Finally, we have a Spookiz section! :D
_
Class had ended for the evening. The monster kids had barely succeeded another exam Mr. Reaper gave them two hours to complete. And, of course, Cula had the highest score.
Kong Kong glanced in his direction, watching as the vampire rubbed the A in Kebi's face (he got a B-). Of course, Zizi stood next to him, watching the vampire with admiration and dreams of romance. And, of course, Kebi watching her watching Cula with mild envy. Kong Kong wondered when this double-one-sided love triangle would ever reach its conclusion.
Then there was Frankie across the room sleeping atop his desk. After class had ended, he went straight for his snack supply. Crumbs fell from his lips as he snored loudly. He wasn't sure what grade he got on the exam, but did it really matter?
At moments like these, the kids had their own interests to pursue. So without any other reason to stay put, Kong Kong hopped out of the room. Making his way down the dark hallway, he turned toward the windows.
Moonlight gleamed over his pale, violet skin as he continued hopping toward his destination. He took a moment to admire the playground that was always there whenever the kids wanted to play outdoors. Had it not been there, at least they could find other sources of entertainment within the school. Art, baking, running in the halls and not get in trouble by teachers the way human kids experienced.
Of course, human kids had more to choose from. They could leave the school and do what humans always did. Go and spend their unlimited amounts of cash at places like a mall. Eat different kinds of foods on the streets (and this was Asia, so there was always something delicious on every corner). Simply hang out and even meet new people.
And dating.
Kong Kong stopped hopping, that last one hitting a bit different. Fortunately, he already reached his destination, having been so occupied with his thoughts during the trip. He stood before a single door, placed deep within the usually unvisited sections of the school. Glancing left to right, he turned the knob and was greeted by a comforting sight of piled boxes.
It was one of the school's storage units. More like a hoarding unit. It was said that the boxes were stored here for future use. But in reality, it was just a place for students to toss empty boxes in so trash bins wouldn't overflow. It was almost always forgotten.
Which was fortunate for Kong Kong. His love for boxes was unlimited. And if one were to wear out from constant use, he had more to choose from.
He leaped toward one of the many piles of cardboard, climbing it like a mountain goat. He made it to his one true box, newly-picked this week after his old one fell apart.
The monster child embraced it happily. This was one of the few things that made living in a school and hiding from human society a little more bearable.
_
The candle's flame flickered as Kong Kong laid it right next to him, making sure it was nowhere near the boxes. He settled next to it, sitting crosslegged and breathing in the setting. It was quiet, relaxing, and none of his friends were nearby to bother him.
After taking a few deep breaths, he reached over and grabbed a book he had been wanting to look at all week. It was something he managed to snag at the school's library.
He considered himself lucky. Some days the place was locked up tight, that even Mr. Reaper couldn't open it without leaving behind evidence. And then there were days the librarian was careless.
Those days, Kong Kong would hop through the many aisles of books, gazing in wonder and amazement. There was just so many to choose from! Human kids, and even his classmates, found this place to be boring. For him, it was a luxury.
After all, how else did they learn about how humans lived? There was even a magazine section in the corner, where they picked up information on human lifestyle and happiness.
Those humans really did look happy from the pictures Kong Kong found. Hanging out with people and shopping. Going to different places and learning new things. And falling in love.
There was one magazine that filled Kong Kong's little heart with astonishment: romance.
He would come across pages where humans talked about their personal experiences. Meeting someone online. Taking a chance or swiping left (whatever that meant). Meeting that someone in real life. And more often than not, it would end with a kiss and future of being together forever.
Once he finished reflecting, the box ghost looked down at his book, titled, Humanity's Stories of True Love.
With an excited smile, Kong Kong immediately started on the first page. His eyes trailed over the first story about how two young lovers from families with different beliefs managed to make it work. They were willing to risk exile from their own flesh and blood for the sake of a better, fairer life together. Of course, the couple had their happily ever after, despite being forced to cut ties with their heartless families.
Then there was one where a guy and a girl met atop a water tower because one of them just wanted to end it all. Fortunately, there was a shoulder to cry on. And the feeling of knowing someone did care, which resulted in falling in love. That one made Kong Kong cry a little.
The next story was in a school setting. How a boy fell in love with a girl who transferred from another country. She had a hard time fitting in, and most of the school found her to either be strange or not worth getting to know. Practically a reject. The boy was popular as he was nice. When the girl tried to change her look and forgo her own nationality, he convinced her not to. Because he liked her the way she was. And together, they showed their peers that she was no different from the rest of them.
The more and more Kong Kong read, that smile he had slowly began to fade. And the tears began to accumulate and trickle.
Humans have all the luck.
While the monster kids were forced to hide and only come out at night, there were human kids who could go anywhere they desired. Whatever their heart yearned for, they pursued it without consequence.
Meanwhile, if Kong Kong or any of his classmates made one false move, it could jeopardize their entire existence. And they would be forced to move again. Like all those other times before.
Of course, they had been very little the first time it happened. A moment when they actually had been part of human society, or at least tried to be. Had Mr. Reaper not been their protector, they wouldn't be here today.
For a while they had to move from place to place, trying to find a haven where no humans could hurt them. Often they were discovered and pursued by those Mr. Reaper called "monster hunters". They would hunt down creatures like them for money, fame, and other unholy things that would strip a monster of their life.
Kong Kong shivered at the thought, before looking back down at his book.
The people in it had actual lives. Beautiful and fulfilling lives. And they always had someone to share it with.
It wasn't that Kong Kong didn't appreciate his classmates and Mr. Reaper. But he wondered if he would become as lucky as the people in the books. Would he have his own story of love and acceptance and romance?
Of course, humans didn't have to worry about what they looked like in public. They didn't have to worry about being hunted and possibly killed just for who they were. They weren't monsters.
An agonizing thought that developed recently was the possibility that Kong Kong would never be as fortunate as a human. He would never find love.
Yes, he was only a kid. But being a kid who was forced to live inside a school. Make certain he didn't exist while humans roamed around. Often gaze at the locked gates of the property which he could never leave. Basically pretend that this life was perfect.
This gave Kong Kong a lot to think about. It wasn't some fantasy junk where he could be a superhero and rescue girls from green goblins while swinging from webs. He really wondered if he would live a life without a significant other.
But no doubt he had to be the only who actually thought about this. His classmates were enjoying the little freedoms they had.
He doubted Cula ever thought about having a girlfriend. After all, Zizi was reason #1 he would choose to be single for all eternity. Zizi herself didn't have to worry about being alone, because in her own little world she and Cula were soulmates. And then there was Kebi, who, when not rivaling with Cula, would find hope in something more with Zizi. Even when helping her find ways to get closer to the Cula.
And Frankie? Well, Frankie's one true love had always been food, so there was no concerns there. And Mr. Reaper was not the romantic-seeking type. He was pretty content just being the kids' guardian and teacher.
But Kong Kong? He wanted more than anything to experience love like humans did.
He wanted to meet a girl that wouldn't mind that he had no hair. Take her on a date the way humans did it. Walking together and holding hands. And kiss under the moonlight (he discovered a lot of stories about how the moon was the perfect first-kiss setting).
Being a monster and forced to live secret in a school was taking away this experience. He hated being reminded that humanity wouldn't accept him and he just had to accept it.
Even if they got older and finally living independently from Mr. Reaper, what were even the chances of finding love as a grown monster? Were there even others like them out there? Or were they the only ones who managed to escape humanity's cruelty?
Although...Kong Kong wasn't picky. He could date a human girl.
The box ghost silently closed the book, his tears having dried. Almost every time he thought like this, his heart would get heavier.
If the others knew about this, they would probably make fun of him for it. Mr. Reaper would probably reprimand him for thinking such absurdity.
Having had enough, Kong Kong blew out the candle. Then he retreated to his box and laid there. He didn't even bother to close the lid properly.
He would return the book tomorrow.