Adia hates Halloween.
Even though she was born with her legs fused together into something resembling a fish tail, she can't help but feel angry when people ask why she didn't wear a mermaid costume.
But this Halloween, finally wearing the dreaded A...
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Jaylene was starting to worry Adia.
The whole day her sister had been quiet and pensive, and at some moments she had looked downright desperate.
But Adia didn't know why.
Now, as Jaylene wheeled Adia through the sidewalks, the Halloween night illuminated with artificial glows from orange jack-o-lanterns and sounding from recorded maniacal laughter, Adia almost felt as if it were all her fault.
Adia's wheelchair took a turn up a barren driveway, void of any unsettling decorations sans for mini pumpkins along the windowsills.
"I thought we were going trick-or-treating." Adia said, turning her head around to frown at her sister.
"We're going to a party." Jaylene said.
Adia wanted to protest, to groan, to tell her no, but something about the weariness in her sister's tone stopped her. Instead, she sulked in silence as she was brought to the front door, closing her eyes and covering her ears as somebody opened it.
Adia hated parties even more than Halloween; the stares, the loud noises, the bright, flashing lights, and especially the cruel jokes.
Those were the worst.
Adia's arms were suddenly wrenched away from her head, much to her despair.
"Adia!" Jaylene yelled, sounding close to tears.
"What's wrong with you?" Adia screamed back, feeling the urge to cry too. "I hate parties! You know that! The least you can do is let me—"
"I'm sorry."
The voice was not her sister's, but rather, somebody who Adia had forgotten was even there; the boy who had answered the door.
Jaylene cleared her throat, moving from behind Adia's wheelchair to stand beside the boy.
Resisting the urge to make a face at the couple, Adia watched as they both shared a look, a look of knowing, before turning their attention back to her.
"Adia, this is Kain. Kain, this is my sister, Adia." Jaylene said.
"You look like Maui." Adia said.
"Who?" Kain frowned, looking genuinely confused for the first time.
Jaylene's lips curved upwards. "He's the demigod."
Adia giggled when Kain's frown deepened. "I look like a demigod?"
"You know! From Moana!" Jaylene said, but gave up once Kain shook his head.
Kain moved behind Adia and began to push her down her front porch and back onto the sidewalk.
"Wh-where are we going?" Adia asked, startled.
"The beach." Jaylene responded, walking right beside her sister and keeping her gaze straight ahead.
Adia wanted to say something, to refuse or ask why, but her body was overcome with fatigue from the strain of the day, and there, in her wheelchair with an empty candy bag and dressed in her Ariel costume, Adia fell asleep.
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Word Count: 440
Gonna post the last chapter tomorrow!! Also thanks to everyone who votes and commented so far! - Gemma
