Word count= 2805. This chapter is not long, I'm just slow😭

Grammarly can't save us from the horrible editing in this one.Sorry😜✌

Pale yellow, burnt orange, brick red. Different colours of leaves littered the pavement. They all held the bright ambient of fire. I watch the leaves twirl in the air and imagine myself journeying through a misty forest. Ugly wrinkled trees that once held life are now left bereft. Their bark has locked up all moisture preparing for the harsh and inevitable winter.

I tread softly along the path, the golden-hued foliage crunches beneath my feet, reminiscent of the sound of ancient parchment turning. The trees, now half-bare, reach their gnarled fingers towards a pewter sky as if trying to grasp the last wisps of summer's warmth.The crisp air carries the scent of wood smoke and ripening apples, mingling with the earthy aroma of decaying leaves. It's a perfume that speaks of endings and beginnings, of the cycle of life and death that Samhain represents.

I see rather than hear the breeze blowing out from under my coat. The golden leaves swirling at my feet seem to dance to an otherworldly tune, perhaps the music of the sidhe carried on the wind. In the distance, I spy a solitary hawthorn tree, its red berries a stark contrast against the autumnal palette. I'm reminded of the old tales, of the faerie folk who guard such trees, and I give it a wide berth out of respect.

"So why Salem?" I ask the words bugging my mind since Mathair-no mom told me they had moved from California to Salem. After we had left abruptly a few days after my 12th birthday, we never spoke of them. At least, Mom never did. I would often bring up how neither of us reached out after the first 3 years."I can't say. We were doing pretty good in California but I guess a change of scenery?" Kion shrugs his shoulders. Helen and Mike were true Californians, they had been born there, lived there and married there. But were quick to abandon such a lovely beach house they had to come to settle in Salem? I guess they never feared change, huh?

I twist my lips but keep quiet and face ahead. Miranda has ear pods plugged into her ears and her eyes focus on her phone, only coming back to reality once in a while to check her surroundings. Her eyes look up and she catches me staring at her. We both avert gazes. I don't know what's her problem but I don't want to keep up this childishness. I really really wanted to talk with her after so many years of not seeing each other but now this. I heave out a sigh, what have I done wrong?

"Um, Miranda?" I called out her name and noticed a slight reaction from her. I move to match her pace by her side. "I heard the room I'm staying in was...um is yours" I notice a slight unfocus in her eyes. Okay, I have her attention!"I wanted to apologize for stealing your room...haha. I'll be sure to keep it the exact same when I leave" I continue but she just keeps walking. Won't she say something? I stop for a second but she walks past me like I hadn't noticed me talking right next to her.

"Just give her some time" Kion who has watched the entire thing comes to a stop beside me as we both watch Miranda's back."What's her problem? I apologized for taking her room. To be honest, I wouldn't mind sharing the same bed with her. I didn't mean to kick her out" "I don't know what Miranda's thoughts are. But if there's one thing I can assure you, it's that she can't keep a grudge for too long. She'll come around soon enough." Kion jabs my side and playfully winks at me. I smile back as we all fall back into pace.

"Where are we going again? Don't tell me it's a witch's house" We had been walking for the past 12 minutes around the estate but I still had no clue. I had searched on Google places to be in Salem and it had brought up most things related to Witches or Halloween. Good! Now I just need to avoid going to those places.

"Do you want to go? The witch's house is a long way from here but we could get you there by car" Kion muses to himself. What is it about my face twisting in agony does he not see? Don't get me wrong but I don't care if you did. My whole life I've been born into this family that strictly follows traditional Irish and Celtic culture. From my clothes to my food, to my mannerisms down to my slang. Everything had to line up to what it meant to be a 'Celt' It was stressful and bonus points for all the kids at school making fun of me for being a try-hard. It was ridiculous so now I wanted to do anything that normal people did for the few days I'll be here at least.

Until I heard I was going to Salem. How coincidental!

"We're here" Lots of children are lined up for treats and inside the massive brick walls are different sections of fun games and activities of Snap-apple, pumpkin and Turnip-carving. There's even a whole section dedicated to kids telling jokes or magic tricks. It's not even Hallow's Eve yet. Someone shoves a pamphlet into my hand. I open it to reveal a to-do list on Halloween

"You got the kid's list" Kion laughs from behind me. He steers me through the crowd and we enter a room with disco lights, microphones are set up and some kids are singing their hearts out into it."Huh? That's not fair. I want one of the adults too" Kion cackles while he stretches as he leans down to meet my height. I'm not that short!

"Aww, did you get mistaken for a kid" A playful seductive smirk crossed his full lips, his grey eyes teasing me and I just knew at that point, that he was trying to rile me up. I roll my eyes at his antics and I'm headed for the door when he grips my hands to stop me. He twists me around and I fall face-first into his fuzzy scarf.

"Miranda is going up there too sing soon, you sure you want to leave and not ask her for a song?" I vaguely remember Miranda in her singing era. She would wake up every morning and hit a whistle not as a good morning to everyone. She wanted to be a princess and naturally let the birds and animals answer her wake-up call. I still remember her singing with a joyous smile on every birthday of my birthday, letting her silky voice carry you far away. Her dream to be a princess still rubbed off on me.

Maybe because I know I'll never be one. I would be a rough, heartless, fiery-tempered female warrior who would go naked to war against 1000 men.I draw out from our hug and I watch his eyes leave mine and snap to someone behind me. He gazes at whoever so longingly and I crane my neck slowly behind me to see an almond-skinned black girl with brown fluffy hair slicked back using spider hair pins at her bun. She pops a bubble gum loudly and is surrounded by other girls. Most kids naturally path the way for her and her group that stands at the entrance of the section.

Oh, so that's his type.

But my eyes don't focus on the brown-skinned girl. No, it's on an Asian girl probably my height, her black medium-length hair is cut shut right at her face framing her cute cheeks. A streak of pink and green is on either side of her hair and her blue eyes zero on me. Oh shit, this position isn't exactly. Her brows frown at me and her lips push into a pout like she's asking me who I am and his identity.I widen my eyes and fervently shake my head no and even let my lip pull upwards like stating "Like I would ever be with this guy" I'm looking at the Asian because of her massive cups! It was a whole planet. I had to quickly get rid of the allegations between us not being cousins because I was scared she'd suffocate me at night with her tits alone. Even with her coat you could see the outline of those humong-

Kion pushes me away as the girls walk away and I turn around to see him with flushed cheeks. "I'll be right back" He ditches me in a room of people. I look around for Miranda and find her huddled to one side of the room, sitting alone as she waits her turn. I walk past a table that displays all sorts of candied apples. Caramel, chocolate, popcorn coated apples

"Wanna karaoke? I heard a duo can get double the prices. I want one of those" She gruffly states. Yes, yes I want to.

"Uh...I guess I could do that for you" I sit down beside her in a state of joy and relief. Okay, she doesn't fully hate me. She might just be using me to get apples or maybe she's using this as an excuse to get back close to me. I don't know but I won't let his opportunity go by and I'll be sure to remind her later!

We sit down side by side as we watch kids grumble a bunch of words into the microphone when a girl saunters towards us. Someone is passing out breadcakes. It's a tradition for people to bake items along with bread. A ring meant good fortune, a ring meant the person would marry within the year, a pea meant they wouldn't marry that year, and a stick meant unhappy marriages or disputes. I fumble with the Barmbrack's wrappers, trying to see what I've been given.

"Miranda~" She squeals and they both get up to hug each other like they haven't seen each other in ages. I pretty sure age meant 24 hours. I break into my bread cake to see a piece of black clothing and i quickly tuck it into my coat. I stand up because I find it awkward to be the only one sitting amongst us.

"Fanta, you're here. Good! Take a seat." Fanta takes my seat and I turn around to look for other seats.

"Look at all these apples" Fanta states with a gleam in her eyes. "I just came back from the apple bobbing contest but the owners were scared I would eat all their apples so they sent me away" She brings up a rainbow- bracelets infested so much I can't even see her skin.

"What's the name of this one Mrs. Philia?" Miranda asks a robust lady who guards the apples. I've seen her order kids around and made some of the kids redo their karaoke."That's the Oreo cookie apple, dear"

"I want it" I lick my lips to have a bite of that apple. I observe every other apple on the table but it's only that one that is unique. I just hope no one up on the stage would take it as a prize.

"Me too" Miranda looks longingly at the apple.

"Hey, could you stand in front of me?" Miranda grabs me by my arms as I stand in front of her as she reapplies some lipgloss. Seriously?

She keeps murmuring something and when I turn around I find her sneaking the Oreo apple underneath her hoodie. My frown is apparent.

"Miranda, what are you doing?" I whisper-yell at her. Did I just help her steal? Was I an accomplice? This sounded so wrong. This was wrong.

"Good job Mira" Fanta applauds her. Not good.

"Miranda put it back down" I grit my teeth. This wasn't how Miranda was. Look I get it was no big deal but something in me just felt like it should be.

"Or what? You'll tell my mom?" A derisive smirk stretches across her lips but I see the fear in her eyes. Would I tell her mom? Would I be a snitch? No, if she wanted to do it this way then.I look behind to Mrs.Pilia who's eyes lock with mine, suspicion brews in her brown orbs and I think we'll get caught. I turn back to Miranda. Gah-no!I was disappointed because even though I wanted it and she got it, it was not the right way. I hold my tongue from spilling what i wanted to say. This wasn't Miranda...

"This is no good. Fanta be my partner" Hey. That was unfair.

"But you wanted us to.."I start defiantly. Was it pathetic of me? Maybe.

"Uh, yeah I don't care now, Fanta is my partner" With that, Miranda grips Fanta's arms and hop on the stage

***

Pale yellow, burnt orange, brick red, All these colours filter and pass through my eyes. I don't know where I am going and frankly, I don't remember where I came from. I stop dead in my tracks to take a breath. The scent that filters into my nose is odd. It smells of something I know, like I've been here a thousand times. This exact spot my white boots cover but there's something weird. Something wrong. Was it the engine oil that was leaking from underneath 35 Streets's Volkswagon? Or was it because I stood out in all these white clean buildings.

I take another sniff of the air but almost scream when I spot someone coming out from a bush. A man in clothing too flimsy for the upcoming winter, his shoes are worn but you can tell they are pretty expensive. His beard sticks to his face like little patches of grass but his eyes are focused. He suddenly turns to me and I feel myself grow tense.

"You new a'ound here?" He throws a question at me.

Think fast! "Uh-huh. I mean yes sir" I almost salute. Damn, must be one of the perks of being homeless in a rich neighbourhood. Or maybe it was just something about this particular man.

"No wonder, I've never seen a youngin' like you...hmm," He muses to himself.

"I live with the Hendersons" Should I be telling him this?

"The Hendersons? Good family they are! Bright kids too" He side-eyes me, his eyes holding an unsure of whether or not to say this.

"Where are you from then?" He questions

"Not from anywhere around here," I answer vaguely. Not like he's gonna do anything with my citizenship.

"You've come here to live?" He quirks his eyebrows. Why would he want to know now? 

"Why would that matter to you?" I stop my nose from sneering

"Good answer, good answer. Wanna gamble?" Gambling? Why would I gamble with a man who had nothing to lose or give. You should always fear a man who has no fear. 

"No" Am I about to get kidnapped? I don't see anyone within a kilometre and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I open my mouth to speak but he's talking these words that send a shiver down my spine.

"Heed well these words, for they echo the whispers of ancestors across the ages: Be wary, for danger lurks in the shadows as relentless as the Wild Hunt. The wind carries whispers of approaching peril. Arm yourself not just with steel, but with the wisdom of the old ways. Remember the power of the rowan and the strength of the oak. Let your eyes be as sharp as the falcon's and your mind as quick as the salmon of knowledge. Trust in your instincts, for they are the echoes of ancestral memory. Like the druids of old, read the signs in nature - the sudden flight of birds, the unnatural silence of the forest, the restlessness of the hares. Stand firm in the face of adversity, with the courage and strength of old heroes. But know when to bend like the willow. May the blessings of Brigid shield you, and the cleverness of Lugh guide your steps. For in these uncertain times, we must draw upon the strength of those who walked this land before us." He sings, wiggling his fingers from left to right like a conductor to an orchestra.

"Who are you?" My body is tenser than when he first came scrambling out of the bush. Why were his words..."Good question indeed" He smiles. His upper lips fold over the lower one and his eye bags become more prominent. "Sweet dreams" He stalks backwards, his hands are tied behind his back. I watch him retreating slowly. My heart is hammering in my throat as I feel a creeping cackle touch my spine. The man's build becomes one with the shade of trees and the sun. I don't waste any more time and I'm running back home. 

I suddenly remember the black piece of clothing in my Barmbrack. Rags or dirty clothes meant bad luck.

"Sweet Aisling"