Lavender - A Spooky Month AU Fanfiction.

Tender Treats - Part 4

The two ran beneath the dark sky—passing by streetlights, and letting their small feet slam against the several leaves that were laying across the concrete. They giggled—bags being dragged behind them as they ran in a frantic manner.

"What—eheh.." Pump giggled, "What can we do now?"

"Heheh.. oh! We can go to Kevin's candy store and see if anyone else can give us candy!"

"Oh, yes—! Let's do that!"

They began to increase their pace, trying to run as quickly as they possibly could. The night winds blew against their skin as their little feet carried them, but before they could stop they were met by their faces being firmly slammed against by.. something. The two feel back, grunting slightly.

And then as they barely heard a voice speak up, their lips came to a smile yet again.

"Hahah—hey, kids!"

It was Mr. Frank! He grinned down at them, seemingly wearing black sunglasses for.. whatever reason. Along with a blue button-up shirt with yellow floral patterns made on it.

"Hi, Mr. Frank!" Pump greeted, standing up with a tilt of his head, "Can you take us to the candy store?"

"Hah!" Frank gave a chuckle, shaking his head. "Nah. Sorry, kids. I am on vacation."

He then turned around as they watched—minor confusion entering their eyes as he walked off. If he was on vacation, why was he still here in this town? Didn't he live here?

The only thing they could do was look at eachother, and shrug.

————

Rick stood at the counter, drumming his fingers against the cold surface of it as his eyes stared ahead at the yellow entrance. Why was he stuck here of all nights alone? He didn't even feel like doing any work, but he had to so he could at least keep some money on him. And even worse, Kevin wasn't here at all. He gave a sigh, letting his shoulders rise and fall with his breath. It wasn't as if things could get anymore boring around here.

And then, a person walked in.

It was a woman—her hair curly and brown, cascading to her back like a river. Her eyes were half-lidded, and her lashes were incredibly long. She was wearing some strange yellow necklace around her neck, along with some brownish red dress, and some black high heels that made clacks against the tiled floor as she walked. She glanced around the store—her lips curled into a haughty frown.

Rick raised a brow, and spoke, "..hey. What would you—"

"Hush."

"..."

..this woman was already kind of annoying.

Rick began to furrow his brows, his body tensing. He already wanted this woman to leave. Just so this job wouldn't be even more hard to deal with than usual. Even her haughty, overly arrogant tone of voice made him want to yell at her to leave.

She turned her back, letting her hand run through the back of her long hair. Flipping her long curls, she said, "Hm.. get me two of everything. And be sure to double it." 

"..okay." Rick replied, walking over to the nearest row of items behind him on the shelf.

"And hurry up!"

"..mm.."

Restraining himself from marching out of the store or pushing her out of the store forcefully right then and there, Rick pulled out a bag, and began to stuff it with all sorts of candies.

...

After a few minutes of collecting and tense silence, Rick had managed to gather two of everything, and the woman left. She didn't even give him that much—only a few dollars. She could have given him more, considering she was rich enough to apparently buy two of everything. But she didn't.

Rick gave a groan as she left. Yet after a few seconds, the doors opened again, with two small kids entering the store.

And.. they were familiar small kids. One in a skeleton costume, one in a pumpkin costume of shorter height.

Oh.. right. He knew them.

"Hi, Mr. Rick!" The kid in the skeleton costume said with a cheerful voice as he practically waltzed up to the counter.

"Can we have free candy cans?" The kid in the pumpkin costume asked, shuffling beside the other kid in the skeleton costume.

Rick paused. "..sure."

"Yay!" They both cheered.

Rick began to turn around, shuffling his arms downward as he reached for the candy cans that were already there behind the table. But he.. could have sworn he noticed something—a red figure standing outside the window with big eyes, and a wide grin. It was a man in a red mask, pressing his Shar hands to the glass of the window.

Rick raised a brow, and slowly handed the candy cans over to the kids without breaking eye contact.

"Thank you, Mr. Rick!" They both said at the same time, but their voices faded as they turned around. Seemingly, they saw the red man outside of the window as well. He was just.. standing there silently. His eyes appeared to widened as he noticed them looking at him. He gave a slow tilt of his head, vanishing into the shadows for a few moments.

Then, the doors slid open.

The man was now there in the doorframe—wiggling his fingers as he held something long and sharp in his other hand. A shiny, grey blade that looked sharp enough to stab into someone's organs. Rick looked at him, giving a sigh as he stepped around the counter.

Walking over to the kids, he scooped them up into his arms, speaking quietly as he turned back around. "..I quit."

He didn't even turn to look back at the man, wondering over to the door, and opening it—slamming it shut as he finally went inside.

...

The man laughed—oh, they wouldn't escape from him that easily. He wouldn't let them. He began to wonder foward, his footsteps echoing through the store. Exhaling, inhaling, he giggled—and..

"Agh—!"

He gave a grunt—feeling his feet trip over a random candy that had for some reason been laying on the floor. He quickly caught himself, but he felt a piercing pain slice across his arm while his hand holding the blade moved foward. Shit—it hurt! It was like a burning line of fire had seared his arm. As he looked over to it, he realized that while he had tripped, the blade must have accidentally sliced into his arm.

He grunted in minor agony. He.. he couldn't let himself bleed out, even if it was from his arm. He'd have to continue the chase when he managed to actually heal himself.

He grunted, letting his hand hold onto his arm to prevent any more bleeding that was already seeping out onto his red sweater. It looked as if it had just been part of the sweater with how red it was. Feeling exhaustion and nausea quake, he turned around, and wondered slowly back over to the exit.