Preface - Part 1

He was walking quitely down the road, lightly circling a few trees. He was thinking. It was only today that he had heard about Samhain [pronounced: Sow-en (sow rhyming with cow and en like end)], but he was already fascinated. This was All-Hallow's Eve anyway.
He stopped. His cape fluttering slightly behind him.... But, there was no wind. He pondered that thought as long as he could before...
A dark image suddenly dropped from the treetops in front of him....
The only sounds were the crack of twigs underneath the figure as it approached....
And somehow, he couldn't move.
He dare not speak.
He hardly breathed.
He waited....
As the figure was within 3 feet of him, he called out...
Just as the figure was close enough that he could feel it's hot breath on his face...
They heard it:
"STAC---!!"
But it was too late.

Beginning - Part 2

Several days earlier

They were walking to their 3rd block class together. They didn't have the same class but they still liked walking together. Plus, everyone got annoyed when 7 people walked down the hallways, clumped together.
He seperated off from the group and waved to the others.
"See you at last bell right, Drake?" A girl from the group called to him, speaking for them all.
"Pssh. Of course, Kaci!" Drake said back. They all smiled as he walked into the class.
As Drake strolled to his seat in the back, he prepared himself for his least favorite class... which was about to begin.
On his way, he gave 2 high-fives and one enthusiastic nod.
The teacher was a substitute.
And, it was the two days before Halloween.
Halloween was on a Saturday this year so tomorrow they got to dress up in their costumes. The substitute would be there tomorrow, too. And since the sub was new to their school, he didn't know any of them and their disruptive behavior.
This was also Computers Class so NO ONE would be doing their work. Everyone would be playing things like Tetris and Gaia and being on Facebook and MySpace-they all knew the cheats and proxies.
The class dragged on but finally, when the bell rang at 1:56, Drake darted for the door and made a rush to get to his locker so he could catch up with his friends.
While he was on his way to the bathroom, his best friend, Alecks [pronounced just like Alex], came up to him, grabbed his arm and spun him around into the bathroom.
"Hey, dude, wanna skip class?" Alecks asked, almost hyperventallating.
"Sure, but, what are we going to do? I didn't bring my PSP today." Skipping was a usual thing for them to do.
"Don't worry, dude. I got something to tell you that's, like, real important."
"... Okay?" Alecks sounded like he was high so Drake wasn't going to believe the story anyway.

Part 3

The bell to be in class rang as Drake and Alecks held their breath. They'd been caught before and they WERE NOT about to go through that punishment again. They heard the footsteps of the teachers who check the hallways enter their rooms and close the doors behind them.
It was then that Alecks began telling his story.
"So, dude, listen. Appearently, there's some old ghost named Samhain or something-"
Drake interupted him. "C'mon, Alecks, there's no such thing as ghosts."
"Nah, man, there is! Just listen."
"Okay, fine. Go on."
"A'ight. So there's this ghost named Samhain and it, like, kills people or something."
"Seriously, Alecks? Man, c'mon, all you heard is some stupid ghost story that your grandpa was told when he was a kid to keep from going trick-or-treating. Speaking of that, are you coming this year?"
"No way, dude. Especially with Samhain!"
"Alecks, think about it. If this Samhain is real-" he rolled his eyes in obvious disbelief "-then he's prolly been dead for a while. Am I right?"
"Well, yeah, but what's that got to do with it?"
"I'll tell you. Now, shut up." Alecks covered his mouth with his hand and sat down on the floor. "A'ight man," Drake continued, "How long have we been trick-or-treating together? Like, 6 years. So, if this Samhain guy is real, then you prolly would have been attacked by him or at least had seen him by now; don't you think?"
"... Yeah I guess you're right."
"Of course I am."
"But, what about...." Alecks trailed off.
"... What about what?" Drake prompted him.
Alecks paused again. "What about the people its killed so far?"
Drake stopped. "What?" A ghost can't kill someone... Can it?
"Yeah, dude. You know Travis? The fat football player?"
"Yeah, he's in my next class."
"And he hasn't been here in a few days, has he?"
"Well, no, I guess he hasn't.... But that doesn't mean a ghost killed him. He probably just ate something bad. He eats everything you put in front of him. He's probably just home sick or something...." Drake wanted to believe it but he had a bad feeling on the situation.
"Nah, man, he's dead. And you know Kimmie? She used to be one of us? You remember?"
"Yeah, she and I went out after she dated Colton."
"Yup, and she hasn't been here for over a week. Samhain, man. I'm not kidding."
"That's BS, Alecks. She is probably just outta the country or something. You know she travels a lot with her family." Not Kimmie.
"No, I saw her mom getting the mail yesterday while her dad was walking the dog."
"Maybe she's sick, too. Maybe her brother is sick and she has to watch him." Drake didn't want to believe it. Not Kimmie.
"No, I saw her brother watering the yard and going out with some friends."
"... Well that doesn't mean she's dead." NOT KIMMIE.
"You're right, it doesn't. But, I overheard Travis's mom talking about the costs of a funeral." Alecks told Drake enthusiasticaly.
"Maybe it was a family member. That would explain his absence."
"Then she talked about inviting his friends at school and having the football coach talk about him." Alecks smiled, pleased with the fact he had this information.
Right then, the sound of an announcement about to be made rang overhead.
"Pardon the interruption, teachers and students, but I regret to inform you that our beloved Travis Marton and Kimberly Jameison have both passed away. I cannot say from what, but both funerals will be closed casket. Times of the wake and funerals will be posted online and announced forecomingly."
Not Kimmie.
The dreadful news with the uncaring voice was ended with the crashing sound of the phone being put back onto the receiver.
"Okay, maybe they're dead. But maybe they got in a car crash."
"Nah, dude, neither of them can drive yet. And it's going to be closed casket. That sounds nasty."
"Yeah, I heard.... I can't believe they're dead. Well, Travis was a rotten bag of trash but Kimmie...." Not Kimmie.
Alecks paused. He'd forgotten of Drake's and Kimmie's relationship. "Aw, man, I'm sorry. i completely forgot you still liked her. Crap. Drake, I'm so sorry." If Alecks was drunk, he sobered up pretty fast.
"No, man. Its all good. She wasn't going to go back out with me anyway."
"Still, it hurts." He offered Drake a bro-hug but Drake shrugged him off. "Hey, maybe we should talk about something else."
"No. I want to learn more about this Samhain guy. Especially if he did this."
Alecks stopped and looked at him skeptically. "I thought you didn't believe in ghosts, Drake."
"I don't, but this sounds... interesting."

Part 4

In the following class, Drake and Alecks both tried to get as much research as possible into one class period in order to share their information with the other at the end of the school day. They searched topics from: "Samhain" to "ghosts that kill" on every site from samhain.com to wikipedia. They only had about 30 minutes to get everything done though so they didn't get enough. And they didn't know what they should believe. There was no way of knowing what was the truth... If any of it was the truth. Which seemed unlikely.
They only found 3 possibly realistic sites with information but one said that Samhain was a hero-not a god like some of the other sites-and was probably named after the Celtic festival of the end of the summer. Another said that Samhain was the God of the Dead. The last said it was a poor translation and "samhain" really means "a death of a god." They weren't sure what to believe.
The boys sat through the rest of last block in silent dismay.
At the end of the class period, they came together again.
"Dude, I got nothing." Alecks said, disappointed.
"Yeah, me neither." Drake's voice became quiet quickly. "Maybe we could ask a teacher. I mean, someone has to know, don't they?"
"Well, maybe, but I don't want my teachers to think I'm stupid because of a question."
"Man, they think you're stupid anyway." Drake laughed. Everyone knew that Alecks wasn't the brightest crayon in the crayon box... and that the teachers knew he smoked pot in the bathroom. Honestly, they didn't care. He's been doing it for three years and they didn't see a change coming any time soon.
"Anyway," Drake said after they had both gone to their lockers. "I think someone would know. What about a student?"
"... Yeah man! That one goth guy who isn't in our 'group'" Alecks made air quotes. "I think his name is... Well, I don't know his name but he goes by Midnight . Who'd'a guessed, right?" He laughed but Drake thought it was a good idea. If anyone knew about Samhain, it would be the kid who basically worshipped Halloween. But they would have to hurry. Most kids were already on the bus or in their car by now.
Drake told Alecks his plan and they started off. Right before they were on the second hallway, they heard-
"Drake! Alecks!" Drake knew the voice.
Kaci.
Crap.
He knew she would slow them down. By then, they wouldn't be able to catch Midnight in time.
Alecks looked at him. He whispered, "Drake, go on ahead and look for Midnight, I'll keep Kaci busy."
"... What will you say?"
Alecks smiled stupidly. "That you got the runs."
Drake gave him a glare but he knew he didn't have time to argue. He took off farther down the hallway just as Kaci wrapped her arm around Alecks.
"Hey! Where you going, Drake?!" Kaci called behind him. He felt bad about ditching her but he knew he had to do it.
For Kimmie.

He ran around the corner and down the right hall just as a group of cheerleaders were coming out from the bathroom.
They looked at him like he was a god.
He stopped jogging.
"Have you girls seen Midnight?"
Now, they looked at him like he was a friggin' idiot.
The snobby one in the front spoke first. "Who?" Her face scrunched up in disgust. Her tone was almost menacing.
Drake didn't even bother.
He turned on his heel and darted back to the center and took the left hallway this time. He passed a few girls and their expressions changed to lust when they saw him. Drake's black, shaggy hair that was originally neatly brushed to one side, was flapping effortlessly up and back down onto his forehead with each bound of his powerful legs. His blue and red jacket soared open and flittered behind him, exposing his tight As Blood Runs Black shirt. His shirt only defined his perfect abs and muscular body. His jeans, which were red, skinny jeans, already detailed his godly legs while running in them only illustrated better his ideal, well-built limbs. His magnificent baby blue eyes faded into a deep blue around the edges of the irises. His glorious nose twitched slightly with the wind from his speed. His marvelous lips, oh his lips, partly just faintly enough to get a quick breath. As he ran, his scent like that of the aroma of fifty-thousand roses budding with a drizzling of precipitation still lingered behind him.
Even if you weren't in his 'group' - No, even if people like him weren't your type - Still wrong. Even if you didn't like GUYS, you still had to admit; Drake was hot.

Part 5

Drake sprinted off, down the never-ending corridor. He knew Midnight had to be here somewhere!
He came to the end of the hallway and turned down the connector passage. If Midnight wasn’t in here, there were only about three other places he could be. Luckily enough, Drake found him near the end of the hall with another student. He stopped running. The other student appeared to be intimidating Midnight; probably making fun of him for how he dresses. That’s why we stick in a group, Midnight! Drake yelled to him in his mind. He wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t think trying to take the bully would be the best of ideas-he looked like a major jock-but he couldn’t see one of his own being harmed. He wouldn’t have it.
The bully grabbed on to the front of Midnight’s shirt with one fist. Drake stepped forward and the bully turned around at the sound of the footfall with Midnight still in his hand. The boy whimpered slightly but wouldn’t show his pain.
The bully’s face dropped. “Oh, hey, Drake.” He said timidly. He smiled awkwardly and looked at Midnight. “Um, hey, so, sorry man.” He whispered strangely to him as he sat him down, back on his feet. “So, yeah,” He stumbled on his words. “I should probably get going…”
“Yeah, you should.” Drake said harshly. He wanted to add something that would make the bully leave faster so he could question Midnight. Then he realized, I don’t even know this guys’ name but he’s scared of me? Awesome!
The jock waddled out of the hall and jumped into a sprint down the hallway.
Midnight took a single step closer and just said, “Hey, thanks, um… Drake?”
Drake smiled even though Midnight wasn’t looking at him. “No problem. It’s Midnight, right?”
Midnight looked up, astonished that he knew his name. “Yeah. That’s what they call me. You can call me Michael though. I mean, if you want.” He rubbed his arm and looked away, almost like he was embarrassed.
“Cool. So, my buddy, Alecks and I, we have a question.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen you guys together.” He stopped, looked confused and squinted around. “Where is he? I’ve never seen you guys apart.”
“He’s talking to one of our friends right now.” Drake wasn’t about to say, ‘Oh, he’s distracting my friend so I could find you.’ That just sounded too stalker-ish. “But there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
Michael looked puzzled. What could they want with me? “Okay?”
“You see… We know you really like Halloween and scary stuff, we do too, but we thought you’d know a bit more about this subject than us…” Drake found himself stalling. And he wasn’t sure why.
“Out with it!” Michael laughed.
Drake laughed, too. “Okay, well, we were wondering if you knew anything about Samhain.”
Midnight stopped smiling.
“Where did you hear that name?” Midnight asked nervously.
“… Alecks said he heard it from somewhere.” Drake honestly didn’t know where Alecks heard it. “… I’m guessing you know about it?”
“Oh yeah.”
After Midnight appeared to not be telling anymore Drake prodded.
“And…? What is it? What do you know?”
Midnights’ green eyes stared, frightened up at Drake’s. His black hair covered most of his eyes and his red lowlights parted over each one. His eyeliner appeared as if it was a day old and his black lips seemed chapped. His Slipknot shirt and dark baggy jeans quivered slightly along with his petite body. His fragile arms clenched each other.
“… I’m afraid I have to go now,” was all Michael whispered before scurrying off down the hall and turning a corner. Drake moved forward to follow him but when he looked down the corridor that Midnight took, he was gone.