A Twisted Halloween Volume 1: Decoration Alight

Chapter 1: A Happy Halloween Together

One day, in class, Briar along with her friends, and other classmates listen to their lecture from their teacher. Just then, the bell rings, so class is over for the day.

Bored, Grim says, "Ahhh… another boring day of school is over and done with."

Sereia giggles, "Oh Grim, you're always bored in class."

"That's because class is boring," Grim says.

Then Tanzanite says, "I happen to find class interesting."

"That's because you love to hit the books," Grim replies.

Trinket sits on Briar's shoulder and tinks a little.

"Yeah. It has been a long day," Briar says.

Then Grim says, "Hey guys! Let's mosey home to the dorm! We gotta get back to that game we were playin' yesterday!"

"Yeah. I still gotta beat Ortho's and Idia's high score," Jasper says.

"Sure," Briar says.

With that, the group went back to the dorm.

Sometime later, the Ramshackle Dorm group are close to their dorm. Some are feeling tired from the long walk they have to do to get to the dorm.

"Would it haven't hurt 'em to build Ramshackle Dorm a LITTLE closer to the campus, though? Sheesh," Grim complains and exhausted.

"I know, I'm a little tired too, but the dorm was there long before we showed up," Tanzanite says.

"Yeah. So stop complaining, we're almost there," Jasper says.

Grim

"I think it's nice to get back to the dorm to relax and have some rest after today," Sereia says.

Moments later, the group arrives at the gate of their dorm.

"Phew, we made it! Honey, we're…" rim says, but bumps into someone.

He looks up to see Sereia.

"Hey Sereia, why aren't you moving?" Grim asks.

However, he notices that Sereia has a frightened look on her face. The group stops to notice Sereia's frightened expression.

"What's wrong Sereia?" Briar asks.

Sereia, lifts her shaking hand up and points ahead. Everyone look at Sereia's direction to notice something off about their dorm. At front, they see pumpkins with faces on it, clouds, water lilies. Some red lanterns hanging on the trees.

What really catches their attention is to see a big, large, red…

"AAAH! A Monster!" Grim screams in fright.

"That's not a monster… that looks like a…" Tanzanite says.

Sereia screams in fright, "It's a dragon!"

"Don't just stand there, guys!" LET'S CHEESE IT!" Grim panics.

"Hold on guys, no need to panic, I don't…" Briar says.

But a familiar face appears before them, upside down and behind them, "Ah, you're here."

Grim and Sereia hug each other and scream, "GAAAH! Another monster is behind us!"

Everyone quickly turns around, to see Lilia. He turns himself over and lands on his feet on the ground.

Lilia chuckles, "Khee hee hee! That's the reaction I like to see. You got home quicker than I was expecting."

Seeing who it is, Grim says, "Wait, I know you. You're the guy from Diasomnia who keeps poppin' up places upside down!"

"Lilia, it's you!" Briar says, surprised.

"Indeed I am. Lilia Vanrouge the elusive beauty at your service," Lilia says.

"What are you even doin' here?" Jasper says.

But Grim says, "Wait, we got better things to do than stand around chatting! We gotta get away from that colossal monster!"

"Oh relax. It's an imitation made from paper-mache," Lilia says.

"Huh? It's fake?" Grim asks.

"It's not real?" Sereia asks.

"Mm-hm," Lilia replies with a nod, "A wooden skeletal frame with paper affixed all over. It's the fruit of Diasomnia's labor. We're hard at work on more as well. Gates, lanterns, you name it."

Then turns to see the Diasomnia students at work on the preparations.

One student says, "We're about to raise the gate with a group spell. Watch your heads, everybody!"

And uses his magepen to cast the group spell.

A second student calls out, "Let's coil the tail around the garden so it stands out!"

Then performs a spell.

Seeing them, Lilia smiles and says, "By all means. Don't be shy. Give this the works!"

"Yes, sir!" The Diasomnia students call out.

The students continue to work at the decoration at the dorm. Briar and the others are dumbfounded by this.

Grim asks, "What in the world is goin' on here?" Tanzanite asks.

"Yeah. Why's Ramshackle Dorm getting a haunted house makeover?!" Jasper adds.

Grim feels the same and starts to complain, "HEY! Who said you could mess with my dorm, huh?!"

"Why, the headmage, of course," Lilia answers, "He gave us his full blessing."

"Say what?!" Grim asks, shocked.

"And of course, the headmage didn't mention this to us… again," Briar replies.

"Why, I oughta…" Grim angrily says, and grumbles.

"Just what we need, another one of the headmage's stunts," Jasper says, annoyed.

"Oh, don't be a spoilsport," Lilia says with a grin.

Then Sereia asks, "So why are you guys decorating Ramshackle Dorm?"

"Yeah. Is something going on?" Briar asks.

"For Halloween," Lilia answers, "Malleus insisted that he wanted to spend Halloween at Ramshackle Dorm, and really, who are we to deny him? You should consider yourselves lucky. You could hardly put up such florid decorations without our assistance. Ah, but no need to thank me. The best recompense would be for all of us to have a happy Halloween together! Ha ha ha!"

Just then, the three ghosts, John, Albert, and Patrick appear.

Patrick chuckles, "Hee hee heeee. You're doing a real number on the place, huh?"

"Ah, hello there, ghosts. Here to observe our work?" Lilia happily replies.

"Yep," John answers, "And don't mind Briar and the others. Decorate away!"

"Diasomnia's on a whole 'nother level compared to the rest of the campus! This is gonna be a Halloween to remember, I can tell already," Albert happily says.

Lilia chuckles, "Khee hee hee. Flattery will get you nowhere."

The Ramshackle Dorm group is still confused about what's going on.

Grim is the first to speak up, "Hey, uh, I think I missed somethin' somewhere? What's this 'Hallo-ween' thing you you guys are talkin' about, and what's it got to do with the creepy remodel we're getting?"

"What?!" Lilia and Alber ask, dumbfounded.

Patrick turns to Grim and asks, "Grimmy… you seriously never heard of Halloween before? You're not pulling my nonexistent leg?"

"Nope," Grim answers.

Then Sereia says, "I never heard of Halloween either."

Trinket shakes her head as well.

"WHAT?!" Lilia and Albert exclaim in shock.