Ah…Halloween. X3 I get such a burst of evil inspiration during this month… Hm hm hm… Ahahahahahhahah! (maniacal laughter)

Oh yes, this should be fun. (Smirk) I feel so evil at the moment. Eheheheeheh… I should do a Halloween fic next year too n.n

My first attempt at horror...Dunno how well I'll do.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A red boot stepped down on the decaying roots and vegetation on the forest floor, bits of dust and dead, cracked leaves billowing up in a puff of dust with every step he took. He had horrible luck, he figured, to have gotten lost. The brunette tensed and looked around, seeing nothing but the dark, twisted shapes of the crooked trees curdling around him. How had he managed to get lost here? In the 'Forest of Death'? He felt an involuntary shudder run down his spine as he tried to get his bearings, but it was little good. He could barely see the silhouettes of the trees, and hardly any light could make it through the curled canopy at any right. Briefly he wondered if Zelos' tale had been true, how there were ghosts in here that were murdered by a thief…

Snap.

He whirled around toward the sound, his heart beginning to pound at an inhuman pace just at the slight noise. There was nothing there, but even if there was, he couldn't tell. It was too dark, too…unnerving. The scent of dead flesh from the monsters that inhabited this place stuck in his nose, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. It was far too eerie, how the lightest thing he could see was a faint, white mist of sorts, one that curved around him as if alive, as if it was curling around his neck and up the side of his face, like the touch of some kind of malevolent mother. Yet strangely…that mist was very…nice. Intoxicating. He stopped moving as the mist thickened, his eyes drooping as his irises glazed over. It felt as if he was being caressed, held almost, by the strange air. Part of his brain, the part that was active, was alarmed. Something wasn't right about this, and he screamed at himself to get away…but his body wouldn't respond. Something about this was…wrong, yes, but…sweet. He liked it…it felt…bad, but good.

He exhaled softly, his eyes closing as his tension left him.

"What…?" he half-mumbled, unable to finish his sentence.

"Are you lost?" a voice whispered.

He barely managed to move his head, his eyes widening somewhat at the sound of another human voice. Standing before him, in between the crook of two trees, a small, pale girl peered up at him. She was maybe three feet tall, her long, silvery hair falling loosely around her unearthly pale face. Her eyes were an ice blue, a color that shook Lloyd with chills just to look upon her. She was a small, pale, wisp of a thing; almost like a ghost, clad in pearly rags.

"W- Who-?" he stammered.

"Don't be frightened," she whispered softly, her voice naught but a wisp as she was.

Slowly she held out one hand to him, the other hand on the tree beside her on the dark, gnarled bark. Her tiny palm was open up to him, her fingers stretched out delicately, as if strings of webbing that would break at the mere touch. Lloyd barely managed to swallow, staring at the girl in horror. What was she? A ghost? Like the ones Zelos talked about?

"What-?" he stammered.

"I want to help you," she whispered, sounding as if she was choking, as if breath was not something that came easily, "please come with me…"

The mist thickened and Lloyd's horror was choked out by the strange air, the substance flooding into his lungs through his rapid breathing. He calmed again, his head beginning to fog over as the child walked forward, silently, sleekly, like a serpent would slide over the ground. She took his hand, her fingers closing over his palm and then began to lead him away.

"You won't be frightened much longer," she said, "I promise."

He felt as if he was drunk. Everything felt blurred, fogged, distorted, he couldn't even seem to get a thought out. He even lacked the will to stop walking, to pull his hand from her frail clutches. How long he walked like that behind her, he didn't know, but the mist only thickened as they went, and soon he could barely even see her as it was. She was so pale, she seemed to meld in with the white fog.

"We're here," she whispered.

Lloyd jolted, his eyes snapping into focus as the mist cleared. Where exactly 'here' was, he wasn't sure…but he didn't like it. In the grove of twisted, gnarled, demonic looking trees, was something that resembled a stage, like the dais is Asgard. However, though elegant, something was far too unnerving about this one. Four pedestals rose out of the corners, the appearance as if they were carved from hunks of ebony, or obsidian. They were meticulously crafted, and under the dark red vines crawling up their sides one could see the tail of the creature that perched atop it. A dragon with teeth bared, carved from its stone with such a life-like effort that it appeared as if its leathery wings would flap at any minute, as if a plume of smoke would flow from its nostrils. Each of these beasts, with their large, bat-like wings, spread the appendages outward around the center. The 'center' itself appeared to be a pool of sorts…of some dark, foul-smelling liquid-

Blood.

"You're frightened again," she whispered, looking up at him.

Her icy irises bled into a vibrant crimson, her hand tightening violently on his wrist. He yelped and went to jerk his arm back finding her grip too strong to break free from. With a slight pull she yanked him down onto the ground, her other hand grabbing his chin and lifting him up to look her in the eye. A smile curled into her lips, but by no means a friendly one. It was a crooked, vile smile; malevolent in every aspect as her canines elongated into fangs.

"Don't be, it'll be over quickly," she whispered, stroking the side of his face, "You're a handsome one...I won't make you suffer…"

He was slammed onto his back, coughing up saliva as he found his arms and legs pinned by something large and with claws- no, not something. Some-things. The statues from the dais had sprang into the air, landing beside him and pinning done each of his limbs with their feet. Dragons-? No, they were…bats? Long-tailed, long-snouted, but definitely bats. He let out a shout and tried to break free but stopped abruptly when the girl had seated herself on his chest, looking down at him with a playful, impish, evil smirk.

"I've been starving for a long time, you see…" she whispered, a sickly sweet tone on her words, "So weak I cannot even leave this forest…but you, you my dear boy, you make me so happy…"

She began to stroke the side of his face again, leaning down so that she was almost nose to nose with him.

"I haven't had fresh blood in centuries…" she hacked, her voice cracking at this.

"W- What the hell-!? Let me go! Dammit, let me-!"

He cut off, his eyes widening as he felt breath on his neck, the girl nuzzling the side of his head. Shivers worked through is spine and then turned into full on spasms when he felt her tongue lick his neck tenderly.

"You taste good…" she opened her mouth wide, her fangs elongating further with a sick schulping sound, "I hope your blood is just as well-"

She stopped abruptly, her fangs just millimeters from piercing his neck. Slowly she sat up again, looking down at him in a mix between confusion and disbelief. He attempted to struggle further, but to no avail against the large creatures that held him down. The girl tilted her head to the side, slowly moving her hand to a lock of his hair. Though he struggled, she managed to pull some of his hair so it covered one eye, the swordsman glaring up at her in defiance.

"You…" she whispered, "…You're Kratos'…"

"W- What-?" he stammered, alarmed at hearing the man's name. "You know-?'

Her eyes shot back to ice-blue, a set, stern expression on her face. She jumped off him with cat-like grace, her eyes locked on the male.

"Drown him," she stated.

"Wh-?! Ah-!"

The bats shot up into the air with a simultaneous beat of their great leathery wings, carrying Lloyd up with them. Before he could even realize what had happened he was falling, then splashed right into the pool. He instinctively tried to reach the surface, holding his breath. One of the creatures dove in after him, holding his neck down to the bottom of the stone structure with one claw, screeching in his face as its cry distorted in the water. Lloyd struggled as it slammed down on his chest with its other clawed foot. The air was forced out of his lungs and the liquid surged into his mouth, his eyes widening in horror at the taste of blood.

Satisfied with this, the bat released him, zooming up to the surface with surprising ease. Lloyd rapidly attempted to reach the surface, his mind going fuzzy from the lack of air. He burst into the surface with gasps for breath, throwing his arms on the edge as he pulled his upper-body onto the dark, corroded stone. For a minute or two he managed only to gape for air, spitting out the fluid he had ingested with disgust and horror. He was soaked as he managed to clamber out, panting on his hands and knees while he tried to clear his head. His skin and hair was stained red, his clothing, however, showing no real difference because of its inherent color. Blood dripped from his body and off his hair as the taste stuck in his mouth-

"Tell Kratos I'm waiting," the girl said.

He jerked up his head to look at her, but all he could see was the thick white mist. Lloyd looked around in a panic, frightened and confused.

"W- What the hell-!? What was that about?! Who the hell are you!? Get back here!" he shouted.

All he heard was an impish giggle on the thin air.

"I-!"

Everything faded away.

"Lloyd? Lloyd! Come on, wake up!"

His eyes flitted open and he instantly jerked upright, panting as cold sweat broke out over his body.

"Oh good, he's awake!"

He jerked his head to the side, finding his companions around him. A fire burned not far off as the group surrounded, obviously relieved.

"Lloyd, how did you manage to get lost?" Raine sighed deeply, agitated, though still relieved. "I realize the woods are dark, but that's why it should have been easy to see the light from the sorcerer's ring…"

"You really scared us! How the hell did you get covered in blood?!" Sheena shouted, frowning deeply.

Lloyd could only stare at them, scanning them all quickly and then at his bare arm, seeing as his jacket had been removed leaving only his black undershirt. Apparently, they had tried to clean him up a bit, but his skin was still stained red.

"I…I…don't know," he whispered dumbly, staring at nothing in particular, "I got lost and then…and now I'm here. I…don't know what happened."

A lie. What else was he supposed to tell them? They would think he was crazy if he told them the truth, that and…he felt…strange. He didn't want to talk to them right now, he really just wished they would leave him alone for a while. Something told him not to talk about it, not to mention it, not to even think about it.

"…Lloyd-" Genis started.

"I- I –"

His eyes widened and he ran off a ways into the woods, vomiting violently into the underbrush. Luckily, his friends got the hint he needed a moment and didn't follow after him. He tenderly rubbed his throat after her had finished, wiping his stomach's contents from his lip on his arm.

"Ugh…" he groaned, swaying a bit, "my head…"

He leaned against a tree for support, resting his head against the bark. Apparently, they had made it out of the forest…this was a normal tree, as were the groves around them. Man…he never wanted to back there again. He didn't care if they managed to find that stupid Devils Arm or not. Why couldn't they just finish making the pacts first? Ugh… Why did everything feel so-?

"Ugh-!"

He jerked away, having scraped his arm on a branch when he moved. The boy growled a bit and looked at the spot on his arm, a trickle of blood leaking from the cut.

"Great, just-….just…"

He stared at the red fluid, finding himself opening his mouth lightly. Slowly he put the cut close to his mouth and licked the blood up into his mouth. This taste…it was…so good-

Lloyd yelped, jerking his arm away from his face as he shook his head violently.

No… No! What the hell?! What was going on!?

He licked his teeth, spreading the flavor around a bit more.

It shouldn't have tasted good…it shouldn't be this enjoyable…

And he shouldn't have felt fangs when his tongue brushed past his canines.

IMPORTANT. I will DESTROY any reviews mentioning or relating this to TWILIGHT. I HATE TWILIGHT. So please, for the love of God, don't mention it unless it's insulting that sue-saga, or I won't write more of this! I swear! DX

Other than that, please enjoy my Halloween fic n.n