by Alicia Rades
Grant and Talia ditched us to take their turn apple bobbing, leaving Nadine and me alone. Neither of us said anything. I couldn’t stand it. I think I would’ve rather stabbed myself in the stomach with a chef’s knife than stand there in awkward silence.
“So, um… a scarecrow?” I said to kill the silence. If anything, I only made it worse.
“Yep,” she said, popping the P at the end of her word. She shoved her hands into her pockets. “And you’re… a reaper?”
I nodded. I couldn’t look at her, so I kept my eyes on Grant and Talia as they dipped their heads into the water.
“Creative,” Nadine said flatly. I couldn’t read her tone, but it sure felt like an insult.
Several minutes passed, and we just stood there. I swear I’d never waited longer in my life. Grant was taking forever. I thought about saying more to break the silence, but Nadine hadn’t said anything, either. I got the feeling she didn’t want to talk to me. I wanted to apologize, but I could hardly find my tongue. Something told me that’d just end in a fight, and I didn’t want to ruin her night.
Finally, after what felt like seven hours of excruciating silence, Grant and Talia returned. They were both laughing, and Talia was running her fingers through her wet hair.
“You were right, Grant,” she said. “You are good at apple bobbing.”
Grant puffed his chest out proudly. “Got one on my first try.”
“So, Talia, you wanted to dance?” Nadine said quickly, like she was dying to escape as much as I was.
“Yeah,” Talia said brightly. “It’s the best part of Halloween.”
Nadine looped her arm through Talia’s and said, “Show the way.”
Grant practically skipped behind them, and I followed along at a distance.
“Come on,” Grant hissed at me.
Ugh. Why’d he have to invite Talia and Nadine of all people? This was too weird.
We reached the bonfire, where people in costume were already dancing and having a good time. There were large logs set up around the perimeter. I took a seat on one, because I wasn’t much of a dancer.
“Party pooper,” Grant joked, before running off to dance with the girls.
Grant took three stocks of dried yarrow off one of the picnic tables. St. John’s Wort flowers were woven around the stems. He handed one to each of the girls.
“What’s this for?” Nadine asked.
“We dance with it, to keep the faeries away,” Grant explained.
Nadine raised an eyebrow. “Faeries? Like the Arcanea?”
“Yes, but also their ancestors,” Grant clarified. “The veil between all realms is thin tonight. We don’t want any tricksters in our midst.”
The three of them hurried off to join the dancing. From the bandstand, a female voice sang a slow, melancholy tune played in a minor key. She was backed by a piano and bells. Everyone danced to their own muse. There was no choreography, except they all moved around the fire in a counterclockwise rotation. Talia and Nadine swayed their hips slowly to the music, while waving their arms seductively. Grant looked like he was doing a poor rendition of Swan Lake, though at least he looked like he was having fun.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Nadine. It was like that every time we were together, but tonight especially. She smiled and laughed, like she was having the time of her life. It made my heart lift, even though I wasn’t participating. All I wanted was for her to be happy.
After a while, Nadine stepped away from Talia and Grant. She breathed a heavy sigh as she came to sit beside me. She looked totally wiped.
“You okay?” I asked.
I could pretend to be an asshole, but I still cared. So sue me.
“Just need to catch my breath,” she said.
“Are you having fun?” I asked.
“I am,” she replied. “So, what’s the deal with Halloween around here?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
She waved her hand and gestured to the people dancing around the bonfire. “You guys seem to take it really seriously. I thought Halloween was all superstition.”
I chuckled lightly. “You’re a witch, and you think superstitions aren’t real?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Is it all real?”
“Most of it,” I told her.
She raised an eyebrow. “So, do the gates to Hell open on Halloween or something?”
I rolled my eyes at her. It was cute how little she knew. “No, but the veil between the living and dead is thin.”
She turned to face me, looking intrigued. “Why tonight, though, on All Hallows Eve?”
“We don’t call it that,” I stated.
She furrowed her brow. “Really? I thought that was the traditional name of Halloween.”
“Our traditions date back way further than that,” I said. “All Hallows Eve ties into All Saints Day, which is a Christian tradition that coincided with Halloween. Our traditions date back to Celtic culture and the Samhain festival.”
Nadine tilted her head. “The coven isn’t Celtic, though, is it?”
“No,” I told her. “But we adopted the traditions of Samhain because they were so effective.”
“Effective at what?” she asked curiously.
It was weird that she was talking to me so casually again after I’d been such a jerk to her. But she always got this way when she was curious about something. Her curiosity was one of the things that drew me to her.
“At keeping away the evil spirits,” I told her simply. “The end of October marks the end of the harvest. It’s the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. Cultures around the world believe that this is the day of the year when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. That’s why Professor Wykoff was making you do all those rituals at the matchmaking booth—because they work best when the veil is thin.”
“So, evil spirits can really get through to the land of the living on Halloween?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Sure. They all can, if they want to. The point of all these Halloween traditions is to scare away the evil spirits and welcome the good ones.”
“Scare them away? That’s why everyone dresses up so scary and people hang creepy decorations?” she asked.
I nodded. “Right. It’s why we dance and sing around the fire and burn our crops, too. Ages ago, we used to burn cattle, but we don’t do that anymore.”
Nadine’s eyebrows shot up. “If you do this all to ward off spirits, how do you welcome the good ones?”
“A lot of people will set an extra plate at dinner so their ancestors can dine with them,” I explained. “After the festival, people will bring flames from the bonfire back to their houses to light their own fireplaces. Then we’ll all light candles so the spirits can find their way back to the afterlife when the night is over.”
It was actually cool to explain this all to her, because her eyes lit up with intrigue with every little piece of information I gave her. She was obviously a really big fan of Halloween.
“What’s the deal with all the candy and crafts, then?” she asked, gesturing to the booths in the park behind us.
I shrugged. “That’s just for fun. The Seer booths are real, though. If you want to talk to anyone who’s crossed over, now’s the best time.”
Nadine’s features fell, and she stared into the bonfire. I couldn’t read her expression, but she looked deep in thought.
She cleared her throat. “I, um… think I might prefer the haunted house tonight.”
Nadine got really quiet after that.
“There’s no one you want to talk to?” I asked.
I could’ve sworn I saw tears in Nadine’s eyes, but I couldn’t tell for sure because she wouldn’t look at me. Great. I was the asshole again.
“Thanks for telling me about Halloween,” Nadine said without looking at me. “But I’m going to get back to dancing.”
Nadine stood and walked over to Talia and Grant. She barely danced, though. She picked up Gus an
d made it look like he was the reason she wasn’t dancing, but I could tell she was really tired.
“Lucas,” a voice hissed through the darkness. It was so chilling that it made me freeze on the spot. I glanced around, wondering if anyone else had heard it, but everyone kept on dancing and laughing.
“Lucas,” the female voice sounded again, louder this time.
I whirled around, and I nearly fell out of my seat when I saw a woman dressed in black crouched at my level. Her face was only inches away from mine. She was dressed as a night hag—a creature of lore who could invade your dreams and caused sleep paralysis. She wore a black veil over her face, but red eyes glowed from beneath it.
“W-what do you want?” I asked.
“Fear not, child, for I am only a Seer,” she said.
I knew it was a costume, but I’d be damned if it didn’t scare the living daylights out of me.
“A spirit has visited me tonight,” she whispered. “He has seen the future, and he has a message for you.”
The woman reached out and pressed a piece of paper into my palm. When I glanced down at it, I saw it was a tarot card. Not just any card, either.
Death.
My stomach dropped to my toes. I glanced back up at her. “Is this some sort of joke?”
She shook her head. “Death follows you wherever you go, Lucas.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“Of course it does,” I snapped at her. “I’m the Reaper’s Apprentice. What does this mean?”
The card could literally mean anything. I dealt with death on the daily, but I knew the Death card had many other meanings. Usually, it wasn’t literal.
“You must stop this,” the Seer warned.
“Stop what?” I demanded.
“Lucas!” Grant called.
Instinctively, I looked toward him. He waved his hand in my direction as he passed by me. “Come dance! It’s fun.”
Grant turned back to Talia and grabbed her around the waist. She giggled as he bared his fake fangs and pretended to bite her neck.
I ignored him and turned back toward the Seer… but she was gone. The card still sat in my hand, but it was as if the woman had never existed.
Whatever. I was sure it was nothing more than a joke.
I tossed the card into the grass behind me, and it tumbled in the wind.
Even after the card disappeared from view, I still had this feeling of dread settled deep in my stomach. What if the Seer had really meant something by it? The whole encounter had me shook.
Grant and the girls made it around the bonfire again, then plopped down on the log beside me. “Man, is it fun warding off evil spirits!” Grant exclaimed.
“Gus had fun,” Talia said, stroking her cat’s head.
Nadine shot a glance my way, but she didn’t say anything. Silence settled over our group, and I could feel the awkwardness creeping in again. I just wanted to get out of there—away from the creepy Seer, and away from this awkwardness with Nadine.
I cleared my throat. “Well, Grant. We should probably get going.”
“Get going?” he balked. “But I’m having so much fun.”
“And I have that paper to write,” I reminded him.
“Right. The séance.” Grant’s shoulders fell. He didn’t sound as enthused about it as he had been earlier.
Nadine’s spine straightened, and her eyes lit up. “You guys are doing a séance?”
“Um, yeah,” I said nervously. She sounded like she wanted to come, but I’d been using it as an excuse to leave.
“Yeah, Lucas needs to do one for his Afterlife Studies class,” Grant said. “Do you two want to join us?”
I pinched his arm the same time Talia and Nadine answered in unison, “Yes!”
“That’s not necessary,” I said. “You guys enjoy the festival. Grant and I are fine on our own.”
Grant shot me a look the girls didn’t see. Come on, bro!
“Ooh, I’d love to see it!” Nadine’s eyes were so bright and hopeful.
I still felt bad about the first séance we did. I supposed I owed her a descent séance that didn’t end in her getting hurt.
I spoke before I could talk myself down. “If you want… you can come,” I offered timidly.
My guts twisted as soon as I said the words. Something told me I was about to regret this decision.
The cemetery was creepy at night, but it was particularly chilling on Halloween. The front gates had been left unlocked, and they creaked on their hinges. The moon was nothing more than a sliver, which cast the cemetery in almost complete darkness. Cold air brushed across my skin, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. There wasn’t a soul in sight, but I could feel death in the air.
Nadine and Talia clutched each other, and Gus took cautious steps forward.
“Is there a reason we’re doing this in the cemetery?” Nadine asked. If it were any other girl, I’d expect her to sound terrified, but Nadine wasn’t. Her voice was steady, and she sounded intrigued.
“It’s easier to contact someone who’s recently deceased,” Grant explained. “And since we don’t have anything personal, we figured a grave would do.”
“Who are we contacting?” Nadine asked.
I shrugged and gestured to the newest plots. “Take your pick.”
Nadine walked up to a fresh gravestone. The ground sank a little beneath her feet. The grass hadn’t even started growing over the plot.
“Nadine!” Talia exclaimed. She grabbed Nadine by the arm and dragged her back onto the grass.
“What?” Nadine asked innocently, glancing between the three of us.
“It’s rude to step over someone’s grave,” Talia told her.
Nadine pressed her fingers to her lips, and her eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. Did I already ruin the séance?”
I shook my head. “No. We can still contact… Emily Robinson.”
My heart stopped when I read off the name on the gravestone. It was the girl who’d died in that domestic attack a few weeks ago. I thought for a moment it’d be better to contact someone else—someone who hadn’t left with such a sad last thought. But then I realized pretty much everyone died with some sort of baggage. Emily was as good of spirit as any to contact.
I eyed the date on the stone, then glanced down to the freshly turned earth. Something about it made me uneasy, though I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Talia’s face fell. “What is it, Lucas? Do you know her?”
I cleared my throat. “No. Let’s get this over with.”
The four of us sat around the gravestone, being careful not to sit directly on Emily’s grave. Gus snuggled up in Talia’s lap, looking positively content.
“Anyone happen to have a candle or two on them?” I asked. I’d totally forgotten about it before we left.
“Yeah,” Nadine said, grabbing at her pockets. “I’ve got a whole stash right here in my overalls.”
I looked at her hopefully, then realized she was joking. She chuckled, and I rolled my eyes at her.
Not amused.
“I’ve got you.” Grant conjured a candle and set it at the base of the grave marker, then lit it with a lighter. He looked to me for further instruction, since this was my class assignment.
“Everyone join hands,” I said. I hesitated when I realized Nadine had sat on my left, which meant I had to hold her hand.
She noticed my hesitation and frowned at me. “I’m not contagious.”
“Didn’t say you were,” I replied, a little harsher than I meant.
Nadine’s eyes narrowed. She looked like she was about to say something, but thought better of it. She didn’t want to get kicked out of the séance.
I took her hand, but I must’ve squeezed a little too tight, because she winced. I let up a little, until I was just barely touching her, but it didn’t matter. Her touch sent an electric shock straight through me. It took me a few moments to find my voice.
"Try to relax," I told everyone.
&nbs
p; Pft. I was one to speak. I really didn't care for this assignment. I mean, who was I to disturb the dead? But I was barely scraping by in Afterlife Studies. If I missed this assignment, too, I'd have to repeat the semester.
"Focus on Emily," I instructed.
Nadine peeked an eye open. "Focus how? We know nothing about her."
I shrugged. "Think about how she loved her Grandma Bea. Or how she used to weave blankets and loved singing karaoke."
Nadine furrowed her brow. "I thought you didn't know her. Did you just make that stuff up? I don’t think that’s how séances work."
Grant shot me a knowing look. I'd never met Emily in my life, but I'd read her obituary at least fifty times. I knew enough about her to summon her.
“Just go with it,” I said flatly.
Nadine closed her eyes again, and the four of us inhaled a collective breath.
"Emily," I called out to the darkness. "We seek to contact you. If you can hear us, please make your presence known."
A light breeze rustled through the trees, but nothing about it felt particularly spiritual.
"Emily," I repeated her name. "All we want is to know how you are. Show us a sign—any sign—that you've made it to the other side all right."
Nothing but silence met us in the night. After several minutes of calling Emily's name, I was starting to wonder if I was doing it wrong. But I couldn't be. Séances were easy. It should've been simple tonight of all nights.
"Emily?" I called again. I tried not to let the irritation in my tone show, but something told me this wasn't going to happen tonight. Emily's spirit wanted nothing to do with us. She was probably hanging out at her Grandma Bea's house. Why would she bother visiting us when she could go anywhere tonight? This was a dumb idea.
I tried one last ditch effort to get her to appear. "Emily, please show yourself—"
An earth-shattering scream cut through the night, sending my heart up into my throat. My eyes shot open, and I jumped away from Grant and Nadine.
Talia sat across from me, screaming like a banshee. Her face had gone paper white, and she pointed to something behind me. Grant scrambled away from where he'd been sitting, looking like he might've shit his pants. Nadine’s eyes went wide.