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*ੈ✩‧₊˚กѻՇ คɭɭѻฝﻉɗ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 —

TW: mentions of death and knifes

I hope everything in Spanish is accurate!! I used Spanishdict like someone told me too !! Hopefully it's correct :)) but thank you to that person (I forgot their username, my bad)
PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
VOTE AND COMMENT!!! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

BILLY DROPPED THE GIRLS OFF. As soon as Josie stepped out of the car, Max eagerly grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side of the building. "What was that?" Max questioned with a grin, her curiosity piqued. Josie sighed, putting her two fingers to Max's head and closing her eyes. "Josie, what are you doing?" Max asked, but Josie shushed her with a gentle reassurance. "I'll show you," she mumbled, initiating a mysterious exchange between them. As Josie delved into her unique abilities, Max's eyes began to droop, and a surreal connection formed.

Max fell asleep, and as her eyes closed, Josie's opened, blood still trickling down her nose. Cradling Max in her arms, Josie gently stroked her hand through her hair. Josie had put Max in a temporary coma, a unique way to share her memories and convey the complexities of their shared history despite Josie's limited English proficiency.

As Max began to wake up, her eyes fluttering open, she looked up at Josie, her lips curling into a frown. "Oh," she murmured, processing the unusual experience and the flood of memories that Josie had shared with her.

Josie nodded, her lips curled into a thoughtful frown as she continued to stroke her hand through Max's hair. Max sat up, scooting over to lean against the brick wall. "Do you miss Charlotte?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Josie. Josie nodded once again, a poignant expression on her face. "A lot," she admitted, the memories of her past and the people she had left behind resonating in her heart.

Max chuckled. "Well... Maybe she can come next summer," she suggested with a head tilt. Josie shrugged her shoulders, her eyebrows knitted together. "Trying to," she stated, hinting at the complexity of the situation. Josie pushed herself back on her feet, now towering over Max.

"Please don't tell anyone. Only boys know... Now you," she said softly, extending her pinkie. Max nodded, looking up at her. "Of course. I won't tell anyone," she promised, locking her pinkie with Josie, sealing the unspoken trust with a pinkie swear. "Pinkie swear," they said in unison, their smiles reflecting the bond they had forged amidst the mysteries of their shared past and present.

Josie held both hands out, and Max took them, allowing herself to be pulled up. "So, what are your superpowers?" Max whispered, nudging Josie in the side as they walked towards the store. Josie replied, "I will show you one... Only one for now. More later. But... I can put people in dreams. Show them stuff. Like I did to you. And... Shadows did with the car. But you can see them again another time."

Max eyed Josie curiously as Josie winked at her. Josie then assessed the situation inside the costume shop, ensuring it was clear for her demonstration. The cashier was sleeping, and the shop was empty since most people already had their costumes. Josie lowered her head, directing a determined glare at the lock. Concentrating her mind, with a flick of her wrist, she made the door swing open without physically touching it.

Max's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open in astonishment, a smile curling onto her lips. The display of Josie's telekinetic ability left Max both amazed and intrigued.

Josie grabbed the door before it closed, stepping aside to allow Max to walk in. Max gave Josie a teethy smile as she entered, and Josie followed her. The cashier, lost in a deep sleep, drooled with their head resting on the counter. Josie raised an eyebrow, looking around for Max.

"Max?" she called out in a whisper. "Over here," Max responded. Josie found her in the horror aisle, holding a plastic bag with a Michael Myers costume inside. Max looked over her shoulder, attempting to read the label. "M-Mich-eal... My-myers?" she read out loud, the unfamiliar name leaving her slightly puzzled.

Max's blush deepened, and she turned her head away, clearly caught off guard by Josie's compliment. Josie couldn't help but find Max's reaction endearing, and she giggled, playfully pushing some of Max's hair behind her ears. "Pretty," Josie commented, her eyes reflecting warmth and appreciation.

As Max held the bag with the Michael Myers costume, they continued to navigate the aisles. Josie, however, found herself lost in her own thoughts, staring at the floor as she tried to recall something important. Max, noticing Josie's distraction, reached out through their telepathic connection. "Josie? Are you okay?" Max's concerned voice echoed through Josie's mind, bringing her back to the present..

Josie's eyes widened as realization struck, and she exclaimed, "Shit! Find me a costume. I gotta call my mom. Forgot!" She hastily sprinted out of the store, her urgency evident in the way she moved. Nearly stumbling over her own feet, Josie made her way to the payphone, hurriedly inserting a quarter and dialing her mom's number.

She held the phone to her ear, she tapped her foot impatiently, her nerves showing as she anxiously bit on her nails, glancing around the area. "Holá?" her mom's voice greeted her through the phone.

Josie felt relief wash over her as she relaxed her shoulders. "Mamá, ¿puedes recogernos a Max y a mí en la tienda de disfraces de Aries?" she asked, biting down on her bottom lip in anticipation. The request for her mom to pick them up from Aries Costume Store hung in the air, and Josie awaited her mom's response with a mix of hope and nervousness.

TRANSLATION; Mom, can you pick Max and I up from Aries' Costume Shop?

Estefina hummed from the other end of the line. "Claro, cariño. ¿Cómo se visten ustedes, chicas?" she questioned with a cheerful tone, excited that her daughter and Max were growing close. Josie smiled, grateful for her mom's understanding and support, as she quickly explained the costumes they were considering.

TRANSLATION; Sure, sweetheart. What are you girls dressing up as?

Josie laughed. "Max se viste como Michael Myers. Me estoy disfrazando como... Ni siquiera lo sé. Le dije a Max que eligiera por mí porque no tengo ni idea," she explained, speaking rapidly as her heart fluttered. Every time she talked about Max, she felt a flutter in her heart. Max made her feel different, and the excitement and joy of their Halloween plans added a special touch to the bond they were building. Estefina's understanding hum on the other end conveyed support and a sense of shared joy.

TRANSLATION; Max is dressing up as Micheal Myers. I'm dressing up as. . . I don't even know. I told Max to choose for me because I don't have a clue.

Estefina tried to hold back a smile, feeling her daughter's excitement through the phone. "Ya veo... ¿Vas a hacer que Max elija tu disfraz?" she interrogated with a playful and slightly suspicious tone.

TRANSLATION; I see. . . you're having Max choose your costume?

Josefina shook her head. "Mamá, no es así. Olvidé llamarte, y estaba siendo indeciso-" she tried to explain before her mom cut her off. "Está bien, claro. Pozo... Te recogeré en quince minutos. Estoy saliendo del trabajo ahora mismo." Estefina's understanding and assurance brought a sense of relief to Josie, and the logistics for their Halloween plans fell into place.

TRANSLATION; Mom, it's not like that. I forgot to call you, and I was being indecisive-
Okay, sure. Well. . . I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes. I'm getting off work right now.

The Cortez girl bit her tongue, a momentary hesitation before she spoke. "Bien. Te quiero. Nos vemos luego," she said with a small sigh, expressing a mix of emotions. "Te amo también, mija." Estefina's response carried a warm and tender tone, and as she hung up the phone, it marked the end of their conversation. Josie's sigh hinted at a sense of relief and perhaps a touch of nostalgia.

TRANSLATION; Okay. Love you. See you soon.
Love you too, my daughter.

Josefina hung the phone back on the wall, turning on her heels. She walked confidently back into the store, her head held high and a determined look on her face. "Found you a costume," Max informed her, holding it up as Josie's eyes furrowed together. "Catwoman?" she questioned, her curiosity evident in her expression.

Max's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she shared her choice. "Uh, yeah! She's my favorite superhero!?" she exclaimed, nodding with excitement. Josefina cracked a smile, intrigued by Max's enthusiasm. "She Hispanic. Like me. I'll do it," Josie decided, connecting with the character on a cultural level.

ESTEFINA DROPPED THEM OFF AT THEIR HOUSE TO CHANGE. The two girls, Max and Josefina, had been enjoying their Halloween adventure for half an hour when they arrived at Mr. Clarke's house. Josie leaned over Max to click the doorbell, and together they held out their bags, eager for the treats that awaited them. Mr. Clarke opened the door, offering a warm greeting. "Ah! Maxine and Josefina. Nice to see you," he said with a friendly smile, holding out a bowl of candy. Both girls took a handful, the sweets dropping into their bags.

Max looked up, correcting, "It's Max," and Josie chimed in, "Josie." Mr. Clarke nodded with a smile, acknowledging the correction. "Right. Sorry. See you girls at school. Have fun!" he said, offering a parting wish as they continued their Halloween journey.

As they turned around, walking down the porch, a group of kids ran up to the house. Max and Josie shared a moment of laughter, their Halloween spirit alive and well. However, Josie, carried away in the joy, didn't pay attention to her surroundings and ended up tripping into someone. Landing flat on her butt, she winced in pain, putting her hands out to cushion the fall.

Stacey and Jennifer, two figures Josie hadn't anticipated, towered over her. "Josefina Cortez?" Stacey gave a judgmental look as Jennifer scrunched her nose. "Catwoman? So original."

Max rolled her eyes, stepping in front of Josie to shield her from Stacey and Jennifer's judgment. "Just leave us alone, Stacey and Jennifer," she spat, a protective edge in her tone. Stacey ran her hand through Max's hair, attempting a flirtatious gesture. "Maxine, you could join us. You know... When I first saw you, I thought you were really pretty and could be a good fit in our duo." She lowered her voice, their faces inches apart.

Max scrunched her nose in disdain, clearly unimpressed by Stacey and Jennifer's attempts. Josie felt her heart pounding fast, anger rising in her chest. In response to Stacey's advancement, vines sprouted from the ground. Stacey tripped over them, falling flat on her face with a resounding crack that filled Josie's ears. The unexpected sound made her eyes widen.

Stacey sat up, blood dripping from her nose, a scream escaping her mouth. The supernatural manifestation of Josie's powers added a dramatic and eerie element to the confrontation, leaving a shocked and tense silence in its wake. The Halloween night took an unexpected turn, and the air was charged with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

Max looked down, noticing the vines retreating underground. She glanced over to where Josie should be, but she was gone. Panicking, Max looked around. "Josie! Josie! Darling! Come back!" she shouted, her eyebrows knitted together in worry. She found Josie's candy bag on the ground, picking it up and holding it close. Her heart pounded fast, worries filling her body and mind. Sprinting down the street, she pushed through people, desperately searching.

Spotting the group of boys, Max rushed toward them. "Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will! Help!" she yelled, catching their attention as they turned to look at her.

Dustin blushed, "Max?" he giggled. Max, breathing heavily, came to a stop. "Josie... She's gone," she breathed out, her face a bright red from running. Mike gave her a look. "Gone?" The realization that Josie had disappeared added a layer of mystery and concern, intensifying the urgency in their quest to find her.

Max nodded, her breath still heavy from the rush. "Stacey—She—She was trying to... hurt me. She got mad and used her powers on her, made her trip, and Stacey's nose broke, blood dripping from her nose," she explained quickly. The intensity in Max's eyes conveyed the seriousness of the situation. "I turned to Josie to get her outta here and get back home... And she was gone! I don't know where she is. She disappeared."

Will's eyes widened at the revelation. As Max rolled her eyes, he whispered-yelled to Mike, "You know she has powers?!" The revelation hung in the air, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the unfolding events. However, Max dismissed the conversation, emphasizing, "This is not the time! She trusted me, okay? She's gone! I don't know where she went."

Mike scoffed, "You don't know her that well, then. She went into her dream world. She's probably hiding out somewhere in the universe." His nonchalant response suggested a familiarity with Josie's abilities, leaving Max to raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"I just found out two hours ago! Of course, I don't know that! How can we get her back?" Max's frustration and concern were palpable as she threw her hands around, seeking answers. The tension in the group intensified as they grappled with the mysterious nature of Josie's disappearance into her dream world.

"You can't. You just have to wait." Mike said in return.

"Guys! Not only is Jo gone. So, is Will." Dustin shouted as Mike looked over, realizing that Will was also missing. "Shit," he muttered, looking back at Max. "Just go home. Wait for Josie to come back. I gotta find Will... Josie should've never told you." Mike snapped at her, expressing frustration as Max frowned. Feeling helpless, she watched the boys yell for Will and search for him, leaving her torn between waiting for Josie and the urgency of the situation.

Max walked back home slowly, passing by the ambulance where Stacey and Jennifer were explaining what happened. While the commotion surrounding Stacey's accident didn't concern Max much, her primary worry was Josie. As she approached her home, an apprehensive feeling lingered, unsure of how to break the news to her mom about Josie's mysterious disappearance into the dream world.

            JOSIE HAD HER KNEES UP TO HER CHEST. Josie found herself in a void that resembled a galaxy, adorned with stars in hues of purple, blue, and pink. She didn't intend to cause any harm. Her journey with superpowers began at the age of seven, a discovery that carried a mysterious origin. The gene responsible for her abilities remained a puzzle; however, it was linked to the tragic loss of her father, Hector. Estefina, her mother, speculated that Hector's exposure to Agent Orange might have played a role in Josie's unique genetic mutation. The doctors had never provided clear answers, leaving them grappling with uncertainty.

A floating orb circled around Josie, and as she took it into her hands, it unfolded a poignant memory of her dad. The Cortez girl's lips curled into a sad smile as the memory played out — her dad tickling her, the shared laughter. However, the innocence took a sharp turn when Josie, in her excitement, inadvertently wielded her powers, causing knives to fly towards her dad. Overwhelmed with guilt and fear, she screamed and tossed the memory orb away, unwilling to witness the remainder of the scene. Curled into a ball, rocking back and forth, Josie whispered tearfully, "I'm sorry, daddy." The weight of unintended consequences and sorrow echoed in the void.

—

ash speaks!

A sad ending:(
My baby deserves better.