The Sound of Silence

        “Anise, what do you think of this one?” My best friend, Ivy, asked, holding up a black and white plaid skirt. Ivy Greenwaters was a werewolf like me. She had long black hair and chocolate-brown eyes.

               “That looks great Ivy!” I replied.

               “Good. It’s 50% off. Only ten ghosts!”

               We walked to the front counter, where a female Wraith was working. “10 Ghosts, please, " the gray-skinned woman said. Ivy handed her the coins, and the Wraith handed her the bag.

               “Thanks, Melana!” Ivy called as we walked out the doors. The crisp skies greeted me as I strode out.

               Ghost Town didn’t have transportation. We had a train station, which was only used for out-of-town business and adults.

               “Saturday is Halloween!” Ivy said gleefully. “Any ideas on what you’re going as to the dance?”

               I shrugged. “What’s the point? Humans dress as us all the time.”

               Ivy sighed, exasperated. “That’s your argument every year. You can’t even dress up by yourself for one year?”

               “What are you going as?” I said, trying to move the subject away from what I would dress up as.

               “Cowgirl.”

               “Nice.”

               “How about something from your mythology class? Like a…what were you talking to me about the other day?” She scratched her head.

               I raised an eyebrow “A Valkyrie?”

               She pointed “Yes! That! You can do a braid and everything!”

               I shrugged. “Whatever. I’m just excited for Halloween break.” Halloween was a sacred holiday in Ghost Town. It had celebrations throughout the entire town.

               “That’s the spirit!”

               We returned to her house so she could start working on an outfit for me. But eventually, I went home with Ivy’s promise that it would be done tomorrow night.

               “Hey Mom,” I called. She was sitting at the table with her laptop.

               She looked up. “Hey, Anise. How’s Ivy doing?”

               “Great. She’s making a dress for me.”

               “Ooh! Can’t wait to see! How was school?”

               “Same old. Work, witches, and more work.”

               “Tell me about it. These witches I’m working with are insane. They’re a pain in my hide even when I’m working from home.”

               Witches and Werewolves didn’t get along. Ever. Even in adulthood. The rivalry was as old as this town. Something about how witches felt that the Wolves disrupted the balance in their magic, and wolves see witches as some kind of interlopers. “Is Afina home?”

               “Not yet.” She replied, eyes back on the screen. “You know your sister. She’s probably off skating at the park.

               I sighed. Afina was my older sister by a year. Aspen was my favorite sibling; he was the oldest but moved out recently when he met his girlfriend.

               “It’s all right, pup. Oh, and Aspen is coming tomorrow to see you.”

               My ears perked up. “Really?”

               “Yes. Alright, Pup. I’ve got to get back to work.”

               I walked upstairs to my room. It was clean and organized and was the cleanest compared to Afina’s, whose room was wrecked by an imaginary tornado.

               I started working on homework, with a break for dinner, and then I went to bed.

               Mornings sucked. It was probably why most Vampyres stayed in their beds until nightfall. Vampyres could come out into the sunlight. The rest were all myths.

               “C’mon, Pup. You’re going to be late if you don’t get your tail moving.” My father said by the doorway.

               “Sounds good!” I chirped and headed out the door to school.

               Ghost Town High School was the biggest building in Ghost Town. It was built like an institute, with old carvings and depictions of dragyns. There were pillars and an old courtyard. Basically Hogwarts, but not just witches and wizards.

               Wraiths, Witches, Gargoyles, Bat-shifters, Pixies, and Giants were walking into the building. Giants were known to be big. Witches were almost always in groups of three, a Coven. Bat-shifters could turn into bats like I could a wolf. They were often mistaken for Vampyres, which infuriated both sides.

               “Hey, Anise!” A Witch waved me over.

               Candice. I didn’t like the Witch. She liked to play tricks on the weak. I didn’t know why she did what she did, but I didn’t like it.

               “What?” I said. I was taller than her by quite a few inches.

               “You going to the dance?” she asked. Her two friends, Kasta and Eltrina, looked at me, blankly.

               “Why?” I asked as blandly as I could.

               “Just wondering. So, are you?”

               “Yeah. With my best friend.”

               “Oh, well, are you going with anyone?”

               Ghost, this girl was annoying. Did she listen to anyone but the high-pitched squeal of hers? “Yeah. With my best friend.”

               She cackled. “Oh, my Ghost. No. I meant with someone. Like a boy.”

               “No.”

               “Too bad. I hear lots of things.”

               “And?” I glared. This conversation was starting to annoy me.

               “And nothing.” She said sweetly. “Let’s go, girls.”

               I rolled my eyes and walked away. Really? All that over nothing.

               “Hey, Anise?” Someone called. A male wolf by assumption.

               I turned, and a boy I recognized from class, but never actually talked to, was standing there, hands in his pockets and rocking back and forth on his heels. “Umm.” I squinted.

               “I’m Sam. I was wondering if you’d, you know, go to the dance with me.” This boy had the brightest teal eyes I’d ever seen.

               I was so shaken up by my earlier conversation with Candice that I blurted “Is this a set-up? Like, is Candice, I don’t fluffing know, setting me up, or something?”

               “Umm. No. Why?”

               “Never mind. Can we, I don’t know, talk after school?”

               He grinned. “Sure.” Then walked away back to his menagerie of friends.

               Ivy walked up to me. “Ohmighost. Was that a boy?”

               “Shut up, Ivy. Let’s get to class.”

               Halfway through class, a piece of paper folded up landed on my table. I turned and there was the blonde-haired boy from earlier. He mouthed “Open it.” I groaned inwardly.

               I didn’t realize you were the quiet type. Is it a yes, or no? Or do you prefer to get to know someone first?

               I wrote back: It’s not that. How about this; After school we’ll go to the were-house for coffee. Six o’clock. Don’t be late or it’s a no. Also, no more notes. We’re going to get in trouble.

               I tossed it back. I looked back after a moment. I’d never gone out with a boy before. Never felt the need. I’d watched my sibling go through people like a snowplow.

               I had to admit. He was cute. Stop. I reprimanded myself. You don’t know him yet. It’s probably not even going to work out.

               After school, I immediately went outside.

               Aspen was on his phone, typing. “Aspen!” I cried and hugged him.

               “Hey, Sis. How was school?”

               “Fine. I may have gotten myself a date tonight.”

               “Where?” He asked, eyebrows raised. “Who’s the lucky wolf?”

               “The were-house. And I don’t know him. Not really.”

               “That’s what dates are for.” Aspen shook his black hair from his face. His green eyes were the same as mine.

               “Hey, Anise!”

               I whirled, and there he was. Speak of the devil. Ivy followed him out the door. “Is that him?” Aspen whispered. I nodded.

               “Six?” Sam asked. I nodded again.

               “Um. Sam, meet Aspen, Aspen meet Sam.” They shook hands.

               Aspens’ eyes were twinkling with mischief. “Stand her up, boy, and I will gut you.”

               “No worries there.” Sam smiled. “I'm assuming you’re her older brother?”

               “No. I’m her mother. Yes, I'm her brother.” I rolled my eyes.

               “Hey! Move it, boys!” Ivy pushed past Sam and Aspen. “He’s cute.” She whispered to me.

               “OH. MY. GHOST.” A female said from behind me. “IT’S ASPEN GREYHOUND!”

               I groaned. “Oh no. Not good.” I clutched Ivy’s hand.

               Ivy squeezed my hand as Candice pushed past me. “Hi!” She said, “I’m Candice!”

               “Aspen. And I don’t appreciate you pushing past my sister.” His eyes were hard.

               She turned to me, and beyond my disgust, she looked almost sincere. “I’m sorry, Anise.” She turned back to Aspen and batted her lashes. “Are you doing anything tomorrow?”

               “Spending time with my sister.”

               “You should come to the dance!” She flipped her hair.

               “You do realize you’re talking to a wolf, right?” Ivy interrupted.

               “Oh, my Ghost, I’m not a racist, Eva.”

               “It’s Ivy.” She glared.

               “Sorry, I meant Ivy.” Even Sam looked skeptical.

               “I’ll think about it. C’mon, Anise.”

               Aspen, Ivy, and I started walking. “You coming?” I motioned to Sam.

               “Yeah.” He replied and jogged me.

               Then he disappeared. Gone, like he never had been there. “Ivy?” I turned, but she wasn’t there either. Aspen was standing there, mouth agape.

               “What’s going on?” I exclaimed, eyes wide.

               Even Candice and her Coven were gone. “I don’t know. This is a Covens’ doing, though. This is Dark Magic.”

               “I don’t understand. Who would do this?”

               “I’ll call Mom and Dad.” He said, pulling out his phone.

               Both of them went to voicemail. “Call Afina!” I told him. “Oh, my ghost. Oh, my ghost.”

               Afina picked up on the first ring, “What in the Ghost is going on?” She demanded. “All my friends are gone! There’s nobody at the skatepark.”

               “I don’t know. Mom and Dad aren’t picking up.” Aspen replied. “Mom and Dad aren’t answering.”

               “I know. I called.”

               “Meet us at the school,” I said into the phone.

               A pause. “Ok. I’ll be there as fast as possible.” Then she hung up.

               “Do you think it was that girl? Cadence, or something?”

               “Candice. And no. I don’t.”

               Three girls walked out of the building. One of them, a red-head, the other two, blonde. Witches. The redhead was wearing an amulet. They saw us, then disappeared in a flash—witches’ transportation.

               “Candice is gone. It was a different Coven. A particularly unpopular one.”

               “Then we find them.” He faced me, his green eyes blazing. “And reverse the spell.” And the Town suddenly felt empty. And silence devoured the space.

               “Whoever is out there, still in Ghost Town, meet at Ghosthall.” I said into the loudspeakers. “I repeat. Meet at Ghosthall.”

               Thirty minutes later, only ten people, including me and my siblings, were there.

               There were two adults here. Aspen, and a male Vampyre who was only nineteen. There was a female Pixie, a male Wraith, a male Dark Elf, one Witch, a male Bat-shifter, and a male Wolf.

               “Hi. I’m Aspen. A Coven-not present-just wiped out most of the town. We’re all that’s left. We need to-”

               “Hold on.” The witch, who introduced herself as Celaena, interrupted, “How do you know that it was a coven?”

               “This is Dark Magic. Only a Coven could have summoned enough magic to do this.” Aspen repeated calmly.

               “And I saw them,” I told her. “You’re Coven is gone, Celaena. Do you want them back? Or live without them?”

               She pressed her lips into a thin line but didn’t press further. “We need to find them. We need to restore the town.” I continued.

               Celaena interrupted again. “How? Do we just force them to undo it? You’re a wolf. Witches and Wolves don’t get along. You know this.”

               I sighed and crossed my arms, staring her down. “This Coven is particularly unpopular and bullied. I feel like they did this because of the actions of their peers. High school and school, in general, suck because of the hierarchy. The bullies are always at the top.

               “Do you think this is okay? Do you think that the ‘Oh so powerful’ should hurt the weak? Or do you think that they should help them? I’m not saying that those kids are weak. I’m saying that they want to be heard. They want to be seen.”

               “Fine. So, we be nice to them, and they’ll fix what they did? That sounds likely.”

               “I’m saying  that we need to change how the school is run. But we need to stop letting bullies run this school.”

               The male Vampyre smiled at me. “Wonderfully said, Wolf. There are reasons us Vampyres don’t go to school. But maybe we should if only to change the system.”

               “I agree.” The Bat-shifter said. “This place sucks. It needs to change.”

               A chorus of agreement rang out from the kids present. “We need to find them,” Afina said from her corner. “I may not agree with my parents, but that doesn’t mean I want them gone.” I smiled at her and she managed to grin back.

               “This town is as good as run down. We should split up into five groups of two. Vamp, you’re with me.” The Vampyre nodded.

               I ended up with Celaena, though, I was not fond of her very much. Afina was with the other wolf, the Bat with the Wraith, and the Pixie with the Giant.

               We all split up and started searching. If we found them, we were told to use a walkie-talkie that Aspen had found us to report back.

               “I’m sorry for my outburst earlier.” Celaena said, “I’m not used to talking to wolves.”

               “It’s alright.” I frowned. “You’re a Witch. If you didn’t want to be found, where would you go?”

               “Graveyard, to be honest. That’s where I go in general. I like to practice my spells there. C’mon.”

               We walked to the graveyard. It was empty, not a body in sight. Only the gust of wind and the smell of the dead. “Anywhere else?” I asked.

               “Hold on.” She replied. Then she closed her eyes. “I’m searching for a cloaking spell. It’s easier with my Coven, but I can do it myself. It took five minutes before she spoke again. “Someone’s here. I can feel them.”

               I repeated it into the walkie-talkie and followed Celaena further into the graveyard. “They’re underneath us. Unfortunately, I go here often. I know where they are.” She walked to a grave. The plaque said: Sage Specetra. “It’s an anagram,” She explained, “Unscramble it and it’s-“

               “Secret passage.”

               “Yeah.”

               She tapped the grave until she’d spelled secret passage. The grave opened revealing a staircase. “Should we tell the others?”

               “No time. Let’s go.” She replied. I followed her down into the dark, candles lighting a small section every few feet.

               We ran into three witches. The red-headed girl looked at us with fearful green eyes. She couldn’t be more than fourteen. “I’m sorry.” She quivered.

               “What’s your name?” I asked her kindly.

               “Kaylana. I-I didn’t realize that the spell would erase everyone. I just-I wanted Candice gone.”

               “You and everyone,” Celaena muttered.

               “It’s alright.” I calmly replied. “Is there a way to erase it?”

               She nodded but stopped hesitantly. “But it will bring her back.”

               “Well,” I sighed, “we all have to deal with bullies. “Sometimes, it’s people at school. Sometimes, it’s at home. Sometimes, we are our own bullies.”

               “Can you undo the spell?” Celaena asked hopefully.

               “I can do it right now. But I need the ingredients for the counterspell. A strand of your hair,” she looked pointedly at me, “And the ashes of your ancestor.” She looked to Celaena.

               Neither of us questioned it. Celaena disappeared, and I handed Kaylana a strand of my curly white hair. “I can help you with her,” I said quietly.

               Kaylana shook her head. “We all have to deal with bullies. So, that’s what we’re going to do.”

               Celaena reappeared and dropped a vial of ash in her hand. “My grandmother’s ashes.”

               Kaylana performed some witch-spell that I didn’t care for and began chanting. When they finally stopped, Kaylana announced, “It’s done. They’re back.”

               We returned to the school where confused-looking kids were mulling around.

               “Ivy!” I cried and ran into my friends' arms. The sun was just starting to set.

               “Hey, I have no clue what happened. All I know is that I was talking to Aspen, and then it went dark, and now I’m here talking to you and-”

               “I promise I’ll explain tomorrow. For now-”

               “Anise?” Sam’s voice had me whirling around.

               “You’re three hours late,” I said.

               “You’re counting that against me?” Sam raised a brow.

               “I’m willing to give you another chance. I’ll go to the dance with you.”

               “For real?” He smiled.

               “Sure.”

               “Anise! You did it!” Aspen ran toward me. “You and Celaena did it.”

               “That we did.”

               “Who’s Celaena?” Ivy asked, confused.

               “A witch.” I searched the crowd for her. She was hugging two witches, probably her Coven. She looked at me and pointed toward me before walking my way.

               “Thank you, Anise. I wouldn’t have done anything the way you did. You managed it perfectly. You are a great person. I think we should talk to these people about… well, you know.”

               “You should too. After all, if Witches and Were-wolves are to become friends, let’s be the first.”

               She smiled. “I’d like that.” I squeezed Ivy’s hand, who looked doubtful but squeezed back anyway. I took Celaena’s hand in my other, “C’mon, Witch. Let’s go show the people how wrong they are.”

               We walked to the front of the crowd. “Ghost Town High!” I raised my voice. “I have a proposition for you.”

               People looked at me, Celaena, and Ivy. “My name is Anise Greyhound. You may know my older brother, Aspen, or my older sister, Afina. Well, I want to say that this school is wrong. The wrong people at the top, the wrong people at the bottom. We don’t take any caution to the kids at the bottom. What they may be capable of. Just today, a lot of us were erased by a small group of witches. Because of a different Coven. One that picks on, tortures, and hurts younger kids.

               “I want to take a stand. I want to help those kids and undermine those who try to hurt the weak. I want those kids to be heard. And seen. So, help me, and help the community. Thank you.”

               I returned to my brother. “Was that good?”

               “It was perfect.”

               I smiled at him. “Then let’s go home.”