Enchanted

Chapter 27

Sabrina

Halloween was a festival I used to be fearful of. I pled my parents to leave the lights on and I dare not step out of the threshold till the next morning. The kids my age would share their experiences about trick-and-treating around the neighbourhood and I cursed them behind their backs for having tooth decay after eating all those sweets despite having bags of Reese and Sour Patch and Jolly Rancher myself on the kitchen counter at home.

Somehow, I grew up during that one-night transition. In other words, I convinced myself ghosts are just spirits wandering around to complete their unfinished business. As long as I don't offend anyone, I will not likely be dragged into a haunted house or chased down the streets by psycho killers or possessed dolls.

Most importantly, I have complete control of my own life and fate is not going to stand in between my decision.

People are simply bored with their lives that were lack of adrenaline rush from scares and thrills so they pretend to live in a horror film for a day. I guessed surviving on planet Earth is a job after all, acting in the role you were assigned, waiting for death to knock on your door.

Just like what I was doing now, cosplaying a teenage girl so I have a reason to leave the house. More like a grave. Cold like the tombstone with two single drooping souls lingering inside.

"I'm going to a Halloween party with my friends." I sounded more like I was informing my aunt than asking for her permission because I was like any other 16-year-olds who is desperate for freedom.

"Thought you said you weren't going to join this year?" My aunt glanced up from her phone.

She was right. Last year, Nicolette suggested that both of us dressed as Elmo and Cookie Monster. We bought the Sesame Street onesies online and the costumes delivered were horrid. I don't understand how the seller could get our orders wrong by sending us Elmo a size smaller and Cookie Monster a size larger. I felt like I was moving around in a carpet and it was not even close to comfortable. Worst of all, someone splashed sticky drinks on me during the house party and I lost my purse either due to my carelessness or thievery. This year, I was not dressing up like a giant blue alien so the probability of repeating history is slim.

That's what you tell yourself, Sabrina. First, you want to spend more time with Cedric. Second, you think Cedric will protect you from the chaos.

"They'll be graduating so I want to spend more time with them." Which was partially true.

"Huh," she sounded uncertain like I just lied to her. "Be back by eleven."

Most houses were decorated extravagantly with artificial spiders, pumpkins carved with scary faces, skeletons, tombstones and toilet rolls tangled around the perimeter like un-mummified dead bodies. The evening was still bright so the owners have not turned on the lights.

"Sab!" Nicolette pulled me into a quick hug and scanned my outfit. "I thought you said you were participating but where's your outfit?"

"Oh, I'm dressing up as Bella Swan." But her face still looked perplexed. "From Twilight. The Vampire movie series." I explained.

"I know but... okay. That's fair." She smacked her lips. I couldn't tell if she was disappointed or proud of my idea of not wasting a single penny on a one-time-use Halloween fit, considering I threw away the Cookie Monster onesie because I was pissed off that night and didn't bother scrubbing it with soap.

"What are you dressing up as?" I quickly shot a question because I didn't want to ruin the fun because it had even begun.

"Wednesday Addams. It's best to stick with the classic."