It was Nightmare Night, and Melody had just given out the last of her treats. All the colts and fillies had been so adorable in their costumes this year, but she was glad it was over. She blew out the candle in the pumpkin on her porch, closed the door, and settled in front of her fire for a bit of reading before going to bed.
An hour later, there was a knock on her door. Now, who could that be? She glanced over at the clock sitting on her mantle. It was after ten, so all the trick or treaters should be in bed by now. Annoyed, she went to the door and opened it.
There stood two fillies, their faces shadowed in the cloaks and hoods they wore. Melody smiled.
“It’s a little late for you two to still be out, isn’t it?” She held out the empty bowl and added, “I’m afraid I’m all out of treats.”
The two did not look up at her as one said in a low whisper, “Let us in.”
Melody frowned. “I’m sorry, but you two should go home. It’s late.”
The one repeated herself. “Let us in.” Then they both raised their heads and looked straight at her.
Melody ran through her house, checking all her doors and windows, making sure they were all locked. She was still in shock over what she’d seen, and the intense feeling of horror she’d felt when she’d realized the two children had only black, empty pits where their eyes should have been. All of a sudden that dread intensified, and she slowly turned to the window. There, staring in at her, were those two...things.
“Let us in.”
“Noo! Go away, both of you!” She ran upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door. Jumping onto her bed, she pulled the covers over her head and shut her eyes. “Go away...go away...go away...” she whispered to herself. Then she heard a tapping on her bedroom window. New horror seized her as she heard the sound. How could they be outside her upstairs window?! She wasn’t sure, but she thought they’d both been Earth ponies. Then a new thought took over. Had she locked that window?
There was a creak as the window slowly came open.
The next day, Melody’s boss Mr. Rich looked up at the clock and frowned. “Where is that mare? It’s not like her to be late.” Going around to the supervisor, he asked, “Have you seen Melody this morning?”
The supervisor replied, “No, sir. She didn’t call in either.”
“Well, that’s damn peculiar. One of you check up on her, she may be sick.”
“Yes, sir...I’ll go.”
Soon, the supervisor made it to her absent employee’s house. She stopped. The front door was standing open. so she went to it, stuck her head inside and called out, “Hello?” The entire house seemed unnaturally still, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up.
Cautiously, she made her way inside. She called out again, “Melody? Are you in here?” No answer.
At first.
Then, she heard what sounded like soft laughter, but there was something odd about the sound. The pony started to climb the stairs, legs trembling with every step. Making her way to the bedroom, she slowly pushed open the door...and froze.
There, sitting on the floor, with her mane gone completely white, was Melody. She looked up at the pony staring in at her, then let out an insane cackle. The pony gave a loud yelp of fear and turned to run, but not before she heard Melody madly scream, “They got in! They got in! They got in!”
The next Nightmare Night, two little fillies, dressed in hoods and cloaks, knocked on the door of Carousel Boutique.
It was time once again.