Page 3 of Devil’s Embrace (31 Days of Trick or Treat: Biker & Mobster #10)
She sighed dramatically but didn't argue further.
"Can we go to that house?" She pointed toward a Victorian-style home where the owners had gone all out with their decorations.
Ghostly figures danced in the yard, projected from hidden lights, while friendly-looking pumpkins and smiling ghosts adorned the porch.
"That looks perfect." I felt relieved she'd chosen one of the less frightening displays.
As we walked, I noticed a side street coming up on our left. Unlike the main road with its bright lights and Halloween revelers, this street was darker, the shadows deeper between the streetlights. A chill ran up my spine that had nothing to do with the October air.
I slowed our pace, a feeling of unease washing over me.
The street looked empty at first glance, but something about it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
A mother's instinct, perhaps. The same one that woke me seconds before Mina cried as a baby or knew when she was coming down with a fever before the first sniffle.
"Mama, why are we stopping?" Mina tugged lightly on my hand.
I couldn't explain the feeling. A presence maybe, or just the natural wariness of a woman alone with her child after dark. Either way, I trusted my gut.
"Let's cross here." I guided her to the other side of the main street, putting more distance between us and that shadowy alley. Something felt wrong about it.
As we crossed, I glanced back at the side street. I saw a tall figure in a dark coat step out of the shadows. Something about his posture, the deliberate way he moved, sent another wave of unease through me.
"Hurry, sweet pea." I picked up our pace without alarming Mina. "That house with the ghosts is going to run out of candy if we don't get there quick."
She giggled and skipped alongside me, oblivious to my concern. "I hope they have chocolate!"
"Me too, baby."
We reached the Victorian house, joining a small group of other trick-or-treaters waiting their turn at the door.
I positioned myself so I could monitor both Mina and the street behind us.
The figure I'd glimpsed was gone—if he'd ever been there at all.
Maybe my imagination was working overtime, fueled by the spooky atmosphere and my constant state of vigilance as a single mother.
"What's your costume?" a little boy ahead of us in line asked Mina.
"I'm a unicorn," she replied, more confidently than she'd spoken to any stranger all night. Progress.
"Cool. I'm a vampire. See my teeth?" He bared his plastic fangs.
I smiled at their interaction, momentarily distracted from my unease. This was what Halloween should be—innocent conversations about costumes and the excitement of collecting candy.
When our turn came, the woman at the door exclaimed over Mina's costume and dropped several full-sized chocolate bars into her bucket. Mina's "Thank you" was clear and cheerful.
"You're very welcome. Happy Halloween!" The woman smiled at her.
As we walked back to the sidewalk, I scanned the crowds more carefully. Princesses and pirates, witches and wizards—all harmless, all part of the Halloween fun. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—dangerous had been nearby.
"Can we go to one more house, Mama? Please?" Mina pointed to a nearby home with a friendly-looking ghost display.
"Last one." I checked my watch again. "Then we need to head home."
She nodded solemnly, then yawned again. Despite her protests, I could see fatigue setting in. Her unicorn hood had slipped slightly, revealing her blonde hair. I adjusted it gently, making sure the horn stood straight.
As we approached the ghost house, I cast one final glance over my shoulder. The main street swarmed with families, and the side street disappeared from view. Whatever—whoever—had triggered my internal alarm was gone, at least for now.
"Trick or treat!" Mina called as the door opened, her voice stronger than it had been at the beginning of the evening.
I watched her interact with the homeowner, pride swelling in my chest. My brave girl, growing more confident with each house. I'd given her this night of magic despite our limited means, despite being on our own.
The weight of constant vigilance never fully lifted from my shoulders—tonight's unexplained unease was proof of that—but moments like this made it bearable. Mina's joy was worth every sacrifice, every extra shift at work, every night I spent worrying about our future.
As she skipped back to me, candy added to her already full bucket, I pushed away thoughts of shadowy figures and unseen dangers. Tonight was about unicorns and candy, not about the constant fears that haunted my reality as a single mother.
"Ready to go home, sweet pea?" I took her hand once more.
"I guess so." She smiled up at me, her blue eyes shining in the glow of the Halloween lights. "This was the best Halloween ever, Mama."
"It sure was, baby." I led her away from the ghost house, away from the strange chill I'd felt earlier. "The best ever."
I didn't know then how close we'd come to crossing paths with real danger—not the pretend kind that populated Halloween decorations, but the kind that moved in shadows and carried real weapons. All I knew was that my instincts had told me to protect my child, and I had listened.
Some monsters walked without costumes, no plastic or fake blood to hide what they were. Some wore expensive coats and moved through the world unseen until it was too late. Tonight, we'd been lucky. My unicorn and I had stuck to the light, and whatever lurked in the darkness had remained there.