All Hallows Eve, Vol. 3

Chapter 1

One

Ava

Bodies fill the pub this evening. It is the norm for this time of year. October. Other than football and the occasional bonfire, people have moved indoors for socializing. And in Chestnut Falls, we get the leafers, or leaf lovers, depending on where you are from. People who come to view and partake in our foliage and other perks of the spooky season.

My hometown of Chestnut Falls is very idyllic, Pleasantville, USA, beautiful. Stunning for several months of the year. Flowers line our streets, dads trim their manicured lawns every weekend, and children can freely ride their bikes. Crime was never on our radar. We left our doors open. I say never was because several years ago, a serial killer put us on the map.

The monster, Chester Wells, went on a killing spree. The police think he started in California and worked his way across the United States. Landing in Chestnut Falls, Massachusetts when he ran out of road and time.

We’re close to the infamous town of Salem. Yeah, you’ve heard of that one, haven’t you? Of course, there were a lot of theories running around when the bodies of college kids were discovered in a house that was up for sale.

Some speculated witches, others thought it was a jealous ex, but eventually Chester was arrested as the cause. He confessed to the killings and then some.

Since then, Chestnut Falls finds plenty of look-loos who come to visit, hoping to see the infamous house. And the town itself. Knowing they can profit, the current owners offer tours for not just the murder house, but the asylum on the hill, and other supposed haunted places. All based on local lore and not any facts.

Every fall weekend, there’s a town party, people wear costumes, and candy is freely given out. I will admit the festivals are fun and I loved them when I was a kid before I knew why we did such fanfare.

Sometimes I think the nostalgia has worn off, though I do still love it here.

“Can I get a beer?” a man asks. I lift my head to stare into the eyes of my ex, Roark Renaldi.

With a nod, I hand him his beer, the bottle cap clinking as it falls in the bin. His fingers brush mine and I get goosebumps.

“Ava…”

“I’m busy,” and I move on down the bar to a patron waving a twenty-dollar bill at me.

We broke up because I caught him in a compromising situation. From my point of view, he was sleeping with my sister. Though I was repeatedly told, “It’s not what it looks like!” And they aren’t even together now.

Roark and I started up in middle school and I really thought he was the one as time went on. Throughout school, I never even looked at anyone else. I never saw signs he was cheating. No red flags and no one ever told me anything, so I assumed there was nothing for anyone to tell me. I never imagined he’d cheat, let alone that my sister could do that to me.

We should have wed. Yes, we got that far.

The wedding was set in Italy and our families flew down with us two weeks before to help prepare. Roark’s parents hired a fabulous local wedding planner to ensure preparations had started prior to us getting there.

I had a great time the first week. I went sightseeing with Roark and his twin brother, Roan. We ate great food. There is nothing short of amazing in Italy to eat or drink. Our families did sight-seeing tours together. Our parents were good friends before Roark and I even dated. The four had been best friends since high school. To them, we were a match made in heaven. A legal union between two families already intertwined.

The second week was my final dress fitting and last-minute preparations. On the day of the rehearsal dinner, I walked in on Roark and my sister. To his credit, he wasn’t naked, but she was, and she was on top of him. When I walked in, it looked like they had been kissing. Their faces were red and flushed. I’m not so sure now. Maybe I should have heard him out. Maybe.

I screamed so loud that our parents burst through the door and when the yelling started; I slid out of the room, tail between my legs. I instantly went to our room, packed my bags, and left. Where did I go? This bitch went on her honeymoon. Yeah, I went on my honeymoon. And then I summoned my bridesmaids, my phone was blowing up, and my bridesmaids, my girls, joined me. It was a time of much needed rest and reflection. An escape from the shit storm I was going to be walking into when I returned home. Since this was no romantic, made-for-tv comedy, I couldn’t sip drinks by a pool for more than a week.

It's not like I had total peace and quiet, Roark texted hundreds of times. And when my voice mail was full, he started calling my bridesmaids, but that wasn’t fair to them. His parents called too. I don’t blame them, but I hadn’t even talked to my own parents yet. Even my sister—yes, my sister—even had the balls to text me. She never apologized to me, never explained, so I cut her off. She’s dead to me. Still.

My parents cut her off as well. She really thought that if I left Roark, he would be free to be with her. Sadly, she’s delusional. Everen, Roark’s bestie, told Sandy, my bestie, that he didn’t want Adaline. Never did. She set him up, cornered him. He wanted me. He was there to marry me,

But I still can’t be sure if what he said about that day is true. It looked like they were kissing and what if I hadn’t shown up when I did? Would he have cheated on me? Had he already cheated on me? Doubt worked its way through my thoughts on a loop during my whole honeymoon. I just couldn’t be sure. And I still don’t know. Do I want to believe him just to be with someone again?

He did apologize. Numerous times. I’ll give him that. I’ve just chosen not to acknowledge it. Whenever there is a next step, it is up to me.

My sister never liked me and was always jealous. Even as little, little kids, let alone by the time we both reached middle school. I coveted nothing of hers, nor ever figured out why she was jealous of me. I was a homebody, did nothing, no social life outside of Roark. I went to school and came home. My sister was pretty—is pretty—she was on the cheerleading squad and at times, my parents obviously favored her. She made it known that she thought I was beneath her. What did she have to be jealous of? She had known Roark just as long as I had. I’m glad she’s out of my life. Enough said.

For the last year, Roark has been trying to talk to me, but I just don’t have it in me to listen. Even on Tuesday evening at five, the bar is dead, but I’ll still have some excuse to be too busy.

“Bloody Mary,” a blonde in a skin-tight nurse costume shouts and I nod to let her know I heard her. She and her friends look around the bar, and I know the minute they see Roark and his crew. I’m not going to lie, they are a HOT looking group. Most were also his groomsmen. My would be wedding party was gorgeous as a whole. Too bad there aren’t any pictures to prove it.

“Oh my, look over in the corner,” a girl in a rabbit, slutty bunny, costume says. They all giggle as they look at where the guys are sitting.

“I let him give me an exam any day,” the one dressed like a doctor quips.

“They should be on the cover of GQ,” the nurse girl says.

“Or playgirl.” They laugh, I gag. “I wonder if they’re single,” a girl dressed like a scarecrow murmurs. I nearly burst out laughing at that.

I finish making her drink and set it on the counter, “Here’s your drink, hun. That will be ten bucks. Oh, and they’re gay.” I tip my head towards the table.

Every girl in her group turns to me, mouths ajar, “What?”

I snort, “They’re gay, poly actually. Such a shame, right?”

I have no idea why I said that, nor do I have anything against anyone being gay. My brother is in a committed relationship, and I love his husband. At least one of us has a husband.

“Shame,” the nurse says, putting her money down and walking away.

The guys glance in my direction, and I quickly turn away. I think Ev would have gotten a kick out of my conversation, but since we don’t talk anymore, I don’t care.

As the night goes on, the guys don’t move. Don’t they have practice tomorrow?

Who am I kidding? They could miss practice and still show up to play. They’re that good.

The Roark and his buds are on the football team at the university on the edge of town. It’s close, and convenient, so a lot of Falls’ residents go there to save a few dimes, not that they need to, and live at home. Chestnut Falls is not a poor little hamlet. It is a wealthy bedroom community with enough of a business and bar district to keep the college kids happy. So they guys? Their parents are rich. I guess I should say mine are too, but I don’t flaunt it. Okay, that’s a lie. My parents only live in the gated community where the Renaldis live because my dad is the mayor. Though it is true that Lorenzo and Pam are best friends with my parents.

Throughout high school, rumors about Lorenzo Renaldi ran rampant. He is a mafia boss, and he supposedly he runs an underground casino.

I’m not sure what Lorenzo does to keep his old money flowing, but I don’t think he’s a mob boss. I mean, the man had been over to dinner at my family home thousands of times and he never seemed like that.

The guys have always played sports and every game I could be at, I was there cheering them on. Roan is quarterback, Roark and Bastian are running backs, and Everen is a linebacker. And they are unstoppable. Since they started playing, they’ve always been a winning team.

It was a rush to watch them win. Roark used to tell me I was his good luck charm.

For the first two years of college, I didn’t miss a game. I was loyal to a fault, even when I had to pry off the groupies to show them Roark was mine.

I don’t have to do that anymore. They can have him. I just try to go to class and go home if I don’t work. I guess I don’t even have to work, but I want to support myself after I graduate. I have no plans to follow in my dad’s footsteps.

I started working here after the wedding fiasco. It has been a year. For a while, it took my mind off everything, and people knew not to ask me about it. But now, I genuinely love working here.

I tried to get in to dating. After all, I never even tried. Roark and I had just fallen into each other after having grown up together. I spoke with some guys, planned to meet up, had them come to my work, a safe space, but I always got ghosted. So, I don’t even worry about it anymore. It’s frustrating. I want to be happy. And I was with Roark. I want that again, but just not with him.

The guys finally leave, and I go about wiping tables off, flipping over the chairs while Micah, my brother’s husband, cleans glasses at the bar counter.

“You should get going,” Micah says, as I turn to him.

“I can’t leave you here alone,” I reply, right as my brother steps through the back door.

“I won’t be, and we’re going to dinner right after this. But you needn’t be out late,” Micah says as my brother gives me a hug.

“Thanks. See you tomorrow,” I tell him as I grab my bag and keys. I normally don’t give up so easily but I need to study some before going to bed since I have a test tomorrow. I pride myself on the fact I keep up my 4.0. My parents weren’t happy with my choice of a degree, but I don’t care. I’m going to be a vet. I love animals and want to start a practice here in Chestnut Falls.

I head to my car, only to stop short when I see Roark and his boys waiting for me. Not what I need tonight.

“Roark, I’m tired and I need to go home and study,” I tell him, trying to step around him.

“Ava, please hear me out,” he says. I lift my head to him and before I can say anything, he kisses me. I forgot what it was like to kiss him. Fireworks, explosions, molting lava.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss this. I miss him.

We broke apart. I’m speechless.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers.

And then I come to my senses, “Do you miss my sister?”

I back up and I run into a solid wall of muscle. Glancing up over my shoulder, I look into Everen’s eyes. “No, he doesn’t.”

Everen’s voice is so deep that I lose focus on the words. I just want to hear him speak again. He doesn’t disappoint. “Small fry. He misses you. We all do.”

Small fry. He hasn’t called me that since I stopped talking to them. In a way, I punished all of them because of Roark. It punishes me too.

“My sweet girl, I know you’re mad at me. I’m going to make it up to you,” Roark says as I back away. He won’t hurt me, I know that.

“Roark, now is not the time. Please, let me go home.”

He moves out of the way and lets me go. I have no idea what that was all about.

He’s cornered me before, but never with the others. Maybe that’s why it felt off.