October 31st, 2019 -
You grasp the door knocker and rattle the device. As you wait patiently for a response, you observe the surrounding decor. There are ghosts and skeletons strung across the shutters, coupled with an assortment of stuffed spiders leaking from the downspout. Halloween always presented an enthralling atmosphere. Maybe it was time you enjoyed a little bit of leisure.
As you're lost in thought, a suspicious character opens the door a crack.
"What's the password," The voice demands.
• You caution the gatekeeper that you were here for Callie's party.
"That's not the password, but I'll give you a hint.
It's six letters long.
And it begins with a C."
No way this is happening? Was this the answer you were looking for, or was it an uncanny coincidence? Either way, the prospect of a secret code was intriguing.
"And ends with, allie is the prettiest girl you've ever seen."
Callie unlocks the door chain and grants you entry, "Did I say six, sorry, I meant thirty-six.
I'll be right back; I have to change into my costume. Marie, could you show our guest around, he's not the best with directions." Callie taunts.
"Wow, are you going to let her get away with that, Agent 4?" Marie hollers.
"I was just teasing Marie. If I'm lost, he'll know where to find me." Callie utters, as she hurries upstairs.
Marie then leads you through a multitude of party rooms.
She wears angel garb and a fluffy halo. The dining hall showcases a heated twister match, and the kitchen sponsors a pizza-eating contest. The living room includes blaring music and dancing. A haze of purple and orange disco lights engulfs the room. In an attempt to follow Marie, you propel your body through the tsunami of celebrities. When you make your way to the outskirts of the mob, a few familiar faces appear into view.
Pearl resides by the corner, scarfing down various Halloween treats. She sports a vampire costume, equipped with a cape.
Marina mingles with a pumpkin carving club by the windowsill. She dons a werewolf outfit, paired with sharp fangs.
You're wearing a bulky Frankenstein uniform. This was the last costume the store had in stock, so you didn't have much of a choice.
Marie rounds up the group, dismissing them from their prior activities. "So what do guys think? Can we throw a mean party or what?" Marie boldly claims.
"Well, the snacks are a little overdone," Pearl interjects.
Marina elbows pearl in the shoulder, "Ahem."
"I meant, uh, it's pretty good," Pearl stutters.
"Does anyone here suit your fancy?" Marie states.
"You see that cute boy over there; I totally want to suck his blood," Pearl informs.
"Okay, maybe turn down the vampire innuendos," Marina urges.
"Yeah, there are kids here," Marie adds.
"I didn't mean it like that. You guys have dirty minds," Pearl says, puffing up her cheeks.
Marie refocuses the discussion, "I was mostly talking to Agent 4. Do you see anyone you'd like to chat up, or is Callie your one and only Chaos Queen?"
Pearl and Marina pester Marie about Callie's whereabouts.
"She's putting on some makeup. She'll be out in a minute," Marie assures.
"What's her costume," Marina excitedly questions.
"Sorry, my lips are sealed," Marie says, making a zipping motion.
"She's probably dressed as a witch or a black cat," Pearl infers.
"Nah, she's definitely cosplaying as Frankenstein's bride; you two would make an adorable couple, Agent 4," Marina confesses.
"Urgh, why couldn't I have done that with him," Pearl contends.
Callie emerges from behind a curtain.
• Your jaw drops to the floor.
Her high heels click down the mat — her red dress glimmers from the shine of the disco ball. A set of horns protrude from her forehead, and a small devil tail is attached to her rump.
"Ohh, angel and devil. I get it," Marina realizes.
"Marie, don't you think this is a little tight?" Callie says, pinching her waist.
"Well, I can tell somebody likes it," Marie playfully deducts. Speaking of magnetism, let's play a little party game.
"Nobody said anything about magneti-"
"You might have even heard of it before. It's called Spin the Squeezer," Marie interrupts Callie.
Allow me to explain the rules. Once we spin the Squeezer, whomever the object lands on has to go through the haunted tunnel together.
Lightning strikes as Marie reveals her chilling proposal.
"Oh no, not the haunted tunnel," Marina gulps.
"It's dark and quiet, the perfect place for smooching to ensue," Marie describes.
"Are you sure about this? I don't know if this is a good idea?" Callie nervously intervenes.
"What's wrong, Callie, scared I'll steal your man," Pearl snickers.
"Oh ho ho, bring it on then. Let's do this thing," Callie says, getting fired up.
Marie rotates the Squeezer on the table. The bottle eventually stops at...
You
"Okay, who's today's lucky lady," Marie boasts, giving the glass another revolution. The bottle looks like it's going to stop at Pearl, but after a quick burst of speed, the drink lands in Callie's direction. "Then it's decided, the two of you will enter the den together. Good luck, we'll be waiting here when you get back," Marie promises.
"Come on; that's total bullshrimp. The bottle was going to land in my direction," Pearl argues.
"I'm sorry, the decision is out of my hands. The fated Squeezer has spoken," Marie instructs, clapping her hands together.
Marie points you towards the entrance of the labyrinth. She then lends you a backpack and whispers a faint tip in your ear, "There's a walkie talkie in this bag, and the monsters and I are in cahoots. Were going to try to get you and Callie close together. Please communicate to me about your current progress.".
"Ugh, this is totally unfair," Pearl grumbles.
"Trust me, Pearl; the Squeezer is never wrong," Marie giggles, concealing a portable magnet from under the table.
You and Callie begin a cautious trek through the dimly lit maze. Callie also discloses an insightful claim as you pass through the maze's curtain entrance, "I'm not stupid Agent 4; this is all apart of Marie's elaborate scheme. I knew I shouldn't have let her organize a haunted maze."
• You make it known your happy that you can spend some alone time together.
You don't have to say that to cheer me up. I know you don't want to be here, I'm sorry for getting you sucked up into this mess.
• You communicate how grateful you are to make her company.
"Do you mean it? I'd scream at the top of my lungs if you were lying."
A killer clown pops out of the wall carrying a bloody ax.
"Not now, buddy, we're having a meaningful conversation," Callie explains to the formidable figure.
The walkie talkie buzzes with Marie's voice, "Dang, she's good. Don't worry; I'll tell the staff to kick it up a notch." Marie asserts.
As you venture deeper into the paper mache catacombs, more terrifying monsters resurrect from the depths. Leatherface chases you down the hall wielding a chainsaw, gargoyles, and demons get summoned through otherworldly portals, and spectral apparitions unleash multiple violent attacks.
Callie is entirely unphased by the monster assault, maintaining her chipper attitude.
You consult Marie after the confrontation, informing her she might have turned it up a bit too much.
"Is Callie cold-blooded or something? She has to be scared of something," Marie presumes.
The static was gradually growing in volume. You needed to stay vigilant, or one more scare could have devastating consequences.
You reach a segment with a painted cornfield. A hanging scarecrow also occupies the space. *Yawn* "I'm so sleepy," Callie mumbles. "Is it almost over? I've got work tomorrow. This haunted excursion isn't as scary as the rumors made it out to be. I'm not frightened by mummies, pirates, or ghouls. I guess I'm not really scared by anyth-
Is that a rat?" Callie shrieks and latches onto your body. "It looks so gross, get it away, please get it away from me," She sobs.
Marie chimes in on the intercom, "This wasn't planned, but just roll with it."
As Callie presses against your body, her bat wings wrap tightly around your torso. Some of the actors start chanting — "Kiss, kiss, kiss."
"This is all happening so fast, and I don't know what to say," Callie timidly admits.
• You assure her that a quick peck on the cheek can quell the masses.
"Okay, but stay still," She warns. Callie's lips slowly approach your face. Your heartbeat increases at a rapid rate. Even if it was a simulation, the sensation still invoked the same feeling of nervousness.
Suddenly, the scarecrow flings himself off of the post. You spin your head around in panic.
Callie presses her lips against yours. Her eyes widen, and she blushes profusely.
"I... I... I got to go," She hastens through the cobweb corridor, knocking down numerous zombies in her rampage.
Monster Mash starts playing, and confetti rains down from above. "YEAH, WE DID IT — time to celebrate," Marie says, popping open a bottle of champagne.
"Um, where's Callie?" Marie asks, utterly confused.
"Not again. Well, either way, excellent work, Agent 4. That was a lot of fun, even if the plan didn't go as smoothly as we intended it. Just wait till Christmas, mistletoe anyone."
"What are you going to cover a street with it"? Marina sarcastically remarks.
"If certain precautions need to be taken, I will happily oblique," Marie affirms.
"Your crazy Marie," Pearl notifies.
If three of them get along this well here, why is it so challenging for them in the present? Maybe Callie's death has made Marie much more jaded.
You remove the VR equipment and face the director.
"You have some... unique friends Agent 4. It's a shame that this was your last Halloween together. You have my condolences," C respectfully comments.
You rewind the vision to the moment you entered the door.
"That's not the password, but I'll give you a hint.
It's six letters long.
And it begins with a C."
Your still shell shocked from the password fiasco. The issue hit way too close to home. The two mysteries you'd been investigating-
Six-letter password
A name that begins with C
Maybe Callie slipped up. There's a possibility that she accidentally revealed her phone password. She did seem shaken up from the occurrence.
Think, six letters, begins with C...
Think, think, THINK.
Suddenly, a startling conclusion penetrates your psyche.
James
B
Cooper
You withdraw Callie's phone in a heated frenzy. The shaking from your fingers makes it hard for you to type the code correctly.
Come on, come on, almost there.
C - O - O - P - E - R
Enter