Author Note

I am working on a Halloween two parter for this story, but I'm having some trouble making it scary so I wrote this chapter to tide people over in case I don't manage to get the scary parts of the story up.

This part isn't scary per say, but had things been a little different then it could have been quite the fright for Red-X.

DC Gothic – Red-X 2

Haunted

Pier – Jump City

It was Halloween tomorrow and it was now Friday night. Which meant the town was already full of kids trick-or-treating, and people dressed up as they headed out to parties. Apprantly everyone was making a weekend of it.

The Shadow Squad, like a lot of young adults were out having fun at the carnival. This was the one time of the year that odd looking meta-humans and aliens could walk around with drawing any attention to themselves.

Not that people tended to throw stones at freaks in these parts, but even the open minded people in Jump City would still gawk when people like Mammoth walked down the street.

As for me I looked almost normal. Rather than don my Red-X suit I had put on a black t-shirt with a bright red X splashed across the front and the back, and that was under a black shirt. I was also wearing tight black jeans than Jinx had gotten for me.

It was a warm autumn evening so I forgone a jacket. How I still managed to hide a knife on my person as while we were out to have fun that didn't mean I had suddenly become a foool.

The smell of fresh pumpkin pie, popcorn, and other foods filled the air as my gang and I discussed why tomorrow was a special day.

"What is Halloween?" Blackfire asked me.

Before I could answer Gizmo spoke up.

"It's the one night a year that being small pays off" he said "I can get free candy without getting into trouble".

He did look like a kid, so trick-or-treating was an option for him.

"Tomorrow night the 31st of October, is the Celtic festival of Samhain" I explained "My ancestors believed that it was the night when ghosts could cross back into this world from the afterlife. They also thought that if the ghosts were appeased with offerings then the spirits would protect them during the harsh winter".

In truth most British people were descended from many groups as my island nation had been conquered a few times, and lots of people had immigrated to the UK over the centuries. Plus most Celtic traditions had been either forgotten or had been greatly changed due to the rise of Christianity. However despite all that change a few things had survived over the centuries. For example Christmas had once been a Celtic festival as well.

"Well that's what some people thinl" Jinx said in a way that made it clear she though I was wrong "For those of us who paid attention in history we know that we celebrate Halloween because its the day before All Saints Day, and that's when we are suppose to remember the dead. The legend is that on the night before All Saints, which is tomorrow all the spirits of our departed loved ones come to visit. People used to leave offerings of sweet food on their doors to appease the ghosts".

I was of the opinion that the early church had just ripped off a load of pagan cultures when making their holidays. Which had actually been a smart move as it helped people to adapt to the new faith. However it also meant that people had forgotten the truth.

"So humans used to think that dead people would come to your house looking for candy?" Blackfire asked "And this led to people dressing up and eating a lot of sugar?"

Well that was one way of looking at it.

"Sort of" I answered "Humans didn't very long until recently, and a lot of our history wasn't recorded very well, or it was and then it got mixed up with stories".

Blackfire mulled that over.

"So your just a bunch of primitives" she concluded.

I couldn't disagree.

"Yep we are funny monkeys" I said.

By now everyone else had gotten bored of the discussion so I decided to drop the subject and let someone else talk.

"Let's get something to eat" Mammoth decided.

Food sounded good.

"Good idea" Gizmon agreed with a grin.

That was when I realised I'd left my wallet in my coat.

"I'll be back" I told everyone "I just need to get my jacket. Then I can buy everyone yummy things".

Blackfire was now happy.

"Good, I want to eat cotton candy, the apples, and then play the silly games!" she said "And then you have to win me a big stuffed animal like those boyfriends do on the documentaries".

It seemed that the alien babe still hadn't grasped that most things on TV were fictional. I could have sworn I'd explained it, but it was possible she didn't care enough to listen to me when I lectured her, and this wasn't the time or the place for such things.

"Brb" I told everyone as left the peir.

Before long I saw a group of loud rowdy group of drunken teens in a dark ally. They were laughing at and taunting someone. I disliked bullies so I took a few steps in their direction as I was now intending to beat them up. When I got closer I could hear a terrified girl begging to be left alone. This pissed me off even more so I cracked my knuckles and stormed over to them without delay. They didn't noticed me until I got their attention with a cough.

"What?..." one of them asked.

He might have said more but he was silenced by my fist smashing into his sneering face. The guy collapsed with a thud and the others turned to stare at me.

"What the hell is your problem, dude?" a bully questioned as the group started to back away "You looking for trouble?".

I smiled before I answered them.

"Yes" I told them.

The rest of the little punks didn't last long enough for me to even get a good look at their faces. Most of what I saw next was them all running away like the cowards they really were.

"Drunken idiots are so pathetic" I muttered before I turned the girl I had intended to save. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?".

By the looks of things the blonde hadn't been harmed even though the gits had been tormenting for their amusement. They might have done more than merely upset her, but I had insured that they had never gotten the chance.

"Those guys were creeps" the young woman said "I was in juvie with them, and they all picked on me because of my Dad".

That didn't make sense to me because as far as I knew even prisons for teenagers tended to separate boys and girls, but perhaps that wasn't always the case.

"You're a princess" I said when noticing her costume "They must have been jealous of how pretty you are".

The girl giggled as I escorted her to a more well lit area. When we got to a street light I realised that I had met her before.

She was Kitten the daughter of Killer Moth, and she had in fact dressed as a princess. The young woman was a frilly pink dress and she had a wand too, so she might in fact be a fairy princess, but I didn't comment on that.

"Are you Red-X?" the young villain then asked me.

The t-shirt sort of gave it away. In retrospect it had been mistake to wear it, but given that it was Halloween I hadn't thought anyone would pay it any attention as I'd seen a few people dressed in copies of my outfit. Of course they take on entire gang by themeselves and win.

"Yes, but don't tell anyone" I said in a joking tone.

If I'd denied it she wouldn't have believed me, so I was trying to give her the impression that I was just a fan. However that didn't stop her from expressing her thanks with a big kiss on the lips.

"Heroes get to kiss the princess" she then said.

Given that she was a little shaken up I decided to pretend she hadn't kissed me, and I walked to a bench so she could sit down.

"You should be okay now" I told Kitten.

Before she could say anything I slipped back into the darkness of the side streets and then I made my way up a fire escape. I wanted to get back home and find my jacket before my friends started to miss and if I struck to the streets I'd only get delayed further as there were plenty more drunk idiots around for me to punch.

"Hello, X" a familiar voice then said

I was on a rooftop, so I should have been alone. Only I wasn't.

"Slade" I whispered as I turned to face him.

My whole body then froze up and I felt cold. It was fear that paralysed me I couldn't even blink.

"Good to see you again" said Deathstroke casually.

Feeling was now returning to the tips of my fingers, and while I didn't have my utility belt on that didn't mean I was lacking weapons.

"You too" I replied.

It wasn't true, but I'd learned to treat Wilson with respect.

"I'm touched that you missed me, X" Slade went on to say "If I had known, I would have came back sooner".

The question now going through my mind was: Back from where?

"What do you want?" was what I actually asked

He wore a mask, but somehow I just knew that the face behind it was smiling at me.

"That's for me to know and you to find out, my apprentice" he said.

Slade chuckled, something I'd never heard him do before. Then when he started running away while laughing, that made me suspicious as Deathstroke had no reason to run from me and he didn't laugh either. Which meant someone was playing with me, and not in the good way.

So once I could move body again I chased 'Slade' but something odd happened, when I followed him to the festival he seemed to vanish into the crowd. Which was impressive because this 'Deathstroke' was as big as the real thing, and given his outfit he tended to be noticeable unless he was trying to hide.

Then I caught a glimpse of the trickster and I chased 'Slade' into one of those Haunted Houses, It was empty, and mostly dark as for some reason it wasn't open for the Halloween celebration going on outside.

While I wasn't scared of plastic skeletons and rubber spiders, I didn't want to fight here as there were too many distractions about for me to focus, so I decided to get out.

"Don't tell me you gotten soft, X" 'Slade' said to me "Time was you never would have given up so easily".

Whoever this person was they had studied my former employer well. The voice was exactly right, and it still had a way of getting under my skin, but I was able to resist the urge to do something reckless.

"I'd be a fool to let my enemy chose the battleground" I told 'Slade' as I made my way to the exit.

It was too dark to see anything clearly, but I could make just about make out that something or someone was moving around. It added to the drama of the scene. But it wasn't why I was shivering.

"Good, you remember what I tried to teach you" 'Slade' then said "I do hope for a better chase the next time we see each other"

If this was some Halloween mischief then I was going to make someone suffer for it.

"There won't be a next time" I promised.

While I was now at the door I didn't leave right away, as my surroundings weren't confusing me so much anymore, and I wasn't shaking any more. In fact I was starting to feel brave,

Perhaps that was because I could now tell where this pretender actually was, at least roughly. So I figured I might be able to find out who it really was if I kept them talking and bided my time.

"Such a shame" 'Slade' was now saying in disappointed tone of voice " I did so I enjoy our time together".

The real Deathstroke had always been a little too obsessed with spending time with physically active teenagers. If not for the fact that he had really been training me I would have thought him to be just an old pervert. Of course that didn't mean he wasn't all creepy in that respect as well.

"That makes one of us" I replied as I reached for the knife I had hidden on my person, it was the one 'Orion' had given me "Persoanlly I always found you to be less than enjoyable company".

Everything was then quiet for a moment and I heard movement. I then suddenly leapt at 'Slade' who swiftly stepped to avoid the slash of my knife. Just like I would have done.

Next I spun around and threw a punch at him. 'Slade' caught my arm and then flipped me over. Before I could attempted to get up 'Slade' stood over me and he had placed a foot on my chest to keep me down.

"How disappointing" the imposter said "You've become sloppy, X".

While I wanted to refute that, he did have a point. I wasn't at my best. Even the idea of Slade had an effect on me and I hadn't done much combat training since I'd made my wish.

Still that didn't mean I was going to give up, only before I even try to use magic or my hands to free myself the pressure on my chest vanish and so did 'Slade'. He'd literally vanished. I'd blinked and he was gone.

"There you are" said Jinx "I though I saw you run in here".

I stood up and looked around. There was no sign of 'Slade'.

"Why were you on the floor?" my girlfriend then asked.

I was confused now as she should have seen him.

"Slade was here" I explained.

Jinx looked worried, but she was worried for me.

"He's dead, X" she reminded me "Terra killed him. He fell into lava. People don't come from back from that".

I knew that. In fact I was sure it wasn't him. It had to be an impersonator. Maybe an upgraded Sladebot, or someone who knew him well who was wearing a replica of his armour.

"Unless he's a ghost" Jinx then said "I mean it is the right night for it, or well it nearly is".

That made me grin despite how worried I was.

"Yeah I mean if anyone could crawl their way out of hell it would be Wilson, he's...".

I stopped then and looked at Jinx.

"You don't think it could be his ghost do you?" I asked.

Jinx was now looking more concerned that she had before.

"I would say no, but the veil between this world and the next is suppose to be weakest right now" she said "but why would he come after you?".

Had I not made the wish it was possible Slade would still be alive as he might never have taken Terra as an apprentice had I been around, but even if he blamed me then he would still go after her first.

"And ghost normally haunt a place" Jinx was now saying "Like the places they died. We aren't even close to the old Steel Mill".

Now I knew where I had to go next. If Slade was back in any shape or form he'd go to his base.

"Or this could be Raven" Jinx suggested "Maybe she whipped some spell to scare you".

I doubted that. We'd been getting along well recently. She was far more likely to try scaring Jinx or Blackfire than me.

"Raven doesn't know I used to work for Slade" I said to my girlfriend "And this ghost, or whatever, does".

Of course that didn't mean it wasn't Ray behind all this as magic didn't always have to make sense even if it have rules. But I didn't think she would do something like conjure up Wilson's spirit as she knew just how dangerous he was. She was dark, but she no fool.

"I still think this is a Halloween prank" Jinx insisted "Someone wants to scare you".

Should this be the case then my list of suspects was short as whoever was behind the prank not only had to know what I looked like behind the mask, but they also had to have spent enough time with Slade to get at least some of his mannerisms right.

"It's Ravager" I deduced.

Rose Wilson knew her father enough to imitate him to some extent, and she had access Deathstroke's resources. Which meant Slade-bots and funky tech. Maybe even a teleporter.

Her plan could be to torment me with a pretend ghost. Possibly as revenge for knocking her off her bike during the Whacky Races we'd had, or perhaps she blamed for deserting her father. Either way I didn't want to spent my entire Halloween chasing around a fake Deathstroke.

"I need to deal with this" I told Jinx "If this more than a trick, then I don't want anyone else in harm's way".

When she didn't protest I was grateful.

"Fine, go fight ghost Slade" she said "But don't come crying to me if it turns out to be a real spirit".

Red-X didn't cry.

(Line Break)

Steel Mill – Jump City

"I was wondering when you would come" 'Slade' said as I jumped down and landed before him. "You never used to be so tardy".

Well I'd had to nip back to headquarters so I could chance into my suit. I couldn't handle someone as dangerous as this fake Deathstroke without my gadgets and weapons.

"How did you disappear so quickly?" I asked bluntly.

Jinx had come through the exit, so unless 'Slade' could teleport she had should have bumped right into him even if he had been invisible.

"The dead have powers beyond those of the living" 'Slade' replied while slowly backing away.

He was rather solid for a ghost, and if he could just pop up where ever he wished then it made no sense for him to have waited here for me. To many things simply didn't add up.

"Well if you are dead then I guess you want mind if I try to kill you" I said to 'Slade'

The 'ghost of Deathstroke' easily leapt up the large pile of gears and I followed. Soon we were leaping from one gear to another, while we did that I wondered what the things were for. I'd never thought about it until now but they seemed rather pointless.

"This brings back memories" 'Slade' commented "I spent so much time up here thinking and planning".

All crooks loved to hear the sound of their own voice so while the ghost, or whatever it was, spoke some more about the past I readied my staff and moved in to attack. Only 'Slade' wasn't where I had thought he would be.

"Getting warm, X" the voice mocked.

I got a little reckless then. I spun around and charged blindly at where I thought the sound was now coming from. I got it wrong again and as it turned out 'Slade' was on a broken catwalk.

"Come now apprentice. I know you can do better than this" fake Deathstroke said "It seems like our time apart has made you weak".

I threw a razor sharp X at him, but 'Slade' caught it and then causally tossed it back at me. This made me realise that fighting was futile so I decided to leave. If this was a ghost then I would have to find a way to exorcise him, and if was an imposter then I needed to find out who he really was in order to defeat him. I couldn't do either of those things right now as I needed space to think.

As I turned away a dozen figures then dropped from the celling. I didn't know how I'd not noticed they were there, but that wasn't important right now. What did matter was that they had me in their grasp.

"What a pity you were doing so well" 'Slade' commented.

The fake Deathstroke then came over towards me and he removed his helmet. Which showed me that it was in fact Ravager who was wearing a copy of her father's armour. It was a good disguise as not only did it hide her female figure it also made her look both taller and larger.

Rose pulled up my mask and then kissed me. This was the second time tonight that a blonde girl had done that. I was noticing a pattern.

"I gotta say I am impressed" Ravager then said "The toxin should have turned you into a gibbering wreak by now, but somehow Kitten's kiss of fear didn't take".

Now I understood, they had been working together the whole time. The scene in the ally had been staged by Rose to attract some heroic idiot. A snare orginally meant for Robin I didn't doubt.

"I guess my fear toxin lipstick doesn't work on you, but I just gave you the antidote to be sure" the blonde woman was now saying "Shame I was hoping you'd think my father was really back from the dead and you were being haunted. I would have tried it on Robin, you really hurt me when you knocked me off my bike".

Hell had no fury like a woman you've knocked of a motorcycle.

"And yeah I know that fear toxin is Scarecrow's gimmick, and that poison lips are Ivy's thing, but if you're going to steal you should steal from the best, but you should know that. I mean you stole your look from the Boy Wonder".

The truth was that I hadn't stolen the suit at all, but everyone seemed to think otherwise no matter what I told them.

"So this was all just a Halloween prank" I summarised "It wasn't very good, and I didn't even get any candy".

Not that getting to kiss two girls in one night wasn't a treat.

"I wasn't trying to kill you" Ravager then said "You'd have recovered from the toxin in a day or two. This was a trail run, as well as a bit of pay back. But for some reason your immune to fear toxin".

Thinking back I realised that I had for a moment been paralysed with fear, and I'd been shaking, but it hadn't lasted long. Clearly my healing power came with some sort of poison neutralising feature.

"So what now" I asked.

With an order the Slade-bots holding me let me go, and Ravager started to walk away.

"Now I go back to the drawing board" she said "You aren't my main concern, the Titans are".

One thing still didn't make sense.

"How did you vanish so quickly when we were inside the haunted house?" I inquired "You couldn't have used the door without Jinx seeing you".

Ravager smirked and then put on the mask again.

"Trade secret" she answered in Slade's voice.

Rose then seemed to melt into the shadows. I decided not to chase her as I wasn't eager to smack a girl around, and she would want to fight if I stuck around much longer.

"Happy Halloween!" she called out as I teleported away.

THE END

Author Note.

Okay so that wasn't scary, and the trick didn't work, but hey this is Red-X. He's very good at messing up other people's plans.