"It's called 'The Pumpkin Seed Challenge.' Everybody is doing it. Whoever can eat the most pulp and seeds from a pumpkin without barfing wins." "Eww! That sounds gross" Eve recoiled. "I don't know Chris. That sounds pretty nasty. Besides, what exactly do you win?" "I'm not really sure. I saw it online so it must be a good idea. Tell you what, I'll challenge you to see who can eat the most seeds. And I'll put up a whole 10 dollars." I wasn't sure about taking part in some foolish internet fad but I'd have no problem taking my buddy's money. "You're on!"

Chris started off fast but had to stop once he started feeling sick. "Your turn Hunter" he said as he handed me the pumpkin. I stuck my fingers inside and began to consume the pulp and seeds. It was disgusting! I was about to pass the pumpkin back to Chris before he went to hurl behind a tree. "I win" I mumbled as I was starting to feel queasy. "You don't look too good Hunter" Eve noticed. "I feel dizzy, like my head is about to explode." "Maybe you should all home and lie down." "Good idea Chris. I'll see you guys at school tomorrow.... I hope."

I barely got any sleep that night as my head was pounding and causing me great distress. I took a couple of aspirin but it didn't help. The next morning I woke up and splashed water on my face hoping to feel a bit better. When I looked into the mirror, I got the shock of a lifetime. My skin had become orange! There's nothing dangerous about eating pumpkin seeds. How could this be happening? I hid my face from my Mom as I grabbed my lunch and headed for school. 

By the time I got to school, my hair, skin, and eyes had turned orange. I tried to run away but my teacher, Mr. Collins saw me and called me over. "Very funny Hunter but Halloween isn't for a few more days." "I'm not playing a prank Mr. Collins. I don't feel so good." "You don't look good. Are you not well? I'll take you to see the school nurse" he responded as we walked down the hallway. The other students were staring at me as if I was from another planet.

"What is it Mr. Collins...........Good Golly Miss Molly! He's completely orange!" a shocked Mrs. Kelley exclaimed. "Uh, come on in and sit down" she stammered. "I'm going back to the classroom. Maybe we should call his parents?" "I'll take a look at him first. I don't want to alarm them or anyone else just yet. Thanks Mr. Collins. Now Hunter, how long have you been exhibiting these symptoms? Hunter? Where did he go?" The throbbing pain in my head was excruciating. It hurt so much I felt like screaming. After diving through the second storey window, I decided to run off into the woods and find a place to collapse.

By the time I had reached the woods, my head had swollen to the size of the pumpkin.  I couldn't see, breathe, or talk and began to panic. Then I heard what sounded like a horse charging towards me. What was a horse doing running loose in The Springhampton Woods? As I began to grow light-headed from the lack of oxygen, somebody or something was able to carve holes for my eyes, nose, and mouth. After a few minutes I was finally able to catch my breath. "Thanks?" I said looking around for the person who saved me. "You're welcome" the horse replied. The horse???

"Well somebody has to. It's not as though the other guy has got a head." I looked over to see what other guy the guy the horse was talking about. Standing there a man dressed in black. And by the way, he didn't have a head. "Where's his head????" I shrieked. "Take it easy kid. We're working on that. And we're going to help you with your pumpkin head problem." "But he has no head! Did it fall off? Did he lose it? Was he born without one?" "Enough already! I get it. He doesn't have a head! Are you about done with your silly head questions?"

We have a very important mission tonight and you'll need your rest." "Where are we going? It's not like we can walk around town looking like this." "We leave for the cemetery at midnight." "Cemetery? I don't like the sound of that." "We only get one opportunity a year to defeat The Poison Pumpkin." "Poison Pumpkin? I don't like the sound of that either" I anxiously replied. "Besides, it's only 10 o'clock in the morning. What are we gonna do all day?" "Relax Hunter and allow me to share the spooky tale of Nathaniel Mallory and The Poison Pumpkin."

NEW ENGLAND, 1835

"Nathaniel Mallory was a Blue Blood. He was born into a family of incredible wealth and privilege. Despite all of the gold and power his family had, Nathaniel longed to live a normal life. When he ended up marrying a commoner, he was banished from his family's kingdom. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he was allowed to live the life he always wanted. As a child he was never allowed to participate in the actitivies that the lower classes did. He was especially fond of Halloween and hoped to surprise his new family with a pumpkin. Unfortunately he chose the wrong pumpkin patch to trespass on."

"You see this group of pumpkins belonged to a cruel, monstrous pumpkin known as 'The Poison Pumpkin.' He put a curse on Nathaniel turning his head into a pumpkin. The more he struggled, the larger the pumpkin grew until finally it burst. As Nathaniel's trusty steed, I vowed to stay by his side until he was able to defeat The Poison Pumpkin and reverse the curse." "Cool story but where do I fit in?" "You are a distant relative of Nathaniel's. When you ate all of those pumpkin seeds, it allowed for The Poison Pumpkin to strike again as he passed along the family curse. But together we will defeat his evil minions and destroy him once and for all."

"We?" "You are a part of this quest now Hunter." "Gulp! Uh, okay. Go team!" I half-heartedly cheered. "My name is Balthazar and in the blink of an eye we will be arriving at the gates of The Grimwood Cemetery." "Gulp! Alright but what about the headless dude?" "He'll find his way there." I reluctantly climbed onto the massive horse as he began to gallop through the city. Wait a second. Grimwood Cemetery has been abandoned for years. Why would we be heading to that graveyard? Oh well, the sooner my life gets back to normal the better. Having a giant pumpkin for a head was starting to give me a bit of a stiff neck.