FAGEtastic Four
Title: October
Written For: Aurelle Angelus
Written By: BeMyHeroSeverrus
Rating: K+
Summery/Prompt Used: A forest to end it all will also begin it all for Zinnia. The Dark Stranger has come and took the breath out of Zinnia. He has his secrets and she has hers. will their secrets bring them together or tear them apart.
Chapter Four: The 31st
Tobias was a fast learner. He did things fast and accurate, and Zinnia could not have asked for a better worker. He was pleasant enough with the costumers but never spoke unless spoken too. Rumors spread quickly around town about Tobias and Zinnia, such as they were sleeping together. Zinnia tried to stop them from spreading, but bored townspeople were not easily distracted.
As Halloween came closer Zinnia grew anxious. Although many people loved Halloween, it was one of Zinnia's least favorite holidays. She noticed that she wasn't the only one on edge. If she looked close enough at Tobias; he was tense as well. He would tighten his jaw as if fighting off a scowl. Guess someone else around here also doesn't like Halloween…
"Well Tobias, tomorrow is Halloween, and we are closed, so take the day off."
"Closed?"
"Yes. All day, closed. I'll open again on Monday afternoon. So do whatever you want tomorrow."
He nodded. "I'll see Monday; goodnight."
"Goodnight, Tobias."
Zinnia woke up Halloween morning in a bad mood. Nothing seemed to go right. Echo peed on the side of the bed, and Zinnia slipped in it. In the middle of her shower, the water turned cold. The milk fell out of the fridge and spilled everywhere, and she spilled coffee over herself and had to take another cold shower.
By late afternoon, Zinnia felt the need to murder someone, anyone. She sat on her porch in a sweater. It was a cold over cast Halloween. The sky seemed to match her mood. Echo came out and placed his head on her knee, giving her a sad look.
"Want to go for a walk, boy?"
He wagged his tail in answer. With a sigh, Zinnia got up. "Let's go."
Zinnia and Echo walked around the house and took the little road into the forest. It was a small black road. Trees were lined on both sides. Dead leaves filled the ground, while red, orange, brown and yellow leaves decorated the branches. This was her favorite part of town, the forest. She supposed it was because this is where it all began and ended for her.
Night fell over Bexhill. There were parties and children and teenagers trick-or-treating all over the town. Yet here in the forest it was quiet—at least until Echo barked and ran off. Zinnia gave a startled gasp and started after him.
For ten minutes, she stayed a step behind him. Then, he went through a bush and she lost him. As night fell deeper, it grew colder. Echo was still nowhere to be found. A few more minutes of walking and Zinnia found that she wasn't alone in the forest. Tobias sat upon the forest floor with Echo by his side, who picked up his head at her arrive.
Tobias petted the dog's head, and calmly asked, "Who goes there?"
Zinnia moved into view, "Just me." She gave him a small smile. "I see my dog found you."
"Yes." Tobias took a hard look at Zinna. Her eyes had a hint of red, her smile wasn't as bright, and her voice wasn't as happy. "Are you alright?"
She sniffled, "Yes. I just don't really like Halloween." She walked over and sat down next to him. They sat together in silence.
"Isn't there just something magical about the forest?" Zinnia whispered
"Hardly."
"Don't you believe in magic?"
"No."
"I do. Magic saved me once." Zinnia paused again. "Why don't you like Halloween?"
"Why don't you?" he replied, his voice still quiet yet dark.
"Because 18 years ago, I lost my parents. In a forest like this. Magic saved me and yet destroyed my world. I was spared and now all I can do is be the best person I can be, because I was given another chance, another life."
Silence stretched on for a long time till Tobias spoke, "I also lost someone I cared about."
Rain started to fall in heavy drops. "Ah!" Zinnia jumped up in surprise and hugged herself. In a flash, there was a umbrella over her. Tobias stood beside her, a large black umbrella over them.
"Thank you. My house is this way, you can dry off."
They reached Zinnia's house in ten minutes. She opened the back door. "Just come in. I don't mind all the dirt. I can clean it."
They trailed mud in the house, especially Echo. "Echo, no! You stay, okay? Stay!"
Tobias put a hand on his head. Zinnia headed up the stairs to the towel closet. She pulled out three big and fluffy towels. She went into her room and pulled out a large pair of black sweats and a grey t-shirt.
"Here," she said, coming back down. "A towel and some clothes, they should fit. The bathroom is behind that door."
"Thank you." He disappeared into the bathroom.
Zinnia wiped down Echo and sent him up to the room. She wiped herself dry and put on a pair of black sweats and blue t-shirt.
Tobias came out just as Zinnia had the fire lit. "I have a guest bedroom you can stay in for tonight. The rain is coming down pretty hard."
He wanted to say no, in fact, he never should have walked in. He should have gotten out quickly, just leave. But she sat there in snug clothes, looking up at him with her pretty hair and amber eyes, the fire's glow dancing over her, creating a glow around her body.
"Thank you, for your hospitality."
She smiled that smile that he liked on her, "of course." She got up, "it's still kind of early, how about a movie."
He nodded his approval and sat on the far end of the couch. Zinnia popped in a movie and sat on the other side of the couch, watching it in silence. As it ended, she took a peak at Tobias. He was fast asleep.
Her expression softened and she covered him in a warm blanket. "Goodnight, Dark Stranger." Softly, she pressed her lips to his cheek and left quietly to her room.
Okay so I have two alerts and like not a lot of hits. I would really like some reviews as well. So please drop a line. I won't leave you hanging like the other stories...this will be finished by the 15th.