Halloween was Josh's favorite holiday. There was something about the mystery, the costumes, the fear and excitement in the air, the swirling icy breeze. Josh couldn't wait. One of his partners, Ezra however, could wait. Ezra didn't hate halloween. He liked how excited it made Josh, and loved candy. Ezra however, hated being scared.
With him being a big rugby player, many girls through the years had tried to hide behind him when a scare actor had jumped out in the school's haunted maze, only to find themselves standing alone with Ezra sprinting away. He had carefully slid in his earbuds whenever Josh had tried to get him to watch a horror movie, and pretended to sleep.
The one thing Ezra was excited about was his costume. He had chosen to go as a knight. Their other boyfriend Jamie had painstakingly built his armor from EVA foam, and Ezra had painted it to look weathered, but shiny. He had also been growing his hair out, so he would have his slightly shaggy hair fall majestically when he removed his helmet.
Josh had been working on his costume for months. He was going as a sort of dragonborn. He had bought horn prosthetics and orange-yellow contact lenses that looked like lizard eyes. Jamie had helped him create his own armor. Matte black and fearsome, covered in spikes, painted with scales. Ezra hadn't seen the full costume yet, but even the contact lenses made him nervous.
Jamie was going as an elf. A long cloak and golden leaf crown, his hair also slightly grown out so it could be slicked back. His pale skin and red hair suited the dark green of the costume beautifully. Josh's mom had taught him to sew, so he had created the cloak. He had tailored it specifically not to drag on the ground, but still billow magically around Jamie. He wore a dark green vest with gold embroidery they had found, and Josh had adjusted, and a white shirt with slightly puffy sleeves.
It was three weeks before halloween, that a crimson envelope had arrived on their doorstep. In the envelope was a black invitation with gold writing.
Joshua, James, and Ezra,
We request your presence at 7576 Oak Street on October 31st for an All Hallows Eve Ball. No need to RSVP, we will simply expect you. Wear masks.
Best,
A Stranger.
"There's not a chance in hell that going there is a good idea." Ezra said bluntly.
"Come on Ez, where's your sense of adventure?" Josh poked him in the ribs.
"I must have lost it on one of our adventures that ended badly, there were a lot." Ezra deadpanned.
"I think we should go." Jamie spoke up.
"But..." Ezra tried to argue.
"I'm trying to not let my anxiety get the best of me, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to be adventurous." Jamie smiled.
"Come on Ez, I'm sure it will be so fun!" Josh hugged Ezra.
Then both Josh and Jamie gave him the biggest, saddest, most convincing puppy eyes.
Ezra sighed.
"Fine. But if I so much as smell any sort of bad intentions, we're out. Got it?" Ezra warned.
Both men nodded.
Though the weeks had dragged, they had made it to October 31st. Ezra put on his costume, and looked in the mirror. The armor made him look even larger than he already was. The sword on his back was an actual sword, he had bought it as a Lord of the Rings collectible, and Jamie had made the scabbard from real leather for him. He looked dangerous, and he liked it.
He left the bathroom to find Jamie sitting at the table wearing his costume, engrossed in his book. He looked ethereal and gorgeous. Ezra sauntered towards him and placed a gentle hand under his chin, tilting his eyes upwards.
"Ez..." Jamie whispered.
"I'd suffer a hundred lifetimes just to spend one with you." Ezra cooed.
Jamie looked away from Ezra's stubble covered face and blushed heavily.
"You can't go around saying stuff like that when you look like that Ez." Jamie mumbled, still looking at anything but Ezra.
"I can say whatever I like, little bear." Ezra growled, grabbing Jamie's chin and forcing him to look him in the eyes.
Ezra leaned down and kissed him tenderly, Jamie leaned into the kiss. Ezra indulged for a moment, but then pulled away, far too soon for Jamie's liking.
Jamie whined.
"Later." Ezra smiled, biting his bottom lip.
Jamie groaned.
Just then, Josh made his appearance.
"How do I look?" Josh asked, the fangs he'd glued on flashing.
"Jesus Murphy." Ezra groaned.
The black scaly armor paired with the black horns made Josh look deadly, the gleaming orange eyes made Ezra shiver.
"Hot as hell." Jamie answered, stalking towards the creature, and gripping his throat while kissing him.
Josh had even dyed his hair blue for the costume.
"Ez?" Josh looked unsure for a second.
"I don't know whether to make out with you or run." Ezra said plainly.
Josh and Jamie laughed hard at Ezra's discomfort.
"Ready to go?" Josh asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Yup, born ready." Jamie grinned confidently.
Ezra just followed them silently out the door.
The air outside was freezing, thankfully all three had cloaks to keep them warm. The invitation had specified masks, so Josh wore one that looked like a dragon's muzzle. Jamie wore one that looked like vines that covered half of his face. Ezra's helmet covered his face perfectly, and Josh had created some ventilation for easy breathing.
They pulled their masks on, and walked to the front door.
"One whiff of trouble, and I swear..." Ezra grumbled just before knocking.
"It will be fine Ez." Josh soothed, rubbing Ezra's arm.
The door swung open, and a man in a suit and white full face mask stood before them.
"Are you the stranger who invited us?" Jamie immediately asked, unable to hide his excitement.
The man shook his head and beckoned them in. They followed.
The ballroom was enormous, and filled with people in masks. There seemed to be many ages, sizes, and genders represented here. On one wall, a projected countdown that had just hit ten minutes.
"Champagne?" Josh asked Ezra and Jamie.
"Please." Jamie answered.
Ezra just shook his head.
Josh disappeared into the crowd.
"I don't like this one bit." Ezra grimaced under the mask.
"It's fine big bear, can you turn guard dog mode off for one night? For me?" Jamie pleaded.
"Fine." Ezra grunted.
Suddenly Jamie's phone started ringing.
"I'm just going to quickly answer and I'll be right back, ok?" Jamie assured Ezra.
"Don't leave me, please." Ezra tried to keep his voice even.
"It will be fine, it's rude to take a call in here." Jamie smiled reassuringly at Ezra.
Suddenly Ezra was alone. Josh still hadn't come back, but he had always been social. Still, Ezra's fear was building by the second.
Six minutes had passed. Ezra was still alone, no sign of Jamie and Josh. The countdown hit zero.
"Welcome everyone!" A voice boomed through the ballroom.
A tall woman wearing a sparkling black gown and a full face, black mesh mask, spoke into a microphone.
"I am your stranger, no longer a stranger! You may call me Madame. All of you are missing someone, some of you, more than one."
Ezra looked around as confused shouts began to erupt from around the room.
"Relax, they are all safe and well. On the tables around the room, there are forms, please sign that you formally consent to all that will occur tonight. Safe word is Nevermore. You may leave at any point, though your loved ones all signed this form when we took them so they'll be here all night." Madame spoke in a calm, yet menacing tone.
Ezra walked to a table. He stared at the form for a long while. Then he remembered the promise he had made to Jamie. He signed. A man in a gimp suit immediately took it from him.
"I have assigned teams, please find your pseudonym on the list and locate your partner for the evening. Once you find your partner you'll be given a letter from your partner or partners with a clue to their location. This night will have challenges you and your teammate must face. Be brave, and have fun!" Madame ended her speech with a cackle.
Projected on the wall were circles with names in them.
"The Fairy, and the Phantom."
"The Wizard, and the Robot."
"The Knight, and the Wolf."
Ezra scanned the room, then spotted the ears, and muzzle of his teammate.
He walked up, trying to be confident.
"Hello, I believe we're partners." Ezra said with a little bow, after all, he was the knight.
"I'm Wolf." The man's eyes smiled. He was as large as Ezra, which was unusual, but would make them a good team for physical challenges.
"I'm Knight. You can call me Camelot if it's easier." Ezra spoke solemnly.
"Sure Camelot, nice to make your acquaintance." The wolf smiled with his eyes again.
"Who are you missing tonight?" Ezra asked.
"Straight to the point, I like it. I'm looking for little red riding hood" Wolf looked a little nervous.
"I'm missing an elf and a half dragon." Ezra said quickly.
"Relax Camelot, this is all a game." Wolf chuckled.
"How do you know?" Ezra snapped.
"Because we had to sign consent forms that listed like eighty sex acts and sexual punishments. My theory is Red Riding Hood, and either your elf or dragon signed us up for this." Wolf explained.
"It was the dragon, he's a sadistic little brat." Ezra grumbled.
Wolf looked at him and they both started laughing.
"Red loves mind games, so I figured something was up as soon as she sent me to go get cocktails. When I came back she was gone." Wolf laughed.
"They deserve each other." Ezra said sarcastically.
"And what about your elf?" Wolf inquired.
"He's an angel. I just hope he's not too scared, he has pretty bad anxiety and I don't like us being separated, but I'm glad he has the dragon." Ezra sighed.
Just then a small person in a gimp suit presented a silver tray with two envelopes. One labeled Knight and one labeled Wolf.
Ezra opened the envelope to find two pieces of paper inside, one light blue and one light green. He decided to start with what he assumed to be Jamie's.
Dear Knight,
I know you're probably really pissed off and worried right now, I am fine, Dragon is fine. I want you to keep your promise tonight, have fun. Dragon and I sure will be! Little Red is a lot of fun, I'm sure you and Wolf will get on quite nicely. ;) Full pass tonight big bear.
Just be brave, and watch out, the Madame will put you through HELL to get to us.
- Little Bear.
"So, they're in the basement." Ezra thought to himself.
"Unless there's a part of the house decorated like hell."
He decided to read Josh's letter as it may give him a little clarity.
