Mwuaahahahahahaaa... Halloween has come and gone, leaving behind nothing but a trail of sweet wrappers, a gaggle of trembling scaredy-cats and tales of all kinds of creepy celebration events held in libraries across the country.

Halton

Young people in Halton were treated to an afternoon of face-painting at Halton Lea library and a visit from local poet Kevin McCann, who told ghost stories to anyone brave enough to listen to his performance at Runcorn Library.

St Helens

St Helens Central Library welcomed Sue Gerrard for an evening of Spooky Fun and fancy dress.

Croydon

Volunteers from Thornton Heath Library in Croydon got into the spirit of things early by writing their own horror stories and poems back in September, now exhumed here for your reading pleasure.

I knew that once I opened the door there would be no turning back. I slowly opened the creaking door. I stepped in with my torch light. My heart was beating like a drum. I heard chewing in the corner. I sharply turned over to it and there it was. Chewing on my brand new, one hundred pound, suit. It hissed. I took a wild guess that it didn't like the light. That's why it lives in the closet. It hurled itself right at my face!

I screamed and stumbled back through the doors. The creature's claws were on my ears and its body was right in front of my face blocking my sight. "Dad" I yelled, tripping over my bed. The creature's fur was scratching my delicate face. It smelled of the perfume I sprayed on my clothes last week. My Dad burst in and turned on the light. The creature cried.

I opened my eyes. The creature was gone. My closet door banged shut.

By Gideon

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Walking step. step.step. The pain of it all
Boom! Boom! Boom! The horror of the night
The sound of horror surrounding me Crawling shrivelling up like a leaf
Not scared one bit. The pain of my last breath.
Walking step. step.step. As I look in the mirror I regret my life
Screach! The sound of the creature that despises me. I see blood flowing down
Not scared one bit. and there it was.
Walking step. step.step. No matter how confusing it may sound
(pant) the sound of me taking my last breath I had one more look in the mirror
Not scared one bit. My body in pieces
Huh! What was that?
Running step. step.step. step I hate as my spirit floats away.

By Jewel

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"Stop creeping me out!"

There was absolute silence, not even the slight twitter of nature made a noise, to reassure Nicole that there was no need to fear the dark. An hour had passed or near so, since Christopher had left after their argument.

It was quite a silly quarrel, but Nicole's stubbornness meant that she left the car and refused, despite his protest to return to the car. It didn't last long however.

Now, the only thing which gave her will power, was the prospect that maybe, maybe he didn't leave at all, and was still there to protect her from the cold embrace of night.

By Prince

Get involved

Interested in building your CV through volunteering or like the idea of meeting new friends whilst helping out at your local library? Find out more about our young people's programmes and what you can do for yourself and for your local community.