A Shade of Halloween

by Robin Todd

  “It started with a prank by my roommate…”

  I narrated the events that happened before Alex’s death, and the disappearance of the note which resurfaced after the Selena Ryder book described its location. I told her about the fast moving shadow I had spotted on a number of occasions and my weird dreams which always played out in reality. I left out the dream about Mr. Ross though. That one was a little too embarrassing to be shared.

  “So you believe the fast moving shadow you’ve been seeing are the vampires?” She asked, scribbling notes in her black notepad.

  “Yes. From the Serafino clan. That’s what the book said.” I replied.

  “Did you see the vampires or did the book say they existed?”

  “I haven’t really seen any faces, but I feel them around sometimes. The book confirmed their existence.” I replied.

  “…and you believe this book?”

  “Yes.” I replied, my eyes widening.

  “Why?”

  “Because everything that’s happened is written in there. Even what happened to Alex.” I replied.

  “…and this book is titled Selena Ryder.”

  “Yes, it is.” I replied.

  “Do you realize that’s your name?”

  “Yes. That’s why I read it in the first place. That’s also why I believe its related to me in some way. I just need to figure out how. Maybe the book will explain things in later pages. I haven’t read all of it.” I replied.

  “…and this book said the Serafino clan of vampires are going to hurt your mum.” She looked at me as if to make sure I understood what she was saying.

  “Yes. It described it in detail. It was exactly how I found her when I went home.”

  “…and the monster? Did you see it in your mum’s house?”

  “No.” I replied, looking down.

  “Did the book say why the vampires wanted to hurt your mum?”

  “No… not yet, at least.” I replied.

  “Can you show me this book?”

  “Yes. It’s in the library. The new librarian said I couldn’t borrow it because it was the only copy the library had.” I replied.

  At this point, Dr. Reyes paused and looked at me.

  “The library never has a single copy of a book.” She said.

  “You can ask the librarian. She told me.” I replied, desperately wanting her to believe me.

  “Okay. Do you know the librarian’s name?

  “Rose. It’s the same name as the former librarian.” I replied.

  Dr. Reyes smiled.

  “Okay, thanks for telling me everything. I’ll make sure Detective Howard looks into this today.”

  I nodded and wrapped my arms around my chest.

  “Please tell my mum not to be alone in the house.” I begged.

  “Okay, I’ll make sure to tell her.” She replied.

  Detective Howard walked in through the door and greeted Dr. Reyes. He took my statement and spent another five to ten minutes discussing with Dr. Reyes in hushed tones. When they were done with their conversation, he turned to me.

  “Selena, I’m going to look into all this today, like Dr. Reyes promised.”

  “Thank you.” I replied.

  Chapter Twenty

  My mum sat in the corner of my room the next day, her eyes filled with tears. Dr. Reyes and Detective Howard were also in the room, sitting on two extra chairs, while a doctor stood a few paces away from my bed.

  “How soon can we get the results?” Detective Howard asked.

  “Maybe in a week. I strongly suggest you keep her here where she can be cared for.” The doctor replied.

  “Wait… What results?” I asked, looking at Detective Howard but relaying my question to the doctor.

  “Selena, I was at the library yesterday.” Detective Howard started, a grim expression on his face.

  “Okay…” I said, too impatient for him to pause now.

  “The book you mentioned does not exist.” He stated, calmly.

  “What do you mean it doesn’t exist?” I asked. “It does. I read it there yesterday.”

  I couldn’t believe what the detective was saying. The book existed. It was how I knew everything that was going on.

  “Selena, every book in the library is registered in the database. The library head did a search of that database in front of me. There was no book with Selena Ryder as its title.” He replied.

  I looked at everyone in the room in disbelief.

  “You’re not being serious, are you?” I asked.

  “How can it not exist?” I asked, directing my question to no one in particular.

  “Selena, we won’t be this worried if that was the only thing that didn’t check out.” He continued. “I was in your room and the note you said you dropped before running home wasn’t there. A few of your dorm mates testified to have seen you acting erratically yesterday.”

  “I was worried about my mum. Anyone in my position will run out the way I did!” I defended, a little too forcefully.

  “…and the librarian?” He asked.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “The librarian named Rose was reported missing two weeks ago. How could she have told you not to borrow a book yesterday?” He asked.

  “Not that Rose.” I protested. “I thought that Rose quit. The library hired a new Rose. She’s been there for a while now.”

  “Selena, I want you to know that we all care about you, and we’ll help you recover. However, you need to accept the truth. You can’t keep thinking these things are real.” He stated.

  My mum’s tears were falling freely down her cheeks now.

  “Mum, please… This is probably what the vampires want you to believe! It’s all real!” I begged, screamed, and hoped she’d understand.

  I saw Dr. Reyes raise an eyebrow at my mention of the word ‘vampire’. It was the first time she made a gesture that suggested she didn’t believe me. I was shaking frantically now. I remembered the dream about my mum’s murder and the vivid description in the Selena Ryder book. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing while that became my reality.

  “Calm down, Selena.” I heard the doctor say, over my screams.

  I didn’t even realize I was screaming.

  “Selena… stop, please. I believe you.” I heard Dr. Reyes say, and I stopped screaming.

  My eyes were still fixed on her relaxed facial features when I felt the prick of the needle on my arm.

  “Wait… stop… what…”

  I could barely piece the words together properly before everything around me went blank.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A gentle breeze blew in through the satin drapes, making them dance happily. I could tell from the shadows cast by the dim fire lanterns hanging across the room, that dusk was upon us. The wash of gray and yellow produced from a combination of the light and the shadows provided a relaxing ambience around me, providing the warmth my body needed to resist the freezing cold outside. How did I know it was cold outside? I had no idea. I just knew it was.

  Strong arms were wrapped around me, warm and assured. Tender wisps of warm air tickled the back of my neck, like steady breaths from sleeping nostrils. I turned around and saw the sleek mesh of thick black hair on his sleeping head. All I wanted to do was run my fingers through it and feel its softness. I hadn’t seen the face buried within my arms, but I knew who he was – the love of my life. I placed a soft kiss on his beautiful hair, not wanting to wake him up. I didn’t succeed because he stirred and looked up at me with the biggest grin.

  “You know vampires don’t sleep.” He said.

  I laughed at his words and kissed him on the lips this time.

  “…and they shouldn’t spy on my thoughts.” I replied.

  “But I love your thoughts.” He grinned.

  I wanted to respond but I stopped as his lips met mine. I drew in a torrent of air as the butterflies began their swarm in the pit of my stomach. The tip of his fingers travelled through the
exposed skin of my legs, causing me to shiver slightly. His kiss was intoxicating. He was intoxicating. He held me firmly as he continued to explore my body. It felt like I had a new found appreciation for my skin. Everywhere his hands made contact with exploded with pleasure – and I didn’t want him to stop. He planted soft kisses up my neck, all the way to my cheeks. Then he stopped and looked into my eyes.

  “I love you.” I said, almost automatically.

  “I’ll give anything to be with you forever.” I heard him say – inside my head.

  In reality, he simply smiled. He pulled me into his arms again but then my body stiffened. I recognized him – from now.

  “Mr. Ross?”

  His face remained the same but his expression changed faster than I could blink. He pulled me forcefully to himself and I could do absolutely nothing to stop him. He was fast - way too fast to be considered human.

  A sharp pain rang through my ears as his even sharper teeth sank into my neck, piercing through skin and muscle, reaching in and drawing blood. I let out a blood curdling scream as my body jolted back to reality.

  My eyes darted this way and that as I took in my surroundings. I was in the hospital and my scream had awoken the entire hospital ward. My mum rushed to my side and pulled me into a hug.

  “Mum, please. I need to get away from here.” I cried.

  “I’m sorry, honey but you need to stay here where you’ll get the help you need. The university’s hospital has one of the most experienced group of doctors in the state.” She replied, running her hand through my hair.

  “Mum, you don’t understand. The vampires are here. Mr. Ross is one of them!”

  “Mr. Ross?” My mum asked, looking as confused as ever.

  “Yes. Mr. Ross. My History instructor.” I replied, slowing my sobs down to pass my message across.

  “Honey, your History instructor is Mr. Shulman.”

  “What?” I asked in disbelief.

  I didn’t know if my mum was deliberately saying those things to keep me in the hospital or they were actually true. But how could they be true? I’d been attending History classes since the beginning of the semester and my instructor was always Mr. Ross. I had never met a Mr. Schulman.

  “Just go to sleep, honey.” My mum said, laying me back down on my back. “The doctor will be here in the morning.”

  I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. There was no way I was going to close my eyes when I knew the nightmares were right under my eyelids, waiting for me.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The next morning, the doctor came and checked on me. I really didn’t know what they were hoping to find because there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. The only thing I needed was to get the hell out of the state, maybe even the country. I thought of requesting to go live with my dad but I couldn’t. I preferred living with my mum and besides, I wasn’t just going to run off and leave her alone with the Serafino clan of murderous vampires.

  “Honey, I’ll be going home for a bit but I’ll be back soon, and I’ll bring you some lunch.” My mum announced.

  “No!” I screamed.

  I saw her shocked look and immediately apologized.

  “Please, stay here. They’ll come for you if you go home alone.” I pleaded.

  My mum just smiled and walked out, suppressing the tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes. I knew I had to stop her. I couldn’t let her go back to that house by herself. I tried to go after her but was stopped by the nurses.

  “Let me go!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

  “The vampires are going to get her!”

  I should never have said that because they just looked at me like I was crazy. They literally dragged me back into my hospital room and locked the door, leaving me alone. I waited for them to leave before going to the restroom and slipping out the window. It was small and tight, but I managed to squeeze through.

  “Thank goodness I’m slim.” I thought to myself, as my legs landed on the ground outside.

  Well, I wasn’t technically outside the hospital, I was just outside my room. I walked down the hallway towards the exit door that led to the staircase. I walked as silently as I could, to make sure no one saw me. I was just two floors from the basement when I saw a nurse coming in from one of the exit doors.

  “Hey!” He screamed, realizing I wasn’t supposed to be there.

  “Silly me, I should have changed out of my hospital gown before leaving.”

  I did the first thing that came to my mind which was to make a run for it. He simply pressed a buzzer he had on him and soon, I was surrounded by hospital security.

  “Stupid technology!”

  They dragged me back to my room and had nurses in there with me until my mum returned.

  “She’s not getting any better, Mrs. Ryder. We need to transfer her to the psychiatric ward.” I heard the doctor telling my mum whose eyes were filled with tears.

  “What? No! I’m not crazy.” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

  It was to no avail. I was moved into an isolated white room that was so plain, it could make me go crazy from depression. My mum was crying so much it hurt me to see her like that. I finally figured that the only way to get out of there was to stop talking about the vampires – at least until I could prove a few things. I even thought that would make them let me out sooner than they stipulated. I just hoped the vampires didn’t get to my mum before I got out.

  A nurse came into my isolated chamber through the metal door, accompanied by two other men. He was holding four brown belts and for a second, I was surprised. I realized what was going on when the men held me down and the nurse began strapping me down to the bed.

  “No!” I screamed.

  “Mum, please… don’t let them strap me in! I’m not crazy!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

  Again, it was to no avail. My mum just wrapped her hands around herself and sobbed.

  “Mum! You can’t let them do this! The vampires are going to get me!” I had said it before I remembered not to mention the word ‘vampire’.

  “I can’t watch this.” My mum cried, running out of the room and leaving me there.

  I continued screaming ‘No!’ until I felt the prick of the needle on my arm. I heard Mr. Ross in my head, cackling with a cold laughter that made my skin crawl.

  “She’s going to die and come Halloween’s day, so will you.”

  His voice was clear in my head just like he was standing in front of me. I looked around frantically, but he was nowhere. The only thing that moved around me was the metal door which closed after the nurse and his henchmen exited my room.

  Everything went blank after that.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  After two months of ‘treatment’, I was discharged and allowed to go home under close observation. To be quite honest, the doctors, psychiatrists and nurses should be the ones being observed closely because they just spent two months treating a patient who was perfectly fine.

  The past two months of my life were plagued with one boring psychiatry session after another and all I could do was hope for the end of it. To make sure that end came quickly, I stopped saying anything related to the vampires and was pleased to see that it worked.

  My mum picked me up from the hospital and I was so happy to see that she was fine. It was such a relief to know the vampires hadn’t done anything to her in my absence. She was more than ecstatic to have me back home and it felt great to see her happy again.

  Just looking at her smiling face made me wish things would remain this way and I wouldn’t have to deal with any of the craziness again. We drove home to a surprise party organized by Trina Bayle. To be quite honest, I was surprised to see her there, all charming and sweet. It made me feel like I had my old life back. I gave her a long hug and joined in on the party. The food was amazing, but I went all out for the drinks. I turned eighteen in the hospital and since I couldn’t get an actual party in there, I wanted to celebrate. When it was evening, ev
eryone went home, except Trina and a few others who stayed back to help with cleaning.

  “It’s great to have you back, Selena. We’ll be twin bunnies this Halloween.” Trina said, drawing my attention to what day it was.

  I gave her a smile but my mind quickly went back to Halloween which was just two days away. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about it.

  “Am I really going to die in two days, or has all of it gone away with my ‘treatment’?”

  The thought made me shudder slightly but I decided to hope for the best. I hadn’t heard anything from the vampires in a while and I took that as a very good sign.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I settled into my room and was going to turn the lights out but decided against it. I still wasn’t too comfortable in the dark after everything that had happened in the past few months. Though I hadn’t really heard anything from the Serafino clan since my isolation in the psychiatric ward – except for a few nightmares, I still hadn’t completely forgotten about them. I wasn’t feeling sleepy just yet, so I turned the TV on and just flipped channels. I wasn’t really in the mood for a Soap Opera and since I couldn’t find any movie I wanted to watch, I settled for the local news channel. The next thing I realized was my body jolting awake. I didn’t even know when I fell asleep. It was my reason for waking up however, that had the blood in my veins running cold. There was someone in my room. I looked around frantically, but didn’t see anyone. I could swear someone was there only moments ago. I felt them, even in my sleep. Now that I was awake, my room still had that rich, erotic and sensual smell of Jasmine – an indication that someone had indeed been there.

  The news on TV caught my eye for a brief second and I was forced to look at the screen opposite my bed. It had breaking news splashed across it, with a picture of Rose – the former librarian – who was declared missing a few months ago. Her body had been found, dead. I couldn’t believe the cause of death.

  ‘Blood loss due to injury from a single slash to the throat’.

  It was exactly the same way Alex was murdered and I knew exactly who did it. The Serafino clan of vampires were back, and I had no idea if this was a message to me. I was going to step down from my bed when my hand hit an object beside me. I turned to see what it was and almost jumped out of my skin from shock. The Selena Ryder book from the library was right on my bed, like someone had placed it there.