A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 129: Faun's 'Halloween!'

Halloween comes a day early, and the Halloween Festival is in full swing. This is my first time seeing it in action, really, but according to John and Nine, it's supposed to take up the whole day, thanks to the festivities that Nine prepared: stupid games, pranks, concerts, talent shows, and then some. When that's done, there's an afterparty.

I doubt I'll be out here for the entirety of HGA Halloween; I'm already tired as is, and it's nowhere near sunset. Pixie bounds along as my alien boy and I walk about the courtyard. I'm dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, though now that we're surrounded by students and staff, I kind of wish I took bae's offer to wear one of his hoodies on top. My stomach's gotten bigger than it was, and I'm not sure if that's because of Little Maybe or if I ate too much. I don't think I ate a lot today, but the idea that it's her makes me want to shudder, however hard I try not to.

"Are you cold?" bae asks, slinking an arm around me, and I realize then that I have goosebumps.

"Maybe a little."

"I asked if you wanted to borrow my sweater," he reminds me, as if I've forgotten. "Do you want me to tel. and grab it for you?"

"I didn't think I needed it then," I say, "but ok, sure. Thanks."

He disappears in the blink of an eye, and as soon as he's gone, not only do I feel a chill navigate its way up my spine, but a hardy clap meets me there too. "Hey, Em," Nine shouts. "Good to see you out here. I didn't think you'd join in on the day's festivities."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I don't know," he slurs, looking from me to my stomach and back again. "I figured with the, erm, the baby and all... you might have other things to do. Hey, so, girl or boy? You know?"

"Girl," I tell him. "Malcolm's keeping us updated on her."

"Cool," he says, seemingly paying it less attention than his students wandering about. "You enjoying yourself so far? Where'd John teleport off to?"

"He left to get me a sweater," I utter. "And yeah. Yeah, I am. You really went all out."

"This? Trust me; this is nothing," he claims. "You should've seen last year. We transformed the whole admin building into a haunted house. I even got a good scare out of some of my students in my office. It was hilarious!" He breaks a second, reaching over for a corn on the cob. "Couldn't do that this year though," he goes on after his first bite. "Archie says it's a safety issue."

"Really? Isn't everything though?"

"Exactly! I told him that! But he made a good case, I guess. You know, when kids get scared—'specially superpowered kids—you don't know what they'll do. So Amar almost lit a wall on fire, but other than that, what are the odds, right?"

"In a Halloween Haunted House? I think the chances increase exponentially," I joke.

"Wow... real nerdy of you, Em," Nine rebukes. "'Exponentially.' Whatever. Anyway, are you gonna get your moves on tonight? I'd die to see you take Johnny for a spin on the dance floor; bet he would too. I mean, I know you can't have any alcohol or anything, but grab a Coke! Get your face painted! Have some fun and loosen up!"

I shrug. "Face painting isn't really my thing, and dancing in front of so many people..."

He jostles into me, looping an arm round my shoulders to lead me to a station where Dr. Linda sits with a tray of paints. "Aw, come on, Em!" He sits me down on the stool in front of her and a sudden rush of heat floods into my cheeks. "It'll be fine! Get a ghost or something; it'll be cute on you—and it'll drive Johnny wild. Eh, Linda? Make it look good, yeah? I'll be back in fifteen."