Halloween day had finally arrived, and Fiona couldn't contain her excitement. She adjusted her explorer costume, pinning her hair neatly before placing the safari cap on her head. The outfit was complete with a pair of faux binoculars hanging around her neck and a map sticking out of her pocket. She admired herself in the mirror and grinned.
"I look amazing! I wonder if Evie's wearing something totally out of the ordinary," she mused, giggling as she grabbed her phone to video call her friend.
After a few rings, Evie picked up, her face filling the screen with an annoyed expression. "Whaaaat?"
Fiona gave her a cheeky grin. "Hey, adventurer! What are you dressing up as? Let me guess… something boring and uncreative?"
Evie groaned loudly, the sound of something crashing in the background making her wince. "DO I HAVE TO?!" she shouted over the noise, her frustration clear.
Before Fiona could answer, another crash echoed from Evie's side. "IF YA BREAK ANYTHING, I SWEAR I—" Evie yelled, her words abruptly cut off as the phone slipped from her hands and clattered to the ground.
The screen showed a brief, tilted view of chaos: a blur of people running around, random objects strewn about, and someone shouting incoherently in the background.
Fiona sighed, shaking her head as she hung up. "Gosh, it's chaos again at her place. Why are hostels always so loud whenever it's a holiday season?"
She slipped her phone into her pocket and grabbed her trick-or-treat bag, deciding to head to Elysian High School a bit early. The school was hosting a Halloween festival before the night's events, and Fiona was ready to soak up all the spooky vibes.
"I just hope Evie survives the war zone long enough to show up," Fiona muttered to herself with a chuckle, stepping out into the crisp autumn air.
On her way to school, Fiona decided to make the most of her explorer costume by stopping at a few houses for some early trick-or-treating. She couldn't resist the festive energy, and her bag quickly began to fill with assorted candies.
By the time she reached Elysian High School, the Halloween festival was already in full swing. Students were scattered across the school courtyard in their costumes, laughter and chatter filling the air. Fiona scanned the crowd, her eyes landing on a familiar figure awkwardly leaning against a tree.
"Richard!" she called, making her way over to him.
He turned to her, his expression flat, revealing his hastily wrapped mummy costume. "Hey, Fiona."
Fiona tilted her head, inspecting his attire. "Mummy, huh? So classic. What did you use? Tissues from the bathroom?"
Richard sighed heavily. "Out of budget," he admitted. "I had to use some old bandages my dad had lying around from his days as a wrestling coach."
Fiona let out a snort of laughter. "That's… resourceful, I guess. Where's your buddy?"
Richard groaned, jerking his thumb toward a group of cheerleaders standing by the punch table. They were dressed to the nines as exaggerated Bratz dolls, complete with glittery outfits and over-the-top makeup.
"There," Richard muttered.
Fiona spotted Ethan in the middle of the group, dramatically gesturing as he talked to the cheerleaders. Dressed as a vampire, complete with a slicked-back hairstyle and a plastic cape, he looked more like a lost party entertainer than a brooding bad boy.
Fiona shook her head in disbelief and gave Richard a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "It seems your vampire bad-boy buddy is turning into a clown."
Richard nodded solemnly. "I know. I told him if he wanted to be dramatic, he should at least go all in and be the Joker. But no, he still picked a vampire. A boring, cliché vampire."
Fiona smirked, crossing her arms. "Maybe he thought being a vampire would impress the cheerleaders."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "And yet, it just makes him look like a try-hard."
Both of them burst out laughing, their teasing momentarily drowned out by the lively music playing over the school's speakers. Fiona looked around, her excitement growing.
Richard scanned the crowd, his eyes darting around for any sign of their missing friend. "Where's Miss Creep?" he asked, narrowing his gaze suspiciously. "No costume? Or did she ditch us all for something better?"
Fiona shrugged, her safari cap bobbing slightly. "She lives in a hostel, and it's always a madhouse there during holidays. But hey, let's give her a call first. Maybe she's on her way."
She pulled out her phone and hit video call, grinning as she waited. After a few rings, Evie's face appeared on the screen, looking as exasperated as ever.
"Evie, where are youuuu?" Fiona whined dramatically. "Are you ditching me?!"
Evie rolled her eyes so hard it was practically audible. "Do I ever ditch you? Stop being a drama queen."
Richard leaned into the camera's view, giving a sly grin. "Sup, Evie. If ya don't show up soon, I'm gonna mummify Fiona with all the leftover bandages I've got."
Evie raised an eyebrow, her expression darkening. Then, without warning, she held up what looked like a bloody cleaver. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be there soon," she said with a terrifyingly calm tone. "Just as soon as I'm done murdering some assHOLE!! I TOLD YA NOT TO TOUCH THAT VA—"
The call abruptly ended, leaving Fiona and Richard staring at the blank screen in stunned silence.
Richard gulped, his face pale beneath his bandages. "Is she… is she actually gonna kill someone?"
Fiona sweatdropped, forcing a nervous laugh. "Uh… maybe that's her Halloween prop? She did say it's super chaotic there, right?"
Richard shook his head, his voice shaky. "I dunno, Fiona. That didn't look like a prop."
Fiona patted his shoulder reassuringly, though she didn't seem too convinced herself. "Relax, she's just being Evie. Chaos is her natural habitat."
"Yeah, but chaos with a cleaver?" Richard muttered, his eyes darting toward the school gate as if expecting her to show up wielding it.
"Well," Fiona said with a weak chuckle, "it's Halloween. Isn't a little terror part of the fun?"
Richard groaned, burying his face in his bandaged hands. "I didn't sign up for this kind of horror."
As Richard and Fiona stood debating Evie's chaotic antics, Damien appeared out of nowhere, startling them both into simultaneous screams and shrieks. Fiona jumped back, clutching her faux binoculars like a weapon, while Richard nearly tripped over his own bandages.
Their outburst drew a wave of stares from the surrounding crowd. After a moment of awkward silence, Fiona awkwardly waved to everyone. "Sorry, sorry! Just a little… Halloween spirit!"
Richard rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath. "More like Halloween trauma."
Damien chuckled, his usual unsettlingly calm demeanor making it worse. "Ahaha, it's just me, guys." He reached up and removed the hockey mask covering his face, revealing his smirking expression. "Jason Voorhees, at your service. Pretty fitting for Halloween, don't you think?" He glanced at their costumes with an amused glint in his ember-like eyes. "Oh, an explorer and a mummy. Did you guys plan to match? So cute."
Richard groaned, glaring at him. "Now I completely understand why Evie says she hates you. Seriously, why do you always pop up out of nowhere?"
Damien gave an unapologetic shrug, his smile widening. "I'm just observant. I was actually around here the whole time, right by Ethan and the Bratz squad over there." He gestured casually toward the cheerleaders and Ethan, who was now dramatically twirling his cape. "You two were so caught up in your little chat, you didn't even notice me."
Fiona shivered, clutching her arms. "You really need to give people some kind of warning before you do that. I think my heart just skipped three beats."
Damien leaned slightly closer, his grin mischievous. "Well, isn't that part of the Halloween experience? A little scare here, a little thrill there."
Richard rolled his eyes, stepping protectively in front of Fiona. "Yeah, well, there's a difference between 'fun scare' and 'hospital visit.' You're lucky I didn't drop dead, or Fiona would've had to use those binoculars to find a lawyer."
Fiona snorted, trying not to laugh at the mental image. "Don't give him any ideas, Richie. He might just pop up as a ghost next time to finish the job."
Damien raised his hands in mock innocence. "Hey, I'm just here to enjoy the festivities… and maybe give a scare or two. It's Halloween, after all."
Fiona sighed. "Yeah, well, please tone it down. I don't need more reasons to regret inviting you to anything."
Damien winked. "No promises."
Damien grinned mischievously as he pulled off his mask, revealing his pale face and sharp features beneath. "I'm Jason Voorhees," he announced with a laugh, holding up the hockey mask. "Quite fitting, don't you think? And look at you two—an explorer and a mummy. Did you plan to pair up? How cute."
Richard shook his head with a groan. "Cute? No way. I was trying to pair up with Ethan, you know, like Hotel Transylvania—the mummy and Dracula vibe. But nope! Instead, I'm stuck as just a lonely mummy, while Dracula over there," he gestured toward Ethan, "is busy trying to get bitten by the Bratz squad."
Fiona burst out laughing. "Richard, that is the saddest Halloween team-up story I've ever heard. A mummy abandoned by his Dracula."
Damien chuckled, his ember eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, at least you've got an explorer to keep you company. Maybe Fiona can help you find your missing partner."
Fiona raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, I already found him. He's just too busy playing the tragic lead in his own vampire soap opera."
Richard rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. He should've gone full Dracula—classic, spooky, dark. Instead, he's giving off 'lost party entertainer' energy, and it's honestly painful to watch."
Damien nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, tragic lead does suit Ethan, though. Maybe he's method acting for a Halloween romance drama."
Fiona and Richard both groaned at the same time.
"Don't encourage him!" Fiona exclaimed.
Richard crossed his arms. "Seriously, Damien, I already regret even bringing him up."
Damien shrugged, his grin widening. "Hey, I'm just here for the entertainment. And so far, you two are already giving me more laughs than the entire Halloween festival."
Fiona sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "Let's just hope Ethan doesn't try to serenade one of the Bratz. I don't think the festival can handle that kind of cringe."
Richard shuddered. "Or the aftermath. Those girls look like they'd destroy him for trying."
Damien chuckled, leaning casually against the tree. "Well, in that case, I think I'll stick around. Watching Ethan fail might be the highlight of my night."
Fiona rolled her eyes. "You're impossible, Damien."
Damien smirked. "That's why you invited me, isn't it?"
"Definitely not!" Fiona and Richard said in unison, making Damien laugh even harder.
Damien tilted his head slightly, his ever-present smirk widening. "By the way, where's your supposed-to-be partner, Evie? I've been waiting to see my favorite victim," he said with a chuckle that sent a chill down Fiona and Richard's spines.
The two exchanged uneasy glances, their sweatdrops almost visible.
"Aah… well, Evie's gonna be late, I guess," Fiona said, trying to sound casual. "She's, uh… caught up in some chaos."
Richard nodded quickly. "Yeah, chaos. Big chaos. Just… hope she didn't actually bring a cleaver. For real."
Damien's eyes lit up with intrigue. "A cleaver, you say? A real one? My, my…" He laughed softly, his voice both amused and unsettling. "Now I really can't wait to see her. I wonder what she's dressed as. Maybe we'll match! A cleaver-wielding maniac and Jason Voorhees. Sounds like the perfect pair for Halloween, don't you think?"
Fiona shivered, holding her arms as if to ward off a chill. "Please, don't. We know you and Evie both have… that vibe, but can you not encourage it?"
Richard raised a hand. "Yeah, seriously. You two in matching murderer costumes would probably be the end of this school. Spare us the nightmares, Damien."
Damien placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Nightmares? Oh, come on, Richard. It's Halloween! Aren't nightmares part of the fun?"
"No!" Fiona and Richard said in unison, their voices rising slightly.
Damien chuckled again, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Alright, alright. I'll keep it civil… for now. But I have to admit, seeing Evie in a murderous mood might just be the highlight of my night."
Fiona groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're impossible, Damien."
"That's what I'm here for," Damien said with a wink, his grin showing no signs of fading.
Ethan finally strolled up to the group, his grin wide and smug as ever. "Well, well, well," he said with a dramatic flair, running a hand through his hair. "I'm looking more like a bad boy here, aren't I?"
Fiona and Richard both sighed in unison, as if they'd rehearsed it. "Please, just… let's ignore him, shall we?"
Damien chuckled at their exasperated expressions and gave each of them a playful pat on the back. "Ah, the joys of Halloween. Everyone's got their roles to play, right?"
As they walked toward the stalls, Ethan, who had apparently just noticed something on his phone, suddenly held it up triumphantly. "What the? Hey! I got some phone numbers!"
Fiona raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. "We all have their numbers, Ethan. It's called the batch group chat."
Ethan froze, blinking in confusion. "Wait… you mean this isn't as impressive as I thought?" He glanced down at his phone, a bit deflated. "Well, that's disappointing."
Richard snorted and shook his head. "It's just a group chat, Ethan. Nothing to brag about."
"Okay, okay," Ethan muttered, catching up to the group. "Sorry, buddy. I left you with Dora the Explorer over here."
Richard pouted, crossing his arms. "Yeah, right. Now I'm stuck with Dora."
Fiona gave Richard a playful shove. "Hey, don't knock the explorer! You can't find your way out of a paper bag, so I'm doing us both a favor."
Richard shot her a half-hearted glare. "I've got bandages on, Fiona. I can't move as quickly as you can."
Damien, still chuckling to himself, clapped Richard on the back. "You should be thankful, Richie. At least you're not stuck with Ethan and his 'bad boy' act."
Ethan puffed out his chest, pretending to be offended. "Hey, I am a bad boy! Just look at my cape!" He twirled around dramatically, somehow making the movement look even more ridiculous.
"Sure, sure, Ethan," Fiona said with a sarcastic tone. "You're the epitome of bad boy. The Bratz dolls are probably trembling in fear."
Ethan shot her a sideways glance, clearly not getting the sarcasm. "Exactly!" he said proudly, as if he'd just been given the highest compliment.
Damien raised an eyebrow. "At least you two are entertaining," he said, his smile wicked. "But enough distractions. Let's hit the stalls before someone gets lost in their costume... or their own ego."
Richard gave a half-smile, relieved to finally be moving on. "Well, let's go then. But if I get stuck with Dora again, I swear…"
Fiona flashed him a grin. "You're lucky I'm such a great guide, Richie. Without me, you'd be lost."
As the group continued to enjoy the Halloween stalls, the air filled with the sounds of chatter and the smell of grilled treats. Ethan, munching on a skewer, glanced around and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Dora," he said with his mouth full, "where's Miss Creep? I see Jason here with us, stuck like shadows."
Fiona sighed dramatically, taking a bite of her own snack. "I don't know. Maybe Evie's decided to wear a murderer costume after all?"
Richard immediately shot her a concerned look. "Oh no, no! Please, please don't let her wear a murderer costume! God, if you hear me, please don't let her wear a murderer costume!" He crossed his fingers as if praying to the Halloween gods.
Damien raised an eyebrow, amused. "Why not? I could use a partner in crime. You know, match with Jason here. I could have a perfect partner in crime. You know, a pair of murderers." He grinned, clearly enjoying the reactions.
Ethan, still chewing on his skewer, started mockingly imitating Evie's usual deadpan voice. "Well, no matter what, Miss Creep is always..."
Before he could finish, a sharp, cold whoosh sliced through the air, and a chilling voice followed. "What do you spout behind me?"
Ethan froze, his eyes widening in horror as the scythe narrowly missed his neck, the blade catching the light ominously.
Everyone turned in unison to find Evie standing there, holding a prop bloody scythe, dressed as a twisted version of Little Red Riding Hood with a bloodied scythe slung over her shoulder, appeared behind him with a grin that was pure mischief. Her hood was deep crimson, and her eyes glinted mischievously beneath it, the scythe in her hand looking all too real. Her red cloak contrasted sharply against the eerie white face she wore, and she held the scythe as though it were second nature.
Fiona squealed in delight, running up to Evie and wrapping her arms around her. "Aww, so cuteee, Evie!" she exclaimed, her voice high-pitched with excitement.
Evie patted Fiona's back absently her eyes playfully but returned the hug. "Yeah, yeah. I'm adorable. Just don't make me swing this thing again. I had to add some dramatic flair to my costume. Didn't expect to have an audience."
Richard sighed in relief, his shoulders slumping. "Thank you, God. She's not a murderer. I thought you were going full slasher flick on us. At least, not today."
Ethan, who had almost choked on his skewers when the scythe swung by, was still catching his breath. Damien, ever the dramatist, patted him on the back, grinning. Damien chuckled, looking at Ethan, who was still trying to recover from the near-death experience. "There, there, Ethan. Red Riding Hood almost killed you, huh?" He gave Ethan a teasing pat on the back.
Ethan shot him an exaggerated glare. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Damien. You're not the one nearly losing your head. I'm never making fun of Miss Creep again."
Evie looked around at the group, her expression unreadable behind the red hood. "Don't worry, Ethan, if I really wanted to scare you, I'd do more than just swing a scythe. I heard you were talking about me. What's this about murderers and shadows?"
Damien leaned closer to Ethan, his voice full of mock sympathy. "See, Ethan? It's not about the costume. It's about the drama."
Ethan muttered under his breath, clearly shaken but trying to act tough. "I'm just glad I didn't end up as Red Riding Hood's first victim."
Richard quickly held up his hands. "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Just, you know, casual Halloween talk."
Evie narrowed her eyes at them for a second before a sly smile appeared on her lips. "Good. Because I'm only here for the candy and to make sure you all don't die from stupidity."
Ethan gulped dramatically. "Well, I feel better now, knowing my neck is still attached."
Damien grinned. "For now."
The group continued walking through the stalls, now with a much more interesting dynamic: Red Riding Hood with a scythe, a Jason Voorhees, a mummy, and an explorer. It was shaping up to be an unforgettable Halloween.