The pumpkin's toothy grin had grown a bit ragged. Anna lifted his lid and replaced the burnt-out candle with a new one.
"Let's get you a facelift, buddy." Chuckling at her own joke, she patted the Jack-o-lantern's lid.
"Your turn next." The hollow, reedy voice came from the pumpkin. The carved mouth moved, carefully forming each word. "It won't hurt. Much."
Anna yelped and stormed inside. Pulse pounding, she slammed the door.
"Damnit, Dave! When I said 'Bring it to life,' I meant using your carving skills, not a damn spell."
She needed a new roommate. No sorcerers this time.
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Stone Jaws by Evan Baughfman"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="The Mannequin People by Michael J. Stiehl"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
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height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Gator by Randall Andrews"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Rude Awakening by Richard Lau"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>