As the sun slipped behind the mountains and darkness enveloped me, a chill different from other evenings descended on the old red-brick building, most recently used as a nightclub. Surrounded by a small forest of birch and pine, the night spot appeared perfect for the annual Halloween party. The club building was shrouded in mist. It was a damp autumn evening.  Some bats hung upside down from the huge Bunyan tree while others already started to leave in search of food and water. All of a sudden the silence was broken by the hoot of an owl. It distracted me and I lost my train of thought.

My girlfriend, Rachel, wished to join the Halloween party but she failed to appear in time. At last I decided to go inside the club.

Elaborate and unique was the flavour of the Halloween night at the hall as the party people arrived in large numbers to spook for fun. Starting with a skeleton napping inside a coffin just outside the entrance, then a mini replica of a haunted castle, pumpkins and bats ushered in guests. While a witch on a broomstick hung from the ceiling and spooky maps guided party goers, spider webs and neon decor added a creepy touch on the night. 

Even the bartenders and the disc jockey dressed up for the party with their Halloween make-up and costumes. I spotted Arna who chose to be a vampire while her friend decided to dress up as a wildcat. 

After some time, Rachel walked in on me as I watched the party revelers whooping it up. We matched steps to a popular party number. “I need to go to the bathroom,” she said in a soft husky whisper. “Okay honey,” I said. “I’ll wait here for you.”

Suddenly, my cell phone buzzed. A male voice wailed from the other end. “This is National Highway Traffic Safety,” the voice said. “Yes,” I responded.  “A woman named Rachel was killed tonight in a car crash,” the voice added.