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All characters are of legal age, 18 and above.
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Shielded somewhat by the tall bushes behind the apartment building, I pulled my Ghostface mask out of the backpack. With the black robe I was already wearing as a makeshift cloak, and the heavy duty black boots on my feet, my simple costume was complete. I was without a pretend weapon, partly because I couldn't find a convincing prop, partly to avoid freaking anyone out too much. I was ready to go to the Halloween party where my sister would be, to have fun, not to scare anyone to death. Nobody was going to steal an empty backpack if I left it there.
She was home from college for the weekend. Sam, I mean. Short for Samantha. Even though it wasn't a major holiday, my little sister often traveled the mere 50 miles to see family. It was her freshman year and she still got homesick after two months. Me, I had toughed it out for two years and had gotten my associate degree at a junior college here in town, staying at home. Going away to college wasn't for me. Now I had a good job at an auto parts store, in management training. I was still at home, though. It was good to have Sam come back for her visits.
So now I walked up the apartment stairs in my costume. Sam's friend lived a couple of miles from our house, and she had borrowed Mom's car. I opted to walk. Being on foot and walking to the other side of town was no big deal, and on Halloween night especially so. I had attracted no attention from any passersby. Probably the Ghostface mask wouldn't have fazed anyone, but I had walked the distance unmasked. It was easier to see, for one thing.
So yes, I tripped one time on the stairway, until I wised up and watched each step carefully up to the third story. Sam hadn't told me which apartment number it was, but from the sounds it was evident that the party was in 303. Sam hadn't told me which apartment, because she didn't know I was coming. I didn't know if I would be coming either, heh heh, but I had hopes.
Two other people had been climbing the stairs ahead of me. I had kind of timed my entrance at the front door by the sidewalk that way. So when they entered the apartment after knocking and getting no reply, I just followed them right in.
Sam was in the far corner. I was afraid to be anywhere near her so soon. I went over to the table with the drinks and snacks, and immediately recognized my problem: I would have to reveal my face if I ate or drank anything. Fortunately I wasn't hungry, so it wasn't a priority. But with several people there getting beers and whatnot, it was a good spot for ice breaking.
"Hello. Who is this?" I had prepared a few lines from the movie, so as to be in character. The first couple I tried it with turned their backs on me. So I turned around and tried it on the two girls at the other side of the table. "Hello. Who is this?"
I recognized one as a friend of Sam's. Her disguise as a vampire wasn't very convincing, or much of a disguise. I figured the other, dressed sort of like a cat, must be the same age, just going by looks. The catty one giggled. "You sound just *like* him."
"What's your favorite scary movie?" I continued, keeping my voice quiet and a little gravelly.
"Oh my God, who are you?" she squealed in mock fear.
"Yeah, I dunno about this," Sam's friend said to her.
