Happy Holidays and Happy 2021! I hope everyone's been able to have a restful holiday, whether you enjoyed your own company or your family's. 2021 is going to be a big year for Tricked Out (we're on track to finish this year!) so I can't wait to see what you all think!
Firephoenix: Hurray for ghost moments, height differences, and hugs! Enjoy some human world shenanigans.
Haley: You say you've buried your pitchforks but we'll see…. Jk I'm glad they're back together too!
GoldGuardian2418: The final confrontation is coming up…. Let's hope it ends up as intense as I hope!
Noro: I've MISSED the fluff, it'll be back!
Jen: Welcome to Tricked Out! Kudos on your mission and thanks for your comments!
February 18th
Sindelfingen, Stuttgart
9:30am
Anton stared with bleary eyes over his bowl of muesli, watching as his mother tied up her hair, the loose bun sitting perfectly atop her head. The soft morning sunlight was streaming through the window, and for a moment he amused himself with watching how rainbows bounced off the small glass ornaments and the way the sun made his mother's hair turn a copper hue. His amusement ground to a halt as his mother picked a brush from the top of the counter, finishing off her chosen style. He eyed the brush with suspicion, drawing back when she came near, wielding it like a weapon.
"Anton, mein Schatz, please," she warned. "Your hair is a mess."
It was true, but that didn't mean anything to him. Anton shrugged sullenly, cramming oatmeal into his mouth and puffing his cheeks threateningly.
Selena tapped the brush against the back of the chair, leaning forward with a narrowed gaze. Anton did his best to look everywhere but his mother, but the sheer stillness of her posture was magnetic. "Either you let me brush it or I'll shave you to match your papa." Anton's eyes widened, spoon dropping into the bowl with a clatter.
"What's this about Papa?"
A man's head stuck around the door, the close shave over his skull making Anton sweat.
"I think Anton wants to have hair like you," Selena marked casually, sliding into position behind her son. His father grinned, sending him a wink. Anton whined in shock and betrayal as Selena dug the brush through his spiky hair, his head jerking backwards at the force.
"Nathan, grab the Eier, please - Anton, hold still!"
Looking at the war erupting, Nathan dove for the refuge of the kitchen, pulling out the eggs and cracking them expertly into the pan.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anton huddled on his bed, gripping his black cat toy and staring out the window. He could see people bundled up, eagerly walking towards the station, shouting and stepping in the melting snow. It was a cold, clear day, and if he strained his hearing, the sound of the local church bells could be heard echoing around the Rathausplatz.
He could also hear the wood floor inside his room creak just so.
The hairs on the back of his neck stiffened, but in a way that was startlingly familiar. He turned over, the absence of anything visually wrong confirming his theory.
"Your family doesn't happen to have any supernatural connections, do they?" A familiar voice asked. Anton sat up and nearly fell off his bed, vibrating with excitement even as he shook his head. "Well, you're both too good at noticing us to not have - augh!"
Anton had reached out, hands flapping through the air frantically, and landed a lucky hit. The invisible man grumbled but allowed the young boy to grasp one of his hands and yank him closer.
"Yeah, yeah, ok," he said as the boy slapped his cheek in eager excitement. "I'm here, sorry it's been a while. But look, I got something to tell you."
The boy pulled back; his gaze narrowed with a skepticism that looked out of place on the young face.
"Hey, it's nothing - ok, it's not not bad, but - "
The brown eyes widened and Marvel rushed to say, "I mean - look, are you guys planning on going to that parade thing today?"
Anton's shoulders dropped as he shrugged. It had been mentioned a few times, with the trepidation of those celebrating under dark storm clouds, but despite the long whisper session he'd heard last night there had yet to be a decision.
The bed dipped beside the boy and Anton felt a cool arm bump against his own.
"Well, if you ask me - which everyone really should - I think it would be good for you guys to go."
Anton rolled his eyes, going to flop against his pillow, only for the invisible man's hand to tighten around his upper arm, long nails catching on the fabric of his Pulli.
"I'm serious, kid," he continued, and Anton tried not to shiver at the lack of humor in the voice. Then the hand eased and the lighthearted tone returned, though Anton kept staring in trepidation, waiting for the next mood change. "It'll be worth it, trust me."
There was something strange in the invisible man's voice, teetering between giggling and threatening, and Anton wasn't sure he liked it. He knew there was something that wasn't being said, but he didn't know what words to write to ask. Frustrated, he twisted away from the man and hopped off the bed, pattering back to the kitchen.
"Kid? Oh, I swear to your God, if you're gonna raise the alarm again -"
Anton skidded around the corner, causing his parents to look up from where they were sitting close together, coffee mugs steaming.
"What's wrong, Schatz?" His mother asked, face creasing in confusion as Anton clambered onto a chair, slapping a hand against the local newspaper, where a picture of the promised parade was displayed.
"You want to go to see it, bud?" His father reached over and rapped the back of his knuckle against the paper, smiling when Anton nodded in confirmation, giving a grunt that accompanied his next slap.
"Are you sure?" Selena asked, setting down her coffee and Berliner. "We don't have to go."
Anton nodded frantically, giving his mother the best puppy dog eyes he could muster, hearing the faintest scoff behind him.
"Sounds like somebody just wants candy," his father teased, getting up and grabbing Anton around the middle. The boy shrieked with glee as he was turned upside down, laughing and kicking as fingers tickled his stomach.
"Nathan, I just brushed his hair," Selena moaned in exhaustion, her face dropping to her calloused hands. Nathan grinned sheepishly, flipping Anton rightside and dropping a kiss to his head as he lowered him to the ground.
"Go get your jacket and gloves while I handle the Burgermeister, alright?"
Anton saluted and sprinted back to his room, flattening his hair to avoid the dreaded brush once more.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Leinfelden Bahnhof
10:45am
The stone passage beneath the platforms was cold and empty, with only leaves and bits of paper to be found. A few plants tried hopelessly to grow through the cracks, but the soil was as hard as the concrete and just as lifeless. The sound of footsteps and metal above had an echoed quality, bouncing around the crumbling brick walls in a distorted, hallowed fashion. Only a hint of sunlight illuminated a patch of ground, the mood unfriendly and oppressive.
In the dust-covered elevator shaft, the air shimmered before a skeleton appeared, hitting his head on the doors as he made to leave.
"Watch your head," Ivy teased, floating easily through. Jack glared and pried the doors open, squeezing his way through.
"Watch the breeze," he shot back as a particularly strong gust swept around them, sending the scraps of paper and the ghost spiraling.
"C'mon, Wind!" Ivy flipped herself right-side up and clawed her way over to Jack, twisting the fabric of his jacket through her fingers.
Jack was peering around them, eyeing the cigarettes on the ground with distaste. "Where are we?"
Something rumbled above them, shrieking metal and rattling causing the very air to shake. Ivy's eyes lit up and she pointed in the direction of stairs beneath a bright green 1.
"We're at a train station!" She said, kicking her feet frantically. "This is perfect; we can easily get a couple of towns over with this!" She paused, staring down at Jack critically. "Ok, for real: how are we gonna hide you before we get near the costumes?"
Jack's sockets darted from side to side, staring at the sunlight with clear accusation. "How many humans are out at this hour?"
"You cannot be serious. You didn't have a plan?"
"That's hardly -"
"Told you I needed to come!"
The jingling of bells caught their attention, as did the sound of footsteps descending the stairway. The pair looked at each other than dove back into the darkness of the elevator, Jack kneeling on the grimy concrete and Ivy trying her best to lower her glow.
"You're as bright as a torch!" Jack hissed, pushing Ivy behind him.
"Yeah, well, maybe I should have hidden in the sunlight!" She snapped, blowing at her hand as though extinguishing a candle.
"Well perhaps -"
They shut up as the humans drew near, clanking all the way. It was a quilted creation, jacket and pants made of multicolored squares, cotton gloves of bright green hiding their fingers. Their masks were tucked under their arms, huge, narrowed eyes and leering grins carved from wood, painted with bright red and white.
Jack felt a whoosh of cold air next to him, sockets darting over to see Ivy, who jerked her head at the performers and raised her eyebrows.
"No," Jack whispered as sternly as he could. "Absolutely not."
"What's the difference between doing in now vs later?" She argued with the same intensity.
"We were going to take from a pile, not from -"
"We don't have the luxury of a pile, Jack!" She floated to Jack's back and kicked him. Whether due to her belief or his, it still managed to hurt. "C'mon, Pumpkin King, do some terrorizing!"
Jack sighed, world-weary, but folded himself to his full height and pulled the doors back. The two humans looked up in surprise, compliments on the costume dying the higher their eyes were forced to go, until they were met with Jack's all-too expressive eyes and his impossible wide grin.
"My apologies, gentlemen," Jack said in broken German. "But you know what they say about desperate times." He pulled back his grin, leaned in, and roared "Boo!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ivy floated in a patch of bright sunlight, marveling at the way the light beams shone through her hand, rendering it nearly invisible. Beside her, Jack shifted, mask tied tightly around his skull.
"Will you stop fidgeting?" She floated higher (being as tall as Jack was awesome) to kick at his shoulder. "You look suspicious as hell."
"Oh, forgive me for not being comfortable in a costume made for a being four feet shorter than I," Jack retorted immediately. Ivy looked down to where Jack's thin limbs hung awkwardly out of the pants, wincing a bit at the ensemble. The patrons nearby were keeping one eye on the strange creature, but nobody had run screaming for the hills, so Ivy counted it as a victory.
"Hey, look on the bright side. Them being small made stuffing them in the elevator a lot easier."
Jack moaned. "I do hope you were telling the truth about it being broken."
"Last I remember, anyway."
Jack started in horror, the mask swinging in her direction (Ivy bit her lip to keep from laughing at the sight). "What do you mean-"
"Ooo, this is us!"
A train streaked into the station, bright orange and white. Ivy had to grip Jack's shoulder to keep from flying away at the gusts, even as it screeched to a halt and opened its doors with a frantic beep beep beep beep beep-
"Go go go," Ivy urged, bumping her knee through Jack's back. "This thing fills up quick."
Jack put up a fuss at the door - ducking low and gritting his teeth when his head bumped the ceiling - but Ivy managed to bully him into a window seat, where he sat primly, knees up to his shoulders, feet cramped in the space between seats.
"I look ridiculous," he grumbled, glaring through the eye holes at Ivy. "We're going to be questioned."
Ivy snorted. "Nobody's gonna talk to us, Jack. What do you think we are, Americans?" She floated up to the map, tracing her finger across until she found their station. "Besides, you're hardly the weirdest thing in here."
It was true. There were a few normal-looking passengers, bundled in coats and scarves, but the car was colorful with costumes, the sound of bells and the train's rattling easily covering the ghost's echoed words.
"Zwei nach: Schorndorf. Nächste Station: Obereichen. Abstieg in fahrtrichtung rechts."
The train shot off, passengers jolting a bit, but soon they were gliding out of the village, a scenery of open fields before them.
It was strange, Jack thought, being in the human world in the daylight. There was no cover of darkness, hardly any shadows, and although the mask gave him some comfort, the sound of so many human heartbeats surrounding him had him clenching his fists together.
"S2 to: Schorndorf. Next Station: O-ber-eichen. Doors will open on the right."
He wasn't like the other monsters in Halloween - humans had never done him or his monstrous form any real harm, beyond some… learning curves earlier in his scaring career. But when you spent centuries sneaking about, learning to never take humans on in a group… the practice of hiding in the midst of a crowd gave him pause.
Cool, firm air touched his hand, a condensation forming on his bones. He forced his gaze from where it had been tracking the movements of the humans to his human, who was gazing at him with a gaze far too perceptive for his comfort. She floated until her form blocked most of his view of the other humans, both hands squeezing his.
"It's ok, Jack," she said softly. "I promise, they're not gonna do anything. And if they try to, I'll kick their ass."
Jack laughed in spite of the anxiety blocking his throat, feeling only a sliver of guilt that she had to comfort him. "I almost believe you could."
The train pulled into Obereichen, a few passengers departing but more getting on. An old woman, armed with a wheeling cart, plopped herself across from Jack, gazing at his costume critically. Ivy hovered over her, wielding her fists threateningly until Jack was forced to look out the window once more to fight his laughter.
"Zwei nach: Schorndorf. Nächste Station: Rohr. Abstieg in fahrtrichtung links…"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rohr Bahnhof
10:55am
Anton held onto his mother's hand, busy spitting the fibers of his scarf out of his mouth.
A train arrived on the other platform, door beeping as people filed out. Some were kids, tugged along by their parents, others were people with suitcases or briefcases. A man nearly tripped in the gap between train and platform, his arms wheeling frantically. A person with a shaved head and the biggest, spikiest boots Anton had ever seen stepped off, then wandered over to a polizei, face serious. He watched with interest as a gaggle of witches passed, red scarves tied around their heads, one jabbing a broom at him in a manner that made his mother laugh but had him scrambling for the safety of behind Papa's legs.
"You want me to beat 'em up?" the invisible voice offered, directly in his ear. Anton shook his head, then paused as he heard the clattering of teeth. Making sure his parents were distracted with their boring grown-up conversation, he gingerly let go of his papa and peeled off a glove, offering it out.
"Sweet of you, kid, but I think a floating hand is a bit of a dead giveaway," the voice said. "Thanks, though."
Remembering something Ivy had once done (the thought of his sister cueing the usual swoop in his stomach), Anton gripped the man's hand and, with laser focus, squished it between his own and rolled the fingers between his gloves.
A slow rumbling started off in the distance, and the tinny voice of a man announced the arrival of the train. Anton dropped the man's hand and followed his parents, grinning as they lifted him over the gap.
The train was crowded and filled with creatures, but he managed to pull his mama to a window seat, looking eagerly out. His parents settled next to him, looking around at the costumes, and as they started off, Anton gave into his curiosity to stare.
"Zwei nach Schorndorf. Nächste Station: Vaihingen. Abstieg in fahrtrichtung links."
There were furry bears, heads removed as they laughed together, another set of witches sitting beside them with masks hanging around their necks. Spectators were dressed up too: brightly colored wigs, faces painted, and bottles of alcohol between their fingers and lips. Some were already singing: slow, triumphant marches, much to the displeasure of an old lady sitting a few rows down. Though maybe, Anton thought, she was upset because of the person sitting across from her. They were the tallest and skinniest person Anton had ever seen, white and black striped pants sticking out of their costume. Anton giggled as their head bonked against the railing above.
"Glad to see you're in a good mood, ki- oh, shit."
Anton blinked. What could the invisible man be upset about? Sure, they looked a little funny, but -
He froze, eyes narrowing.
The thin man turned to look down, where a patch of sunlight glinted. The train sped through the trees and the sun vanished, leaving the air to shimmer in the faintest outline of a person.
The see-through person turned around, and Anton let out a strangled gasp at the sight of his sister.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack wasn't quite having a panic attack, but Ivy knew the skeleton well enough to know when he was uncomfortable. And she got it, really, she did - but it was equal parts funny and heartbreaking to see the scariest creature she knew sweat at her own kind.
"We're almost there," she soothed as they pulled out of Rohr. "It's the next stop, Bone Boy. Then you shouldn't have to get on this rattler ever-"
"Ung!"
A glottal sound, startled and desperate, broke through the acceptable volume of dim conversation in the car. A wordless shout followed, and Ivy followed the line of heads turning to see what the fuss was.
A boy, with tufts of blond hair and a scattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks, was struggling in his mother's arms, pointing at her. She frowned, tilting her head as he gaped. There was something familiar about him, about the noise, about the way he seemed unable to form the words. He almost reminded her of-
Her brother.
Ivy nearly fell out of the air in shock, her energy vibrating at the sight as the memories came crashing back to her. A woman - her mother - was there, yanking Anton's pointing arm back down and hissing something in his ear, while her dad altered between smiling reassuringly at passengers and soothing a hand over Anton's knee. Her brother's voice was muffled, as though an unseen hand was pressing against it, but he made attempts to get free, his face twisted with frustration as he tried to get the words out.
Without thinking, Ivy dove towards him, only for Jack's hand to grasp her arm and yank her back.
"Ivy, what are you doing?" Jack whispered frantically, keenly aware of the gazes now turning towards the figure Anton was pointing at.
"That's my brother, Jack," Ivy said, not even looking at him as she tried to phase through his hand. But Jack had experience wrangling ghosts far more practiced than she, and he managed to pull her down to the seat.
His stomach, though, dropped at her words, and he glanced over to the family, feeling a sense of awe in spite of everything. The boy matched their father in all but the eyes, the brown gaze currently clouded with tears identical to that of his sister and mother. Said mother was holding him on her lap, turning him away from Jack and whispering to him, and Jack saw Ivy in the tightness of her jaw and dark of her hair. He felt Ivy try to go to her brother again, a desperation in her eyes even as Jack held her firmly in place.
"Jack, I can't just sit here, he can see me," Ivy begged, turning to Jack even as she kicked away. "Please, Jack, I didn't even recognize him. Let me-"
"Sorry about that, Sir," came a distinctly American accent. Jack and Ivy looked up to see a man, head threading nervously through his hair as he addressed Jack. Ivy slipped through his hold, floating right in front of her dad, who blinked at the draft but seemed otherwise unfazed.
"Dad, it's me," Ivy whispered desperately, and Jack wished he was anywhere but here, surrounded by humans, listening to Ivy's forever silent heart break yet again. "It's Ivy, your daughter. Can't you see me?"
"He's always been a little… uh, afraid of the Fasching creatures," he smiled, his sheepish grin indistinguishable from Ivy's. "He didn't mean any harm."
Anton had indeed quieted down, eyes scanning the air in confusion. Jack swallowed, then forced himself to look back at the man - Ivy's real dad. Shame seeped through him as he watched Ivy desperately reach out to touch him, her hand passing through his face and causing him to shiver.
"It's alright," he said, voice strained. "I'm… used to it."
The man nodded, casting a glance back at his family. "Still. I'm sorry if he disturbed you."
"Not at all. He does seem… rather upset though. Will he be alright?"
The man sighed, running a hand through his hair, where Jack saw strands of silver starting to grow. "Yeah, he's just - it's been a rough few months." Then, with a tone that was exhausted and long practiced, he pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and held it before Jack, asking: "His sister went missing back in October. Have you seen her?"
The paper was creased, dozens of lines showing it had been folded and re-folded hundreds of times. Ivy's face, stretched in a pained grin, gazed at him accusingly.
Next to him, the real Ivy looked close to a breakdown.
Jack would have thought that the centuries would have diminished the contempt that the leaders of Heaven and Hell had for him, but the longer he looked at the empty hope in the man's eyes the more certain he became of this being some new punishment.
"No Sir, I have not," he grit out, hating himself with every word and forcing himself not to look at Ivy. "I… I do hope you find her, though."
The man nodded, only a hint of dejection to be seen in the tension of his shoulders. "Yeah. Me too. Thanks anyway, and sorry again."
"No, Dad, I'm right here, please-"
He walked back to his seat, rubbing Anton's back. Ivy floated in mid-air, shaking quietly, and Jack knew if she were still human she'd be sobbing. As gently as he could, Jack reached up and pulled her down, feeling his anger at himself raise. Who did he think he was, pretending that Ivy had only ever been his? He'd never meant for this to happen. She was supposed to be a guest, a friend at most - he hadn't meant to try and replace her family, even as he slowly stepped into the role of…
He expected her to flinch away from him, but Ivy did her best to curl against Jack, burying her head into his side, hair and nose clipping through his bone. Where was the disgust at him for stealing her affection? When had he let her get so important to him? Why had he?
Ivy hiccupped against him, and Jack caught his hand in the motions of rubbing her shoulders. He shook his head. He'd agreed not to lie to himself anymore. He knew why.
"S2 to Schorndorf. Next Station: Vaihingen. Doors will open on the left."
By the time they had pulled into the station, Anton had quieted fully, and Ivy, though still with a hundred-yard stare, seemed to regain her own composure.
The crowd shuffled off the train, scattering around the platform. Amid the shoving, bumping, beeping, and cheering, Jack felt Ivy slip away and float by Anton's ear as he balanced on his mother's hip.
"It's ok, Little Leise," Ivy whispered. "I'll figure something out, ok?" Then she looked down and kicked.
"Ow!"
"And you, Marvel," Ivy threatened, already drifting back to Jack, who was trying to look as normal as possible beneath a lamppost, "look after him or I'll break your Madonna records."
Anton's mouth hung open as he looked between Ivy and the space where the invisible man might be.
"Yeah, yeah," Marvel said, a prissy undertone to his words. "You do your job, I'll do mine, kk?"
There might have been more, but Anton was carried off, and Marvel darted after him. Ivy floated back to Jack, a new light of determination in her eyes.
"You ready to catch a ghost?" She asked, forcing a grin.
Jack thought about saying - well, anything - but he knew that Ivy was in no position to hear it right now. So instead he nodded, bringing his fist out and smiling when Ivy dove down to bump it. "Lead the way."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Streets of Vaihingen
11:15am
Ciaran felt Ivy's back smarting, prickles of pain pulsating around the wrists and legs from where he'd struck the concrete. He tried to duck away from the people gathered outside, but a crowd had formed while he'd been inside the pub, and every person he bumped into he feared would be someone coming to arrest him.
The Pub had been a dead end - Ciaran scowled to think of it. The atmosphere had reminded him somewhat of home in its cramped, dark atmosphere, but there wasn't nearly enough bar space, he hardly recognized anything on tap, and - perhaps most offensive of all - they hadn't spoken Irish.
He'd stepped up, asking for the Gateway's location in his native tongue, feeling a nostalgia at the familiar words he hadn't been able to speak to another since he was taken. The barkeeper had tilted his head, a strong Yorkshire accent interrupting his monologue with, "you know we're English, yeah?"
The audacity! Not a single Irishman to be found within the four walls, no matter how he tried to speak, desperately hoping it was some trick, only for one of the waitresses to stare at him with undeniable recognition, pulling the bartender's arm and whispering into his ear.
Ciaran had scoffed and thrown himself into a booth (the modern age did have the benefit of fancier seat cushions, but then, anything beat a stone floor). His eyes tracked images captured in full color behind glass frames, another of the moving images flashing in the corner, giving him a headache. He drummed Ivy's fingers against the table, feeling a surge of comfort at the feeling of spilled alcohol that had been soaked into the wood. He'd felt many a table like this in his lifetime… despite the changes that the world had gone through, it was good to know that some things remained the same.
The warm feeling had dissipated abruptly when he'd caught wind of the barkeeper's whispered communication into a small black device, held to one ear. ``- missing, yeah. She's sitting in my bar right now." A pause, and Ciaran puzzled over whom he could be speaking to (and how). "Look, can you just send a couple of Polizeiwagons over and get her? Right then. Thanks."
Police cars, Ivy's mind helpfully translated once more, throwing in an image of the small metal beasts from earlier, and Ciaran froze.
Did this Englishman somehow have the ability to summon the police, even from great distances? Ciaran felt panic creep up, along with confused exhaustion. How was he supposed to navigate this world of unknowables? He wanted to be back in his seaside village. He wanted Reese to explain the cryptic things that surrounded him.
He wanted Ivy.
Well, you've burned that bridge, Quincey quipped helpfully. Now they're going to catch you.
"Some help you are," Ciaran whispered angrily. "Do you know what he's doing?"
Quincey didn't answer, but Ciaran had made eye contact with the waitress, who looked on his whispering with mounting concern. The man next to him sat down with a pint, and it took all of his willpower to turn away from the sight of the golden liquid, an old temptation rising within him.
He'd risen to leave, the pub feeling suddenly stifling, but as he moved, those behind the counter did so as well.
Run, murderer! Quincey cackled, and Ciaran didn't waste time with a retort as bolted for the door.
"Kid! Come back here!"
Hands snatched at Ivy's coat, but Ciaran had twisted away, falling down the steps. Ivy's chin knocked against the concrete, teeth clacking together painfully, but the adrenaline racing through his being forced him to his feet as he ran away, not bothering to look behind him until the shouts of the other men were far away.
Now, everywhere he turned, he saw accusing eyes. He'd heard a horrible siren earlier, seen a car with polezei printed on the side, and the stakes felt that much higher. Roads were blocked off with tape and armed guards, but the space within the boundaries was filled with people. What were they doing? Were they attempting to flush him out? How many guards were there?
And then there were the creatures.
Not just the humans dressed up - though that had given him a good scare as well. He wasn't sure why they were parading about, broomsticks in hand and masks on their face, but as they began to shout and march up and down the street, he got a pretty good idea.
Dark, small spirits were darting out of the houses, hands clapped over their heads as the humans banged pots and pans together, the noise of trumpets and drums shaking the other sprites from the ground. Ciaran stood, back pressed against the wall, as the humans around him cheered for the masked creatures in the streets, sitting atop slow-moving crafts and tossing…. Candy?
"A-ha!" A man sitting astride a giant swan yelled, prompting the crowd to cheer back, "A-ha!"
Ciaran trembled, feeling a jealousy of the spirits that raced out of the town at the jeers, darting towards….
Ivy's eyes widened, and Ciaran nearly leapt off the sidewalk in excitement. Of course, if the spirits of darkness were fleeing, then perhaps the portal was closer than he'd thought.
He made after the creatures, a grin across Ivy's face, when the next roar of "A-ha!" made him shake, a wave of exhaustion hitting him.
Leaning against a lamppost and breathing heavily, Ciaran glanced down at Ivy's hands. To his horror, sparks of green and red were shooting off them, and for a split instance Ciaran lost control of the limb, the hand flopping down as his own ghostly one remained frozen in midair. The body shook, more fragments of energy flying off as Ciaran struggled to re-gain control. Clutching the limp limb, he stumbled after the spirits, pushing his way through the crowd which seemed to only grow thicker. Spots were dancing before his vision and he grit Ivy's teeth, forcing more of his own energy through the body's veins. Slowly, painfully, he got the body back under control, ducking into a side alley to lean over Ivy's knees and let the cool winter air ghost through the dry throat.
Something thudded in front of him, heavy and authoritative, and he slowly raised Ivy's eyes to meet the yellowed-eye glare of the beast towering over him, thick arms crossed over a broad chest, scars and burns trailing up the neck.
"Hello, human," the creature said, a dark note to his voice. Ciaran backed away, the crowd a much better alternative to the thing before him, but a growl sounded from behind and he chanced a glance over Ivy's shoulder, swallowing hard when a wolf-like creature stalked from the shadows, licking its lips dangerously.
"C'mon, Good Creature, let's nail this body thief!" The next aha caused them all to wince, shaking as they each fought the unconscious demand to flee.
"Let me be, you foul beasts," Ciaran spat, spalling to muster up enough energy to fight. "Listen to the summons of the humans and begone."
"You're being banished too," the werewolf snipped. "A little too much Halloween in you, eh?"
Ciaran bristled. "Hardly. I want nothing more than for you to face the punishment you deserve -"
"Our punishment?" The werewolf barked out a laugh. "Look, you've hurt the kid, you're not gonna last the night." The werewolf dug its claws into the brick wall, crumbs of red and brown cascading down. "Even if we don't get you, Jack will. And as angry as we are, he'll…" the werewolf laughed again, the sound scratchy with a barely contained snarl. "He'll destroy you. So if I were you, I'd take the easy -"
The door swung open and a human stepped out - male, tall, a look of exhaustion on his face beneath the glitter. He stopped short and stared at the trio, fear and disbelief causing his skin to pale and his hand to drop the trash bag in his hand.
The Creature stepped forward, one massive fist rising as the man flattened himself against the door, trembling in spite of the rage on his face. "They deserved it," he sputtered, a look of defiance creeping across his features. "If you're spirits here to punish me, I'll not apologize."
The three looked at each other, hostility temporarily alleviated by their confusion.
"...for what, exactly?" The Creature said slowly, fist still raised in uncertainty.
The man's eyes darted between them, focusing on the werewolf's teeth. "You're not here about the fires?" His shoulders relaxed somewhat, but he still fumbled for the door behind him. With a snarl and one hand, the Creature picked him up by the collar and slammed him against the grimy wall, leaving him to kick frantically.
"What fires?"
"The ones in Leinfelden!" came the strangled answer. "Where the Turks live! They come here seeking asylum, but it's a ploy to - gurk!"
He was cut off with the simple flex of the Creature's fingers, and a dangerous smile was beginning to creep across his face. Ciaran took a step back, grateful Ivy's body made no breathing noises to give him away.
"Why don't you tell me about it," the Creature almost purred, leaning close. Ciaran let one hand trail across the brick wall, instinct screaming at him to not take his eyes off the pair. "Nicholas, my friend, I believe we have found the answer to our problems."
Nicholas gave a grin of his own, sharp teeth protruding, and Ciaran turned and fled, unable to witness whatever was to follow.
Unfortunately, this put him right back into the thick of the parade, the sunlight almost blinding after the darkness of the alley. He threw a hand up to shield Ivy's eyes, stumbling as the crowd pushed him around. Suddenly, a hand grabbed him, yanking him free from the crowd and onto the street.
"Thank - erm," Ciaran said faintly, staring into the wooden eyes of a masked creature, red eyebrows large and narrowed, yellow headscarf swept about their head and shoulders. "What are you - AHH!"
Two more hooded figures appeared, lifting Ciaran from under the arms and carrying him towards a large black pot. He kicked and twisted, but this only made the creatures cackle more. Pinned from every side, he was forced into the pot, sputtering as hay entered the mouth. It invaded Ivy's nose and ears, was rubbed into her hair, and Ciaran shuddered as he felt strands slip beneath the shirt and into Ivy's shoes. He opened the mouth to shriek, only for more hay to fall into it. Dimly, he heard the creatures and crowd cheering. He flung the arms out, barely feeling the clang of the elbow against the pot as he fought to be free. He grew lightheaded and panic crept through his mind, the thought of suffocation growing more plausible by the minute. And then, out of nowhere, a pressure slowly grew in the back of his mind - a second set of noise, the strange sensation of moving side-to-side, the Wind on his face even thought he was being buried, the feeling of bone beneath his hands. He gasped, twisting frantically at the force on his mind and body. He couldn't fail, not now, not so close to his goal, he couldn't die in a way that was so similar to Ivy, couldn't gasp the same way she did -
Two pairs of gloved hands sank through the hay, gripping Ivy's upper arms and yanking Ciaran upwards. He gasped and spat out hay as the sweet, freezing air touched his face once more, sucking in gulps of the chill. He vaguely registered the creatures setting him back onto Ivy's feet, rubbing a few more handfuls of hay into her hair before spinning him around once, twice, thrice only to shove him forwards, leaving him to stumble through a blurry and colorful world.
The crowd at the edges of the street parted somewhat as he approached, a group of drunken boys cheering and whistling as he passed, causing a flush to erupt over Ivy's face. Straw and hay were poking him with every step, he couldn't walk in a straight line, and he was immensely thankful that there was nothing in Ivy's stomach for him to throw up. He collapsed to Ivy's knees, staring at the strands of hay dangling from her bangs until his vision slowly, achingly, righted itself.
"You're lucky, no?"
Ciaran turned wearily to see a young boy, around Ivy's age, standing before him, the flush of alcohol visible even on his dark cheeks. He gave an awkward wink, gesturing to Ivy's hair as Ciaran stared on in distaste.
"No," Ciaran responded. "I don't find myself to be too 'lucky'. Now, if you could point me in the direction of the Forest, I would -"
"Aw, c'mon!" The boy cried, stumbling himself as he drew nearer. An instinct that wasn't his own had him tensing up, voices in his head shouting for him to get away! Blinking and shaking his head carefully, he dismissed the voices. "They haven't messed with me the whole time, and you just show up and get grabbed!" He sighed wistfully, then one hand landed on Ivy's head, ruffling the hair until hay rained down upon the street. "At least it's a good look on you, doch?"
Disgust rose up inside Ciaran as he smacked the boy's hand off, glaring in disbelief. "How dare you lay a hand on me?" He asked in genuine shock. No man would ever think to touch another this way - what had happened in the years passed? "We are not - familiar, and I-"
"D'you wanna be?" the boy asked with another clumsy wink.
Ciaran's mouth fell open as Quincey helpfully piped up, mockingly singing you're being propositioned!
"I - no!" Ciaran sputtered, Ivy's cheeks on fire. "Listen here, you fec - flute. I've no interest in you, my sins aren't that deranged-"
"Wait a second," the boy said, his face changing abruptly as he struggled to focus through the alcohol. Behind him, the crowd gave another cheer as a band rounded the corner, causing the boy to shout. "I know you! My friend skates with you!"
Ciaran panicked. "I don't know what you're-"
"Oi!" The boy yelled, catching the attention of both his apparent friends and half the crowd. "Isn't this that Ivy girl? The one that's missing?"
Heads whipped around, taking in Ivy's disheveled appearance with shock. The boy's friend, a young man with short, cropped hair, ran forward with a shout. "Ivy! We thought you were dead! What's goin' on?"
Ciaran backed up, feeling the unwelcome but now-familiar sense of overwhelming panic. He gasped, searching for any suitable words, only to find none. Instead, with the next clang of the bells and blare of the trumpets, he turned tail and fled, pushing through the crowd and skidding around the corner, following the spirits, pitching over the feet as the noises rang in the ears, scents burned the nose, and mourning for the world clogged up his throat.
Perhaps it was for the best that he wouldn't last much longer in this body, he thought dimly. This wasn't a world he wanted to live in.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Meanwhile…
Jack stepped carefully on the pavement, keeping an eye out for the small human children that darted around. Ivy was trailing behind him, pulled along by the momentum of his body like a particularly talkative balloon.
"Jack, check it out!" She was flipping around, knees ghosting through the back of her skull as she angled herself about to stare at the festivities, her glee almost contagious despite the grim circumstances. "I'd almost forgotten half this stuff - oo, Bratwurst!"
Jack couldn't quite blame her - the world was colorful and overwhelming in the best way possible, with something new appearing everywhere he looked. "What's that?" He asked, indulging in his curiosity as Ivy swooped down to stare a plate of food.
"Uh, sausage, essentially." She went to inhale, the joyous expression slipping from her face when no air or scent could be found.
"What's this, then?" He asked quickly to distract her, gesturing towards the street where a pot overflowing with smoke was being dragged.
"Uh, incense, I think? Watch out - the whip-crackers are always near these guys."
"The what -"
CRACK!
Ivy stared pointedly at a group of masked creatures, cracking enormous leather whips at the people nearby, who shouted with glee even as they scrambled backwards. Jack, untrusting, made sure to position himself in front of Ivy, instinct winning out over logic. The whips faded away as the company rounded the corner, and the humans eagerly pressed themselves against the curb once more as the next float approached.
Next to Jack and Ivy, a group of teenagers shouted at the new costumed folk, who were handing something out to the crowd. They reached out, but the humans closer to the front received the handout first. One of them looked up at Jack, a spark lighting up their eyes. They called to the others, and after a moment the smallest of the group was hoisted up, sitting on the arms of the others, stretching his hands out as his friends laughed. One of the witches approached, jabbing their broom at the seated boy, gloved fingers smearing soot across his cheeks before depositing a wad of something yellow and slimy into the teen's hands. His friends cheered, hoisting him high into the air before allowing him to drop back to earth, chanting in encouragement as they ate the strange offering.
"What's -"
"Sauerkraut," Ivy moaned, allowing her hand to swipe through the mass of limbs. "Oh my god, why can't ghosts eat? This sucks!"
The skeleton reluctantly pulled her away from the (admittedly delicious smelling) food, stumbling back against the wall to avoid the crowd. "Focus, please. We're not here to celebrate."
"Aw, let me look around a little bit. Who knows when I'll get to see it next?"
Though light-hearted, the common struck Jack, face twisting into a grimace he was glad the mask hid. He'd grown accustomed to seeing Ivy in a sea of monsters, and the sight of her translucent form among her own kind was a stark reminder of what had been taken from her. He glanced down, guilt swimming inside his lungs, his aura souring until Ivy noticed, flipping herself away from the street food to meet his sockets, one eyebrow raised in expectation.
"I'm sorry," he offered weakly, knowing it could never be enough. "I know seeing your family and all of this is hard, what with…. If there was any way I could fix this, I would." The image of her father and the lost, weary hope on his face flashed insistently in the skeleton's mind as another wave of guilt clawed at the inside of his lungs. "And I'm sorry for... pretending to be something I'm not."
A noise of frustration escaped Ivy's lips, a clear expression of disbelief on her face as she righted herself. "What are you talking about?"
"I know what you said to Oogie Boogie." Confusion filled her features, head tilting to the side in a gesture he realized with a jolt that she'd gotten from him. "I went to him - just missed you. He told me how you felt, about how you don't…" he shook his head, staring over her shoulder, then forced himself to finish the sentence. "...belong to me, how you're not my… anything."
Ivy closed her eyes, fingers tightening on his shoulder. Humans passed by the pair, a few casting curious glances at the tall creature talking to himself, but none of the stares lingered as the sound of drums began in the distance.
"When I said that," Ivy began, her words soft yet deliberate, "I was angry. Not at you, but at Bezata and… myself. I thought that her being there, and my messing it all up, meant that you would care less about me." She shook her head, a scoff on her lips. "I was being an idiot. I know you - " she broke off, opening her eyes, a look of genuine fondness in them. "I know you. You've been better than any friend I've ever had."
"But that's the problem!" Jack blurted. His discomfort only rose - the topic, the location, the fact that the sun was far brighter than the one back in Halloween, the dim roar of humans around them - all of which made his hackles rise and fingers clench. "Don't you see? All this time, I've been acting as though your real family doesn't exist, that you could be… important to me!"
Ivy rubbed her face. "Am I not?"
"Of course you are," he responded instantly, head spinning. "I don't mean to imply otherwise, but -"
"Jack, do you know the only reason why I'm not losing my mind at being a ghost, or being stuck in Halloween forever?" Ivy asked. "It's 'cause of you, Bone Boy." She looked away for a moment, the distorted view of the street visible through the flimsy light of her skin. "Just because I - just because my family is important to me doesn't mean you aren't. You didn't trick me to become like a dad, ok?" She floated closer, her soft red glow blocking out some of the humans in Jack's peripherals. "I don't want you thinking that you're fake or not… real. Family can grow, you know." She smiled simply, as if her words weren't enough to send the skeleton reeling. "Does looking after me make James not your kid?"
"Not at all."
"So why should me caring about you make my parents not important? I'm not scared of whatever happens next, even after Ciaran, 'cause I know you'll be there. Even if you're gonna be a pain in the ass about it."
"Hey now," Jack protested as Ivy laughed, turning herself around and wiggling her fingers. A gentle breeze swept down the street and Ivy floated upwards like a leaf, hovering higher and higher above the humans. Jack gazed up at her, not heeding the humans that pushed around him. After a moment, she blew air from her mouth and began to sink back down to Earth, Jack reaching out and pulling her the rest of the way.
"We're in luck," Ivy said. "Stilt walkers are coming around the bend. Sneak over, hop in, and we'll be able to keep an eye out for Ciaran." She swung herself onto his shoulders, arms crossed on top of his skull and ankles crossed by his chest. When Jack didn't move (his mind quietly mourning how light she felt), she dug the heel of her shoe into his ribs.
"Existential crisis later, Jack. Let's go!"
There was more Jack wanted to say - more that he had to say - but a glance at the sky and the first few spirits scuttling through the oblivious crowd had him press his lips together. The ghost had been in her body for far too long.
It wasn't hard to join the parade - he was lanky enough that squeezing through the crowd was easy, and though the stilt walkers' costumes differed from his own, nobody attempted to stop them. One of the walkers shouted something to Jack over the clamor of the crowd, dumping a handful of candy into Jack's surprised palms.
"What do I do with this?" He asked Ivy in confusion, as the other walker turned forward once more, waving to the huddled masses along the pavement.
Ivy laughed, pointing to the kids who were jumping up and down. "You throw it to them! It's kinda like Halloween, except they don't have to chase it down!"
That was something Jack could get behind. The Trick-or-Treaters had shown the Town the mischief of young children (as well as their devotion towards sweets), but it was a far different experience to give out candy like this. With a clumsy arc, he tossed it above the many hatted heads, watching with interest as children and teens alike dove and fought for the packaged goods.
"Toss an aha in there and you'll be perfect," Ivy advised, craning her neck to see what lay ahead. "'K, good news and bad news. Good news: we're heading towards the Gateway. Bad news: I don't see him anywhere."
Jack quickly cast his own sockets around, looking for the faint green smoke or flash of dark hair that would give away the ghost's location. "Can you sense him?" He suggested reluctantly. "You might still have a link to your own body, however weak."
Ivy closed her eyes as Jack tossed another round, adding in an uncertain "aha!" for good measure. The whole scenario felt like a bizarre inverse of Halloween nights - the costumes were hovering between scary and traditional, the sunlight rather than the moon, but the energy in the air was somehow nearly identical - that strange mix of excitement and uncertainty, with hints of fear as those on the street drew close to the spectators.
"What am I supposed to be sensing?" Ivy asked after a moment, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "Like, images, audio, feelings? I can't feel my body moving or anything like that."
"The former, I'd presume."
"You'd presume?"
"This is all new for me too!" Jack huffed and shrugged his shoulders, hiding a smile when Ivy gripped him instinctually. "Do what you can, focus. If it doesn't work, we'll try something else."
He couldn't see her face, but Jack would have bet money that she was rolling her eyes. Her arms folded atop his head before she rested her head against them, light as a feather.
Jack's smile slid off when the stilt walker in front of them leaned down over the sea of humans, head and hand tilted in an awkward hunch before reaching out to snatch the hat off someone in the middle. Then, with a string of high-pitched laughter, they strode away, leaving the rest to cheer and shout as the woman stood stock-still a moment, her features painted with shock, before she seemed to regain her senses and dash out, chasing the stilt walker down the street, jumping frantically at the hat that dangled just out of reach.
"Uh… he's definitely panicking," Ivy said, breaking Jack's fascinated focus. "I can't, like, see anything, but -" she paused, and Jack turned to see her face screwed up, tongue darting out in disgust. "Ugh, what the hell did he eat? I taste, like, a farm or something!" She opened her eyes, gaze darting over the floats before them. "He's in the parade too," she gasped. "I don't know how close, but - we're not far."
Jack nodded, going to squeeze her knee and freezing at the last moment, not wanting to watch his fingers clear through her form. "Think I can get away with moving ahead?"
"You'll have to move fast."
Jack laughed and strode forward, ignoring the shouts of the other walkers. He stepped around a float adorned with an enormous rabbit, ducked under a string light banner, and leapt over other performers, drawing ooooos and applause from the audience.
"Nice to be appreciated, eh Jack?" Ivy shouted over the wind, flinging her arms out and letting out a whoop at the sensation. "Go, Bone Boy, go!"
The houses and building flew by, Jack's instincts leading him to keep pressing forward.
"Jack, check it out!"
He turned, curious, and felt his jaw drop as dozens of dark spirits - small, mostly harmless things, tricksters at best, darted their way between the legs of the humans, following Jack with large, glowing eyes.
"Majesty, Majesty!" A few cried, their small voices piercing and pitched far above where the human ear could stand.
"What are they?" Ivy asked in shock, leaning down to get a better glimpse of the shadowed figures that tried to cling to Jack's ankles.
"You said this was a celebration to chase out evil spirits." Jack let his aura flare a moment, causing the nearby humans to blink and draw back in instinctual confusion and the small spirits to cheer. "Did you not think that there would be spirits?"
"Uh, not like this!"
One of the misty creatures hissed at Ivy, face distorted with distrust, then ran forward whimpering when Ivy bared her own teeth in return.
"Ivy, please, don't tease them," Jack chided. "They aren't built for large scares."
"Is that why they're not in Halloween? Or - have I just not noticed them?"
"They're not individuals," Jack said, waving his hand to a nearby shop. The spirits within cheered, darting out a hole in the glass and joining Jack as he continued to run. "So, they don't have Citizenship. Oh, they'll pop into Town now and again, but they prefer to use our Realm as a - I suppose you'd call it a rest point?" Jack raised his voice as they ducked around a group of trombonists, embellished with little white hats and blue faces. "Mostly they stick to the Human World; they can cause the most trouble th-"
"Wait! Are they heading back to Halloween now?"
"I- well, I -"
"Presume, yeah yeah." She flapped a hand, the other smacking his shoulder in delight. "Tell them to take you to the Gateway! If I can see them, that probably means Ciaran can too. And since he's unfortunately not an idiot, I'm sure he's figured it out too."
Jack's face fell. "Ah."
"Yeah, no kidding."
Jack looked down to the spirits gathered around his feet, chirping and preening at the presence of a monster with Jack's notoriety. He sighed, re-adjusted the alignment of his spine, and spoke.
"Where is the exit from this world?"
Instantly, the spirits began vibrating with excitement, their miniscule glows gathering into a single cloud of frenzied anticipation. They began to dart ahead, a few staying back to eagerly tug on Jack's borrowed clothes (though still avoiding Ivy entirely).
They flew through the parade, the music of the bands and the cries of aha's pushing them forward. The energy in the air was electric and thick and Jack could taste it, feeling the collective power of humans and spirits alike mix together. The colors and sounds bled together, and if it weren't for the light grip Ivy had on his skull, Jack swore he would've never stopped running, the excitement of something new, something he'd never been a part of putting a new fire within his bones. This was fascinating, this was novel, this was just enough like Halloween that he felt welcomed while being just far removed from the routine of the past few centuries that he felt something deep within him thrill with joy.
The village soon grew thin, and a forest came into view. At Ivy's urging, he broke from the parade, heading towards the tree line. As soon as his feet left the pavement and trod upon the dirt of the forest, his smile faded and aura instantly grew, wrapping around Ivy.
"What's wrong?" She asked, voice lowering and own aura growing.
Jack didn't answer a moment, letting his gaze sweep up and down the innocent-looking trees, his entire form tensing.
"This forest is old," he whispered, grateful that the noise of the parade had faded to a faint background dim. "But there's something in here that's - older. There's a consciousness here."
He took a few steps forward, watching as the spirits also hesitated, only a few darting immediately into the darkness between the trees.
"Also," he added, a hint of manic laughter in his voice, "the ghost in here already."
"What?" Ivy slid from his shoulders, coming into a float beside Jack's head. She shut her eyes, and Jack could feel the fear radiating off her.
"It's alright," he said softly, having half-expected this. "I can handle this; you stay here and -"
"Shut up," she whispered, her head tilted in concentration. She winced, one hand flying to her forehead, and Jack's mouth went dryer than bone dust at sparks of green flew from her temples. Before he could panic fully, Ivy's eyes opened, and Jack felt a wave of relief at the unaltered brown he saw.
"He hasn't found it yet," she said, her voice still low. "He's gotta be close as hell, but - I think I would know if he'd destroyed the entrance." She crossed her arms, peering into the depths. "Bad news, I think he knows I'm spying on him."
A siren sounded in the distance, and Jack turned with a frown as a car pulled to a stop further up the street, a uniformed man stepping out to meet a man who stepped out of a local restaurant, wiping his hands on a faded dish towel. Narrowing his eyes, he strained his hearing.
"But anyway, Jack, I didn't come all this way to stay out here," she sniffed. "So, you can put that thought out of your empty sk- Jack?"
"She went that way," the man said, "or so those boys told me. Didn't seem to know what the hell was going on either, if the Rouge is to be trusted."
"Jack?"
Ivy drifted into his peripheral vision, following his gaze to the two men. When one lifted his hand and pointed into the woods, she swore softly. "Ciaran got spotted, didn't he?"
"I would assume so," Jack said quietly. "Whatever happens next, we'll have to be fast."
Ivy swallowed, a useless gesture, and squared her shoulders. Her eyes hardened even as she reached out to grip Jack's hand, both of their gazes still fixed on the officer that began to walk down the street, head tilted curiously at Jack.
"You can still wait, Ivy," Jack offered, turning away from the officer as casually as he could. "He's been weakened, I'm sure, but he's still powerful."
"I already told you, not happening." She flexed her fingers, lifting the hand that still gave off a soft pink glow. "I'm supposed to be a part of this, and even if it wasn't, I wouldn't let you go alone."
Jack couldn't help but laugh at that. "I've faced worse alone before."
Ivy finally looked at him, a curious look in her eyes. "I know. But isn't that all the more reason to not let you be alone again?"
Jack was silent, unable to resist reaching out and gently cupping the cool mist of her face. She smiled, a genuine, soft expression, before it morphed into the hint of mischief and challenge he knew so well. "Besides. You've still got to ground me again once we sort this out. Sally's expecting us for dinner, the Mayor needs stuff to file. We don't have much choice."
"Alright, alright." Jack stretched and shook out his bones, hearing still attuned to the footsteps of the officer. He offered his hand to Ivy, letting his aura curl and embrace where he couldn't. "But no matter what happens in there, I…" cowardice overcame him and he shook his head. "I… want you to look out for yourself, you hear?"
"Will do, Jack," she said with a pained smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The officer's footsteps entered the range of normal human hearing. It would appear the time for stalling was over.
Jack steeled himself, made sure that Ivy was hanging on fast, and bolted into the woods.
It's the Final Showdown!
Chapter 45 will be posted this upcoming Saturday (January 9th).
-Aria
