What Happened to Mason Keating?

A year has passed since the night twenty-three-year-old Mason Keating, older brother to seventeen-year-old Layla Keating, went into the woods on Halloween and never returned. Search teams canvased the surrounding trees to no avail. Foul play was not expected, and lack of a body has led to many speculations. If anyone has any information, they should contact the Sheriff’s office.

Layla shoved the news clipping she had found at the gas station outside of town into her pocket. She now stood in the clearing in those woods where many liked to venture to throw their parties throughout the year, the biggest being Halloween. She stood in the tree line, looking out across the overgrowth that brushed the top of her knee-high black boots. There was no evidence of the party that took place there a year ago, of the bonfire that raged among the clearing, or what exactly happened to her brother that fateful night. One year – no words – no leads.

A few months after the disappearance, Layla left the small town she grew up in in hopes Mason’s old college dorm would have a clue, but that led to nothing. His roommates only knew he went home to party, a tradition he had participated in since his sophomore year of high school. It was harmless fun, and while that may be, why did her brother disappear, and why was he the only one to do so?

“Hi, Layla.”

Layla jumped when she heard his voice. She turned around to find Henry standing behind her. Henry was a friend Mason met that night and reportedly the last person to see Mason alive. He stood there in a black, loose-fitting gown of sorts and black gloves, carrying a black hood and a scythe in one hand and a small case with a golden buckle in the other.

“You scared me,” she breathed, waiting for her heart to keep racing.

Henry smiled. “I see you got my message.”

“I did,” she said, staring at him. “What are you supposed to be?”

“I’m the reaper of course.”

She chuckled. “Of course, you are.” She turned back around, hands tightening on her backpack straps. “You said you wanted to show me what happened that night.”

“And I will, all in good time.” He smiled, walking into the clearing. “There’s still a party to be had here tonight on All Hallows Eve. You know,” he said turning around, “it is the one night where the realm between the dead and the living is the weakest right?”

“Fascinating,” she dismissed, trying to shake off the cold. “Why so late?”

“You’re looking for something realistic, right? And that I will show you, all in good time.”

Layla nodded but did not feel like standing around waiting for him to set up whatever shindig they planned on having that night. “Then, if you’re not ready, I’m going to head back to the diner. It was the last place that everyone saw Mason before he came here. I just want to make sure nothing is being left out.”

“Of course, I’m only here to help,” Henry winked. “Be back by dark, love.”

Layla felt a chill run down her spine. She gave Henry a grin before turning around and walking back out of the woods. The diner wasn’t far from where the party took place, about a fifteen-minute walk, and while she should have stopped first before walking all the way in, she didn’t want to miss meeting up with Henry or make him think she wasn’t showing. She didn’t know what she could possibly find that the cops hadn’t after a year, but she needed to try.

The diner still held the appeal it had back when it opened in the 50s with the age screaming on the outside. Black and white checkered floor with red accents were all cracked and faded like the paved and empty parking lot. The only waitress wore a pink uniform with her gray hair pulled back in a low bun and blue-rimmed glasses. From what Layla could remember, her name was Francis. She was the same waitress who worked that night and took their orders, double chocolate chip milkshakes with extra syrup – and the one to comfort Layla when she heard Mason was considered a missing person. Francis had been working there for as long as Layla could remember, and probably long before that. Her parents used to take them there as kids, but they hadn’t been back much since they passed. Mason was the one to start the tradition his sophomore year. They would have milkshakes, then he would take Layla home before joining the party. Layla didn’t like Halloween.

Layla sat down on the red barstool that was cracked and faded. The diner was usually packed this time of night with all the soon-to-be partygoers, but now it sat empty, except for an older man sitting in the corner, sipping on a cup of coffee. Francis came down and stopped in front of Layla, notepad and pen ready.

“What can I get you, sweetie?” Francis said, her voice sounding rougher than Layla remembered.

“Hi, Francis,” Layla smiled. “It’s been a while.”

“Hon, I see a lot of people every day, sorry if I don’t recognize you. What do you want?”

Layla’s face burned as she answered. “A double chocolate chip milkshake with extra syrup.”

“Coming right up.”

Francis left and placed the little sheet up for the cook to grab before returning to the magazine that sat open on the counter. Layla felt embarrassed. She hadn’t been gone that long. Three months at most.

Layla looked around, finding the bulletin board that hung from the wall. It was filled with “help wanted” and “for sale” signs. Mason’s poster used to hang in the middle of that board, it had since the day she left town to look elsewhere, but now it was gone. It had only been a year. Why would it be gone now?

“Excuse me,” Layla said, turning on the barstool. “Where did the missing person’s flyer go?”

“What?” Francis asked, looking up over her glasses that sat on the end of her nose.

“The missing person poster, the one of my brother, why is it gone?”

“Hon, there’s never been a missing person’s picture there for as long as I’ve worked here.”

Layla’s heart raced. She turned and grabbed her bag, pulling out the flyer she always kept with her, carefully unfolding it, and holding it up for Francis to see. “Mason, Mason Keating. We came in here a year ago on Halloween as we always did, and he disappeared that night. You…you held me while I cried,” she strained, trying to hold back the tears forming.

Francis stepped closer, getting a good look at the flyer before responding. “Listen, no one has ever gone missing around here. I’m sorry about your brother, but that didn’t happen around here.”

“Yes, yes it did,” Layla’s voice rose as she tried to keep some composure.

The bell to the diner door rang. Layla turned to find Sheriff Barker stepping through the door. Relief came over her. He still looked the same as he did a few months ago, gray mustache under hard brown eyes, only slightly balding. His belt around his waist seemed to fit tighter than she remembered, but that didn’t matter. She turned to him, hoping for an answer. He promised to keep in touch with her as they continued the investigation.

“Sheriff–”

“Is there something wrong here, Francis?” he asked, eyes staring down at Layla.

“Everything’s fine, Bob, just think this girl might be a little lost.”

“What?” Layla said, “no it’s me, sheriff, Layla, Layla Keating. I grew up here, you knew my dad, you ran my brother’s case when he disappeared last year.”

“Ma’am, no one disappears around here.”

Ma’am?

“Look,” she said, holding up the flyer. “Mason, Mason Keating. He vanished in the woods behind here. A search went out looking for him, but nothing was found. You…you told me you would keep me notified and promised you wouldn’t give up looking for him. And…and this.” She pulled the newspaper clipping out of her pocket. “This was published this morning.”

Sheriff Barker studied both before shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I’ve never seen you, or this man in the photo in my life. I also read the paper this morning and never saw this. Now, why don’t you come down to the station and we can get this all straightened out?”

“No,” Layla took a step back. “How…how can you not believe me? How can you not remember?”

“Now, listen–”

Layla didn’t. She grabbed her bag, dodging the police officer’s grasp and ran out the door. She continued, ignoring the Sheriff’s pleas for her to stop, continuing until she was deep in the woods. She paused behind a tree to catch her breath, allowing a tear to fall. They didn’t remember. Not remembering her, or maybe even her parents, fine, but how could they forget Mason?

The light from the sun began to lose its strength against the dying trees. Layla placed her bag back on her back and made her way towards the clearing before the darkness completely took the light. Pulling herself together became impossible. If they didn’t remember, then who was looking for Mason?

I should have never left.

Henry still stood in the clearing, hood now on, covering his face and scythe in hand. Layla’s pain turned to anger as she burst through the trees.

“What the hell are you doing?” she screamed. “This isn’t the time to play dress up. You promised me that you would help me find out what happened to Mason.”

“And I’m keeping that promise,” he said, voice seeming to have an echo behind it.

Layla closed her eyes and counted to five, trying to pull herself together. “Why…why does no one remember my brother?” She asked, opening her eyes.

“Time works in a way we cannot understand,” he said, taking a step forward. “Follow me, and I will show you what happened.”

Henry turned and walked into the trees. Layla stood there confused before going in after him. Trying to keep up with the black silhouette became a challenge as she tripped over roots and down tree limbs. They said Mason went into the woods to pee. That was the last time they saw him. How far in did he go?

“Henry,” she shouted, stopping to catch her breath before continuing. “Are…are you sure you know where you’re going?”

Layla took a few more steps – steps that led her back into the clearing.

She looked around, unable to see Henry anywhere. The chest that he had in his hand sat in the middle of the clearing on flattened grass. All he did was lead her around in a circle.

“HENRY!” she screamed. “What are you doing?”

His voice came through the trees, but Layla couldn’t pinpoint from what direction. “If you want to know what happened, step forward, and open the box.”

“What?”

“We need a willing participant. Your brother was.”

Layla clutched her bag and stepped toward the case. Everything inside of her screamed to turn and run away, but she had to do it. She had to know what happened to Mason, and why everyone forgot about him. She squatted down closer. The gold clip shined against the darkness that surrounded her. Taking in a deep breath, she pressed the clip and lifted the lid. There was nothing inside.

“Henry, I’m sick of your games. Where is Mason?” Sounds came from the trees…no…inside the box. Layla stood, heart beating faster. “Henry…”

“I’m sorry, Layla.”

Black hands reached up out of the box. Layla screamed as they grabbed onto her arm and pulled her down into the darkness.

*

“Layla, wake up.”

Layla’s eyes shot open. She sat up, finding a man sitting in front of her. He looked rough with his overgrown beard and dirty face. His clothes were torn. No, not clothes, a ragged pirate costume that he wore last Halloween.

“Mason?” Layla sighed with relief, throwing her arms around him. He hugged her back just as hard as she cried with relief. “I knew you weren’t dead, and you didn’t leave me.”

“I’m so sorry, Layla,” Mason said, pulling away. “I know I should have been home by now, but I don’t know what happened. I went into the woods, Henry went with me, and then I was here.”

“It’s Henry,” Layla said, looking around. “Come on, we’ve got to get out of her here.”

“There isn’t a way. I’ve spent most of the night trying to find something but there isn’t.”

A shriek in the darkness made Layla jump, she scooted closer to Mason, feeling comfort from him, the comfort she had missed so much. “Mason, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. There was a girl here before me, but the darkness took her. I’ve been able to avoid it.”

The shouts quieted. Layla sat there, collecting her thoughts before turning back to finally look her brother in the eyes. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “I can’t lose you like that again.”

“Hey,” Mason said, pulling away from her. “I’ve only been gone for a few hours.”

“A few hours?” she repeated, processing it herself. “Mason, you’ve been gone for a year, and for some reason, everyone has forgotten about you.”

“What?”

“I haven’t figured out how everyone forgot about you, forgot about us, but we’ll figure it out, right?”

“Layla, I–”

Blood began to pool out of Mason’s mouth. Layla screamed as she saw a hand reaching through Mason’s chest. His eyes pleaded to her as more hands grabbed him, pulling him away into the darkness.

“MASON!” Layla screamed, trying to run after him, but there was no use. She couldn’t make out more than a few feet in front of her. He was gone, and she was now alone in the darkness with the creatures that called out through it.

“I’m really sorry, Layla, but this had to be done.”

Layla turned to find Henry standing behind her, still wearing the outfit he had, but it now seemed fitting, flowing with the breeze. “What the hell did you do?”

“This place needs a sacrifice every Halloween to keep the creatures from crossing over. It must be someone who is easily missed in the human world, and two unnoticed orphans…well…”

“You bastard.”

A chime struck loud enough to send Layla to her knees. She stared up as Henry walked towards her. “The night is finished. One year is all you have now. This place must always have one occupant, and don’t worry, time passes by faster here.”

Henry disappeared. The screams in the night grew louder as Layla ran, desperately searching for something, anything to save her life. The last evidence of Layla slipped away in the human world as another night proved successful in keeping the demons in their place -- until next Halloween.