Halloween night

It was finally Halloween night. Nova was only ever this happy on October 31st. The air was crisp. There was a slight whisper in the wind and there was one thing on Nova's mind: CANDY!

Nova was with her sister, Via.
"Via I'm so excited! I want all the Hershey's and all the sweets I can think of!" Via had no reply. There was a slight eeriness in her silence. Nova thought nothing of it. In the distance she spotted a pumpkin glowing elegantly in the black atmosphere. A cheesy smile spread from  her left ear to her right. She tugged Via's arm and ran to the house. Golden Autumn leaves were crunching under her feet as she skipped on the cobbled pavement.
"Thank you!" She exclaimed as she grabbed a handful of candy. However, Via was more reluctant. Knowing her sister, Nova was now thrown off.
"Via, are you ok? You don't seem like yourself," Once again, Via did not reply. Nova wanted to see her sisters face. Perhaps she was upset and crying. Nova started to lift Via's mask but Via grabbed her hand and stopped her. Nova's smile faded and a frown replaced it. She did not say anything.

As she saw another pumpkin she walked towards the house. This time she did not pull Via along. There was an overwhelmingly huge crowd outside the house. Nova lost sight of Via. She searched calmly but could not find her. Panic latched on to her and worry approached her like footsteps getting nearer and nearer.
"Via? Via? Via?" she called.
"Where are you?" She felt like she was in a pack of sardines. After three long seconds, the crowd dispersed and Nova felt slightly calmer; until she realised her sister was still lost. Nova faintly nodded as she realised that perhaps Via just went home. She took a deep breath and started heading home.

After the worry wave, she looked at her Halloween bucket. She moaned moodily when she only saw three pieces of candy. She tried to imagine why Via was acting all quiet and wired. She shrugged realising that her sister is not usually so cold. Wonder surrounded her like an itchy blanket. Not like the child-like kind of wonder, but more like concerned wonder.

As she walked home she saw large groups of happy children and a vast amount of jealousy poured through her heart. It was like Via had drained all the excitement out of the night. However the moon still hung high, smiling down on her.
"Just a little comfort food," she thought to herself as she started munching her way through one of her three chocolate bars.

As she came through the front door a safe and warm feeling conjured up inside her chest. She kicked off her shoes and her scary mask and headed upstairs to change and maybe also to have a go at Via for ruining her favourite night of the year. She trudged up the stairs realising she had to wait another year! A whole year! Besides being grumpy and resenting her sister, she loved the feeling of her feet on the warm scruffy carpet. She walked into Via's room to check she was actually there. She walked across the whining floorboard and opened the door. The lights were dimmed leaving a calm yet spooky atmosphere. The window was opened giving a soft silk like breeze. She let out a sigh of relief. Via was on her bed and her mother, Susan was stroking her forehead. Susan looked at Nova pitifully and said
"Hi sweetheart I'm sorry Via could not come trick or treating with you today. She has been feeling very ill." Nova was confused for a moment but then she realised exactly what had just happened. She opened her mouth to speak or scream but nothing came out. A cold shiver trickled down her spine. She ran to her room and slammed the door shut.

Her room was slowly spinning around her. She could hear her heartbeat throbbing in her ears like a hammer hitting steel. She could not tell if her mind was clear or jam- packed. In the corner of her room she noticed an opened window, "Via's" mask on the floor and writing on the mirror in a bold scarlet red. It read: "Tricks are so much better than treats."