The Miracle Clinic

S2 Chapter 33 - The West Side (2)

The August Leaves Mall is a place with a historic past.

In the 90s and early 2000s it was a shining pillar of the community over in the west side of town. If there was any form of shopping to be done, it would be there. Everyone went there at least a few times a month whether it was the elderly out for a jog, young kids messing around in the playplaces, or teens vandalizing the stores. Those that were around in its glory days always thought it was going to be around forever.

It closed down permanently in 2006.

A mix of the opening of the more modern and flashy Starlight City's Central Mall, the August Leaves Mall increasing the prices to rent out spaces each to a ridiculous amount, and the deteriorating infrastructure of The West Side caused the pillar of the community to now be nothing more than a memory.

It still remains to this day though but clearly as a shell of its former self.

Everything reeks of a bygone more simpler era that was dulled and drained of life by the passage of time. Dust and cobwebs cover both of its floors, all of the machinery have long since been deactivated, and the large 30 foot statue of the mall's original owner broke towards the bottom and has toppled over long ago.

However despite the deteriorated state it's in, life has once again found its way inside the mall as at least for tonight it's bustling with hundreds of people. It's The Massachusetts Boys' annual costume halloween party, and practically every member – save for the two highest ranking ones – are all gathered to celebrate the festivities.

Though it isn't just The Massachusetts Boys here at the party.

Spread out all across the mall are members of the miracle clinic, Hunter, Christopher, The Three Ts, & two members of Dirty Fang. All of which are wearing disguises.

On the second floor of the mall is a group of four – Elizabeth who's in a clown mask, Ronnie with a grim reaper mask, Blanko in his phantom of the opera mask, & Tim-Tom who has clown makeup & hair on.

"So, why are we up here in the first place?" Elizabeth asks.

"Well, all hell is gonna break loose as soon as they know we're here," Tim-Tom remarks, "So while we're still undercover, we should look for that photograph."

"Yeah but, who are we gonna ask about it?" Blanko questions.

"Well how 'bout that guy?" Ronnie says as he points to one of the few people up on the second floor.

The person there is the third-in-command, Cambridge, who's wearing his baseball costume. When Cambridge spots them, he begins to walk over to them.

"Hey there man, you know if we can find-" Ronnie tries to say before he feels Cambridge place his hand on his shoulder.

"Hey buddy," Cambridge remarks, "You all seem a bit lost. Party's downstairs."

"Really? No clue," Blanko blurts out, "You know how to get down from here?"

Ronnie, Tim-Tom, & Elizabeth glare at Blanko while Cambridge looks at them confused.

"Then how'd you get up here?" Cambridge questions, "And I don't recall seeing you guys around before."

"Oh- uh- well," Blanko stammers as he thinks a way out of this.

"Forgive my friend, he's still a bit dizzy from bobbing for apples for so long," Tim-Tom laughs casually, "We told him to stop but he kept on bobbing and bobbing and bobbing. You really should've seen it."

Cambridge raises an eyebrow.

"We're also in costumes," Ronnie points out, "We don't normally dress like this."