The Wailing Woman

2. Birthday of a Nobody

My favorite thing about Portland was that the weather always stayed the same. From my bedroom window, I could see the thick gray clouds looming over the city with its recurring thunderous cries. It was the perfect night for Halloween. The flickered rays of blue illuminated passerby dressed in their ghastly or beautiful costumes crowding the streets.

Over the past month, the voices haven't let me forget about Theodore. I did see him a couple of times on campus after bumping into him, but I kept my distance from him. I thought about telling Theodore what I heard and immediately shut that idea down when I remembered the last time I did that. I couldn't tell him what I knew. He would never believe it. No one ever did.

Besides the voices constantly chattering about Halloween, I had overheard many students talking about this masquerade party. Everyone was excited for tonight, especially after being done with midterms. Everyone wanted to let loose and have fun. I couldn't possibly ruin their night. I exhaled as I moved away from my bedroom window.

I kicked a couple of shoes and unpacked boxes in my path as I went to sit down in front of the mirror. I stared at my reflection—pale skin, dull black hair, thin brows, and a birthmark of three dots forming a triangle resting on the right side of my cheekbone. My mother always kissed me there. She loved my lunares. At every hello and goodbye, she would kiss them and when she died my grandmother would kiss my left cheek.

Now, they were both gone and I was lost without their love.

I picked up a makeup brush and by the time I finished, I quickly put on a purple and white skull mask with intricate detailing of swirls and shapes. I secured the black ribbon in the back tightly. I slowly lifted my gaze and saw myself again in the mirror. A colorful array of mixed flowers sat on the top of my head like an ornament. My entire face was concealedexcept for my brown eyes peeking through the holes. I was all ready for tonight.

I got up from my chair and lifted my black dress and hurried out the door. There was a boy that was going to die and I was going to stop it. I raced against time, fate, and death. This was my chance to finally end it all. This was mine.

My death.

My funeral.

*****

It was a moonless and starless night. There was no hope to cling on. There was only the night and I hid under it while I was tempted to break a fate that was written. I walked down the crowded sidewalk passing cars honking their horns in agitation and excitement. I encountered goblins, witches, devils, angels, and many imaginative creatures. I tried being careful walking among them. I already had one life in my hands and I didn't want to be involved in another.

However, as I continued my walk, I felt a prickling sensation like a pair of eyes were watching my movements. I searched for the feeling every step I took trying to look for any usual behavior. Everyone looked normal or at least normal passing for tonight. Everyone was either talking or laughing with their friends as they carried pumpkin bags stuffed with candies.There was no one out of the ordinary. I pulled out my phone to check the time. It was almost going to be midnight and the party started two hours ago. I only hoped Theodore hadn't arrived yet. I couldn't waste any more time.

I pushed through the crowd earning a couple of grunts and things like "Hey! Watch where you are going!" Someone's life was on the line and I needed to hurry before they succumbed to their fate. I lifted the sides of my dress and started running, brushing against their shoulders and arms. The voices feed into them and relentlessly murmur like blood-thirsty creatures.

The deer... the deer, they announced.

I halted my steps at a traffic light. My chest rose up and down as beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I turned my head in every direction looking for my deer until my eyes landed on a familiar brown curled boy with freckles. Theodore stood on the other side of the street. He was talking with his friends, waiting for the walk sign. He wore a musketeer costume with an old-style sword attached to his hip. I found him. I took one step forward and was about to call his attention, but then someone else came up from behind him.

The prickling sensation I felt earlier increased like a hundred needles digging into my skin and the voices suddenly became frantic and violent. My stomach churned. I think I found the person who had been watching me all night, and they stood eerily calm in a hooded cloak behind Theodore and his friends like a shadow.

A clap of thunder and lightning flashed altogether in the night sky.

In the brief illuminating light, they lifted their head, and revealed their mask. Even from afar, I could tell it was no ordinary mask. It was a white-painted wooden mask with black shadows carved into it that made it seem so frighteningly alluring. Their eyes were hidden from my sight, but I knew they were holding my gaze with the same curiosity. I could feel it. The only thing I could see was their lips—their full dark, crimson lips. They were taunting and luring.

I felt a growing urge to take off that person's mask.

Their lips then curved ever so slightly, and uneasiness continued to stir in my stomach. "Don't do it." I breathed inside my mask. "No te atrevas." I clutched my dress tightly. They moved an inch closer to Theodore and made a quick, sudden movement.

I frowned when I saw nothing happen. Then, Theodore started to move forward before the walk sign turned. My eyes widened. His friends shouted his name, and passersby looked over to see what was happening. They began to try to get his attention as well, but it was as if Theodore was in a trance. His eyes were empty, and footsteps were mechanical-like.

The clouds released their tears. Everyone ran towards any nearby shelter to cover themselves from the heavy rain. My hair stuck onto my mask as my dress became soaked. The wooden mask doesn't leave like everyone else. They stayed and watched. The rumbling of wheels was growing closer and started to screech against the wet road. I picked up my dress and sprinted towards Theodore.

"Go back!" I shouted.

Theodore continued to march despite his flattened feather hat. I met him halfway and took hold of his shoulders, shaking them. "Wake up, Theodore! Snap out of it! You're about to die." I begged.

He stares blankly as a blazing light shines upon his wet face.

The deer stands naively on the day of Samhain.

Only the good and the young.

A flood of past omens invaded my ears, and something deep and untouched tore inside me. A violent fury consumed every fiber of my being and exploded into a cacophony of a vicious, hopeless scream as it disturbed everything around me. Lightning struck the traffic light as sparks flew, car horns ceased, and instead flipped over. Theodore no longer stood in front of me but many feet away. My eyes meet the wooden mask again, the smile gone from their lips.

My mouth twitched upwards until my vision blurred.

I staggered forward, then took one step back and collapsed on the wet pavement. My bones felt crushed, and I felt the world spinning. A hot liquid mixed with sweat slides down my lips. My head rolled sideways as a throbbing pain pounced but the voices were quiet. I could no longer hear them. My mask remained intact as I lay on the ground with trickling droplets. My eyes continued to open and close. I'm ready to let go. Please, let me go.

I saved someone. Forgive me for not being able to save the others, but I'm ready to give my life away, I thought of no one in particular.

While I thought the whole world had become mute, my ears listened to the slow yet steady footsteps heading my way. In my hazed vision, I think I saw a pair of black polished shoes. I stuck my arm out trying to prevent them from coming any closer.

Unexpectedly, I felt a slender finger skimming down my mask. I tried to turn my head away but they swiftly slipped their arms underneath my body and lifted me off the ground. I breathed in their smoky scent as my head lay against their chest, feeling a smooth surface. I tried to catch a glimpse of this person, but they were also wearing a mask.

"Don't—don't save—save me." I croaked.

Their hold tightened around my body, firmed and secured like an unspoken promise. They continued to carry me through the damp air until I heard him say, "Happy Birthday, Nora." It was below a whisper, and yet his voice rippled through the quietness like a blade.

Slowly street lights and the unknown man faded together, and I slipped into the darkness with hearing a pleasant sound at last.