𝓐𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻 (but you're Ashlyn) 𝕊𝔹𝔾

Episode 30

>>>>><Defense><<<<<

After a lot of convincing, we finally got everyone's parents' approval.

Aiden's parents took some time to think it over, partly because of Ben's past experiences with violence. My parents had to meet Logan's grandparents in person. Wow, his grandma has a serious death stare. The twins' parents were easier to convince; they just came by the next day and gave their okay.

Now, here we all were, practicing in the backyard. Tyler was on the ground after a particularly harsh kick from my dad. "Keep your legs in check," my dad instructed.

"Ouch..." I winced at the sight. Even after a month, my friends still took a beating. They were all scraped up.

I was holding my own okay. I wasn't new to fighting, since my parents had tried to teach me when I was younger, but I hadn't paid much attention back then. If it wasn't related to dance, it was hard for me to get excited about it.

Tyler sighed, accepting his defeat. "Your dad's brutal."
"No one in the real world is going to take it easy on us, so he's not going to either."

Just then, we heard a loud thud. "Actually... I might be more scared of your mom."

"Oomph- That might be it for today kids." My mom stretched before heading inside. 

Logan sighed in relief. "Safe." But as soon as he thought he was in the clear, he found himself in a chokehold from Mr. Banner. "Don't let your guard down."

When we were all gathered together, my mother made a kind offer. "You kids want to come inside and play some board games? I'll make sandwiches."
"We can't... we have to study for midterms."
"...Ah. Sorry to hear that. We'll just... uh, bring the sandwiches out to you then."

"Study hard!" Once they went inside, Aiden burst out laughing. "Haha, that midterms joke was great."
"It wasn't a joke, you idiot. They're next week..."

CLANK!-

I turn sharply at the sound of a weird clank, my heart skipping a beat. There shouldn't have been anyone else in the graveyard, but I know what I heard. I sit still for a second, straining to listen, and that's when it happens—a faint footstep, clear as day.

Okay, that was definitely something.

I get up slowly, trying not to spook myself any more than I already am, and take a look around. The cold air brushes against me as I scan the area.

Nothing.

No one's there... but I can't shake the feeling that something is.

"You got worked up over a crow?"
"It didn't sound like a crow, I thought it was a footstep."
"Maybe you just got it mixed up with your parents walking away?"
"Never mind, let's just finish setting up the traps."

We were back in the shadow realm, our matching black suits enveloping us in darkness. Aiden had insisted on the suits for the aesthetic, and now that the lights were finally installed, I couldn't help but groan in exhaustion. "We're finally done!"

The lights charge during the day in the real world and provide enough power for us at night. It was a great system in theory, but it had a downside: it attracted the creatures and revealed just how many there were.

Dammit—

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