What Happens After Halloween?

 

"You need to be out of here by midnight, okay?" I barely remembered the stern voice of my balding manager, Robert. He had tried to drill the idea into all of us working the Halloween night shift at Spirit. 

I could hear him shuffling papers in his makeshift office, created out of those portable cubicle walls, situated in the corner of the store. He seemed restless today, but I guess it was to be expected on pack-up day.

It was genuinely incredible that the seasonal pop-up had cleaned up its stock from the cheap, temporary shelves so quickly. All that remained were a few masks and accessories at the checkout lanes. I looked at my phone absentmindedly, trying to ignore my coworker who had been pestering me all night. I kept pretending the earbuds in my ear were actually playing something and disregarding her calling of my name.

11:45. The storm the weatherman had predicted for tonight raged on outside. The strip mall streetlights were buffeted by the downpour, and I could barely see my car. For a second, it seemed it had been swept up by the storm, but there it was, the shitty, riced-up Honda Civic, parked next to Trattoria Pasquale so I could eat my lunch break slice of pepperoni, sausage, and olives far away from the chattering teenagers, and as close to freshness as I could get it besides just eating it in the pizzeria.

The dull incandescent lights that lined the ceiling flickered slightly, causing the jumpier employees to look around nervously. I heard a gasp from the glasses-wearing girl manning the register next to mine. She looked ready to cry. 

Rachel was a pudgy college student who had taken a liking to me since I started working there at the beginning of the month. She was a scaredy-cat who always seemed to be grappling with the start of an anxiety attack. Whenever this would happen, she'd start talking to me.

Why she'd take a liking to a twenty-eight year old guy working a seasonal store that didn't exist 10 months out of the year was beyond me. I decided not to think about it, distancing myself as much as I could socially. 

I'll probably be back here next year. I hope you won't.

A couple of the high schoolers had tried to make friends with me as well, and I immediately alienated myself by mentioning some Japanese gacha game I had been blowing my meager paychecks on. They kept their distance after that. Guess that wasn't cool to anyone but the other old people I talked to on various ancient forums.

Was it even cool there?

I continued staring idly out the window, feeling like one of a few remaining crew members on a doomed ship as I watched the high school kids getting picked up by their parents or fishing their keys out of their pockets nervously, not particularly eager to drive in the inclement weather. 

There were two reasons I wasn't among those departing.

The first was that I knew why Robert wanted us to leave before midnight. He was absolutely the type to try and deny the workers overtime. Anyone who had signed up to work this past week, Halloween night included, clearly needed the money. I suspected it had been a ploy by Corporate, but I'm sure the bitter jerk'd try it himself. He couldn't force me off the clock, so I'd wait for the hour to roll over before clocking out.

The other reason was far more simple, and less spiteful. The weather was terrible, and truth be told, I didn't want to walk out to my car.

But I guess I could walk someone else to theirs.

Rachel had finally worked up the courage to actually touch my shoulder. Her hand was so sweaty it could've soaked my shirt. I couldn't be that intimidating, could I?

"Hey, um… Andre?" She spoke up, her voice docile and soft.

I turned to look at her immediately, making it clear my headphones weren't playing anything and that I had just been ignoring her for the past five minutes. She looked a little hurt.

"Yeah? Whaddya need?" I said, removing my earbuds so as to soften the blow.

"Can you maybe… walk me to my car? I don't really like how it looks out there." She asked, her head turning to the downpour beyond the shop windows. I looked out along with her, then at her. Her shoulder length curly hair was spread across her sweater wildly, a result of packing in a rush with the rest of the employees. She wore those big circular glasses that made you wonder if they were actually prescription or just a fashion accessory. Was that a hint of pumpkin wafting from her?

Don't you fucking dare. Why are you smelling her?

"Sure, whatever." I said, ignoring the gut feeling. I quickly lay down my cellphone on the register, locking it before she could see the Discord channel full of anime girl tits I was browsing without thinking-

- Not thinking of until just now, that is.

I grabbed my coat, hanging on a little hook below the register, and walked towards the door with the nervous shortstack.

Why would you think of another human as a shortstack? Are you good, dude?

“Alright! After you, then.” I tried my best to sound upbeat as I held the door open, exposing the interior to the elements. Cold autumn wind blew inside, sending a shiver through one of the teenagers who hadn’t put on his jacket yet. Rachel brushed past me, pulling her coat closer to her chest. I let the door close behind me, and followed behind her. The wind whipped at my face and I pulled my hood over my head.

“You know, Andre, you don’t talk much.” Rachel said, crossing the parking lot a few steps ahead of me. I could’ve just as easily walked ahead of her, but then I’d look awkward. I don’t know what car she drives. 

I shrugged. She couldn’t see what I was doing through the downpour, so I replied. “I don’t talk much here.” It was true. I wouldn’t shut up when I was among people who shared my common interests. What did I have to talk about with some Velma from Scooby-Doo lookalike and a bunch of teenagers? 

“Well, you seem perfectly capable of it!” I couldn’t tell if Rachel had perhaps gained some modicum of confidence in between the entrance to the store and the parking lot. Maybe she spoke so clearly because of the sound of the wind. It’d definitely drown out her voice if she spoke like she normally did. We passed by my shitty car and shuddered a little, hoping she didn’t see the ahegao bumper sticker. I meant to remove that a month after I’d bought it at a convention. I’d told myself “remove that sticker, please” every time I passed by it for the past two years. Even for me, it was a bit much. If only I’d had the power of hindsight when I was posing with my car for photos I did nothing with besides link to off-topic threads on the forums I still visited.

Rachel, not seeming to notice me reeling in shame, continued her walk - maybe it was more of a waddle - to her car.

“I don’t have much to talk about with you guys, is all.”

“Are you an anime fan, Andre?”

“Depends on who’s asking.”

“J...just me.” She had lost some of that energy.

In truth, I wasn’t sure of what to say next, either. I watched the girl in front of me, her hair soaking wet from the downpour. She occasionally turned back to me as she closed in on her car, a 90’s sedan, complete with the shitty angular body. I absolutely despised how every car was so angular back then.

“Yeah, I do.” I finally choked out.

Don’t. Do NOT.

What’s the worst that could happen? She’s at the same job as me. She’s older than all the other employees, save for me and Robert. What is she, like twenty-three? That’s fine.

Why are you thinking about that?

I shook my head, my hood flailing a little in the rain. Rachel unlocked her car with the fob and I heard the familiar beeping indicating the door was open. I hurried over, rain bouncing off my windbreaker, most of it soaking the overpriced Superdry jacket. I approached Rachel.

“Think you’ve got it from here?” I asked, trying not to sound cold. I’m sure I sounded cold anyway.

“Ah, yeah. One more thing, Andre.” the brunette responded, the sound of her car starting making me jump a little. “Sorry.” She said, noticing.

“Yeah?” 

“Can I have your phone number?”

See what I mean? 

I took a step back. Dramatic, yeah, but one fitting how I felt. The chilling wind flew up under my jacket. So much for a windbreaker. The lone streetlamp above shone down weakly on the both of us, like some kind of low-budget stageplay spotlight. If it weren’t for the fact that it was 40 degrees and pouring rain, I’d say it was making me sweat like being under a spotlight, just the same.

“I don’t mind. I’m really bad at texting, though.” I quickly pulled myself together and shot back. I couldn't get close to another person like this.

Might as well.

I nodded.

“Alright! I’ll give you mine.”

“O-okay!” I was surprised with how forthright she was. She pulled out her phone. It had a background from an anime I recognized. How had I never noticed? She held it under the cover of her car’s interior. 

“Alright, here.” She showed me the “My Number” section. I didn’t even know phones had a “My Number” section. I’ve had the same phone number since I was 18. Have they always had a “My Number” section? I reached for my back pocket to grab my phone, realizing with a gasp, and that sinking feeling you get when something basically attached to you at all times is missing from its natural place. The same feeling I bet you’d get if you opened a treasure chest and there was an indent where the treasure should be, but there’s nothing there. 

Dread. 

I looked back across the parking lot at the lit up Spirit Halloween storefront, and then back at Rachel. The downpour was lightening up a little, and I could make out the last teenager heading to his Mom’s car. 

“I uh… left it in the store.” I said, kind of shamefully.

Why are you like this?

Rachel’s face sunk, then returned to normal. 

“You aren’t just saying that to avoid texting me, are you?” She raised an eyebrow. She was just messing around, okay.

“N-no, seriously! I left it back there because I was intending to hurry back.”

“Well, I’ll wait. Come back soon, okay?”

For some reason, upon her saying that, my body felt lighter. I nodded like a schoolboy sent to get back the kickball and started across the soaked parking lot, my sneakers splashing loudly as the rain died down. What an odd feeling. A guy walking out of Trattoria Pasquale gave me a weird look. I barely even noticed. I hoped he hadn't noticed the ahegao sticker on my car.

You cut yourself off from everyone here until someone else expresses interest in you, and then…?

I reached the store in a minute or two, cursing the sedentary lifestyle I’d lived for the past six or seven years. I was already panting a little. The bell rang as I walked into the dimly lit store. It looked so weird entering after all the cleaning and merchandise had been boxed and moved. It was even weirder that the store was technically open ‘til eleven. What were we even selling at that point? Last minute spooks? Trendy knockoff costumes for next year?

I had just reached my register and scrambled to scoop up my phone. 11:57. The last teenager was walking out of the store. He waved at me and headed for the door. I gave him a nod in return. I ran to clock out at the little computer terminal by the door, choosing to wait a few moments for my hours to roll into overtime. Who was I to say no to 22 extra bucks on my last paycheck?

I stared at my phone, illuminating it repeatedly whenever it dimmed from inactivity. For some reason, my throat tightened up as the clock ticked. He did tell me to be out of here before midnight.

So what? I wasn't some teenager he could bully into being paid less.

A bead of sweat ran down my temple. I hadn't felt excited about disobeying another adult since I was a freshman in college. Wasn't I too old for that? 

12am. Welcome to November, eh?

I took my time heading for the wall-mounted computer terminal for clocking out. At this point, the store was completely quiet, save for the dull buzzing of the cheap incandescent strip lights and Robert sorting papers in the back.

I clocked out and headed for the front door, not even thinking twice about the balding cue ball who was likely only seven or eight years older than me 

You'll probably end up like him.

"As soon as this temporary job ends, I'll look for something serious." I thought to myself, feeling that bullshit kind of epiphany you convince yourself you're having when you're feeling motivated for once.

Maybe things are turning around, though. I'm about to go get a girl's number and head home for a nice sleep. All in all, not the worst Halloween.

As I reached for the door handle, all the lights in the store shut off. Shrouded in complete darkness, I panicked and yanked the door a bit harder than I expected to. It hit the wall and in a bit of shock I flew through the threshold. 

You know that feeling where you've been speeding in a car and your pupils dilate to take in more surroundings, but when you stop, everything sort of comes back into normal focus?

Just your nervousness. At least, I think it is.

Yeah, imagine that, but a cute girl who was expecting you to come back out in a few minutes is slowly growing further from you. The weak breeze that had been blowing when I was outside last had worked itself up into a strong gust. 

"Hey!" I called out to Rachel from across the parking lot.

From the distance it seemed like she had actually noticed me. I don't know how far I seemed to her, but to me, Rachel felt about half a football field away. 

I waved.

She waved back.

Maybe I was having some kind of mental thing. I hadn't been attracted to anyone who wasn't some anime girl in a few years, after all. That can take a toll on anyone's state.

I started to jog towards the car, my sneakers splashing in puddles as the deluge of rain grew in strength. The downpour was immediate, and having pulled down my hood when I went back into the store, the cold water mixing with the unnaturally blowing winds made me feel like I was being attacked. I sped through, hitting my top speed. I ran right past my car. 

And then I ran right past my car again.

It was a moment before I realized I wasn't getting any closer to the light post where Rachel had her car parked.

The parking lot continued to extend like I was on a treadmill, my speed increased and my heart started pounding in my chest. The rain beat against my face and body until it looked like I was fighting through a waterfall.

Rachel's car grew further. My lungs burned from years of neglect. I'd probably collapse if I actually made it to her at this point.

My brain couldn't grasp what was happening. It didn't make sense. As I passed by my car for the fifth time, the ahegao sticker on the back a blur, I thought to stop on my next lap. I stopped as suddenly as I could, my sneakers skidding on the rain-soaked pavement, the blacktop glazed with water. A small splash beneath my feet signifying my stop. The rain had seemed to calm down a little, too. As I prepared to make a run for it, I felt something yank on the hood of my windbreaker. I stumbled backwards, and onto my butt. On the way down, I heard the familiar ringing of the entrance bell for the Spirit Halloween.

"...You waited to clock out, didn't you?" Asked a stern voice. I shook my head, rising to my feet shakily.

"Robert?" I asked, turning to face him. The balding man looked genuinely upset. I'd made jokes at his expense plenty of times in the past, but at the moment I really didn't have anything funny to say in my defense. I guess it's that kind of authority that comes with age that you can exude when you really want to? I don't think I have it, at any rate.

"So, what was it, some kind of "fuck you" to me? You don't actually think I care if anyone working at this Halloween store gets overtime, do you?"

"Well-" I cut myself off. Any rebellious intent I had went out like a doused flame. I turned to look at the parking lot briefly. I could see Rachel, still waiting patiently at her car.

Robert sighed, but in less of a "this fucking guy" way, and more of a "boy, do I feel for you" way. 

"She's not really out there." 

"What?" I replied, confused.

"Well, she's there, but not here." He began, moving towards the door. As he opened it, I rushed towards the threshold, ready to yell for Rachel. He put a rather large arm in front of me, barring me gently from passing. A strong, unnatural wind whipped in from the outside. Gusts and my own hair beat me about the face, causing me to squint unpleasantly.

"Hey, what the fuck gives, Robert?" I said, growing agitated. I was certain it had something to do with me running towards my car repeatedly for five minutes.

You're just tripping right now. You could make a run for it.

Why would I be tripping?

I looked through the doorway. There was nothing out there. Like, literally nothing. Infinite blackness, at least as far as I could see. Regardless, the strong wind blew in as if an industrial fan was pointed into the store. With some trepidation, I moved my head to the left of the door, til I was looking through the glass front window. I saw the calm parking lot, light drizzle and all.

 I saw Rachel again. I saw my shitty ricer with the ahegao sticker. I saw Trattoria Pasquale and the flickering parking lot light posts. So why couldn't I see it through the door? I looked at Robert, the bewilderment clear from my expression.

"You ever wonder what happens to Spirit Halloween locations after Halloween?" He said, a dark look spreading across his face.

"No, I've literally never thought about it once. Don't we just ship everything back to corporate?" I replied, incredulous. Just what was he getting at?

"Incredible, Andre. You're like a mirror of myself when I was your age." He chuckled, closing the door. "Right down to that "screw you" attitude you've got. And it's exactly why I'm still here."

"Still the manager of a dead-end job?" Robert's glare pierced me like an arrow. It was clear he was trying, rather awkwardly, to relate to me. I have no idea why I snarked him like that, especially given the situation. I suppose it's the only thing stopping me from having a breakdown about what I just saw.

"The reason you couldn't get to your new girlfriend," he began, ignoring my flustered objections, "is because you waiting til midnight to leave bound you to the store before it left the human world. I pulled you inside so you wouldn't get caught in limbo."

"What? Are you on something?" I replied, my repertoire of quick quips clearly completely exhausted. What the hell was he talking about?

"It's called Spirit Halloween for a reason."

"But I've seen other locations open on November first!"

"This isn't one of them."

I walked over to my cash register, leaning on it for support, my breath still a bit ragged from the sprint I just ran outside. My phone sat on the counter, illuminated by a bunch of messages from the various Discord servers I was in.

I suddenly remembered that Rachel had given me her number.

Bingo! Just tell her you're talking to Robert and you'll be out in a little bit.

"Ah, yeah. That isn't going to work." Robert said, as if he could read my mind. "Look at your last received message."

11:59PM, from "anime feet club". My phone had the correct time and date, but no mobile data connection. It was November 1st, 12:11AM.

There was a phone signal, though.

I opened up the keypad and dialed in Rachel's number as quickly as I could from memory. It's incredible the feats even an attention-deficit addled brain like mine was capable of when stressed.

The phone rang a few times. I looked up at Robert. He was tapping his foot, peering out of the window like he was expecting something to happen.

"H...o, -dre?" A feminine voice answered. Rachel had to be expecting my call.

"RACHEL!? I'M SORRY, I'M KIND OF STUCK IN THE STO-"

"can't… ear you very well." Was all I could make out before the line went dead. I slumped against my cash register counter. 

"Wow, you actually got through to her? We must still be in limbo. Those 5G towers are pretty strong, eh?"

I shot him a look of bewilderment. I didn't have the energy for this.

"Well, since you're going to be here for the next year, I won't have to take a week to mail you your final check." Robert said, as if he hadn't just watched me lose my will to live.

"I-I have direct deposit." I stammered, unable to do anything but answer him with complete seriousness. That remark he'd just made had me floored.

"Oh, well. I guess it's good you don't need money in the non-denominational Spirit World, eh?" He said, letting out a hearty chuckle.

The last thing I remember before passing out on the smelly rug in the middle of a Spirit Halloween was that cue ball bastard's laugh. It rang in my ears like an alarm bell as my world went black. 

Hey, sort of like what happened to my actual world, right?