Halloween Haunt

It was the end of October, and Halloween was coming near. Seth was excited – he and some of his friends wanted to do a movie night with loads of horror movies. Of course my dad had said yes, and now they were preparing our house for the visit of five teenagers, each one as annoying as my little brother.

So while Seth was looking for his sleeping bag, I was looking for an escape. I didn't want to spend the night with six excited, frightened little boys, so I was trying to find somewhere else to go. Kayla was having a party, but we hadn't talked to each other since she had accused me of having damaged Sam's things. Emily had asked whether I wanted to come to her house, but I'd rather spend Halloween with my little brother's friends than with Sam and Emily. Especially because Jared and Kim had been invited, too, and I couldn't stand two happy couples.

No, I definitely didn't want to spend Halloween with them.

There was Jacob, of course, but I was afraid of asking him. I didn't really know why, because we'd become good friends. I had started to pick him up before school, and we had met quite often ever since we had gone to the movies. He had shown me his car, and I had helped him repairing it. We had studied for tests, and I had helped him with his homework. If we couldn't see each other, we talked on the phone, and we had gone to Port Angeles to see other movies. Sometimes we just took a walk on the beach and talked about everything that came to our minds. Jacob had made me say things I would have never told anybody else, and he had even read two or three entries in my notebook.

Still, I didn't want to ask him whether we could do anything together on Halloween. We never had stayed overnight at each other's place, and it felt weird to even think about it.

The day before Halloween I was doing some research for history class when my cell rang. I looked at the display. JACOB BLACK.

hey leah! would you like to do something on halloween? we could go to the beach and make a fire. ly jake

I smiled and grabbed the telephone to call him. Billy answered the phone. „Black, hello?" „Hey, Billy!", I greeted him, „Can I speak to Jacob?" Billy chuckled. He couldn't really understand our friendship. After all, the only person I was friendly to was Jake. Everyone else was still on my hit list. Except for my family, maybe.

A minute later, Jacob was on the phone. „Hey, Leah! So you got my message?" „Yes", I said, „And I think it's a brilliant idea." „Really?" He sounded glad. „You know, I thought we could make a fire and roast some hot dogs and marshmallows. And after that, we could go to our garage and sleep there. I know you've got a kindergarten party at your house, and I don't want to wake up Dad just in case we return late, so I thought that would be the best solution." I beamed. „Jake, you're the best!" I could hear him chuckle, then he said: „We could go buy hot dogs and marshmallows now, what do you think? I could come over, and then we could drive to the supermarket in Forks." That sounded really good, so I agreed, and he promised to be at my house in five minutes.

I ran downstairs and told Mom about my plans for the night of Halloween. She just said: „Okay, sweetie, but take care of yourself, okay?" I nodded and left the house. Of course it was raining, so I opened my umbrella and went to my car.

While I was waiting there, Kayla passed me. She was holding hands with one of the Forks High seniors, whose name I didn't know. She saw me and came towards me, her boyfriend looking a little stressed. Apparently he didn't feel too well with La Push's most annoying bitch. That being me, of course.

„Hey, Leah", Kayla said, trying to sound indifferent. But she wasn't as used to it as I was, so I could hear an edge of excitement in her voice. Maybe she wanted to tell me why she was going out with this guy. „Hello, Kayla", I said coolly. As opposed to her, I could sound perfectly indifferent. „So...", she seemed to think about how she could say what she wanted to say, „I'm having a party tomorrow." „I know." She sighed. „I wanted to ask you whether you'd like to come, too." I acted as if I had to think about it, then I said: „Thank you for your invitation, Kayla, but I'm already doing something with Jacob." Her eyes widened. „What's going on with you and Jacob, anyway?", she asked. I thought that she sounded angry. Maybe she was pissed that I had turned her invitation down. „What do you think?", I asked back. She shrugged. „He's a little too young." I rolled my eyes. „We're friends. Good friends. Why do you care?" „I-" She stopped mid-sentence because Jacob was running towards us. „Okay. See you, Leah." She walked away just as Jacob arrived. „What did she want?", he asked, stressing the word 'she' as if it was something disgusting. „Inviting me to her stupid little party", I said as I opened the door and got in my car. Jacob entered on the other side, and I drove to Forks.

The supermarket was a little more crowded than usual, and we saw a few families buying loads of candy. Jacob grabbed a pack of marshmallows, and then we went to the fridges to find hot dogs. Just as we went around the corner, we saw four really pale figures walking down the hallway towards the candy. „That's the Cullens", Jacob whispered. Just as he said that, one of them turned round as if he had heard what Jacob had said. It was the boy with the bronze hair who didn't look as muscular as his brothers. One of them, the big, burly one with the brown curls, was with him and drew him with the rest. The two other ones were girls – one really small, with black, spiky hair, the other one the tall, blond one with whom – according to Jake - the Newton freak had tried to flirt. „They look like they've escaped a horror movie", Jacob said next to me, looking a little bit intimidated. I snorted. „Yes, a horror movie that's based on spoiled rich brats and plastic surgery." Jake hit me, and we laughed.

Back in the car, we started planning. „I'll come and get you", Jake said, munching chips. „Don't crumble", I muttered. He grinned. „I'll bring something to light the fire, but there should be enough driftwood on the beach. You bring the food and loads of blankets. I'll try to find as many blankets at home as I can, too. We'll start the fire when it's getting dark, okay?" He sounded really excited, which looked cute. It was a long time ago that someone had looked so happy to do something with me. „Sure!", I said, and I felt just as excited as Jake. „Great." He looked very pleased with himself. „I'll try to find some spooky stories I can tell you", he said with his mouth full. I rolled my eyes. „If you want to... Don't forget to wear warm clothes." I stopped at Jake's house, and he got out of my car. „See you tomorrow, Leah!" I smiled. „Good night, Jake!"

Back home, I started to pile up every blanket and sleeping bag that we could spare. When I was done, I pulled out my notebook and my pen. The notebook was almost completely filled, there were only a few white pages left. Thanks to Jacob, the last two months had been full of great events and happy feelings, and just as I had used it to write down my pain and anger, I now used it to record my happiness. But today, I didn't write anything. I started to draw something, and after a few lines I realized that I was drawing my necklace's pendant, the wolf and the moon. I liked that motif. Even if I didn't really care about the Quileute legends, they still were part of my life, and so the wolf felt familiar.

Suddenly I realized that I didn't really know our legends. After all, when my dad had started to tell them, I had either been occupied with kissing Sam or I didn't care enough to listen. I would have to ask him to tell them again.

That night, I didn't sleep well. I woke up at three o'clock in the morning, hearing loud howls coming from the woods. The howls frightened me – it felt as if they were calling out to someone. Almost human, I thought. But then it was silent, and I quickly fell asleep.

The next day I waited eagerly for the evening. I thought about calling Jake, but that seemed a little ridiculous regarding that we'd see each other in just a few hours.

I took a shower when it was getting dark and brushed my long hair. Then I got dressed in my warmest clothes.

The door bell rang. I opened the door.

„BOO!", something shouted, and I screamed. A dark cloak with a Scream mask was looking at me. I breathed hard, and Jake took off the mask. „Sorry", he grinned, „I couldn't resist." He hugged me. „Ready?" I nodded and told him to wait for just a second.

I ran upstairs, grabbed the blankets, the food and drinks and my notebook and ran downstairs again. I almost collided with Jake's abnormal muscular body, but he kept me from falling. „Careful!", he laughed, and I hit him. „Mom, we're gone!", I shouted, and my mom came out of the kitchen. She smiled at Jake. „Hello, Jacob." „Hi, Sue!" „Be careful, you two." I rolled my eyes. „Mom..." She patted my hair. „I didn't say anything!", she said, grinning.

My mom was really happy that I was friends with Jacob. She knew I was still a little monster towards most people, but she was glad that I had someone to talk to. And she liked Jake a lot, too.

We walked away, and I groaned. „Sometimes I really hate that. Like I'm still a child", I complained. Jake grinned. „Well, you're not eighteen yet, are you?" „But I will be, soon. November." He smiled. „I know."

We reached the beach and walked across the stones. Everywhere was driftwood, so there wouldn't be any problem with finding fire material.

We found a nice place not too far away from the water. The sun had almost set, and there was a blood-red stripe on the horizon. Jacob collected the wood and began to ignite it, while I prepared the two sticks with which we wanted to grill the hot dogs and marshmallows.

Soon a colorful fire was burning. The blue and green flames shot high in the air and warmed us. I wrapped myself up in all my blankets, and Jake did the same. We put the hot dogs on the sticks and held them into the fire.

It was cozy, and for once, it didn't rain. I was watching Jake, who looked a little creepy with his too large body in the light of the fire. I just saw him as a shadow, only his face was lit by the fire. He was watching the flames, and they mirrored in his bright eyes. He really was huge for his age. „Are you OK?", I asked, and he smiled at me. „Sure I am." I giggled. „What?", he demanded. „You look exactly like an Indian, with your long hair. The tourists would get a thrill out of it. You just need a feather and a pipe in your hand." He laughed. „Yeah, right. And you're who, then? My little Indian wife?" „Your mother", I stated, and we both laughed. Then we were silent for a while.

Suddenly Jacob said: „Come over here, Leah", and pointed at his side. I struggled with my blankets, but then I sat down next to him. He put an arm around my shoulder and looked at the ocean. The sun had completely disappeared, but there was still a small light stripe of sunlight.

I looked into Jacob's eyes. They were beautiful, and I tried to guess what he was thinking. He sighed, then he took his hot dog out of the fire and took a bite. „Tastes good", he said, and I tried mine.

So we sat there for a while, eating hot dogs and drinking coke, when his face suddenly brightened up. „I've got a story for you." I looked a little sceptical, but he just tightened his grip around me and said: „Don't worry, it's a nice one. The kind of stories girls like." He still hadn't convinced me, but I leaned against his shoulder and closed my eyes, inhaling his scent. I had never realized that he smelled nice. Uh, Leah, I warned myself. Stop it right there. „Okay", I said, „I'm waiting."

Jake cleared his throat and drank something, then he moved closer to me, looked into the fire and started.

It was three days before All Saint's Day, and Lily was doing the laundry. Her parents would visit her so they could go together to the cemetery where her grandparents were buried. Lily wanted everything to be perfect, because she had had a huge fight with her parents four months ago and she wanted to make up for that.

After she had finished doing the laundry, she carved a face into a pumpkin and put it in her hallway window. That way, the little children that were collecting candy on All Hallows' Evening could see that she would give them some. Lily had always loved Halloween – the glimpse of another world, the old history of that night, the trick-or-treating with Jack, her best friend and ex-lover. They had been together for a long time, and Lily had loved him more than anything else. She used to put some food on the doorsteps so the dead wouldn't enter the house to get something to eat. Of course that wasn't really Christian, but her grandmother, a very superstitious woman, had taught her to do so. But Lily hadn't done it ever since she moved back from the city to her old home town three years ago.

Lily went back into her house and made herself dinner. She was thirty-five years old and still lived alone, but she didn't care. She had never met anyone she liked enough to live with them.

It was already dark when she sat down in front of her TV to eat. A movie was running, something spooky about a vampire hunter, but she wasn't really paying attention. The book she was reading was much more interesting; a crime story with fantastic elements – exactly the kind of books she liked.

Suddenly her doorbell rang. Who could that be? She hadn't invited anyone. It could be her neighbour – the woman living next door to her sometimes came over to bring Lily a cake or some cookies. She knew her from Lily's childhood and had more than once taken care of her.

Lily opened the door. Outside stood a young man with blond hair and green eyes. He looked really young, but old at the same time. „Can I help you, sir?", Lily asked. The man was struggling with words. „Lily", he finally managed to say.

She stared at him in shock. How did he know her name? „Don't you remember me, Lily?" She thought for a moment, but then shook her head. What did he want from her? And where did he come from? He didn't live here; she would've seen him. „It's me, Jack!"

Lily swallowed and took a closer look at the man. „Jack?", she asked, „Can that really be?" He smiled. „Yes, it's me! It is so great to see you again." Lily didn't say anything. She just stared at him. Finally she asked: „Do you want to come in? I still have some dinner left, if you're hungry." He nodded, looking relieved.

Together, they entered the house, and Lily led him to the living room. „Do you want me to warm up dinner for you?", she asked. „Yes, please", he answered and sat down.

Lily went into the kitchen and put the rest of her meal into the microwave. Then she drank a little bit of her favourite whiskey, to warm up and to realize what had just happened. Jack sat in her living room. Jack, Jack Whitsun, her childhood sweetheart. The boy she had never stopped to love. He'd been her ideal of a boyfriend and husband, and maybe that was why she had never found anyone – because Jack had been perfect, and there was only one Jack in the whole world. She had hoped that he'd still live in her old home town, but that wasn't the case.

She calmed herself down and brought the food to Jack. He looked so happy when he saw the meal, just as if it had been long ago that he had eaten anything. „Thanks, Lily. You're really kind to me." She smiled. „You're welcome. Would you like to watch a movie with me?" He nodded, looking really glad.

Lily turned the TV louder. The movie about a vampire hunter was still running, and she didn't really like spooky movies, but Jack seemed to like it and she didn't want him to leave.

When the movie was over, she wanted to turn off the TV, but Jack just said: „Don't, okay? The next one's really good." And so the TV stayed on.

Lily didn't think that the next movie was good. It was some ghostly Romeo and Juliet story, with Juliet coming out of her grave to take him with her. But she put on a brave face because she wanted Jack to stay. After half an hour of watching the movie, she walked back into her kitchen to get some popcorn for the two of them, and Jack was stuffing as if he hadn't had dinner before.

Suddenly the church bell was ringing through the muffled sounds of the movie, and Lily thought that it sounded louder than usual. Three times the bell rang. Three o'clock.

Is it already that late?", she asked Jack in astonishment, but he was already rushing to the door. „Sorry, Lily", he said while putting on his jacket, „I have to go. I'm so sorry! Can I come back tomorrow?" Lily was confused, but nodded. How could she say no? He was still in her heart, and she didn't want him to leave it.

Jack hugged her and jumped into a car that was parked right in front of her house. It looked rather old and a little demolished, and she wondered that it could still race like that when Jack disappeared between the trees that stood along the highway.

The next evening she had cleaned all her rooms and put on her favourite dress. Eagerly she waited behind the curtains of her hallway window for him to come.

He didn't disappoint her. At nine o'clock, his car parked in front of her house. She hadn't heard it coming although it looked like it would make extremely loud noises.

She opened the door and let him in. „I have made dinner", she said, and his eyes were beaming. „You're the best cook ever!", he said. „Thanks." They ate in silence, but then Jack said:„You're too nice, Lily", Jack began. She stared at him. He nodded. „I don't deserve that." Lily shrank back in horror. „Why would you say something like that?" A tear fell down his cheek. „I left you", he said quietly. Lily shook her head. „You didn't, Jack. I did. I moved away, remember? It was me who left you." He looked at her, still with tears in his eyes. „I've always loved you", he finally said.

Lily closed her eyes, feeling tears welling up.

She jumped when something moved next to her. A second later, she could feel a strong arm holding her close to a muscular chest.

She opened her eyes again and looked directly into Jack's face. His eyes were wet, but he smiled. „I've always loved you", he repeated.

And I-" Lily was interrupted by the ringing of the church bell. One. Two. Three.

Jack jumped up and rushed to the door. „Oh God, Lily, I'm so sorry! Can you forgive me? I'll be back tomorrow night", he promised and kissed her on her cheek. Then he ran out of the house, jumped into his car and drove off. Lily just stood there, watching him, and tears were running down her cheeks.

The next evening was Halloween. Lily had put a candle into the hollowed pumpkin, and there already had been some kids whom she had given candy.

She looked at her grandfather's clock that hung on her kitchen wall. It was nine o'clock. She looked outside her window, but there was no car parking in front of her house.

Disappointed she turned round to go to her living room to have dinner, alone.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Lily opened the door.

It was Jack. Weird, she thought, she hadn't heard a single noise. Maybe he hadn't come with a car. But when she looked, it was parked at exactly the same place as yesterday and the day before.

Hey!", he said, looking happy. „Hey", Lily smiled. She was glad that he had come after all. „I brought you something", he said while handing her a bouquet of roses. „I've always wanted to give it to you. I know you're not a rose, but you're supposed to be the only lily in my life." Lily bit her lip. „Thank you, Jack. They're beautiful. Please, go to the living room."

Lily went into the kitchen with the flowers in her hand, when a sudden noise caught her attention. She looked around and saw that her grandfather's clock was ticking unnaturally loud. Lily stared at the clock, but then she decided that she was just a little jumpy today. After all, it was Halloween, and although she had stopped putting food outside for the dead, she still remembered her grandmother's stories.

With a vase in her hands she walked to the living room and put the flowers on the table. „You could have started already", she said when she saw that his plate was still empty. „I wanted to wait for you." Lily winked at him. „You have waited long enough, haven't you?" He nodded and they started to eat.

After they had finished, he helped her wash up the dirty plates. For a long time, there was no other noise than the dishes clattering. „I want you with me, Lily", Jack said suddenly. Lily stopped washing and stared at him. „You want me with you?" He nodded. „And where is the problem?" He lowered his head. „It's difficult." Confused and a little bit irritated Lily laid the tear-towel aside. „Why? Why is it difficult? Are you married?" He shook his head. „No, that's not it." She sighed. „Then what is it?" Jack gulped down some air and then looked into her eyes. „It's just – I'm not good for you."

Before Lily could say anything, the church bell rang three times, and Jack jumped up, gave her a quick, but passionate kiss on the lips and rushed out of the door and into his car. Then he was gone. Lily was confused. He was not good for her, but he kissed her? And then, his lips had been ice-cold. Her lips were still cool. A little apathetic, she walked to her bed and covered herself in all the blankets she could find. But she still felt his cold lips when she fell asleep.

Lily was really happy when her parents came the next morning. Together, they visited her grandparents' graves and laid down some flowers. Then she served them dinner, and they talked a lot about past times. „Why did we move?", Lily asked. She had left this town when she had been fifteen years old, leaving Jack behind, but never forgetting him. „Because I'd found a better job", her father explained, „And it was important for me to be able to pay your college tuition, so it was necessary." Lily shrugged. „I've always missed it. I loved this town. That's why I moved back." She chewed on her goose, then she said: „Guess who has visited me yesterday! Jack!" Her parents looked at each other. „Jack?", her dad asked, looking confused, „What Jack?" Lily rolled her eyes. „Jack Whitsun, my ex-boyfriend." Again, her parents exchanged looks, this time more serious. „What?", Lily demanded. „Sweetie", her mother said in a worrying tone, „Jack's dead."

Lily stared at her mom as if she'd gotten insane. „No? He came to visit me yesterday, the day before yesterday and the day before that. He definitely isn't dead." Her father shook his head. „No, honey. Jack died in a car accident on the highway fifteen years ago."

Lily was utterly bewildered. „Dead?", she managed to choke out, „But... but..." „He wanted to drive home. He had visited his mother, who used to live here. It was nine o'clock, and he just rushed by to grab something to eat and to watch his favourite movies. All horror movies, we found out when his room and apartment were searched. He left at three o'clock in the morning, and because he was a little drunk, he didn't see one of the trees that flanked the highway and so he crashed into one. He was dead immediately. Maybe you mixed him up with someone."

But Lily was sure that she didn't. There was no other possibility than that it was really him, so after she had brought her parents back to their hotel in a town twenty minutes from hers, she waited for Jack to arrive.

She didn't have to wait long. At nine sharp, her doorbell rang. This time, she just led Jack into the living room, but instead of serving dinner, she sat down opposite to him. He looked confused. „What's the matter?", he asked. „Look, Jack, my parents visited today, and they told me that you – you are dead. Why do they believe that? Did you fake an accident?"

Jack sighed and stood up. „Lily, I told you I'm not good for you. I will only hurt you. Your clock is ticking. It was ticking the moment you let me in. Oh, oh, why did I come here?" „Jack!" Lily looked hurt. „How can you say something like that?" But Jack was crying now. „I need you, Lily! Can you forgive me for wanting you? Can you forgive me for doing this to you?" „But I- I don't know what you're talking about!", Lily shouted, and she felt a shiver going down her spine. „Lily", Jack breathed, „Whatever you do, do not follow me. Promise? Can you promise me not to follow me?" But Lily just cried and didn't really listen to what he was saying. He tried to calm her, he kissed and hugged her, and finally, she was quiet.

A loud noise broke through the silence. It was the church bell, telling everyone it was three o'clock. Jack stood up and walked to the door. „Please, Lily, forgive me for doing this to you. I didn't mean to hurt you. Goodbye. I love you, always."

He walked out of the door and got into his car, driving away.

Lily didn't wait long. She ran out of the door and jumped into her car, driving after Jack at full speed. „I'm not going to let you go again, Jack!", she said loudly, and turned to the highway.

There his car was, driving fast around the bending road. She just followed him.

Suddenly she saw that his car lurched on the black road. Horrified she watched the car of her one true love crashing against a tree, exploding into thousand parts.

Then the car was gone. Nothing remained there from the terrible accident she had just witnessed.

Lily's heart stopped, and then her eyes widened. A tree was coming towards her – no, she was driving towards the tree! No! No! „No!", she screamed, trying to brake. But the brake wouldn't work. Lily continued driving towards the tree at full speed. „NO!"

There was a loud crash, and Lily was hurled out of the car. The last thing she saw before the lights went out was Jack's sad face. „I told you not to follow me", he said. Then everything went black.

The car and her body were found the next morning. The police noted that fifteen years ago, a young man who – according to the parents - had been friends with the victim had crashed at exactly the same place.

As they brought the crying parents away, they passed the tree Lily had crashed into. Lily's mother was close enough to see a heart that had been carved into the wood. It was covered in blood and oil, but she could still see the two letters that had been carved there: J+L.

Jake yawned and cleared his throat again. I jumped up, being frightened by the sudden noise that didn't belong there. Jacob grinned. „Did you like it?" I snorted. „Well, it was not exactly the kind of story I like... I mean, both of them die! Shouldn't have at least a child of them survived? Or one of them? Where did you get that one from, anyway?" He shrugged. „I sort of made it up myself." I stared at him. „What? You invented that one? So fast?" He shook his head. „I've been thinking about that one since last night." Against my will I was impressed. „And I got to hear it? For your first story, that was excellent! By the way, you have a beautiful voice for narrating." He smiled. „Thanks, Leah. But you're right about the story. It's not really finished yet. I promise you, I'm going to invent the perfect spooky love story. Wait for next Halloween."

I looked at him, and we both laughed. It felt relieving to laugh, somehow, and deep inside me, something wished that the night would never end. Of course, that part was being imprisoned immediately, but I now knew that it existed.

We grilled marshmallows and enjoyed the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It was completely silent, only the fire cracked. An owl howled. „What a Halloween", Jacob muttered from above me. My head was lying on his lap, and multiple blankets kept me from getting cold. I felt great. „What?", I asked, looking at his chin. He smiled and looked down on me. „I just mean that this is the weirdest Halloween I have ever had." „Why? Because last time, you were still trick-or-treating with Quil and Embry?" He grinned. „Maybe..." He was silent for a while, and could just hear him breathing heavily. „No, really, Leah. I mean, I'm sitting on the beach with you, and for once, we're not fighting. But still you're like the meanest girl in the reservation – only to everyone else. And then I'm telling you a story that I have invented. I sometimes do that, you know, but I never ever tell them anyone. Too embarrassing. And last but not least, it is really a little creepy here." As if to underline his words, a wolf was howling, not far from us. Jacob ignored it and smiled at me, but I was still thinking about his words. „Am I really that horrible?" „Wish I could say no." I hit him, but I wasn't angry. After all, I knew he was right. I had decided to be the most annoying girl in La Push, because that felt better than to admit that I was hurt. I didn't know whether breaking up was intended to hurt so bad, but every time I thought about it the pain cut deeper and deeper. It had been my revenge – to leave behind the nice, happy girl and embrace my new image as Darth Leah, as I had called it before. Sam and Emily, they were on the light side of the Force, and that had left me with the dark side. At least we had cookies, I thought and smiled. „Why are you smiling?", Jake asked, caressing my hair. „We have cookies", I repeated my thought. He looked confused. „Are you okay? We have marshmallows, and they're not exactly related to cookies." I started laughing and explained him what I had been thinking. He laughed with me.

Suddenly his face came nearer to mine. I could see the flames in his beautiful brown eyes. They glowed in the light, making them look even more intense. „I like your eyes", he said, voicing what I had thought about his, and his face came nearer and nearer.

And then we jumped away from each other in shock as a huge, burly figure came running out of the woods, searching the beach for something – or someone. As soon as the figure saw us, it started to yell: „HELP! PLEASE, HELP! EMILY'S BEEN HURT! PLEASE!"

And I cursed Sam for the second time of my life.