Part 5: A Frightful Encounter
Benny, the ADF guard, led Ava down the winding path toward the old building, glancing back with a hint of mischief. "Sorry to call you out for this, Sentinel Ava,” he said, trying to sound earnest. “We’re just a bit short-handed with the recent raider sightings down at the south gate.”
Ava nodded, her mind already on the task. “No problem, Benny. It’s probably just someone poking around.”
Benny stopped as they reached the building, giving her a nod. “Well, this is it.” He turned to leave, a grin escaping as he walked away.
Ava watched him go, suspicion flickering in her mind. But she brushed it aside and turned toward the door. She stepped into the building, feeling the heavy quiet settle around her. The air was stale, thick with dust, and shadows clung to every corner, stretching as the late-day light faded.
As she moved in, an unsettling creak echoed down the corridor. She forced a breath, trying to ignore the tension creeping up her spine, reminding herself that it was just a quiet, empty building.
But Echo’s Halloween stories lingered in her mind, the tales he had told the kids of haunted houses and wandering spirits. She scolded herself for letting it get to her, but her hand instinctively drifted closer to her sidearm.
“Come on, Ava,” she muttered under her breath, trying to push away the unease. “It’s an old building. Nothing here.” But her own voice felt small, swallowed up in the silence.
Then, from somewhere down the hall, a faint, raspy whisper drifted through the air. She froze, her heart pounding as the eerie sound faded, leaving only the quiet again. She gritted her teeth, her nerves starting to fray.
“Alright, enough,” she called out, forcing her voice to sound firm. “If someone’s here, come out now.”
A door creaked open just a little further down the hall. Her breath hitched, and she muttered a soft curse, half-convinced her mind was playing tricks on her. She took a step forward, every creak of the floorboards amplified, the sound echoing down the corridor. As she passed the half-open door, she swore she heard something—a faint, unsettling moan that made the hair on her arms stand on end.
Her grip tightened as she glanced around, her breaths shallow. “If you’re… if you’re a ghost, you can just… fuck off,” she whispered, almost to herself, hoping the absurdity would shake off the chill settling in her bones.
The sound of footsteps shuffled behind her, and she spun, her heart in her throat. But the hallway was empty. She swallowed, her mind racing, adrenaline pumping through her. This was ridiculous—she was a Sentinel, not some kid spooked by ghost stories.
Just then, a door slammed behind her, the echo reverberating through the empty hall. Ava flinched, her mind now teetering between suspicion and full-blown panic. She took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay focused, but the pounding of her heart made it hard to concentrate.
“Alright, show yourself!” she shouted, her voice carrying an edge of desperation.
A whisper floated down from above her, echoing eerily, followed by a faint, childlike giggle. Her stomach twisted, and her thoughts raced, fear creeping into every corner of her mind. She wasn’t about to let herself be intimidated by whatever—or whoever—was behind this. But her breaths came faster, and her hand hovered over her sidearm.
Then, as she stepped further down the corridor, cobwebs fell onto her shoulder, and she swatted at them, biting back a yelp. "Enough of this!” she hissed, trying to calm her nerves.
She moved forward, now whispering to herself, “Get it together, Ava. It’s just a prank… has to be…” But each shadow seemed to stretch, and each creak of the floor made her grip tighten further.
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Finally, she rounded a corner, just as two figures in ghostly white sheets jumped out from behind a doorway, arms raised with a low, drawn-out moan.
Ava’s body reacted instinctively. She drove a fist forward, hitting one square in the face, sending them to the floor with a stunned grunt. As the other reached out, she spun, landing a solid kick to his chest, knocking him backward until he crashed against the wall, groaning.
The two figures lay sprawled on the floor, sheets half-covering them as they raised their hands in surrender. “Blondie—stop! It’s us!” Talon’s voice wheezed from under his sheet as he clutched his nose.
Lucas coughed, peeling back his sheet to reveal a sheepish grin, still catching his breath. “Yeah… just a Halloween prank…?”
Ava staggered back, the tension draining from her in a flood of relief. She clutched her chest, a shaky laugh escaping as she shook her head. “You absolute bastards…”
She took in the sight of the two of them, sheets in disarray, sprawled on the floor and groaning. Relief turned to exasperated laughter, her heartbeat finally slowing as she realized the lengths they’d gone to for this prank.
Part 6: A New Tradition.
A few minutes later, the tavern was filled with a lively energy as Talon, Lucas, and Ava sat at the bar. Talon had a napkin stuffed up his nose to stop the bleeding from Ava’s punch, and Lucas, breathing heavily, winced with every breath, muttering, "Pretty sure she broke my ribs." Despite the pain, he managed a low chuckle. Talon laughed to himself, " if you're a ghost, you can fuck off, he said mockingly, " llifting his glass to clink with Lucas as they both said in unison, “Worth it.”
Behind the bar, Selene watched them with amusement. "Bloody children," she said, shaking her head. "You deserved it." She shared a laugh throwing a wink at Ava, who still looked a bit frazzled.
"You’re both lucky I didn’t have my sword," Ava warned, though a smile tugged at her lips.
Talon noticed a bowl of sweets on the bar and reached for a handful, but Selene slapped his hand away. “Those are for the kids,” she scolded.
“The kids, yes,” Lucas said, trying to straighten up through the ache. “While you lot were pulling pranks, some of us were actually getting ready for the kids and their trick-or-treating.”
Just then, Eli and Callie came in, carrying the last of the carved pumpkins and lanterns, placing them around the tavern for added festivity. Eli took one look at Talon and Lucas and burst into laughter. “Didn’t I tell you what would happen? Ava doesn’t do scares; she does payback.”
“Lesson learned,” Lucas muttered, still trying to laugh through his soreness.
Their attention shifted as little Ava burst through the door, her excitement bubbling over as she ran up to the bar. “Trick or treat!” she shouted gleefully, holding up her little pumpkin bag for treats.
Ava leaned down, lifting her namesake into her arms with a warm smile. “Look at you! I love your hat, superstar.”
Talon, Lucas, and Jess each dropped a handful of treats into her bag, making her giggle with delight. She peered into her bag, her eyes wide with excitement as she gave Ava a big hug. “Thank you, Auntie!”
“You’re welcome, baby,” Ava replied, her voice filled with affection as she kissed the top of little Ava’s head.
More children entered the tavern with their pumpkin lanterns, each calling out “trick or treat” as they eagerly collected treats from the villagers. Their costumes ranged from simple hats and masks to paper capes and makeshift wands. Even Jess, always one to bring extra cheer, handed out small trinkets and snacks to each child who passed by.
Outside, the community was alive with the spirit of Halloween. Residents joined in the festivities, offering sweets, cookies, and small treats as children knocked on doors with laughter and cheers. Lanterns and pumpkins illuminated the streets, their carved faces casting a warm glow over the cobblestone and filling every corner with a cozy, flickering light.
Ava wandered outside, watching as the families strolled through Green Arbor, their voices echoing through the marketplace. Laughter and cheerful shouts of "trick or treat" rang out, filling the night air. Children proudly carried their bags of treats, their faces beaming as they showed off their spoils to one another.
The scene was one of pure joy, the tight-knit community embracing this new tradition that brought light and laughter to even the darkest corners of their world. For a moment, Ava forgot about the battles and hardships that often filled her days, finding a rare peace in the happiness of those around her.
As the festivities wound down, Echo’s voice came softly over the speaker, providing a gentle narration to the night. “Tonight marks Green Arbor’s first Halloween, a celebration of laughter, light, and a few harmless tricks. Here’s to new traditions and to the joy they bring to our lives.”
As the laughter and joy continued into the night, Green Arbor knew this was only the beginning of a tradition that would bring them together, year after year, no matter what the world threw at them.
Ava leaned against a lamppost, a rare, soft smile gracing her face as she looked out over the town. With warmth in her voice, she whispered, “Happy Halloween, everyone.”
👻The End 🎃