The Black Crystals of Halloween (Part 1)
“You know it is useless to play this game again.”
“It doesn’t matter. This year, I know I will win.”
My companion merely smirks at my comment. This is the fifth year we’ve attempted to break our contract. This year though, I was positive things would finally work out for me. Something that my companion didn’t know was that I finally found a loophole.
I am simply known as a witch. My name, my face, my body, my words, everything about me does not belong to me. It belongs to my companion who appeared as a teenage boy tonight with jet black hair and a black suit and tie. He has other appearances as well. He chooses this one “to make me comfortable.” Well, it never is when I finally look at his eyes.
He doesn’t have irises. He has blazing fire always dancing around the middle of the white of his eyes. You can never see it until you’ve signed into one of his contracts. Yes, I did make a deal with the devil.
“This October night is brisk,” he says after a long pause between us as I prepare my own supplies.
“It makes everything a little more exciting, doesn’t it?” I ask not taking my eyes of my work now.
A strong breeze started to blow whipping my long hair into my face. I tried to ignore it, but I simply shut my eyes and wondered. Wondered what it would be like to have my normal life back. Wondered what it would be like to be the nerdy girl instead of a supermodel gorgeous girl. Wondered what it would be like to help someone again instead of seek out revenge.
“I’m leaving now,” I said abruptly. “I have what I need. By Halloween night, I will have my soul back.”
“Don’t bet on it,” he whispered. He turned to me and I was stuck looking at those fire eyes again. It made me both terrified of him, yet longing for him at the same time. No one said resisting bad things was easy.
“I will bet on it,” I boldly said. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my life anymore. Not after what I had done to my brother after I caught him cheating on his girlfriend. “This year, the dark will not seem dark to these people.” I tapped my hand one time on each shoulder blade. The wings popped out on cue.
“I should tell you good luck, but…”
“I don’t need luck this year. This is our final goodbye.” With that, I jumped off the building and flew off into the night sky.
My targets were all in this town. I would miss having these magical powers once I was normal again. I used them for the wrong purposes. Now, I was trying to use them to make some good before they were gone. Then, I would have to make good on my own.
My first target was actually very close. He lived in a small apartment just a few buildings away. With another magic spell, I easily walked through the wall into the apartment’s living room. Objects casted ominous shadows on the old walls as I made my way to the boy’s bedroom. I couldn’t see much of his room, but I did see a large figure moving on what appeared to be the bed.
I checked my stilettos with every step I took to make sure I would wake him. I cautiously reached out to make sure I was placing my first contract in the right place. A smooth sheet finally brushed against my fingertips. I moved forward and finally found the headrest. After moving a little bit down, I placed my hand right next to the boy’s pillow. A yellow, ancient scroll tied up in a neat black bow materialized underneath. One down, two to go.
The next target was one of a middle-class girl. I was able to find her room much easier, and with the streetlights outside, I could see that her room was modern. Low, round chairs, a vanity with pictures, a closet door half open. Things like that. I could see light brown hair staring to tangle as I materialized the second scroll next to her headrest.
The third target had a security system that anyone normal would probably have been afraid of. I was not normal though. The house was on the top of the hill with a bunch of other homes I probably could never afford even with my powers. His room was on the second floor and very bare. There was a bookshelf, a desk, and a dresser. There was a shelf with trophies, some, long laden with dust, and pictures of a younger boy who was probably happier than the rest of the world currently. I left my scroll, and jumped when this boy moved. After holding my posture as stiff as I could, the boy finally relaxed again and settled deeper into the covers.
My breath finally escaped my mouth when I realized the cost was clear. I slipped out through the window without caring that my stilettos made a rather large click as pounded them into the floorboards and took off into the night once again.
Phase one was complete. My game had begun. The only part now was to see if the pawns would actually react. They would if my opponent had not sabotaged me already. I was hoping he didn’t the more I thought about it. He did it the first year, but then it amused him more to see my chosen pawns actually play.
When the morning sun rose, the pawns would be greeted with these words that I wrote perfectly:
Hello Edgar, Caroline, Jack (of course it would only say one name per person, duh.)
You have been chosen to search for the Black Crystals of Halloween. These are very special crystals that only you can hold and possess. There are three monsters, the ghost, the zombie, and the mummy. Classic, I know. They need your help though to finally pass on to a better life after death.
Confront your problems. Free them. Then Halloween will not be so dark this year.
If you agree to my challenge, sign you name on the line below. A different set of words will appear once you’ve signed, and those will be your first instructions.
Only the brave go into the dark in hopes to find the light. I do hope you have that courage. Things don’t get better unless you go into the dark.
X____________________________________________________________________________
Halloween has started to be in everyone’s mind. Let the game, and the dark, begin.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
amandla
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