Five minutes later, Joe awoke to a strange silence. The heater’s buzzing had stopped. He checked his mother’s room but only found an empty bed. His mother wouldn’t be back for another hour.
Wandering back into the dark living room, the boy cuddled in his blanket and stared out into the Halloween-filled neighborhood. Suddenly, the snow outside flew about in a gentle tornado and formed a faded translucent woman, who appeared to be in her twenties and dressed in a white robe. An air of royalty encircled her. Her light-colored hair fell over her shoulders covering the top half of her body as she stood. The beautiful figure couldn’t conceal her dark piercing eyes filled with sorrow and hatred.
The boy’s shocked eyes shifted to fear upon viewing the fresh dark red stain covering the bottom portion of the lady’s robes. Dreamlike frosty flakes pierced Joe solid. Only a thin glass window separated the two. Her purple lips turned upward and her eyes softened without losing their hatred.
All of a sudden, the grave silence hit him. There was no heat, no electronics buzzing, no mice scurrying through the walls, no cars outside, no noise, utterly lifeless. As Joe seemed distracted, the woman stole a step forward nearly touching the window. When her breath failed to fog up the glass, the boy realized the woman was not alive. He wondered why she had come to him.
As if she had read his mind, her crystal clear voice replied, “We’re alone most of our lives. Even now, when we should be enjoying the festivities, we find ourselves in solitude.”
The boy looked down afraid the ghost would read more of him.
“We also suffer loss. The loss of your father. The loss of my son.” She looked down at the crimson splotch. His shocked eyes followed her hands rub her belly.
Capturing the boy’s stunned expression, the ghost replied, “I know more about you than you’ll ever know.” Then she added, “Joe.”
These words hushed him instantly and sent his heart soaring with terror. The ghost lady floated beyond into the room until only a foot of air separated them. The boy took a deep breath in and out and watched the fog dissipate.
The lady kneeled across from him and told him, “Every year at this time, I watch you walk home from school. I even send you gifts.” She smiled and chuckled which the boy found terrifying. He thought back to the presents and the snow jack-o-lantern then moved back. She followed.
“What do you want with me? And why visit me now?” The boy asked noticing his crackling innocent voice.
Upset, the ghost frowned wrathfully. “Would you like to know about me?” she asked quietly.
Joe nodded and gulped. He realized his curiosity of this daunting woman’s story.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment for the last six years. Especially on the day, I’m allowed so much freedom. Not to mention the helpful snow.” The woman stared straight into his eyes and began.
“Far away in a snowy vast land, a princess married a very rich prince. Although they lived happily the first year, they knew of the hatred target towards the princess. The princess heard of plans of assassination in order to obtain the throne. One day she encountered a seductive concubine of the prince. The concubine patted her own stomach and whispered, ‘He’s mine.’
