Jessica's heart hammered against her ribcage as she crouched in the dank basement, her enhanced senses on high alert. The musty air clogged her nostrils, making it difficult to isolate any specific scent. Beside her, Salina and Kevin huddled close, their ragged breathing loud in the oppressive silence.
A low growl emanated from the shadows, sending a shiver down Jessica's spine. She felt her wolf stirring, clawing at the edges of her control. Her muscles tensed, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
"Jessica," Kevin whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Maybe we should-"
A sudden movement cut his words off in the darkness. Jessica's body reacted instinctively, her transformation beginning before her conscious mind could catch up. She felt her bones shift, her senses sharpening even further.
But instead of the monstrous creature she was expecting, a figure in a cheap werewolf mask leapt out from behind a stack of moldy boxes, arms raised in a classic "boo" pose.
"Rawr!" the masked figure shouted, his voice muffled by the latex.
Jessica froze, her transformation halting abruptly. The adrenaline coursing through her veins made her dizzy as she struggled to process what was happening.
Salina, recovering first, let out a string of colorful expletives that would have made a sailor blush. Kevin, meanwhile, had stumbled backward and knocked over an ancient-looking vase, sending up a cloud of dust.
As Jessica's mind caught up with reality, familiar laughter echoed through the basement. Brad and Tiffany emerged from their hiding spots, doubled over with mirth.
"Oh my god," Tiffany wheezed between giggles. "You should have seen your faces!"
The masked figure removed his disguise, revealing himself to be Chad, one of Brad's football cronies. He grinned sheepishly at the trio.
Jessica felt a recent surge of anger, tinged with embarrassment and lingering fear. She clenched her fists, willing her wolf to calm down before she did something she'd regret.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she snarled, her voice coming out harsher than intended.
Brad's laughter died down, replaced by a smug smirk. "Chill out, Jessica. It's called a Halloween prank. You know, for fun?"
"Fun?" Jessica spat the word like a curse. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Tiffany rolled her eyes dramatically. "God, Jessica, don't be such a party pooper. Everyone else thought it was hilarious."
Jessica took a deep breath, trying to center herself. She could feel Kevin and Salina's concerned gazes on her, silently willing her to keep it together.
"Look," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I know you guys think this is all just a big joke, but after what happened at school..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
Brad's smirk faltered slightly. "What are you talking about?"
Jessica steeled herself, hating the lie even as she spoke it. "The attack, remember? That... whatever it was that killed Mrs. Peel? I was there, Brad. I saw it happen."
A heavy silence fell over the basement. Jessica could practically see the gears turning in Brad and Tiffany's heads as they processed this information.
"That's... that's different," Brad finally muttered, though he had the grace to look slightly abashed.
Tiffany, however, wasn't so easily swayed. "Oh, come on! That was like, what, a month ago? You can't let one little incident ruin Halloween for everyone else."
Jessica felt her temper flaring again. "One little incident? A woman died, Tiffany!"
Chad, who had been silent up to this point, cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh, maybe we should chill tonight."
Brad shot him a withering look. "Don't be a wuss, Chad. It's just a bit of fun."
"Fun for who, exactly?" Kevin interjected, his voice tight with anger. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're just getting your kicks by terrorizing people."
Tiffany's perfectly plucked eyebrows drew together in a scowl. "Oh, please. Like you three aren't totally overreacting. It's Halloween! This is what people do!"
Jessica felt a headache building behind her eyes. The basement suddenly seemed too small, too claustrophobic. She needed air, needed to get away from these people before she lost control.
"You know what?" she said, her voice clipped. "Do whatever you want. We're out of here."
She turned on her heel, grabbing Kevin and Salina by their arms and practically dragging them towards the stairs.
"Aw, come on, Jessica!" Brad called after them. "Don't be like that! The night's still young!"
Jessica ignored him, focused solely on putting one foot in front of the other. As they reached the top of the stairs, she heard Chad's voice, quieter this time.
"Sorry, guys. That was... yeah. Sorry."
She paused for a moment, considering acknowledging his apology. But the memory of that initial surge of fear and adrenaline was still too fresh. Without a backward glance, she continued on, emerging into the main hall of the castle.
The party was still in full swing, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded in the basement. The pounding music and flashing lights felt surreal after the tense confrontation below.
Jessica didn't stop until they reached a quiet alcove, partially hidden behind a suit of armor. Only then did she release her death grip on her friends' arms.
"Jessica?" Salina's voice was gentle, probing. "You okay?"
Jessica leaned against the cool stone wall, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths. She focused on the steady thump of the bass, using it to ground herself at the moment.
"That," Kevin said after a moment, "was way too close for comfort."
Jessica nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet. The adrenaline was slowly fading, leaving her feeling shaky and drained.
"I can't believe you brought up Mrs. Peel," Salina murmured, a note of admiration in her voice. "That was quick thinking."
Jessica opened her eyes, guilt twisting in her stomach. "I hate lying," she confessed. "But what else could I do? Tell them the real reason I was so freaked out was that I thought I might wolf out and maul them all?"
Kevin snorted. "Yeah, that would've gone over well. 'Sorry guys, your stupid prank almost turned me into a furry killing machine. My bad!'"
Despite herself, Jessica felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "God, can you imagine their faces?"
Salina giggled, the sound slightly hysterical. "Tiffany would probably ask if you could pose for her Instagram before she ran screaming."
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
The absurdity of the situation hit Jessica all at once, and she laughed along with her friends. It wasn't particularly funny, but the release of tension felt good.
As their laughter died down, Kevin's expression grew serious. "All jokes aside, though, that was a close call. If that had been a real threat..."
He didn't need to finish the thought. Jessica nodded, sobering quickly. "I know. I need to be more careful. I can't let my guard down like that again."
Salina reached out, squeezing Jessica's hand. "Hey, you handled it. That's what matters. And we've got your back, always."
Jessica felt a rush of affection for her friends. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys," she admitted.
Kevin grinned, lightening the mood. "Probably turn into a big, angsty wolf and howl at the moon a lot."
Jessica rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You are totally a dork.”
A comfortable silence fell over the trio, broken only by the muffled sounds of the party. Jessica scanned the crowded hall, watching her classmates dance and laugh, blissfully unaware of the supernatural drama unfolding in their midst.
"So," Salina said after a while, "what now? Do we stay at this disaster of a party, or bail?"
Jessica considered for a moment. Part of her wanted nothing more than to leave this creepy castle and never look back. But a larger part, the part that had been itching for adventure and normalcy in equal measure, rebelled at the thought.
"We stay," she decided. "We came here for a Halloween party, right? So let's have one. No more pranks, no more drama. Just... fun."
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "You sure? We could always go back to my place, watch some cheesy horror movies instead."
Jessica shook her head. "No, I'm sure. I'm not letting Brad and his juvenile antics ruin our night."
Salina grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "That's the spirit! Besides, we still haven't explored half this place. Who knows what kind of cool, creepy stuff we might find?"
As if on cue, a chill wind swept through the hall, causing the flames of nearby candles to flicker ominously. Jessica felt goosebumps rise on her arms, a prickle of unease running down her spine.
Kevin, noticing her reaction, nudged her gently. "Hey, no actual monsters allowed, okay? I was only half-joking earlier about the whole furry killing machine thing."
Jessica forced a laugh, pushing aside her lingering sense of foreboding. "Right, because I have total control over what goes bump in the night."
Salina looped her arms through Jessica and Kevin's, steering them back towards the main party. "Come on, you two. Less talk about monsters, more dancing and bobbing for apples or whatever it is people do at these things."
As they rejoined the crowd, Jessica allowed herself to relax, if only slightly. The night was young; the castle was full of mysteries to explore, and people she cared about surrounded her. For now, at least, that would have to be enough.
But as they passed a darkened corridor, Jessica could have sworn she saw a pair of glowing eyes watching them from the shadows. She blinked, and they were gone. Just a trick of the light, she told herself firmly. There were no actual monsters here.
Well, at least she hoped she was the only monster here.
The party continued around them, a swirl of costumes, laughter, and thumping music. Jessica found herself swept up in the atmosphere, allowing the normalcy of it all to push her earlier fears to the back of her mind. She danced with her friends, laughed at Kevin's terrible attempts at the Monster Mash, and even won a round of Halloween trivia.
As the night wore on, Jessica felt more like herself again. The incident in the basement faded to a distant memory, overshadowed by the simple joy of being a teenager at a party. She caught Brad's eye across the room once or twice, but he seemed content to keep his distance, sticking close to Tiffany and his football buddies.
Whatever. Jessica wanted to have fun without worrying about any monster.
It was nearing midnight when someone grabbed Jessica's arm. She swung around with her fists up. But she stopped when Chad's eyes widened at her.
"Whoa, sorry!" he exclaimed, holding up his hands. "Didn't mean to scare you!”
Jessica forced herself to relax, tamping down on her fight-or-flight response. "It's fine," she managed, though her voice came out slightly strained. "What do you totally want?”
Chad shuffled his feet, looking uncomfortable. "I, uh, wanted to apologize again. For earlier. That prank was way out of line, and I feel like crap about it."
Jessica blinked, surprised by his sincerity. At least not everyone on Brad’s team was a jerk.
"Thanks," she said finally. "That... means a lot, actually."
Chad nodded, relief clear on his face. "Cool, cool. So, uh, what are you up too now? Just chilling?”
Jessica shrugged. “Just taking a break from my friends. You?”
Chad smiled, blushing his cheeks. “Just waiting for my girlfriend to leave the restroom.”
“Oh.” Jessica didn't know Chad has a girlfriend. Well, she barely interacted with the football team since cheerleaders usually stuck with their own squad.
“Well… Bye.” Chad turned around and walked away as if he pooped himself.
Jessica's bowels rumbled. Perhaps she should search for the toilet too instead of taking a poop outside like a wolf in the woods.
As she made her way to the nearest bathroom near the main hall, Jessica couldn't shake the feeling something was hiding inside the castle.
*****
Tiffany leaned against the cold stone wall, swirling the cheap beer in her plastic cup. The party raged around her, a cacophony of laughter and thumping music, but she felt oddly detached from it all. Her fairy princess costume, once a source of pride, now felt tacky and uncomfortable.
She scanned the crowded hall; her gaze searching for Jessica and her friends, but none of them were in her sight. Tiffany rolled her eyes. Leave it to the school's resident weirdos to bring down the vibe.
"I still can't believe those losers!"
Brad's voice cut through her thoughts. He appeared at her side, his knight costume looking worse for wear after his basement antics. His face flushed red, either from anger or perhaps from an excess of alcohol. “Those nerds have no spirit for Halloween.”
Tiffany shrugged, feigning indifference. "You mean zombie boy and his witchy girlfriend? Who cares? It's their loss if they can't take a joke. And don't screw with my cheer mate, Jessica. She's totally the best on my squad.”
Brad scowled. “Yeah, but at least they should have given Chad some credit. We planned this from the start.”
"Oh, whatever my sexy knight in shining armor," Tiffany said, a mischievous glint in her eye. She trailed a finger down Brad's chest, feeling him tense under her touch. "Forget about them. I got a better idea.”
Brad's scowl morphed into a grin. "Oh yeah? What did you have in mind, princess?"
Tiffany leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear. "How about we find somewhere a little more... private? This party could use some spicing up."
Brad's eyes widened, then narrowed with sudden inspiration. "I know just the place. Follow me."
He grabbed her hand, pulling her through the crowd. Tiffany giggled, the alcohol buzzing pleasantly in her veins as they slipped away from the main party. Brad led her down a narrow staircase, the sounds of the celebration fading behind them.
"The basement again?" Tiffany wrinkled her nose as they reached the bottom. "Classy, Brad."
"Trust me," he said, flashing that cocky grin she both loved and hated. "I found this awesome hidden spot earlier. It's perfect."
They navigated through the maze of dusty shelves and forgotten junk. Just as Tiffany was about to complain about the cobwebs in her hair, Brad pulled her into a secluded alcove.
"See? Nice and private," he said, pulling her close.
Tiffany had to admit, it wasn't bad. The distant thrum of the party's bass was barely audible, and the flickering candlelight cast interesting shadows on the stone walls. It was almost romantic, in a creepy, Halloween-y way.
She wound her arms around Brad's neck, pressing herself against him. "Not bad, Sir Knight. Now, how about you show me what's under all that armor?"
Brad didn't need to be asked twice. His lips crashed into hers, hungry and insistent. Tiffany melted into the kiss, her earlier boredom forgotten in the heat of the moment. She backed up, pulling Brad with her, until her back hit the wall.
Or at least, what she thought was a wall.
There was a grinding sound of stone on stone, and suddenly Tiffany was falling backward. She yelped, grabbing onto Brad's costume for balance. They stumbled together, tumbling through a hidden doorway that had materialized out of nowhere.
"What the hell?" Brad exclaimed as they regained their footing.
Tiffany blinked, her eyes adjusting to the gloom. They were in some kind of hidden chamber, the air thick with dust and the musty smell of ages past.
"Did you know about this?" she asked, her voice hushed with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
Brad shook his head, looking as stunned as she felt. "No way. This is... holy shit, babe. We might've just discovered a secret room!"
As her eyes adjusted further, Tiffany could make out more details. The chamber was circular, with strange symbols carved into the walls. But what really caught her attention was the massive stone coffin in the center of the room.
"Is that what I think it is?" she whispered, taking an involuntary step closer.
Brad whistled low. "Looks like a sarcophagus or something. Man, this place is wild!"
Tiffany approached the coffin, her earlier fear giving way to curiosity. She ran her hand over the intricate carvings on its surface, feeling the weight of history beneath her fingertips.
"We should open it," she said suddenly, surprising herself with her boldness.
Brad hesitated. "I don't know. That seems like a bad idea."
She turned to him, hands on her hips. "Oh, come on! Where's your sense of adventure? It's Halloween! This is, like, the perfect scary story to tell everyone upstairs."
Brad still looked uncertain, but Tiffany could see his resolve weakening. She pressed her advantage, sidling up to him with a coy smile.
"I'll make it worth your while," she purred, trailing a finger down his chest.
That did it. Brad's face split into a grin. "Alright, you win. Let's see what's inside this bad boy."
Together, they gripped the edge of the stone lid. It was heavier than Tiffany expected, and for a moment she thought they wouldn't be able to budge it. But then, with a grating sound that set her teeth on edge, the lid moved.
As the gap widened, a foul odor wafted out, making Tiffany gag. She was about to suggest they stop when a pale, clawed hand shot out of the opening.
Tiffany screamed, stumbling backward. Brad wasn't so lucky. The hand latched onto his wrist with inhuman strength, yanking him forward. But he pulled free before his body flew into the coffin and rubbed his wrist.
What emerged from the coffin was the stuff of nightmares. It was vaguely man-shaped, but its skin was a sickly gray, stretched tight over a skeletal frame. Its eyes glowed an unholy red in the dim light, fixed on Brad with predatory intensity.
"Holy fu-" Brad’s curse was abruptly interrupted as the creature pounced with astonishing speed.
Tiffany watched in horror as the thing–the vampire, her mind supplied hysterically–sank its fangs into Brad's neck. Brad's scream of pain quickly turned to a wet gurgle as the monster drained him with terrifying efficiency.
It happened so fast. One moment, Brad was struggling, his hands scrabbling uselessly at the vampire's iron grip. The next, he was collapsing to the ground, his body shriveled and desiccated like a raisin left too long in the sun.
The vampire turned its attention to Tiffany, its mouth stained crimson with Brad's blood. It smiled, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth.
"Well, well," it said, its voice a dry rasp that sent chills down Tiffany's spine. "What have we here? Another morsel come to break my fast?"
Tiffany's paralysis broke. She scrambled backward, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst from her chest. The vampire advanced, its movements fluid and predatory.
"No need to run, my dear," it crooned. "I promise to make it quick. Well, relatively quick."
Tiffany's back hit the wall. Her hand scrabbled against the stone, desperately searching for the mechanism that had opened the door. The vampire was mere feet away now, its fetid breath washing over her.
Just as its clawed hand reached for her, Tiffany's fingers found purchase. The wall swung open behind her, and she tumbled backward into the main basement.
She scrambled to her feet, not daring to look back. Her lungs burned as she sprinted up the stairs, Brad's fate playing on repeat in her mind's eye.
She had to warn the others. She had to tell them what she'd seen, what she'd unleashed. As Tiffany burst into the main hall, the thumping music and laughing partygoers seemed surreal, like a dream she couldn't quite shake.
She opened her mouth to scream a warning, but the words caught in her throat. How could she explain? Who would believe her?
And then, cutting through the noise of the party, she heard it. The slow, measured tread of footsteps climbing the basement stairs. The sound of a predator on the hunt.
Tiffany's blood ran cold. She'd led the monster straight to a feast.