Kirabo (5 page)

Sally put the phone down and turned to Kirabo and Brady. “That was Imran’s mum. I’m afraid he has chicken pox, so the Halloween party has been cancelled.”

“Oh no,” Brady said, sounding very disappointed.

“I’ve never been to a Halloween party before,” Kirabo said, sounding just as disappointed as Brady.

“I know,” Sally said brightly, “when your dad gets home I’ll take you out trick or treating around the houses. How does that sound?”

Brady and Kirabo had been looking forward to the party for weeks, but going out trick or treating was better than nothing at all.

“Alright,” they agreed.

“Why don’t the two of you go upstairs and play for a little while. You seem to enjoy playing in the attic for some reason.”

There was a twinkle in Kirabo’s eye and before Brady could say anything she had turned and was running upstairs as quickly as she could. Brady quickly turned and chased after her.

Kirabo stopped at the entrance of the attic. It was getting dark and the streetlight outside cast dark shadows across the walls and floor. Brady caught up with Kirabo and stared inside the attic.

“What’s that over there?” Brady asked, pointing to a tall dark shape that was standing in the corner of the room.

“I don’t know. I’m sure it wasn’t there the last time we played up here,” Kirabo whispered, not wanting to speak too loudly.

Kirabo and Brady stepped inside the attic. A gentle breeze from the window rushed past them, making the door slam shut. Kirabo and Brady jumped with fright.

“It was just a draught,” Brady whispered, as they both stared at the door. Kirabo nodded her agreement before turning back to check on the strange shape in the corner. Only they were no longer in the attic.

Brady and Kirabo were standing in the woods. The moonlight made the trees look like tall thin monsters, their branches were like long arms stretched out ready to reach down and grab them.

“I don’t like it here,” Kirabo whispered.

“Me neither,” Brady agreed.

In the distance they heard the sound of a wolf howling.

“Look over there,” Brady said, pointing to a large rickety old house that stood at the edge of the woods. “Maybe they will let us stay there for a while, at least until we can go back home.”

Kirabo grabbed Brady’s arm as they heard the wolf howling once more, only now it was much closer and much louder. Together they ran as fast as they could towards the house. It was only as they drew close that they could see it properly. It was tall and narrow, and leaned slightly to one side. It reminded Kirabo of an old man leaning on a walking stick and for some reason she felt sad for the house. Weak yellow lights glowed at every window and a sign outside said:

‘The Rickety Shack Hotel.’

Brady and Kirabo ran up the steps and knocked on the old wooden door.

Slowly, the door opened a crack and an old lady looked out. She looked nearly as frightened as Kirabo and Brady.

“Please go away, I have no more room,” the old lady whispered.

“We are lost, please let us come in,” Kirabo pleaded. “We only want to rest a little while.”

There was a loud screech from behind the old woman. She turned to see what it was, allowing the front door to swing open.

There was chaos inside the hotel. Music was playing very loudly. Kirabo and Brady watched in disbelief as a large green troll staggered through the reception hall and crashed into the staircase. He fell onto his bum and looked around in a daze. “What hit– what hit me?” he groaned, before falling on his back with a loud thud!

A ghost floated up through the floor and spotted Kirabo and Brady in the doorway. “New arrivals,” he announced with glee, floating over to them.

The old lady gave a weary sigh and sat down on a chair that was just next to the front door. “My beautiful hotel,” she moaned, putting her head in her hands.

The ghost hovered before them. He was a young boy all in white and wearing a paper party hat. “We don’t get many zombies to the Halloween Ball,” the ghost said, giving Brady an odd look, “but the girls will be interested in meeting a new witch,” he said to Kirabo, before giving a quick blow on his paper trumpet and floating up through the ceiling.

Kirabo and Brady gave a wary look at one another. They both wondered whether to go further into the house or to turn and run back into the woods.

“I’ll get you, just you see,” a witch screamed as she flew down the staircase on her broomstick chasing another witch. “I’ll change you into a slimy slug, my lovely, hahahaha,” she screeched as she fired a magic spell at the first witch.

The witch saw the spell heading towards her and ducked. The spell flew right over her head.

“Missed me,” she mocked before flying off into the dining room.

The spell hit Brady in the chest. There was a flash of light and a loud ‘whoosh’ as Brady vanished in a cloud of smoke.

Kirabo screamed with shock.

“Brady!” Kirabo yelled, looking around for her friend. But it was too late, he’d disappeared. Suddenly Kirabo felt something cold and slimy slide onto her foot. She looked down and screamed again. There was a large black slug on her foot. She was about to shake it off when she saw the little white face with dark eyes – it was Brady, he’d been turned into a slug.

“Ah, another witch to enjoy the fun,” the witch said, climbing off her broomstick and walking over to Kirabo. “I’ve never seen you around here before?”

“Change my friend back this instant,” Kirabo demanded.

“Why should I?” the witch asked. “Anyway, witches shouldn’t hang around with zombies. You should thank me.”

Kirabo suddenly understood why the old lady hadn’t wanted them to come in. She had thought that she really was a witch and that Brady really was a zombie. Kirabo decided to try something.

“I suppose you couldn’t change him back even if you wanted to,” she said, doing her best to sound like a real witch. “Don’t worry, I’ll change him back myself later.”

“Oh, you will, will you? Do you know who I am? I am Elisha Boil-Puss, the most powerful witch there is and the most ugly.”

Kirabo yawned, pretending to be bored, “Oh yes, I’ve heard of you. You are quite powerful, but I don’t think you are ugly at all.”

Elisha Boil-Puss jumped up and down in a rage. “How dare you say that! Admit that I’m the ugliest witch here or I’ll turn you into a troll,” the witch threatened.

“Now that I’ve taken a closer look, I’d say that you were almost pretty,” Kirabo said.

“How dare you?” Elisha screamed with horror.

Elisha’s sister flew back into the hallway. “Elisha, where have you been? I’ve been waiting to turn you into a toad.”

“I’m here, Philomena. This young witch thinks I’m pretty,” Elisha Boil-Puss cried.

Kirabo took a deep breath to steady her nerves as Philomena Boil-Puss flew over.

“Let me turn her into a dripping bogey,” Philomena begged.

“You can try, if you don’t mind being turned into a pool of sick,” Kirabo said nastily. Although she was frightened, she had really started to enjoy herself. “Now change my friend back or you will regret it.”

The Halloween Ball suddenly came to a stop. The music ended and all of the ghosts, witches and trolls stopped dancing and drinking and came to stand around the small group in the hallway.

“You dare to challenge me to a Witch’s Duel?” Elisha said, outraged.

“No, I erm…” Kirabo stammered. “Oh please turn my friend back to how he was,” she pleaded.

“No,” Elisha said spitefully.

“By the rules of the Witch’s Duel, each witch must have someone to help them. You have to turn her friend back to normal or the duel cannot go ahead,” the old lady said, getting up from her chair.

“You can help her,” Philomena hissed.

“This is my hotel and if there is to be a duel here I will make sure it is done fairly,” the old lady said.

Elisha looked as if she was about to sulk but she waved her hand and whispered a spell. In a flash, Brady reappeared next to Kirabo.

“Oh, Brady,” Kirabo said, flinging her arms around him.

“Right,” Philomena said. “I suggest that the witch who can scare the other the most will be the winner. The loser will be turned into a flea. Then she can live in my hair.”

“Agreed,” Elisha said with a twinkle in her eye. It was obvious that they had done this before.

“The duel will take place on the stage in the hall,” the old lady called out. “In five minutes the two witches will walk out on stage with their faces covered. On the count of three, both witches will reveal their faces. The one who gets the worst fright will be the loser.”

“Agreed,” Elisha said with excitement. “I have a spell ready,” she cackled.

“Agreed,” Kirabo said miserably.

The whole party of ghosts, witches, goblins and trolls rushed off to get the best seats in the hall, ready for the duel.

“Oh, Brady, what are we going to do?” Kirabo cried once they were alone.

“I don’t know,” Brady admitted. “I think we are really in trouble this time.”

Kirabo saw her reflection in a mirror. “And I thought being a witch would be fun,” she said sadly. “Hang on I think I have an idea.”

Before Kirabo could tell Brady what she had in mind the old lady came back and showed them to a small room that led on to the stage.

“Put a spell on yourself to make you look as scary as possible. Then cover yourself up and let your zombie friend lead you onto the stage. When I say three he can pull off your cover and we will see who gets the worst fright,” the old lady explained. She paused, looking carefully at Kirabo. “I do hope you win, the Boil-Puss sisters will ruin my hotel by morning if they are not stopped.” She gave Kirabo a little smile before walking onto the stage.

There was a riot in the hall. The goblins were throwing chairs at the trolls, while the witches swung from the lights, casting spells on one another. Brady slowly led Kirabo onto the stage, her black cloak with silver stars covering her entire body. The audience booed and laughed at the two of them.

Then Philomena led her sister onto the stage. She too was covered in a black cloak. This time the audience cheered.

Philomena sneered at Brady, “Once your little friend is a flea, I’m going to turn you back into a slug and keep you as my pet forever,” she laughed, pointing a crooked finger at him. Brady gulped in panic.