I looked down at the punch in my hand, the lights from all around reflecting on the liquid. Was this spiked with something? Had I just zoned out and what I was remembering was nothing more than my imagination.? Nah. I mean, I am a creative guy, but even I couldn't have just come up with that hottie Brooksia I had been talking to.

Setting down the plastic cup in case it was laced, I started going over to my friend across the room.  i felt positive that he had seen me talking to that girl. But, just as I was going over to him, my favorite song by My Darkest Days started pounding through the speakers. I couldn't help myself, I love this song.  Instantly I began moving to the music, the beat pulsing through me.  I lost track of it all, my mind wiped clean as I danced. By the end of the song, I forgot what I had been going to do.

My friend, Carter, pushed his way through the crowd and pulled on my sleeve, yanking me from the other partiers. I knew what was going on, so I just followed. This wasn't the only party on our list for tonight. Carter had talked to me on my first day of school- though why my parents decided to move and transfer me here once school had already started, I don't know-  and said he'd get me well known by making sure I was seen at all the parties anyone was having on Halloween.

I followed him to the car and climbed into the back seat. We had put up a piece of cardboard to block the back seat, but it was small enough so we could still use the rear view mirror. Carter had suggested we not show up at every party in the same costume as the others, so we each had a bag packed with numerous costumes and we'd change on the way to each. 

Tossing my pirate costume in the USED bag, I slipped into a long black robe. At this party, I'd be the Grim Reaper.  When I felt the car begin to slow, I tapped on the cardboard so Carter knew we'd be switching places at the light. Carter returned the knock to let me know the light wouldn't be quick, so we would have the time to change places. The second the car stopped, I hurried out of the back seat, leaving the door open so it was easier for Carter to get in, and then slid into the driver's seat. Not all the parties were far were far enough away from the others to drive there, so we would each take turns changing in the car for those.

This was party number two on our list of five. Carter complained that I had wasted too much time at Cathy's party while he changed, that I'd used up twenty minutes or so that was supposed to go to party number two. I apologized, but couldn't really remember what had made me use up that time. It nagged at the back of my mind, but I kept my focus on driving rather than with those unimportant thoughts. I pulled up soon in front of the next house and we got out. Carter had changed from his prisoner costume to that of a ring leader. Throwing my hood up, shadows surrounding my face so you couldn't see much of it, we made our way into the house.

Music thumped through the speakers, rattling the windows, but no one seemed to take notice or care. Automatically, I threw myself in the mess of teens in the living room, where all of the furniture had been pulled out to make more room. I could hardly think, just letting myself get swept up in the beat. I love the feeling of getting lost in music. 

Because of the countless people here that made up the crowd I had submerged myself into, I didn't know who was bumping up against me, but it didn't bother me. And even with my hood blocking my face, I could still see everything. So when a girl in the kitchen nearly fainting, having to grab the counter to prevent herself from falling to the floor and to keep her balance until she could find a chair to sit in, I saw it. I sighed at the fact that everyone around seemed oblivious as to what had just happened. Forcing my way out of the crowd, I went into the kitchen. 

"Mind if I sit here?" I asked, motioning to the chair beside her.

She looked up at me, eyes kind of wide, but didn't say anything. Then I figured she might be kind of scared of my appearance. Chuckling under my breath, I dropped my hood, allowing her to see the real me.She relaxed a little.

"Not at all," she replied.

I took the seat next to her and faced her, angling my body so it was facing her. "I'm Ian."

"Natasha. Naty for short." 

"Are you okay, Naty?"

She looked down at the table, her skin showing a hint of red. The color was close enough to match her pink fairy costume. "Oh, you saw that?"

"It seems like I was the only one, so don't be embarrassed."

"I don't even know what that was. I've been here less than twenty minutes and I'm already almost passing out? Lame." 

I tilted my head in slight confusion. "Do you make a habit of passing out at parties?"

Her head shot up and looked at me. "Oh, no. Not like that. I just- ugh! It's hard to explain. Never mind."

A small laugh escaped me. "I think I might understand. Well, how about I get you some food before asking you onto the dance floor."

"Sure. Thanks."

"My pleasure." I gave her a soft smile before getting up and going over to the food. 

Not that what was going on was a bad thing, but I wondered what was wrong with me. Being helpful was great, but at this party and the last, I seemed to have honed in to the two people that looked like the only ones that needed help. And was it a coincidence that I was the new guy who was looking fora  girlfriend and both people I had helped had been girls? Girls in barely there costumes nonetheless. No, I wasn't a pig.

Rubbing my fists against my temples, attempting to force my thoughts to clear, I told myself there was nothing wrong with helping people, but did it-

"Brooksia!" I whispered to myself. Vowing to track Carter down once I got something to eat for Naty, I piled the plate with whatever my hands fell upon and gave it to Naty and threw her a smile and a, "I'll be right back. 

Carter was in the middle of the dancing crowd, his top hat sticking out above the heads of everyone else. With "Getting Away With Murder" by Papa Roach playing, I knew there was no way in hell I was going to be able to get him off the dance floor. That's when Naty came up behind me and pulled me so we were dancing.

After a few more songs, Carter caught my attention and I bid Naty a good night. For the third party, I went with the typical Dracula costume. An outfit Halloween wouldn't be complete without. There wasn't a chance to talk to Carter on the way there, and he had run right inside once we'd arrived, dressed as a fire fighter. Cursing under my breath, I went inside the house with somewhat of a foul mood. 

I collapsed at the table in the dinning room, not in the mood to do any dancing. Once I had been sitting there for a moment or two, I got up and left. Just walked right out without bothering to find Carter and letting him know I was leaving. And, being in the helpful disposition I apparently was in tonight, I gave some guy heading into the party my cape to finish his magicians costume because he had forgotten his. So here I was, just past ten o'clock on Halloween night slightly ticked off, walking down the dark street alone while wondering who this Brooksia Vider was and how she had vanished into thin air as a capeless Dracula.  Well, I still had my fangs, but I wasn't going to share those. 

The late October air blew, and as I strolled, it seemed to get stronger. I wrapped my arms around myself and bent my head down. Because I had done that, I hadn't noticed the lady standing on the corner until I plowed right into her ad causing both of us to fall to the ground. 

"Shit! I am so sorry," I said, jumping to my feet and offering her my hand. 

"That's quite alright," she replied, standing up. Somehow she'd managed to keep a firm grip on the papers she had been holding. "No harm done."

The breath caught in my throat as I saw a glimpse of the papers in her hands.

"Can I have one of those?" I asked.

"Certainly," she said, handing one over before saying good bye and walking away.

I looked down at the paper in disbelief. How could it be possible? Ghosts didn't exist, did they?No, of course not. But isn't Halloween supposed to be considered the night when the line between the living and the dead was the thinnest? When all of the supernatural creatures had free reign over the human world?

I looked up, glancing up and down the street. How many of these people were real? Listen to me, I sound positively insane! They're all real. There's no such thing as ghosts, vampire, werewolves, or any of that stupid stuff. But wasn't this paper proof that those things were actually possible? Or had I heard that girl's name wrong? I shifted my eyes back down to the paper in my hand.

                                                           Be careful this Halloween.

                                                          In memory of my daughter,

                                                                 Brooksia Vider.