Chapter 35: Planning to Move

"Mom!" Thatch stood up, but he didn't run to her. He lingered where he was, and when Casper stood he quickly clutched the ghost's hand as he nervously watched the two adults. As much as he wanted to run into his mother's arms, he felt the obligation to stay beside Casper. The other students were rather rigid as well, watching the two adults.

"Everything is okay now," she spoke evenly as she looked up at Kibosh, who approved.

"Clementine Manora and I have changed the structure of the school. She told me HeadMaster is… outdated?" He glanced at her, and she only nodded calmly. "So now I'm a Principle, and she is the Vice Principal. She has many plans on making this school better… And on Friday this week Scare School will be moved to a different location." At this, gasps of enthusiasm erupted from the students. Moved, but where? The second Wolfie raised his hand to ask they continued on.

"My home is deep, deep in the mortal world, hidden away by a strong power. The castle is large and has more than enough space for you students," as Clementine spoke she opened her arms in a welcoming gesture. "With this, we will also stop preying upon the people of Deedstown. We have haunted and scared in that location too much, as seen by the monster hunter that has been trying to fight us off. Outside the forest where my home resides is another town, ready to be haunted after not seeing monsters for a very long time. A new school and new hunting grounds. Lessons will continue as normal, until the day of the move. On that day we will all help pack our belongings and school supplies, then we will leave Scare School as it is restored and refurbished, which is long overdue."

"She can't do that!" Dummy Girl yelled, and some hushed yet confused agreed mutters echoed. Clementine only smiled and let Kibosh move forward. She had no desire to talk to the little brat.

"She can and is because I asked her to. For years this school has needed a good to remodel, a little upgrade to assure you students have the best learning experience to scare fleshies!"

Clementine cleared her throat. "Humans…" She gently spoke. "He means humans… Students, when this school opened so many hundreds of years ago the founder's goal was to assure to distance monsters from the humans as much as they can. They wrote their own textbooks, trying to make humans seem as foreign and strange as possible, different from us. Kibosh and I had agreed long ago this was outdated and needed to be changed. I'll be providing new books about humans, and Kibosh has actually written his own book about how to scare humans much more effectively than your books do now. Your education will benefit from this change, and I'm sure a change in environment will broaden your minds… Plus, Kibosh has brought it to everyone's attention some of you are unlocking your true potential!"

"And with this, we'll need a new place. I doubt this building can handle any more chaos before the remodel." He muttered as he looked around the old cafeteria. "We are very lucky to have this opportunity. I've been asking Clementine for years to allow this. Now then… There is nothing else to discuss. I have work to do to settle these new plans. Clementine, mind answering any questions they have?"

"Of course, Kibosh." She replied loyally. Kibosh nodded and turned to leave when Dummy Girl stomped her foot. He stopped and hovered back, watching calmly to see how Clementine would handle this. Kibosh was a curious ghost, and clearled wondered how Clementine would react under pressure after years of isolation.

"Wait, what about Thatch and Casper! Being friendly isn't allowed!"

"Oh what an outdated idea!" Clementine actually laughed, a cruel and cold look briefly crossing her eyes before she masked it with mock amusement. "What a silly thing. Again, the founders wanted to assure monsters were scary, so they had some very harsh and dumb rules. As long as monsters are scaring humans and assuring the balance there is no need to be cruel to each other…. Now, it's the weekend. If any of you have homework, you should go." She spoke easily, but no one left. Clementine calmly looked at all the children, then nodded in understanding. "You all have questions… Very well," she decided and walked over to one of the lunch tables, carefully sitting down with her back to the table so she was still facing the students. "I will answer the ones I want to."

"Was Thatch's story true?" Wolfie piped up instantly, his tail wagging with excitement. Clementine gave the werewolf an odd look before she nodded.

"Yes, he was telling you how his father and I met."

"Will we meet Mr. Manora?" Quasi asked next. All the students were moving now, sitting before Clementine, except for Dummy Girl who didn't move from where she was standing, probably in shock at the turn of events.

Clementine paused at the question, a dark look covering her face. "... No, you won't. My husband died a long time ago…" Her eyes drifted off for a moment but was brought back to the present as Thatch went and sat on the bench right beside his mother. Clementine smiled, placing her arms around the vampire, holding him close. "And if you all are worried about favoritism, I assure you that won't be an issue. If anything I'll be harsher on Thatch than any of you."

"Mooom!" Thatch complained, but his mother just smiled and ignored his whining. "We have a lot to reteach you about humans. Course when we first change schools you will finish all your current units. I'll be talking with Dr. Burns about making you all retake the human unit with updated information." The students all groaned. Months of studying for nothing! "And," she continued easily, raising her hands ever so silently as she effortlessly shushed the students. "I'll be helping teach the unit since I'll also be showing Dr. Burns new teaching techniques that do not involve burning 'F's into the papers he disagrees with." As she spoke her eyes drifted over to Casper. Casper was utterly perplexed. He never told her about that. But the way Thatch avoided his eyes answered the ghost. Seems Thatch talked to his mom anytime and about anything.

"When we first arrive at my home we'll need to spruce it up a bit, but such a task is easy... Especially when a certain vampire discovers one of his powers." She almost cooed, resting a hand on Thatch's shoulder. As much as Thatch adored his mother, this was embarrassing. He covered his face and groaned, shrinking in on himself. Clementine seemed to have no issue bothering her child, course every parent does this. She then handed the photograph back to Thatch, humming. "This will do well in a scrapbook one day, best you two start making one. Also, Dummy Girl, until we change schools you are completely in charge of cleaning the incinerator and attic." She spoke coldly. "As punishment for littering the entire school and forcing the other students to clean up your mess."

"That isn't fair, Kibosh, s-sir?" She looked to the green ghost for help, but she got none...

"You best listen to the Vice Principal... Now then, I have work to attend to." He said easily. "I'll see you around," he spoke to Clementine as the ghost floated over briefly.

"I'll see you soon, Kibosh." She assured him as she stood up, giving him a gentle hug before Kibosh floated out. Casper was slack jawed, along with many students. She hugged Kibosh?

"Miss?" Mickey started calmly. "Can you like, tell us more stories?"

"Wait, finish the one Thatch started!" Monaco spoke up. "I adore love stories."

"Not now little ones." She gently spoke, softly laughing. "Please, we must enjoy our weekend. You should all study and clean up a bit. The week will go swiftly." She assured them as she got to her feet. Thach stood up right away, as if he was glued to her side. She didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Casper wanted Thatch to stay by him, but he had a feeling he should let the vampire be with his mother for a bit. So, the ghost floated over to Ra and Mantha with a tired, but content smile.

"This was… insane." Casper finally spoke. Mantha nodded, seeming a bit out of it in general. Ra looked at Casper, carefully studying him.

"Insane? That was kinda chaos… but fun." Ra decided in the end. "Now we get to see Thatch's place like you did."

"I wonder how far away it is…" Mantha softly muttered, her arms crossed across her chest. "And she said something about new books right? That sounds pretty cool to me."

"You just love books." Casper softly laughed. He was still in a bit of shock, but slowly relief was sweeping over him. The weight of his worry was listed off and casted aside. He had his friends, they were safe and everyone was allowed to be friendly now. What more could he asked for, honestly? A rough morning made perfect. "Let's go back to our room… I'm exhausted."

"Agreed."

"How are you two tired?" Mantha scolded. "There is so much to do if we're changing schools!" She tried to defend, but this was a losing fight and she could tell. So the zombie was willing to guide the two back to their dorms. "I'll keep looking for that key. I'm sure we'll find it," she commented as Ra climbed back into his nice cool stone 'bed'. The mummy only weakly let out a sound of agreement as he shut the lid. Mantha just smiled and looked to Casper who had flopped down on his own bed, holding the photo close. "Poor Ra must be so tired… He normally needs a lot of rest in the first place; a mummy thing I guess."

"Yeah," Casper tiredly noted. "Why do mummies get so tired while vampires are light sleepers? Why do you act normal despite being undead?" His mind was wondering despite his sluggish thoughts.

"Casper, that is a lot of questions I can't answer. Every monster is just different."

"Why doesn't Ra fall apart like you?"

"Because of his bandages, and when he died he was preserved in such a way to keep his body together." She said confidently. "Now then, aren't you tired? You were just whining about it." She teased. Casper faintly smiled and nodded as he snuggled into the pillow, letting Mantha pull the blanket over him.

"Thank you Mantha," he whispered. The zombie smiled fondly as she walked out, seeming to be in a pepper mood.