“I don’t know…I just think it’s a bunch of stories that were made up to explain all the accidents that have occurred down there. The field has always been the site for parties for decades, no one has lived there except for old man Garbee. But, he has supposedly been there for over 50 years, who knows if he is even still alive?” she said.
There were rumors of teens encountering the seven gates of hell throughout the old farm located on Route 666, but no concrete proof.
“Well, one good thing is that supposedly the field party is located just beyond the first gate, so everyone seems to find that gate with no problem.” Jo-Jo was animated talking about the party, she was just plain excited; the makeup, costumes, and acting have always been a part of Jo-Jo. She loved dressing up, it didn’t matter the period, she loved it all.
Skye was excited, but a little scared. Her grandfather told her about African Americans being hung in the woods, off the porch, and tortured. “It stills scares me thinking about the family going insane and going on a killing spree,” she said.
Jo-Jo groaned, “I know, I know, I have heard the stories too, that old man Garbee’s family member that went insane. There is no such thing as the gates of hell and if there was, they certainly wouldn’t be located on a gravel road in Devil’s Gate.”
“Okay, okay, you’re right, these stories have been floating around for years and it is technically located off road called Gallows Crossing,” Skye said.
She stood up and started jumping up and down on the bed, which sent Jo-Jo on the floor laughing her ass off.
●
Sophomore year
Jo-Jo yanked on Skye’s arm, “Come on, I need to tell you something.”
Skye started laughing, “Stop pulling on me, I’m coming.” Jo-Jo was being silly, she knew what Jo-Jo had to tell her, it was about Jacob. She dragged Skye into the girl’s bathroom, kicking the doors of the stalls open to make sure no one was hiding,
“He talked to me, Jacob actually talked to me.”
“What did you say to him?” Now, this was going to be the interesting part.
Jo-Jo closed her eyes and sighed, “Nothing, I just smiled, it’s the fact that he spoke to me.”
They left the bathroom laughing and headed to their next class. Jo-Jo got bumped from behind by two seniors, dropped her books, both stopped to help her.
“So sorry babe, we were so busying talking about our Halloween Party this year we didn’t see you.” They handed her the books and kept on walking, laughing and chattering about the party.
“Two more years and that will be us, I can’t wait.” She was excited about their senior year and the party. Skye shook her head, but her eyes were twinkling with excitement, as she pushed Jo-Jo into the classroom.
That evening Skye was in Sleepless Hollow, one town over, on the second date with Paul. Sitting there in the movie theater, she was trying to keep Paul in check. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself and it was starting to aggravate her.
“Dude! Take your hands-off Skye!” The voice caused her to jump especially when Paul was jerked up from his seat. The voice belonged to Scott, the school’s quarterback.
“Paul, I think it’s time for you to take a hike,” Scott held onto his shirt to make his point.
“Man, I saw her first dude....” Paul hit the floor before he could even finish his statement. Skye was shocked but also very thankful.
“Let’s get you home.” Scott held out his hand and helped her out of the chair. He put his hand on her lower back and escorted her to his car.
“Are you okay?” Scott checked her over with his eyes.
“Yea I’m good, thank you,” Skye smiled. She had liked Scott for as long as she could remember, yet they remained friends and nothing more.
“It’s hard to believe tonight was the Senior Halloween Costume Party. I can’t wait for our senior year. What about you?”
“I can’t wait for our senior either, but I’m not so sure about the party though. The thought of all the rumors and legends that go along with the field makes me very nervous.”
“Yea my grandfather told me that in the 1930s, the KKK met there and would bring African Americans there to kill and torture them,” she shuddered at the thought.
“Don’t you see how messed up that is? Having a party out there is just strange. The stories about dogs chasing people, people being shot at, children’s voices and women screaming in the woods, blood stains on the bark of trees and all the empty nooses,” Skye rambled because she was nervous around Scott, and even though they were friends he still made her a little anxious.
Scott chuckled, “All the rumors of the ghosts and the gates of hell being in the field is ridiculous. Next, you’ll be saying that ‘hellhounds’ will come out at midnight.”
Skye looked at him and started laughing, “No, but look at the names of the surrounding towns, Death Cove Falls, Sulfur Springs, Purgatory….”
“Shadow Oaks isn’t scary,” he retorted.
“Scott, it used to be Devil’s Shadow. I mean, are we living on the Hellmouth?” she said.
Laughing at her he thought of vampires and said, “Have you been watching Buffy?”
“Shut up, Buffy is a classic! I’m sure you could learn a lot from Buffy!” she said.
“You’re probably right, babe,” his eyes twinkled as he winked at her.
●
Junior Year
Jo-Jo sat in Art class, listened to the seniors as they talked about the upcoming Halloween Party. They were rehashing all the legends that everyone knew, but there were a few stories she hadn’t heard before.
John, a senior, “Have y’all heard the stories of kids following a glowing light and ending up on the old railroad tracks that were no longer being used?”
Steve leaned in closer to John, “Yeah, each story has been identical, cars stalled on the tracks, the loud noise of a train coming towards the car, the driver thinking that a real train was coming to the kids, only to watch the ghost train running through their car, leaving the cars undamaged.”
She leaned into the conversation, “You guys just add to the legends and rumors by continuing to talk about them.” The boys looked at her with goofy grins and John wasn’t afraid to reply, “Babe, do you need us to protect you?”
“Not at all John, since I’m not a senior I won’t be going ‘til next year.” The boys laughed, and she turned back to her drawing with a sly smile.
●
Present School Day, Senior Year Halloween Costume Party
Senior year had finally arrived. It was the day of the Halloween Party, everyone was clamoring about the party, who was going with whom, what they were wearing, and hoped to see something strange this All Hallows Eve.
“Hey beautiful Skye, you’re coming to the party tonight, right?” Scott yelled as he sauntered passed them.
“Maybe! Are you bringing your girlfriend?” She smiled at him and knew that he had recently broken up with his girlfriend.
Scott stopped and walked towards her. Skye backed up so far that she hit the locker behind her. He put his hands on the locker and surrounded her body. Scott towered over Skye, who stood just five-foot-one.
He bent down to her ear and whispered, “Now, Skye…there is no one I would rather take to this bash, than you babe.” A shiver went down her back. Scott smirked when he saw her reaction and he slowly backed away from her and winked, “I will see you at the party tonight,” he said and didn’t stick around for her answer.
Jo-Jo, who had been watching the whole encounter, walked up to Skye, “Girl! That was the sexiest thing I have seen out of the bedroom.”
Skye looked at her, “Well, it’s a good thing you spend a lot of time in your bedroom.” Jo-Jo smacked her upside the head, not really hurting her. They broke out into laughter at the same time.
“Jo-Jo, you crack me up, and I don’t know
what you’re talking about. Scott was just telling me about his hurt feelings and how lonely he was.”
Jo-Jo busted out laughing, “If that’s how he shares his heartbreak, what does he do when he’s happy?”
Skye gave her wink, “I’ll let you know,” then burst out laughing.
She pinched Jo-Jo’s arm to get her attention, “What the hell was that…,” her voice cut off. Walking past her was Jacob.
Jo-Jo had liked Jacob since freshman year but they rarely spoke. For an outgoing girl, her sentences never made sense when trying to talk to him.
“Hey, Jo-Jo! Are you going to the party tonight?”
“Um, no. I mean yeah, I mean I haven’t decided. Are you going?” she said stumbling over her words.
Skye leaned back against the locker watched her normally confident friend fall to pieces. It was kind of funny that she didn’t know how much Jo-Jo liked him.
“Yeah, I’ll be there; Scott’s picking me up,” he winked at her.
“So, are you going as Bonnie...um I mean, are you dressing up?” she fumbled through the question.
Jacob looked very confused, “Bonnie, who’s that?”
Jo-Jo put her hands in over her eyes, nervously chuckled. “I’m um going as Bonnie… you know from Bonnie and Clyde.”
Jacob slowly looked her up and down, “Oh, I gotcha, are you going to be armed and dangerous?”
Skye nearly busted out laughing, seeing the look on Jo-Jo’s face.
Jo-Jo felt her cheeks get hotter and she didn’t know what to say. Jacob chuckled, “I will be checking you for weapons, later. See you tonight,” he winked again and confidently strutted down the hallway.
Skye laughed so hard at Jo-Jo she almost fell on the floor, “Babe I think you have it bad for someone.”
Jo-Jo pushed Skye away, “Shut up bitch, I’ll tell Scott that you peed the bed ‘til you were 12!”
Skye continued you laughing, “How many times are you going to use that to scare me?”
Jo-Jo stuck her tongue out, “‘Til you shut up about Jacob.”
She changed the subject, “Skye, have you decided what you’re going to be for the Halloween Party, remember you need to wear shoes that can be walked in easily in the middle of a field.” Jo-Jo laughed when Skye stuck her tongue out, that’s how Skye responded whenever Jo-Jo picked on her about the heels she loved so much.
“For your information Jo-Jo I’m going dressed as a cat, all in black, so I’m wearing these bitchin,’ black knee-high boots,” she stuck her tongue out again and flipped Jo-Jo the bird before she laughed and went into her Government class.
She continued down the hall, “You know you love me, Skye!”
Jo-Jo had a hard time focusing on the Spanish class; she was so bored. She started to daydream about going to the party. She hoped that Jacob was serious about checking her for weapons. She had liked him for as long as she could remember, he was so beautiful to her. Jacob was 6’2, blond hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. She could get lost in those eyes; he was a swimmer, so his body was tall and sleek. They had classes together and they barely talked but hung out in the same group of friends.
He had never flirted with her before like he did today.
The funny thing was that at that exact moment Skye was thinking the same thing about Scott. Skye had dated a lot more than Jo-Jo, but nothing that was too serious. She’d had a special place in her heart for Scott. The night at the movies their sophomore year was special. Ever since that evening, Scott had always held a little bit of her heart.
The last bell rang, Skye and Jo-Jo headed to the parking lot, they rode together in Jo-Jo’s jeep. Jo-Jo was already there with the music jamming loud. She had recently discovered Kane Brown and played his album constantly
“Jo-Jo, can you pick another song?” she asked. Pushing her sunglasses down the tip of her nose, Jo-Jo flipped the volume louder. Skye jumped in.
●
Jo-Jo’s House
Jo-Jo and Skye were getting ready as they jammed out to Kane Brown. Jo-Jo was dressed as Bonnie from the infamous duo Bonnie and Clyde. She loved strong women, but she just really loved experimenting with different types of costumes. Her bedroom looked like a dressing room, costumes, and mirrors all over the place.
“Jo-Jo, I can’t believe you are going as the infamous Bonnie, but I do love your costume,” Skye said looking over her ensemble. Jo-Jo had on a tan pencil skirt and a pinstripe shirt; the shoes she wore had a wide heel which made it easier to walk on the ground. The hat she chose was a tan beret and she carried a fake Tommy gun. Skye looked at herself in the mirror. She fixed her tail, as she wanted to make sure she didn’t lose it.
She turned around facing Jo-Jo, “How do I look?”
“Skye, you look fantastic, and of course I totally love the boots.” The boots that Skye wore came just above the knee and even had a flat heel.
Jo-Jo and Skye finished getting ready and headed down the stairs.
“Josephine and Skye, you girls stop right there,” Jo-Jo’s mother walked out of the kitchen. The girls stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah, Mom?” both Jo-Jo and Skye replied at the same time. Skye and Jo-Jo had been friends for so long that they shared their parents with each other. Both sets of parents felt the same way about the girls.
“I know there’s a party on Route 666 tonight…you guys stay together, go directly to the field for the party, no stopping at the tracks or the bridges or looking for gates,” Jo-Jo’s mom gave them a knowing look, but her eyes twinkled.
“Yes ma’am,” both girls responded.
The girls climbed into Jo-Jo’s jeep and while the music played loudly they headed to Route 666.
●
The Gate
The girls turned down Gallows’ Crossing which led to the long gravel road called Route 666. There weren’t any houses on the entire five-mile road which led to Route 666. No one was sure how many paths were off the main road, but there was only one farmhouse located in the area. The darkness was chilly, and the wind was silent on the Gallows’ Crossing road.
Jo-Jo shivered and looked at Skye, “Have you ever been down Route 666?”
Skye turned and shook her head slowly, “No, never…it’s so creepy, I haven’t heard the wind or any birds.”
“Skye, everything will be fine, there have always been field parties down here and nothing’s happened,” Jo-Jo looked at Skye and smiled.
They continued down the road and Jo-Jo turned the radio down. It seemed weird to think she didn’t want to blast the radio on a deserted road.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this foggy tonight, was it?” Skye’s scanned the road. They hadn’t even made it to the gravel road that is Route 666.
They drove silently until finally reaching the road that’s sign read “Route 666.” Jo-Jo slowed the jeep to a crawl. Skye turned and looked at her, “Are you okay, Jo-Jo?”
Jo-Jo felt a shiver go up to her spine, “Yea I’m alright, just kinda creeped out, you know?”
Skye shook her head in agreement and again scanned the area around them, “Are you sure we should go to the party?”
“Yeah, it will be fine,” Jo-Jo said, sounding braver than she felt. “We just go straight down the road to the field, right?”
“I think we go through a gate first,” Skye replied.
Jo-Jo turned down the gravel road, paying attention to the potholes. The fog was coming in fast and it was hard to tell where the road went.
They came upon a gate.
“Well, there is the gate that everyone talks about,” Jo-Jo said, looking all around.
“Okay Jo-Jo, so who’s going to open the gate?” Skye stared at Jo-Jo, waiting to hear what her grand idea was.
“Well, Skye since I’m driving, that leaves you to open the gate,” Jo-Jo laughed as she saw the look on Skye’
s face.
“No, silly! We both will get out and open the gate together. There’s this incredible thing called Park.” Skye flipped her the bird.
They both got out of the jeep together, left it running, and met in front of the headlights. They grabbed hands and slowly walked to the gate. Looking around before slowly opening the gate, the woods were silent. It was eerie and strange how quiet it was…the woods were usually filled with all kinds of noise. Tonight, it was different, the night was empty of sound.
“This has to be the creepiest night,” Jo-Jo whispered. Lifting the chain off the gate, they let it fall with a loud, CLANG!
Skye gripped Jo-Jo’s arm harder, looking around, “Hurry up its creepy as hell out here!”
“Shh! Help me push the gate open so we can get back to the jeep!” Skye dropped her hands and grabbed the gate, helping Jo-Jo push it open wider. They ran back to the jeep getting in quickly and locking the doors. Jo-Jo put the jeep in gear and slowly passed through the now-open gate.
“How far past the gate is the field where the party is being held?” Jo-Jo wondered aloud. Skye just shook her head because she wasn’t sure. They continued to drive silently when something caught their headlights. Standing in the middle of the gravel road was someone waving.
●
The Boys
Jo-Jo slowed down, “Skye! That’s Scott standing in the middle of the road!”
“Oh my God! I hope he’s okay; stop Jo-Jo.”
Slowing down the jeep, Skye rolled the window down.
“Scott, are you okay?”
“Skye, hey Jo-Jo, thanks for stopping. Yea Jacob and I rode together but the car blew out a tire.” Scott comes up to the window, “Jo-Jo and Skye can give us a ride to the party. We’ll wait and get the car tomorrow during the daylight.”
Jacob came running down the gravel road, “Jo-Jo you just saved our lives! Now let’s go!”
Skye climbed into the back seat and Scott slid in next to her, Jacob sat in the passenger seat closing the car door. “Alright let’s go find that party.”
Jo-Jo smiled at Jacob, put the jeep in gear, and slowly drove down the gravel road. “Jacob do you know exactly where we are going?” she asked.
Tricks or Treats: An Anthology for Charity Page 28