Halloween

1916

Soon.

Marie had the feeling they would soon become entangled in the war between the UK and Germany.

Still, Marie couldn’t complain, she wouldn’t lose much, she’d likely gain a job since some of the men left to fight. But until then, she was still stuck performing magic card tricks and sleight of hand tricks. She couldn’t avoid Halloween performances, especially since there was a Halloween party happening in the neighbourhood.

As she headed towards the front door, ready to head home and spend some time alone, she noticed green mist and a familiar man was leaving through the door.

“You weren’t going to leave without talking to me, were you? It would be rather rude coming from a gentleman such as yourself,” said Marie with a smile on her face as she shut the front door behind her. He stopped at the sound of her voice and turned to face her.
“I wouldn’t dare to dream of such a thing, my lovely,” he said. He titled his head slightly. “You are less afraid of me now.”
Marie nodded. “I don’t exactly have many friends or people to talk to. I have exactly two friends,” she said with a small shrug. She let out a sigh of relief as a gust of cold wind blew past her. “It’s so much quieter out here, less children too.”

She walked beside him and she noticed his small smile as they walked together. Shivering, she pulled her coat closer and fastened it.
“I’m guessing not feeling the cold is a perk of being a ghost?”
“I’d offer warmth if I could, my lovely,” he said. His smile then faded and he paused. “But it wants to hear a story. A story with pain.”

Marie frowned. She had the feeling he knew what the story was without her saying it. She pulled at the sleeves of her jacket and looked down.
“I tried to do what you did with a bit less murder.”

Feeling air rush in her lungs, Marie gasped and opened her eyes. Her back was on the floor and a blonde woman knelt over her.
“Oh, thank God you’re awake,” she said. Marie wasn’t sure how long she had been hanging but if the woman asked, she knew her answer would be something along the lines of ‘I'd only just done it and then you walked in’. “Why would you try to do this to yourself, Miss?”

“I-” She erupted into a fit of coughs and sputters as her throat burned. Marie pushed herself up and realised that the woman had paid no attention to the third eye that was almost certainly visible. She seemed to notice her concern as she spoke again.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “My Bill is a freak too but he’s a sweet fella. I’m sure you’d get along with him, almost everyone does.”

The woman helped Marie sit up and Marie rested her head against the kitchen counter.
“Why are you here?” she croaked, feeling her throat ache as she spoke. She coughed again, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
“I saw your advert in the paper and Bill thought I could check it out while he was at work,” she said. “It seems like it was a good thing I did, my name’s Katie, Katie Reed.”
“Marie Williams.”

“Want me to stay for a bit?” asked Katie as she helped Marie to her feet. The three eyed woman gave her a feeble nod. “Let’s make you a drink.”
“Thank you.”

“She found you,” Edward said.
Marie nodded. “She did, she saw my advert and asked about it and that's why she was there. We share a house now, they're great.”
“You're glad to have friends.”
“Of course I am, they don't even care that I have an eye on my forehead, I'm still not used to it, you know,” she said, smiling to herself. “I’ve been living with them for a year and a half, it all happened a few months after I last saw you.” Glancing to her left, she saw his small smile turn into an emotionless face.

“I shall see you the next Halloween someone performs, my dear,” said Edward. Marie nodded before checking what street they were on, it seemed as though they had aimlessly wandered through the streets. Seeing the street name, she realised they weren’t too far from their house. “It is not you tonight.” Smiling again, Marie turned to say goodbye but there was no one there. Green mist dissipated into nothing at her feet. He was gone again.