**AUTHORS NOTE: This short story is based on the cult-classic, public domain film, Carnival of Souls! (The beginning of it, at least.) A few things have been changed and modernized, but regardless, I hope you enjoy this steamy take on this spooky story. Thank you!**
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Melanie Henry is beautiful. She's always been perceived as the daintiest, out of her and Kate, but when people met her, the illusion was quick to shatter. She was, in fact, much stronger than she looked.
Kate McNatus, on the other hand, put up no illusions at all. It wasn't that she wasn't perceived as dainty on the outside, because she quite frankly was, but her personality forced people to look at the real her. The her that said, "Don't think that just because I'm small I can't kick your ass."
So on October 31st, after dusk, when a light, cool fog slid across the road like a gardener snake, and the two women sat at an empty, red light - they wanted to have a little fun.
"I don't know, Halloween just isn't the same anymore. Is this growing up? Are we officially too old for Halloween?" Kate asked with a lit, ashy cigarette hanging from her glossy red lips.
"We're only 29, Kate! Don't you think you're being a tad dramatic? Besides, we had a blast last year. Not every Halloween can be stellar."
"I know, I know. I just thought we'd have more fun." Kate's tone was so whiny that Melanie couldn't help but laugh.
The loud rumble of an engine emerged from the fog and slithered beside their car.
"Looks like there's your fun." Melanie smirked.
The two men gazed out their passenger window with large, dopey smiles. The driver revved the engine as the two burst into laughter.
"Hey ladies!" The passenger yelled. "Roads all clear! How 'bout a race?"
"You two really feel like losin' on such a fun holiday?" Kate called.
"Losin'? Who said anything about losin'?"
"I did, sweetheart!" Kate laughed, sticking her head out the window. "I'll make ya a deal! If you win, I'll show ya my tits."
Melanie laughed, despite not wanting to be in a race at all tonight and not loving her best friend's torso hanging out of the driver window. She didn't have a good feeling about all this.
"As a matter of fact," Kate began, unbuttoning her tight, plaid shirt. "I'll just show you right now."
The men's mouths dropped open and Melanie could swear she saw them drooling before the light turned bright green and the ladies' car squealed through the intersection. With her heart pounding out of her chest, Melanie grabbed a hold of the wheel as Kate quickly fixed her shirt. Both girls were hollering their laughter as the wind flew through their hair.
"Looks like Raggedy Ann and the Lady Lumberjane are gonna win the race!" Kate laughed, her cigarette still hanging out of her mouth as she whipped around a corner. "No surprise there!"
The long stretch of road ended at a large field that their small town called a park, but it was really just a field. The ladies slid their car into the dirt parking lot while dust plumed around them. Laughing, Kate got out of the car. She stood tall with her denim, short-shorts and plaid shirt tied up around her waist. Her blood red, glossy lips shone through the light layer of fog that floated around them.
Just a moment later, the men's vehicle came rolling behind them and parking beside theirs. Both men exited the car and smiled wide at Kate's proud demeanor.
"Alright, missy. You /are/ good." Melanie rolled her eyes in the passenger seat. "Since ya won, what's your prize?"
"Well my friend, Melanie and I, were looking to have a good time tonight."
"Is that so?" said the driver.
"Yes, but... Well Melanie may be dressed up as a sweet, little Raggedy Ann doll, don't let the pigtails fool you. She loves to tease and dominate a man."
Both men smiled.
"That sounds right up your alley, Sam." said the driver, closing the gap between he and Kate. The instant connection between the two was palpable but finally, Melanie had had enough.
Sighing heavily, she exited the car but was stopped in her tracks, surprised by the good looks of the driver's partner who she now knew as Sam. He had thick, dark hair and brows and a tight, but stout body.
"What do you say, Mel?" asked Kate, wrapping her arms around her best friend.
"I say OK, but you two don't go too far in case someone needs help!" Melanie practically had to scream it because Kate and the driver had grabbed a blanket out of the car and we're practically halfway through the field.
Sam laughed as he grabbed his own blanket from their car and set in on the ground, underneath the opened, passenger side door.
"So... Melanie. What is it that you like to do with these submissive men?"
"Hm. Well," Melanie began. "Maybe I should tie you up and we'll find out."
Sam sat on the blanket he had laid out between the open car doors and held his wrists out to Melanie. His smile was bigger than the sun when she slid the shoelace out of his boot and tied it around his wrist.
"I'll be right back." she winked. Her frosty, freckled skin was glowing under the moonlight when she turned her back to Sam and walked behind the vehicle she had arrived in.
Sam's body ached with anticipation.
'What could she possibly be doing back there?' he thought.
Melanie emerged from behind the car wearing only the low cut apron and stockings from her costume. The apron was a thin, white fabric that went around her waist. Her nipples we're hardly covered by the two, thick straps of her apron that went over her shoulders.
The site made Sam hard as diamonds.
"What do you think?" She asked as her auburn hair spilled just barely over her shoulders.
"I-I like it."
"Aw, just like it? Maybe I'll just put the dress back on," said Melanie.
She turned back to the car, revealing her completely nude backside.
"No-no-no! I don't just like it. I, more than like it. I'm fucking rock hard just looking at those gorgeous-"
"OK, I get it." Melanie laughed as she approached Sam at the car, sitting with his hands tied above his head. "Do you want me to play with you?" she whispered.
