Greetings, Author.
Congratulations on making into our most amazing story in our Anthology event "Halloween and Autumn Get Togeter'24"

Theme chosen: Halloween. 

Only This One Night

Vampires: Two. Witches: Four. Unicorns: Three. Popular, this year.

Ah, another vampire. So, three vampires, four witches, three unicorns. And a ghost. The first one

I've seen today. Hm, no, zombies don't count.

I smile to myself as I walk further along the sidewalk. It's still bright, but the first children are already on the street trying to get hold of sweets. Most of them are accompanied by parents or other older ones who stay in the background while the children recite their lines at the doors.

They all wear cute costumes, but I only count the magical creatures.

Of course, it doesn't mean that they remember the origins of Halloween. Or that their companions know about it. Or the people at the doors. Still, it makes me happy to share the street not only with superheroes, law enforcers and nobles, but also with the ancients ones.

A fairy! The translucent fabric wings are covered with all kinds of colorful glitter, the child also holds up a small stick with a plastic star while reciting a chorus with the others.

I pull my reddish-brown coat tighter around me and fluff up the hood trimmed with fake fur, as a cool gust of wind causes orange leaves, costumes and clothes alike to flutter. It's just playing, stroking everything with gentle hands, as if strumming a harp. The whispering of the few trees in my street is amplified by the rustling of the plastic bags of the little mythical creatures. The music of our little town.

I stop briefly and take in the fresh air with a deep breath. As if by magic, my eyes close and for a moment I am flooded with the scents of autumn. Damp, mossy aromas; spices in pumpkin pies cooling on windowsills; herbal tea; a hint of rain and darkness.

The transition to November is often accompanied by fog or rain. But when I open my eyes again and look up at the sky past the streetlights that are waking up one by one, I don't see a cloud. Nor are there any hazy wisps gathering in the more secluded corners of alleyways and gardens, only to later lay a shifting blanket over the asphalt under the cover of darkness.

Warmth flows through me, because the children's joy will remain undimmed. It's good if they don't know about the shadows connected with this night. That were connected, I correct myself in my thoughts.

A teasing gust of wind pulls the hood off my head. My ears and the tip of my nose start to tingle in the cold air. My smile deepens.

It's time for me to get home to do my bit.

The green door of the apartment building where my unit is located comes into view, and I wonder how many kids will ring my doorbell today. As soon as the night has descended, experience shows that there are fewer of them. For a while, the ones I like to call goblins wander around: young people with nothing but nonsense on their minds. Not malicious, but reckless, towards themselves and others.

As I unlock the door, I do another count: My list has expanded to three vampires, four witches, three unicorns, a ghost and a fairy. Not bad, there were fewer last year. Maybe if there are even more... I suppress the brief pang of sadness and longing that wells up inside me. There'll be time for that later.

In the hallway, I can hear "Monster Mash" blaring from one of the apartments on the second floor. Preparations for the usual party are already in progress. The invitation, nicely designed as I happily admitted, arrived in my letterbox a week ago. I wouldn't participate, but I sincerely wished my neighbors and their guests a good time. This night is a night to celebrate.

I run my fingers lightly over the green branches at my front door. My craftsmanship leaves a lot to be desired, so the little spiders and skulls I've attached to them are a little crooked. Nevertheless, I'm quite pleased with the result. Anyone who passes by my door knows that I also take part in the candy distribution. I'm also going to put a candle in the window... Living on the first floor has its advantages.

As I pull the door shut behind me, the sounds of the party music are blocked out. Only the booming bass can still be heard, almost more felt.

It will soon be dark and I don't want to miss the stragglers who might still be coming by. I quickly hang up my coat and take off my shoes. The cauldron in which I have collected sweets, caramel cookies and small chocolate bars is ready in the kitchen. Since last year, I've also always added some fruit, mainly apples. My "customers" have changed. Or their parents. I'm not complaining. As far as I'm concerned, apples, berries and nuts could be the only offerings I give out to appease the little pseudo-monsters.

But the blood sacrifice these days is no longer red, it's white. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about the children on a sugar rush later.

I grin to myself as I light the candle in the large ceramic pumpkin to guide the way to me. It's still light outside, but dusk is pouring its shadows more and more generously. The older kids, who are allowed to look for their prey a little later, will soon start making their rounds.

It doesn't take long until the first ringing of the doorbell. The children's bags and satchels are still pretty limp; I must be one of the first stops on their way.

Just a flick of the wrist and the reddish-brown mask with the fluffy ears and black nose sits comfortably over my eyes. "Trick or treat!" I hear a chorus of three voices as I open the door to the hallway.

"Great costumes you're wearing," I praise as I hold out my cauldron to a scarecrow, a dinosaur and a... truck. They say a good thank you, take something out and move on, whispering joyfully. The older man accompanying them gives me a friendly nod; I wave back and close the door again.

The evening passes quickly and I have to refill my cauldron twice. At least I was able to add a few entries to my mental list: Five vampires, four witches, four unicorns, three ghosts, two fairies, one troll. I also allow myself to count the two spiders and the wolf as animal spirits.

I look at my watch, which tells me that it's now past ten. That means the party above me is about to start. And I've waited long enough.

A tingling sensation builds up inside me. An almost painful mixture of longing, joy and nostalgia rushes through my veins, making the hairs on my skin stand out. The tip of my nose itches, all the smells become more intense.

Not yet.

I lock my door twice, blow out the candle in the window and lower the shutters. The small dining table is quickly moved to the side so that I have enough space in the middle of the room.

I can barely control my fingers as I remove my clothes. A tremor has taken hold of me, causing my skin to ripple in tiny waves.

Not yet.

The leather band around my neck, which holds the small teardrop-shaped moonstone, seems to get tighter and wider in pulsating motions. But it is not the necklace that is changing.

Tears are running down my cheeks as I close my hand around the stone and say the forbidden words. The words that will bring me home. That will make my banishment void.

As the shimmering portal opens, I shake my fur and turn my ears forward. Foxes have no tears, and neither do spirits.

All pain, all trembling is gone. I am myself, and the happiness of it fills me like liquid light.

A short bark and I plunge into the portal.

I am home.

If only for this one night.