The Price Of Promises

The night air was crisp, tinged with the sweet scent of caramel apples and the faint, flickering glow of jack-o’-lanterns lining the suburban streets. Becky Roberts, dressed in a red and white cheerleader uniform, sprinted down Maple Avenue, her heart racing. The moon hung high, full and menacing, casting long shadows that danced mockingly along the pavement. 

“Becky!” 

The voice echoed behind her, a chilling call that sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced back to see her sister, Lily, just a few yards away, her skeleton mask glinting in the moonlight. The mask concealed her features but not the fury in her eyes. 

“Lily, please! Just let me go!” 

Not a chance!” Lily’s voice was high-pitched, cracking with the intensity of her emotions. She lunged forward, feet pounding against the asphalt as she chased her sister. “You promised me, Becky! You said we would go together!” 

“I know, but I’m with my friends now!” Becky pleaded, puffing as she rounded a corner, her sneakers slapping against the ground. The thrill of Halloween had drawn her into a group of older kids, their laughter ringing out like a siren call. She had wanted to feel free, to revel in the night. But she hadn’t meant to break her promise to Lily. 

“You’re a liar!” Lily shouted, her voice cracking. The anger in her tone was palpable, a raw edge that made Becky’s stomach twist. 

“Lily, I didn’t mean to—” 

Becky stumbled as she turned another corner, barely catching herself. The shadows seemed to close in around her, the streetlights flickering ominously. She could hear the distant sounds of laughter and the rustle of costumes, but they felt miles away now. 

*Thud! Thud!* 

Lily’s footsteps grew louder, more determined. Becky’s breath came in shallow gasps as she darted between two houses, hoping to lose her. But the thrill of the chase only fueled Lily’s rage. 

“Just wait until I catch you!” 

Becky’s heart raced, panic surging through her as she darted down an alley. She could hear the rustling of leaves and the chattering of other trick-or-treaters, but they felt like a distant world. She was in survival mode now, her mind racing with thoughts of how to escape. 

“Becky!” Lily called again, more like a predator than a sibling. “You can’t run forever!” 

A sudden rustle in the bushes made Becky freeze. For a heartbeat, she thought she saw something lurking in the shadows, but then she shook it off. It was just her imagination, fueled by fear and the night’s atmosphere. 

“Lily, stop! This isn’t funny anymore!” 

*Thud!* 

Lily’s footsteps were relentless. Becky spotted a fence up ahead, the wooden slats offering a potential escape route. She sprinted toward it, her heart pounding in her chest. But Lily was closer than she’d thought.

“I’ll make you pay!” 

Before she could leap over the fence, a small, icy hand clutched her ankle, sending her sprawling to the ground. *Thud!* The world spun as she hit the ground, the impact jarring her bones. 

“Let go!” Becky cried, twisting to shake Lily off. “You’re being ridiculous!” 

But Lily pulled harder, her voice a low, determined growl through the skeleton mask. “You broke your promise!” 

With a surge of adrenaline, Becky kicked her foot, but Lily was relentless. She heaved her sister backward, dragging her through the grass. 

“Lily! Please!” 

“Shut up!” Lily shouted, her voice echoing through the night. “You think it’s fun to hurt me? You can’t just ditch me like that!” 

Lily’s anger was palpable, her grip unyielding as Becky struggled against her. The night felt darker, the shadows creeping closer, and Becky could hear the distant laughter of other children, oblivious to her plight.

“Help!” Becky screamed, but her voice was swallowed by the night. 

Suddenly, a group of kids appeared around the corner, their costumes bright against the moonlit backdrop. “Hey, what’s going on?” one of them called out, pausing to watch the spectacle. 

“Help me!” Becky shouted again, desperation clawing at her throat. 

Lily turned her head, her expression a mix of rage and defiance. “They can’t help you! You’re the one who betrayed me!” 

The other kids snickered, glancing at each other. “What’s she doing?” one boy asked, his eyes wide with amusement. 

“I’m taking her home,” Lily declared, her grip tightening on Becky’s ankle. “She thinks she can just leave me behind.” 

“Uh, okay,” the boy said, clearly unsure of what to do. He exchanged glances with his friends, who were now laughing openly at the scene. 

“Lily, stop!” Becky pleaded, but her sister was caught up in her fury. With a final heave, Lily pulled Becky closer, dragging her away from the group of children and back toward their house.

“Leave me alone!” Becky screamed, kicking her legs. In the distance, the laughter faded, and all that remained was the sound of her own panicked breath and the tugging of her sister. 

*Thud, thud, thud.* 

“Don’t you get it?” Lily shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. “You hurt me! You don’t get to just walk away!” 

The full moon illuminated their neighborhood, the white picket fences standing like silent witnesses to this twisted game of sibling rivalry. As they reached the sidewalk in front of their house, Lily finally stopped, breathing heavily. 

“Lily, please,” Becky gasped, desperation flooding her voice. “I’m sorry. I should have taken you with me.” 

Lily’s eyes narrowed, the mask glinting ominously. “You should have thought of that before. Now you’ll pay.” 

With surprising strength, Lily pulled a length of rope from her pocket and began tying Becky’s hands together. The cold fabric bit into Becky’s skin as her heart sank. 

“Lily, don’t! This isn’t funny!” 

“It’s not supposed to be funny!” Lily snapped, her eyes wild. “It’s punishment!” 

Becky struggled against the bindings, panic washing over her. “What are you going to do? You can’t just tie me up like this!” 

“I can and I will,” Lily hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “You’ll see how it feels to be left behind.” 

Just then, their mother’s voice rang out from inside the house. “Lily? Becky? Is everything okay out there?” 

Lily’s eyes widened, and she quickly stuffed the rope back into her pocket. “Shh! She can’t know!” 

Becky’s heart raced as she watched her sister’s expression shift from fury to fear. “Lily, you need to let me go,” she whispered urgently. “If Mom finds out—” 

“I don’t care!” Lily interrupted, her voice trembling. “You deserve this! You broke your promise!” 

With determination, she turned and began dragging Becky toward the back of the house, the moonlight casting eerie shadows as they moved. 

“Help! Mom!” Becky yelled, her voice echoing through the night. 

Lily clamped a hand over her sister’s mouth, her eyes blazing. “You’ll ruin everything!” 

The back door creaked open, and their mother stepped out, lantern in hand. “What’s going on?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Why is it so quiet?” 

“Nothing! Just playing!” Lily shouted, her voice too high and strained. 

“Becky?” their mother called, her tone shifting to concern. “Are you okay?” 

Becky’s heart raced. *Thud! Thud!* The sound of her pulse echoed in her ears. “Lily, please!” 

But Lily was unyielding, dragging her sister further into the darkness. “If you tell, I’ll never let you go!” 

“Lily!” their mother called again, her voice sharper now. “What are you doing?” 

“We’re just playing!” Lily yelled back, a wild edge creeping into her tone. 

Becky felt the tears prickling at her eyes, the weight of betrayal heavy in the air. This wasn’t how Halloween was supposed to go. “I’m sorry, Lily! Just let me go!” 

With a final heave, Lily shoved Becky behind the shed, the wood rough against her back. She turned quickly, her eyes fierce. 

“You’re going to stay here until you understand!” she hissed. Grabbing Becky's feet she untied her shoe laces slipping her shoes off. She left Becky shoeless in her socks to prevent her from escaping.

Becky’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched her sister retreat into the shadows. “You can’t just leave me! Lily!” 

But the night swallowed her cries, leaving only the rustle of leaves and the distant laughter of trick-or-treaters echoing in the air. 

Lily’s footsteps fade away, and for a moment, all that remained was silence and the steady thrum of fear. 

“Mom!” Becky screamed again, but her voice felt small against the vastness of the night. 

As the moon hung high above, she realized the true horror of Halloween wasn’t the costumes or the tricks, but the betrayal of trust that ran deeper than any ghost story. 

The night wore on, and Becky’s heart sank. She had broken a promise, and now she was paying the price.