The Headless Horseman Lives

[Denise du Pris]

Act 1: A Night of Fright

"The horseman was a Hessian mercenary sent to the shores by German princes to keep Americans under the yoke of England. But unlike his compatriots, who came for money, the horseman came for love of carnage."
Baltus Van Tassel Sleepy Hollow

The scene opens in the countryside of New York. The night was dark, and yet stars twinkled above while the moon cast it's eerie glow to the earth below. Smoke swirled in the air from the torches that could be seen glowing from the road that lead to a farm that was nestled off a beaten path. A field full of cars could be seen as the camera drew near, as well as a long line of people waiting for the true terror to begin for the first part of the Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses. People came from miles around just to see this attraction that always opened on time, and with scarier things than the year before. The camera pans to a small area around the back of the fenced off attraction where we find Denise putting on the last finishing touches for her outfit for the night. She pulls her hair back, and puts it into a ponytail, and then slips on a pair of black gloves before heading over to where Daredevil waited for her, along with an older looking woman. This was Nancy the woman that owned and helped run the attraction. Denise digs out her phone and sighs as she gets Klayton's voice mail.

Denise: Hey Klayton it's me. Just wanted to thank you for paying for my room, and everything before you left. If you try to call and don't get an answer don't worry, I'm fine. I'm in Ulster Park, New York helping out some friends. If you want stop by and they'll make sure you get a good scare. Talk to you soon. Love you.

Nancy: Are you ready Denise?

Denise: Yes... Here hold onto this for me. I don't want it going off when I'm out there.

Nancy: Sure, just remind me that I have it. Will you be able to help us the rest of the season?

Denise: Of course. Sorry I wasn't here last weekend...

Nancy: It's all right. We knew you were busy. Besides Stephanie filled in. She did a great job, but you will always be the better. Are you ready for the last part of your outfit?

Denise nods, as Nancy and a young man help Denise on, with the last part of the outfit. The severed neck of the Headless Horseman was placed over her head, and Denise smiles underneath, as the sound of screams could be heard from the line of people as crazed killers walked among them getting a few scares in before the true horror and terror would begin.

Nancy: Can you see all right?

Denise: I'm fine. With the torches and that I'll be fine.

Young Man: Is the headpiece working?

Denise: I haven't tried it yet. It should...

Young Man: I'll give it a test run while you head over that way, and make sure you can hear me.

Denise: Sounds good. All right... I'm off.

With that Denise, puts Daredevil into a light jog, as she headed for her spot in the woods to await the hayride, and the poor souls that would be on it.

Denise: This should prove to be a fun night. I know what you're probably thinking Nate, and I couldn't care less. I do this every year, and I will always keep a promise to those I like. I know I should be training for our match, but right now I have something a little more important to do. I've been thinking about everything that I'm going to do to you while we are in the ring Nate, and none of it is pretty. I took it easy on Klayton, but I will not give you the luxury or the pleasure of it. I'm going to come at you with everything that I have, and I will not stop until I get what I want. Monday night is going to be a night that none will forget... Especially you.

Voice: Denise? Who are you talking to?

Denise: Sorry, just thinking out loud. Do you need me out there now?

Voice: No, not yet. I just wanted to make sure that your headpiece was working. It seems to be ok. If you need a break or anything, Stephanie is ready to take your place for a few minutes.

Denise: Sounds good. I'll let you know.

The voice disappears in her ear once again, leaving Denise alone, with only the sound of screams from the people that made their way through the long trail toward the rest of the area. Denise soon sees the light coming from the tractor and smiles to herself, as she puts Daredevil into a light walk. She soon emerges from the tree line as the tractor passes. She rears Daredevil up, before putting him into a light jog following the tractor causing those that were on the back to scream as they saw the Headless Horseman come toward them. She soon puts Daredevil into a full sprint, and rides up ahead of the tractor, and rears up once more, before disappearing back into the woods.

Voice: Awesome work Denise. You remembered what you did last time. Next time start back a bit further, and just put your horse into a full gallop and come at them with sword held high. That will get some reaction out of them.

Denise: Right. Not a problem.

Voice: Awesome. I'll keep in touch with you.

Denise smiles to herself, as she moves through the woods on Daredevil's back as she hears the screams a little bit louder as they reach the next part of the journey.

Denise: Do you know the Legend of the Headless Horseman Nate? It's one that I've read a hundred times, and seen every movie that had been released on the subject. None of them have come close to the true story of what really happened in that area. The Hessian came for the love of carnage, and when battle was involved he rode hard into battle taking the heads of anyone that stood in his way. It went on like this for some time, until he was killed in the Western woods of Sleepy Hollow. The chopped off his head with the sword he carried, and buried him in a shallow grave. Every year he comes back to the small town where he continues to take heads of those that are wandering in the woods alone, to find a head to replace his own. Some say the legend isn't true, but there are others out there that believe he still rides the same time of night every year. But the reason I told you that, is this... I am not afraid of a mere legend, but you should be afraid of me. I have never given in to anyone, and I will not start now. When the two of us are standing in the ring, you will know why I've always managed to walk away with a win under me, one way or another. You just got lucky when you faced me the first time, but not again. This time you will fall, and when you do it will be off with your head.

Denise smiles softly under the headpiece she wore, and watched the trail waiting for the next tractor to come by, as the scene fades to black.

Act 2: A much needed rest

The scene opens on a tent that was sitting behind the main attraction. We soon see a few people with their make up done that looked like they had just had their faces ripped off, or had their insides ripped out. We see Denise sitting alone, sipping a bottle of water, and getting a little bit of a rest before she went back out onto the trail once again. One of the young men that were in the tent with Denise walks over to her and smiles slightly. Denise smiles back, looking at the gore that covered his face.

Denise: Can I help you?

Guy: It is you. Wow... When they told us we had a celebrity with us, I thought they were kidding.

Denise: Leave it to Nancy and Mike to let the cat out of the bag.

Guy: This is my first year here, and now I'm actually talking to you. I've followed your career since you were in TIWF.

Denise smiles softly, knowing those days she had just started out in the business and had fallen for a fellow superstar. After a short time the company closed it's doors, and once again she wandered the world.

Denise: Wow, that is going back a good ways. So what can I do for you... I never did catch your name...

Guy: It's Greg. I caught your match against that Klayton guy last week, and I have to say it was awesome.

Denise: Thank you Greg. It was harder than you think. I mean after all Klayton and I are going out now.

Greg: So you guys are really serious huh?

Denise: Yes. I told myself I would never fall for anyone like this again, but I did.

Greg: But are you happy with him?

Denise: Yes. From the first time that I met him I knew he was different. Why do you ask?

Greg: If not, I was going to ask you out. Well I better get back out there, before I'm missed in the maze.

Denise: Sure thing. It was nice talking to you Greg.

With that Greg disappears out of the tent leaving Denise alone once again. She peeks out from behind the flap of the tent, and sighs, as she hears the screams from the patrons that were in the haunted houses and on the hayride.

Denise: Nate our day is coming, and Monday night your title will become mine. I have no doubt that you will try everything that you can to stop me, but there is nothing that you can truly do against me. I've never been one to back down, and I will not back down, or give up without a fight, and take what is rightfully mine.

Denise smiles as she heads back outside into the night air, as Nancy comes running up her.

Nancy: I'm glad I caught you before you headed back out.

Denise: Why, is everything all right?

Nancy: No everything is fine. A friend of yours showed up.

Denise: You mean Klayton?

Nancy: Yes... That was the name he gave. He said he wanted to see you after you finished tonight.

Denise: So he did come... Would it be all right if he waited back here for me, once he goes through?

Nancy: Of course. I'll have someone waiting for him after he goes through the last part.

Denise: Perfect. Where is he now?

Nancy: He's on the hayride now. They're just leaving the main area now.

Denise: Good. Call Stephanie back. I want to see his face when he sees the Headless Horseman coming at him.

Nancy: He knows it's you. He'll be grinning ear to ear when he sees you.

Denise just smiles as she hears the sound of Stephanie coming back on a black horse identical to Daredevil, only a bit smaller in size. She removes the headpiece and smiles at Denise before hoping down from the horse.

Stephanie: It's all yours. I'm out for the night.

Denise: Good. See you later.

Denise places the headpiece back on, and rides off into the night back to her spot to await the next hayride to appear. She peers through the trees and sighs, only hearing the sound of an owl hooting somewhere above her.

Denise: Even among the sound of screams I can find a few moments peace. I love this time of year, the leaves are starting to change color, the air has a crisp and clean feeling to it, the smoke from the fireplaces fill the air, and Halloween is just around the corner. When I'm not on the trail, I sit here and think about a lot of things Nate, and our match is what is filling my mind now. Monday night will be the first time that I have held a title in my hands in a very long time, and I don't plan on losing this match no matter what I have to do. I just hope you are ready to face me. I want you to bring everything that you have to that ring, and show me why you deserve to be the TV champion Nate. But I know that you won't, and once again, I will walk away with another win, while you fall at my feet, and fade away into the background where you belong.

Denise smiles to herself, as she hears the tractor coming toward her. She looks at the people on the hayride and there he was. Klayton sat on the end, watching the road, as if waiting for something to happen, with a grin on his face.

Denise: Should have known... He's waiting for me.

Denise puts Daredevil into a full sprint, as she appears behind the tractor a ways back. She pulls on the reigns, and Daredevil rears up as those on the hayride scream. She comes down, with sword in hand, with Daredevil in full canter, as she comes toward the tractor as the people scream, while Klayton just smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile under the mask she wore, as the tractor pulled away leaving her alone once again, as the scene fades to black.

Act 3: Waiting is the hardest thing to do

The scene opens on the tent where we find a few of the creatures from the trail and corn maze getting to leave for the night. The makeup has been removed, and the costumes had been put for another night. Klayton had waited for the last hayride before he had gone through. Denise looks at the time on the watch she wore and sighs. He would be leaving the last bit of the attraction in the next few minutes, and she would be waiting for him instead. Her long black leather trench coat blows gently in the wind that had picked up. Her ice blue eyes sparkled in the dim light from the torches that still glowed, around the area. Denise walked along the path that would lead her to the area where the haunted house stood. She could hear the screams coming out of the house, and had to smile. She loved this time of year.

Denise: Tell me Nate do you know what it's like to have someone that understands, and will do anything for you? I do. I've been there many times, but for some odd reason Klayton seems to be the one that actually understands better than anyone I've been with in the last 2 and a half centuries that I've been on this planet. Monday night, not only will I be walking away with a title, but Klayton will as well. Nothing is going to stop us, and there is nothing that you or anyone else can do about it. This will be my time to shine Nate... Trust me it will be a night to remember. See you soon Nate... Oh and Nate... Sleep tight.

Denise just smiles as she sees Klayton walking toward her. She breaks into a run, and jumps into his arms, as the scene fades to black.

((OOC: This is the place that I used. I want to go there one day, because it is really neat looking, and scary as hell.

www.headlesshorseman.com/))