The gang gathered in Riland's garage, faces grim as they went over their plan one last time. Tom had been taken by Dr. Spookyman, his captor planning to use Tom as the final ingredient in his horrific ritual to revive the graveyard. They knew this was their last chance to save their friend and put an end to Dr. Spookyman's twisted scheme once and for all.
Armed with makeshift gadgets, flashlights, and the determination to rescue Tom, they set out as the autumn moon rose high above the haunted mansion. The shadows were longer, the air colder, and the silence more foreboding than before. The mansion loomed, and its dark windows seemed to watch them as they slipped inside and descended toward the basement.
Peering around the corner into the lab, they found Tom bound to a table, his eyes darting nervously as he spotted them. But their relief was cut short when they noticed Dr. Spookyman's back was turned to them, still busy arranging his sinister machinery.
"This is it, guys," Riland whispered. "While he's distracted, we sabotage the equipment and get Tom out."
They quietly scattered, each of them carefully unplugging wires, cutting connections, and loosening bolts. The machinery powered down in fits and starts, the room growing dimmer as each device went offline. But as they neared Tom, a door creaked from the far end of the lab. Dr. Spookyman emerged, holding a small, framed picture, his expression soft, almost gentle.
Before he could react to what they were doing, he saw them huddled around his machines, mid-sabotage. Rage twisted his face as he clutched the picture tightly.
"What...what do you think you're doing?" he hissed, his voice shaking with fury. "You're ruining everything!"
Riland, caught off guard by the sudden intensity in Dr. Spookyman's voice, glanced at the photo in his hand—a young girl, beaming with joy, her hair tied in pigtails.
"Is that...?" Riland hesitated, piecing things together. "Your daughter?"
Dr. Spookyman's face twisted, pain flashing in his eyes. "Give it back," he snarled, taking a step forward, reaching for the picture.
Riland held it tighter, stepping back. "Why are you doing this? Why do you want to bring back all these spirits?"
Dr. Spookyman's shoulders slumped, his fingers trembling as he looked at the photo. "She's all I have. My sweet little Amelia. She was taken from me too soon, and I'd do anything—anything—to see her smile again."
The gang shared uncertain looks. They could see the torment on his face, his tears glistening in the dim light as he clutched at the air, desperate for his daughter's memory.
"But bringing back all the dead, hurting people, endangering lives..." Cristena's voice softened, yet stayed firm. "It's not what your daughter would want, is it?"
"Don't pretend to know what she'd want!" Dr. Spookyman's voice broke. "She was my whole world, and she deserves to live again!"
Riland took a step closer, cautiously handing the photo back to him. "She deserves to be remembered, not surrounded by destruction. And we know that, deep down, you don't want to hurt anyone."
Dr. Spookyman's hand shook as he took the photo, cradling it as he dropped to his knees, clutching it to his chest. "I just...wanted her back..."
As the weight of his grief bore down on him, Dr. Spookyman sat there, shoulders heaving. The gang took their chance, rushing over to Tom and freeing him from the restraints. Tom let out a shaky breath of relief, looking back at Dr. Spookyman with a mix of pity and understanding.
"We're leaving now," Riland said gently, guiding Tom toward the door. "But you should know that you're not alone. Even if it hurts, you still have your memories of her."
Dr. Spookyman stayed silent, holding the picture close, eyes distant, lost in a memory that would never fade. The gang slipped out of the lab, their footsteps echoing softly as they left the haunted mansion behind.
As they returned home, each of them couldn't shake the bittersweet weight of what they'd just witnessed. They had stopped Dr. Spookyman's plans—but they had also seen the broken man beneath the villain, who just wanted to see his little girl one last time.
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Adventures with Friends Fanmade (HALLOWEEN! 44-48)
Adventure! ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY RJ ! In the quiet town of Oakside, four friends-James, Cristena, Jack, and Riland-embark on a series of extraordinary adventures that test their courage, creativity, and the strength of their bond. When a local bully named Gu...
