Links in the Chain

‘Twas midnight, and the ghosts and ghouls
did slide and slither from their graves.
Translucent were their visages,
and packs of werewolves howled in rage.

On the last stroke of midnight square,
the greatest of them did arise;
far larger, of a smoky hue,
with hints of fire in vacant eyes.

The shades now gathered one and all,
like thoughts formed of a single brain;
for this one is called Master Link
and round about him stand the Chain.

“Go now, my prowlers of the night,
into the living world of man.
Some deed of mischief you must do
before returning here again.”

So spread the Chain into the streets,
each one to work an act of fright,
and Trick-or-Treaters would be blamed
for handiwork done on that night.

One passed into a fenced backyard;
lifting a doll’s house high to throw.
A glimpse of movement made her pause;
a frightened child stared from a window.

A touch of wetness on her cheek,
some trickling trace of memory,
and for a moment that dead thing
was human as she used to be.

All taste for mischief-making gone,
she set the toy down carefully;
slipping away out of the yard,
fleeing to the cemetery.

One failure out of so many more,
surely she’d escape any blame;
but, when she merged into the Chain,
then Master Link burst into flame.

“You little worm! What have you done?
What wretched act of kindness wrought?
Though furtively you tried to hide,
the Chain’s destruction you have brought!”

Spreading from him, the flames ran wild.
The Chain perished and were gone,
save for the shade who broke the Link;
she slowly faded with the dawn.

– – – – – – – –

Reposted for Eugenia’s Weekly Prompt

Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – “Ghostly” – October 19, 2020 👻