"We are going to be late," Amari shouted from the bottom of my stairs; her voice was shrill and rough. Her shout had me adjusting my skirt to put my phone in my pocket and run down the stairs.

"wow, you look amazing," Everett exclaimed, grabbing my bag and handing it to me as we rushed out the door, Amari nipping at our tails to get moving.

"what are you even supposed to be?" Amari asked, settling into the back seat.

"I'm a witch." That, weirdly enough, caused the two of them to laugh. "What we are going trick or treating witches are common costumes."

"I'm a zombie," Amelia announced. "It was easy just ripping up some old clothes."

"Well, I'm glad you both rose to the occasion," Everett said. "We are going to a friend's home to meet them before heading out."

"Who are we meeting?" I asked. The town gave way to trees lining the road.

"Amir, my cousin," Amari answered quickly. "he has a little brother, Jamir."

"So we are going trick or treating for his little brother," I confirmed. Amari waved her hand at me while checking her phone. She was not my first choice to hang out with, and I was beginning to wish I was watching scary movies with Katherin and Stacy. I glanced at Everett, and I felt a little better about coming since he was the one to invite me. My phone buzzed, and I hesitantly glanced at it. Katherin texted

'you didn't tell Stacy where you are going.'

'I'm not lying to her.'

'I hope that boy is worth it.' I threw my phone away first. It is unsafe to text and drive, but I couldn't look at Katherin's messages rolling in, each one more upset than the last.

"would you shut your phone up? The buzzing is annoying," Amari whined, still staring at her phone. Rolling my eyes, I glanced at her, about to tell her to leave me alone, when a crack sounded. Heart racing, I pulled onto the wheel; the car veered out of the way of the falling tree so that it did not fall on us. Wheels screeched as my brakes forced the moving vehicle to a stop.

"what the hell was that?" Amilia muttered, clutching her seat.

"I thought you knew how to drive, Riona," Amari said, banging on my seat.

"my thought was that she expertly avoided the falling tree." The tree falling made my heart race, but this unknown voice caused it to stop. Everett opened the door in a flash, dropping out of the car. Amari screamed, pulling at the door but unable to open it like Everett had. Amelia got out of the vehicle like Everett had. I locked eyes with this stranger. How did he get in my car? My brain repeatedly asked that question to the point that I could only sit and think about that question. He had big brown eyes and winked at me. 

"do you need help with the door, Amari?"

"leave her alone," Everett shouted from outside the car, now walking around to get to our side of the vehicle. Still, before he made it, this stranger reached over Amari, ignoring her yelp and opening the door. She scurried out of the car and grabbed onto Everett.

"you all should get back into the car," this stranger called out, "before the demon gets back." No one moved; I still don't think I was breathing.

"Casper, what are you doing here? You are scaring the shit out of everyone," Everett finally said

"Apologies, I was hunting a demon, and it attacked the tree trying to stop you," this stranger responded.

"demon," Everett and Amari let out strangled laughs. "What a Halloween joke."

"whether the humans believe in demons or not will not stop them from devouring their minds. I would recommend we get the humans out of here."

"what is out there?" Amari asked.

"I was chasing an amphivena when it suddenly changed directions. I followed the trail here," the man named Casper said. Everett and Amari jumped back into the car, pushing Casper against the door. The passenger door remained open as Amelia backed away.

"get in the car," Amari shouted, but Amilia turned and ran. Casper jumped out of the car to chase her into the woods. I was just coming out of my freeze when a blood-curdling scream cracked the silence that had fallen.

"will Amilia be okay?" I asked

"I don't know many people who scream like that who are okay," Everett says, staring out the window where Amilia and Casper ran.

"who cares? Close the door, and let's get out of here," Amari screeched.

"They are still out there," I said. The screaming continued until it stopped just as suddenly as it started. There is a saying that I hear when you are scared. At that moment, I truly knew what they meant when they said your blood ran cold. I looked at my white fingers clutching the wheel, realizing that I had never let go, yet I was unsure if I could. Then, a figure walked out of the woods; it was hard to see in the dark, but it looked big. Amari reached over the front seat and closed my door.

"Drive now!" Amari Shouted in my ear. I was rushed to move even though I did not intend to leave them behind. The wheels spun before the car lurched forward. I thought we were free from this nightmare, but four thuds hit the car in the front, and the engine started smoking before we stopped moving. I could cry when I pressed on the gas, and nothing happened. That figure that was coming towards us ran up. He wasn't big and scary; Casper was carrying Amilia, and I tried to drive away without them. He placed Amilia against the car and walked to the front, where it was smoking; Everett got out to help.

"nothing to be done. The demon spiked the engine," Casper said

"I'm not sitting around while we all die," Amari said, raising her hands.

"Amari, wait," Casper called out. Wait for what I don't know. "Take Amilia with you. There is a chance she might live if she gets to help. We will distract the demon so it doesn't follow you. If you do that, I won't report what you planned on doing to these poor girls."

"no hunters will come for me?" she asked.

"on my honor," Casper responded. Amari exited the car to have Casper help settle Amilia on her back. I stared at them but unable to hear what was happening.

"Hey," Everett's voice sounded beside me, but I couldn't look away. She placed her foot and disappeared into the shadows. "Riona, I don't think you are breathing right now."

"Is she okay?" Casper also raced to my side. "I'm sorry I couldn't send you away, but the demon hunts humans, so you had to stay, but I will keep you safe."

"let's move, then. I don't want to stand in the open," I responded and started walking in the vague direction of my home.

"I'll scout ahead and ensure this demon is nowhere near you." Casper ran into the woods, but in the dark, he was gone from my sight in seconds.

"You are finding out about magic and demons very well. Still moving forward." Everett was glancing around with his head on a swivel. I should have been doing that, but it hadn't occurred."mino," I responded in Polish

"What?"

"it roughly translates to despite, and I say it often."

"why?"

"it is a reminder to keep fighting even when it is scary. I don't think we had this in mind, but it still applies since I am terrified." My body still felt cold, almost numb. That was probably not good, but I was still walking.

"what was it about?"

"family problems can be difficult sometimes because you love them, but if they are hurting you, sometimes the only option is to walk away. Despite fear, despite love, despite anything keeping you in that situation."

"I'm sorry that I brought it up."

"Why are you sorry?" I asked; it was helpful to focus on something else.

"you started to cry just a little. A single tear rolled down your cheek."

"Oh, that," I laughed. "I am a little emotional, to be honest. Even though people give me a hard time, I don't care. I don't want to shut down the part of myself that feels. I might need it later."

"feeling is entirely overrated," Evertte scoffed, not that I wasn't used to it.

"Why?" I asked. I had asked before, but no one answered, "Why do people say that?"

"because it stops you from doing what is necessary."

"But if your actions are right, then why would your emotions get in the way of that?"

"I said what is necessary, not what is right."

"what does that mean?" I have no idea why I am pushing him to answer this, but it gave me something to focus on instead of what is out there.

"you aren't the only one with family problems!" he shouted. he shouldn't have yelled. Why did he scream? I didn't feel the spike go through my shoulder, but once it was in, I thought it. I also felt the ground as I slammed into it. I didn't see anything with my face pressed into the dirt. My eyes shut tight, holding my breath. I am about to die. I knew it when I felt its breath on my neck. Then, there was a shuffling sound next to me and a gasp. For a moment, I thought I wouldn't die alone. I held on to the idea that no one should die alone, but then I heard the running. Everett was running away. He was leaving me. But that's okay; at least he would live. Then its breath left my neck, and the hairs on my neck fell. It was gone.

There was another piercing scream, but lower than the last. It was followed by the sound of metal on flesh. I had never heard that sound before that night, but I will never forget it. The demon roared, or maybe there was more than one since the sound was not synced. There was another hit, then the feeling on my skin of heat. I waited until the heat passed before I opened my eyes. I stayed for the sounds of footfalls before I breathed steadily. I waited until I felt strong hands helping me rise before I let my tears fall. Casper held me as I cried, but he didn't say anything. He didn't lie to me; he held me until I was okay.

"I would heal you, but I am not great at healing magic, and I don't want to make it worse," Casper finally said

"I can do it," Everett spoke up from behind me. I knew he was there, so I wasn't frightened of him, but I wouldn't get far from Casper as Everett came closer. "lumière," he whispered and lifted his hand. A beautiful ball of golden light floated above me.

"What is that?" I asked

"That is magic," Casper whispered to me. "It isn't all bad, you see."

"It is beautiful," I whispered, then looked up and saw Everett staring at me. I saw genuine concern in his eyes, which scared me because the monster was gone. What was left to fear?

"because it was a magical creature that hurt you, I can't use magic to remove it. We don't know how the object will react. I can numb you, but I'll have to pull it out. Once it is out, you have a choice: I can close the wound, which will definitely scare, or reverse the injury, which will leave little to no scare, but it will feel like you are being injured again in slow motion until the healing is complete. What would you like me to do?" he explained, and now I understood the concern.

"heal it completely. I can't explain this to my father." I gritted my teeth, waiting for the pain. At least this time, I knew it was happening. I heard a quiet 'I'm sorry' being whispered, but I was already turned into Casper, so I had someone to hold onto.

"engourdie," he said, then started pulling on the spike. This was not as bad as what came next, just like he said before. "retirer." That is when the absolute agony began, and there was no way to get away from it because the source of the pain was already removed, so my instincts to flinch away from the pain were useless as the pain was coming from inside of me. I might have screamed. I most definitely cried, but I was at the end of it all, just like every other injured person in the world, helpless and at the mercy of those helping me. I wish I could say I was brave, but I was not. 

After I was healed, I demanded to be taken home like a child. I do not understand, but Casper grabbed me, and the shadows crept in and gave way to my street. Everett tried to speak to me, but I could barely handle looking at either of them. Once they brought me home to my house, I ran from what happened into the comfort of my bed, where I could start to pretend that it never happened. I could forget about monsters and men appearing out of nowhere. I could forget about Halloween.

epilogue: My car was returned to me and fixed with a note saying sorry for all the pain, and I hope that all the injuries have healed. 

it was signed

 ~EI 

thought long and hard before finally writing this on the same paper. You also had a hard night, so do not carry the weight of my pain; it will only drag you down. My injuries are completely healed thanks to your actions. You have a gift for caring and healing people. Please do not let it go to waste, and do not let the light (lumière) go out in your heart. Please find your Mino and start the life you want, not the one your family wants. ~R