The day is October 31st, today is the first day I taste the sensation of Trick and Treating. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydlinSurCR
However, I’m not alone, I’m joined by twin brother Jimmy. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfhrYVPnNL
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjENmymopEy
Mother: “Awww, Timmy you look adorable why did you pick a Pirate as your costume?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3xmqZ9HtQ
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gVnjHvcyI
She then kneels down to give us our orders:
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Come back in an hour541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QqFux6q2D
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGv1tfj38N
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….”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCmVFCj8q7
Timmy: “They could decide to not give us candy.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFjh5hYeZZ
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?” 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMMeqqBj88
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBT0TXZHG8
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAKBETFuc0
Kind Man: “Agreed sweetheart, I think these two are actually new to the neighborhood.” 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSnAv8vgqx
Kind Woman: “You’re right, I don’t think I’ve ever seen these two before. What’re your names?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOyVyRwp8u
We tell them our names and they gift us with a genuine smile. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4yT8nwi9b
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kKAv4AYhf
Kind Woman and Kind Man: “??”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZgawAkY1O
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VPcLNvC17
Jimmy: “Huh, oh...okay.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNUscuW24o
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?” 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLuO3BbVlf
Timmy: “You’ve never asked me that before, what’s up?”
Jimmy: “I don’t know, just felt like I have to.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgEnugGLue
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”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tmlXLOTRo
Jimmy: “Um, okay.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Is6nqb29u
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1UxHzbuFt
Timmy: “Let’s hit one more!”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbR1fyER0d
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLJBGzu6LN
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRLwGGg5wG
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkaN77okPI
Timmy: “Well, what are we waiting for?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTNwy0gHg
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!”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMKXTQ7lzC
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcVK7ksEqq
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-”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2pUzVsoiL
Timmy: “If you don’t want her candy that’s fine.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t2oCFcLNw
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPvA07IlXL
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoKx5I4Iwv
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXy1AgxJbR
Valara gracefully goes back into her home while I walk away with the Lollipop in my mouth.
Jimmy: “Wait, where are you going!”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHLaKrmcsy
Timmy: “Home, where else? You’re acting weird Jimmy.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCJGnhJneu
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?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w7N2TWADz
I turned around with the lollipop almost completely gone to see Jimmy staring at the ground in shock. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3zlLc0GF3
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFNE8o11Z6
Jimmy: “How could you know that!” 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUt73YpBbT
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzhjE7oAu4
Timmy: “What are you-”
I follow his gaze to the ground and see it.
I understand now. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9kbGJg8KV
Jimmy: “Why….why would you do this!?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyMfouZx4n
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.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSyKeH3meQ
Jimmy: “I don’t know how you did it but-”
Timmy: “It’s the candy.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05jNkN0NCM
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsPTgoysyK
I want to live life, I guess this is how that wish manifested.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0B3nIFHUF
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?”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0N2gsA4JR
My anger at his ignorance starts to resurface, if this world will repeat when I finish this then it doesn’t matter.541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbgMvOU7GK
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-”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7HXRBp6jD
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….”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRNxxtt9pX
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!”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEygjxItq8n
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmJ5o9z3Z4
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTpOSFCRlP
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IXumHNbTy
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFSbSGKhUr
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.”541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV7pw4FQNw
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. 541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTVxwlsqx7
