6. Happy Halloween

Six

Happy Halloween

" H appy fuckin' Halloween, you beautiful bitch," I say to my reflection in the mirror. Something about this morning makes me feel on top of the world. My hair is a wild mess of waves, and my body craves a deep tissue massage to ease the tension from the week. The crisp autumn air seeps through the window, invigorating my senses. I decide to head to my favorite coffee shop a couple of blocks away, where I like to go to start my day off right. The tone is always dark, none of that bright shit that will cause me to have a headache.

Before heading out, I grab my keys, phone, and pocket knife because, let's be honest, you should always be prepared for whatever, especially since you never know when something inconvenient might pop up. "La Rosa's Cafe." A small sign hanging from the doorway sways back and forth in the cool autumn breeze. The air has a mix of the sweet scent of pastries and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Swinging open the door, a bell rings, letting whoever is working know someone has just entered. The atmosphere is as beautiful as ever, with ghosts hanging from the ceiling and a black bar with a touch of marble mixed into it, displaying all of the fancy coffee machines. The dining area is so comfortable, with its cushioned chairs and tables, that you can choose from a smaller area to sit or larger. The workers there are always so amazing and freakishly kind. I have a favorite. Her name is Angelicia. She is younger than me and usually pulls any shift she can. She is here almost every time I come in.

We occasionally talk to one another, typically short and sweet. She knows my order by heart. Sometimes, she talks about her future, plans, and why she works so much. But mostly, it is about why she hates the pricks who come in here flirting and making nasty jokes towards her. If I had it my way, I'd kill any man who even took a breath wrong in her direction. She is always so kind, and I have not got to see the shit happen first hand or I would probably end up banned from ever coming here again.

They are not as busy as I expected they would be on a holiday. But that's perfectly fine with me. I need to sit and plan what I will have going on tonight because I have no idea. I know that parties are happening everywhere in town, but seeing as last night was pretty eventful, I think I owe myself a night full of treats and not just tricks. The dim lighting and soft jazz playing in the background create the perfect atmosphere for me to gather my thoughts. "Beunas días Hermosa, the regular?" Angelicias voice greeted me as I stood there staring at the menu. "Yes, please! I am dying for something sweet as well. What are my options for this morning? Any conchas?" I smirked up at her. "Actually, we just finished up some in the back. They are freshly baked with little pumpkin designs! They are super cute! This one is on the house!" She sure knows how to make someone get my day going well.

She quickly made my drink, adding extra drizzle just how I like, and placed it with the concha on the bar for me to take. I have a favorite spot that I like to sit in, and it is in the corner where books align on the wall. I sit, sip on my frappuccino, feeling the coolness spread through me, and pull out my phone. I need to hunt. I need to try something new, something that will keep me on my toes and make the night unforgettable. The excitement builds as I think about the possibilities, each one more enticing than the last.

As I am scrolling through the town event list for today, a text message pops up:

Unknown : Hey, Little Stranger, it's been a while. I would like to see you.

Me : Who the fuck is this?

Unknown : It will make things much easier if you don't know who I am. I'll make sure it's a surprise you'll never forget.

Unknown : I've been watching you for some time now. I miss my Little Sinister more than words can say. I always knew there was darkness in you, but the way you fought those guys last night ignited something within me. The brutality, the sheer force—it was mesmerizing. And when you ended that guy's life, it was like a dark symphony, each note more intoxicating than the last. I could have come a thousand times over, lost in the thrill of your darkness.

I stare out the window, zoning out and running through every possibility in my mind of who this stranger could be. Holy fuckin' shit. Who was watching me to know what I had done? How long have they been watching me? I don't talk to anyone other than the locals who know me. I moved to this small, remote town to escape my past, to find solace in the anonymity in a place where no one knew me, no one knew of my darkness, and no one even bothered to care. But something about this just feels off. I am usually the one hunting, and now… wait, am I being hunted?

My hands trembled, and the melting frappuccino rippled with the tremors. Being concerned about my surroundings wasn't like me; usually, nothing could get me worked up. But something inside was telling me to run, to get as far away from this place as possible. No, I won't run. Whoever this is must just be pulling a prank or something. It is Halloween, after all. I just don't know how they would have gotten my number.

Me : Fuck off, you prick.

Hitting the block button, pushing that situation to the back of my mind, "I could take care of whoever this was if something came out of it. Right?" My message got marked as "Read," but nothing else came through afterward. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. That is when it hit me. It was the fuckin' nickname they used, " Little Sinister. " Only one person has ever called me that in my entire life, and it was someone I fuckin' despise. Someone I never wanted to cross paths with ever again. To be honest, I thought the bastard was dead or something.

My gut clenched, and suddenly, a wave of terror flushed through my blood. "That bastard," I muttered under my breath.

He was going to fuck everything up. Everything that I have worked hard for. "Is everything alright?" Angelicia interrupted my thoughts, causing me to jump. "Yes! Thank you so much for the drink and concha. They are delicious." Scanning the cafe, I realized I was no longer the only customer here. A man is sitting near the door dressed all in black and wearing a beanie. His tattoos expand out front of the collar of his shirt up onto his face. The look on his face changes when he notices me staring at him, making a smile spread across his muscular jawline.

I stood up quickly, hitting my hip against the table, causing my drink to fall over, and making my chair scrape against the hardwood floor, bringing all the employees' attention to me. I picked up my drink and the paper towel that my concha was sitting on and threw them away, walking out of the cafe, my eyes never leaving his. I need to get home. "Should I let all of this get to me or stay in?" My thoughts begin to battle one another.

This shit better be a sick joke and nothing more; if I find out who this mysterious person is, I will be sure to end their lives so fuckin' painfully they won't even get a chance to apologize. However, if my accusations are correct and it is him, I know I will be in for the treat of my life.