Shadows in the Night

As Alice stepped off the bus, she noticed the sky had darkened slightly. The autumn night felt pleasantly warm, and the air carried a faint, crisp scent of fallen leaves. She had a short walk ahead before she reached home.

The neighborhood was quiet, with well-kept gardens and houses that blended traditional and modern architecture. The streets were lined with elegant homes, their windows glowing softly in the evening light. The faint hum of distant laughter and the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot added to the peaceful ambiance.

Alice loved this time of year—the way the world seemed to slow down, the way the air felt alive with such parce.

When she arrived, she turned the key in the front door and was immediately greeted by warm meows. Doudou, her beloved black cat, rushed to her side, rubbing affectionately against her legs. His soft fur and bright yellow eyes always melted her heart. She gave him a quick pet before heading upstairs to her room.

With some time to spare, Alice picked up the mystery novel she'd been reading. The story revolved around ten people stranded on an island, being picked off one by one under bizarre circumstances. She loved trying to solve the mystery before the big reveal, but her theories kept falling apart as each suspect met their end.

Reading was her escape, though she rarely shared her passion with others. At school, she'd been labeled as "weird" for reading during breaks, so she'd stopped. Martin, her childhood friend, would humor her by pretending to listen, but she knew he wasn't really into it. Still, his effort meant a lot to her.

For a moment, a pang of loneliness hit her.

She'd always felt like an outsider, never fully understood or accepted for who she was. It had never bothered her before, so why did it feel so pain full now?

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Jade.

Jade: Hey, happy Halloween!

Alice: Thanks, you too! Can't you make it tonight?

Jade: Wish I could, but I'm busy.

Alice: Why?

Jade: ...Can't talk about it.

Alice: No worries. See you Monday?

Jade: Yeah, Monday.

Jade's mysterious replies were nothing new, but Alice couldn't help feeling a little worried. Still, she respected her friend's privacy.

Shaking off her concerns, Alice turned her attention to her Halloween costume. She'd gone all out this year. Her dress was deep black with red embroidery, long sleeves adorned with silver ribbons, and a thick belt with a metallic "V" buckle. Her oversized witch hat, also black, had a silver ribbon and steel rings.

She accessorized with a glittery mini broomstick attached to her belt, black boots decorated with tiny cats and bats, and soft, sparkling makeup. A touch of red eyeliner and mascara completed the look.

As she admired herself in the mirror, she felt ready to embrace the magic of the night.

Downstairs, she heard the familiar hum of her mom's electric SUV pulling into the driveway. Yvette Astarl, her mother, was home early for once. Alice hurried down to greet her.

Her mom's tailored suit and pulled-back hair gave her an air of authority, but her warm smile softened her appearance.

"Hey, sweetie. Love the costume," her mom said, placing her keys in the wooden bowl by the door.

"Thanks, Mom. I'm excited for tonight," Alice replied.

"Have fun, but be careful, okay? Call me if anything happens."

"I will. I'll be back by 10:30."

After a quick kiss on the cheek and a goodbye to Doudou, Alice headed out.

The streets were now possèdes by Halloween spirit! Kids in costumes shouted "Trick or treat!" as they ran from house to house.

The warm glow of streetlights illuminated the autumn decorations—pumpkins, bats, and skeletons adorned nearly every doorstep.

Alice felt a surge of happiness. Nights like these made her feel like she was part of something magical.

But her joy was short-lived. As she walked through a nearby park, an uneasy feeling crept over her. It was the same sensation she'd felt earlier near the school—like something dark was watching her. She thought she saw a pair of glowing red eyes in the shadows, but when she blinked, they were gone.

Her head throbbed slightly, and she felt disoriented. Lately, the line between reality and her imagination had started to blur. Was she losing her grip on reality?

Shaking off the fear, she pressed on, eventually reaching the meeting spot where Martin was waiting.

His costume was impressive—he'd transformed himself into a scarecrow. His face was painted yellow with black outlines, his clothes patched together, and his boots stuffed with straw.

"Hey, Alice! Nice witch costume. Don't turn me into a toad, okay?" he joked

.

"Thanks. Your scarecrow look is awesome too," she replied with a laugh.

After snapping a few photos, they headed to the cinema. The staff had gone all out with their costumes, and the eerie yet enchanting Halloween music added to the atmosphere.

They'd chosen to watch The Dark Sheep, a horror-comedy about genetically modified sheep terrorizing a small town. The movie was hilariously bad, with over-the-top scenes that had them laughing throughout.

As they left the cinema, Alice suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. Her vision blurred, and colorful beams of light swirled around her. She couldn't move or speak.

"Alice? You okay?" Martin asked, noticing her freeze.

Just as quickly as it had started, the sensation faded. Alice shook her head, trying to act normal.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired, I guess."

Martin gave her a concerned look but didn't press further. They walked back to her house in silence, the night's events weighing heavily on her mind.

When they reached her doorstep, Alice thanked Martin and hurried inside. She announced her return and went straight to her room, collapsing onto her bed.

The strange occurrences were becoming harder to ignore. Something was happening to her, and she didn't know how much longer she could pretend everything was fine.