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1586 Words
The cloaked male stepped forward pulling his hud off, his dark hair hung over his face. “I’m sorry babe. I never meant to scare you.”
“And the scythe?”
“My spade.” He said showing her, pushing it into the ground. ‘We best take a look at that ankle. “Come into my office.”
They helped Autumn up going into the office she sat down, he sat opposite her touching her ankle. She jumped.
“It’s sprained babe.”
Autumn looked at Connor and their friends as he held the cold compress on her head.
“And you thought this was fun?”
“Yeah.” James laughed.
She stared angrily at him cutting his laughter short.
“Chill Autumn, we got Stenton and the others out here last Halloween and got a few of Gaz’s mates to s**t ‘em up. Boy was they shitted best f*****g night ever.”
“So he had a party instead?”
“He always has a party. We just thought we’d bring you in here this year just so you could see how it worked, then next year you could join us. We didn’t expect you to pass out.”
“I hit my f*****g head!”
“Let’s take a look at that.” He said, knotting the bandage.
Connor took the compress of her forehead. “Looks okay, you’ll have a bump tomorrow maybe a bruise.”
“How am I going to explain this to my mom?”
“Lie.”
She looked at all of them.
“It’s for the best Autumn. We’re not supposed to be in here Gaz could loose his job.”
She looked at them in defeat. “Fine.” She huffed.
“Thanks. Gaz we best be going.”
“Sure guys and keep an eye on her.”
“Will do.”
Connor helped Autumn to her feet. She looked at Gaz. “Thanks.”
He smiled.
They all walked out of the cemetery office through the gates.
“We’re sorry Autumn. The guys thought it was class, so we thought you would too.”
“It’s okay.”
“We’ll see you Monday.”
“Sure.”
“Bye Autumn.”
“Later guys.”
Daniel looked at Connor who nodded. ‘We’re really sorry Red, all of us.”
“Sure.”
“Come in let’s get back. Guess you’re tired.”
“A little.”
“Come on.”
He held her to steady her down the toad. He closed the door behind them. “Come on, your room is next to mine.”
“Can I use the bathroom.”
“Yeah just try and keep quiet.”
“Okay.”
She hobbled up the stairs. Closing the bathroom door, refreshing. She opened the door. “You okay babe?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry okay.”
She looked at him solemnly.
“Your room is next to the bathroom.”
“Can you keep me company, until I fall asleep.”
“Sure, let me just get this off and I’ll be in.”
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
Autumn hobbled into the room.
Connor closed the door lying beside her. “You okay babe?”
“Yeah just my head hurts.”
“I can’t give you nothing you’ve been drinking babe.”
“I know.”
“I’ll keep an eye on you. How’s your ankle?”
“Sore.”
“Wst it up tomorrow okay. What time does your mom expect you back.”
“About six.”
“Good you can rest til then.’ He leaned forward. ‘I’ll warn you next time okay.”
“I’m not doing another Halloween, Con.”
“Come on babe it’s fun.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. You just need to relax a little. Let your hair down.”
“I’ll try.”
He smiled pressing his lips on hers kissing her. He moved away. “Sweet dreams babe.” He said, lying by her side holding her close. She lay nervously looking around the room slowly closing her eyes.
1st November
Autumn slowly opened her eyes she was alone. Had Connor gone to bed?
He edged around the door. “So you’re finally awake?”
“Yeah.” She looked at him. ‘Did you go to bed Con?”
“No, I must’ve dozed off watching you. You say some weird s**t in your sleep.”
“What sort of weird s**t?”
“Not sure. None of it quiet made sense. So… are you coming down.”
“Yeah.” She said, pulling herself up. Hobbling over to him.
“Put your arm round me babe.”
She placed her arm around him he steadied her . “You ready?”
“Yeah.’
“Let’s go.”
They walked slowly and steadily down the stairs. He helped her into the sofa. Placing her ankle on a cushion.
“Stay here whilst I do us both a coffee.’
“Okay.”
He smiled, turning walking out of the lounge.
He placed the coffees down sitting next to her.
“You sure that you’re okay babe? You sounded as if you were having a nightmare.”
“I..I.”
“It was last night wasn’t it?”
“They all thought it was funny Con.”
“Who the guys?’
“No, Taylor and his friends..”
“What happened babe?”
She looked at him.
“They pull the reaper s**t on you too?”
“On all of us, they thought it would be cool to go into the cemetery on Halloween at midnight. Me and my friends were fourteen they thought it would be fun to tell ghost stories and go into the cemetery. They all disappeared we all went in splitting up. He came out of nowhere Con and came at me with a scythe. I had no idea where my friends were, I screamed and ran he followed. It felt so much like that night I broke my ankle and had severe concussion from the blow to my head.”
“I’m sorry babe, the guys pull the same trick every year. Gaz likes the glory of shitting everyone up, he never meant to.”
“I know.”
“So, who was the reaper?”
“I don’t know. Taylor was there when I came round no one else. He took me to hospital I couldn’t hardly talk. Sam picked us up, they argued about his foolishness. Mom was pissed she wanted me to stop seeing him.”
“At a guess you didn’t.”
“Mom disapproved, but I loved him. I guess I was a fool?”
“No not at all. We all fall in love Autumn, we all have to make our own mistakes.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t after the pool.”
“You should’ve left him,.” He said, angrily.
“He said it wouldn’t happen again.”
“Until the next time right?”
“Yeah Halloween.”
“Why stay with him babe? And don’t say cause you loved him.’
“He was different when we were alone. I guess he had something to prove to them, prove I wasn’t holding him back.”
“You should’ve left him, Autumn.”
“It wasn’t that easy Con. I tried he turned it around so I wouldn’t. He made damn sure I’d stay around.”
“I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay. I just got into deep and I couldn’t get back out. I loved him Con and he left me alone to pick up the pieces making everyone around me hate me.”
He pulled her close. “I’m not like that Autumn, I know you want nothing more than friends and I respect that.”
“I wish I was dead, Con.”
“Don’t think like that babe. He obviously had issues a lot more than you knew about and he was prepared to tell you about. It wasn’t your fault okay.”
“But they’re dead and I’m not.”
“Don’t feel guilty babe you shouldn’t have to feel guilty for their fall you got through it they could’ve too.” He kissed her brow. She lay her head in his chest.
“Say you’ll never leave me.”
“I promise babe.”
Tears slipped down her face onto his tee-shirt. “You can borrow some of my clothes.”
“Thanks.”
“We’re friends babe.”
After lunch they dressed walking slowly to the lake house their arms round each other.
Autumn’s mom opened the door. “Oh my god Autumn what happened?”
“Damn dress got caught under my shoes. I tripped over.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’ll survive.”
“Thanks, Connor.”
“My pleasure.”
“I’ll see you Monday.”
“Sure thanks Con.”
“Anytime. Later babe.”
“Later Con.”
He walked away as the door closed.
“Sit down honey I’ll do you a drink.”
“I’m okay mom.”
“I told you that dress was too long.”
“I know.” She said, sitting down.
Her mom placed the drinks down sitting down. “So how was it last night?”
“Good.”
“And Connor?”
“He was a gentleman.”
“Glad to hear it.”
- Writer
