Kevin woke up quickly, feeling rested an alive. Rolling quickly out of bed he went to the bathroom and washed in the sink. He looked at himself in the mirror as he dried. A young fresh face, full of vigor and ready to face the world. He remembered the day, Halloween, and more importantly his birthday.
Kevin had always thought being born on Halloween was one of Mom's "interesting" little jokes. Still perhaps it could have been worse, his birthday could have been on April Fool's Day. Mom's parenting had been erratic at best, though it had never been too awful. The neglect was mostly benign, at least until Aunt Shelley had moved in. That was when he had started running away. The first handful of times he was brought back home. Then it was a foster home. They never said why, but he never was sent back to Mom again after that.
The foster family was nice enough he supposed, but finally Kevin had found it confining and ran away again. He didn't get caught that time. Somehow, by luck Maggy had found him, or he'd found her. Maggy had taken Kevin in, let him stay in a little room over top her coffee shop, even found him a job in the stockroom of a grocery store. She'd saved his life.
Kevin went downstairs into Maggy's coffee shop before heading in to work.
"Happy Birthday! And Happy Halloween!"
Maggy beamed at Kevin from behind the counter. She came out and gave him a tight hug, lifting him up of the floor a little. Maggy's energy and strength still surprised him. Maggy might look like a little old lady, but she acted like a strong young woman.
"Big eighteen today, Kevin. How does it feel to be all grown up?"
"It's ok, Maggy. I don't really feel any different."
"Oh but it makes all the difference. You're a man now, through and through. You make me proud."
Maggy stepped back and twirled around. "Do you like my costume?" She wore an elaborate black dress, long black lace gloves and a pointed black hat. Five pointed stars and other symbols Kevin didn't recognize featured prominently in her jewelry. Maggy's long silver hair flew wide as she spun.
Maggy had always affected a vaguely Gothic appearance, so this wasn't too far from her usual dress, but she had gone all out for Halloween.
"You make a great witch, Maggy."
"Thank you, but I don't see your costume."
"Work."
"Oh you are too young to be so responsible and staid. Here let me get you something for your breakfast."
The mocha was made just the way Kevin liked it. He sat down and drank the coffee and ate the muffin Maggy brought him. She hovered around as he ate.
"Kevin, later tonight I'm having a little party. Nothing too big. I hope you'll come."
"Maybe, I probably will have to work late tonight."
"Don't worry, any time is good. Do come. It will mean a lot to me." A spark of mischief was in Maggy's eyes as well as something else he couldn't identify.
"Maybe., I'll see. I have to run now."
"Have a good day."
Maggy took his right hand as he rose, then placed her other hand just so on his arm and quickly spoke a dozen or so words in some unknown language as she did so. Kevin felt a strange warmth run through him and it seemed as though Maggy's bright green eyes glowed ever so briefly. The strange expression was there too, stronger. It seemed like a kind of sadness perhaps.
"A birthday blessing, very ancient. A wish for a long and prosperous life." she explained, looking away as she spoke.
Kevin stood stock still for a moment, strangely rooted to the spot. Maggy broke the spell.
"You don't want to be late."
Kevin started a little then seemed to realize the time and turned for the door.
"Oh right. Goodbye Maggy, thank you for everything."
"Have a good day Kevin. And wear a costume to the party!"
Kevin didn't realize the time until the supervisor came back to tell him to go home. It seemed as though he had just started his shift. Everything since this morning seemed a blur. Kevin barely caught the last bus home. A full moon was rising when he got off. Deep orange with wispy clouds silhouetted against it.
As Kevin walked toward the stairs in back to his room, he passed the door to Maggy's apartment behind the coffee shop. It was completely dark, not even a light in the small jack o' lantern beside the door. It was well after ten and Maggy never stayed up past nine. Whatever party there had been was over now.
Kevin paused for a moment, then slowly his right arm lifted towards the door. As if being led, he followed his arm towards Maggy's door. He could feel a strange warmth on his arm, just where Maggy had touched him this morning. Kevin seemed to be watching himself do things without willing them. The door swung open before he reached it. Reddish light spilled out, silhouetting a figure inside. Kevin saw himself step inside, the door closed behind him.
The light didn't seem to come from anywhere, it just filled the room. None of the furniture Kevin remembered was here. The only thing in the room was a pedestal with a small black pot on top. Mist poured out and onto the floor. The figure approached. It was Maggy. Her dress was different than this morning, still black, long and flowing, it was quite transparent now, ethereal. Maggy was very obviously nude beneath it and Kevin could easily see her breasts and the contours of her thin body.
Maggy smiled at Kevin. It was her usual warm and friendly smile but now with something harder as well. Ravenous, predatory.
"I knew you would come Kevin. Welcome." Maggy's voice was a little deeper, richer and the sound seemed to echo inside Kevin as she spoke. Kevin stood still. The sensation of watching himself was still there. He didn't seem to be controlling his actions. He felt an eerie calm.
Maggy dipped some liquid from the pot into a glass and held it to Kevin's lips.
"Drink." Maggy tilted the glass up as Kevin drained it. The taste was bitter, herbal and complex, it felt warm going down and seemed to create a fire in his belly that was something other than alcohol.
Maggy discarded the empty glass.
"Like my costume?" Maggy slowly turned around so Kevin could see her. "Isn't it so much better than what I was wearing before?" Kevin felt his cheeks warming as his eyes ran over Maggy's body. "Don't be embarrassed, Kevin. Old ladies have tits too. But you didn't wear a costume!" She strode purposefully towards Kevin. A playful mock sternness was in her tone. "I have a strict rule about that. Wear a costume, or wear nothing!"
She grabbed the front of Kevin's shirt and tore it open with a single motion. He distinctly heard one button clatter on the floor. Maggy undid Kevin's belt and then pulled it off of him with such force that he had difficulty standing. No sooner did the belt hit the floor than Maggy was tearing Kevin's pants from him. The thin fabric parted like tissue paper in her hands. She knelt and Kevin helpfully lifted his feet so his shoes could be pulled off. Kevin watched himself being stripped like this but didn't seem to be able to move or resist. Whatever was happening would happen. He felt a small sense of disbelief. This isn't really happening, it must be a dream. If this was real, Kevin thought, I would be more frightened.
Maggy stood and hooked her fingers into Kevin's underpants with a wicked grin on her face. She licked her lips as she slowly tore the fabric apart. She stood back and examined Kevin's nakedness.
"Very nice, Kevin. Very nice indeed. This is much better than what you were wearing."