Even when the front door of my house separates me from Casey, I can't stop thinking about him. His multiple questions freaked me out. Why was he so desperate to know my favorite holiday? And why did he focus on Halloween so much?

    The question that shook me the most was the one about scaring little kids. I lied to him about that, yes; but it isn't any of his business! I barely know him, so he doesn't deserve to know what I do in my free time.

    I wish I hadn't lied about how I spent Halloween, though. That was an unnecessary fib that I would probably pay for later through karma. I had wasted the entire night chasing after some guy dressed up like a skeletal Jason the Hockey Killer. But I don't see it as a waste. In fact, I can't stop thinking about him. My 'Prince Charming' enjoys constantly taking up all the space in my head. I like the feeling far too much.

    As I unbundle my coat and boots, I just can't figure out why Casey would ask me such questions. He guessed too close to the truth of what I had done on Halloween night. I'm not certain how he knows. Unless...

    No. He isn't the guy from the party. He couldn't be. The party guy is charming, funny, and entertaining. He is nothing like the uninteresting and lazy Casey Jones. There's no way they have any relation whatsoever.

    I look around my mansion of a home. The many open spaces and tall staircases are clean and sparkly. However, as I ascend to my room, there's something lonely about the seemingly countless rooms. I live with both of my parents and a maid, but that's it. It seems ridiculous for only four people to live in such a huge building, but I never think much of it. I am used to it.

    It's not that I am lonely, because my family is actually pretty close. We eat dinner together every night to learn about each other's days. We go on vacations together constantly, and we also love watching movies together. Especially Christmas movies. Overall, we are a happy family.

    When I get up to my room, I take a deep breath to inhale the cinnamon aroma. Candles line the open shelves, engulfing the room in their lovely scent. My bed is made up nicely, its orange bedding standing out against the pearly white walls. The circular, sunset-colored rug in the middle of the room ties everything together.

    As usual, I sit down on my bed and get started on my homework. I work for an hour until my mom peeks into the room, her curly white-blonde hair falling into her face. Her blue eyes are alight with a happy greeting as she walks in and sits beside me.

    "Hi, honey," she says as she gives me a side hug. "Working hard?"

    I puff and drop my lead pencil onto the bed. "You have no idea," I mumble. "I think my brain is about fried."

    My mother laughs. "That's quite hard to do," she replies as she rubs my back affectionately. After a moment, my mother starts talking again. "I came to tell you that your father and I are going down to Pennsylvania for a few days. We would take you, but this is strictly business. I'm sorry."

    I shrug. Despite the fact that we are a close family, I am also used to the fact that my parents take several business trips a year. I'm not bothered by it, however. We still talk over the phone and chat over webcam. It's like they never leave in the first place.

    "That's alright," I answer with another smile.

   "Angelina will still be here," my mother reminds me. "She'll take care of you. Not that you need it, of course."

    Angelina is our maid. She as a small, oriental woman that has the kindest eyes I've ever seen. She has worked for my family since before I was even born. She is practically a part of the family.

    "How's your tutoring going?" My mother asks as her gaze travels over my many textbooks.

    "He's..." I situate my papers as I grope for the right word. "Making progress," I finally finish.

    My mother seems to sense the struggle I am having with him, because she pats my shoulder encouragingly. "Just remember why you took the position in the first place. It'll pay off in the end."

    I nod. How can I forget? It's a critical part of my future.

    "I've got to get some rest. Our flight leaves early tomorrow." My mom kisses my forehead and makes her way to the door. "Goodnight, Eve."

    "Goodnight," I call after her as she disappears down the hallway.

    Once she is gone, I put my books away and sit on my window seal. I gaze out at the city before me. The darkness has fallen quickly, but it's beautiful. City lights glow and reflect off the icy roads. The snow flurries swirling through the air gives it a dreamy effect.

    But the breathtaking view is ruined almost immediately when I spot some strange figures walking down the road. One looks like an oversized tiger on its hind legs with an evil glint in its yellow eyes. Beside it is a huge dog made completely out of bones, and a purple fish with robotic legs.

    I blink several times, but the creatures never disappear. They only continue at their slow pace down the road. Somehow, I'm not imagining such an odd phenomenon.

    As I run my hand over the window to remove the condensation on it, I notice that the creatures are holding maps. They look from building to building, as if they are trying to find something. I have a bad feeling in my stomach that they're up to no good.

    Suddenly, a strange boy covered in kneepads and elbows pads charges up to the creatures. Even through the glass of the window I can hear him yelling, "Stop right there, punks!"

    In response, the big dog and fish start towards him with a menacing gate. I don't expect them to understand English, let alone speak it. But evidently, I'm wrong.

    "Look who came to play," the fish monster sneers, his voice muffled because of the window.

    "Too bad we don't have time to throw a frisbee for you," the skeletal dog growls with a dirty smile.

    "I saw you guys at the pier on Halloween!" The teenager exclaims bravely as he puffs out his chest. His voice is familiar, but it's too dark to see who he is. "I don't know what you're up to, but I'm gonna stop it! There's no way I'm letting you ugly freaks take over New York."

    The dog creature laughs. "We'd like to see you try and stop us," he snarls. Then, without warning, he lunges at the teenager.

    I gasp and slap a hand over my mouth as the dog tears at the boy. The creature bats him around roughly and without mercy. To make things worse, the fish thing also jumps in and starts abusing the teenager.

    I am about to go for help, but I pause when I realize the boy knows what he's doing. He whips out a baseball bat and starts swinging it around. He nails the dog on his bony muzzle and the fish right in the side.

    In their daze, it's the perfect opportunity for the boy to take them down. He forces the dog to back into the road. One by one, the creature is forced back, even whenever car headlights flash nearby. A dump truck is approaching at top speed.

    For a moment, I think the boy is going to die alongside the strange creature. But at the last minute, he rolls out of the way, leaving the dog to get knocked out by the car. The creature lies motionless.

    I stare in horror. Is the dog dead?

    The teenager doesn't seem to be phased. He spins around the face the fish mutant. "Your turn," he says as he motions him forward.

    Their fight is about the same at the last. He takes the fish thing down almost with ease. With one final blow, he manages to put the creature unconscious and twirls around to face the tiger.

    The tiger is ready. He pulls out a laser gun and starts shooting at the boy with it. I'm certain that he's a goner, but the teenager prevails. He dodges all the lasers and swings his baseball bat at the animal.

    However, his plan doesn't quite work out. His weapon splinters to pieces and he is left with nothing to defend himself. The teenager takes a step back, but the tiger lifts him by his collar and growls in his face.

    "You are nothing but a pest. I will destroy you right here and now."

    "Good luck, kitty cat!" The boy responds viciously. I admire his bravery, but I'm also beginning to think this is pointless. Why wouldn't he just call for help? Surely he had friends.

   What was I even thinking? I don't know what is going on. I don't know who's evil and who isn't. I just know that there are English-speaking, oversized animals walking on their hind legs. This isn't normal, even for New York City.

    The tiger throws the boy to the ground. Though the teenager lands on his rump, he seizes the moment of freedom to whip out some more weapons. Using a hockey stick, he starts smacking hockey pucks right at the tiger.

    My eyes widen as I stare at the hockey stick. Though it's dark, I can still make out the shape and style of it. It looks exactly like Casey Jones' favorite possession.

    As the two begin to tussle below, I can't seem to focus on it anymore. I am so confused. That can't be Casey down there! It just can't. He's too lazy. He would never try and take down a weird creature, let alone three.

    I shake my head to clear it. Maybe several hockey players in New York have the same kind of tool. Yeah, that must be it. It's just a coincidence.

    By the time my thoughts stop spinning, I realize that the tiger has done a good number on the teenager. I watch in horror as the creature lifts the boy up and throws him down onto the rough pavement.

    The fighter boy does not move again.