Spooktober commission drawn by Virnovigoratus

Balled up in the corner of your room, the sound of your weeping contrasts with the sounds of happy party-goers on Halloween night. As you wiped the tears from your eyes, you see the grotesque rubber goblin mask on top of the gray bodysuit, loincloth, and other accessories are strewn about. A costume you spent months searching and saving for. A costume you tried on and squealed in glee as it was not only the perfect fit but everything you imagined. You even perfected your goblin laugh as you imagined yourself in character. The fantasy of being a wacky and mischievous goblin. Something you loved to be as a kid.

But others didn’t see it like that. They cringed and sneered when you asked to come to their Halloween costume parties. Some even made sure you were uninvited as they hurled insults upon insults on your looks, your body, and your goblin mask. Disgusted that someone would want to be a goblin. The ridiculing continued all day until you made your way home, discouraged and heartbroken. You take the goblin mask into your hand as you see a few of your tears fall on it. But then, the mask starts to faintly glow, and your eyes start to widen.

As if in a trance, you bring the mask to your face before slipping it over your head. The material stretches over your head before settling with a plop. However, the fit is much tighter, cooler, and for some reason…..gooey. You would care about the sensations…if your head wasn’t filling up with thoughts of mischief and mayhem. Of all the things you would do if you were a goblin. You stood up as you were no longer weeping but snickering and chuckling as you were drawn to the mirror.

Across the polished surface, you don’t see any visage of your face underneath the goblin mask, but you notice the mask blinks with you. The mouth filled with jagged teeth moves with yours and the nostrils of the large pointy nose flared as you sneezed. Even the ears flickered involuntarily. You brought a hand to your face rubbing to confirm that the mask was your new face. You even see the rubber material liquefy and seep down to your shoulders as your body was steadily coated. The realization of this transformation brought a crooked sharp-tooth grin to your face.

You turned to your bedroom window, watching the many parties occurring in the neighborhood. All of them having fun without you. Instead of crying, you giggle as your mind raced of how you would turn their night of Halloween merriment into a night of misfortune, torment, and fright. Something a gremlin would do. If you weren’t going to have fun, neither will they. You’ll show them what happens when you don’t invite a goblin to your party.