Forevermore

Eye-Opener

 The mist forms a face in front of me: frightening, with jagged black holes for the eyes and mouth. 

 Stop your meddling or we will stop you, it croaks out. Branched fingers squeeze my throat, and I cough, choke. It willna take much to silence you - 

 "Let her go!" 

 Immediately, I'm released. Air sweeps into my lungs, and strong hands pull me from the hedge. 

 For a second, I'm confused. Strong hands? That voice had been Logan's. But when I stand, Serrus is steadying me. Logan stands right beside him. 

 "Are you all right?" Logan asks. He looks around, searching. "What happened?"

 By now, the others have found their way to us. To Derek and Cam, it looks as if I'm just talking to Serrus. 

 "I don't know," I answer. It was a warning, though." I look at Logan, and his features are almost see-through in the moonlight. 

 "Of what?" Serrus asks.

 Logan's face is pinched with worry, the lines between his brows furrowed.

 "A warning to stop meddling," I answer. "But I'm okay, really." I don't like being fussed over, and I certainly don't want everyone thinking I need rescuing. Although, what would have happened had Logan and Serrus not shown up? "I'm fine, I promise." 

 Logan's looking down at me, and his taut features and ticking jaw muscles say he doesn't believe me at all. 

 We hear the beep of a car horn - it's the twin's mom, coming to pick them up. We all slowly make our way out of the maze. Derek and Cam call out their good-byes and hurry toward their mom's car. 

 Once they leave, Serrus says to Logan, "Whatever's going on here, you seem to have the power to make it stop." He turns to me. "But if you need me, call my mobile."

 Emma gives me a hug, making sure I'm all right. Then she climbs onto Serrus's motorbike and they drive away. 

 Logan walks with me to the jack-o'-lanterns, and I blow out all the candles. Glancing at the moon, I sigh. "Whatever happened to trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples?" 

 Logan stands close, and moves closer still. He looks down at me, and his gaze moves to my mouth, then back to my eyes. "I dunno about all that," he says in his raspy brogue, "but if anything happens to you gell..." He shakes his head, then holds my gaze. "I willna stand for it."

 Butterflies beat the inside of my stomach. "I'm glad I met you, Logan Munro," I say.

 We stand there, beneath the Samhain moon, and I find my legs turning into weak noodles. 

 "What Emma said to you in your room, upstairs," he asks, that charming smile tipping his mouth upward. "Is that so?"

 I pretend not to know what he's referring to. "What do you mean?" 

 "Dunna play daft with me, lass," he says. "Do you?"

 I knew he'd heard. "You were eavesdropping," I accuse. "Not cool." 

 His grin widens, and he steps closer. "Answer the question, Ivy Calhoun." His eyes twinkle in the moonlight. "And remember what a terrible liar you are before you give me an answer."

 I blush clear to my roots, but he's right. "Yeah," I finally admit, and I meet his gaze. "I do feel that way."

 Logan's smile widens. "Well," he says staring at me for a ridiculously long time, "let's go. This night, if you dunna mind, I'll be by your side whilst you sleep." He glances at the moon. "At least until the bewitching hour has passed."