Clawdeen had been right: Autumn was the ideal flyer for the fearleading team. During the homecoming game halftime show, the scarecrow soared and weightlessly fell back into her teammate's arms. Autumn completed her routines without a scratch.
Later, Autumn had suggested skipping the homecoming dance. So Beatrix and Autumn had relaxed in their dorm and knitted like they used to do back on the farm. Beatrix relished the one-on-one time.
After homecoming, the leaves changed and Oregon grew colder and colder.
Now, as Halloween drew closer, Beatrix clutched her sides, bracing herself for another turn down the mountain.
The road from Monster High was so windy it made her stomach twist.
The MSS group was driving to New Salem—the closest human city—so Beatrix, Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson could practice blending into normie society.
By the end of the day, they had to submit a worksheet comparing monster social groups to human ones.
Beatrix didn't get why Bloodgood had given MSS permission to leave campus, since there was still a ban from leaving the premises on account of Gilda Goldstag's death.
Dozens of gargoyle security guards had been standing at the south exit, determined to not let the shuttle pass. However, they'd only needed to show a permission slip from Bloodgood to leave, and they were on their way.
Mr. Gore was in the driver's seat, driving at an excruciating pace, making every turn abrupt and violent, and Johannah "The Thing" Carpenter scrolled through her iCoffin, unbothered by the winding road.
Although Mr. Gore and Johannah were responsible chaperones, it didn't make sense why their group could leave the premises so easily.
Especially considering who their third chaperone was.
Grey had insisted on not taking the shuttle. Instead, he rode his motorcycle up ahead, its engine rumbling like thunder.
Grey wore black from head to toe and his black helmet hid his entire face. He maneuvered the bike effortlessly, gliding on every curve and bend at a steady pace, leading the shuttle down the mountain.
Grey was a student with a blatant disregard for rules, yet Bloodgood let him accompany them on the field trip.
Probably because of his influential dad.
Watching Grey weave his bike so quickly made Beatrix feel sicker.
"You're looking green," Jackson said beside her. "Uh, some witches have green skin, right? I didn't mean to insult your natural hue."
"Witches having green skin is a myth," Beatrix reassured.
Jackson overthought everything, but it made him endearing. The more Beatrix got to know him, the more he reminded her of Autumn. The scarecrow and human both took their studies seriously and were timid, and Beatrix naturally gravitated to him.
Jackson fiddled with a notebook in his lap. On one of the pages, he'd written "Frankie Stein" in a heart.
Beatrix's eyes darted away, not wanting to embarrass him.
With his meek nature, Beatrix didn't understand why he'd been forced to repeat another year of MSS. She guessed it was because he was clearly a human, making it difficult for him to assimilate into Monster High. During the first day of the seminar, he'd said he was half-human, half-creature—whatever that meant—but if Jackson really did have a monster side to him, he never showed it.
Mr. Gore slowed as they reached the base of the mountain.
Beatrix wiped cold sweat from her forehead. "Thank the hells, it's finally over."
Johannah turned to address everyone. "Alright, this is our first day trip to a human city center. As a reminder, we're visiting a history museum and getting dinner at a real human restaurant. I want everyone on their best behavior and to stay within ten paces of either me, Mr. Gore, or Grey at all times."
Orion groaned. "I was literally a human until last summer. Do I really need a babysitter to walk through a boring museum?"
"As a newly changed werewolf, you're in the most unpredictable stage of your metamorphosis. So, yes, you need a babysitter," Johannah said.
Guillermo snorted.
Orion nearly lunged at Guillermo. "Shut up. You're still a human. You should be the most annoyed by this."
"I'm usually in the company of vampires. A refresher on how to behave around humans is necessary," Guillermo said with a snooty air.
Mr. Gore pulled onto a highway that ran parallel to a long stretch of glistening ocean.
Grey rode his motorcycle just beyond Beatrix's window.
Despite not being able to see Grey's face under his helmet, Beatrix waved. He glanced over and nodded.
Since their conversation behind the gardening shed, Beatrix had made an effort to be friendlier to Grey, and things had become fairly peaceful between them.
Which made Beatrix nervous about what she was hiding in her cross-body satchel: a book titled, Merpeople: Enchanting Voices and the Sinking of Sailors.
She'd borrowed the book from the library after ruminating on what the spirit in the screamatorium had told her.
The spirit had said that pairing a monster technique with a witchcraft spell could replicate a monster's supernatural power.
Beatrix had borrowed the book purely out of curiosity. She didn't have any intention of practicing magic; She simply wanted to know whether the ghost's theory had any merit.
Even if a mermaid song could manipulate others the same way Operetta's singing could, Beatrix didn't know what spell would make it effective.
A witch—who was neither a phantom or mermaid—had no hope of copying a supernatural power without an extra boost.
Regardless, the mermaid book was a ticking time-bomb in her bag. If Grey discovered she was poking around in magic, he'd waste no time reporting her to Bloodgood.
"Curiosity killed that cat" was a saying Beatrix had heard growing up.
However, the whole saying was: "Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back."
Beatrix figured that investigating the ghost's claims would be worth the risk. She only wanted to learn more.
The shuttle came to a stop.
"Who's ready for some human activities?" Johannah asked cheerfully.
