I jumped out of a light sleep as the wind tapped on my window pane. The clock read eleven p.m.
“Don’t go to the Halloween party.” A voice in the depths of mind said.
I splashed back on the bed, pondered about going. I dozed. A ringing cell phone woke me.
“Hey, Anna,” I answered.
“Sound like you’re waking up.”
“Am.”
“Get ready for the party.”
“Not going, tired.”
“Beverly Coppla, been knowing you five years and we’re best friends.”
“Point?”
“Feeling, again?” Anna laughed. “That’s why you don’t want to go?”
“Hmm,” Beverly paused, “I wanted to rest this Halloween weekend.”
“Jack’s really into you.”
“He’s a womanizer and no telling what else.”
“But he’s rich, and it’s his family’s cosmetic company we work for.”
“Still, a womanizer.”
“If you don’t go, I’ll be by myself.”
“Most likely, others from work will be there.”
“Beverly, do this for me. Besides, he’s only two streets over from you.”
“I…I don’t feel like a party.”
“How can you say no? Jack’s almost your boss.”
“Why are you…”
“I asked you to go with me, favor.”
“Hmm.”
“Guess I’ll spend the night getting drunk, alone.”
“Anna, come to my apartment,” I offered. “We’ll microwave popcorn and watch some movies.”
“I really need to go to Jack’s party.”
“Why?”
“Just want to.”
“What’s the real reason?”
“I kinda told Jack you and I were coming to his party, and his uncle likes me.”
“You shouldn’t have accepted for me. Hmm, Jack’s uncle has to be twice your age, like sixty.”
“If you don’t go, I’m dead.” Anna laughed. “Jack’s uncle is richer, yay.”
“I’ll go this time, but don’t do this again.”
“Yay, got it.”
“Pick me up, Anna.”
“Meet me there.”
“Anna, she hung up.”
I showered and then dressed in jeans, sneakers and a jacket.
My mind’s voice kept cautioning me not to go. I shrugged it off.
I walked out of my apartment building, knew Jack’s address. Females twenty-five, like me, and under received his contact information as part of job training.
The trick or treaters were out in full force. Some parents held their children’s hands and candy bags. A few parents stared at me, or was it my imagination over-flowing?
My mind’s voice began to nag me.
A person in black passed me, knife in hand. Someone screamed as he or she passed. The people, everything, moved in slow motion. I looked at the lady who screamed. She ponted at the person in black, and discussed him/her with the man with her.
“Run!” My mind’s voice screamed.
Fear riveted me in the spot where I stood. The sea of people scattered. I tried to move, right foot then left, to no avail. My vocal cords refused to push a scream out.
“Take a deep breath.” My mind’s voice repeated several times.
The deep breaths shook fear away.
“Come with me.” The person in black grabbed my arm.
“No.” I wiggled free. “Who are you?”
The person in black sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place a name to the voice. I wasn’t sure if it was a male or female.
The person in black lunged at me, still holding the knife. A scream slipped out of my mouth.
“Dat person gotta a knife.” Someone in the street yelled.
I ran, person in black caught me. He or she put the knife to my throat. I pounded my heel into his or her foot as hard as possible. He or she moaned, dropped the knife. The person in black reached for my neck. I kicked him or her below the waist. To my surprise, she wasn’t male.
She jumped at me, pinned me against a car. I twisted, turned, trying to free myself.
“Wait.” I wanted to stop this person from possibly killing me.
“Shut up!”
“Hmm, Anna?”
The person in black didn’t say a word.
She pulled my hair, like Anna had done as a joke several times before. I had no choice, but to fight for my life.
I snatched off the black mask.
“Anna, why?”
“Joke, Jack, but you ruined it.”
I poked her in the eyes, punched her face with all my might. I ran, looked back to see her staggering toward me.
I stopped, faced her.
“Just wanted a better life and Jack’s uncle…” Anna welled-up with emotion.
“Our friendship is over.” I returned home as tears rolled down my cheeks.