Tricked & Treated Part 1

It was the night of Halloween.

Maisie Tillings and Sophie Burgess were ecstatic. Their hectic semester had come to an end, and they were going to celebrate that in all the ways they deserved. The pair were in their third year of university, and hadn't gotten dressed up like this since freshman parties. So, they decided to go all out and embrace stereotypes, dressing as 'sexy witches' for the evening.

The house party they were attending was nearby, and they were friends of the host - as such they had been tasked with acquiring the candy and various snacks for the many guests. On the day, the pair had been struck by a very amusing notion - trick or treating! It seemed as good as any method of checking off their task, plus it had the added bonus of being 'on brand'. Furthermore, as the girls reasoned, if they were embracing stereotypes then it seemed like actually trick or treating was a must.

Was it childish? Yes. Was it fun? Also yes.

If their escapade returned nothing, they could simply stop by the shops and source them there - much to the chagrin of their past, inner-children though.

Their first two houses had proven mildly successful. The first was a white-picket fence family that didn't seem overly amused by the girl's venture, the second had been a young couple that had been delighted by the duo, but both homes still left the pair's bags light.

The next home was somewhat isolated from the rest of the neighbourhood, and Maisie had heard it belonged to a rather reclusive woman, described as an eccentric by some. That didn't deter either of them though, and their heels had sounded loudly against the stone path that led to the unassuming residence, a few errant Halloween decorations were scattered about the yard and porch.

There was no doorbell, and so the taller of the two wrapped her knuckles against the surface. At first, there was only silence, and Maisie had shrugged up at her friend, just as the two were about to leave they heard movement from within.

The door creaked open, and receiving the 'witches' was a woman perhaps in her early to mid thirties. Sophie's brow cocked immediately at the sight, the woman was clad in a simple shirt - clearly pyjamas - and nothing else. The younger women both stifled mocking titters at the idea of having no plans on a night like tonight.

The pair remembered themselves, and spoke in unison. "Trick or treat!" Their high pitched voices had a sing-song affectation, making them seem far more the part.

The older woman's expression barely shifted, and she feigned a grin only for a moment. "And what are you two supposed to be..."

Maisie had been about to launch into an explanation, one she had used on the previous two residences, when the sharp question broke. The two younger women exchanged glances for a moment. 

"Witches. Obviously." Sophie finally said, unamused by the stranger's attitude.

The unimpressed woman remained so, looking the pairs' attire up and down, for a moment she seemed personally affronted by that notion.

Maisie tried to sever the tension. "Listen, we're just looking to get some lollies or snacks or whatever for a party we're going to soo... if your kids have left any then..."

"I don't have children." The woman said, cutting Maisie off.

The shortest of the trio swallowed the lump in her throat, aware of the growing awkwardness. "Right. Well, maybe you and your boyfriend have..."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "I live alone." She said, matter of factly. Maisie didn't have a response to that, and for a second she thought this person was getting some twisted satisfaction at correcting the assumptions of the young duo.

Sophie was growing tired of this. "No family. No partner. No plans on a Friday night. Got it. Do you have anything for us or not?"

Maisie grinned up at the lonely woman, enjoying her friend's biting remarks.

The woman's gaze shot to Sophie, before drifting back to Maisie, again taking in the sight of their attires. The duo were about to abandon this entirely, before the older woman finally responded. "Yes. I've got just the thing." As she seemed to contemplate something. She stepped away from the door, her bare feet padding against the tiles. "Why don't you both come in? I'll get you fully sorted."

The woman's demeanour seemed entirely shifted, now there was a bounce to her personality, and a lightness that hadn't been there moments ago. 

The older woman could sense some hesitation, and continued. "I think I even have some drinks you could take with you, if you'd like." 

That was definitely tantalizing. Maisie and Sophie looked at each other and shrugged, before stepping inside. 

As the woman strode from them, her voice carried down the hall. "I'm Lia, by the way."