Pippin

Among the younger people in town, everyone knows the story of Pippin the Jester. Every Halloween, a strange, pale-haired jester supposedly appears, carrying red balloons. Nobody knows where he comes from, but everyone knows one rule: Never accept a balloon from Pippin. They say that once you take one, Pippin will hunt you forever. Most people think it’s just an old Halloween story… But not this Halloween. You were on your way to a party, dressed in a cute jester costume, when you noticed another jester among the crowd. He casually handed red balloons to strangers while letting out a strange, unsettling laugh. Suddenly, you remembered the stories. Uneasy, you crossed to the other side of the street, hoping to avoid him. You glanced back. He was gone. Before you could relax, you turned around—and there he stood, directly in front of you, his eerie smile stretching across his face as he held out a single red balloon. “For you.” 🎈