The Halloween Princess

chapter 1: the first Halloween

" Make sure to be back by 8 pm. I don't want you out after that" Jenna Maxwell instructed her son, Alex as she opened to the front door to let in his best friend, Shawn. " Alright mom." kissing her cheek he ran out with Shawn following him. Alex was a 12 years old scrawny boy with dusty blond hair and a front tooth still missing. Halloween had always been his favourite holiday ever since he was five years old, but this was the first Halloween after his dad's death. Alex and his father John Maxwell would dress up as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They would do this every single Halloween. It was their own little tradition. However, this year Alex was dressed up as spider man, his favourite superhero.

" Are you sure this is the correct address?" Alex asked Shawn as they stood outside a large house at the very end of Plum street. The house was painted bright red with a humungous towering roof. The driveway was packed with people dressed up as witches and popular movie actors and actresses. Very loud music was playing from three speakers placed outside on a freshly mowed lawn. " Shawn, come on up here" an 18 some thing year old girl with straight pink hair called out to Shawn. She was wearing a pink fairy dress and was holding a magic wand with a star at the end, in her right hand. Beauty and elegance surrounded her as she motioned for them to come join her. " That's my sister Marge. Guess we are at the right place" Shawn said as he rushed towards to meet his sister. Alex followed behind, peering all the teenagers swaying with the music and taking swigs out of red plastic cups, with curiosity. Up close Marge wasn't as pretty as Alex thought of her. Her eyeliner was smudged around the crease of her eye and her purple lipstick had faded to a light pink. " Where had you been? I have been waiting for the past hour and a half " Marge said as she gave Shawn a hug and moved towards Alex, who was nervously standing besides Shawn. "Alex baby, how are you?" Marge said as she flung herself at Alex. She was half his size as Alex was way taller for someone his age. Marge reeked of the smell of cheap cigarettes' and beer. Asking them to follow her, she led them inside the house. The house was dimly lit with the living room crowded with young people dancing and grinding into each other. All of the couches were occupied by couples making out with one another.
"Uhh, why exactly are we here, Shawn?" Said Alex as he followed the party upstairs. Shawn just gave him a look of negligence and continued talking to his sister.

The upper storey of the house contained 3 rooms. Each of those were locked with people dancing and talking to each other.