Sacrifice

Miserably, Gerald watched the other children dressed up for Halloween. This year he had no costume. There would be no ringing of doorbells, no scaring, no spooky houses to scream in and worst of all: no candy!

"Mom! I'm done visiting Gerry. I want to collect candy, now!"

"We'll leave shortly, Cody," promised his mother, but that answer wasn't good enough.

"I want my candy," Cody screamed before mysteriously falling silent.

A wind whistled through the cemetery. Gerald didn't feel bad about making Cody sleep. Bratty Cody could skip this Halloween. It was a small sacrifice. At least it was better than being dead.

"Alright, honey. Let's go."

Gerald smiled in his little brother's vampire costume and took his mothers hand.