A Spooky Siege

At only 20 years of age, Sylvie Hanson didn't expect to be the owner of a castle. It happened via tragic circumstances; it was passed down by her father, Sebastian Hanson, who passed on two months prior. The castle was known as Gladstone Manor, a quaint yet spooky domicile, but it was Sylvie's--lock, stock, and barrel.

Owning a castle was definitely not in the cards for Sylvie. Also not in the cards: being pursued by monsters.

That's what was befalling Sylvie that night. She was suddenly woken up by various sounds in the house; hisses, growls, and the ominous sound of evil cackling. Sylvie walked around the castle, searching for the source of the noises, and that's when she saw it. An actual living skeleton playing a piano, right before the walking embodiment of bones spotted Sylvie and moved towards her.

Sylvie ran off in a panic and hid in the bathroom, only to find a sea creature inside. The scares didn't end there. As Sylvie was running, she saw more creatures: a ghoulish and stitched-up corpse bride, a wolfman in a torn police uniform, and a ghostly female phantom. All the while, Sylvie heard a witch-like cackle from afar, as well as the following taunt:

"Run, child! You can't handle my creatures!"

Sylvie knew that every single one of the monsters was frightening. They were all immensely scary, and they were all fiercely dangerous. However, Sylvie also noticed another trait about the monsters: they were all familiar. Every single monster who appeared, every single monster that chased her back to the bedroom--they were all from horror stories that were read to Sylvie when she was 10. And she knows exactly who read them to her.

"Sandra."

The name that Sylvie uttered belonged to Sandra Richards, Sylvie's stepmother. Sandra married Sebastian when Sylvie was 9--a year after Sylvie's mother passed away. Sandra read horror stories to Sylvie many times, and she remembered all of the monsters from each story. Sandra was welcomed to the castle by Sylvie, but unbeknownst to Sylvie, Sandra wanted to scare her stepdaughter into giving up the castle so she could have it to herself. Sandra had stumbled on to a strange potion in a hidden laboratory, which turned her into the cackling, grey-haired, haggard witch who was taunting Sylvie and had summoned the monsters.

"Sandra," said Sylvie, "I know this is your doing somehow. I just want you to know, even with all of this, I still love you. You're my family."
Sandra, in her wicked appearance, heard those words, and that was followed by the commotion halting. The sound of the monsters at the door stopped. Sandra suddenly appeared to Sylvie in her bedroom, doing so in her witch-like form.

"Do you mean that, dear girl?" Sandra asked in her witchy voice. Sylvie responded by hugging her stepmother, who reciprocated the gesture before suddenly transforming back into her normal form. Now standing before Sylvie was Sandra with brunette hair and wearing a warm smile while fighting back tears.

"I am so sorry, Sylvie," said Sandra. "I was afraid that you wouldn't need me anymore, and I let my fear and envy turn me into a monster... literally."

"Sandra," said Sylvie, "you're my stepmother. You've been there for me for so long. You fascinated me with your interests in horror and the occult and those stories you read me. You always will be a huge part of my life."

"Even after all of this?" asked Sandra.

"You never tried to hurt me," said Sylvie. "All you did was try to scare me. And seeing those monsters you conjured did bring back wonderful memories." Following her statement, Sylvie watched as Sandra suddenly transformed back into her wicked witch appearance, but still looked at her stepdaughter with warmth to go with the mischief she had in her eyes.

"You're so precious, dearie," said Sandra. "I'm glad you loved the scare I gave you." With her claw-like hands, Sandra brushed Sylvie's cheek and hugged her again before sending Sylvie to bed. With a wave of her hands, Sandra disappeared from Sylvie's room.

"Goodnight, dearie," teased Sandra. "Pleasant nightmares!" Sandra cackled, a sound that brought a warm smile to Sylvie's face. Sylvie went from being pursued and scared by a collection of monsters, to strengthening her bond with the woman who resurrected those wonderful and scary memories from years past. For Sylvie and for Sandra, this was a night they would remember for the rest of their lives.