The Black Heart Crypt

Norman Ickes stumbled to his feet.

His legs were a little wobbly.

“What happened? Where am I?”

“We’re in the top of the town clock tower,” said Zack. “The police should be up here soon.”

“They’re going to arrest me, aren’t they?”

Malik and Azalea both looked at Zack.

“Maybe,” said Zack. “See, some pretty strange stuff happened.”

Norman made his way toward the clock face.

“Take it easy,” suggested Azalea. “You’ll probably feel a little dizzy for a while. I know I did after I got possessed.”

“A ghost took you out for a joyride, Norman,” added Malik.

“My dad’s a lawyer,” said Zack. “I think he can help you. Maybe you can plead temporary insanity or something.”

Norman peered through a hole in the clock face.

“My father is down there. And Stephen Snertz is still alive? Why is everybody helping him into that ambulance?”

“I’m not really sure,” said Zack. “You see, Malik and I—”

“I hate my father,” said Norman, who wasn’t really listening to anything Zack said. “He’s a weakling. And that Snertz? He’s a bully.”

“I know. They all are. But like I was saying, my dad—”

“I should’ve killed them both,” said Norman, “when I had the chance!”

“Excuse me?” said Malik.

“I liked being evil, Malik! You would, too! Having the rage of my wicked ancestors burning inside my body. I felt strong. Nobody could stop me. Not that Stephen Snertz, that’s for sure. Why did you three take that away from me?”

“You were possessed by an evil spirit,” said Zack, trying to explain.

“I wasn’t possessed,” said Norman. “I was fulfilled! I invited the demon into my body to make me the man I always dreamed I could be. And now I’m just Norman Ickes again?”

“You’re a good guy,” said Malik.

“A good guy?” He spat out the words. “A good guy. You mean a nerd and a geek. I don’t want to live like that again.”

“Take it easy,” said Zack.

“You ruined me!”

“No, we …”

Norman didn’t listen.

He turned to the giant clock face and pounded the glass with both balled-up fists.

The whole clock face crackled like thin ice and fell out of its frame in sheets of angled glass.

All that was left were the black scrolled hands.

“Stand and deliver!” Norman shouted to the crowd below, sweeping his arms out wide. “I am Jack the Lantern!”

A diving raven swooped past the wide-open circle that used to be a clock.

And Norman Ickes leapt from his perch to soar after it.