It was Halloween, and I was getting ready for a party. The invite said “masked required,” so I threw on an easy vampire costume; fake teeth, a little blood on the side of my mouth. I wasn’t going to stress about it. When I arrived, there it was: a massive, gothic castle. The stone walls were dark and covered in creeping vines, and there were tall, narrow windows glowing faintly from within. The whole place was draped in eerie fog, and lanterns with flickering orange lights lined the path. Cobwebs stretched across the doorway, and pumpkins with sinister faces glared out from every corner. Bats hung from the ceiling inside. A perfect Halloween vibe. Inside, I spotted some of the other drivers right away. It was easy to tell they hadn’t put too much effort into their costumes either. We all exchanged knowing looks. None of us were really into this, but it was just a bit of fun.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. A woman dressed as a ninja, her face covered by a mask, only her eyes and long, flowing hair visible. Her suit was tight, black with a red belt adorned with dragons, and her tights sparkled with tiny diamonds. She moved like she owned the room, walking with a grace that made me stop in my tracks, her long legs almost gliding across the floor. Our eyes locked for a second, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes like those; sharp, intense, and… hypnotic. I could barely think as she passed by me, her gaze lingering just a little longer before she vanished into the crowd.

All night, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I searched every corner of the castle, asked some of the guys if they’d seen her, but nobody had. It was as if she hadn’t existed at all. I finally stepped outside onto the balcony, needing air. I leaned against the railing, telling myself I’d imagined her. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me.

“Bad night?” She whispered.

“You’re.. You’re real… Who are you?” I stuttered. I’ve never been this nervous. She was hypnotic in every aspect.