Venator : Devil's Moon

I. When Dreams Come True...

The moment my mind began to drown in a river of questions, my buzzing phone startled me. The combined effect of the nightmare and the startle was paralysing.

Nevertheless, after deciding a demon wouldn't probably have my phone number, I quickly leaned over the side table and grabbed it.

"Laura, you ready? I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes." As soon as I picked up the call, Amanda started yelling.

I wondered what she was talking about, and then a realisation struck me: I had completely forgotten about the Halloween Party.

"Sorry Amanda, but go without me. I've a slight headache," I lied. How was a girl supposed to dress up and look her best only in fifteen minutes? Besides, I needed some lone time to convince myself the dream I just had was nothing but a consequence of the affection I had for the paranormal TV shows.

"No, you can't do this! You promised me..." Amanda began. Suddenly all excitement in her voice was gone. "If you're not going, I ain't going."

Her words laced so intricately with such believable grief made me wonder if she was taking theatre lessons behind my back. The fact she'd been jumping up and down like a small child begging for toffees for past entire month suggested her feelings were true.

"Fine." I sighed. Then my eyes fell on the wall clock. "Amanda, it's just 8. Isn't the party at 9?"

I heard a rather odd sound which must've been her squeak of excitement followed by an abrupt pause.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you it's at Mandy's?" She said wonderingly.

"At Mandy's?" My mouth opened as my eyes bulged with surprise.

Mandy's was a club located on the outskirts of Silverton. My father didn't allow me even for small parties at friends' places and this one was at Mandy's, one of the stay-away-from places in his words. There was no way he would allow me.

"No, you didn't," I said.

My answer was followed by a sigh and a prolonged screeching sound. I heard her stop her car immediately. The tires skidded roughly against the road. Then, as if nothing had happened, the engine roared on again and with a very casual tone, she said, "Then just hurry up. You can put on make up in my car."

"What was that sound?" I asked worriedly.

"Nothing, a car just came in the way. Anyway, see ya soon." Before I could ask for details or tell her I wouldn't make it, she hung up.

I could've stayed home and watched some movie instead of going to a party in some car which increased my probability of death by nearly 30 %. But it was Halloween, and ever since I was a little girl I'd heard people talking about the exciting Halloween parties hosted at Mandy's. I wasn't a party person, but I wouldn't lie: the thought of this party did excite me.

I hurried to my cupboard and realised the batwoman outfit Amanda had bought for me looked very ridiculous. So I slipped into an usual wear - a blue top and jeans. I pulled over a white woollen sweater, and hurried downstairs towards the kitchen. My father was busy making dinner.

"Laura, you are not going to that party," he said sternly as soon as I opened my mouth for asking permission.

"You spying on me?" I glared at him.

"Amanda had called while you're sleeping," he explained. "And mind you, if you're making all these plans behind my back, I might as well start spying."

"I wasn't. In fact I was about to ask your permission," I said.

He shook his head. He didn't even move from the kitchen table. I stared at his bald head dejectedly.