~.~.~.~

Mori Senpai and I were walking towards the school's front doors. A few single rays of sun beat against my back as we walked in silence.

My head was downcast as thoughts raced through my mind. Tyzen sent me another message.

Dear baby sister,

Tick tock goes the clock.

I'll be returning.

That's quite a fancy school you attend now, isn't it? It would be such a shame if something were to happen.

Watch out, or those boys will turn on you quicker than you can say Alias.

~T.Z.

"Oops," someone chortled. A jab of pain pierced my ribs, and the feeling of falling came quick.

The next thing I knew was I was laying on the ground, my face hurting, and Mori's hands on my arm, trying to see if I was okay.

I sat up with his help, and immediately noticed the blood pouring from my nose. Trying to pinch the flow and stop it, blood began covering my hands, and I was desperately trying to spare my dress.

A group of boys, the ones who presumingly pushed me over, were laughing.

Mori turned, giving them the coldest look I've ever seen. They shushed up in fear as Mori picked me up and began walking inside.

He walked us to the nurse. Pain became unbearable and the burning of tears pressed at the corners of my eyes. To keep the rebels at bay, I pinched my eyes closed.

He set me down on a bed, and I spent the next half hour in the nurse's office.

~.~.~.~

I walked slowly through the halls towards homeroom.

Blood coated parts of my nails, face, and dress.

There were no other uniforms I could change into.

Walking in, I immediately noticed the ecstatic nature thrumming throughout the room.

The twins roped me in the second I stepped foot into the room.

"Where were you?" They questioned together.

"The nurses." I deadpanned, stepping past them and sitting in a chair and laying my head in my hands.

They followed. "What for?"

"A kid pushed me over this morning and I landed on my face, literally. I had to go to the nurse's office because Mori thought my nose was broken."

"Wait, a kid hurt you and Mori didn't take him out?"

"He did with a frozen look."

"Hey, there you are." class rep stated. "You missed it. We talking about what we're doing this year for the Halloween big event."

The twins grinned, linking arms. "We're having a test of courage." Kaoru begin.

"Are you coming?"

"I don't think so." I stated, a headache starting.

"What do you mean, 'no'."

I shrugged. "I've never celebrated Halloween before. So why now?"

"Because otherwise you'll be put on the front of the newspaper as the biggest coward."

"I don't care." I answered Hikaru.

"Well, too bad. You're on our team, anyways. You're coming."

I sighed.

"Hey…" Kaoru began. "You know there's blood on your dress, right?"

I nodded, my eyes pinching shut.

The bell rang and everyone began to file from the classroom. The twins were waiting for me to join them on the way to the Host Club.

"We might be able to help you." Hikaru stated, almost hesitant.

"We might have an extra outfit you can wear."

"But you'll have to ask Kyoya."

I smiled softly. "Thanks, you two."

~.~.~.~

"Yes, I suppose we may have something Venna can change into. Why don't you three go check the supply closet?" Kyoya said, preoccupied with typing at his computer. He had only glanced at me for a moment's second, dressed in a vampire costume. "Try something with the theme of Halloween, why don't you?"

They lead me back past the changing rooms to a door. Hikaru opened it, and shock reverberated through me.

The room was huge, with too many outfits to count.

"This way, the Halloween section is back here." Kaoru said, walking towards the back.

I followed him, Hikaru two steps behind me. They began searching through the outfits.

"We could put her in this?"

"No, that wouldn't be good enough. This?"

"I like those bottoms, not the top, though."

"What about that top, next to your hand?"

"Too many sizes too big. What about this?"

"Too candy landish style."

Finally, they came to a conclusion, pushing me to the changing room with what felt like a pile of clothes.

I slid into the black dress. It came down to around my mid thighs, and revealed more of my chest area than I would have liked. Of course, It covered better than what most people wore on the streets, it just dipped lower than I would have liked with no straps.

The socks were striped black and red, coming up just past the tops of my knees. The shoes were little black ankle boots.

I had red shorts on that peaked just below the dress.

Finally, I put on the black witch's hat, red belt, and short cape that had ties dangling down past my collarbone.

"Hurry up, Venna, you've been in there for sooo long!" one of the twins wined. My heart pounded against my chest rapidly.

I turned from the mirror and let my fingers graze the curtain.

This was too out of my comfort zone.

Slowly, I pressed through the curtain, and into the twin's gaze.

Technically, they've seen me in way less.

But still.

When I looked up, they had the same, slightly surprised expression on their faces.

"Just one thing." Kaoru mumbled, walking behind me and removing the hat.

"What are you doing?"

Fingers tangled in my hair, undoing the bun. Hikaru began straightening the belt and tie around my neck.

By the time Hikaru finished, I could feel a light braid in my hair. The hat was placed back on my head.

"Perfect." They said in unision.

They ushered me from the back.

Honey came over to me, dressed as a vampire. "Wow. You're super tall now! And you look really good Venna-Chan! I like it when you cosplay with us!" He grabbed my hand, pulling me to a table as the twins told Tamaki something about not being able to be in the Host Club this week. I was dismissed from the committee.

Mori Senpai walked over at some point in time and sat down.

"Are you alright?" his deep voice questioned.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll be okay. My nose wasn't damaged."

Honey's eyes widened. "Mori-chan told me about the bully!"

Tamaki walked over to us, and I tensed slightly. "Welcome, Princess Venna. You are looking ever so ravishing." he spoke in a silly, stereotypical vampire accent.

I bent my head down, hiding my eyes with the wide brim of the witch's hat. "Thank you Tamaki Sempai." I mumbled.

Kyoya spoke, "Yes, of course if anything happens to your attire, the price to replace it won't be anything to sneeze about."

~.~.~.~

Mori Senpai and I were sitting on his living room floor, stacking cards to create a giant castle. We sat across from each when knocking from the other room startled me, my hand twitching and knocking down the entire card stack up.

Mori stood up, offering me his hand. I took it, and we walked towards the door.

Opening it, I noticed the two redheads and a certain sour-faced girl. "We're here to pick you up for the Test of Courage!"

"I'm not going." I stated.

"But you're on our team, we need you!"

"Let me rephrase that." I said, calmer than what I was feeling. "I don't want to go."

"Come on. Haruhi's coming!"

Mori dropped his hand on my shoulder. "You should go. It might be fun."

I sighed. "Fine. I'll come."

The boys smirked, grabbing my hands and pulling me into their limo with Haruhi.

That's when I realized they were wearing their school uniform, and I was in a black cami top with shorts on and a denim shirt hanging on my frame. I self-consciously folded my arms around my stomach.

I realized they grabbed a pair of my shoes while I wasn't paying attention.

"Put these one." They said.

They were the little black ankle boots from before.

~.~.~.~

The school looked different in the dark. Not to mention pumpkins were everywhere: on the walls, grounds, hanging from the ceilings.

We, as team B, were stationed in our spot by the time everyone arrived. The class rep, Haruhi, and the twins were with me.

"Hey Kaoru, tell us the story about the evil clocktower witch." Hikaru grinned evilly.

I sat in a window sill, watching the night sky.

Sitting in the dark hallway, Kaoru began a story.

"One Halloween, many years ago, a girl dressed in a witch costume fell from the window in the tower. And now, if anyone sees her ghost on Halloween night, they'll be cursed forever!"

"No, stop it you guys!" The class rep cried.

"Will you two knock it off? The point is to scare someone not on your team. Why don't you save that dumb stick for somebody else?" Haruhi spat.

"But nobody's come yet. We're tired of waiting around." They whined.

As they started talking about anxiety and a girl named Cotakano, I lost myself in the stars.

The way they gleamed reminded me of my mother's eyes. So bright, full of life, and calming.

"Oh crap! He's totally pure!" Hikaru yelled, shocked.

And the beautiful moment was gone.

"You mean he has a heart of gold, Hikaru!"

"Our powers are nothing against his wholesomeness." They cried.

"That's no reason to give away are spot." I chastised. "All you've been is loud since we sat here. We're going to lose if you keep this up."

Ignoring me, Hikaru continued to talk. "Does this mean we have to help you?"

A shadow passed over us.

"Did you see that?" Haruhi asked. "That creepy shadow just now, outside the window."

My heart tripped as I nodded, eyes wide.

"Oh, come on! not you too, Fujioka. Knock it off, would you?" Class rep cried.

A clicking down the steps surprised us. We gathered around the side, looking to where something small bounced down the steps.

A skull rolled to a stop, causing everyone but myself to scream. My heart tripped, and I stumbled back.

"No way, it's a sneak attack!" Kaoru stated.

"Hey, it's not your turn yet. Follow the rules~" Hikaru kicked the skull back up the stairs.

Kaoru applauded his brother. "Yeah, you show them!"

"You kicked my skull." A voice trembled. Someone, or something, stepped from behind a wall. "My skull. My skull!"

The clock chimed.

"Could it be? The clocktower witch?"

"Why did you kick my skull?" The head of black hair lifted, and a grotesque face peered down at us.

Screams echoed throughout the hall and I turned, running as fast as my feet would carry me.

Part of my mind took notice that one of the twins and Haruhi turned to go down a separate hall from me.

My feet flew as fast as I could. And suddenly I was tossed into the air, something wrapping around me. An ear splitting scream choked me, stopping as quickly as it started. My eyes pinched shut, fear hugging me, my insides frozen.

I could feel my heart in my stomach.

After a few moments of silence, I opened my eyes, realizing I was suspended in the air because of a net.

Looking around, I realized I was all alone.

Alone.

Fear gripped solidly at my heart. Tears burned my eyes as I pulled my legs to my chest.

The feeling of anxiety reminded me of those nights, waiting, prepared for the attack he was soon to lay on me.

The net against my skin was like the press of his belt, and the longer I sat, the more painful it got. It bit into my back and sides and arms and legs. My head rested against my bent knees.

Anything could happen here.

And time was ticking on.

The tears had no wall holding them back anymore.

I couldn't pull away from the familiar feeling.

It was like my whole body was on edge, waiting for it.

~.~.~.~

It was nearing morning, and I couldn't move.

Tears had long since dried on my face. The pain was unbearable, burning my skin.

I could hear voices, but if it were my imagination, I had no idea.

The first rays of light began to filter into the hall.

The voices were getting louder.

I just wanted it to stop.

Suddenly, the pain was released, and I was dropping. My eyes went wide as I gasped.

Arms wrapped around me protectively.

"Venna!" Tamaki gushed.

I looked into Mori's eyes, trying to hold back the fear that burrowed under my skin.

Tamaki touched my arm. "Have you been here all night?"

I flinched at the bite of pain, nodding.

Honey's eyes were wide. "What happened Venna-chan?"

I couldn't speak, my throat was dry. More tears burned my eyes as exhaustion settled in.

"I just want to go to bed," I whispered.

Mori nodded, walking to where I presumed the Host Club was located.

I could hear the twins. "Where have you guys been? You're late to your own club?"

Tamaki moved out of the way, disappearing from my sight.

Mori set me on a couch where Tamaki placed a pillow.

"Venna!" The twins yelled.

I winced, rolling over.

"She was left in a net all night long," Honey whispered, his voice sad as he tucked Usa-Chan into my arms.

"You mean…"

"She was left at the school all night?"

Tamaki turned, his voice harsh. "Because you two forgot about her!"

"Please stop," I mouthed, my eyes falling shut.

I would never join in on Halloween festivities again.

"I'll call a doctor." Kyoya voiced.