(some of) Our Heroes
30th October, 2022, The Night We Discovered Witchcraft Was Real.
Blake
You know, I’ve always thought Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year. Sure, most times (this year included), you don’t even get the day off, but the experience every year of guessing what everyone’s gonna do for a costume always gets me interested. Also, you know, more horror stuff. But mostly the costume stuff.
However, with Halloween, also comes the parties, including the one I am once again being dragged to by my bandmates.
Blake: Hey, I’m off to Zara’s now, I’ll be back around 10.
Edgar: Alright, see you then.
With that, I set off on a walk to Zara’s house.
So, why do I live with him? Well, a few weeks back, there was an argument with my parents. To say they weren’t exactly the most accepting is a massive understatement. They were horrible about everything. I couldn’t cut my hair, I was essentially locked to wearing skirts and dresses, I fucking hated it. So one day, I snapped. They were going too far, and whilst I was always openly against it, I said some really angry things that day, and there was no going back.
Edgar was the only guy I knew I could stay with. Met him a few months back at a gig he was doing with his band, “The Ravens”, defended me in a fight, and he’s been really protective of me since then. So, I went to his place. Though, the weirdest thing happened on the way. This van kept trailing me, something like “Rower” was written on the side. Thought nothing of it, then a guy jumped out the back and started chasing me. Had a baton in his hand and all. Fucking weird. Luckily, Edgar’s was only a few seconds from there anyway so I got there before anyone came after me. Edgar noticed the guy, went towards him, haven’t seen the attacker or that van since.
Showing up to Zara’s house, I go straight for the doorbell. However, she get’s to the door first.
Zara: Blake! You made it!
Blake: Why wouldn’t I?
Zara: I don’t know, you don’t like parties that much. Also, considering he’ll be there-
Blake: I won’t deck him this time.
Zara: Yeah, you got your head kicked in the last time, I wouldn’t.
Blake: I won two of the other times though-
Zara: And he won three of the other times.
Blake: You got me there. Are any of the others here?
Zara: Zach and Clay are, somewhere. We’re waiting on Jesse.
Blake: And April?
Zara: April’s with Niall.
Blake: Oh, right. So what costume did Clay and Zach go for?
Zara: What do you think?
Blake: Angel + Devil?
Zara: Yep.
Blake: Again?
Zara: No, they switched and Clay did biblically accurate.
Blake: Fuck off, he didn’t.
Zara: No, he did. Seriously.
Blake: Sure. You mind if I ask you something?
Zara: Nah.
Blake: You nervous?
Zara: Obviously.
Blake: It’ll be fine, first time’s always scary.
Zara: I know, but don’t you think I went a little overboard with this?
Blake: Overboard? What do you mean?
Zara: I mean, first Halloween as a girl, and this is what I go with? It almost feels like I’m trying too hard to be feminine, it’ll come off as trying too hard to pass, and- knowing who’s there-
Blake: I won’t let Simon say shit. You know that.
Zara: Yeah, but it’s not gonna just be him, is it?
Blake: Bonnie won’t let anyone else do anything either. We’ve got your back.
Zara: Just, do I look like a girl?
Blake: Obviously, you are a girl.
Zara: You know what I mean.
Blake: You do. Completely, you do. If nobody at the party knew you, I’d say nobody would even make the link between you and who you were. But you wouldn’t need to prove that to anyone.
Zara: Yeah, I know. I’m just worried.
Blake: I get it, so was I. So, does it spin?
Zara: Does it spin? Absolutely!
Standing back, she spins in the dress, and I see her mood instantly improve. I can almost see the euphoria it gives her in the air.
Zach: Mine’s cooler.
At that moment, Zach comes down the stairs in a red crop top and tulle skirt, with a headband and devil horns.
Zara: Oh, you’re done!
Blake: Where were you?
Zach: Needed a piss- wait Blake when did you get here?
Blake: One or two minutes ago.
Zach: Nice, so we’re just waiting on Jesse now.
Clay: Blake’s here?
Clay follows suit, wearing all white, with gold stripes painted to have eyes on them.
Blake: Holy shit, you actually went biblically accurate.
Clay: Closest I could get, also there’s probably like fifty other angels there. Wanted to do something slightly unique.
Zara: Wait, what were YOU doing up there?
Clay: Needed more eyes. Didn’t find anything.
Zara: So, you went upstairs?
Clay: Yeah, why? Are there stuff downstairs?
Zara: You drew on the eyes?
Clay: No, googly eyes.
Zara: They’re downstairs. In the drawer by the TV.
Clay: Ah, right. You think I can stick any more on?
Blake: Jesse’s outside.
Zara: No.
Clay: Bollocks.
The door opens, and Jesse walks through as a ghost. Not bedsheet, though. He’s more Eric Draven from The Crow.
Jesse: Right, let’s get this over with.
Blake: Nice to see you too, mate.
Zach: So, can we set off yet?
Zara: I’ll check. (shouting) Marie! Are you ready?
Marie: (shouting back) Yeah, just give me a sec!
Zara: Yeah, we can go any moment now.
Marie: Alright, everyone got anything?
Zach: Clay, you got the halo?
Jesse: Halo? I thought you were going biblically accurate-
Clay: Yeah, got it here.
Jesse: Oh it’s more eyes. Nice.
Marie: Are we ready to go?
Clay: Uh, actually can we make a stop at the library? I need to return something. It’s urgent.
Marie: Everyone alright with that?
Jesse: Sure, delay the inevitable.
Zara: Yeah, I’m up for that.
Blake: Yep.
Zach: Anything for you.
Clay: Thanks.
Marie: Yeah, we can make a stop there.
Everyone being ready, we got into the car, and we set off for the party... after we stopped off at the library.
Zach
So, about five minutes later, we arrived at the library. Clay had to return this book about these kids on an island where they fail to recreate society and kill each other. Read it after him. Weird read. Kinda depressing.
Clay: Alright, I won’t be a minute, I swear.
Blake: Hang on, can I go as well? Saw this book in there a few weeks back, and if it’s still there I’ll get it.
Zach: I’m probably gonna go in too.
Marie: Sure, but be quick. I’m on double yellows, I shouldn’t be parked here.
Clay: We’ll be fast.
Getting out of the car, we instantly leg it to the library, Clay with the book still in his hand. Once we get in, both of them set off in different directions. Clay heads straight to the desk, Blake goes left to the horror section, and I just decide to have a look round. Mostly nothing interesting, some romance books I’ve never heard of, fifty different variations of the Harry Potter books for some reason, hundreds of fantasy books with almost the exact same cover, and then something catches my eye.
A completely blank book.
No cover.
No name.
Not even a sticker on for the genre.
Just a black book, hardcover.
Well, I guess I’ll see what it is.
Opening it, I just find a ton of spells. Hundreds of them, with instructions. On the first page, I notice a word on the front: “Mystic”.
Fuck it, why not?
Heading to the desk, I see Blake walking back, empty handed.
Blake: Someone got it a few weeks back. Guess I’ll check back in a few weeks time.
Zach: That sucks. I found something weird.
Blake: What is it?
Zach: Some kinda spell book or something. I’ll explain later.
At the desk, the librarian has just finished with Clay.
Librarian: What can I help you with? Nice costume.
Zach: Thanks, made it myself. I’d like to borrow this book.
Librarian: Oh, seems like we lost the book jacket for this one-
As she opens it to stamp it, she pauses. Looking up, her face looks concerned.
Zach: Is everything alright?
Librarian: Yeah, it’s just I didn’t think we still had this one.
Zach: Should I not be borrowing it-
Librarian: No, it’s fine. Just, I hope you know the risks this book has.
Zach: Risks?
Librarian: All I can warn you now, no matter what you do, beware the first.
Zach: The first what?
Librarian: You’ll know once you’ve started. Enjoy the read.
Zach: Thanks?
Librarian: You’re welcome. See you again soon!
Walking out, book in hand, I start to question what “beware the first” meant. The first page? Is the author the first? Does Mystic mean anything?
Eh, I’ll look at that later. Right now I have a Halloween party to go to.
