Hugh was a little too old to play trick and treat. Most of his peers were celebrating Haloween in the pub or they were organizing parties for the children. Yet Hugh and his gang had other plans. For them the fun of the festival was tossing eggs at their neigbour's houses and destroying decorations.
They had just smashed the carefully carved pumpkin in front of the old widow's house and they were getting hungry from all that exercise.
" Look, a kid!", Johnie cried and he pointed at a little Harry Potter clone.
" Think he's got candy?"
" Sure. What is he carrying that bagpack for?"
" Let's get him!"

A moment later the little Harry Potter was sobbing and Hugh and Johnie were inspecting their booty. It wasn't much, but it'd do. This was a good spot for catching food, for the old widow was always very generous to the children.

They waited a few minutes when they saw a little girl dressed like a fairy.
" Think she's got anything?", Johnie asked.
" Not yet. Just wait."

The girl rang the old widow's doorbell and the lady opened the door with a smile. She gave the child as much sweets as she could carry in her small hands, but as the girl skipped away again, the old widow noticed the smashed jack-o-lantern. She looked around and spotted the two boys stalking their next victim.

" Get lost you brats!", she shouted, and she came running at them much faster than they expected.
Johnie and Hugh ran away laughing and shouted some insults.

They reached the rim of the wood and stopped.
" I never expected her to be so fast."
" And persistent."
" Did you see that girl's face, when she saw the old woman coming after us?"
" Cry-baby."
" Now let's see what we've got."

They unwrapped the little boy's sweets and began eating.

" Listen", Johnie said, and he looked around.
They heard the voice of a woman. She was singing some slow-paced song in a foreign language. It sounded rather sad, but beautiful nevertheless.
" Have a look?", Hugh suggested.
" Yeah."
They followed the sound, which seemed to come from the forest. After a few minutes they reached a clearing, and despite the darkness they could make out a girl sitting on a trunk. She was combing her long hair and meanwhile singing this weird song.

" What is she doing here?", Johnie asked.
" Perhaps she's waiting for her boyfriend?"
" Shall I toss an egg at her?"
" Nah. She's hot. Let's have a little chat with her."

They walked up at the girl and to their surprise she greeted them with a smile and stopped singing.
" Hello."
" Hi."
" Shouldn't you kids be playing trick or treat in the village?"
" Oh, we're a little to old for that. May we ask what you're doing here?"
She laughed.
" I'm visiting you. Do you know what a banshee is?"
" An old hag who kills people by singing about their death", Hugh answered.
" You're not very flattering", she said and she chuckled. " But you're not completely wrong. I am a woman and I do sing."
" Like you're a banshee. Right. Let's go Hugh, she's nuts."
" I never saw a banshee."
" Cause they don't exist, duh!"

She shrugged.
" I'm sure the two of you don't know the meaning of samhainn, but it's your choice. I wanted to introduce you to some friends of mine, but since you decided that we don't exist, I suggest you get back to your village."
" And who are you to tell us what to do?"
" Just a banshee. It's all up to you, but don't say I didn't warn you."
" Warn us. Did you hear that Hugh? She warns us, ooh, I'm so scared. Bitch!"
" My friends don't like people who aren't introduced to them."
" Your friends? Where are they eh?", Johnie asked as he was taking an egg from his bag.

But she ignored them and continued singing.
" Let's go", Johnie said,"she's no fun."
" Yeah."

They walked away, but once they reached the edge of the clearing, Johnie turned around and threw the egg at the girl. He missed her, and she acted as if she hadn't even noticed it. Johnie swore and they began walking back to the village.

Then suddenly, they heard a horn and the barking of dogs. They seemed to be approaching fast and the two boys started running. Hugh felt how two paws pushed against his back and a moment later he was thrown down. He felt their warm breath and heard them growl.
" Go away!", he cried, but they didn't go away. Instead he felt they begun tearing his clothes and as he opened his eyes he saw the threatening teeth of a huge hound. Its snow white fur shone in the moonlight and its eyes were glowing red.
He heard how Johnie was shouting and screaming. They had caught him too.

Then the hounds stopped barking and growling and Hugh heard the heavy footsteps of a man.
" Which mortal dares to disturb the Wild Hunt?", a hoarse voice said.

A moment Hugh could hear nothing but the chattering of his own teeth, but then he heard the girls voice again, and this time he could understand the words. She was singing about the death of two boys who disrespected Haloween...