# Chapter 1

Helen wound the rubber snakes into her hair feeling apprehensive and ridiculous. She couldn’t believe that Kira had talked her into this. A Halloween party was just a bad idea. She didn’t like Halloween, didn’t like the ridiculous skimpy costumes, and the pressure to come up with the best costume. Her ex was always so competitive about it…she stopped. No, she wasn’t going to think of him tonight. It was him that made her loathe parties, and he wasn’t around. So she was going to finish putting snakes in her hair, finish the make up that made her look gaunt and inhuman, and go out there and pretend to havea good time for Kira’s sake. Her stomach buzzed with anxiety and her hands were shaking. She hated feeling like this.

As she touched up the severe burgandy lipstick, her doorbell rang. Quickly she took off the apron she’d been wearing to protect the thrift store sheet she had fashioned into a classical greek gown, and rushed to open the door. Kira took a quick step back and almost lost balance on her high heels. Her eyes widened before a grin bloomed across her face.

“Oh my god, you look horrible!” Kira said with glee. She crossed the threshold and gave Helen a gentle hug, keeping her face away from the snakes that bobbed and wiggled in her hair. She stepped back and they inspected each other. Kira was wearing a black power suit, and stilleto heels, a far cry from the more comfortable clothes Helen was used to seeing her in. Her skin was painted a dark olive green, and she was carrying what looked like an ipad, and some sort of stick vacuum.

“She-hulk?” Helen asked, and Kira frowned.

“Oh damn. I was going for modern witch.”