~First person~
Even when I was a child I could see them, if I believed or not it didn't matter.
They were spirits and for as long as I can remember I've been able to see, hear and even sometimes touch them until the day of my own death.
I knew it was going happen but what happened after came as a big surprise to me.
I met the moon, which was strange as I heard of 'The Man in The Moon' but never did I imagine it... no... HE was real... I know that sounds stupid as I see everything else but it made sense to me once I thought about it.
I'd look up at the full moon and felt that everything in the world would be right no matter what happened, I could never explain why... though I wasn't complaining, that kind of comfort was what I sometimes needed and was very rare to me.
My life was what you could say was far from easy; I was born in what you would call the dark ages, along with my older brother.
There we all lived in a happy family home; our farther was a great man and our mother the kindest hearted woman the village ever knew.
Our father too could see those that had passed on to the other world, though we kept this a secret from the villagers for we would be burnt at the stake for being what they would call gifted people "Witches".
Our mother did not hold such gifts but was never afraid to believe in what we had told her and with that believeth soon she too would see the spirits that guarded the children, with that gentle smile of hers and soft happy glow... most would say she was an angel with her long golden locks and sapphire gem eyes.
She would tell the children of our village stories of wonder and hope, showing them the ones that kept them safe from the bogie man, yes I knew him well too.
After the other adults heard of the stories their children were telling them, they looked upon my family in concern.
Such tales of fairies that collect teeth and bunnies that hid eggs was insanity to them! The village was very close minded only believing in the lord above.
Our family was accused of witch craft and trying to bring the children down to hell with them, me and my brother watched helplessly as our father was burnt at the stake with the horrid memory imprinted into our 10 year old minds.
Our mother risked her everything to save my brother's life and my own as she told the villager elders nothing of my gift and so we were banished from that village... we came upon my mother's home village 'Burgess' where she had grown and where our grandparents lived.
They took us in with warm arms after scolding my mother for marrying what they saw was a warlock and looked upon their grandchildren in pity naming us half breeds.
The loss of our father took a great toll on my mother as she passed on not long after of a broken heart, from that day the look of our grandparents changed towards my brother and myself.
They hated how we were the only ones to live through this and not their dear daughter, my older brother held more of her features than I did so he was more... cherished. I looked more like my father with deep chestnut hair and emerald eyes... and so they raised my brother properly as I was cast aside like the wasteful child they just feed and watered every day.
They didn't beat me or anything they just couldn't look at me as I reminded them of the sin that killed their daughter, either way my brother and I refused to part and remained close as we were since the day of our birth.
It might come as a shock to most to find out we're twins, we don't hold the same features or gifts but we share the date of our birth, October 31.
Three years had passed and the nights in the village we came to call home seemed darker than normal, something... no... more like a gut feeling told me to stay inside tonight, being the way I was I ignored the warning and left my brother to sleep in his bed alone.
I never missed a full moon and I wasn't going to start now. I walked the empty streets of this normally busy village feeling a pair of eyes watching me before hearing a dark chuckle echo, I saw shadows peek through the corner of my sight. Turning swiftly on my heels I see someone else had chosen to take on the darkness and sneak out at night.
He was a young boy about my age maybe a even a year older with brown hair and brown eyes, he was wearing what my grandparents would call peasant clothing or what I would say the poor's clothing as that was my politest way of saying it.
Regretfully I had to agree at the point when I noticed this boy had nothing to warm his bare feet, I asked why he didn't wear any shoes only to be answered by,
"I don't feel the cold."
I said no more on the matter as I felt a snow ball hit my face, with a giggle I returned fire and we played into night with no troubles on our mind till we saw the first light of sun peek under the mountains.
We returned to the village to see my grandparent's very unimpressed faces, my grandmother slapped me harshly across the face calling me a whore... at the time I didn't even know the meaning of the word!
From that day on I wasn't allowed to see the boy again and if I ever spoke of him I was beaten till my body couldn't move, looking back on it now it was understandable with me being 13 and him 14... most were married by that age or engaged maybe even bearing their first child but being locked up so I could only watch him from the window was overacting.
I never even got his name... I guess that was the price I paid for mingling with the poor... yes that's right, I came from a rich family of high standards and morals so such actions were unheard of and frowned upon... so I suppose you could say my grandparents were ashamed of their granddaughter.
I was locked away in my room from days on end while my brother had started to be taught the ways of being a gentleman... I soon became lonely, that's when I met him.
Pitch Black.
He came to my room often in hopes he would scare me and he got what he wished, he pulled my fears before my eyes and taunted me with them night after night.
My lack of sleep only played in his favour before I started to get used to his torture and yawned at them, in truth... because he had played all my fears before me I became unafraid, started to face my fears instead of run.
I taught myself of laugh at what Pitch did and I honestly did start to find it funny, I somewhat enjoyed all the spooky things he could do, I'm sure this shocked him as many would normally fear him but not me... I just give him a,
"HAHA!" At this he would get angry with me, he knew he couldn't hurt me 'cause of my powers to protect myself from bad spirits with my aura just as my father had taught me before his death; but as long as I could see him I guess that's all he really needed.
By the age of 14 I became more upfront with people, I liked watch how they acted from my window, I figured out their movements as they went on their way... like when they lied or felt fear... even happiness and jealousy... I knew about it. You could say I now knew the villager's deepest secrets, letting feel a false sense of security that their lies were still unknown.
Upon my new found bravery I set on to ask Pitch what had been nipping away at my mind for some time, why would he only come to me?
I never saw him around any other child and as he had told me before he can't be in two places at the same time even if he tried, which made me wonder so much why he came to me... surely I wasn't the only one with the gift of seeing the dead?
His answer shocked me from the fact something like that could come from him... though something in my gut told me not to believe him... his body looked like he was telling the truth but my gut wasn't having any of it.
"You're the only one that can see me... that enjoys me being around... I just don't want to be alone anymore; you and I are the same... we are feared for what we are when we just want to be free..." His dark voice spoke to me with that sick glint in his amber eyes.
I admit I didn't care if he was there or not, he didn't scare me at all and as long as he's here trying to scare the only person that can see him, he's leaving some poor child alone.
However I did not take kindly to him saying we were the same, people were afraid of me because I spoke the truth and they frowned upon me for being brave enough to tell them so... he on the other hand tries with all his might to scare innocent children because let's face it that's all he can do, kids can't protect themselves like I could... and that's when it hit me.
The next morning I was begging and pleading with my grandmother to let me out again and with a deal she did, I was to marry a man from the next town of high riches and standards but that wasn't to happen untill I was 17 so I could learn the ways of being a lady and a good wife... this she said would amend for my mistake of fooling around with the peasant a year ago and show I was a proper lady.
With the time I had left from my 'Lady training' I spent most of it playing with the children and teaching them to laugh at what scared them, with that I became equated with my old snow buddy from when I was 13... I was also ever so delighted to find out he had a younger sister with him too.
I was 15 now and I had to say a lot had changed for the both of us; he had grown into a fine young man even if people saw him as immature and a trouble maker, I myself was becoming a beautiful young woman with the most out spoken jaded eyes anyone had ever known... I smiled on how he still hadn't grown into his ears but I liked that... a lot, and this time I made sure to find out his name.
Jack Overlander Frost.
We would play around with the children almost every day, he would make as much fun as he could and I would encourage them do what they were afraid to do along with helping them face their fears, me and Jack made quite a team.
Over the years we had become close to my grandparents dislike but my brother knew that wouldn't stop me from seeing him every night at the lake not far from our homes, he would help me sneak out so Jack would teach me to skate on winters night, play on the ice along with the odd snow ball fight and in spring we enjoyed just watching the moon until we would sometimes fall asleep together... just before sun rise my brother would sneak me back into our home as if I was never gone.
But Jack and I knew it would have to end sooner or later... he knew of the deal I had made with my grandmother, even though he didn't agree he was grateful we were allowed this time to bond and share fun with the children.
The date had come I would meet the man I was to be wedded to... he seemed a nice man and fair to many but from the smell of his breath he enjoyed his scotch too and showed little interest in children or childish acts of fun.
'How boring...' I thought to myself, though I dared not speak the truth in this case... I did not want to lose Jack or the children, I just know I would be locked away again until I was married and my husband could be reasonable for my action from that day on.
This night was a dark night indeed, I had dreamt the night before of my death but not only my death... I dreamt of Jack's death too... even though I wished it not true... I was with my brother and sister in law late that night celebrating our 17th birthday, my wedding was tomorrow so I knew my fiancé would be on his stag night.
I looked out the window again just to gaze at the sky... this made my happy but scared at the same time... there was no moon tonight, as there was no moon when I dreamt of my death but there was a full moon when I dreamt of Jack's... I was happy he wasn't going to die tonight and for all I knew his death could be of old age on a winter's full moon, it was fuzzy... my dreams would only show me so much for some reason, they refused to show the way of our deaths... just us dead.
The figure of Jack floated in my mind, a wash of blues stunning my vision. The only real thing I could make out was the white strands of hair that was reflecting off the moon above him which I could only link to the old age theory I had figured out, though why the huge amount of blue vibes blocking my view? It didn't make any sense, I chose to leave it be and returned my focus to the darkness before me.
The village looked darker than it ever had and for the first time I could feel fear creep into my bones, I know he could feel it too... Pitch watched me not far from the window with that evil smirk of his... he knew something would happen that would give him control of the night again as for years I used my aura to protect the children from him.
Never the less I had to get home, the spirits were loud tonight with chatter and excitement but also a tint of worry... how could I forget?
This was the night they were at their most powerful, October 31.
Even they were warning me to retreat to my brother's home but I cared not for their warnings as I knew nothing from the other world could harm me, not even Pitch... and that was my greatest flaw... I never stopped to think of what from this world... the human world... could harm me, but my mind was filled with the plan of my wedding.
On my way home I had to pass a pub which was filled with the richest men and whores trying to make a decent wage off selling themselves... yes, I knew the meaning of the word now, though there were a few faces I didn't expect to see in there... like my fiancé and his friends... at a whore house?!
They never struck me as the type to pay for that sort of thing and to be honest the very thought of it sickened me but then my fiancé caught sight of me and beckoned me to come over with a wave of his hand, I did so in hopes he was not too drunk to walk me home safely... I did not know however I was walking to my death.
Nearing him I noticed a small girl with them being held tightly by one of his friends, she looked at me with tearful eyes that struck my heart harshly to see it was Jack's little sister!
Out raged I glared at my fiancé and demanded an answer to this disgraceful act, as it turns out he wanted to marry me as much I wanted to marry him... whom I did not.
He knew Jack and I had eyes for one another, also knew we could never be... upon the thought of this brought confusion to my eyes, why he was acting like this...? What I hadn't expected on him knowing however was the kiss me and Jack shared by the lake a few nights ago... and for this he wanted revenge!
He told me of his plan to take Jack's little sister from him and give her over to the whore house for a nice sum of coin, he knew she was like my little sister... the sister I never had... he failed to consider how far I would go to keep her safe.
Keeping my breath calm I passed my fiancé sending him a harsh glare as he watched me walked to his friend in a much more sexual manner, showing the soft curves in my body and playing a sexy smirk up on my lips, this played out well for my plan as I saw the male's eye get distracted... most drunk males looked for sex and as I thought he was one of them.
Taking my chance I balled up my fist and punched him in the face as hard as I could, this came as a shock to them watching their friend fall to the ground forcing him to release Jack's sister, play fighting with Jack had given me some strength... grabbing her hand I took the moment of their shocked state to run with as fast as I could to get her out of harm's reach but I knew shock didn't last long so we had to move now.
As we dashed through the somewhat empty streets I felt a sudden tug on my free arm halting me to a stop, looking back I saw my fiancé with his friends not that far behind him... I turned to Jack's sister seeing she had stopped not far from me looking on in worry.
"Run! Go now!" I yelled at her as I tried to fight off my fiancé giving him a strong left hook across his face earning me enough time to get to her, she shuck her head fearfully not wanting leave me but she was all that mattered to me right now. "You have to get out of here now! Go to Jack, I'll take care of them ok." I reassured her with the sternest voice she had ever heard from me, she nodded and ran into the darkness.
I watched till I could no longer see her and sighed thankfully hoping she would make her way to jack, hearing my fiancé's friends grumble helping him up I turned slowly to face them with a stern look.
"You don't scare me... none of you do!" I spoke out in a strong tone before my sight suddenly went dark and I felt a shooting pain through my body.
With a loud thud I hit the ground, a slow red hand mark was slowly forming on my freckled cheek, I looked up at him with a cocky smirk.
"A slap? Is that all?" I taunted before I looked in shock at his once brown eyes were now a sickened yellow... just like Pitch's... at that point I picked myself up and bolted for the lake where I knew Jack might be, if not I have more than enough skill to remain on the ice till sun rise but I only made it as far as the woods.
There he grabbed me and turned me to face him whist his friends caught up with Pitch's grin painted over their faces.
"What happened to you?!" I bellowed in confusion before I felt someone else with us. "How are you doing this?! How are you using his body Pitch?!" I spat at Pitch as he neared us from the darkness chuckling evilly with ghosted demon swirling around his core.
"You forget tonight is the night the spirits are at their most powerful and what luck? There is no moon tonight!" He pointed up at the black sky with a horrid crackling laugh echoing from him. "I am stronger than I ever have been! And with this your fiancé agreed for me to place my shadows in the depts of his heart after I showed him the truth of your own heart, so now with my power I can get revenge for you breaking his... isn't love lovely?" He grinned sickly at me as he calmly watched my fiancé rape me before joining his friends in beating me but I wouldn't go down with a fight... I kept them there for a long as I could, making sure they never went back for her, this lasted until I saw the golden lights brush against the sky, I could finally... finally... stop fighting.
In my heart I knew why he'd done this... he wanted to make sure Jack would never have me and empowered by Pitch it was more than possible... he would have the virginity I wanted to give to Jack.
Images of my memories past before eyes suddenly, both the good and bad. But none more dear the memories of him, our forbidden love. His face was the last to cross my vision.
With that last breathe I called for the one man I truly loved, even if I knew he wouldn't come and it was too late to safe myself, just the sound of his name rolling off my tongue made this pain all worthwhile and his sister I knew was safe as I saw the sun peeking over other the snow covered plain.
"Jack..."
Now all I could see was darkness... it was cold and empty... until a slow blush white light shimmered down at me... it was round and full... then it struck me... the moon.
"Who am I?" I asked in a lost voice, though the moon did not answer me and before I knew it I was sitting on top of a rock... no, not a rock... a grave stone!
Looking around I saw I was in a grave yard with a cute little church to my right... it seemed winter had already started with piled up snow hugging the grave stones... hearing the quiet crunch of snow being crushed under winter boots I turned my attention back to the grave I was sitting on, I looked up noticing four people surrounding it and me... first was a beautiful woman with blond hair and deep brown eyes, leaning down she placed a beautiful set of flowers on the grave... next to her was a man whom was gripping her hand rather tightly as if to fight back unwanted emotions and tears... he too had blond hair but his eyes were the most brightest shades of blue I've ever seen.
"Caleb it's ok, I'm here for you. I too loved her as though she was my very own sister." The woman soothed as her now free hand rubbed his shoulder; he smiled slightly letting a single tear run down his cheek before his kissed her forehead.
"I'm very blessed to have such a caring wife like you." He held her close before looking to his left where another man stood with his head hung low, with him a younger girl that looked just as saddened as he was.
"Jack... They caught them; my grandparents made sure they would get death for what they did to her, you need feel no guilt for their actions." Caleb had reassured him softly as the man known as Jack lifted his head showing his rather tearful face, his hair was a chocolate brown along with his eyes... I couldn't help but giggle as I noticed his rather elf like ears.
Tugging Jack's arm slightly was the younger girl beside him; she looked so much like him you could tell they were brother and sister straight away... though even she had tears streaming down her face.
With all this I just wanted to reach out and hug them all yet I had no idea why but I knew they could not see me for I'm sure a person sitting on the grave stone they were visiting would be rather odd... so all I could do... was watch.
"It's been a month since her death... but yet it feels like yesterday we found her..." Jack's saddened voice choked out as more tears spill from the small group's eyes.
"I know... it's going to be hard before it gets better." With that Caleb turned to walk away with his wife before he stopped and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder. "She really loved you, I'm sure where ever she is she's happy you know that. She would be happy you bring the children such joy and fun. You will always be my brother in-law in my eyes."
Jack nodded slightly as he smiled at the grave before him.
"I loved her too, if it wasn't for her already being engaged I would have asked her to marry me a long time ago... I know I've always spoken of marriage being boring but... I feel she would have made it fun..." His younger sister smiled up at him as they watched the married pair leave the grave yard, the young girl turned returning her sights to the grave as she bends down placing a hand full of frozen flowers she picked herself on it... Jack watched his little sister then took a pair of ice skates from the bag; she was about to place them on the edge of the grave but was stopped by her older brother.
"What are those?" He pondered in a bit more of a cheerful manner as his sister looked up at him.
"She was going to teach me to ice skate the day after she was married... but... you know..." His sister answered too saddened to even say the name of the woman she looked up to, Jack smiled and ruffled her.
"I'll teach you." He stated suddenly catching his sister off guard. "It'll be fun."
"But Ja..." She tried to argue before Jack stopped her with one sentence.
"Rayne would have wanted it that way." With that it was agreed, neither would argue about it as they made their way home.
'Rayne?' I thought. 'Who is this Rayne and who are they?' Jumping down from the grave stone I turned to look upon the grave... suddenly falling to my knees in shock my memories rushed back to me as I read the grave stone.
"Here lies Rayne Morgan Bennett,
Daughter of Millie and Simon Bennett,
Sister to Caleb Bennett,
Sister in-law to Marie Bennett,
Beloved betrothed to Jack Overlander Frost,
A brave soul for all whom knew and loved her."
Yes... I'm Rayne Bennett, or as you would commonly know me as Halloween... I protect the children from Pitch at his strongest night of the year, teaching them to laugh in the face of fear... I've been doing this for 300 years now... each year on the day of both my birth and my death whist I search for the spirit of the man I held so close.
I wouldn't have it any of way!