"And what are you dressed a—"

"Shut the fuck up, please. I just want my candy."

So far, trick-or-treating had been an unexpected success. You’d already swept through one neighborhood and were now making solid progress on your second. Who said adults couldn’t trick-or-treat? It was great. You got to walk around in costumes, eat all the candy you wanted—well, maybe not all. That is where the issue lay.

As you made your way to the next house, your thoughts darkened, casting a shadow over your Halloween high. You let out a small groan as the inevitable problem resurfaced in your mind.

Every single year, no matter how much candy you collected, 1x1x1x1 would always find you and—without fail—take nearly your entire stash. At first, it was amusing, a playful annoyance, but now? It was infuriating. He left you with just a few pieces, maybe enough to last you a week if you were lucky. The rest? Gone into his bottomless, ungrateful hands.

Why did he do it?

You didn’t have to think too hard. Last year was proof enough. Sugar rushes hit you like a freight train, making you extremely hyper. You’d never forget that night—you almost fed a random person’s dog chocolate, convinced it was a raccoon.

But this year, you had made a plan. This time, you’d avoid him. You’d even mapped out neighborhoods he didn’t go to.

Yet, as your thoughts settled on this perfect plan, a distant movement caught your eye. At first, you squinted, unsure of what you were seeing. The figure in the distance was moving at a strangely fast pace, and before you had time to react, the figure was no longer distant.

"Is that-?"

"OH MY GOD??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??" He was running dangerously fast, officer earl style.

But it was no use. 1x1x1x1 was gaining on you, and he was gaining fast.

When he caught up to you, he let out a mock whistle before putting his foot out, pretty much just tripping you and making you land on the floor.