Submission (#6786) Approved

Word count: 279 - written with permission, this Terra’s owner is my friend!

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Usually, Lenora preferred that others didn’t see her more beastly form. To her, it represented something that hurt - the loneliness of hallways that stretched forever without another soul, her own voice echoing across the walls.
She didn’t like to purposefully become it. But one of her friends was speaking with her earlier, which began to make her think…
“I just don’t think our haunted house is scary enough. Everyone’s going to laugh at us on their way out!”
Lenora couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side in confusion. “Why would they be upset? I don’t like being scared. Why would they be disappointed they weren’t?”
“You might not like getting scared, but some people do,” Her friend explained, “Especially somewhere like a haunted house. Because it’s actually all safe, you can get the rush of being scared without actually feeling like you’re in danger. Does that make sense?”
Lenora paused, thinking. “So… they want others to scare them?”
“Of course! They usually thank the actors when they get out, if they’ve got the chance. Pose for photos and stuff, too, especially if their costume or make-up is good.”
Lenora nodded slowly, beginning to form the idea in her mind.
She didn’t want people to be scared of her for real, but if these haunted house visitors wanted a scare, she could provide a good one. She towered in the background of the fake cemetery, her large form just hidden behind a tree - ready to pop out and frighten the first group to venture through.
She hoped that they enjoyed the scare - and that maybe, just maybe, they’d want a picture with her when they were all done.