The mimic stories

#6. Find me

Kabocha sat alone in an armchair by the chimney and wrote in his notebook. Tomorrow is Halloween - everyone will laugh at it again. "But after all, why worry about others, eh?" That's what his father always told him when this holiday came. Kabocha thought about it, then closed his notebook and placed it on the table. He lay down on the couch and looked at the fireplace. He was always warm and pleasant. Kabocha smiled slightly, then closed his eyes and started thinking about Halloween again.
- Kabocha? You are here? His father's familiar voice called.
- Yes, in the living room. Kabocha replied.
-Ah, here. And how's it going? Ready for Halloween? asked the father.
- I guess so... Kabocha looked at the floor.
- Your mother and I didn't even know what your name meant. They were simply beautiful. Father smiled reassuringly. Kabocha did the same.
- I'll go to sleep now, goodnight. Kabocha announced.
- Good night, son. Said the father.
- Goodnight, dad. The boy smiled and went to his room and fell asleep. He woke up in the morning at 8:00. He was a little sleep-deprived, but he got up and went to the kitchen.
- Hello honey! The mother welcomed her son.
- Hi, Mom. Kabocha replied without enthusiasm.
- Oh, something happened, Kabocha? Ah, yes. Today is Halloween... Mother asked.
- Don't worry about others, son. There are more important things in the world. Said the father.
- Right... Kabocha admitted.
- I'll just try to have fun... Actually, I don't even have to go to it. After all, I'm 17 years old, I'm not a little child. Kabocha announced.
- Awh, come on. Akio invited you. You shouldn't refuse him. Mother reminded.
- Well... Okay, I'll go. But only for a moment. Kabocha agreed.
- Okay, so eat breakfast first. Said the mother.
- Bright. Kabocha sat down at the table and started eating breakfast. When he had eaten them, he left the table and put on his everyday clothes. He brushed his hair lightly and walked towards the bus. He barely had time, but he managed to get on. He sat down next to an old lady and looked out the window. 15 minutes later they arrived, he got off the bus and headed towards his high school. The first lesson was Spanish - Kabocha didn't like Spanish, but he went to his locker, took the books he needed and entered the classroom. All lessons passed peacefully, Kabocha even received praise from the Physics teacher. Kabocha waved to one of his friends before heading back to the bus stop. He got back on the bus and headed home. When he got out, he quickly headed back to his house. He turned the handle and entered.
- Hello, Kabocha. His father greeted him.
- Hello Dad. Kabocha replied.
- Get ready for dinner. Father announced. Kabocha nodded, then went to his room and put his backpack down. Then he returned to the kitchen and started eating dinner.
- Thank you, dad. Kabocha thanked him.
- Here you go. Now you better get ready for Halloween, or you won't make it in time. Father reminded.
-Ah, right. Kabocha left the table. He simply dressed in black and a plaid shirt - he didn't like this holiday because then everyone made fun of the meaning of his name. There will probably be questions like "Why didn't you lose for the pumpkins?" "Why didn't the pumpkin put on his real outfit?" He heard them every year. Once he was changed, he waved goodbye to his father and left. He was heading towards the bus again. He sat down next to a man and thought about what they were going to do. The place itself was a bit... Weird. He saw them because he and Akio chose them himself. The throne of an unknown fallen ruler sounds a bit menacing. Actually, he just nodded when Akio asked if he agreed. He knew that even if he said no, his decision would not affect the decisions of others. When he arrived, he got out and started walking to the Halloween party site. When he reached the place, he met Akio and his other friends there.
- Hello, Kabocha! Akio greeted him.
- Oh, where's the pumpkin costume? One of Akio's friends started, and then several people started laughing. Akio, in order not to seem "not cool", started laughing with them. Kabocha ignored their behavior and started looking at all the decorations and other things.
- Hey, maybe we can play hide and seek? One of Akio's friends suggested.
- Are you a little child? But overall, okay. I'll show you how good I am at hiding! Said another.
-Okay! So who's counting? Akio asked.
- Pumpkin! Finally it will do something useful! The third one laughed.
- Uh? I? Okay. Kabocha said confused and then started counting. When he finished, he turned around. There was no one behind him. He only had to find 5 people - not that many. He started looking around the table, there was no one there. Around the food, nothing either. He's been looking for 10 minutes, still nothing. Suddenly he heard a scream. He was a little scared, but now people are walking around and everyone is scaring each other. He was looking around the throne, then suddenly froze. A human finger lay near the throne. Kabocha began to breathe heavily - he was so terrified that he couldn't catch his breath. He closed his eyes, opened them again, and instead of a finger, a bloody sign appeared: "Find me in the forest". Why in the forest? Who wrote this? Kabocha now had 200 questions in his head, but he preferred to leave them for later. He started looking for at least one person, there was still no one. So he decided that he would go to this forest as the inscription indicated. He still had doubts, and he was terrified, but it was just a stupid joke of his friends, right? It couldn't be anything else... It was a bit far to the forest, so Kabocha got a little tired. He kept walking and walking. Suddenly he saw a terribly tall gray man in a black kimono and a red pearl necklace.
- W-Who are you? Kabocha asked the man.
- I? I am a friend. Follow me. He replied, then smiled.
- Why should I trust you so much? Kabocha asked.
- Because you only have me. The man replied.
- By the way, I'm a Shinigami. Nice to meet you, Kabocha. Shinigami announced. How did he know his name?
- Nice... Kabocha replied.
- Now, let's go. The Shinigami started driving. Kabocha was still terrified. Suddenly they came to a large pentagram. When Kabocha noticed him, he froze. At each corner of the star was the head of one of his friends. His mother's body was impaled on a large spike on the throne of an unknown fallen king. His father's body lay mangled on the floor, his skull at Kabocha's feet. Why him? What he did? Kabocha couldn't even utter a word. He just cried. What did he do wrong? He didn't do anything to anyone. What did the Shinigami punish him for? What did he do wrong?
- This is a punishment for your ancestors, Kabocha. Said the Shinigami.
- K-Kabocha?... Kabocha... He started trying to say something, but he didn't finish. Kabocha's head was split into two pieces by Shinigami's scythe - the skull and the skin. Now there is no pain, there is no lie, there is nothing. Now he will always be happy. He will always be just himself. It will always be a pumpkin. There will always be Halloween. He will always be himself - that is, what he hates.