Part 3: The Haunted Setup.

As the evening light faded, casting long shadows across the room, Lucas, Talon, and Eli huddled together over a map of Green Arbor, which Echo displayed on a nearby screen. A particularly decrepit building on the edge of the market square was highlighted in a faint, eerie glow. Dust gathered on its windowsills, and broken shutters creaked in the wind—a perfect location for what they had in mind.

Lucas rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining with excitement. "This is it—the ideal spot to give Ava a real scare. Echo’s already lined up some ghostly sound effects. Think creaking doors, spooky whispers, the whole haunting atmosphere."

Talon grinned, clearly relishing the thought. "About time we show her we can be ‘serious’ too. Imagine her face when we pull this off! She’s always saying we don’t have a serious bone in our bodies. Well, maybe Halloween calls for a *different* kind of serious."

Eli, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, gave a skeptical look. "Just so we're clear, you do realize she’ll see right through it—or, more likely, she’ll leave you with a busted lip. Maybe worse."

Talon shrugged, a mischievous spark lighting his eyes. "It’s worth the risk. It’s Green Arbor’s first Halloween, Eli! Besides, it's just harmless fun... mostly."

Echo’s face flickered onto a second screen, joining in the excitement. "I’ve been researching haunted-house sounds. I can rig up the perfect ghostly experience. But I strongly suggest you ensure Ava’s unarmed. Based on her reaction history, there's a high probability of... injury."

Lucas snickered, his mind already replaying Ava’s reaction. "Good point, Echo. I’ll come up with a reason for her to leave her sword and kit behind—maybe something about ‘official Green Arbor regulations’ for Halloween activities.” He grinned. “Her face is going to be priceless."

Eli sighed, but even he couldn’t suppress a small smile. "Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Ava’s not known for reacting calmly to surprises. And be prepared for payback."

Across the room, Jess, Callie, and a few of the parents were putting a few final touches to the schoolhouse for the kids' Halloween activities. Jess was untangling a bundle of lights while Callie arranged paints, carving tools, and a pile of small pumpkins donated by the southern farmers. The festive energy filled the space, setting the stage for the celebration.

Jess called over to the plotting trio, "Alright, you three, enough scheming! The kids will be here any minute, and we could use a hand at the tables."

Lucas straightened up, sharing a quick, conspiratorial look with Talon before joining Jess, Callie, and the others. As they set up, Talon leaned in and whispered, "This is going to be legendary."

Callie overheard, looking curious. "What’s going to be legendary?"

"Oh, just a little... extra Halloween activity for Ava," Talon said, feigning innocence.

Echo piped up on a nearby screen, deadpan as ever. "I suggest we plan a swift exit after the ‘extra activity’ commences."

Lucas chuckled, nudging Talon. "Echo’s probably right. We may need an escape route."

Jess, who had caught wind of their plan, shook her head, suppressing a smile. "You know, if she doesn’t throw a punch, it’ll be a miracle."

"Or a broken nose," Eli added, clearly amused but cautious.

Lucas waved them off. "Relax. What’s Halloween without a little scare?" He gestured toward the decorations. "Besides, look at all this effort everyone’s put in! The kids will love it—and Ava will appreciate it... eventually."

Talon picked up a small pumpkin from the table, admiring it. "You know, this is actually turning out pretty good for Green Arbor’s first Halloween."

A warm sense of camaraderie filled the room as they all worked together to transform the schoolhouse into a Halloween wonderland.

Echo’s screen flickered with anticipation, his voice playful. “Kids will arrive shortly. Final checklist: spooky story—ready. Ghostly effects—ready. Pumpkins—plentiful. And prank on Ava…” Echo’s eyes flashed, “…prepared.”

Jess shook her head, smiling. “I can’t believe you all are pulling this off. Ava’s going to see right through it… but the kids? They’ll have the time of their lives.”

Talon grinned, nudging Lucas. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s all in good fun. And who knows—maybe Ava will enjoy herself too. Once she’s stopped yelling at us.”

Callie adjusted a few small pumpkins at one of the tables, and Eli, noticing her careful work, smiled in admiration. “The kids are going to remember this for years,” he said softly, stepping back to take in the festive decorations, each touch of spookiness and charm coming together beautifully.

With the final touches in place, Lucas surveyed the room, hands on his hips. “Alright, everyone. Let’s get ready to let the little goblins and witches in.”

Jess moved to the door, sharing a quick, excited glance with the others. “Here goes nothing.”

As she opened the door to welcome the first Halloween crowd into Green Arbor’s transformed schoolhouse, the group took a deep breath, ready to share the fun and a touch of spookiness with every young face that entered.

Part 4: Green Arbor Halloween Begins.

The school buzzed with excitement as the children filed in, eyes widening at the sight of pumpkins, tools, and decorations filling the room. The walls were draped in black cloth with flickering lanterns casting a warm glow, while paper bats hung from the ceiling, and cobwebs stretched across the windows.

Lucas, grinning from ear to ear, gestured toward the setup. "Alright, everyone, grab a pumpkin! Today’s the day to make a proper Halloween masterpiece."

Jess, who stood beside a group of younger children, showed them how to draw faces on the pumpkins. “It can be scary, silly, or friendly,” she encouraged, sketching a quick outline of a pumpkin face with big round eyes and a lopsided grin.

Talon, already engrossed in helping two boys pick their designs, looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "I say we make the scariest pumpkins in Green Arbor," he challenged, his tone playful.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Little Ava, her face scrunched in concentration, clutched her pumpkin tightly as Callie helped her carve. “I want it to look mean!” the little girl declared.

Callie chuckled, guiding her hand with the carving tool. “A mean pumpkin it is! But don’t worry, I’m right here if it gets too tricky.”

Echo’s face appeared on the monitor, his expression set to an animated smile. “Shall I begin the Halloween story, everyone?” His digital voice sounded lively and full of mischief, captivating the kids and adults alike.

“Yes, please!” chorused the children, momentarily pausing their carving to look up at the screen.

Clearing his digital throat, Echo launched into his story. “Long ago, before the Cataclysm, Halloween was celebrated each year on the last night of October. It was a night when people believed the boundary between the living and the spirit world was thinnest. Families would carve pumpkins and light them with candles to ward off wandering ghosts and goblins. Children dressed as monsters and spirits, knocking on doors and saying, ‘Trick or treat!’ to collect sweets.”

The children gasped, their eyes wide with fascination. “Did they get a lot of sweets?” one boy asked, clutching his pumpkin as if it might offer him a piece of candy itself.

“Oh yes,” Echo replied, sounding delighted. “The streets were filled with laughter and excitement as children ran from house to house, gathering treats. And in some places, adults would tell ghost stories, trying to spook each other out.”

Lucas chuckled, carving a pumpkin beside Jess. “Sounds like quite the party, doesn’t it?”

Just then, Ava arrived, entering the classroom to find a scene of organized chaos. The children were completely absorbed in their pumpkins, some with tongues sticking out in concentration, others laughing as bits of pumpkin innards splattered on their friends.

Spotting her, Lucas waved. “Hey, Ava! Just in time. Echo’s telling the kids about Halloween.”

Ava approached, smiling as she observed the kids. “This is quite the setup,” she said, clearly impressed.

“Only the best for Green Arbor’s first Halloween!” Lucas said, gesturing dramatically. “Now, come on, Blondie. You’ll enjoy this more without all that kit on.” He winked at Talon, who smirked knowingly from across the room.

Ava rolled her eyes but removed her Sentinel kit, placing it in the back of the room as Lucas had suggested. As she returned, she caught the playful look between Talon and Lucas and narrowed her eyes. “Alright, what are you two up to?”

“Who, us?” Lucas said, feigning innocence. “Just helping the kids enjoy the holiday. Nothing more.”

Satisfied—for now—Ava joined the group, watching as the children excitedly went back to their pumpkins. Little Ava looked up and waved, her hands sticky with pumpkin goo. “Auntie Ava! Look! It’s scary, right?”

Ava crouched down, giving the pumpkin an approving nod. “Scary indeed, superstar. You’re going to keep the Green Arbor Ghost away with that one.”

Echo, picking up on the mention of the ghost, switched gears. “Speaking of ghosts… Have you heard about the Green Arbor Ghost?”

The children froze, eyes growing wide as they turned toward Echo’s screen. Even Ava, leaned in with curiosity.

Echo’s voice lowered, giving it a mysterious edge. “Legend has it that long ago, Green Arbor was home to a man who watched over the town. They say he was a kind soul but met a tragic fate during the Cataclysm. Now, on quiet, moonlit nights, his spirit wanders the outskirts of the market, watching over us. Some say he can be seen from afar, a shadowy figure cloaked in mist.”

One of the younger boys, clearly captivated, whispered, “Is he here now?”

“Perhaps,” Echo replied, his voice mischievous. “But don’t worry. As long as you have a pumpkin to light the way and keep the darkness at bay, you’ll be safe.”

The children exchanged nervous glances, glancing at their half-carved pumpkins as if they held the power to protect them. Jess leaned in, smiling at their expressions. “So, better finish those pumpkins to keep that ghost away!”

With that, the kids resumed their carving with renewed enthusiasm, some adding even scarier faces to their pumpkins.

Ava shot Lucas a wry smile. “The Green Arbor Ghost, huh? I didn’t know we had one.”

Lucas grinned. “Well, that’s the thing with legends. They just might be true… if you believe them enough.”

Ava laughed, playfully elbowing him. “Good one, bookworm.”

Meanwhile, Echo continued regaling the children with Halloween lore, telling them about trick-or-treating traditions, haunted houses, and parties from days gone by. The kids listened, wide-eyed, as if each story were a new discovery.

As the sun began to dip lower, casting a soft, warm glow through the schoolroom windows, Ava watched the children, smiling as they proudly showed off their finished pumpkins to one another. Little Ava ran over, beaming, her pumpkin sporting a face that was more funny than frightening.

“Look, Auntie Ava! Mine’s finished!” she exclaimed.

“It’s perfect,” Ava said, ruffling her hair. “You’ll be keeping the Green Arbor Ghost away for sure.”

The room filled with laughter, chatter, and a hint of spooky suspense as the kids continued sharing their creations. Echo’s tales of Halloween had transported them to another world, one where magic and mystery lingered in the air. The seeds of a new tradition had taken root, and for the first time, Green Arbor felt the spirit of Halloween come to life.

The classroom buzzed with Halloween excitement as the kids continued carving, laughing, and sharing spooky stories. Echo had shifted into tales of witches, spooks, and eerie legends, casting a playful but spooky atmosphere. Jess, Callie, and Eli were helping the kids with their pumpkins, but they couldn’t resist glancing over at Ava, who had been asked to check out a “strange noise” in one of the older, empty buildings nearby. Talon and Lucas, meanwhile, were barely containing their excitement in the background.

Little Ava, clutching her freshly carved pumpkin, looked up at her aunt with wide eyes. “Auntie Ava, do you want to take my pumpkin with you? It’ll keep the ghost away,” she said earnestly, her voice just loud enough to draw some chuckles from nearby kids and adults alike.

Ava ruffled her hair, smiling gently. “Thank you, sweetheart, but I’ll be alright. It’s probably just someone messing around in an old building.”

Talon, standing just out of Ava’s line of sight, caught Lucas’s eye and winked. They had rigged up a series of small surprises, from cobwebs and flickering lights to sound boxes set to emit ghostly wails and creaks. The grand finale would be them, draped in sheets, jumping out at Ava as the “Green Arbor Ghost.”

Echo’s voice drifted through the classroom, setting the scene further as he shared tales of witches and old superstitions. “In some stories, witches would place curses on the pumpkins and hide in the shadows, waiting for anyone who dared to enter their lair…” he said, drawing a gasp from a group of kids.

Jess leaned over to Callie, chuckling. “Do you think they realize just what they’re about to unleash?”

Callie grinned, casting a glance at Talon and Lucas, who were still whispering together like a pair of mischievous kids. “Nope. I don’t think they’re ready for what’s coming their way.”

Eli joined in, his face full of amusement. “They’re either brave or just plain foolish. Ava doesn’t scare easily.”

Just then, an ADF guard entered, looking slightly out of place amid the Halloween festivities. “Sentinel Ava, I’m here to escort you to the building. We’ve had some reports of unusual activity.”

Ava rolled her eyes slightly but stood up, patting little Ava on the shoulder. “I’ll be back soon, alright? Just keep those pumpkins going—I don’t want that Green Arbor Ghost getting too close,” she said with a wink, drawing giggles from the kids.

As she exited, Lucas and Talon watched from the back of the room, both grinning and trying to hide their excitement. They slipped out shortly after her, heading to the old building to make sure everything was in place for the scare.

Eli and Jess exchanged a knowing look, while Callie shook her head, laughing. “You two know you’re going to get your arses kicked, right?” Jess said, calling after them with a smirk.

“Oh, we’re well aware,” Talon replied, his grin widening. “It’ll be worth it, though.”

Eli added, “Just try not to end up running back here with black eyes and broken noses.”

Lucas glanced back, throwing a dramatic hand over his heart. “We’ll take our chances. Halloween only comes once a year, after all.”

With that, they disappeared into the cool, darkening evening, heading to their makeshift haunted setup, ready to put their plan into action. As the door closed behind them, Echo’s voice resumed its ghostly tale in the classroom, spinning tales of eerie shadows and spirits that roamed the streets of Green Arbor on Halloween night. The children listened with wide eyes, while Jess, Callie, and Eli shared a look, silently counting down the minutes until Ava’s reaction shook the quiet streets of Green Arbor.