October 15th

"I can't believe how huge your vines have grown," said Sarah.

"It's the fertilizer," said Lindsay. "I order it special from overseas."

Sarah reached to touch one of the amazingly complex looking flowers. It had a layer of large petals, topped with a second layer of thin petals, almost like hairs. From the center of this looked like a new separate plant sprouting and budding. She touched the vine and cried out.

"Ouch."

She pulled away, but the thorn remained stuck in her skin. Using her index finger and thumb, she firmly gripped the vine at the thorn. It still gave resistance, but finally released. Blood spurted out, leaving several red drops on the grass.

"Oh my god," said Lindsay. "Come inside and I'll get you a bandage."

That evening Lindsay stood outside admiring her vines. Her roommate was right. They had spread everywhere — going up the wall, wrapping around the supports on the patio, stretching across from pillar to pillar like a spider web. Usually she pushed the vines out of the way or ducked beneath them if she was in a hurry.

Her foot kicked something and she looked down. A pumpkin rested on the ground. She knelt to look at the carving. It was an intricately carved vine, very detailed down to the finest points.

When she stood to her feet, her arms brushed the hanging vines, and the thorns seemed drawn to her skin. They latched on and would not pull out. As she struggled, a vine touched her other arm and attached itself. She resisted, and the vines managed to wrap themselves around her legs.

"Help," she called out. "Sar—"

The vines wrapped around her face and silenced her.

Sarah stepped outside later that evening and noticed that the vines had significantly spread since she'd seen them last. She noticed the pumpkin on the ground, knelt down to look at it, and gasped at its detail.

"My god, Lindsay," she said to herself. "Did you do this?"

She noticed fresh drops of blood on the ground, stood to her feet and saw a pair of eyes staring out from within the entanglement of vines.

"Oh my god." she cried out.

She reached for the vines to pull them aside and immediately the thorns latched onto her. With all her strength, she ripped her hand away and saw blood covering her palm. She ran into the backyard and grabbed some pruners from the shed.

Carefully, she cut away at the vines. She could almost hear hisses and whines of pain from the plant. It moved as she severed its appendages, with vines leaning towards her, attempting to latch onto her and wrap themselves around her. Each time they did so, she cut this vine off from the rest of the plant. When she finally trimmed the plant back far enough, she gasped. Lindsay's lifeless body stared out with vacant eyes. She was covered in holes from the thorn pricks, her body pale white and emaciated. It looked as though she'd been drained dry. Sarah dropped the pruners in her shock, and immediately, the vines behind her reached out and wrapped themselves around her arms and neck.

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