Let me sink into autumn-atous storytelling
Into screams that beat and bleed
Into the drum of music spiking through the screen
Tension creeping down the stairs
With the each formulaic, fall-tering step
Itching shivers prickling across our arms
Like splinters fracturing
As we watch them twitch and break beneath the skin.
Let me lead through each cliche
Each splatter of empty laughter an echo
Of Jason, Johnny, Jigsaw
Classic cranberry colors staining every surface
A witch ranking her nails through frozen earth
Until finally, dreaded quiet
And a grim welcome home.