Halloween

Chapter 7

        "Oh, come on! Only like ten people even go to this school, and yet somehow we can't find a single ghost?" Gabby spoke with discontent.

"Seriously, this is getting ridiculous," Victoria added.

A tsk escaped from Rune's mouth. "Ridiculously hilarious! Man, am I gonna laugh when the rest of this unfolds."

"You act like you're safe from Arian or Celine's wrath," Amyx interjected, almost dragging his feet as the group continued to walk around in their search. "We all know you're like, the easiest target out of all of us. I wouldn't be surprised if they put you back in those earrings after a stunt like this," he snickered.

"What? For once, I actually didn't do anything!" Rune scoffed. Amyx just shrugged in reply.

At the head of the group, Katy came to a screeching halt as they circled back around to the cafeteria door. A muffled voice could be heard through the doors, speaking over a microphone. She dashed over and swung the door open to see Joel, standing on the stage with a decently crowded pavillion below.

He was awkwardly stood in solitude, squinting at some notes on a small piece of paper. His costume was, in a highly appropriate manner, a silver garbage can. He wore the lid on his head as a hat. "Alright, so, in like, ten minutes is the costume contest, which I'm obviously gonna win," he joked, glancing up for approval. He was met with silence. "Alright, tough crowd. Anyway, then we're gonna wrap things up with a..." He paused to examine the note closer. "Stellar performance by Mutiny Matrimony. Whatever that word means," he sighed. "I don't know guys, Dana wrote this."

"You suck at announcing!" Someone shouted from the crowd, throwing a piece of candy directly at Joel's head.

"Geez, people! I'm doing this for extra credit!" he defended, placing down his mic and melting off the stage into the crowd.

"Well, that was entertaining." Amyx commented.

"It looks like everyone has congregated in here for the contest," Katy observed, turning to Victoria and Gabby. "They've got to be in here."

Right as they were all about to pile into the room, a voice rose from behind them.

"Hey guys!" The girls and remaining ghosts all turned around to see Celine and Arian stood right next to them. "What's up?" Celine asked.

Katy gulped. "Oh, hey! Haha, funny seeing you here at this time," she blabbered, fear washing over her. It was only a matter of seconds now before Arian noticed that-

"Where is everyone?" Arian interjected, peeking over the crowd. "I hope you aren't causing any trouble..." they leaned down in Henry's direction. "Are you?"

The whites of Henry's eyes grew wide as he shifted his gaze in all directions. In a haste, he pulled out some candy and shoved it into his mouth. "What? Sorry, can't talk, I'm chewing," he excused, words muffled from his stunt.

Arian frowned. "You can't even eat-"

"Everyone's, uh, just inside the gym. In the corner, inconspicuously, where they can't interact with anyone, just like you asked," Victoria lied through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, for the costume contest thingy," Gabby added.

Arian's thick grey brow rose in suspicion. "Well, if that's the case, let's go inside and see," they concluded, starting to push their way in.

Panicked glances shot around the group before Katy's eyes met Celine's. She contorted her brows in any sort of attempt to cry help from Celine. Surely she could come up with something?

Celine nodded to her friend, and seemingly on demand, her phone started to beep in her pocket. Arian hastily turned around. "Would you look at that, Arian, it's nearly eleven o'clock! We have to get going to the lake ASAP if we want to carry out our Samhain ritual!"

Katy caught sight of a purple aura radiating from her phone. Clever.

Celine tilted her head at the witch. "And we have to pick up all my supplies from my locker first! There's a lot of crystals to carry," she shrugged, reaching out and grabbing their sleeve. "Come along."

"But- oh, alright," they sighed, pushing up their glasses. They pointed a finger in the girls direction. "I'll be back after this," they added before Celine dragged them off and out the school doors.

Henry let out a giant breathe he was holding, spitting the candy to the ground in the process. "Why does Arian always have to come for me?" he asked, puffing his cheeks.

"Because you're the only innocent one," Amyx responded, turning around and leaning into the gym. "In other news, I think I've found two of your lost ducklings," he observed, motioning a hand across the gym where Ben and Irene could be seen, slipping behind the stage.

"Oh geez," Katy fretted as they all trekked inside.