It started on Halloween in the afternoon.

It was still light outside, although the heavy cloud cover took away some of the sun's

power.

But I wasn't expecting any trick or treaters until five or six at the latest, which

was why I was surprised to see a lone child in a ghost costume on my phone just after

my doorbell camera alerted me to movement.

I watched on the camera as the child came up, the front porch steps up my house.

Given the height of the kid, I figured he or she was no older than ten.

But I waited to see if anyone else would show up before I opened the door.

The kids in my neighborhood usually went trick or treating in small groups.

Or at the very least, they went with their parents.

At least kids this young did.

But I saw no one else in my front yard or on the sidewalk.

The little ghost came up and stopped right in front of my door.

And he was only then that I realized the kid had no bag or bucket for candy.

I got up from my seat, phone still in hand, and went to the door.

I stopped waiting for the kid to ring the doorbell, but that didn't happen.

The costume to child just stood there.

As I stared at the camera, a feeling like squarming insects filled my belly, sending

tendrils of fear through my body.

Finally, after chastising myself for being ridiculous, I unlocked the dead vault and

opened the door.

...