Ever since the night Kyran told me that Mom and Dad were alive, I've been having this treacherous recurring nightmare about the day of their supposed "death" - Kyran's birthday. 

A bright and sunny November evening with solitude nonetheless. Or so the day seemed like it. I was walking home from Pre-Transformation School with Kyran by my side. From the look in his blue eyes, I could tell he was excited about tonight.  

It was a Wilson tradition. Sabia would cook up Kyran's favorite meal - seafood - and when Mom and Dad got home from work, they'd light the Birthday Wreath and take a picture of Kyran in the Wilson Family Birthday Cloak. It was the one day Mom and Dad would come home and not go straight to bed, exhausted. 

But unlike any other day, Kyran was joined by a group of older boys. The ones who no longer attend Pre-Transformation School and currently attended either an elementary school, middle school, or a high school. These kinds of people only conversed with those who'd transform. 

The boys came running past me over to Kyran, knocking the books out of my hands and pushing me to the ground where I scraped my knee on the sharp rocks that made up the gravel. I choked up my tears remembering what my teacher told me - a wolf shows no sign of weakness. As much as I wanted to fight back, I was too small, and Kyran was already way too far ahead for me to call out for help. 

They were only nice to those who'd transformed, I should rather say. I bit down on my lip forcing the tears back into my eye sockets. I wasn't going to cry. Not here. Not now. 

"Hey." I looked up to see who the soft voice of an angel belonged to. It was the weird, bubbly girl, Keanna from my class. Everyone seemed to like her. I guess that day was the best day for me to have had made a friend. And I'm lucky I did. "Are you okay?" 

"Yeah," I said, helping myself back up to my feet. Before I could get back down and gather up my books, Keanna was already down on her knees doing it for me. When she finished, she placed my books in my arms with a broad smile going from ear to ear. "Just those some meanie-heads being meanies." 

Keanna and I walked home together, skipping along the edges of the small stones making up the road. But everything went downhill when I walked through the door. All the lights had been turned off, and it wasn't even dark yet. The curtains were pulled shut, the radio was dead silent. All of the pictures were covered with a curtain of black cloth. Something odd occurred during my absence, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I sat down at the table, a huge feast of seafood set out on a plate before my eyes. I grabbed my fork, but Sabia took my fork away before I could dig in. She placed a wreath in the center of the table, but it wasn't the Birthday Wreath - it was the Wreath of Loss. She took out a rosary from her apron and looked at Kyran and me with sullen eyes.

"Ky -" She shut her eyes tightly and shifted her gaze over to me- "B, your parents are dead." I bit down on my lips, forcing what little tears that were making their way towards the exit to turn around. We said a silent prayer and then dug into the dinner.  -

I emerge from my sleep with a scream. I keep telling myself that it's just a dream, but it doesn't help. I bite down slowly on my lower lip. The lights turn on, and I see Keanna standing there in the doorway, a sympathetic look on her face - her lips squeeze into a pout, her eyes shift down and pry into me with pity. 

"I miss them!" I cry as Keanna comes rushing over to me in the old air mattress bed - it's the best Grace and Keanna could provide. She pulls me into an instant hug, caressing my back as I cry into her shoulders. "Kee, I miss my parents so badly!"

"I know you do," Keanna murmurs. It's nice to know I have a sister-figure around in my life. I don't know what I'd be without Keanna. Probably an emotionless wreck for all I know. I am so lucky to have her. She has been there for me through the good and the bad. Somedays, I just wish there was a way I could show her how much I appreciate what she's done for me. "I know you do."

She pulls away from the hug. A smile widens on her face. That's always the sign that she has some sort of scheme to cheer someone up when they're gray and gloomy. "How about we got to a New Year's Eve's Eve Party tonight?" 

"New Year's Eve's Eve," I say to myself quietly, mouth the words while squinting my eyes and wrinkling my nose. "There's no such thing."  

"There is," Keanna says cheerfully rising from the air mattress as if she's about to break into song. She turns around and looks at me to finish her sentence. "Grace and I have gone there every year." 

"What kind of party is this?" I ask.

Keanna shrugs. "A costume party." A happy smile creeps up her lips as she adds, "And this year's theme is Halloween." She sighs as she looks up at the ceiling. "Grace and I are going as Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. We always go as the same character." 

"Why can't I join in on the Harley Quinn duo?" I ask curiously. 

I haven't ever celebrated Halloween in my life before. Sure we celebrated Day of the Dead back in Howl Falls, but that's due to our story.

"Because you're too ... nice to be Harley Quinn," Keanna says in the kindest way possible. She doesn't mean it as a terrible thing, just a flaw that separates me from the rest of the group. And all along, I've always believed that Keanna was the nice one. 

~

Later that day, I'm standing in front of the mirror, looking over my costume. I'm Red Riding Hood for tonight. I'll have to admit, Grace is an expert when it comes to matching clothes with someone's style. I examine its features. 

Looking down at my figure, I consider the one piece dress I wear. I'm sporting a corset-styled vest over a gingham knee-length skirt trimmed with ribbon bows eyelet ruffles, and a peasant blouse that doesn't bother to touch the top of my shoulders. And in the back, a red satin cap is sewn to my shoulders and back neckline with a hood. 

I sigh and look away. I haven't gotten back to anyone since two weeks ago. Everyone probably abhors me now. Llwyd because I haven't provided him with intel of the group yet, and Kyran because I haven't agreed to join the Resistance yet. I'm already stuck in a situation I can't get out of. 

Keanna comes strutting over to the doorway of my bedroom and sprawls herself up against the doorjamb. For a moment there, I let my eyes wander up her athletic frame. 

Keanna wears something similar to what I hear is the Arkham City version of Harley Quinn. Over a cropped black bustier, she sports a vinyl maroon corset, trailing down to the end of her rib cage. From there, her whole stomach is visible. Vertical panels of maroon and black decorate her low-rise pants held together by a black belt. A black choker covers her neck, adorned with fake buckles. 

"How do I look?" she asks in deep yet captivating voice, unlike her usual voice that reminds me of sugar and lollipops. Just sweet. 

"Amazing," I say, using no tone whatsoever as I pull on my combat boots.  

Grace comes into the room wearing an attire so exquisitely detailed with layers of lace and stitch patterns at the bust of her dress that fans in ruffles until hitting the middle of her thighs. Gauntlets cover her wrists and most of her lower arm, and the choker conceals most of her chest.

"Wow," I say, hiding my sarcasm, "it's like looking through a mirror." 

"Okay," Grace says, throwing her hands up into the air, "let's just get into the car and go." 

"Why can't we just walk?" I ask, twirling around the room just to see my cape spin around in circles. 

"Because it's the end of December," Keanna explains while fixing her braid, "and we're dressed up as if it's October thirty-first. Connect the dots, will you?" I shrug my shoulders and follow the girls out into the main quarters of the apartment. 

Pushing herself against the door, Grace forces the door open, and we trek down the endless flights of staircases. On our way down, we meet furrowed eyebrows and freaked looks from the other people in the building.

Keanna clasps a tight grip around my wrist as she pulls me close behind her. Meanwhile, Grace skips down every flight, her pigtails of thick raven curls bouncing off her shoulders, as if nothing is going on. 

At the end of the staircase, we take a turn the building's garage, a two-floor building with a spot designated to one of the apartments' residents. On the first floor, the cars consist of mostly vans and sedans. Almost immediately does Grace find her car parked next to a sign labeled "Property of Grace Irvings." 

As I get into the back seat of her car, I hold onto the seat belt praying to the Lord that I can survive a trip in an automobile. I feel the cushion of the chair rise as Keanna slides in next to me, followed by an uneasy huff from Grace in the driver's seat. 

"What's wrong with Betrys?" she asks in the middle of a scoff. I hear her put the key into the ignition. With the thought of inevitable doom painted into my mind, I slam my eyes shut and bite down lightly on my lower lip. 

"Betrys has never ridden in a vehicle," Keanna explains. As the car slowly begins to back out of its spot, I find myself clinging to Keanna for dear life with every inch of my trembling soul. "In Howl Falls most of these wolves have never laid eyes on a car, rather more, heard of them. Our transportation is our feet, so this is gonna be a frightening experience for her." 

She caresses my hair as my lips quiver while I hug her. Grace pulls out of the garage, and we're suddenly on the road, pacing by the banal movement of those moving down the sidewalks. Past the palm trees. Returning unwanted Christmas presents. Meanwhile, the silver glow of the crescent moon illuminates off the windscreen of the car. 

My tense muscles then set at ease, and I let go of Keanna, letting my eyes lingering over the glowing moon millions of miles above us. Not a cloud is in the sky. Just the moon and the glittering diamonds surrounding it. 

"I remember that moon." That's all that I can seem to get off my tongue. I associate the moon in its crescent shape with the day Keanna became friends. When I explained to her that my parents were "deceased." I remember the way she wrapped her warm arms around me and let me cry into her shoulder. She's the only one I've cried in front of. 

Grace pulls into the crowded driveway of a large mansion forested with a large garden of shrubs, bushes, and flowers. The candlelight from the windowsill on the first floor is a dead giveaway that people are home. And the blasting of the boombox from inside followed with the blur of bodies jumping up and down is a signal that we're the not the first ones here. We might even be late. 

Pulling the key out of the ignition, Grace jumps out of the car. Within a second, she's up to the driveway faster than the speed of light, calling out, "Hey, if you two don't get out now, you're gonna be missing one hell of a party!" 

Keanna shrugs and pushes the door open from her side, and helps me out because I'm sort of dizzy from my first ride in a car. My legs wobble from the pressure as if it's my first time walking, so I lean on Keanna for support. Without question towards my integrity, Keanna drags me along with her the rest of the way down the driveway.

Hitting the porch, my legs finally realize they're fit for a seventeen-year-old werewolf and regain their strength. I let go of Keanna and knock on the door before Grace's hand can even hit the doorbell. After a good three seconds of waiting, the door opens to a stocky-built woman in leather armor and gold medallions concealed behind the sword shield held in her grasp. Her messy blonde curls are pulled back by a headband. 

"Grace," she remarks, pulling Grace into a tight hug without permission."Oh, Grace, it's been so long. How are you?"

"I've been better," Grace replies, looking up at the sky with a look of skepticism. "How's the university treating you?" 

"I dropped out to pursue my lifelong dream of opening a kraut dog cart," the girl replies. I squint my eyes as I let the confusion enter my soul. The girl then meets my eyes. "Who's she?" 

"Oh." Grace stutters and her eyes bounce from me to Kenna and back to me and again. Her eyes settle down once she finally makes up an answer. "That's Anna's ... second cousin, Beatrice. She's from Montgomery and is staying with Anna and me for New Year's." 

My jaw drops to the pavement in a gasp.  Sure my name is a derivative form of Beatrice, but I prefer to have my name pronounced differently than its original form. 

According to Sabia, when I was first learning to respond to my name, I'd never answer when my name was pronounced like Beatrice. Then, one day, Kyran came up and accidentally mispronounced my name as beh-tris. To my parents' - and Sabia's - amazement, I responded to the name and sit stuck from there. 

Without any further questioning, the woman lets us in, and we enter the living room, my eyes widening in awe. The room, with its guests and all, remind me of Day of the Dead back in Howl Falls. Their clothing is just so authentic and withering. These are my kind of people- wait, what?!

Electronic pop music blasts through the room. The guests pump their fists into the air as they jump up and down. The beat of the music is throbbing through the speakers hanging from the ceiling high up above. 

I let my hips sway to the music as the breakdown comes through. The beat has me moving as I've never done in my life. It's so exhilarating. 

As the music ends, Grace rushes over to me stumbling over herself in stiletto heels. She pulls me over to the table full of concessions and a punchbowl. She's always squealing under her breath. "Betrys, a celebrity guest is here."

"Ooh," I say, cramming some mini cheesecakes into my mouth. "Who is it?"

"No one knows," Grace says with a joyful squeal and a clap of her hands. "All we know is that he's dressed as Napoleon, sits in the VIP section with his hot date, and judging by what I saw when he came in, he is " - she abruptly stops to make a yummy sound - "handsome with skin paler than snow." 

"Yeah ... " My voice trails off for a moment as I try to put things delicately for her. "Are you sure it's a celebrity? Because honestly, it could be anyone behind that costume." 

"Umm ... " 

"Just take me to the VIP section," I cut her off in a curt manner. I'm not the kind who enjoys playing games. People need to come through straight and thorough the first time or else I won't waste my time. 

Grabbing my hand, Grace and I push through the massive crowd of dancing maniacs. But once we reach the other side of the room, my jaw drops to the floor as I see who is in the Napoleon costume. 

Athan. 

In the luxurious booth of two connected leather couches meeting at the corner of the wall, Athan sits, feet propped up on top of the table as if it's no one's business. Meanwhile, a girl sits there, nuzzled up against his ribcage while his arm links around her shoulder. She wears a lavender corset top dress with a sheer center and trimming up front, along with a layered skirt with a satin underlayer and wire frame wings behind her shoulders.  

"Nope," I say gritting my teeth until they hurt. "That's no celebrity. Just my jerk of a Match, who apparently I cannot trust."

There's that moment in between a pause that defines who you are. You can choose the path of villainy, or you can decide to take the route of righteousness. But that's all determined in that split second of hesitation. Make one mistake can lead one down a life of darkness.  

Rushing outside in tears, I bring out my phone from my purse and text Llwyd. 

I'm sorry I haven't contacted you in weeks. Please forgive me. If I'm going to help you take this Resistance down, what do I have to do? - Betrys 

I shouldn't have trusted Athan to have changed. It's just part of who he is. He can never stick with one girl, he has to get together with several of them. I'm the Match that he rejects because of the sea of clueless females that would more than gladly become his wife. I'm just a pawn in his game. That's all I'll ever be to him. There's no sense in falling for someone I know can never love me.

The screen of my phone lights up with text bubble with a message encrypted inside. 

Llwyd: Infiltrate yourself with the Resistance. 

~

Hello, everyone. I just had to make a subtly Halloween chapter for y'all. I hope you liked it. 

If you liked this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. I'd really appreciate it. Thank you. 

LOL, this gif makes my day. (also, leave my corndog alone)

And last but not least, the text convo: 

X Shay X