Echo of a Bird's Cry

THE SURVIVOR EMILY OCTOBER 31

David has decided to host a last minute Halloween costume party at his house. Wearing a costume is mandatory. The more creative the better. David is the god of Olympus tonight. He's Zeus. He's dressed in a white toga with a red tunic sash across his chest and a gold metallic belt. He has golden arm cuffs and Greek-styled sandals.

Police officers of Ravenwood are here to help. Eden and Angel help us decorate. Ella helps too. She arrived solo, wearing a semi translucent dress with iridescent fabric that shimmers from each angle. She dons a long white wig and a large but beautifully crafted headpiece made of flowers and crystals. She looks like an enchanted fairy queen. We hang ghost garlands and orange and black balloons. We stretch fake cobwebs with massive toy spiders over the bushes, windows, and tables. We place glowing pumpkins and skeletons in shadowed corners. David orders pizza and wings. He taught me how to make his famous spicy sausage dip. He made sure I recited every ingredient in his secret recipe until I knew it by heart. He wanted to make sure I learned it so I could make spicy sausage dip for Abel. David went to the liquor store and bought cases of beer and bottles of wine. This is a Halloween extravaganza. This party is the party I've always fantasized about. A party where there is no indulgent extravagance to hide behind. A party where the lust of lavishness doesn't seduce. A party where everyone feels comfortable. A perfectly normal party. There are no waiters. No security. No staff. There's only family and good friends. It's a complete change but one for the better.

Abel and I set up a table in the center of the living room and make it into a makeshift bar. David has already unboxed the beers and placed them on the table. He didn't want his son to tear his stitches by lifting heavy cases of beer. Since the hard part is done, Abel and I turn the cans and bottles forward, making sure the labels are visible and the area is neat.

"Are you excited?" Abel asks.

"Yes," I say. "It'll be fun. We need fun in this group."

Abel nods. "I'm a little anxious."

"About what?"

"My best friend's flight should be landing right about now. Michael is coming to the party and I hope you two like each other."

"I'm sure we will."

He scratches his brow. "This is all new to me too. I've never introduced anyone to a girlfriend. I'm a little nervous."

"It's going to be okay."

He inhales and sighs. "You're right." He glances at Angel and unwraps the paper plates and sets them next to the napkins and plastic cups. "Did Angel and Eden get into a disagreement about something?"

My gaze shifts to Angel. Angel's costume is ambiguous. His ensemble includes a double breasted tailcoat, black cravat, high waisted trousers, and riding boots. His black hair is combed back and he wears contacts that are between neon blue and icy grey. He looks like an aristocratic vampire or werewolf from the 18th century.

Angel stacks the paper plates in a tall pile. His movements are rigid and stiff. He looks tense. He takes it hard when things go awry with Eden. "I don't know."

"Where is your sister?" Abel asks.

My gaze roams around the room. Eden is nowhere in sight. "Has she been acting different to you?"

Abel tilts his head, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, but I think we all have. The trauma we've been through is going to take us awhile to cope with and we all deal with things differently."

"She's drawing into a shell and I don't like it. She hasn't been herself since..." I trail off. I don't want to bring him to the surface of anything. Evan doesn't have the right to be acknowledged in our future.