Time Loop. I would poke fun at Jim but deep down I know it to be true, I remember what I did.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6zxWksNf0
Jimmy: “I don’t know how you did it but-”
Timmy: “It’s the candy.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkRoCC3eLO
Jimmy: “What?”
Timmy: “I have a feeling that when I finish this lollipop the night will reset. Haha, I guess Valara was a witch or something that blessed me with my wish.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpImGutm9t
I want to live life, I guess this is how that wish manifested.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yLPhf5j2G
Jimmy: “This isn’t funny! I can’t even imagine what I had to do to carve this into the concrete. Why Timmy, why repeat this day?”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRXuHZqPSd
My anger at his ignorance starts to resurface, if this world will repeat when I finish this then it doesn’t matter.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf43DuCpfD
Timmy: “Why else, because I treasure the little freedom she gave us tonight. She may be a monster but she gave me a chance to live a life outside that house.”
Jimmy: “Who, Mom? She’s-”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe9rLGBpFE
Timmy: “Don’t lie to yourself, she cruel and vindictive. She’s only nice to you because you suck up to her like a little soldier while I….”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IUVnfHvNE
I uncontrollably shiver from the memories I rather forget.
Timmy: “There’s no happiness in that place for me, if this night is all I have then I don’t want it to end. I want to experience my first trick and treat, my first time under the moon, and my first taste of what it feels like to live, I want to experience it all forever! I’m grateful for Valara granting me this small miracle.”
Jimmy: “But….even if that’s the case I’m sure that one day she’ll let us grow up this is not the way. The entire world, millions of people are stuck in this loop!”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeREpz2B6uv
Timmy: “I don’t care! Even if she let us go, it would be too late! We would be stunted for the rest of our lives, unable to live a normal life.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANOfGHQh50
Jimmy: “Now the rest of the world can’t live a normal life, great job Timmy.”
Timmy: “They don’t know about the loop, they’ll have the same fun they would have had on a normal day of Halloween. They might even find freedom if they discover the truth.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCmxYyBqMV
Jimmy: “Y-Your insane….”
Timmy: “And you’re part of the reason why this happened, maybe it would not have been so hard if I was not alone.”
I take out the candy from my mouth and see that it’s almost gone. I smile knowing that my freedom won’t be taken away from me. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4457SgEHH
Timmy: “You know it’s funny, I have another feeling that I killed her in one loop. I mean, why wouldn’t I.”
Jimmy: “!!!”
Timmy: “Hopefully I’ll do it again, since the time for this loop to end is near.”
I shake the lollipop in front of Jimmy, his late effort doesn’t mean anything now. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqwZhnXaa6
Jimmy: “I-I won’t let you!”
Jimmy lunges at the lollipop but I quickly put it back in my mouth and grab his face.
He tries to remove my hand but I keep a tight grip on him.
Timmy: “Accept the reality, we can finally be free from her. In the next loop, maybe we can have more fun together.”746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCUwSx1y8N
Jimmy: “Tim I’m-”
I break the lollipop into pieces in my mouth and the world shatters along with it.
The world begins to fade into nothing in preparation for the next loop.
Jimmy: “-Sorry….”
It’s much too late for that...Jim.
….
….
The day is October 31st, today is the first day I taste the sensation of…life. 746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTYENmeQVr
