Living Nightmares

Greenwich, Connecticut

Kane cackled at the expression of fear etched across her best friend's face. His narrowed hazel green eyes locked murderously on her as he ran his fingers through his short, dirty blond curls. She continued to smirk as he finally took several deep breaths to calm himself.

"Okay, so not cool!" Darin growled.

Her chocolate brown eyes danced in amusement, "So is. You were so scared, you big baby! It's just a mask." Kane put down the realistic ghoul mask as they continued to browse the Halloween store. "What about this one?"

Darin cringed a little at the creepy hag mask, "Uh, no. If you have to be a witch, at least look relatively human."

Kane giggled before she fixed her layered, auburn hair, it falling to her shoulders and she brushed her side-parted bangs out of her eyes. She then turned to hunt down the rest of her costume.

"Darin, it's Halloween. We're supposed to dress creepy, scary, and not lame." Kane pointed out.

He held the bags that held his 'sheet', as Kane had called it upon sight, tightly to his chest. "I'll have you know there is nothing wrong with me being a ghost."

Rolling her eyes, Kane finally sighed irritably. "This store doesn't have what I'm looking for. C'mon, let's try somewhere else."

She grabbed Darin's wrist, dragging him behind her and out the door of the shop, and out into the chilly October air. The leaves rustled in the breeze as the two teenagers headed down the street. They had been costume shopping for the past few hours, but Kane still hadn't found what she had been looking for.

She wanted her costume to be perfect this year. It was the first year she wasn't being guilt-tripped into taking one of the younger children of her friends' parents trick-or-treating. Kane wanted it to be one of the scariest and memorable Halloweens she'd ever experience in her life, and she wanted to spend it with Darin, who had been her very best friend since they were in middle school, despite him being a scaredy-cat.

"Let's get something to eat." Darin practically begged. "We've been at this for hours."

"Quit whining, Darin." Kane replied simply. "We'll be done as soon as I-"

Her eyes suddenly landed on the display window of an old antique shop across the street. Crossing the street without a second thought, Kane found herself drawn to the old circular pendant. It was ebony, but held an emerald tint to the gem, appeared to be about as large as Kane's palm, and it looked to be several centuries old.

"Darin, this would be perfect!" Kane exclaimed.

Darin looked at the pendant and replied, "Looks kinda creepy if you ask me."

Kane grinned and hurried to the door, "I have to buy it!"

She went to open it, only for it to stay in place. Kane groaned a moment later as the 'Sorry, We're Closed' sign reached her gaze. Darin, gangly and taller than her, placed a hand on top of her head in comfort.

"I'm sure it'll be there tomorrow."

"I need it now, Darin!"

"Kane, they're closed. There's not much that you can do."

Kane sighed, "Guess you're right… let's go."

They turned to head down the street, but the sound of bells ringing caught their attention a moment later. Pausing, Kane and Darin turned to see an elderly woman with silver hair worn in small ringlets around her face appeared at the door, unlocking it, and opening it.

"Excuse me, dearie? You were looking to buy the pendant on display?" she said in a soft, high-pitched voice.

"Um, well, yes." Kane blinked in surprise.

"Come on in, come on in. Don't be shy now." She ushered them inside the musty shop, Darin sneezing a few times and pinching his nose shut as his eyes watered. The woman shuffled her way over to the display window and pulled out the pendant, holding it up to Kane's throat. "My, my, it looks lovely on you dear."

Darin wiped his eyes, "Ugh, yeah, Kane, it really does look nice on you."

Kane brushed her fingertips across the cool, smooth surface of the stone. She admired it for a few moments, finding its beauty absolutely captivating.

"How much?"

The woman smiled a crooked smile, "This pendant has been sitting in that display window for who knows how long. You're the first decent girl who has expressed any interest in it whatsoever… I'm going to give it to you, free of charge."

Kane frowned a moment later, stunned. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept this without paying for it."

"No, no, it's alright, dear!" the woman insisted. "It was made for you, can't you tell?"

"Well…" Kane looked down at the pendant again, admiring it once more. "It really is lovely…"

Darin nudged her, "Go ahead, just accept it."

Kane bit her lip, "Well… alright. Thank you so much, ma'am."

The woman smiled, closing her eerie gray eyes. "No, thank you, young lady."

Kane and Darin went to leave the store, pausing to say goodbye once more to the elderly woman, before heading out and down the street. Her gaze followed them the entire time.

"Thank you, indeed…"

Mrs. Davenport smiled as she helped adjust the hem of Kane's elegant cloak made of emerald velvet and had black stars and moon décor. Kane adjusted her cat-like eye makeup, before she fixed her ebony witch dress. Pausing momentarily, her chocolate orbs locked on the pendant in her reflection, once again entranced by it.

"You're going to be the best witch in this town, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mom."

The doorbell rang; both looking out the bedroom doorway and into the living room, where Kane's father grabbed a bowl of treats and hurried to open the door. Among the group of fire fighters, mummies, and princesses was a very gangly sheeted ghost.

"Aren't you a little old to be begging for candy, son?" Mr. Davenport teased.

"It's me!" Darin's voice came out slightly muffled as he entered the house, stumbling over the hem of his costume and staggering through the doorway. "Stupid sheet!"

Kane giggled and called out the door, "Told you it was a sheet."

Darin's green eyes narrowed through the eye holes, "I happened to have scared several little kids on my way over here, thank you very much!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes!"

Kane smirked, "Do you want Mom to raise the hem for you?"

Darin hesitated before he hurried down the hall, "Yeah, sure, thanks."

The auburn-haired girl rolled her eyes, but didn't comment as Darin climbed on the stool and Mrs. Davenport got to work. Kane took the time to adjust her hat and finish applying her make-up. Every so often her gaze would travel to the pendant.

"…Kane… Kane… Kane!"

She jumped as Darin shook her arm, "Yeesh, Darin! You scared me!"

He simply stared at her, "Are you feeling okay? You looked like you were in another world."

"Sorry…" Kane frowned a bit, "We should head on out."

"You're going to the party afterwards, right?" Mrs. Davenport inquired as they headed into the living room.

Kane nodded, "Yup."

"Well, just be careful. Darin, have her home no later than one," Mr. Davenport replied, sighing. "Have fun you two."

"Thanks Dad, Mom."

Kane kissed her parents on their cheeks. She headed for the door, Darin trailing behind her as they crossed the spooked out yard and passed trick-or-treaters.

"Bye Mr. and Mrs. Davenport!" he called before tripping and falling face-first on the lawn. "Ow!"

"Fail…" Kane muttered with a smirk before pulling Darin to his feet. "C'mon, Ghost-Boy, we have some terror to deliver!"

Darin held up a hand, "After candy!"

"Yes, yes, now let's get going!"

They climbed into Darin's car, slowly easing down the streets crawling with children seeking treats, and heading for the less crowded neighborhoods to begin their traditional trick-or-treating themselves. Kane was so excited that they were actually going for themselves this year, instead of for someone else's child. This was turning out to be one of the best nights of her life.

The trick-or-treated through a few neighborhoods, and after getting a reasonable amount of goodies, the two best friends ended up in the old cemetery, seated on the cold stone steps of one of the many crypts, trading candy and making fun of some of the costumes they had seen a few of their classmates from school wearing.

"Dark chocolate Resses' cup! Trade with me!" Kane demanded, eyeing the treat hungrily.

Darin made a face, "But you keep stealing all my chocolate, and I want at least some, Kane…"

Kane sighed and replied, "You're right. Sorry, Darin. I've been taking advantage of your big heart and sweet nature… that, and the fact that since you are my best friend, you kinda have to be tormented by me everyday." She grinned cheesily at him.

"Fine, you can have the dang Resses',"

Darin tossed the chocolate into Kane's bag before he started to shift through his pile, searching for something she couldn't trade with him. Kane was about to eat when suddenly a strange shiver went down her spine. Her hand subconsciously wrapped around the pendant around her neck, clasping it protectively.

"D-Darin?"

Her voice came out choked, a frightened whisper.

"What? What is it?" Darin replied, looking alarmed and around wildly. "Is something there?"

Kane shook her head, "I just feel… scared all of a sudden. Dreadful."

Darin blinked, "Maybe you ate too much candy…"

"This isn't from the candy, Darin! Something bad is going to happen… I can feel it." Kane replied urgently, her eyes widening with each passing second.

"Kane, calm down… you're freaking me out." Darin said. "I'm sure it's just… us spooking ourselves. C'mon, we should probably start heading back. We have to get to the party."

Kane took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. It was difficult to listen to Darin, who was speaking rationally for once, even though he was the one to normally go off in a panic. She could feel the adrenaline of fear coursing through her, the feeling in the pit of her stomach worsening as they gathered their candy and started to trek their way through the silent cemetery.

"What was that?!" she hissed, hearing a twig snap.

"Me… tripping again." Darin sighed and looked down at the hem of his costume. "I'm starting to think you were right. I should've gone with the Goblin costume you found."

Kane gave a shaky laugh, "Yeah, but you didn't want to spend the extra fifteen dollars. You were all 'This is better! You don't see any classic ghosts running around here anymore! I'll be original!'."

Darin chuckled too, "Yeah, you were right, Kane."

"You're admitting it? Weird."

"Yeah… actually… kinda is now that you think about it."

Kane stopped suddenly, looking around.

"Um, Darin?"

He stopped as well.

"What?"

"Was it this… foggy when we got here?"

"No… it was clear out." Darin looked around, squinting. "Where'd all this fog come from anyway? The weatherman said it was supposed to be clear out tonight."

Kane reached out and grabbed him by his shoulder, "Which way's the way outta here?"

Darin looked around uncertainly, "Um… I… don't know."

They exchanged a panicked look before Darin finally just threw his costume off, bundling it up under his arm, and they started to search with their eyes.

"Split up?" Kane asked, her voice trembling.

"We're going to have too… but only go so far so that we can still see each other." Darin declared.

Giving a nod, they split up in separate directions. Kane headed to the right, Darin heading for the left, and both kept glancing over their shoulders to make sure the other was in sight. The sound of their heartbeats rang in their ears as their breathing started to come out in gasps.

Where's that stupid gate!?

The panic had settled in.

Kane started to shake, stumbling around blindly, desperate to find the way out of the creepy cemetery. Immediately she regretted splitting up with Darin, for she had lost sight of him in the fog. Whirling around, her foot caught on the hem of her cloak, sending her spiraling to the ground.

"Ow…"

Moaning in pain from hitting the rough ground, Kane squinted her eyes as she looked around, only seeing tombstones and withered flowers. She sat up and suddenly felt the heaviness from her neck gone. Her hand went to press against the pendant.

It was gone.

"Oh no! My pendant!"

Kane looked around, patting the ground, desperately searching. She didn't know why the pendant's disappearance was making her panic even more. She had never been so attached to an object before in her life.

"Where is it?!"

"Kane?!"

"Over here, Darin!!"

"Over where?!"

"Just look for me!"

Kane just needed to find that pendant!

The loss of it was racking through her hard. She could already feel the hot tears of anger at herself for losing it burning at the corners of her eyes. Her chest felt tight and her hands were shaking as they brushed away leaves and pressed against concrete in her dire search.

She felt cold metal brush against her fingertips a second later. Gasping happily, Kane grasped the metal chain and jerked it up, but the sight of the now cracked stone made her eyes widen in horror. She was horrified, not by the fact that her pendant was broken, but rather by the dark ooze coming out of the cracks that seemed to be glowing an ominous green.

"Whoa?!"

Kane suddenly found herself on the ground, a heavy weight on top of her.

"Found… ya." Darin groaned, having tripped over the girl in his search for her.

"Great, now get off me!" Kane hissed.

Darin managed to pull himself off of his best friend, along with pulling her back upright. Kane suddenly screamed as the pendant glowed, the stone shattering into a thousand shards, and the green ooze splattered across their faces. Both teens immediately wiped them off and Kane threw down the pendant, her want of it evaporating.

"Just what in the world happened?" Darin gagged as he wiped the ooze off.

Kane shook her head, "No idea! We just need to get out of here!"

Darin nodded in agreement, "C'mon, I think I found the way out of here!"

He grasped her hand and helped her to her feet before the two of them stumbled their way through the cemetery, no longer taking the time to look back.

At last the time had finally come!

For centuries Adreana had been redeemed powerless, cursed to live as a mortal in this wretched world. They very world she should've been taken over and ruled over the moment she had been banished from Hallow's End. Nevertheless, that simple minded fool of a king had gone and sealed her powers away in that pendant.

Adreana cackled as she looked through her witches' glass, viewing the event that would lead to her final return to power. That stupid girl hadn't realized she was merely a pawn, a tool to be used by one of the greatest witches of all time. Even if the girl was a witch herself, there was no way that she could stop the inevitable now.

Kane Davenport had set everything in motion the moment she had been drawn in by the pendant. By freeing Adreana's magic, she had released the Nightmares from their prison, and now they could prey on the mortals once again. Soon the world would be hers for the ruling, and then she could use the Nightmares to take over Hallow's End as well!

"Yes, yes, yes, my darlings! Rise, rise, and make them all pay!" Adreana laughed.

She could feel her powers returning slowly. Her silver, wispy ringlets were fading back to their glorious and luscious raven shade, her face becoming youthful and beautiful once more. Her true form had returned to her, even more beautiful than she could recall.

"The world is finally mine!"

Adreana danced happily around the shop, pausing abruptly as she felt a strange disturbance through the air. Her gray eyes narrowed and she stiffened, quickly turning her attention back on the witches' glass. She hissed, snarling at the image before her.

"How did they escape my trap?! Troublesome girl!!" Adreana paused and then smirked, "I won't have to worry about them for very long. I'll just simply send a few of my darlings to dispose of them…"

She reached over, grabbing a vial of shimmering green powder, pouring some into the palm of her hand. She blew the powder out of her palm, watching it dance until it formed the gateway she desired.

Kane never again wanted to be in a cemetery for the rest of her life. Gasping for air and trying to calm themselves after their little fright, Kane and Darin leaned on the hood of Darin's car. The blond glanced at his watch a moment later.

"It's eight. We need to head over to the party."

"Yeah…"

Still a bit shaken, Kane quickly went to climb into the car. She had no idea what had happened, and to be perfectly honest, she really didn't want to know. All she wanted was to go to the Halloween party with her best friend, have a few laughs and harmless scares, then go home.

"So where's this huge party at?" Kane inquired, having not been personally invited, but was coming as Darin's guest.

"It's at one of the old manors near the closed down park."

"That's not very far from here then,"

"Nope, not really."

Kane smiled, "Good. I just want to get there already."

Darin nodded, "I still don't understand why it wasn't foggy the moment we found our way out of the cemetery… Talk about weird."

"Yeah, you're right. It really was strange."

She shivered as suddenly the feeling before hit her again, this time tenfold. She suddenly gripped the door handle, her knuckles turning white, and she paled. Darin glanced at her in concern, pulling over right near the park entrance.

"Kane? What's wrong?"
"That feeling again…"

"Do you want to go home?"

Kane glared at him, "Heck no! That is the last thing I want! We are going to this party, Darin! We are going to have fun! This is the first Halloween we've gotten that we haven't had to do anything for anybody else, and I'm not going to let anything ruin it!" she said hotly and determinedly.

Darin held his hands up in defense, "Okay, okay." He peered out the windshield and sighed, "Let's just walk from here. There isn't going to be any parking."

"W-Walk?"

Kane bit her lip, feeling a twinge of fear at the idea. She quickly closed her eyes.

Quit acting so scared, Kane… it's just a little walk, and it's not like you're alone. Darin's right here… She snorted softly. Not much he can do though. He'd use me as a human shield in a heartbeat if it came down to it. He's such a wuss.

"Alright, let's go."

The two adolescents climbed out of the car, locking it, before they went to head down the street. Darin stopped them a moment later, withdrawing his costume, and turning to Kane for help. Rolling her eyes, she smiled and helped him put it back on, before readjusting the hem again so he wouldn't trip… as much.

"Okay, we all set?" Kane asked. Darin nodded. "Good. Now let's go."

They set out down the deserted street, the leaves crunching under their feet. Chocolate brown and hazel green eyes glanced up at the full moon in the sky, seeing it was a harvest moon, and feeling an eerie chill just by looking at it. Suddenly they quickened their steps, trying to hurry.

"Darin, how much further?" Kane asked quietly.

"Um, it shouldn't be too much farther. Let's just keep going and not think about it. We'll be there soon, don't worry."

Great. Tell me not to worry, and what do I do? Worry!

Kane hugged her cloak closed, trying to fight the chill that didn't come from the chilly night air. Her chewed the inside of her cheek, trying not to think about how creepy their surroundings seemed to be, and how worse they seemed to be becoming the longer they were outside.

"What was that?!"

They suddenly whirled around, Darin pulling off his sheet as he did so. The sound they had heard wasn't a twig snapping due to Darin tripping again. This time it was the sound of footsteps and the creaking of tree branches, as if someone's weight was being pressed on it…

"Watch it!" Darin exclaimed, snatching Kane's arm, and the two of them managed to narrowly evade the creatures that lunged from the trees. "Kane, run!"

She would've if she could've. She had become completely paralyzed in fear. The beings before them weren't people in costumes that was for sure.

Glowing crimson eyes, rotting decaying flesh, and the aura of evil belonged to the creature that could only be classified as the living dead. Or zombie. Whatever you wanted to call it, it was standing right before them, looking ready to feast.

And right beside it was what could only be described as a demon…

"RUN AWAY!!" Darin screamed, snatching Kane's hand, and pulling her into the park.

Her numb legs finally began to move as she staggered, the adrenaline finally bursting throughout her, giving her what energy she needed to flee the beings. The cold air pierced their lungs, making them gasp for breath as they ran, narrowly missing tree branches and roots. They knew they were being chased, which was why their minds didn't let their bodies give into the need to stop and rest.

The stitches in their sides were becoming unbearable. Pain-induced tears blurred Kane's vision. She could barely see where she was going at this point, and Darin wasn't much of a guide.

That's when they tripped over a tree root that had escaped their line of sight. Kane and Darin gasped as they hit the ground hard, rolling across it, and slamming into the base of the trunk of a large tree. Gasping in pain, Kane squinted open her eyes and tried to scream as the demon landed right in front of them, dripping fangs exposed.

"Time to die, witchling and mortal!"

Witchling? What the heck did it just…? Did it just call me a witch?!

"S-Stay away!" Kane choked out, her voice barely coming out due to fear and being out of breath.

Darin whimpered, trying to scoot back and away, but it was futile.

"There's nothing you can do to save yourselves! Adreana seeks your death, and your death she shall receive!"

"Adreana?! Who is that?!"

"The one who gave you your little pendant… you know the one that set us all free the moment you shattered it, stupid witch."

Kane's eyes widened, "That… woman… She's an evil witch, isn't she! She used me, didn't she?!"

The demon smirked, "You catch on quick, for a stupid girl who has no idea what she really is…"

"So… I'm a…"

Kane trailed off and grabbed Darin's arm. The demon watched, eyes glinting in amusement.

"You cannot save him or yourself."

"Watch me."

The zombie replied incoherently, just looking at the demon. Kane gulped, praying that whatever she was about to try would work.

"Foolish children! Time to die and be feasted upon!"

The demon went to snatch Kane, but suddenly it was knocked back as if an invisible shield had formed around them. Kane gasped, shocked that it had worked, before she quickly gathered her thoughts and tugged on Darin's arm.

"Run, now!! Back to the car!!"

Darin managed to scramble to his feet and they took off, not looking back.

"Where are we going?!" Darin shouted as they ran through the trees, heading back in the direction of the car.

"To that shop! We have to stop that evil witch! Otherwise these monsters are going to hurt innocent people, just to get to me!"

"We're going straight to the evil witch?!"

Darin scrambled around the car, hurrying to unlock it. They slid inside, and he quickly backed down the street, trying to get as far away from the park as possible. Kane glared scathingly at him, her teeth ground.

"Yes! We can't just let everyone we know and have grown up with die because of us!"

"Kane, you just found out you're a witch! You don't even know how that's even possible, since neither of your parents are magic-users!"

Kane was quiet for a moment, before she confessed very quietly. "Darin, I'm adopted…"

Darin's eyes widened, "Wait… what?"

"I never told anyone… I never thought it was important… at least until now." Kane's eyes widened. "My real parents or at least one of 'em had to have been a witch or wizard!

"Well… that's the only thing that makes any real sense."

"We have to defeat Adreana, and send those creatures back to where they belong! Our nightmares!"

Darin stared at her like she was insane. Then again, maybe she was. Here she was, moments ago finding out that her entire life had truly just been a lie, that she was really a witch, and that there was an evil witch who had used her to bring monsters into their world.

And now, she was going to go and confront said evil being and possibly walk straight into Death's hands.

Yeah… that was a bit insane.

"How are you going to do that though?" Darin demanded to know, parking the car down the road from the shop. "You don't know how to use magic, even if you have it, Kane! Please, think this through!"
"I am! I'm thinking about our world, Darin! I'm thinking about our friends, our families, and the people we love!" Kane snapped at him. "I'm not going to watch them die because of my stupid mistake!"

He was silent for several moments, before he gave a small nod.

"I'm coming with you."

"No way, José."

Darin glared at her, "I'm not gonna let you go it alone! What kind of a best friend would I be if I let you go and face her by yourself?"
Kane gave him a dull stare, placing her hands on her hips. "Uh, a smart one who listens to the best friend?"

"Not this time, Kane. No matter what you say or do, I'm coming with you."

"Like heck you are! You're marching your butt to my house and are going to wait there for me to come back!"

Darin grabbed Kane's arm, "No."
She met his eyes.

"Kane, I… can't do that. You're like a sister to me… I don't have anyone but my Mom really and… I need you, Kane, and if you go and do this without me… It'll hurt more than anything else."

"Darin… I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Please…"

His voice was a choked whisper as he loosened the hold on her arm. Kane looked at the pain etched on the blond's face, before she sighed deeply. Her lips formed a half-smile.

"Okay… we'll go together."

Darin smiled and pulled her into a tight hug, "Alright!"

Kane pushed him away, "We have to be careful… and if things look bad and something happens, you are to get your butt out of there. Understand me, Darin Ricelin?"

"Yes, I understand. Now let's go."

The screams in the distance were getting closer, signaling so were the creatures.

"A-Alright… here we go." Kane gulped and they started to head for the antique shop.

"Wait, what's our plan?"

Kane shrugged, "Just find a way to get rid of her."

Darin frowned and said, "Alright, that works."

Taking a deep breath, Kane led the way, them slowly approaching the shop. Peeking through the display case, they saw it was dark inside, before Kane tried the door.

"It's locked…"

"Maybe we can get in through the back."

The two adolescents hastened their way to the alley beside the shop, creeping down it, and gasping in fear as a howl rang through the night. Darin was as white as a ghost as they found the back exit of the shop. Kane tried the door, finding it also locked.

"Try using your magic."

"Um… okay."

Kane focused on the lock, "Open sesame!"

Darin blinked, "Nothing."

"Hocus pocus?" Kane tried the door again, "Alakazam!"

"Kane… try something else."

Kane closed her eyes, crossing her arms, and trying to make up a spell.

"Just need the door unlocked…" she murmured, wishing it would just unlock already.

A click and creak caught their attention a moment later, the two of them whirling around to see the door open somewhat. Hazel green and chocolate brown eyes were wide in bewilderment and fear, but Kane boldly stepped forward, opening the door all the way, and leading the way inside the darkened back room. Many artifacts hung on the walls, some looking as old as five-hundred years.

"W-We know you're here!" Darin called out, trying to be brave, but his voice cracked.

"Show yourself, you hag!" Kane exclaimed.

They screamed and ducked as an owl swooped down on them, encircling around, and shifting into the form of a woman they didn't recognize unless they looked hard and long at her face.

"The old woman!" Kane breathed.

"Only she's not so old anymore!" Darin replied.

Adreana cackled, "Foolish girl! You've lingered for far too long! You've done your part, now be gone already!"

She pitched a ball of black energy at them, blasting them apart and across the room. Kane skid across the wooden floor, slamming into a bookcase, and several old tomes came crashing down upon her. She shielded her face and head just in time, gasping in pain as each book piled on her.

Darin crashed into the wall, the portraits and clocks hanging on it showering down on him, breaking around him. Adreana continued to cackle as she approached the mountain of books that had trapped the auburn-haired girl.

"K-Kane!" Darin cried out, trying to move.

Adreana sent a blast of energy at him again, pinning him to the wall. Kane finally managed to unearth herself from the volumes, only to find herself levitated into the air until she was nose-to-nose with the witch.

"Want to know what happened to your parents, Kane?" Adreana sneered, scraping an ebony fingernail down said girl's cheek. "Want to know why you're all alone in this world?"

Kane gasped as her air passage closed, feeling Adreana's cold fingers clasping around her throat, and she fought to retrieve the air she so vitally needed. She could hear her blood rushing in her eardrums, the room spinning as she became lightheaded from lack of oxygen. Adreana continued to choke her as she spoke.

"Your mother killed herself trying to protect your sister from being destroyed by me. Your father took you and ran, but I got to him too. After all these years, you were right under my nose, and the day you walked into my store you sealed this world's fate."

Darin snarled as he tried to break free, "Let… us… go!"

Adreana sent a deadly glare over her shoulder, "Shut your mouth, boy!"

Darin! Kane finally reached over, her fingers pressing against cold metal, and her hand enclosed around the handle of a dagger on the shelf nearby. She didn't think twice, bringing the dagger down and piercing it into Adreana's side. The witch screamed in surprise, releasing Kane and Darin, and staggering backwards as blood soaked profusely through her dress.

"You… will… die!" Adreana hissed, pulling the dagger out, and staggering toward them as her crimson blood stained the wooden floor.

Kane's eyes widened as a familiar pendant swung into view. She lunged forward, grasping the chain, and breaking it. Adreana shoved Kane back, sending her flying across the floor, and the pendant flew into the air, landing a few feet away from Darin.

"Don't touch it, mortal!" Adreana shouted, as Darin lunged for it.

Kane grabbed the woman's ankle, "You're not going anywhere!"

Darin snatched the pendant, "What do I do?!"

"Give it to me!" Kane cried out.

Adreana blasted Kane away from her, lunging for Darin once again, but the blond tossed the pendant before she could reach him. Kane leapt for it, grinning as her hand clasped around the smooth gem, before she pointed it straight at Adreana.

"Seal her away!" Kane shouted.

A few moments passed before Adreana started to laugh madly.

"Did you honestly expect that to work?! You don't even know how to control your powers, let alone know how to perform such a complex spell!!"

Kane gulped and looked at the pendant, Work… please, work… we're going to die if you don't work…

Adreana's laughter ceased as a bright light illuminated from the pendant. Shielding their eyes, Kane felt warmth spreading down her arm as her hair started to fly around her face. Suddenly screams of agony reached their ears as Adreana attempted to flee, but bounds of light started to pull her toward Kane and the glowing pendant.

"No! I won't go!"

"By the light of good, this evil shall be sealed!" Kane shouted, her voice echoing.

And suddenly, the terror stopped.

Kane collapsed to her knees, gasping for air as she looked around the destroyed room, and meeting Darin's eyes. He crawled over to her slowly, pulling her to her unsteady feet.

"Is it over…?"

A sudden weight around Kane's neck caused her to look down, seeing a white-stoned pendant with a tint of blue residing around her neck. Her lips formed a smile of relief as they listened, the howling and screams of fright gone.

"Yeah, I think it is."

Darin exhaled, "C'mon… let's get home."

Kane wrapped an arm around his waist, "Yeah,"

The next morning, Kane closed her locker at school, feeling the weight of the pendant under her shirt. She jolted as Darin leaned against the locker, startling her.

"Everyone keeps asking me why I didn't show up last night." he said as they started down the hall, heading for their 1st period.

"What'd you tell them?" Kane asked quietly.

He smiled, "That I was having the scariest and most memorable Halloween of my life with my best friend in the world."

Kane froze a moment later, "Darin?"

He blinked and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I got my wish,"

"Wish?"

Kane sighed, "I wished for the most memorable and scariest Halloween… and that's exactly what I got." She paused and said, "And what else is weird is that my magic only worked whenever I wished for something strongly."

"Maybe wishing is the key to unlocking your powers…" Darin said quietly.

"Yeah… I'm starting to think it is." Kane agreed. "Now I'm doing research on my birth parents, trying to find out who they are… and where I come from."

Darin bit his lip before he hugged her, "I'll help in whatever ways I can."

Kane grinned, "You know what, I know you will… you're the best friend a girl could hope for, Darin. You're brave, you're protective, and you've always got my back, even though you want to run and save yourself."

"Aw man, you sensed I wanted to run…"

She laughed, "Yup, but you stayed… and that's what matters."

The bell rang, Kane looking up at the clock.

"Happy Halloween…"

They headed for class, the mysteries of the past about to unfold.

16