"Hey!"

I blinked numbly as I looked up at the person who stood in front of me. They were dressed in a navy blue mechanic's uniform and a familiar white mask.

Eddie's hands were on my shoulders, shaking me, "Ann? Annie?"

"Oh," was all I could say to the tall figure who was just as confused as I was.

He raised the white mask and took a sip from his can of Dr. Pepper in veiled amusement. His hazel eyes studied me for a moment, "you scared?"

"So—sorry... I thought you were someone else I knew," I mumbled softly.

"Honey, you really need to get yourself some glasses," K.C. said worryingly, with knitted brows and Gabriel in tow.

I gave her a slight nod and a weak smile.

"I can't believe fucking dick's wearing something like that," Eddie huffed under his breath as we headed back to Violet and Scott.

"Terrible people idolize terrible people, I guess," Gabriel sighed.

"Well, people died—high schoolers, man," Eddie spat. "I hope he's proud of himself."

I trailed slightly behind the trio and bit my lip. Violet was the first to speak.

"You guys wanna head out early? This party kinda blows. Full offense."

"Yeah, I don't think it's even midnight yet," I agreed.

"And here I thought some Susan-Charlie drama would've caused enough entertainment," Eddie said sarcastically with a deep sigh and crossed his arms.

"I mean, she did pour beer down his pants," Gabriel scratched his nose. "I took pictures of it, by the way."

"Aw, babe, I knew we could count on you," K.C. pecked the taller man's cheek affectionately.

Violet grinned and motioned towards Scott, "what about your friends, Debbie and Kurt? Do they wanna tag along with us?"

"Sure, I'll have to ask them," Scott said as he placed his hands in his pockets. "And you're still gonna be hanging out with them, pop star?"

"Huh?" I looked up towards the vampire, almost panicking at the newfound attention, but I was able to at least give him a small nod. "Ye—yeah, of course."

"Listen," Eddie leaned in to whisper. "I still have the keys to the Quarter-Stop Arcade. I can get you and your pals in, and we could all totally play for free."

"Isn't that considered breaking and entering?" Gabriel asked with a raised brow.

"Shut up, Batman," the clown waved dismissively. "Besides, we've discussed this! It's not, technically, if you already have the keys to get in."

"It's true. He does it all the time."

"Hey, don't snitch me out to the newbie, stick bug!"

"First of all, Bozo the Clown, you snitched yourself out," the flower child stated matter-of-factly." and second—"

K.C. stuck out her tongue at the clown. Meanwhile, Eddie copied the childish gesture. Scott laughed at the exchange.

"You two are stupid," Violet sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Either way, that sounds like a plan," Scott nodded and gave me a tiny thumbs up. "But hang on, guys, I'll be back. Gotta head to the bathroom real quick, and then I'll get the others."

I could still feel the heat in my cheeks as I watched the brunet break off from the group. K.C. elbowed me excitedly, clearly already planning how to get me closer to Scott.

"He totally likes you!" Violet smiled brightly and pinched my glitter-covered cheek.

I smacked her hands away with a nervous giggle, "stop! He does not."

"Well, I saw those looks he was giving you," K.C. laughed. "How could he not like you? You're adorable in that shiny dress."

"He's a good-looking dude too; it doesn't hurt to put yourself out there," Eddie shrugged nonchalantly, but he still had a soft smile. "Also, you never were good at picking up hints."

"Ha-ha," I scrunched my face at the clown. "Says the one who had to be given a note explicitly saying Violet wanted to date you."

"She's got a point," the witch conceded with a sly smile.

"Oh, it's two against one again?"

"More like four," Gabriel waved, and K.C. nodded in agreement.

Eddie just scoffed incredulously and rolled his eyes.


"Uh, Scott's been gone an awfully long time, hasn't he?" Gabriel said as he checked his watch. "It's been more than an hour now."

"Yeah, I'm kinda starting to get worried about him," I glanced behind me towards Susan's house with a frown.

"Go check on him!" Eddie smirked and pushed my shoulder playfully.

"Me?! Why not you?" I grinned as the familiar warmth crept up my neck.

"I don't think clowns are his type," Eddie wrinkled his nose.

"What if you see his dick?" Violet teased, I almost spat out my drink, but everyone else laughed.

"Fine!" I smoothed out my multicolored skirt and wiped the corners of my mouth. "If I go, will you guys shut up?"

"No promises," Gabriel snickered.

I polished off the rest of the vodka and handed the empty cup to a giggling K.C. before heading towards the two-story house. I gave the rest of the group a middle finger in a dramatic huff.

I slowly stepped into the foyer, careful not to accidentally knock into the large palm plant beside the doorway. The house was massive. It's a wonder how anyone could find the bathroom at all. I cautiously felt through the darkness for a light switch. The inside of the home looked like it came straight out of a JC Penney magazine. Eggshell-colored walls, dark oak stairs, and an incredibly elaborate chandelier that hung just above the entryway.

"Scott? Are you doing okay?" I called out nervously.

I waited for an answer, but nothing came.

I took a few more steps forward, entering the living room. The scene was grisly. Blood pooled underneath Scott's lifeless body. Knife wounds were clearly visible on his chest and arms; they were haphazard and angry and extended down to his palms. He was positioned beside the other guy I saw not too long ago, the one who'd worn that white mask. The injuries on him were equally gruesome. His head was nearly severed by his attacker from sheer wrath. The blood was bright red. Fresh.

It's him. It's Michael. It's him.

My hands moved mechanically on their own as I reached out to touch Scott's face—still warm—I pulled away as if I was burned by an open flame. My heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears.

It has to be.

I felt my legs give way as I slid down the walls of the otherwise undisturbed living room.

I wanted to go back home.

"Annie!"

I stared at Scott's wide-open blue eyes.

The loud pounding on the glass jolted me back, and I heard myself scream in a panic. K.C.'s hands were on my face, and she pulled me up to stand.

"Annie, please come back. We have to leave, now," she hurriedly guided me back to the group.

"Where's Scott?"

"Forget that! We gotta get to a payphone!"

No one raised any questions as we all half-jogged; half-ran directly to the phone booth a few blocks away beside the nearest bus stop.

"Gabriel, give me some quarters."

"What—what the hell happened back there?"

"Here."

"Thanks."

"She saw a dead fucking body is what happened!"

"Two..." I corrected softly. "Two bodies..."

"Fuck!"

I relayed everything I had witnessed in that room to Violet. Her voice remained calm, despite her trembling fingers, and she repeated everything to the operator on the other line.

"It's—it's 1078 Castle Road, yes, ma'am."

"Annie, are you sure that's everything?"

I slowly nodded in a daze, underwater again, not facing any one of my friends. I stared ahead where the road finally stopped and wrapped my arms around my body in an attempt to keep myself from falling apart.

"Plea—please take me home. I just wanna be home. Please, please..." my voice said.

I couldn't tell them what I didn't see.

"We'll take you back home, Annie, don't worry."

"Shou—should we wait for the police to show up first?"

"She can't talk to them like this. Let's go now."

The white mask.

"Come on, Annie!"

The white mask was gone.