My Last Halloween

Chapter 1: What do you remember?

   Do you remember how it all happened? A question I've been asked many times ever since that night. From the police, my parents, and now the therapist I'm being forced to see. They all think I'm crazy, that I'm losing it and need help. I'm only 17 years-old and I've been through things you couldn't even imagine.

The police look at me as a suspect, my friends at school think I'm insane, and my parents say I'm just a victim. I'm the only one that knows what happened that night. I'm the only one that will ever understand. I stare at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the person looking back. Yeah, he had my dark brown hair and eyes, that slouch my step mom considers a bad habit. I tell her it's because I'm tall; 5'9 is tall for my age in my opinion. But my skin looked pale. You might argue that I could use a tan but this was different. Like the life had been sucked out of me.

"David? Are you still with me son?"

"Yes, sorry Dr. Luis. I guess I got lost in my thoughts again."

"That's alright David take your time."

I started seeing Dr. Luis about a month after it all happened. If you ask me he always seems more concerned with sitting around telling me to take my time until our session is up. As long as he gets paid he could care less if I talk or not.

"It's your third day here David. You have to try and talk about how you feel." He said

"I don't know how I feel." I said looking away.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Everything is a blur. I get these flashbacks, like pictures of that night but...It hurts to try and piece it all together. I don't like thinking about it."

"Well let's try and start from the beginning. How did it all start?" he said in a certain tone as if he didn't believe me.

Truth is I remembered exactly what happened; I just didn't want to seem crazy. Well, any crazier than people already thought. I knew there wasn't anyone who would ever believe me anyway. I will never forget about that night; the night that changed my life forever.

October 30th, 2008 the school day before that night is how it all began. I was at school Thursday afternoon when my best friend came to my locker with one of his get rich quick ideas.

"Dave my man, do I have a plan for you my friend."

That was Max for you, Maxwell Thomas, a salesman of sorts. I knew him since middle school and he was somewhat of a best friend to me. I say somewhat because Max is the type of guy to always have your back and get you in trouble at the same time. He was two inches shorter than me so his dirty blonde was always right underneath my nose. I say dirty because of the color but it didn't smell all that great either.

"Max come on man, last time you came to me with one of your brilliant ideas I got detention for a week."

"Hey, how was I supposed to know that Mrs. Johnson was going to be mad about us helping our fellow classmates pass the test?" he said trying to sound noble.

"You stole the test answers from her desk and told me to sell them, after telling me they were your answers."

"They were mine, once I took them they belonged to Me." he replied with a laugh.

"Whatever man but I'm not doing your dirty work anymore so don't even think about it." I started walking away in hopes he wouldn't follow me but Max was very athletic, so he was quick for a short guy.

"Wait, hold up oh buddy oh pal." he said running back in front of me. "Look this isn't dirty work trust me. No stealing involved, and we could make a quick buck."

"Oh really? Unless you're talking about actually getting a job and doing actual work, I don't think so." I started to turn away.

"Dave come on, just wait a minute. So look, Halloween is tomorrow right? I say we go out and do some trick or treating."

"What are you 10 years-old? No way, plus I have school work to catch up on."

"Here's the plan, I say we go out and get bags full of candy right, are you following me so far? We get all the goods we can carry and then we'll sell them; nothing but profit."

"That is probably your dumbest idea yet, and you my friend have had some dumb ideas." I said putting my hand on his shoulder.

"David think about it, we get garbage bags full of candy, we run down like two blocks until it gets late. Then the next few days we'll sell it at school, maybe even go to our old middle school, you know how those kids have a sweet tooth. I'm telling you we could make a killing. James already said he would help us out. All we need is to get a few other people and we'll be loaded. We could sell candy for days."

James was one of the other guys we hung out with. He was a year older than us, taller too. He was always a little socially awkward with certain people, but a cool guy none the less. James's only problem was that he was a people pleaser, which is why almost every time Max needed something he was always in.

"Of course James agreed to this, he never says no to you, or to anyone for that matter."

"So are you in or what? I know you don't wanna just sit around the house all Friday night."

Although Max was right I had a bad feeling about running around the streets late at night. It just didn't seem like a good idea plus I really did need to study. Max on the other hand couldn't have cared less about his education, he hated school. He only cares about one thing and that's money. He was determined to make it in life solely off of his wits.

"Look Max I'll have to think about it alright? I gotta go to class man, we'll talk later."

I walked away from him faster this time so he couldn't catch up with the hallway being so crowded and all, but I still managed to hear his voice calling out to me.

"Alright well I need to know by tomorrow man. Don't leave me hanging bro."

I shook my head and just made my way to class.Max was a good friend but he could be a real pain in the ass sometimes.