Solangelo One Shots

Trick or Treating

Will's POVu

I looked myself up and down. Chiron was letting us all out to trick or treat for one night, and the Hecate Cabin had cast spells on all of us so that we all looked like we were ten. I had been transformed back into my ten year old self. My bangs were shaggy and in my eyes, and my chubby hands clenched onto the orange pumpkin candy basket I was holding. I glanced at Nico. He was about a foot shorter, his hair wasn't hanging in his eyes anymore and his eyes seemed brighter and didn't seem to hold as much pain. 

"You were a cute ten year old," I noted. I winced at how high pitched my voice sounded. I had forgotten that my voice hadn't yet changed. Nico grunted. 

"Laugh all you want, but remember, the magic will wear off in a few hours." I shrugged. 

"Well, I can laugh at ten- year old you as much as I want until then. Anyway, we should get going. New York does Halloween like no where else." I grabbed him by his hand and started to drag him toward the exit of camp, where other excited campers were already flooding out of. 

I, like most year - round campers, hadn't been trick- or- treating in years. Some, like Nico, had never been at all. So, after a month and a half of begging, Chiron was letting us out for one night, as long as we brought weaponry that fit in with our costumes. So, I was dressed up as Robin Hood, with my favorite bow and quiver of arrows slung across my back and Nico was a knight, with his black stygian iron sword hanging in a holster at his waist. I could only hope that no one would notice how sharp the blades were. 

We climbed into the camp van with the other campers. There weren't that many who stayed year- round, maybe about fifty, so we could all squeeze into the van. Argus climbed into the front, and started to shuttle us to the city. After all, that was where all the good candy was. As we drove, excited chattering issued from campers around us. I could tell they were all excited. Some, who had once lived in the city, were advising some people on where to go, like the houses that handed out full sized bars or bags of candy. They also knew all the houses to avoid, like the ones who gave out pencils or dental floss. i listened closely, having never trick- or - treated in the city. I wanted this to be good. After all, who knew when I'd get another chance?

We were driving past tall skyscrapers and hoards of people wearing strange costumes. Music blasted through the streets, and candy littered the ground. Argus kept driving, seeming to avoid all of the worst traffic. He was under strict orders from Chiron to drop us off in Times Square. That was also where we'd be picked up. Ten o'clock, no later. 

The bus screeched to a halt. The doors slid open, and everyone started to unload, splitting off into their respective groups. Nico and I stood side by side, gazing in awe at the tall buildings towering above us. Finally, Nico spoke. 

"So, where do you want to go first?" I shrugged, looking around. All around me, young children, some with parents and some without, were knocking on doors to seemingly every building imaginable. They were handed a few pieces of candy, and went on to the next building looking considerably more happy. I spotted a restaurant lavishly decorated with pumpkin lights and window clings. 

"How about that one?" I suggested. Nico nodded, and we headed over. When wee got there, two unfamiliar kids were just leaving. One was a young fairy princess, about six, with wings attached to her back and her blond hair piled into a high bun on her head. The other one was older, maybe fifteen. She wore white face powder, a ripped white dress and with makeup had done what looked like a cut mark on her throat. She gave us a warm smile and then lead the young girl off to another house. We approached the restaurant and gave the man with the candy bucket a grin. 

"Trick- or treat!" we said in unison. 

"Lovely costumes," the man said as he dropped two fun sized snickers bars into the white pillowcases that we both carried. We walked away, peering into our pillowcases. 

"So, is that it?" Nico asked. "Strangers just hand you candy? Don't your parents tell you not to take candy from strangers?" 

"Usually, but it's a little different tonight," I laughed. "It started a long time ago, because of some superstition, and now we just do it. Besides, the younger kids love it." Nico nodded thoughtfully. 

"Well then, I guess we'd better get going." 

We had been trick- or- treating for about an hour and a half now. I checked the watch that Chiron had made everyone wear before they left. It was eight- thirty, so we still had an hour and a half. I stopped for a minute to take in our surroundings. We had left Times Square, and we had traveled into a quieter banking district. People milled around, mostly younger kids with parents. The loud music had died down, leaving just the honks of cars in the distance. We sat down on the curb to take a break. Nico cracked open a bottle of water he had gotten somewhere along the road, taking a long sip. He handed me the bottle, and I took a grateful sip, letting the cool liquid wash down my throat. I fished a Reese's out of my bag, taking a thoughtful bite. When I was finished, I put my wrapper in my pillow case and stood up. 

"come on," I said. "I've heard that this strip has some pretty good candy." Nico carefully wrapped up his lollipop, saving it for later, and followed me to the first building. 

"Trick- or- treat!" the door opened, and a tall, slightly balding man was standing in front of me.

"Here you go, kids," he said, reaching into the orange bowl he was holding. He pulled out two full sized Hershey bars from the bowl and dropped one in each of our pillowcases. 

"Have a nice night!" he said, ignorant to the shocked and grateful looks on both of our faces. 

"T- thank you, sir!" Nico stuttered out before we sprinted away. When we were out of sight from the building, we high- fived. 

"Full bars!" I grinned. 

"You were right about this street," Nico said. "I wonder what'll be on the rest of it." 

"Let's find out." We sprinted toward the next building. 

I checked my watch. 

"Nico, it's nine fifty." Nico jumped up from where he was sitting, gnawing on a smartie. 

"What? We were barely out here!" I shook my head. 

"It seems that way, but even I can tell." Sure enough, my voice was beginning to change. 

"Well, we have to go then!" Nico started to sprint in the direction of Times Square, and I started to follow. 

We got on the bus one minute to ten. My robin hood outfit, which had previously been so loose on me, was now stretched to the limit. Nico and I slid into the very back seats, now our normal ages. The van started to rumble back in the direction of camp. 

"Well, that was fun," Nico said, picking up his candy bag. "I got a lot." 

"Well, you haven't even experienced the best part," I grinned, my eyes twinkling. Nico's brow furrowed. 

"I thought trick- or- treating was over." 

"Oh, it is, but now we do candy trading. What would you trade for a twizzler?" 

Hey, sorry if that was sucky, but I got it up! Anyway, really hope you liked it. 

Nina