"You're not real," Ember snapped, pulling the sheets over her head roughly. "So just go and bug someone else for a while." She hated that she was sixteen years old and still seeing her imaginary friend. Maybe she was crazy, schizophrenic or something. It drove her mad, and not even just because he hung around. It was maddening because he only came around on her birthday, then stayed until midnight the following night. At least if he was around all the time, she could know for sure that she was nuts and could admit herself into the nearest loony bin. But he wasn't. She felt him sit on the bed next to her and she scowled. "Lock, go away!"
"Alright, well, I have some work to do anyway. I'll be back later with your birthday present," the voice said above her. She felt him hover over her for a moment as though he planned to kiss her forehead but couldn't. Then he was gone.
Deep down, Ember knew that he wasn't imaginary. He was just as real as she was, but no one else could see him. When she was younger and spent time with her friends (ex-friends, thanks to Lock), they could all see him. But as they got older, they stopped believing he was there. Ember couldn't stop believing. He was there every year, and had been since her birth. Why, she didn't know. She never understood what it was about her birth, other than that it was the day before Halloween, that attracted him to her. She knew he wasn't human, though he appeared to be. He hadn't aged a bit since she saw him when she was three. He always looked the same. Messy, maroon hair, mischievous blue eyes that turned black when he was angry, and that same spider tattoo drawn on the left side of his face. As a whole, he was definitely attractive, but she hated that he existed at all.
She climbed out of bed and went about her morning routine as though it were a normal day. She stopped caring about her birthday years ago (another thing Lock was responsible for), so she tried not to think about it. She found her mind wandering to what stupid prank Lock had planned this year. Every year, he tried to scare her. It never worked anymore, though, and she could see how much it frustrated him. In turn, each year, the pranks were getting more and more on the dangerous side. She had a theory that he'd kill her before it was over with. If only she knew how true that was. If only either of them knew.
Lock climbed back through the bedroom window, a box in his hand. She was gone. Of course. Well, he could be patient so he decided to wait. Within five minutes, he'd lost interest in waiting and started to look around her room. Not so much snooping, but he was curious what she'd been up to this past year in his absence and he knew she wouldn't tell him. It almost hurt him that she acted so put off by him. After all, he's always been there for her. Not to mention, he was really her only friend at this point. That was kind of his fault, though, so he understood to an extent.
He came across a snapshot that was tucked into a book. It was Ember and some guy in front of a scenic background. Lock felt a pang of emotion and resisted the urge to shred the photo. Instead he flipped it over, hoping for some sort of explanation as to who the man was. Her cousin, he realized with a flood of relief. He frowned and tossed the book back onto the dresser, not caring about making sure it was back in it's place. He laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. Why had the picture made him so angry? He wasn't jealous, he couldn't be. He'd seen this girl at her worst, at her awkward stages. He felt nothing more than brotherly love for her. At least, he was pretty sure that was it.
He sat up quickly when the door opened, revealing the slight ginger-haired girl. A smile touched Lock's features for a moment until he saw that it was clearly not going to be returned as she slammed the door behind her, ripping a Sweet 16 crown from her hair and throwing it aside. She took no notice of him as she threw herself, facedown, onto the mattress. He bit his lip and looked at the window, considering a quick exit. He changed his mind, though, when he looked down at the little box in his fingers. Instead, he spoke. "Rough day?"
"Why are you still here?" Muffled, but with unmistakable annoyance.
"I said I was bringing you a birthday present," he replied, shaking the box lightly so she'd notice it. He smiled slightly when she sat up and glared at him before snatching the box up. It was a start.
"What is this? Is this a skull?" she asked, lifting the necklace from the package and studying it. Lock admitted that it was a little morbid, but Ember was a wondrously morbid person. Part of why he liked her.
"Yeah, a bird's," he replied, taking the necklace from her fingers gingerly. "See, here's the beak. It's not much, but I made it myself and I figured you'd like it." He inched closer to her slightly, wrapping the chain around her neck and clasping it. He pulled her hair through and caught a whiff of her shampoo, growling a bit and covering it with a cough when she looked at him. "Sorry. Tickle in my throat. Anyway, you like?"
"Yeah, it's pretty cool. Thanks, Lock," she murmured, laying down once more.
"Well, it's not over yet. I have one more surprise for you tonight," he replied, standing to his feet with a mischievous grin. "I think you'll like it." He hoped that this year would be the year he'd scare the life out of her.