-Night of Fright-
Author's note: Ok, so for those who have been reading my OTHER Resident Evil story, you'll know that I'm very slow at updating it and know I said I wouldn't really upload another story until it was finished...but this short story has been floating around on my computer, begging for attention. I wrote this around Halloween (so it's recent) and meant to post it to fit the occasion. Those of you who know me well enough know just how unlikely that is for me to actually accomplish XD Well, it's mostly written out, so there won't be trouble for updates! You may cheer right about, now. Right now. Go on, you know you want to (^.^)
I didn't know what to really classify this as besides romance, I'm not really good with suspense, but it's not the kind of horror story you'd picture either so I left that one out this time. As you'll see later on, most characters in this story are from the Resident Evil series, not just one game. THEY ALL EXIST TOO! I DID MY RESEARCH! Except for Jenna and Mary, who rightfully belong to me :)
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING BESIDES THE PLOT AND MY OWN CHARACTERS, the rest of the crew are, sadly, not mine.
Ok, well, enjoy! Feedback is craved! I wrote this differently than anything else so far, infulenced HIGHLY by the series The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, and The Dark and Hollow Places (go figure, zombie books)
So, review? Pwease? 3333
I always felt different from my friends, less brave, more reserved, unlike the bright sunshine Jenna carried, I was a dull firefly glow. She could carry herself proudly, without a care for rules and warnings, while I trembled in fear and always, always, played by the rules. Most kids my age strive to be rebellious but all I wanted was to stay safe and out of trouble. Jenna, as always, knew this. Why should I expect Halloween night to be any different from every other day?
"Come on Mary, come out here and let me see how you look!" Came the muffled undertone that pressed through the bathroom door. I squinted at my reflection as the blood darkened in my cheeks. I felt so uncomfortable in the small dress Jenna had forced me to try on. What was I supposed to be anyway? After all the "pin-up and adjusting" as the brown haired twenty one-year old had air quoted, the original costume had been lost along the way.
There were no sleeves, leaving my pale freckled shoulders bare and naked. The dress was once upon a time layered with silk ripples until it touched my toes, but no longer were the ribbons there and now, looking down between my fingers, I stared embarrassedly at the lack of fabric. Now the bottom stopped mid-thigh, with only one layer of white ripples of lace decorating the bottom rim. I wouldn't dare bend over in this, that is, if my best friend since kindergarten got away with me wearing it. The middle was solid white, decorated with a intricate design that made the dress look like feathers from a distance, with a large lace ribbon pulled tightly around my stomach into a large bow in the back; I'll never know why girls felt the need to dress up in as little as possible for any holiday but Halloween seemed to be the worst of it all.
"MARY OPEN UP!" The door rattled as Jenna pounded from the other side, jiggling the brass handle I locked as soon as I stepped inside earlier. I tugged on the bottom, hoping it would magically extend longer over my bare legs, that the top had sleeves that hid my skin, but the reality of it all was that Jenna had corrupted my dress and I had no choice but to show her. Swallowing nervously I nodded to my reflection and turned, clasping my hand over the door knob and before I could pull away and hide within these walls forever—or until Jenna kicked the door down—I flipped the lock and pulled the door open.
"I feel exposed…" I whispered out softly while rubbing my forearm. I moved my eyes from everywhere but the sharp green ones I knew were looking me up and down. Jenna's hands took mine gently and she spun me around to face her. She was grinning that pearly white smile of hers that always meant nothing good for me.
"Well I say you look absolutely H-O-T HOT in that babe! It's only this one party, not like you'll actually be doing anything but dancing anyway. Unless," A sly grin formed, "You feel a little tempted to be naughty tonight." The word 'tempted' rolled off her tongue seductively and I knew instantly what Jenna had been hinting towards. The blood rushed to my cheeks and I had to pull my hands away to cover my face so the embarrassed blush wouldn't be so noticeable.
"I don't want to be hot or tempted or anything! Not tonight, not tomorrow, not ever!" I gushed out heatedly, desperately trying to prove how uncomfortable I was. "Please don't make me go. I can't be like you no matter how you make me look." As if to prove my point I looked towards the standing mirror in the corner of her room where we both stood.
There was Jenna to my right, tall and beautiful and tan. Her hair was long, chocolate brown, and curled around her face like a halo, with green eyes like pine needles and a personality that challenged the sun's. Then there I stood to her left, average, plain, and sunless. I had more freckles than hairs on my head and I certainly didn't have a body worth admiring—not like Jenna's. My hair was flat and a stringy blonde, my eyes plain and simply brown. Nothing special about brown eyes. I was nothing like the sun. More like the moon, silent, there, but hardly worth a second thought.
While Jenna's brows furrowed slightly, a look I knew well enough to say she didn't get my point, she waved me off quickly and turned back to face me with her hands on her hips. "Well I'm not letting you drop out now, you have to live a little Mary so you have stories to tell your kids and their kids one day! Now let me fix you up and then I'll get ready. Trust me," She wagged her finger in front of me, "You're going to love tonight!"
So I caved because I couldn't win. Not against Jenna, not against anyone. I am a push over, too scared to hurt her feelings and too afraid to stand my ground. Tonight at her neighbor's Fright Night costume party I already know what to expect. Jenna will dance and sing and lose herself in the festivities, and I'll slink away to the darkest corner until it's over. Because even if I don't want to go I could never bail out on my best friend.
" Give me like five minutes and we can leave!" Called the excited young adult as she patted my shoulders and then waltzed into the bathroom where it clicked shut behind her. I stared at my hands folded gently in my lap and bit my lip. Did I dare look up into the mirror of her vanity and see just exactly what Jenna did to fix me up? Lifting my eyes slowly, nervously, I stared at my reflection with a small moment of not knowing who she was.
Of course she was me. I shouldn't be that surprised really, I even laugh a bit at my stupidity. I just never wear my hair back out of my face, never wanted to reveal my face and freckles and ears because I felt self-conscious. I felt naked. Here though, staring at myself, I almost…enjoyed the delicate French braid that ran down my neck and rested between my exposed shoulder blades. Almost enjoyed the small touch of eye liner and mascara, of how the white eye shadow made my eyes somewhat seem lighter, almost prettier. Almost…
"This is not who you are Mary," I try to tell myself, running my fingers across the cool surface of the mirror, "You are a nobody by choice, not pretty or out-going or even popular. Just a girl with a face and eyes and ears and a nose. Just Mary." I watch the way my eyes seem to darken with sadness. I swallow hard and pull my hand back, letting it rest in my lap once more. The room is silent, Jenna sings to a song in the bathroom, and outside I can hear cheering; Can hear the music pounding and the whistles and shouts ring out as someone new constantly arrives at the party. I feel sick. My palms are sweaty and my stomach drops leaving me breathless. "I can't do this." I repeat over and over until I believe it whole-heartedly. The phone rings and I jump up, startled with my heart lurching into a frantic up-beat, to answer it since Jenna still hasn't come out of the bathroom.
"H-Hello?" I clear my throat and try to sound normal. Try to hide how badly I wish to disappear.
"Hello, Jenna?" It's a girl shouting over the music I can hear coming from next door.
"U-Um no, this is Mary, Jenna's busy…can I help you?"
"Oh Mary! It's Claire, Claire Redfield?—" I can hear her pull away from the phone, "Chris get off my table!—sorry," her voice is back again, "I was just calling to make sure she was still coming tonight. You're both coming over right? It's going to be a lot of fun I promise!"
Claire was a very kind woman. Smart, funny, and not to mention really pretty. It seemed everyone Jenna knew were pretty, except me of course. I knew Claire through the countless times I came over Jenna's because they were neighbors and I really enjoyed her company. She was only a few years older than us too which put a sense of closeness between us.
"Yea," I reply almost hesitantly, feeling like I have no choice once I tell Claire that I'm going, "We're both coming over in a few minutes. Do you, um, do you need her—me—I mean us to bring anything?" I stumble over my words easily and curse myself silently for being so God awful at talking on the phone. Talking to anyone for that matter. I can practically hear the grin in Claire's voice as she responds.
"Well then I guess I'll see you two lovely ladies here any minute then. And don't worry about bringing anything, just bring yourselves and have fun!"
When we hang up, I just stand there and set the phone down on the table. To have fun would mean doing something with people watching and talking and touching and suddenly the room is spinning and I'm sure I'm going to pass out but then Jenna wraps her arms around me in a hug from behind and it all settles back in place.
"Ready Mary?" She purred out giving me a squeeze. I turn slightly and try to smile but I know my eyes betray me. Jenna steps back, taking my hand in hers like she's always done since we were children, and grins warmly. "You're going to be fine. I demand you to have fun and I won't leave your side unless you want me to, well, maybe not even then. Let's go." It's as if the confidence in her body transfers from her to me through our hands, giving me the little push I need to nod and head next door with her.
I notice the green dress Jenna is wearing, which resembles mine only tighter and with ribbon instead of lace; the back dips lower on hers and she has a cat tail attached and a matching black cat ear'd head band. If I had been paying attention enough sooner I would have realized she had drawn on cat whiskers and a black nose too. She was a cat.
"Hey Jen?" I whisper as Jenna is locking her door, purse in hand. She turns her head my way to show she's listening. "What exactly…am I?" And I gesture towards my outfit with a blush as the cool air nips at my exposed legs and arms. Jenna smirks.
"Well you're an angel!" And before I can react she places a handmade halo on my head with clips that blend in with my colorless hair. I blink stupidly as she turns me around and taps my shoulder blades with her nail. Twisting my neck over my shoulder to see what she's pointing at, I see she had drawn on wings earlier while doing my make-up. I only thought she was tracing patterns across my skin with her fingers because she knows it helps me relax. I had no idea she actually drew my wings on, glitter and all. Jenna is all fits of giggles when I look back at her with wide eyes. "See you look exactly like the angel you are!" But she's smiling and laughing and happy, which is ultimately what matters.
"You're so silly." I smile squeezing her hand which makes her smile grow. We cross the grass between the two houses and walk in the front door where the music seems to intensify. I wince as the pounding of wordless music tries to cram inside my ears, bringing on a headache almost instantly. Instead of pulling back, like I want to, I push forward stiffly with Jenna leading the way. We weave through people towards the kitchen where we find Claire. I keep my head down, hoping to avoid eye contact with all the strangers in costumes around me.