Chapter 1
Hello and welcome to any that may be reading this little project of mine. This is actually my first ever fanfic that I decided to publish. I've always been a rabid reader of other people's works but couldn't find my own confidence to write myself. Recently though this idea has been stuck in my head after watching Halloween Kills and reading Re:Zero stories and watching the amazing anime. Re:Zero has to be one of the best anime I've ever seen with personally one of the most human and relatable protagonists out there. The stories I read from this community are honestly just as good as the show itself and I just felt compelled to add something instead of being a spectator. The Halloween franchise is my favorite series of all time and Michael Myers is one of the most badass antagonists in cinema. Despite being just a man in a mask Michael instills that fear we've all had at some point, that being there is something in the dark watching us. So I figured why not turn the likeable Subaru into this icon of horror since I actually think it can happen. Based on how much pain and suffering Subaru has gone through I can see him becoming violent and sinister to everyone he doesn't see as a friend. Add that and magically put him back home with no family left and there is reason to believe Subaru would just snap. Though the most important part to me is we don't see too many evil or morally questionable Subaru's out there. So I figured why not be different and try something new, who knows this might actually be a good read for you folks.
Anyway I apologize for rambling, I just wanna explain something about myself before we begin the story. I am as amateur as it gets when it comes to writing fanfics, sure I've written before but that was my cringey middle school self and I never let anyone read them. Secondly this story is mainly just me combining two things I love while using other author's infinitely better ideas. I know logically these two things will never go together and I am gonna have to bend some major rules to set it up, but I'll do my best to make it somewhat plausible. Alrighty that should about do it I'm done wasting your time please enjoy whatever you liked about this silly idea :).
Note:
Subaru and his parents lived in Japan but then moved to Haddonfield
The ending of Arc 3 left many in the room with a mixed set of emotions. Of course many were happy their friend had triumphed over such monstrumental odds, but others were not pleased by this ending.
"Nya this still doesn't explain why he left Crusch-sama to be forgotten!" The cat demi-human Felix spoke in outrage toward the credits.
"I'm sure there we'll understand that soon enough Felix-dono, after all the blue haired maid also fell victim to Gluttony's power." Replied the aged but confident voice of Wilhelm.
"Hmm that is true Natsuki-san is too stubborn to leave any of his friends to such a fate regardless of what they've done to him." Added Otto.
"OI Warden come on and start the next viewing we wanna see what happens next." Felt said as she leapt up from her seat to shout at the massive screen.
"Unfortunately your previous Warden is...occupied at the moment so your viewings of the various Arcs have been put on hold." A bored yet commanding voice explained to the theatre occupants.
"WHAT!?" Screamed most of the occupants.
"The hell ya can stop it!" Shouted an enraged Garfiel
"Mineself wishes to be entertained some more and I will have what I want." Threatened Priscilla.
"But I need to know what happened to Crush-sama/my sister!" Screamed the voice of Felix and Ram.
"SILENCE!" Boomed the voice now sounding more annoyed with the interruptions. "Rather than show you the next chapter in Subaru's story I've decided that a different..reality requires more attention at the moment, you will resume your viewings of each Arc...eventually."
"A different reality?" Emilia questioned with a curious tilt of her head.
"How does this 'reality' affect us at the moment, I suppose?" Asked Beatrice.
"A new timeline? My my this could be veeeeery interesting." Mused the Margrave Roswaal.
"Roswaal-sama...?" Ram gave her master a confused glance.
"Your questions will be answered in due time but for now observe and comprehend." Answered the voice, it's tone back to being bored and indifferent.
The screen began playing static before switching to pitch black, suddenly soft yet ominous music began to play filling the audience with a sense of unease.
"This music is creeping my amazin' self out." Shuddered Garfiel.
"I agree with ya bro...I feel like I'm being watched or something bad is about to happen." Otto echoed his friend's thoughts.
"Ha, like anyone would want to watch someone as pathetic as you." Came the smug voice of the pink haired oni.
"Heyyy.." Whined Otto to his colleagues' teasing.
The music kept playing in a steady rhythm before a lone jack-o-lantern could be seen on screen.
"Hmm what's this thing I wonder?" Asked the merchant princess.
"Great Spirit Beatrice-sama do you know what this may be?" Reinhard turned toward the drill-haired girl.
"Hmph Betty shall bless you with more of her contractor's great knowledge I suppose that would be a jack-o-lantern." Answered Beatrice. "You take this fruit known as a pumpkin, take out its insides, carve whatever you want on it, then light it from the inside with a candle."
"Ewww, take out its insides? That sounds really gross." Winced Petra.
"I don't know, it sounds kinda fun." Countered the hyperactive voice of Mimi.
"Hmm but what is the purpose of doing such a thing I wonder?" pondered Julius.
"I think we'll find out soon enough pal." Al replied, sounding somewhat wistful.
Soon enough the word Halloween could be seen appearing next to the jack-o-lantern. All the while slowly zooming in on the left eye of the decoration.
"Halloween?" Frederica wondered while turning her head toward the loli-spirit.
"Halloween is a holiday from Subaru's world I suppose. People, mainly children, dress up as whoever they want to be and go around asking for candy. It's also meant to be a time to scare people or get scared yourself I suppose." Beatrice explained before anyone could irritate her with questions.
"Free candy?!" The voices of Petra, Mimi, Tivey, and Felt shouted in excitement.
"Man why does capn' never tell us any of this cool stuff…" Garfiel grumbled in annoyance.
"Subaru you dunderhead." Pouted Emilia while pulling the cheek of her sleeping knight, somewhat hurt he did not share anything from his world with her.
Eventually the screen slowly moved until the flickering left eye and nose were the only things left, before fading to black once more.
SMITH'S GROVE, ILLINOIS
"Illinois and Smith's Grove...I've never heard of such places before." Crusch commented.
"Hmm if memory serves me right this is actually from our world." Al gave his armored chin a scratch. "Ya I remember now, this is part of the United States, one of the biggest and most powerful countries in our world." Al added once he gave it more thought.
"Subaru's world?" Rem perked up in interest at seeing more about her hero.
"United States?" Ricardo questioned with a raised brow.
Anastasia fluffed her scarf in anticipation at seeing more potential products and ideas Subaru's world had to offer. The Emilia camp also leaned in anticipation at what they might get to see about their friend. The other camps showed varied reactions to this potential theory ranging from mild interest to barely contained excitement.
October 30, 1978
Seeing this date most of the cast brushed this detail aside..all except for Al who looked confused by this.
"!978...how though?" Al whispered to himself.
"Hmm did you say something Aldebaran?" Priscillia turned towards her knight.
"Is nuthin' princess…" Al waved off her questioning gaze.
Rain and thunder could be heard as the darkness filled the screen before it was illuminated by two lights belonging to the headlights of a car. The screen then cuts to the face of a bald man dressed in a brown trench coat, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. He was bald with a greying beard on his face and a serious look in his eyes.
"Who's the old guy?" Asked Felt upon seeing his face.
"I do not know Felt-sama but he seems really focused at the moment." Felt's knight answered.
The camera then shifted toward a woman who was dressed in a white dress shirt, a red coat, and a white hat on her head. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, and she appeared to be anxious based off her licking her lips every so often.
The man then suddenly turned to look at the woman while asking, "You ever done anything like this before?"
"Only minimum security." Replied the woman
"I see…" The man gave a look before looking at the road once more.
"Security...seems like something bad might happen." Julius said.
"What makes you say that Julius-san?" Otto asked the knight.
"The situations that usually need security are either protecting someone from danger or transporting someone who is dangerous...both of which could end badly." Answered Reinhard for his friend.
"Danger...oh no this has Natsuki-san's name written all over it." Otto moaned into his hands.
In response to this statement Emilia further tightened her hold on Subaru's hand while Beatrice hugged her contractor closer.
"The driveway is a few hundred yards up on the right." The man gave the woman directions.
"The only thing that ever bothers me is their gibberish, when they start raving on and on..." The woman said as she continued driving.
The man turned toward her once more before replying to her concern, "You don't have anything to worry about. He hasn't spoken a word in 3 years."
"Damn not speaking for 3 years? Whoever this guy is, he sure must be the life of a party." Ricardo gave a wry chuckle.
"Are there any special instructions?" The woman asked while the rain continued to pelt down on the station wagon.
"Just try to understand what we're dealing with here...don't underestimate it." The man gave his response.
"Don't you think we should refer to 'it' as 'him'." The woman gave a slight scowl.
"Hmm, it sounds like it's the 'someone is dangerous' part." Frederica noted.
"Still though...it's not nice to refer to a person as an it." Emilia agreed with the woman.
"Who knyaows, maybe that guy has a reason." Felix gave his own thoughts.
"If you say so." The man responded indifferently.
"Your compassion is overwhelming, doctor." The woman sarcastically retorted before lighting a match then bringing it to a cigarette in her mouth.
This gave most of the cast a chuckle with the banter between the two, others though were more focused on what the woman called the man.
"Doctor? Since when are doctors involved in prisoner transfers." Crusch wondered with narrowed eyes.
"I dunno, maybe the guy is sick or sum." Garfiel shrugged.
"Hmm maybe…" Crusch trailed off.
"What do I give him when I take him in front of the judge?" The woman said after a few drags from her cigarette.
"Thorazine." The now doctor responded automatically.
"He'll barely be able to sit up." The woman expressed her concern.
"That's the idea." The doctor replied apathetically.
"They're gonna drug this man? That hardly seems morally acceptable." Reinhard gave a frown toward the the doctor's response.
"Drug him?...wait.."Al began to piece who this mystery man may be to some degree.
The two occupants of the car were silent for a moment, only the sounds of the rain hitting the car being the only noise. The woman took another drag from her cigarette before speaking up once more.
"You're serious about it aren't you?" The woman questioned.
"Yeah." The doctor replied.
The woman gave a slight huff, "I mean you actually never want him to get out?" She continued on.
"Never.." The doctor whispered before speaking again more loudly, "Never."
"Our mystery guy must be really bad if he is never meant to be free again huh." Otto mused.
"I mean some people deserve such a fate...or worse." The knight of knights set his sights to Roswaal. The sentiment shared by the other occupants in the room.
Roswaal simply smiled at this while the pink oni next to him gave a scowl in the knight's direction.
"Then why are we taking him up to Livingston County if we're just gonna-" The woman began before being cut off.
"Because that is the law." The doctor bitterly stated. "We're here."
Thunder roared through the darkness before the headlights of the station wagon revealed a man in a white gown standing in a field.
Most of the cast grimaced at seeing such a creepy sight but choose to not comment to see what happened next.
"Since when do they let them wander around?" The woman questioned while illuminating more figures in white gowns.
"Pull up to the main gate." The doctor ordered the woman, looking more alert than before.
"Shouldn't we-" She began.
"Go on move." He ordered.
"Something tells me that can't be good…"Anastasia fluffed her scarf anxiously.
"Betty cares not as long as whatever happens doesn't affect her Subaru." Beatrice waved off any concern.
"Hmph with Barasu's luck this has everything to do with him." Ram responded in annoyance.
"Subaru/Subaru-kun please be ok…" The voices of Emilia and Rem echoed while each squeezed onto his hands.
As the car continued its drive lighting struck revealing even more figures out within the field. The doctor had a look of panic on his face while he waited to be pulled up to the gate.
"Stop here." He commanded, about ready to throw open the car door.
"Shouldn't we go all the way to the hospital-" The woman again was cut short.
"Wait." The doctor said before opening his door and running up to the gate and looking around.
The woman looked on worriedly as she continued to sit in the car waiting for the doctor to return. All was quiet before there was a cut to the back window of the car, where a man caked in red light climbed up onto the roof of the car.
"What the hell?!" Otto jumped at the sudden action.
"Relax Brotto, I'm sure it's nun." Garfiel gave his friend a pat on the back.
The woman looked up frantically before rolling down her window to call the doctor. Before she could, however, a hand came down and grabbed her throat then began to strangle her.
"Oh shit!" Garfiel jumped at seeing the attack.
Ricardo and Frederica covered their respective kids' eyes in order to shield them from anything gruesome. Beatrice buried her face into her contractor's chest while Emilia and Rem squeezed the hands of Subaru. Reinhard also tried to cover the eyes Felt but was quickly pushed away. The rest of the cast either tightened their grip on their chair arm or tensed up at the encounter.
In panic the woman pressed her foot on the gas pedal of the car causing it to veer off in a random direction. The woman was able to free herself from the strangle hold, but the hand continued to grab and claw at her before retreating. Instinctively the woman backed herself up against the passenger side door, trying to make as much distance as possible. She took a few panicked breaths not noticing the shadow of the hand raised behind her.
"OI you wanna live, then move ya broad!" Garfiel screamed at the screen.
"Come on move, he's right behind you!" Shouted the distressed voice of Felt
"Hmph the weak will die." Priscillia commented behind her fan.
The open palmed hand that was behind her was brought down against the window, creating a large spider web of cracks. This prompted the woman to immediately rush to the driver's side door, open it, then flee the vehicle. All the while the man in the white gown climbed down and took her place, driving off immediately.
"Whew at least she made it out ok." Felix said happy that no one died.
"True...but it didn't seem like he was after her though…" Reinhard noted the lack of injury.
"So what the guy was after the kaar?" Mimi piped up.
"So it was a means to escape...but why I wonder." Wilhelm pondered at the event.
The doctor then rushed over to the woman while the car sped off into the night.
"Are you alright?" He asked with worry.
"Yes..yes I'm ok" She said out of breath.
"He's gone!" The man panicked. "He's gone from me..the evil is gone!"
"Evil!?" Emilia shuddered at the moniker.
"Maybe he's being hyperbolic Emilia-sama." Otto attempted to soothe his liege.
"Evil?" Roswaal frowned, not liking the implications.
"So what that weird guy is bad?" Felix wondered.
"Hmm I fear something truly terrible will happen soon…" Wilhelm sighed.
"Grandfather?" Reinhard turned to his relative questioningly.
"I gotta...I have too-" The man didn't finish his sentence before bolting off toward the hospital. The woman was left there in the rain traumatized and out of breath from the experience.
The screen then sharply cuts to a neighborhood with a cloudy sky, red leaves on the pavement, and cars parked on the side of the road. The sounds of birds chirping, and insects buzzing could be heard before white text appeared.
Haddonfield
Halloween
"Halloween huh? So this is the next day." Al commented on the change of location.
"Oh oh this is the day you get free candy, right?!" Tivey and Mimi asked excitedly.
Al rubbed the back of his helmet before responding, "Well I mean you usually do it at night or dusk...it's not exactly an all-day thing."
This of course deflated the two demi-human kids slightly since there wouldn't be candy given all day even if they were to participate in the holiday.
"Heh don't worry we can have our own little Halloween when we get outta here." Ricardo attempted to cheer up the twins.
"Yay!" They screamed in delight.
The camera moved toward a different section of the neighborhood showing off the many houses, cars, lush trees, and intricate roads.
"Wow this place looks so nice and peaceful...way better than what I've seen." Felt gave a awestruck look.
In response to this Reinhard glanced at his master's smiling face and made a promise to himself.
"I swear I'll make your dreams come true...Felt-sama." Reinhard silently vowed.
The camera moved toward a white two-story house with black car parked in the driveway. The white door then opened up and out stepped a 17-year-old girl with three books in hand. She wore a black turtleneck, a brown sweater, white thigh high socks, brown shoes, and a blouse with an abstract pattern. She had long wavy blonde hair, a pale complexion, and a blue backpack hanging off her right shoulder. As she walked down the leaf infested sidewalk a man in a brown blazer called out to her.
"Laurie, don't forget to drop the key off at the Natsuki's place." The man said.
Turning to look over her shoulder Laurie responded back as she continued to walk down the sidewalk, "I won't."
At the mention of Subaru's last name most of the cast perked up at being able to see their beloved friend again.
"Hells ya wer' gonna meet capn'." Garfiel pumped his fist in excitement, shaking the shoulder of an equally happy Otto.
"My knight?" Emilia's eye gained a shine to them.
"Big Bro?" Felt smiled at the news.
"Subaru…" Julius and Reinhard gave a sad smile.
"What do you have for me dear Subaru?" Roswaal pondered losing his accent.
"They'll be there by 10:30 be sure to leave it under the mat." The man added.
"I promise." Laurie shouted back before making a right at the end of the sidewalk.
Laurie made a few other turns before crossing the street and continued her walk along a new path.
"Laurie!" A childish voice shouted. Laurie turned her head to the right to see a red headed bout in jeans and a jacket run toward her.
"Hey Tommy." Laurie called back in greeting.
"Are you coming over tonight?" Tommy inquired as the two began crossing the street.
"Same time, same place." She responded to the question.
"How do these two know each other I wonder?" Emilia asked as she observed the two converse.
"Eh she's probably his babysitter, she looks like a high-schooler so it's not too farfetched." Al gave his thoughts.
"Babysitter? What's that?" Ricardo asked the helmeted man.
"Uh basically it's like a temporary guardian, when the parents want to have time to themselves but need someone to watch their kid, they hire someone to do that for them." Al explained the concept. "Usually teenagers do it to gain some extra money."
"But he looks about 10ish, maybe 11...shouldn't he be able to watch himself?" Julius pointed out.
"Different world, different rules bud you're not an adult until you turn 18 in this country." Al's statement shocked the younger portion of the room.
"18?! That's way too high!" I was pickpocketing people at that age! The voice of Felt cried in horror.
"Hey, pal I don't make the rules, that's just the rules there...something about your brain not being fully developed until you're 18 or sum." Al attempted to pacify the former thief.
"Hmph such weakness, unable to handle the responsibilities of life." Scoffed the fiery princess.
"Hmph don't underestimate my contractor's world perhaps, they are far superior to our own, and they don't even have magic." Beatrice snarked toward the orange haired candidate.
"Grrr…" Priscillia growled, unable to form a proper rebuttal.
"Can we make jack-o-lanterns?" Tommy asked, walking backwards while facing Laurie.
"Sure." Laurie replied.
"Can we watch monster movies?"
"Sure."
"Can you read to me? Can we make popcorn?"
Laurie ruffled his head with a playful smile, "Sure sure." Tommy gave a slight laugh to the older girl's action. The two continued to walk down the sidewalk before Tommy spoke up with a question.
"Why do you walk this way to school?" He spoke.
"My dad asked me too." Laurie answered.
"Why?" Tommy continued on
"To drop off a key."
"Why?"
"Because he's gonna sell a house." Laurie explained.
"Sell Subaru-kun's house...why would he do that?" Rem was slightly angered by her hero's home being taken away from him.
"He might be the landlord and they're late on the payment...or maybe no one lives there anymore." Al threw out a random answer hoping his memory didn't fail him.
"Not live there anymore...oh no that could mean Subaru is gone!" Emilia panicked at the thought of her knight's condition that could warrant him unable to live in the home.
"Calm down elf girl we don't know anything, yet I suppose so continue watching." Beatrice huffed to the frantic half-elf.
"Why?" Tommy continued to repeat himself.
"Because that's his job." Laurie said reaching into her backpack for the key.
"Where?" Tommy asked once again.
"The Natsuki's house." Laurie's tone was indifferent to the name.
"The Natsuki's house?!" Tommy though was far more alarmed.
The two stopped in front of a two-story house with four windows in the front, a couple of steps that led up to the front porch, and a sign in the lawn with the big red word SOLD on it. The house clearly had seen better days with the once pristine white paint now a fading gray, covered in dust, and devoid of any life.
"Natsuki's home, why does it look so…" The green haired candidate trailed off trying to find an appropriate word.
"Run down?" Anastasia offered.
Crusch narrowed her eyes slightly before responding to the merchant "Not the word I would use but it will suffice."
Rem on the other hand growled like an animal, her horn beginning to poke through as she tightened her hold onto Subaru's hand, "Do not disrespect Subaru-kun's home."
"Hey hey I meant no offense just saying it how it is." Anastasia attempted to calm the oni.
Tommy grabbed onto Laurie's arm and told her with a shaky voice, "You're not supposed to go up there.
In response Laurie gave a smug smile and waved the key in front of Tommy's face, "Yes I am." She said as she began climbing the steps of the old home, "Just watch."
Laurie then lifted the welcome mat before placing it the key underneath and even gave the mat a pat before she began to make her way back to the boy. All the while Tommy looked on with unease at the older girl's actions. Neither of the two noticed a figure in the house peek out of the doorway and watch the two begin to walk away.
"Ah shit who the fuck is that?!" Felt screamed in surprise at the figure's sudden appearance.
"Language please Felt-sama." Reinhard stressed.
"Whoever that is...he can't be up to any good..." Julius clenched his fist in paranoia at the figure's staring.
"Ugh, stalking a child and a girl...what a creep." Felix spat in disgust. A sentiment Ram agreed with but chose not to voice.
"Lonnie said that's a haunted house...bad stuff happened there." Tommy shivered in fear.
"Well then Lonnie won't probably get out of the sixth grade." Laurie tried to calm the fears of the boy. She placed her right hand on his shoulder as the two continued to walk away from the house.
"I gotta go, I'll see you tonight, bye." Tommy suddenly said before breaking away from Laurie's hold and talking a different street.
"Bye." Laurie called to the boy.
"Something bad happened in Subaru's house." Emilia's nerves once again showed themselves at the new information.
"Relaaaaaax Emilia-sama I'm certain our deeeeeear Subaru is just fine. After allllllllll, this 'event' could be unrelated entirely." Roswaal answered her unspoken but clear question.
"Hmm it sounds like another kid made it up I suppose" Beatrice added, also trying to calm the elf down.
"Something bad huh? Trouble just follows you around no matter where ya go huh brother." Al shook his head in pity.
"Wish I had you all alone…" Laurie began to sing to herself as she continued to walk down the sidewalk away from the house.
She never once noticed the dark silhouette of a man standing where she and Tommy were, watching in silence as she walked away. The sound of heavy breathing could be heard coming from the man as he continued to observe the teen get farther away.
"Nya what a creep." Felix's face scowled at the man's behavior.
"That breathing...uugh it feels so inhuman like." Otto shivered at the sounds coming from the man.
"What are you planning you mongrel?" The sun candidate narrowed her eyes while her fan hid a contemplative frown.
"That guy is scary." Petra hid her face behind Frederica's arm.
The scene changed to the old doctor from the beginning opening a door while being accompanied by a man in a navy-blue suit and checkered tie.
"I'm not responsible Sam." The man explained in frustration to the doctor.
"Oh no." Sam gave a sarcastic retort carrying his trench coat underneath his left arm.
"I told them how dangerous he was." The man continued on.
"Two roadblocks and an all-points bulletin wouldn't stop a five-year-old." Sam brushed off the man's explanation.
As the two continued to walk away from the building and down a few steps the man changed the subject, "He was your patient doctor. If the precautions weren't sufficient, you should have told somebody."
"I told everybody!" Sam gave an angry yell. "Nobody listened!"
"There's nothing else I can do." The man shoved his hands into his suit pockets.
"You can go back in there, get back on that telephone and tell them exactly who walked out of here last night and tell them exactly where he is going." Sam ranted.
"Hmm does this have anything to do with that man from before?" Anastasia questioned while tapping her chin.
"From the sounds of it whoever he was...he seems pretty dangerous." Ricardo noted the doctor's frantic state.
"It's just one man though and with no magic, how much damage can he reasonable do?" Crusch said somewhat skeptical of the threat.
"Heh if only you knew what one man could do…" Al said under his breath.
"Probably going." The man said doubtfully.
"I'm wasting my time." Sam growled out.
"Sam Haddonfield is 150 miles away from here for god's sake he can't even drive a car." The man stopped at the end of the curb.
As the doctor began to open the driver's side door he turned toward the man, "He was doing very well last night! Maybe someone around here gave him lessons." The doctor threw his coat in the car before stepping in himself, closing the door, and proceeded to back out of the parking spot. The man shook his head before turning away and walked back toward the same building he moments ago exited from.
"Hmm hey Beako…" Emilia turned to the great spirit.
"What is it I suppose?" The loli asked with a huff.
"Can Subaru drive a car?" Emilia posed her question.
"Hmph Betty's contractor is amazing but no he cannot drive one I suppose." The spirit answered.
"Huh guess he got taken before he could take the test to get his permit." Al said.
"Permit?" Reinhard asked
"Like a temporary license...it's like a certification showing you have the skills to operate a vehicle. You need to be a certain age to get it. After that then you get your full license." Al shrugged at the curious looks he received.
"Interesting…" Reinhard desperately wished he had something to document these findings, it's not every day you get to see the life of someone from a different world.
The scene changed to a classroom full of students all paying attention with varying degrees of interest. The disembodied voice of a woman could be heard lecturing about some material all the while the camera zoomed in onto Laurie. Clearly bored and not paying too much attention Laurie turned to her left to look out the window. Sitting in the back of the class should give her the chance to daydream without being called on by the teacher. As she brought her pen up to her lips Laurie caught sight of something strange. There was a man in blue coveralls and what appeared to be a white mask standing behind a car parked on the side of the road.
"Mmm I believe that is the same man we saw as a shadow from Subaru-dono's house earlier." Wilhelm quickly pieced the two together.
"Gah what the hell he's actually stalking her now?!" Felt exclaimed in outrage, sympathetic slightly due to the unsavory people she's met in the slums.
"But why...why is he just following her there's gotta be more to it." Otto tried to rationalize the man's odd behavior.
"Hmph seems to me he's just a pervert, peeping on unsuspecting girls and children. Disgusting." Ram grimaced.
"Hey at least he's just looking there's probably worse things he could be doing right now." Al waved off the oni's anger. Quickly though the sharp angry eyes of almost every female in the room turned toward the one-armed knight promising hell. Al gulped and slouched down in his chair to hopefully avoid some of the stares.
"Quiet you dog." Priscillia growled at her subordinate.
Al quickly shut his mouth before he did something else that could potentially kill him.
Laurie gave a look of suspicion toward the man before looking away hoping that he would disappear when she looked back. Unfortunately the man remained ever still and still staring at Laurie with his blank white mask.
"Laurie." The voice of the teacher called surprising the girl from her stupor.
"Ma'am." She responded dazed and weirded out by the encounter.
"Answer the question."
"Costaine wrote that fate somehow related only to religion, where Samuels felt that fate was like a natural element, like earth, air, wind, and fire." Laurie reasoned.
"That's right, Samuels….." The teacher's voice was once again lost on the girl as she stared out the window once more. However, the man and the car he stood behind had both vanished without a trace. Laurie gave a confused look around once more before turning her head back to the lecture at hand.
"At least that creepy guy is gone now." Otto tried to lighten the tense room. Despite his efforts though no one in the cast seemed to relax at this news. Almost everyone could feel it on an instinctive level, something really bad is going to happen and that strange man will be a part of it.
The scene moved toward the outside of a different building, a loud bell ringing and kids running out of the area. The camera shifted over to a walkway where four boys could be seen walking forward. The only identifiable one being Tommy who was carrying a large pumpkin while the other three were pushing and saying something to him.
"Leave me alone!" Tommy turned toward the other boys.
"He's gonna get you!" The boys began chanting causing Tommy to shrink back in fear.
"The hell are those little shits doing?" Garfiel growled at the treatment of the red headed boy.
Emilia also frowned at the behavior the boys were displaying, "That's not very nice to tease him like that."
"They're like the boys from the village before Subaru showed up." Petra added.
"Eh they're just a couple of kids teasing each other happens all the time." Ricardo didn't seem bothered by the kids.
"The Boogeyman is coming!" The tallest boy taunted.
"Leave me alone!" Tommy once again tried to fend off the verbal onslaught.
"Ha Boogeyman? Sounds stupid." Mimi and Tivey laughed at the ridiculous sounding name.
"Got any info on that name bud?" Ricardo asked Al.
"Uh ya from what I can remember the Boogeyman is like a demon or evil spirit that takes away the bad kids or something like that. He lives under your bed or in your closet and only if you listen to your parents and be good will he not come for you." Al tried his best to call upon his past world's knowledge.
"Ha and children actually believe in that?" Ricardo chuckled.
"Hey if it works it works pal." Al shrugged.
"He doesn't believe us. Don't you know what happens on Halloween?" The shorter boy asked.
"Yeah, we get candy" Tommy answered confidently.
The boys laughed at this before surrounding Tommy while shouting 'The Boogeyman' and giggling every once in a while. Distressed Tommy tried to push his way past the boys before one of them tripped him. Causing him to drop his pumpkin which smashed on the ground, the boys erupted in laughter at this misfortune.
"What a bunch of brats." Felix frowned.
"They're not good boys at all." Emilia shook her head and squeezed Subaru's hand. "But you are a good boy aren't you Subaru."
Wilhelm gave a sigh at the sight, "Children so innocent yet so full of malice as well."
The three boys scattered after Tommy's 'accident', one of them running forward and jumping down some steps in glee. Not paying attention to his surroundings the boy nearly bumped into someone. Before he could, however, two arms grabbed him by the shoulders stopping him before he could've collided with the man in coveralls. As the boy looked up his smiling face melted into one of sheepishness then unease as he looked at the man's face. None of the cast members could see the face of the mystery man.
"The creepy guy from earlier!" Mimi pointed at the screen at his sudden appearance.
The cast all tensed up at this waiting to see just what this man would do after witnessing his criminal habits.
"Oh no please don't hurt him." Emilia said despite her not liking the boys she didn't wanna see them get her either.
Ricardo and Frederica once again preemptively covered the eyes of the younger watchers just in case something might happen.
As the two stared at one another the boy broke off into a run to his left after staring up at the man. The same heavy breathing could be heard as the man turned his attention toward Tommy who picked himself up but left his ruined pumpkin on the ground. As the boy began walking across the courtyard the shape of the man followed along a fence line. The man kept pace with the boy for a few seconds before walking out of frame. He then opened the car door he was seen earlier standing with and got into the driver's side. Starting the car the shape continued to follow the boy at a slow and steady speed. Breathing filled the car's interior as the man brought the car close enough that all Tommy had to do was look left and he'd see it. Despite the closeness the sixth grader was none the wiser to the stalking even as the man pulled away and drove off down the street.
The cast all gave a collective sigh of relief that none of the kids were hurt at the very least. Still most of them were unsettled at seeing the man continue his stalking spree. Some even were irritated at Tommy's lack of awareness.
"By the dragon that boy needs to be more perceptive." Julius shook his head.
"Give him some leeway my friend." Reinhard defended the scene. "He is still a child, so I doubt he's very aware of anything is this world."
"Come on Red child or no you gotta at least be able to tell if something that loud is right next to you." Felt shot at her knight.
"Then again this kaar is common in this world so maybe it's not worth noticing at all." Crusch pointed out.
"Regardless I'm sure we can all agree that it's a good thing at least no one was hurt in the encounter." Otto tried to mediate the two sides.
"Yes, that is good news Otto-san we should all be thankful no one was hurt in the encounter.." Frederica agreed. The merchant slightly blushed at the praise he received. The demi-human's brother gave a smirk at his brother's reaction and playfully nudged him with his elbow.
The screen now displayed a vast field with green hills in the background and a set of roads all leading to different directions. The camera panned over to the side of one of these roads to reveal the parked car of the doctor. As the movement continued the cast then saw the doctor inside what appeared to be a booth on some strange device.
"Oi Beako is this one of capn's worlds crazy metias?" The tiger boy asked the great spirit.
"Hmm I believe this is what they would call a phone booth I suppose...you pay a certain amount of money before you can use it." Beatrice answered in the confines of her contractor's lap.
Anastasia took a mental photo of the device wanting to add to it to her growing list of inventions she'll bring to Lugnica. "Very interesting indeed," she smiled to herself while fluffing her scarf.
"Such marvelous creations, what a truly fascinating world." Wilhelm's aged voice spoke up.
"Eh, I don't see the big deal. We have metias that do the same thing." Felix was not impressed with the information.
"But from what I can remember those things are outdated as hell. Everyone pretty much had a portable phone so there was no need for them anymore." Al thought to himself unless "No..it can't be.."
Al suddenly became rigid as the pieces then shaped themselves more clearly, "You're just not from another world...you're from another time Subaru." Priscillia turned toward her knight once she noticed him tense up, "What is it Aldebaran?"
"Nothing princess…" Al tried to wave off, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the halfhearted attempt.
"He's on his way." The doctor stated solemnly. There was a pause before he spoke into the phone once again, "You better believe me officer, he is coming to Haddonfield." Another pause, "Because I know him" the doctor stressed, "I'm his doctor you must be ready for him...if you don't it's your funeral." The man hung up the phone in a huff before glancing out of the booth with narrowed eyes. The camera turned until the sight of a red pickup truck could be seen, hidden behind some bushes close to some train tracks. As the doctor walked over to the vehicle the loud sound of an oncoming train could be seen passing by.
"Is that another car?" Emilia guessed.
"No, that would be a train I suppose, they're used to transport a lot of people or goods across a large distance. They can only move on those tracks I suppose." Beatrice quickly shot down the half-elf's idea. Hearing and seeing such a contraption Anastasia leaned forward in interest ready to start planning how to build such a thing.
"Wow, that thing would revolutionize the way merchants could sell their stock." Otto also practically salivated at the prospects ahead.
The doctor approached a bush that held a loose white cloth that was idly waving in the wind. Checking it over the man dropped it before moving to the driver's door of the truck where another white cloth was idly draped. After another quick inspection the doctor quickly dropped the piece of clothing before running back to his car. As he did the camera panned over to the right to reveal the corpse of shirtless man, blood was splattered across his chest.
"Oh fuck…" Al rubbed his head.
"Bastard!" Felix's eyes blazed in anger.
"By the dragon." Julius' grip on the arm of the chair threatened to splinter it.
Emilia and Rem both instinctively tightened their hold on Subaru's hands upon seeing the sight while Beatrice hugged her contractor closer. Garfield growled at the clear murder, Otto paled at seeing death again, Ram scowled at the image, and Roswaal simply smiled. Miimi, Tivey, and Petra all hid behind their respective guardians once the dead man was shown not wanting to see the horrid sight. Priscillia's reaction was tamer, opting to simply give a slight frown behind her fan. After all she's experienced death before another body is nothing special.
"Wait, so if that creepy guy from the beginning ditched his clothes, then…" Felt started before trailing off.
"Then he just might be the same one stalking that young girl and boy." Wilhelm finished.
"Unfortunately we have no evidence to believe this, the inmate is clearly violent and willing to kill another man. However, the one in blue seems to be more passive." Crusch reasoned.
"I mean ya we don't know it for sure but there's a good chance they're one in the same. Introducing two mystery guys at once seems a little far-fetched even by our viewing standards." Anastasia countered.
"If that's the case boss...there's gonna be a lot more trouble and bodies. A stalker and a killer, that girl and boy are in some serious danger then" Ricardo frowned hoping his master turned out to be wrong on her call.
The camera cut to the outside of a highschool where Laurie and another girl could be seen conversing as they walked away from the building.
"It's totally insane we have three new cheers to learn this morning, the game is in the afternoon, I gotta get my hair done at five and the dance is at eight." The blonde girl complained as she applied a small amount of makeup. "I'll be totally wiped out."
"I think you have too much to do tomorrow." Laurie deadpanned.
"Totally." The girl agreed.
"Is it just me or is that girl's voice hard to listen to? It's so high pitched." Felt wondered aloud.
"Like nails on a chalkboard." Al agreed.
As the two made a turn and continued their walk down the sidewalk Laurie changed the subject, "As usual I have nothing to do."
"It's your own fault and I don't feel the least bit sorry for you." The girl said while placing a cigarette in her mouth and lighting it.
"Hey Linda, Laurie!" Another woman could be seen rushing to the two girls as they stopped in their tracks. "Why didn't ya wait for me?" She asked with a whine.
"We did for fifteen minutes, you totally never showed up." Linda said as the three started to walk once more.
"Ugh if she says totally one more time, I swear I'm going to strangle someone." Ram groaned, already getting a headache from the girl's lack of vocabulary.
"That's not true, here I am." The new girl lamely replied.
"What's wrong Annie you're not smiling?" Laurie asked in concern.
"I'm never smiling again. Paul dragged me into the boy's locker room to tell me-" Annie moodily answered after taking a drag from Linda's cigarette.
"Exploring uncharted territory?" Laurie slyly questioned.
"It's been totally charted." Linda giggled.
While the younger portion of the cast (plus Emilia) turned their heads in confusion at the girl's banter, the others all had varying degrees of embarrassment from the boys and disappointment from the girls.
"How undignified." Crusch commented.
"Do they have no shame?" Anastasia shook her head.
"Disgusting." Ram scowled.
"We just talked." Annie smiled along with the teasing handing back the cigarette.
"Sure sure." Linda nudged her, taking her cig back.
"Old jerko got caught throwing eggs and soaping windows. His parents grounded him this weekend, he can't come over tonight." Annie moaned.
"I thought you were babysitting tonight." Laurie inquired.
"The only reason she babysits is to have a place to-" Linda began taunting.
"Shit." Laurie and the girls stopped as she turned to look back down the way they just came.
"I have a place for that." Annie answered back indignantly.
"I forgot my chemistry book." Laurie groaned.
"Who cares, I always forget my chemistry book all the time." Linda shrugged before taking another drag.
"Those two don't seem like the best influences on such a bright mind." Wilhelm muttered at Annie and Linda's behavior.
"Nya I know right, that Laurie girl seems smart so why is she hanging around those two." Felix questioned.
"They look like good friends who take care of each other, maybe that's all that matters to her despite their differences." Otto saw parallels of their banter with his own two best friends.
"Despite their differences hmm…" Julius echoed while taking a glance at the sleeping boy, he gave a contemplative frown.
As Laurie continued to stare down the street a lone station wagon turned the corner. Laurie narrowed her eyes and looked at the car in suspicion as it began driving past them.
"Hey, isn't that Devan Graham?" Linda asked excitedly.
"I don't think so.." Laurie responded absently.
"I think he's cute." Linda continued unaware of her friend's unease.
As the car rolled past the three ladies the dark shape of a man could be seen looking at them before continuing to drive down the road.
"It's the same car from earlier, guess the creep got tired of following the kid." Reinhard noted.
"Gah this guy is really starting to piss my amazin' self-off." Garfiel crossed his arms.
"Why is he following her?" Emilia frowned, not liking the growing pit in her stomach from the man's actions.
"Hmph such degenerate behavior I suppose." Beatrice huffed.
"Hey jerk speed kills!" Annie called out to the car.
The station wagon suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and continued to sit there motionless for a few moments. Laurie and Linda turned their heads to look at Annie in annoyance from her comment. Shuffling on her feet Annie tried to clear the weirdness of the situation, "What can't take a joke." The car sat still for a few extra moments before driving off once more and turning onto a different street.
"While I normally would point out the lack of respect, I think instigating the stalker/potential murderer is more important." Julius voiced his thoughts.
"To be fair Julius, the only one who knows about him is Laurie and she hasn't said a thing." Reinhard responded.
"Julius has a point though, Laurie should at the very least try to reign her friend in." Felix joined the conversation.
"You know someday Annie you're gonna get us all into deep trouble." Laurie exasperated.
"Never mind then." Felix corrected.
"Totally." Linda took another drag from her cig.
Ram looked about ready to punch a hole into the wall.
"I hate a guy with a car and no sense of humor." The girls continued their walk.
"Well, are we still on tonight?" Linda asked.
"Well I wouldn't wanna get you in trouble Linda." Annie said with irritation.
"Come on Annie, Bob and I have been planning this all week." Linda pleaded.
"Alright, the Wallaces leave at seven." Annie caved.
"Hey, I'm babysitting for the Doyles. It's only three houses away so we can keep each other company." Laurie excitedly added.
"Oh great I have three choices: watch the kids sleep, listen to Linda screw around or talk to you." The three girls' conversation became quieter as they continued to walk down the sidewalk. In an instant the girls were now seen walking in a new area with houses lining up with the sidewalk. As the girls continued to talk Linda began splitting off from the group and walking towards one of the houses.
"What time?" Annie asked before they went their separate ways.
"I don't know yet, I have to take my brother trick or treating." Linda answered with some annoyance at the brother portion.
"Alright then see ya." Annie waved.
"Bye." Laurie called out as well.
"I don't like that one." Felix shook his head in disdain. "She seems self-absorbed and a rule breaker."
"I concur Felix...she lacks any form of discipline in her life for someone so old." Crusch agreed appalled by the behavior of someone so close to her age.
"Those types of chicks were pretty common back home." Al absentmindedly added.
"Ugh why would any woman worth her own act in such a vulgar manner though." Ram proposed.
"Pft I don't know girls are hard to understand." Al shrugged.
"Ha ain' that the truth." Garfiel laughed at Al's jab. In response to this Frederica reached over Petra to smack her brother on the back of his head.
"Gah!" Garfiel nearly fell out of seat. Otto barely contained his laughter at his bro's position, even if he did agree with what Al said.
Emilia frowned at what Al said, not because she disagreed but because she found it true, at least to her anyway. She still hasn't given her knight the love and appreciation he showed her time and time again. The frown deepened and her grip on the sleeping boy's hand tightened once more.
As the now two ladies continued the walk home the camera suddenly cut to a large. Standing with half of his body visible, the man with blue coveralls and white mask was seen watching the two girls. Laurie nearly lost her footing at the sight of the man she's seen following her before. Annie, however, did not notice the man or her friend's near tumble as she reached into her bag. The man suddenly took a few steps to the right before disappearing behind the bush.
"Annie look." Laurie prompted her friend.
"Look where?" Annie bewilderedly asked.
"Behind the bush." Laurie whispered trying not to alert the man.
"I don't see anything." Annie tilted her head in multiple angles.
"What terrible awareness I suppose." Beatrice grumbled at seeing the obliviousness of the red head.
"Seems more like a case of terrible timing." Ricardo muttered.
"That man that drove past us, the one you yelled at." Laurie continued her whispering. Rather than be cautious Annie gave a look of irritation before marching up to the bushes.
"Hmph at least she has some fire in her." Priscillia mused.
"Hey creep!" She called before rounding the corner. She gave a sigh before turning back to Laurie, "Laurie dear he wants to talk to you."
"I highly doubt that man is actually over there." Anastasia said.
"What makes you say that boss?" Ricardo questioned.
"After everything we've seen, talking to one of the people he's been following doesn't exactly line up with his actions." Julius answered in place of his liege.
"He wants to talk you out tonight." Annie sarcastically continued.
"Ya she's fuckin' with er'" Garfiel nodded in absolution. Another smack reached his head courtesy of his sister.
"Language." She warned.
In response to this Laurie quickly made her way over to her friend unsure of what she'd find. When she peeked around the bush there was no one in sight but the two girls themselves.
"He was standing right here…" Laurie said, confused.
"Poor Laurie scared another one off." Annie joked. "It's tragic you never go out." The two resumed their walk down the sidewalk.
"Guys think I'm too smart." Laurie sheepishly tried to defend herself.
"If that's the case then those guys are a bunch of idiots." Felt scoffed.
Nodding her head in agreement, Crusch added, "Every man should strive for a woman such as herself." The girls in the room all collectively agreed to the idiocracy of any man who didn't want to court a smart woman. The guys rightfully shut their mouths of any protest or jokes, they all knew that could lead them to being beaten within an inch of their life.
As the two continued their trek Annie's pace began to slow down as she approached her house.
"Well home sweet home see ya later." Annie called back.
"Bye."
As she kept walking Laurie turned back to look at the bush with a suspicious glance. While she looked, she failed to notice a man standing on the sidewalk, the two ended up colliding slightly.
"Oh!?" Laurie yelped.
The camera shows the face of a middle-aged man in dark brown jacket, tan dress shirt, and a white undershirt.
The cast that previously tensed up thinking it was the stalker from before visibly relaxed at seeing the face of the man.
"Excuse me, Laurie." The man said.
"Oh Mr. Brackett I'm sorry Mr. Brackett." Laurie began to apologize.
"Oh I didn't mean to startle ya." Brackett waved off.
"Oh it's ok." Laurie accepted the apology meekly.
"Well it's Halloween, guess everyone is entitled to one scare huh." Brackett jokes.
"Yes sir...nice seeing you sir." Laurie quickly stepped past the man before continuing her walk. Brackett gave a smile and nod, turning and walking the opposite direction as the teen girl. He walked up to the same house Annie just moments ago entered.
"Hmm so that is her father." Wilhelm spotted the resemblance almost immediately.
"He seems like a cool dude, though what was up with that uniform he was wearing." Ricardo idly scratched his head.
"It said sheriff...is that like a knight." Julius wondered.
"In Subaru's world there are no knights I suppose." Beatrice spoke up.
"What!?" The voices of Felix, Julius and Reinhard yelled.
"Instead they have these people called police who are similar to knights in a way I suppose." The spirit explained.
"But where is his sword to defend himself?" Crusch asked.
"Hmm they do not carry swords I suppose...they have these things called guns, they shoot out tiny pieces of metal called bullets extremely fast and can be fired multiple times." Beatrice shuddered, burrowing further into the embrace of the sleeping boy while explaining the weapon.
Felix paled at the description of such a thing, crossbows weren't uncommon, but you could only fire one bolt before reloading. The range and the speed of the bolt were also greatly limited, not to mention not very accurate. These guns though, the thing sounds like a weapon of mass destruction to the healer.
"By the dragon.." Julius also shivered at the sound of the weapon, though the finest knight he may be, he bleeds just as anyone else.
"Man Big Bro's world is scary." Felt commented.
Laurie is shown walking up to the porch of the white house she left this morning. Before she went inside, she heard the voices of children. Walking over the edge of her lawn she gave a soft smile seeing three kids in various costumes walking up to a house.
"Trick or Treat!" They happily exclaimed.
The air in the theatre became a lot more hopeful at seeing the innocent youth have fun. The twins in Ricardo's lap even began bouncing in excitement as they saw the tradition on the screen.
"Emilia-sama can we have our own Halloween when we get out of here?" Petra asked the candidate.
"Of course Petra-chan." Emilia smiled brightly at the girl's suggestion.
"Damn how long has it been since I heard that." Al shook his head, a ghost smile hidden behind the helmet.
"Well kiddo thought you outgrew superstition." Laurie gave one final smile before walking up the stairs to the porch. The scene changes to Laurie in a rather plain bedroom, setting her books on a bed nearby. There was an open window that allowed for a soft breeze to enter the room, making the white drapes wave. Laurie walked around the bed and took the window so she could close it. She stopped however, upon noticing the same white masked man standing behind some clothes lines staring up at her. While still far away the people in the audience could now make out some details about the man. He still wore navy blue coveralls, a black undershirt, and dark brown boots. The mask was white, with black eyes, and brown hair that was brushed back. Various clothes waved with the wind as he continued to stand and stare.
"Oh no...he knows where she lives now." Emilia gripped Subaru's hand more fiercely upon seeing the man more clearly.
"Damn this guy is persistent." Ricardo whistled.
"Why doesn't she call the proper authorities?" Felix threw his hands up.
"It's Halloween pal, they'll see it all as just a mean prank, it's not uncommon." Al quickly debunked.
"Lousy authorities then." Felix scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Tch like you're one to talk, ever visit the slums cat boy or any of you knights for that matter. I can think of a few people that needed some help but didn't get any" Felt clenched her fists in anger.
Felix and the other knights (except for Al) all slouched in their seats and lowered their heads in shame, unable to counter the girl's point.
As Laurie continued to look on, the sound of a phone ringing broke her contraction causing her to look away for a moment. When she looked back the man was nowhere to be seen, Laurie quickly closed the window in fright. As she made her way over to the phone Laurie wearily picked it up before answering.
"Hello." She answered.
Silence.
"Hello." She tried again.
Silence.
"Who is this?" A slightly scared voice asked. SHe quickly put the phone back in the receiver with a loud clang.
*RRiinngg* The phone began once more. Reaching even more cautiously than before Laurie picked up the phone again.
"I don't like this one bit." Rem squeezed the hand of her hero.
"Hello." She tried again.
A muffled female voice could be heard answering on the other end.
"Annie is that you? You scared me half to death. Why didn't you answer?" Laurie's tense posture deflated.
More of the muffled voice could be heard before Laurie responded,
"I thought it was an obscene phone call."
"I've already lost it."
"Sure see you later." With that Laurie hung the phone with that last remark. She then turned and let herself fall face first onto the bed, a muffled groan could be heard coming from her.
"The girl is losing her mind." Anastasia said at the display.
"Can you blame her...she's being stalked by a masked man, not exactly the best thing to deal with." The duchess replied back.
The front porch of Laurie's house was shown once again as she left through the same door as before. This time though her outfit consisted of high waisted jeans, a light blue collared shirt, and a navy-blue sweater, in her hands was a pumpkin. She walked a few moments before sitting down on some steps. Another smile was given as the camera showed more children in costumes coming out of their homes. A minute later a red car pulled up to the curb, Laurie got up and walked to the passenger side. The driver was revealed to be Annie as the car picked up speed and drove down the street.
"Guess she has one of those permit thingies if she can drive that.' Petra concluded with a nod.
"Makes sense she's in high school, that's usually when you get it anyway." Al provided.
The screen cut from the two girls to a brown car driving slowly passed a few headstones.
"Oh hey is the doctor guy again." Garfiel recognized the brown car.
"Looks like he's at a cemetery this time." Crusch noticed the gravestones.
"But why?" Frederica wondered why a doctor would need to visit a cemetery.
As the car stopped the doctor and a new man in a jean jacket stepped out of the car. The two began to make their way across the field with the new man reading something in his hands.
"Let's see, Keinchi and Naoko Natsuki. Row 18, plot 20 and 21. This way."
The members of the cast all froze at the mention of their friend's last name again.
"Keinchi and Naoko, how are they related to Subaru?" Reinhard asked with sorrow.
"The-they are Subaru's parents I suppose…" Beatrice choked out tears welling up in her eyes.
"Subaru's parents…" Emilia also began to cry realizing the misfortune her knight had faced once more. She turned and hugged the half of him that she had access to.
"No...Subaru-kun…" Rem also proceeds to hug her hers side praying for his safety.
Ram and Roswaal didn't vocalize their sorrow however, the two did give a frown and hearing Subaru's loss.
"Why...why can't he just be happy…" Otto whispered as he brought a hand up to take off his hat.
"You truly have no one left now brother." Al lowered his head in pity for his fellow world traveler.
"Do you even know they are gone yet?" Julius despaired hoping someone will answer.
Petra at hearing her crush's suffering once more began to cry into the chest of Frederica while the older girl rubbed her back. Garfiel ground his teeth together rightfully pissed off his captain is always getting screwed over one way or another.
"Subaru-dono...I am truly sorry." Wilhelm bowed in respect to the young man's loss.
Crusch clenched her fist at the news knowing full well what it's like to lose the people you love most. Anastasia and her camp while not being too personal with the boy all silently offered their condolences. Felt and Reinhard both looked down in sadness at hearing their friend's misfortune, unable to help in any meaningful way. Priscillia narrowed her eyes behind her fan and thought to herself, "What does the doctor want with the boy's family?"
"Ah I remember these two such bright spots in this little town they were. Keinchi ha guy was always a great conversationalist and could get the shyest one in town to speak to him like he's known them all their life. Ah and Naoko scary at first glance with her eyes and all but once you got past that she was the kindest woman out there. Always ready to sit down and listen to anyone that needed an ear. It's a damn shame they lost their boy a few years ago. Even worse they died in that car crash some time ago and then their son shows up not too long later, poor kid. I heard-" The man's recounting was cut off by the doctor.
"Where are we?" Sam impatiently asked.
"Oh uh, it's just right over here." The two walked for a few seconds before stopping. The man threw his arm up in anger before ranting, "Why do they do it?" The camera showed two empty plots where two headstones once stood.
Goddamn kids." The man growled out. "They'll do anything for Halloween."
"Tsk disrespecting the dead like that, despicable." Felix seethed.
"Who would do such a thing?" Emilia asked in shock at the sight.
"Pieces of shit that's who." Garfie ground out.
The other cast members all shared the sentiment of disgust and appalment at someone doing something so vile.
"Whose graves are these?" Sam questioned with a blank look.
"Uh 18..19..Keinchi and Naoko Natsuki…." The man stared confusingly at the doctor.
"He came home." The doctor stated speaking as though it was a fact.
The cast were silent at this revelation; many began to speculate as to what the doctor meant and how Subaru's parents played a part in it. After a few moments where not a sound was made in the theatre the voice of Al was heard by the other occupants.
"...no..no no no no no no…" Al began shaking his head in disbelief.
"What, what's wrong?" Ricardo asked the helmed man.
"So you figured it out as well, Aldebaran." Priscillia said with no hint of her usual smugness.
"Figure out what just spit it out." Felt gave an annoyed retort.
"Isn't it obvious gutter rat?" The sun princess taunted.
"Why you!" Felt began to get out of her chair before Reinhard put his hand on her shoulder shaking his head at what the girl was thinking of doing. With a grumble Felt sat back down and glared at the other candidate.
"Priscillia-sama if you are just trying to rile up my master then I ask you to please cease." Reinhard gave a firm reply to the princess' goading.
"Hmph if mineself wishes to be entertained by the low life I have every right to be." Was Priscillia's answer.
Before the audience could erupt in one there many shouting matches the voice of Al silenced everyone in the room.
"It's you, isn't it brother...you're the one who came home…" Despite not using Subaru's name other members of the cast quickly caught on to the knight's meaning.
"How dare you!" Rem's horn came through the top of her head. "How dare you insinuate Subaru-kun is the one behind all this."
"Barasu may be a worthless pervert but even he would never stoop to such lows." Ram also growled out.
"My Subaru would never do such horrible things." Emilia's voice was cold and the area around her began to drop in temperature as well.
The rest of the Subaru camp also voiced their displeasure and in Garfiel's case a threat of violence against the knight. However, Al was unfazed by the glares or the threats opting instead to argue back with the camp.
"Fucking open your eyes who else could the doctor be referring too, why would he go to Subaru's parents' graves, and why haven't we seen Subaru at all!" Al began ranting. "We have seen him. He was the one who attacked the nurse, he was the one inside his parent's old home, he was the one stalking that girl….and he has to be the one who killed that man on the side of the road." Al took a few deep breaths out of air from speaking so fiercely.
The Emilia camp continued to glare at the man refusing to take any of what he said into consideration no matter how reasonable it seemed. They knew their friend; they know he's not a stalker or a criminal or a killer. Subaru was a selfless boy who was ready to sacrifice his life to save any of his friends, he'd die 100 times if it meant he could save them all. The other camps, however, began to see the parallels and how everything lined up perfectly. Crusch and Wilhelm both frowned at the evidence stacked against Subaru, Felix though seemingly already made up his mind now scowling at the sleeping boy. The Anastasia and Felt camp were similar with the adults not liking how things were looking but waiting for confrontation. The kids though were begging that it wasn't true not wanting their big bro to be the bad guy. As the screen began to change scenes the audience turned back in anticipation waiting for the approval or disapproval of Subaru's involvement. None of them noticed the face of Roswaal Mathers which was pulled into a deep frown.
"Evil hmm Subaru…" The clown mused missing of his accent, recalling how the doctor described the boy when he escaped. "What could have possibly led you down such a path I wonder."
And done, I actually had trouble finding a good stopping point for this chapter without breaking the tension. Since the original Halloween slowly builds up to the killings, I was debating whether I should do chapters at all. I watched the entire movie again trying to find the perfect spot to leave a cliffhanger after building some of that anticipation without killing it entirely. I had so much fun writing the Michael portions of the story since we actually don't know it's him until way later in the film. It was fun dropping little hints here and there that Michael is Subaru and the cast not quite getting it at first. The graveyard part is perfect as it doesn't exactly confirm or deny that it was Subaru (thank you Loomis for your vague wording). By the time I upload this chapter I'll already be working on the next one to anyone wondering if this story will continue. This may be my first fanfic but I'm having a lot of fun thinking about how the characters will react to the good-hearted Subaru becoming the antagonists. I really want to finish this story and move onto 2018 and Kills, now those are going to be fun writing, I can already imagine the reactions to the brutality. But I'm a perfectionist so I'll be taking my time and not rushing through this one. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up with finals week coming up but I'll do my best to bring it up as soon as possible. I hope I did a halfway decent job at my first crack at this (there was a lot of rewinding when I pulled up the movie and the sound of the music and people's voices are so off it really feels like a 70s movie).
Ok rambling over hope you all enjoyed the read, see ya next time :D.