House of Harker

Wicked Halloween Emporium had been bustling ever since it opened to door-busting crowds in mid-August. What once was a spacious (and empty) electronics retail outlet was now a temporary depot of home-friendly horrors – each with a price tag.

For those looking to add just a bit of spooky garnish to their home décor there were laughing yellow jack-o-lanterns and screaming, bloody skulls. Buy both, and a banshee door decoration is thrown it free of charge.

More expensive pieces included everything from six-foot tall, glow-in-the-dark skeletons that danced at the touch of a button to animatronic witches who cackled while hovering over a cauldron full of bubbling green brew.

Jonathan Harker would’ve bought everything in sight if he could have. Over the years he had accumulated a museum’s worth of items from Wicked Halloween Emporium, and this year would be no different. His “House of Harker Halloween Hullabaloo” had become a major event for his friends and neighbors, and every holiday season the celebration became more elaborate.

He headed to the register with a buggy full of boo-inspired booty and smiled as a sales associate rang up the items. Wearing a name tag that read “Garth,” the employee appeared to be in his early 20s and had long, jet-black hair. Garth was adorned in dark attire and even wore orange sunglasses to complete the Halloween-inspired look.

“By the way, I want to rent a couple of items as well,” Harker explained. “I’ll need the karaoke machine no later than the morning of October 20, which is the day of a party I’m hosting, and a life-size replica coffin for display. That one I’d like as soon as you can get it to me.”

Harker handed Garth his credit card.

“Oh, wow. You have the same name as the dude in Dracula. How cool.”

Harker shrugged.

“It is now, but that wasn’t always the case,” he said. “I used to get teased about it a lot. Seems like anytime I told someone my name they had something to say about it – usually some smartass comment. But you know what? I finally learned to embrace it. I mean, there are a lot worse things in life than being named after a protagonist in a gothic horror novel … and it really works to my advantage this time of year.”

Garth bagged up Harker’s haul and handed him a receipt.

“By the way,” he said, “I also do deliveries after hours. We have a warehouse across town and I can pick up the coffin tonight if you want me to. We close at 9 and I could probably get it to you by 11 or so. Of course if that’s too late I understand – we can do it the next day.

“Nah, tonight would be great,” Harker said. “Plus, I’ve already got a lot of my decorations up … you can get a sneak peek.”

“Awesome!” Garth exclaimed. “As soon as I clock out I’ll jump on it. Thanks for your business Mr. Harker, and I’ll see you later this evening.”

Harker was waiting on his porch when the van from Wicked Halloween Emporium arrived at 10:50 p.m., and he waved as Garth – sans sunglasses this time – got out and moved toward the back.

“Is it just you making the delivery?” Harker asked.

“Yessir. There’s usually another guy that comes with me, but he called in sick.”

Garth opened the two doors in back of the vehicle and started to pull on the coffin.

“Here,” Harker said. “Let me give you a hand. I’ve been up these steps a million times so let me grab one end and backpedal and you can push from the front.”

Since the casket wasn’t real it wasn’t particularly heavy, but it still required two people to move it. So the pair got into position and carefully began taking it up the steps and toward Harker’s front door.

The coffin was halfway in when Garth lowered his end.

“You getting tired Garth … you need a break?”

“It’s not that,” Garth said – his eyes glowing a deep red. “I was just hoping you would invite me in.”

Harker had seen the hypnotic gaze many times before. And he pretended to be seduced by it – just as his family had done for centuries. The Harkers reveled in giving vampires a false sense of security before bringing them to their final resting place.

“Of course,” Harker said, staring at Garth while slowly reaching for his silver-bladed kukri knife. “Please come in …”