Siggy Designs

The Hamiltons were buzzing with excitement. Halloween was always a major event in their household, and this year was no exception. Sara, the eldest at 12, had designed her own witch costume, complete with a pointed hat and eerie green makeup. Ethan, her 8-year-old brother, was going as a mummy, his body wrapped in white strips of cloth. And little Emma, just 5 years old, was adorably dressed as a ladybug.

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Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, were equally enthusiastic. Both had opted for vampire costumes, with sharp plastic fangs and flowing black capes.

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“Remember," Mrs. Hamilton warned, "No eating candies until we're back home and we've checked them. We don’t want any unpleasant surprises."

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The children groaned but nodded. They'd heard this warning every year, delivered in the spooky tone that Mrs. Hamilton loved to imitate.

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As they left, the Hamiltons forgot one crucial detail: they hadn't locked the back door. And they had also left behind Marley, their Great Dane, in the living room, thinking he’d just sleep through the evening.

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Unknown to them, three burglars had been watching the house. Eddie, the leader, signaled to the others. "Looks like they're out for the night. This should be easy."

His partners, Jake and Max, nodded in agreement. They had been staking out the Hamiltons' house for weeks and knew that the family had a safe filled with valuable items.

As they sneaked towards the back door, Eddie felt a shiver run down his spine. "You ever get the feeling you're being watched?" he whispered.

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Jake scoffed. “It's just Halloween jitters. Come on."

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Inside the house, the atmosphere was unsettling. The Hamiltons had gone all out with their decorations. Creepy shadows played on the walls, and the wind howled ominously outside.

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Suddenly, a deep, resonant growl echoed through the living room. The burglars froze. Eddie squinted in the dim light and finally made out the massive figure of Marley, the Great Dane, standing protectively near the entrance to the hallway. But to their terrified eyes, he looked like a beast straight out of a horror story. His fur seemed darker, his teeth sharper, and his eyes had a supernatural glow.

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"It's just a dog," Eddie whispered, trying to sound brave.

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But Marley wasn't just any dog. The growl intensified, echoing through the house. Sensing the intruders' fear, Marley's stance became more menacing.

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Max, sensing the danger, whispered, "We should leave. Now."

But as they began to back away, Marley lunged at them, barking ferociously. The burglars screamed, tripping over furniture and Halloween decorations in their haste to escape. They managed to scramble out of the house, but not before Marley had given them the scare of their lives.

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Once outside, they didn't stop running until they were several blocks away. Gasping for breath, Eddie looked at his partners. "That was no ordinary dog," he said, his voice shaky.

Max nodded, still in shock. “I've never seen anything like it."

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Jake shuddered. “Let's just get out of here. I never want to see that house or that dog again."

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Back at the Hamiltons' house, Marley settled back down in his favorite spot, a satisfied look in his eyes. He had protected his home and given the burglars a Halloween they would never forget.

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When the Hamiltons returned, they found the back door open and some of their decorations scattered around. Mrs. Hamilton frowned. "Did we leave the door open?" she wondered aloud.

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Tom pointed to Marley, who was wagging his tail happily. "I think Marley scared someone off," he said with a grin.

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Sara bent down to pet him. "Good boy," she said, laughing. "You gave them a real scare, didn't you?"

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As the Hamiltons settled down to check their candy and share their Halloween adventures, they remained blissfully unaware of the frightful encounter that had taken place in their home. But one thing was certain: Marley had proven himself to be the true hero of the night.

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The End.