Chapter 10: Fly on the Wall

TRIGGER WARNING: INSECTS, CULTS

The air fell silent for a moment around the four students of Spooky Academy. Zoe and Scott stood mouth agape, and Tristo held a look of profound confusion on his face. He was the first to break the silence.

"Wait, how did you just have my DNA on file?" Tristo asked, looking at Calculester pointedly.

"That is irrelevant." Calculester remarked, with a bright smile on his screen.

"It was Vera." Tristo remarked, seemingly not processing the magnitude of what was said. Zoe on the other hand was blushing.

"So, wait… is this like… our kid from the future?" Zoe said, raising her tentacle up to cover her mouth. Tristo turned, almost reaching up for another facepalm. Calculester's systems begin to initialize.

"Proceeding with the second directive." Calculester stated, as several flamethrowers eradicated the fly inside his chest. Zoe fell to her knees dramatically.

"No! Zoe Jr.!" She cried, covering her face. Scott also fell to his knees next to her.

"This world is so cruel." Scott sobbed, digging his hands into the looked at the both of them with surprise. He let out a sigh and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder.

"Zoe, I don't think the fly was our kid. It's okay." Tristo said, attempting to quell her sorrow.

"I know it's just… what if that's why it looked at you so much… what if it was missing its dad?"

"Zoe you're gonna make me emotional and suffer existential dread for a fly child that neither of us bore. Let's hear what Calculester has to say before we freak out about that part."

"That neither of us bore yet…"

Scott continued to look dramatically into the sky and scream, as Zoe and Tristo looked to Calculester. Tristo did his best to comfort the still sniffling Zoe, as smoke billowed from Calculester's chest.

"So Cal… What does that mean exactly?" Tristo asked, hoping for some explanation for what was happening.

"Unknown. There are many reasons why this may be the case. But this creature was man-made, it was not born. There are signs of genetic manipulation. Statistics would suggest any child either of you created would most likely be humanoid."

Zoe and Tristo both let out a sigh of relief at that news. It was not their child from the future. Still, why it was here now and who sent it was a mystery. Calculester turned back to working on his arbor as the two contemplated.

"If you would not mind, I need to get back to my previous task. Please take Scott with you when you go." Calculester concluded. Zoe and Tristo gave each other a quick nod, before they both wrapped an arm around Scott and began dragging him from the greenhouses. It wasn't long after that Scott's attention span led him to go investigate the dastardly squirrels around the campus. Tristo and Zoe sat in contemplation on an outdoor bench, trying to figure out where they could go next. Tristo knew one place on campus that may have some answers, but was afraid of taking Zoe there.

"Zoe. Is there any chance you let me go investigate a part of Spooky Academy alone?"

"Not at all, but why? You're afraid my brain is gonna be fried or something?"

"A little yeah. I don't want to hide anything from you, but I just worry." Tristo explained, rubbing his hands nervously. Zoe gave him a soft smile and wrapped her tentacle around both of his hands.

"You're sweet Tristo. Look, just tell me where you're going, and I'll let you investigate first. I'll wait here, but if you're gone longer than ten minutes, then I'm barging in." Zoe bartered, giving him a serious look. Tristo nodded.

"I'm going to the cafeteria. I will try not to take longer than ten minutes, and whatever I find I will report back to you."

"You better."

Zoe slowly released his hands, and watched as Tristo made his way over to the cafeteria of Spooky Academy. They kept the buildings unlocked for any of the nocturnal students who needed to use the school and do their night classes, so getting in was easy enough. As Tristo made his way inside to the main dining area, he turned to the wall that he knew to be the fourth wall. In the original Monster Prom, there was an ending you could get to find the Narrator. If the Narrator was here, then Tristo could get them to point him in the right direction. Approaching the fourth wall, Tristo reached forward to place his hands on it.

As he placed his hands upon the fourth wall, it was as if he had touched nothing at all. The illusion of the wall fell as Tristo walked straight through. He expected to find the Narrator inside, but the room was empty. Cobwebs lined the corners, and there were empty crates spread all around. Tristo moved around to examine the small storage room with more scrutiny, when he found something interesting. There was a small circular platform, no wider than a couple of feet in diameter. It looked like a lamp that you could stand on, with bulbs lining the inside.

This wasn't a horror movie however, Tristo knew not to stand on whatever this thing was on his own. He began to turn when he was shoved forward. He took a tumble but managed to catch his hands on the other side of the device. Now he was arched over the device, straining not to touch it with any part of his body. The figure behind him let out a small chuckle. The voice was feminine, and one that Tristo recognized immediately.

"Couldn't make this easy for me by falling into the disintegrator, huh monster?!" The voice chided. Tristo rolled himself away from the device and turned to face his assailant. The sight did not surprise him, as who is likely the most dangerous student at Spooky Academy stood before him. Aaravi Mishra, better known as the Slayer, stood in her red-cloaked huntress attire. Her bright green eyes had a subtle glow to them in the dark room, and she slowly unsheathed her blade from her side. Tristo struggled to his feet, putting his back to the wall as Aaravi stepped forward. The tip of her sword placed firmly to his chest, drawing a bit of blood.

"I have been watching you, Tristo. If that is your real name." Aaravi growled, studying his face as her eyes narrowed. Tristo winced at the pain, but did his best to remain calm as this facedown continued.

"Aaravi please. I'm not a threat. Do you really think monsters are evil?"

"No, in fact some of these monsters are my friends. But you're something else entirely aren't you, you even knew my name. The familiarity with which you used it disgusts me." Aaravi said, her voice becoming angrier.

Goddamnit I need to watch my mouth.

"Sorry, I'll call you the Slayer if you want. Please just put your sword down and let's talk this out!"

"I am merciful. I will give you one chance to explain yourself. Do it quickly."

"So I am a full human. I'm just from another world outside this one. Don't ask me how I got here, I'm still trying to figure out the logistics myself."

"Tell me what you're after then!"

"I don't know! I'm just trying to find a way home I guess!"

Aaravi brings the blade up higher to his throat now, and Tristo froze, beginning to stammer to himself a bit.

"I need a little bit more than that if I'm going to let you go."

"I don't know! I'm starting to like it here, I guess! I like Zoe a lot! The Oberlin family taking me in has made me feel more at home than I ever have! I really want to go to prom with Zoe!" Tristo said, beginning to break down. Aaravi gave him a confused look, lowering her sword with a sigh.

"Oh, quit sniffling. I don't know what she sees in you, you're pathetic." Aaravi said, taking the moment to sheath her weapon. Tristo slipped to the floor, catching his breath from the anxiety attack that began to overtake him. Aaravi crossed her arms, and looked down at him pitifully.

"Alright sorry. I maybe was a bit too hasty in my assessment. I thought for sure you were a maniacal sorcerer or something. Do you need, I don't know, like a glass of water?"

"No… that's okay." Tristo mumbled, he clutched his knees and continued to try and catch his breath. Aaravi groaned, and reached into her pack. She lit a torch with some sort of magical means, and the room filled with a spectral green light. As she did this, her cursed necklace sprang to life. Green smoke billowed from the necklace, forming into a vaguely humanoid shape. Their limbs stretched out in a lax manner, with a face not unlike a mask. This was the spirit of the amulet, Hex, making their way out with a long yawn. Hex looked immediately amused by the situation that unfolded before them and lifted an eyebrow at Aaravi.

"Aaravi, did I come out at a bad time or…" Hex asked, insinuating something that left Aaravi's mouth agape.

"No that's not-" Aaravi started but was cut off once again by Hex. Hex floated over to Tristo, getting into his personal space and inspecting him.

"Now hold on a minute, I know this guy."

"You do?" Aaravi asked, annoyed at Hex's nature. "Well you could have saved me a lot of trouble, you know. What's the point in a cursed amulet if it has no benefits!"

"C'mon Aaravi you love me. Anyway, I remember it like it was a week ago."

Approximately one week ago…

Hex floated through the empty halls of Spooky Academy, making their way to the cafeteria. Becoming thinner and thinner as their tether to Aaravi strained. But just as Hex had predicted, their link was strong enough to make it to the cafeteria kitchen from their hideaway. As Hex reached up into a cabinet, grabbing a bag of chips, they heard a noise. A clattering of utensils, as the terrified and dirty Tristo from the week prior attempted to hide from the spirit. Having failed spectacularly, Hex floated over, holding out the bag to Tristo.

"Could I interest you in a chip?"

Tristo looked up, skeptically taking a singular chip. Hex gives him a sly smile, and subtle nod.

"Neither of us saw each other here, right?"

Tristo nodded quietly, still looking a bit fearful as Hex meandered away. Happily eating chips and humming as they returned to Aaravi.

Back in the Present…

"You're looking good dude! Much better than the rat living in the walls vibe you were giving." Hex said, as Aaravi crossed her arms. Tristo collected himself and stood back up.

"Thanks, I guess."

"Are you gonna tell him what you told me Aaravi?" Hex asked, turning away from Tristo. Based on Aaravi's reaction to the question, Tristo could tell Hex was teasing her. Aaravi grumbled, before making her way to say something in response. As she did suddenly she swore, and casted her hand around her face. There was a fly buzzing close to her.

"Aaravi look out!" Tristo jumps up, putting himself between her and the fly. The fly floats in front of Tristo quizzically, like a dog with its head tilted. Aaravi stepped back, annoyed.

"It's just a fruit fly." Aaravi grumbled.

"It isn't, I promise you that." Tristo stated, the fear already laden in his voice. He knew immediately from the look it gave him that it was just like the fly from before. It darted forward and Tristo took a swing at the creature, it dodged, using its momentum to fly up towards Aaravi's nose. Hex swung the billowing green smoke that was their arm around, slinging the insect away.

"Sorry little creature. I'm the only one that gets to possess this transportation, you find another vessel." Hex said, adding more to Aaravi's annoyance. Seeing no other option the fly darted towards Tristo. He couldn't cover his nose faster than the fly could move. Tristo was preparing for the worst, when a sudden familiar snap of movement was heard. Through the fourth wall was Zoe's head and tentacle as she just barely managed to snatch the fly before it reached Tristo's face. It buzzed but was caught by its lower half and could not squeeze from the constricting tentacle. Tristo let out a soft smile to his savior, and Zoe walked fully through keeping the fly in place as she approached.

"It's been ten minutes." Zoe said, looking at the predicament before her. "Good thing you lit that torch Aaravi, the ominous green glow from behind this wall helped me get her in time."

"That was a really close call." Tristo replied, watching the fly buzz helplessly. Aaravi still looked puzzled by the encounter but decided to go with it. Hex moved their mask very close to the fly and narrowed their eyes on the small creature.

"You recognize that thing Hex?" Aaravi asked, and Hex actually seemed to get serious for a moment.

"Yeah, this is a blast from the past. Classic brain bug, something the Cult of Z-" Hex stopped themself. "Zoe's old cult used to use it. Way back in the day. I was still a fresh curse back then." Hex remarked, making sure not to use Zoe's deadname. Aaravi stared at it with a disgusted look and then turned to Tristo with a softer expression.

"Sorry for doubting you Tristo, thanks for jumping in there." Aaravi said, walking up and slapping his shoulder.

"I didn't really do much Aaravi, but you're welcome. We really need to kill this thing though. Which I don't like saying, because I think insects are an important part of the ecosystem, but it is actively attacking us." He replied. Aaravi turned to Hex, giving them a look. Hex nodded silently to her, and Aaravi reached onto her back for a different sheathed longsword. This one ignited with a purple flame around the blade, and made the blade at the center look almost as if it were wobbling. She turned to Zoe, and readied her blade.

"Throw it towards the disintegrator, I'll slash it so if the sword doesn't kill it, the disintegrator will." Aaravi instructed, pointing towards the disc-like platform on the floor. Zoe nodded and readied her tentacle, reeling back and throwing it that way, with expert precision Aaravi lived up to the title of the Slayer. With two broad swings that caused Tristo to duck, she slashed the small creature in a downward arc, and the disintegrator lit up like a back porch bug zapper. Everyone in the room let out a small sigh of relief and turned to each other. Zoe had an upset look to her face, a mix of annoyance and something sadder. Tristo made his way over immediately, understanding why mention of her old cult would make her upset.

"You alright Zoe?"

"I just knew it would have something to do with them! I thought they had been dealt with for good, but now they're back!" Zoe yelled, her eyes glowing red for a moment. "I'm going to kill all of them this time!" She continued, snarling and ranting in anger. Tristo hesitated at first, but then grabbed Zoe's hand. He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, firmly but not aggressively. He could feel an energy, almost like heat radiating from her that caused him immediate discomfort, but he could tell it was helping her. The snarling began to falter into whimpers. As her eyes began to go back to their normal green, Tristo pushed through the heat and pulled Zoe into a hug. The snarling died down completely into a soft cry, and Zoe pressed her forehead into his chest.

"It's like Human and the Horror." Hex said, tears manifesting at the eyes of their mask-like face. Aaravi rolled her eyes, shrugging off a small tinge of jealousy. Zoe began to mumble an apology and Tristo looked down at her softly.

"It's okay to be angry, you don't have to apologize for anything." Tristo said, wiping away a tear from Zoe's eye in the center of her tentacle hair.

"I know, I just hate for you to see me act like I used to."

"We all have our baggage Zoe, but we aren't the same people we used to be at any given moment. I changed a lot from my early teens. There's a lot of regrets I have from back then, and still those thoughts catch up to me. Even if I don't believe them."

"How do you deal with any bad things you did before?"

"I just try to do everything in my power to make sure they don't happen again. I figure that has to make up for anything bad that I've done. I also help others when I can, I find it helps with any guilt knowing I've made someone else's day." Tristo replied, taking her hand and tentacle.

"I feel like I mainly just live for myself though."

"That isn't true, think about how happy you made Scott earlier, and out of anyone think about what you've done for me. In the past few days, you've helped me come into my own in this world. You eased me out of a panic attack yesterday, and have saved my life countless times. I know I'm just one person, but sometimes helping one person is enough, even if that person is yourself." Tristo explained, looking at Zoe with a soft smile. She returned the look, and gripped his hands tightly.

"Y'know Tristo, Gerard was right about you being a pretty good somewhat-therapist."

"Again, I don't really like being called a-"

Zoe jumped up and pecked his cheek, interrupting him. He rubbed his cheek with a sheepish grin. Hex made an active fangirl-esque scream, while Aaravi mirrored barfing. The two lovebirds turned, looking a bit embarrassed as they realized how not alone they were. Aaravi made sure all her weapons were sheathed and turned to Zoe.

"I don't know what's going on with all this brain bug and cult stuff, but if you both need the aid of the Slayer… you have my number Zoe." Aaravi said, winking at the two of them before diving through the fourth wall. The two turned to look at each other, and began to walk out of the dusty old room, hand in tentacle.