“I’m not going,” Julian said.

“For God’s sake Julian, it’s just a Halloween party.” Carmen shoved the invitation at him. “Take it.”

“I’m not ready for a party.” He sat down in the big easy chair. “I’m tired, I just want to rest.”

Carmen kneeled next to the chair. “You never will be if you don’t leave this house.” He had been so distant since the death of his wife.

“Fine,” he signed, “I’ll go.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you there.” She kissed her brother, grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “It’ll be fun.”

Julian closed the door behind her. He climbed the stairway adorned with pictures of his dead wife. “God Jennifer, we were supposed to see the world together.”

#

What an invitation, a simple card with three Banshees on the front, above the words, “Join us for a screeching good time!”  He flipped the card over to check the address once more before continuing out of town.

He released the gas pedal, a black cat darted out in front of his car. “Great. Maybe I should take that as an omen.” His cell phone rang. “Yes Carmen.”

“You’re still coming right?” The voice on the other end said.

“I’m in the car.”

“Just checking. See ya when you get here.”

He pushed the phone back into the holster. He couldn’t help but notice how foggy it was tonight. The road was barely visible. His eyelids were heavy with sleep but he had made a promise to his sister. His eyes closed for a moment. He opened them just as a deer jumped out form the roadside. He slammed his foot against the brake.   

#

Julian walked down the dark road empty road, a glimmer of light through the trees. “Great a house, I can call Carmen.”

Music rose from inside the house. He stumbled to the door and rang the bell. The door opened, Julian stepped through ready to greet his host only to find no one. The door closed behind him.

“That song. It’s our–.”

“I’ve been waiting for you Julian,” A soft yet familiar voice said.

He froze as the woman walked towards him. “Jennifer?

“I’ve missed you so.”

“I thought I’d never see you again.”

“We’ll never be apart again. Dance with me Julian.”

“I need to call Carmen and tell her the good news.”

#

“Yes ma’am, if not for his taillights we’d never have seen the car.”

Carmen couldn’t believe the words coming from the officers lips. “Did he suffer?”

“No ma’am, it was instant, looks like he fell asleep. The coroner set the time of death at 1:00 a.m. He had a weird smile on his face.”

Carmen’s phone rang. “Excuse me.”

She opened the phone and glanced at the caller I.D., she gasped, the phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. The neon blue text shimmered in the darkness from the LCD window: 1 New message: I’m all right, Love you, Julian. Time: 1:00 a.m.