SpookFest is just around the corner. The votes are in, and thought this would be a fun way to share what album themes have been selected for the SpookFest prompts. Thank you so much to everyone that's sent in their votes, we're really excited by the results.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Haunted Diner

As Beca walked inside the diner, the expected door chime sounded above her. At the sound, Chloe stood up immediately. She had been sitting in one of the red plush booths—empty, of course, like the rest of the place. Looking about, Beca was a little creeped out by how empty the place was, not even a waitress could be seen. She had never been in this diner before, and she couldn't remember it opening up. She had been confused when Chloe invited her for coffee, sure that there wasn't a diner on this street, but as she walked through the foggy night, it had loomed large as a light in the dark.

"Becs! I'm glad you're here, I have questions," Chloe announced loudly. Loud enough that Beca cringed.

"Shhh!"

Beca shushed the redhead, who looked about the empty diner, confused by her friend's response. "Ummm-why?"

This caused Beca to pause as she looked about too. "I don't know, but this place feels like we should be quiet."

"Ahhh-is Becs creeped out by the empty diner?" Chloe teased as she gave her shorter friend a hug.

"Yes, I am," Beca had no problem admitting.

"Ahhhh- don't worry Becs, I've got you," Chloe assured her best friend as she guided her into the booth.

The diner did give the petite brunette the heebeegeevees, but she did take great comfort in the redhead's presence. As she sat she noticed Chloe had a notebook open in front of where she had been sitting.

"Why are you here, Chloe?"

"Oh I wanted to get some more planning done on the Pitch Perfect SpookFest," answered the redhead as she slid into the booth besides Beca. The redhead made sure to slide right next to her younger friend, so their hips were touching.

For a fleeting moment Beca thought about complaining, but knew that wasn't really going to get her anywhere, so instead she chose to ask, "But why are you out so late?"

"Oh I had a study group with my Literature of the Reformation class," Chloe answered as she started to focus on the notebook in front of her.

"And you met here?" Beca asked.

"Nope," Chloe shook her head. "We met at the library. I stopped here on the way back home. I was really thirsty, and also jonesing for a Strawberry and Cream milkshake, when I noticed this place, so I decided to stop in."

"And you felt a need to invite me?" Beca snarked.

"Of course you're my bestie," Chloe said as she gave the petite woman a side hug. "Besides, I want to get your input on Pitch Perfect SpookFest."

"Uh-huh," Beca said. She looked around the diner. "Not really a popular place."

Chloe shrugged. "Maybe because it's new."

"Really new," Beca replied. "I don't even remember them building this place."

"That's funny," Chloe said. "I don't either. I was just walking along and it seemed to appear out of the mist."

Beca tapped her chin. "There did seem to be a strange fog out there. So you just went into a strange place?" There was real worry in Beca's voice.

"It was just so warm and inviting, and I felt nothing but good vibes," Chloe responded. "This place is too cheery to be scary." The redhead gestured at the classic diner, which was well lit and seemed very inviting.

"I guess…" the petite brunette conceded.

"And it makes the best milkshakes!" Chloe punctuates the statement with a sip of the milkshake in front of her. She offered her best friend a second straw that was sitting in the shake. Beca reluctantly took the straw and sipped. It was delicious.

"So good…"

"I know!" Chloe cheered.

"Where's the waitress?" Beca asked.

"Not sure," Chloe shrugged. "Haven't seen any waitstaff."

This caused Beca to furrow her brows as she nodded to the milkshake sitting on the table. "Where did that come from?"

Again Chloe shrugged. "I had to use the restroom, and when I came back it was here."

"And that didn't concern you?" Beca asked incredulously.

"Why would it? I really wanted a Strawberry and Cream milkshake, and they made it to perfection." Chloe was too excited to worry about such things. Her fingers drummed against her pink notebook in that way Beca recognizes Chloe does when she's super excited and a bit impatient. Her warm friendly smile was unwavering, as she turned to face her best friend.

"You really want to work on SpookFest, don't you?" Beca sighed.

"Yes please!" Chloe responded. "I'll make it worth your while, and get you a late night snack, like usual. What would you like?"

The phrase "like usual" made Beca roll her eyes. She was going to object, but her traitorous stomach spoke for her. She blushed and the words "Whatever, a bacon and cheese burger would be great", escaped her lips without her permission.

"Ooh, with French fries?" Beca nodded, which caused the redhead to smile even bigger as she knew she'd get some. "That sounds perfect!"

From the kitchen the two young women heard a deep voice call out, "Order up!"

As the two sat there, they watched as a plate with a cheese burger and fries materialized impossibly on the table in front of them.

"Oooh goodie," Chloe happily chirped as she reached for a French frie. "Crinkle fries, my favorite!"

"Chloe," Beca hissed.

"What?" Chloe asked before taking a bite of the French frie.

"We're being haunted by a diner," Beca said.

"So?"

"Did you not see that food just appeared out of nowhere?" Beca asked in exasperation.

"OMG! These are the absolute best fries I've ever tasted," Chloe said ecstatically.

"Chloe! Food out of nowhere!" Beca hissed.

The redhead lifted a French frie to Beca's lips. "You have to try this fry."

"Chlo…" Beca started but was cut off as Chloe pushed the fry into her mouth. "Chloe! You can't just stuff a fry in someone else's mouth!"

"But isn't it delicious?" Chloe asked.

"That's not the point! It's haunted food," Beca responded.

"But really delicious!"

"Yes, but…"

"I just can't think anything would have nefarious purposes and make a Strawberry and Cream milkshake and French fries that are sooo delicious," Chloe stated emphatically.

"Ugh! You always see the silver lining in everything…" Beca groaned.

"Thank you," Chloe said happily.

"Not sure if that was a compliment," Beca snarked.

"I took it as one," the redhead responded with a wink. Her eyes widened as she thought of something. "You know what I think Becs?"

"What?"

"My milkshake is the most delicious milkshake I've ever had," Chloe continued. "I bet you that burger is the most delicious you've ever had."

"What part of haunted are you not getting, Chlo?"

"I'm trying the burger," Chloe said as she scooped up the cheese burger.

"Chloe!" Beca cried as she reached out to stop her best friend, but the redhead was quicker.

"Hmmmm-it's so goood," Chloe sighed.

"Haunted food, Chloe," Beca stated.

"Try it," Chloe held the burger up to Beca.

"Haunted food, Chloe," Beca whined.

"Beca, I don't think ghosts want to poison us," Chloe said assuredly.

"Why not?" Beca asked, truly intrigued at the redhead's confidence in this stance.

With a shrug Chloe answered, "What reason would a diner have in poisoning its customers?"

"Ghosts!"

"I choose to think about Casper." When Beca stared at the redhead uncomprehendingly Chloe continued, "The Friendly Ghost."

"Isn't that a comic book?" Beca asked incredulously.

"Well I was thinking of the really cute movie I watched like a dozen times when I was a kid," Chloe countered.

"Of course you were," Beca sighed. "You can't base your first encounter with the paranormal on a kid's movie, Chlo."

"Aren't you basing your response on a whole genre of horror movies?" Chloe countered.

"Well umm-yeah…" Beca faltered. "But potential death…"

Chloe ate another fry, "I can't be afraid of fries that are just so delicious." The look on her face is just so blissful as she enjoys the taste.

Relentless, Chloe kept offering the cheese burger. Beca sighed, and broke off a piece of the cheese burger and stuck it in her mouth. It was warm and juicy and filled with flavor in a way that Beca had never known a cheese burger could, before this night.

"Isn't it the best?" Chloe asked.

Reluctantly Beca nods as she takes another bite. She doesn't want to admit it, but it is the best burger she's ever had. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Chloe swirl a French fry around her strawberry milkshake and then pop it into her mouth.

"Did you just combine your milkshake with my fries?"

"Yep," Chloe replied with a mischievous grin.

"Gross! Don't waste my fries by sticking them in your milkshake," Beca responded.

"But it's haunted food, Becs," Chloe countered. "I thought you weren't going to eat it."

"I wasn't going to, until a pushy ginger made me," Beca snarked.

"You love it, and you know it." To prove the point, Chloe leaned over and kissed Beca's cheek.

The petite brunette's response never comes as her brain goes fuzzy at the feeling of Chloe's lips. She recovers and tries to deflect by nodding towards the notebook.

"So what's going on with SpookFest?"

"We have our themes!" Chloe exclaimed.

At that moment the jukebox came on and the song ' Be Quick or Be Dead ' began to play. Beca jumped in her seat, but Chloe kept her grounded. It took a moment for the DJ to recognize the song, but then the distinctive guitar riffs soon told Beca it was…

"Iron Maiden?" Beca asked.

"Yeah, our first album theme is Iron Maiden's ' Fear of the Dark '. I'm thinking of asking Evermoist if they can play some of their songs."

"That could work."

The jukebox changed songs, and Alice Cooper's ' Welcome to my Nightmare ' began to play. "Uhh-should we be worried that that jukebox is just playing itself?"

Chloe shrugged. "It is playing another of our themes."

"Alice Cooper's ' Welcome to my nightmare '?"

"Yep. Do you think you could work it into a set?"

"Please, this is me," Beca responded with faux indignation. "I can work anything into my sets if it has a beat."

"I know, so you should also be able to.." Chloe is cut off as the jukebox suddenly skips to playing KISS's 'Creatures of the Night '. "Yes, that," Chloe pointed at the Jukebox, "KISS's ' Creatures of the Night '."

"That's just so freaky."

"One thing, I'm not sure how I should feel," Chloe mumbled.

"What's that?" Beca asked even as she took another bite of the cheese burger.

The jukebox switched to a heavy metal classic that Beca immediately recognized.

With a sigh, Chloe said, "DSM is going to perform Metallica's ' Master of Puppets '."

"What?! How did that happen?" Beca asked in shock.

"They offered to cover the costs of SpookFest if they could perform," Chloe admitted.

"Guess I understand that," Beca admitted. "We could use the funds."

"Yeah…" Beca can hear the reluctance in Chloe's voice. She places a reassuring hand on Chloe's leg, and gives a gentle squeeze. The two women just looked at each other for a quiet heartbeat.

The jukebox shifted to Nine Inch Nails ' God Break Down the Door '. "Ooh, Becs! Can you also use songs from Nine Inch Nail's 'Bad Witch '?"

Beca just rolled her eyes, and Chloe smiled as she said, "Right."

"So, I have something to ask," Beca started.

"What's that, Becs?" Chloe asked.

Beca opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything the jukebox started playing Ozzy Osbourne's ' Bark at the Moon '.

"Rude!" Beca shouted at the jukebox, which caused Chloe to giggle. With a huff, Beca turned back to the redhead. "Jesse and the TrebleMakers want to perform ' Bark at the Moon '."

"Oh, umm-yeah that would be cool. Guess you'll be coming in costume with Jesse…"

"Actually I was thinking we'd find a costume theme," Beca suggested.

Chloe looked up hopefully, even as the jukebox started playing ' Riddle Box ' by Insane Clown Posse.

"We're not dressing as Insane Clowns," Beca shouted at the jukebox.

"We'll come up with something perfect for the both of us," Chloe assured her best friend.

"Thanks Chlo," Beca replied with a soft smile, then she asked the redhead, "So we have seven themes for the night? Fear of the Dark, Welcome to my Nightmare, Creatures of the Night, Master of Puppets, Bad Witch, Bark at the Moon, and Riddle Box." The petite brunette counted the album themes off as she listed them.

"Oh, we have one last theme to make eight themes for SpookFest," Chloe said. "You and CR will be happy, the last theme for the night is.." The redhead pointed at the jukebox, which started to play The Notorious B.I.G.'s ' Life After Death '.

"I can definitely work with that," Beca said.

"You can work with anything with a beat," Chloe said.

"Thanks Chlo, you always believe in me," Beca said.

"Always." The truth of Chloe's words are there in the warmth of her voice.

The two again fell into a silence as they just stared at each other. Suddenly the jukebox started playing 'Titanium '.

"Do you think we can get this diner to loan us the jukebox?" Beca asked.

"Maybe we can host Pitch Perfect SpookFest here!" Chloe said excitedly.

From the kitchen a deep voice called, "we have a winner!"

The End

?

Notes: It's here folks. The Pitch Perfect SpookFest prompts are in! The voting was close, and we appreciate everyone's contribution.
Here are the winning choices:
- Fear of the Dark
- Welcome to my Nightmare
- Creatures of the Night
- Master of Puppets
- Bad Witch
- Bark at the Moon
- Riddle Box
- Life After Death Pitch Perfect Spookfest 2022 runs Oct 24th - 31st!