Damien leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in thought as he stared at the rhyme. "Yeah, that part bugs me too. 'The one missing for the treat, we found it and bless it to you.' What kind of treat are we talking about here? Treats like... candy? Or something else?" He glanced sideways at Evie, a playful glint in his eye. "And you're right, if this is a wish-granting demon, the whole offering thing feels a bit off, don't you think?"
Evie folded her arms, tapping her chin as she pondered. "Treats, huh? It's almost like the rhyme is leaving something out. But if the offering is alive… that's a bit much, even for Halloween."
Fiona shrugged nonchalantly, though there was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Well, there's a lot of versions of the story. Some say it's candy, some say it's a living treat—whatever that means." She leaned closer, whispering with mock seriousness, "Maybe it's just an excuse to eat all the Halloween candy and get away with it."
Richard snorted. "Yeah, sure, if 'living' means you're feeding it your friend."
Damien smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "That's the real treat, isn't it? The one that keeps you on your toes. I mean, if the demon's been locked away for a thousand years, maybe it wants more than just sweets." He gave Evie a sidelong glance. "What if it wants… a little taste of fear instead?"
Evie rolled her eyes, brushing him off with a wave of her hand. "Right, so now I'm the 'treat.' Great." Fiona grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Who knows? Maybe the demon just wants us to surprise it with something. You know, break the rules a little. Maybe the best treat is not what we expect." She paused dramatically, letting the air hang heavy with suspense. "What if we're the treat?"
Richard looked horrified. "Wait, what? Like, we're the snack? That's a little... disturbing, don't you think?"
Damien laughed, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well, if it's a wish-granting demon, maybe we should just… treat it like a VIP. Give it what it wants, and see what happens. But if it's really hungry for more than candy, then I guess we're all in for one hell of a ride."
Evie raised an eyebrow. "So, you think we should… try to bribe it with whatever it wants? Just like that?"
Damien shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "Why not? What's the worst that could happen? A little chaos never hurt anyone, right?"
Fiona laughed, the tension breaking. "Well, that's one way to look at it. Guess we'll find out what the demon wants soon enough."
Richard sighed, rubbing his temples. "You all are absolutely insane. But fine, let's get this over with. If we're going to give a demon a treat, I just hope it's something sweet and not... us."
Fiona gave Richard a reassuring pat on the back, her voice dripping with mock confidence. "Don't worry, Richie. We've got Red Riding Hood with a scythe and Jason Voorhees here. It's not that bad... I mean, at least we're not completely defenseless, right? Ehem! Okay, team, back on track: Step one, get the keys. Step two, light the candles. Step three, wait until 11:59. Step four, summon the demon. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!"
Damien chuckled, leaning slightly closer to Evie, his smile mischievous. "Listen to the explorer, so full of plans. Did she suck all the fun out of this for you, Red Riding Hood? Hmm?"
Evie immediately shoved him away, her eyes narrowing. "Don't get near me! And stop calling me that!"
Richard sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Damien, seriously, why do you like getting on Evie's nerves so much? Are you trying to make her hate you even more?"
Damien leaned back casually, hands in his pockets, and grinned. "Because it's fun. She's got this murderous glint in her eyes every time I tease her, and it's so entertaining. Like I'm walking a fine line between annoyance and danger."
Evie huffed, glaring at him. "Keep it up, Jason, and you'll find yourself on the wrong side of that line."
Ethan snickered, munching on another skewer. "Evie, you're like Damien's personal chew toy. He pokes you, and you growl. It's hilarious."
Evie shot him a death glare. "You're next, Ethan. Keep laughing and see what happens."
Fiona clapped her hands, stepping between them with exaggerated cheerfulness. "Alright, alright! Let's save the infighting for when we're facing down the demon, shall we? We've got a mission to complete, people. Now, Damien, are you going to lead us to those keys, or should we just start guessing passcodes to the door?"
Damien smirked, glancing at Evie. "Fine, but only if Evie agrees not to murder me before midnight."
Evie rolled her eyes. "No promises."
Damien turned to face Evie, his expression shifting into something darker, his face shadowed by the dim lights of the festival stalls, and leaned slightly closer, his voice low but teasing as though he were about to stir the pot. "Or maybe you want to start something?" he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Evie's grip on her prop scythe tightened, and in a swift motion, she raised it as if to swipe at him. Damien didn't flinch, instead, he broke into a wide, smug grin. "Should I kiss you?" he teased, leaning in just a little too close for comfort.
Evie immediately recoiled, gagging dramatically and practically barfing at the side. "Ugh, gross!" she spat, wiping her mouth with exaggerated disgust.
Damien's grin widened, clearly satisfied. "Ah, nothing warms my heart more than your complete and utter disgust. Alright, let's move, people! Waiting for the crowds to die down will take forever." Damien, clearly delighted, leaned back, his eyes dancing with mischief he mutter under his breath, "I guess that answers that. No kissing tonight. But you're welcome to try other methods of 'killing' me if you'd like."
Evie shot him a glare, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes despite herself. "You're lucky I don't just end you right here."
Damien smirked. "Lucky? Oh, I'm so lucky."
He then turned his attention to the group, clapping his hands to break the tension. "Alright, alright, enough of the love drama. Let's get going. We've got a demon to summon, people."
Richard muttered under his breath, "I swear, this feels more like a bad romantic comedy than a demon summoning. More like a horror show. Evie's gonna lose her patience and actually whack him one of these days."
Ethan snorted. "If she doesn't, I might. I've been third-wheeling their weird hate flirt thing all night." Fiona laughed, adjusting her explorer hat. "With you guys? You two are like the comedy duo nobody asked for but everyone secretly loves. Of course it does. But hey, at least it's entertaining."
Evie, catching up with her scythe resting on her shoulder, shot them all a glare. "Keep talking, and I'll add you three to my list of victims tonight."
They moved stealthily through the school's corridors, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls as they neared their destination. The halls were dimly lit, with occasional flickers from the aging light fixtures. Around them, groups of students were scattered—some snapping selfies near eerie corners, others chatting near the restrooms, and the faint murmurs of teachers could be heard from the direction of the staff offices. Their goal? The student disciplinary committee room. As they passed by there's the occasional murmur of teachers discussing paperwork drifted through the hallway.
Ethan raised an eyebrow and slowed his pace. "Hey, uh, you sure we can just waltz in here? Feels like we're asking to get caught."
Damien nodded with a relaxed confidence, glancing at Evie with a sly smile. "Don't worry. I'm practically access for everything. You guys just stick with me, and we won't have any problems."
Evie rolled her eyes, her scythe resting on her shoulder. "Show off," she muttered under her breath.
Fiona, on the other hand, seemed curious, her explorer instincts kicking in. She glanced over at Damien as they passed by a group of students taking pictures. "By the way, Damien, how come you've got all these roles? Head of the disciplinary committee, on the student board, our class president—and I swear there's more. What are you, the secret principal?"
Damien gave a nonchalant shrug, his grin widening as if the question amused him. "Nothing too special. Just charm, discipline, and the ability to make deals with the right people." He paused, looking back over his shoulder. "And maybe a few... questionable methods along the way. Well, what can I say? I'm a man of many talents."
Ethan snorted, nearly choking on his skewer. "Talents, huh? Is one of them annoying the crap out of everyone?" Richard chuckled nervously, glancing back toward the entrance. "To be fair, the guy can get us in places we wouldn't otherwise. Even if he's, y'know, Damien."
Fiona chuckled, half skeptical, half impressed. "Right, so you basically rule the school in some way?" Fiona narrowed her eyes playfully at Damien. "So, are you just naturally good at everything, or do you have some dark pact keeping you on top of it all? Come on, spill it—what's the secret?"
Damien's smile remained, but there was a hint of mystery in his eyes. "I wouldn't say rule, but let's just say... I know how to keep the peace. And when you're in charge, peace is everything."
Evie shot him a side glance. "You make it sound so serious. You don't even seem like you care about any of it."
Damien tilted his head, the corner of his mouth twitching into a playful smirk. "Maybe I care more than you think. Or maybe I just like the power. Who's to say?"
Fiona raised an eyebrow, looking at the others. "Well, as long as that power gets us into the room without any issues, I'm all for it. You've got your work cut out for you, Damien.
They had no idea how far the night would take them—or what consequences their adventure might bring—but one thing was certain: with Damien leading the charge, they were bound to find something unexpected.
As they approached a quieter part of the building, the faint sound of smooching drifted through the hallway. The group froze for a moment, their cheeks turning varying shades of red.
Fiona coughed awkwardly, trying to break the tension. "W-Well, uh, seems like someone's having a *festive* Halloween."
Richard scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "Y-Yeah, I mean... totally normal... I guess."
Ethan, on the other hand, couldn't suppress a sly grin. "Man, I should've brought popcorn for this. Classic high school moment."
But while the others tried to brush it off, Damien's reaction was anything but subtle. His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened, and he muttered darkly under his breath, "This is a school for f—"
Before he could finish, Richard and Ethan grabbed him by the shoulders, holding him back like he was about to storm into a battlefield. "Chill, bro," Richard pleaded, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Just this once. Please. It's Halloween. Let it slide!"
Ethan nodded, struggling to keep Damien in place. "Yeah, man. It's not like they're defacing school property or anything. Right? Just... let it go."
Fiona, watching the scene unfold, shook her head with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Gosh, Damien, your disciplinary committee role is *really* taking over tonight. Relax for once!"
Richard shot him a pleading look. "Please, for the love of whatever you care about, let's just get to the room and save the drama for later!"
Meanwhile, Evie leaned against the wall, barely containing her laughter. Her shoulders shook as she tried to keep it in, but her smirk gave her away. "I swear, Damien, you look like you're about to go full *Hall Monitor Supreme* on them. Take a deep breath, *Jason.* You're supposed to scare people, not enforce PDA laws."
Damien took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before glaring at the others. "This school deserves better standards. Halloween isn't an excuse to—"
Richard and Ethan groaned in unison, dragging him forward. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're a moral paragon. Let's just get to the room before you give yourself an aneurysm."
Fiona giggled and followed, while Evie shook her head, her smirk never fading. The tension broke as they all moved on, leaving behind the muffled smooching sounds—and Damien's boiling sense of justice.
The group continued their trek through the hallways, the sounds of giggling and the occasional moan echoing in every corner, barely holding Damien's sense of composure. Each passing second seemed to test his patience, his footsteps growing more tense with every muffled sound.
Ethan and Richard, noticing the unmistakable signs of Damien about to lose it, quickly sprang into action. They rushed to his side, each grabbing a corner of his mouth in a desperate attempt to keep him from going into full-blown rampage mode.
"Damien, come on, chill!" Ethan pleaded, his voice a little too high-pitched from the stress of trying to calm the situation.
Richard, sweat dripping from his forehead, added, "You really want to cause a scene? We'll never get to the room!"
Evie and Fiona couldn't help but burst into laughter, despite the tension. It was a rare sight to see Damien, usually so composed and confident, so rattled. But it didn't take long before Evie noticed the panic in Ethan and Richard's eyes.
"Evie!" Ethan practically screamed, still holding Damien's mouth shut. "Help us!"
Fiona nodded eagerly, still trying to suppress her laughter. "Yeah, come on, you can fix this!"
Evie wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Why me?" she asked innocently, her laughter subsiding into a mischievous grin.
In unison, the others responded, "Because both of you are psycho!"
Evie sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine," she muttered under her breath, before stepping up to Damien with an expression that was somehow both teasing and sympathetic. She leaned in close to him, whispering something in his ear. He glared at her, clearly not appreciating whatever was being said.
Damien took a deep breath, visibly forcing himself to calm down. He adjusted his posture and gave one last glance toward Ethan and Richard. "You better keep your promise," he grumbled, his voice low but controlled. "Tch."
Evie simply shrugged, clearly amused. "That's better."
The others stared in confusion, still trying to process what had just happened. "How did you do that?" Richard asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Evie sighed, flipping her hair back. "I have my trump card," she said with a wink.
Damien, already a few steps ahead and visibly composed once again, shot them a glare from over his shoulder. "Come on, people. We don't have all night!" he called out, his usual arrogance and coolness returning as he continued to lead the way.
The group quickly fell into step behind him, still baffled by Evie's ability to calm Damien down with just a few words. Whatever her "trump card" was, it seemed to have done the trick—for now.
The group halted in front of the student disciplinary committee room, their journey through the chaotic hallways finally complete. Ethan, ever the confident one, stepped forward and twisted the doorknob with gusto.
"It's locked!" he exclaimed, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Damien raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Of course, it's locked. What did you think? We're just going to waltz in like it's some kind of convenience store?"
Ethan frowned, "Well, you *are* Mr. Access-All-Areas, aren't you?"
Damien sighed, reaching into his pocket. "I didn't say I wouldn't open it. I just said it's locked." He produced a small keychain with what appeared to be a dozen keys.
Fiona blinked in amazement. "Why do you even have that many keys? Are you a janitor in your free time?"
Richard chuckled. "Don't forget he's basically the student council Swiss Army knife."
Evie, leaning against the wall, smirked. "Great. He has keys to half the school but couldn't remember to bring the one to the old building. Truly the picture of preparedness."
Damien shot her a glare before selecting a key from the bunch and inserting it into the lock. "Keep talking, Little Red. I might just lock you in here when I leave."
Evie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You'd miss me in two minutes."
The lock clicked, and the door creaked open.
"Voila," Damien said with a smug grin, pushing the door open and stepping aside. "After you, adventurers."
Fiona practically skipped inside, excitedly looking around. "Wow, it's so... boring," she said, her excitement dropping as she took in the plain room filled with filing cabinets, desks, and a large bulletin board.
Ethan groaned. "Of course, it's boring. It's a disciplinary office. What did you expect, a treasure chest?"
Fiona shrugged. "Maybe? Some hidden lore? A ghost or two? A cool dungeon map?"
Damien shook his head, amused, as he strode over to one of the filing cabinets and pulled open a drawer. "The only treasure here is paperwork, and trust me, you don't want it."
Richard hesitated at the door. "Um, should we, you know, keep the door closed? Just in case someone passes by?"
"Good idea," Evie said, pushing the door shut behind them.
Damien rummaged through the drawer for a moment before pulling out a small metal box. He opened it to reveal a neatly labeled set of keys. "And here we are," he said, holding up the key to the old building with a flourish.
Fiona clapped her hands. "We're one step closer!"
Ethan leaned against a desk. "Great. Now, can we finally go summon this candy-loving demon? Or are there more stops on this tour?"
Damien pocketed the key and smirked. "Don't tempt me to add more stops. I could use the exercise."
Evie shook her head, muttering, "This better be worth it."
"Don't worry," Fiona said with a grin. "It's going to be a night to remember!"
The sound of footsteps grew louder, and panic set in. "Quick! Hide!" Fiona hissed, already darting behind a filing cabinet, her heart racing. In a flash, everyone scattered, diving into whatever hiding spots they could find.
Richard, with his mummy costume, squeezed awkwardly into a narrow locker, wincing at the crumpled bandages pressing into his skin. Ethan, ever the larger one, nearly knocked over a desk in his frantic attempt to slide under it, his legs sticking out awkwardly.
Fiona had managed to squeeze behind the curtain on the far side of the room, her costume not doing her any favors in the cramped space. It was hot, uncomfortable, and the fabric of her explorer outfit clung to her skin.
Evie, however, had been too slow. Before she could find a suitable hiding spot, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked her into a large cardboard box tucked in the corner of the room. The box was dark and cramped, and the scent of old paper filled the air, but there was no time to complain.
For a few long moments, there was only the sound of hurried breathing and the soft shuffle of footsteps as the intruder passed by the door. Everyone remained frozen, not daring to make a sound.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the footsteps faded, and a long, collective exhale swept through the room. The coast was clear.
One by one, they emerged from their hiding places, stretching and groaning with relief. Richard stumbled out of the locker, his bandages askew and his face a mix of discomfort and mild embarrassment. Ethan scrambled out from under the desk, muttering about how he was never going to try that again.
Fiona stepped out from behind the curtain, brushing herself off with a sigh of relief. "I swear, that was worse than any haunted house."
Everyone looked around, scanning the room for the last two missing members.
"Where's Damien and Evie?" Fiona asked, her eyes narrowing.
They searched the room, but there was no sign of them. Just as panic started to creep in, the large box in the corner shifted.
Out stepped Damien, looking completely unbothered, as if the chaos of the night had barely fazed him. He flashed them a charming smile, smoothing down his costume with a satisfied look on his face.
A moment later, Evie emerged, her expression unreadable. Her eyes glinted with something darker, and she straightened her red riding hood as if nothing had happened, though the tension in her posture suggested otherwise.
No one dared to ask what happened in the box.
Damien, casually brushing himself off, broke the silence. "Well, that was fun. Shall we continue, or do we need more hiding practice?"
Evie shot him a sharp look but said nothing, keeping her distance as she adjusted the bloody cleaver still hanging from her belt.
Richard, ever the one to break the awkward silence, muttered, "Maybe next time, let's just use the windows instead."
Everyone nodded in agreement, eager to move on from the chaos of the moment. But no one spoke about what had happened between Damien and Evie in the box. But the strange tension between Evie and Damien lingered, leaving everyone wondering just what had transpired in that large box.