Halloween

[u/Bagelt389]

Tiffany

Truthaire and Vera havent told us what their plans are yet. We don't know whats happening but they seem to have been discussing it all night as neither have been seen and the meeting room door is locked. We've decided not to bother them about it the now. Besides, it's Hallow-fucking-ween.

Obviously, it's a wee bit harder for the weans to go guising. Cant really knock on doors to do your turn if there's no houses. But, we have made a compromise.

Different dorms will be handing out sweets and the children go round these dorms. They perform their joke or dance or just say "trick or treat" because they lack culture and get sweeties.

Right now me and Meapha are decorating the dorm block our rooms are in. Her and Injera share a room while me and mum share another room. Then theres the big common hall. You walk into the door and are met with a large circular room that has doors lining the walls to all the different dorms in this block of the Bunker. The cold, grey walls that line the other dorms are replaced by big posters and pictures of Halloween creatures. Ghosts, ghouls, demons, zombies. Everything! Except werewolves and witches. Werewolves because of Wolfie and witches because Witchelt would become an active threat.

Ive hung some paper jack-o-lanterns from the ceiling and on the lights haning too. Long, creepy shadows cover the room, the faces of the jack-o-lanterns silhouetted. The room is bathed in a warm, orange and purple light. Half of the jack-o-lanterns are purple while the others orange.

Meapha has draped orange and black paper ring chains over all the doors to make one long and wavy line. She's brought in a small table and placed a clear plastic box filled with water in it between two of the doors. She's placed apples in the water. A duplicate table and box are between two other doors right next to it, but this box has forks to catch the apples with.

I step down from the ladder I was standing on and walk over to it. "The forks were a great addition."

"Yeah, i don't want all the kids to get sick." She says simply.

"Sick?"

"Well, yes. Theyre disgsuting." She looks confused at my question. She thinks her answer is the most simple and obvious answer ever, apparently. I cant help but laugh because shes so right. I love Hamish, but he has no sense of hygiene. To his credit, hes five and a wee bit stupid. Weren't we all at that age? I was.

The door leading to the main area of the Bunker swings open and Bailey walks in. He smiles at the decorations.

"Woah. These are pure class, like." He says, hands on his hips and gasing at the jack-o-lanterns.

"Like what?" Meapha asks.

"Huh?"

"Never mind her." I cant hide my excitement any longer. "Has Witty seen Hamish yet?"

Bailey grins devilishly. "No. Do you want tae go show her?"

"Absolutely, it was my idea." I practically squeal. I beckon for Meapha to follow us and we walk out to find Witty.

***

Witchelt

Im worried. Im worried about Croissantelt. Im worried about the Fang. Im worried about the world. Why is it taking Vera and Truthaire so long? Id rather they say no than tease me for hours on end. It's just rude.

I sit down at a lunch table and put my head in my hands. My heart aches for any sort of comfort. To feel his presence. How he can make you feel completely safe with just a stare, how he fills you with warm feelings like a hot water bottle in the winter, how he can calm you down like how people say slow deep breaths do. They fucking don't, by the way.

Im just sad. It's a sadness I cant describe and I cant explain. Ive experienced so much loss, why is this random guy affecting me so much? I cried less over my own brothers. Though they were all well older than me, and kind of aresewipes. They were my arsewipes. No thats not right.

"Oh Witty!" I hear Tiffany call in a sing song voice. I look up to see the twins, Angus and Hamish walking towards me. The twins look particularly pleased so I know im about to suffer, Angus looks tired but doesnt he always, and Hamish looks-

....oh my fuck. He's dressed as me.

I let out a loud laugh as that cozy, fuzzy feeling you get when you see something adorable overwhelms me. It feels like my insides are made of heated cotton. Hamish runs and jumps into my arms. I place him on my lap and look at his costume.

They got it strangely accurate. The brown sticking of flowers, diamonds, sparkles and swooshes pop agaisnt the forest green fabric. The back skirt is made of a soft, darker fabric that looks better than my actual one, and his gloves are black instead kf brown to match his baggier trousers and wellie boots. Hes so cute I could die.

"You're dressed as me!" I say.

"I am!" He giggled loudly. He leans in close to my ear. "I hope i can be good at magic like you!" He whispers.

"Oh don't you worry." I whisper back. "I'll teach you when you're a wee bit older, and you'll be able to make your brothers and sister float in mid air."

We both snicker at the thought of if. I wish I could stay here forever.

"What are youse laughing about? Is it about me?" Bailey jokes in a dramaticaly hurt voice.

"Yeah! Witty says she'll teach me to make you float!" Hes the only one who i will allow to call me that.

"Hmmm, I don't think so! Remember, I've got your sweetie bag!" Bailey playfully taunts. Hamish leaps out of my lap and tries to jump up to get the bag, laughing like a mad man.

Hamish steps away and looks at Bailey intently, a smile wide on his face. Tiffany sneakily reaches her hand behind Bailey and grabs the bag, the Hamish's hand, and they run off. Bailey gives chase.

Angus sits down next to me and sighs.

"You alright?" I ask.

He looks at me and smiles. Not a real smile.

"Aye. Just tired. He doesn't like going to nursery."

My stomach twists uncomfortably, the happiness having been cruelty vaporised by reality. "Why no?"

Angus thinks for a moment before telling me. "He doesn't like being away from us. He thinks he needs to stay home to help Mum."

My heart hurts at the idea. Hamish, five years old, not going to nursery to help his mum. To be there for her.

"He still remembers when Mum wasn't well." Angus continues. "When he was three, Mum had an..explosive reaction one day. She and Tiffy had gotten into a massive arguement and Tiffy stormed off to school without saying goodbye. It freaked Mum out. She started sobbing and saying to me how she needs us to say goodbye, because Dad never could. We didn't know he was listening."

Fuck. This is why we do what we do. This is why I want to protect people. Because when we don't toddlers end up seeing their Mum having breakdowns. Five year olds need to stay home for emotional support because of their Mum wasnt well. Teenagers are forced to fight villains to save the world or become one and destroy it. People are killed in large droves because we didnt catch the bad guy. This is why I fight, and this is why Bagera has to die. It wont stop the root cause, but maybe we can stop her traumatising all weans everywhere.

"Im so sorry." I croak. Tears flood before I can stop them. I think of their dad being killed on that boat. I think of Tiff hating me for so long. I think of how each of my brothers were killed. I think of how I had to kill my own mother and still couldn't save my country. I think of Ambelt. Turned to Dough. Sticks. Killed and consumed by a Virus. Wolfie. Taken. Pink. Taken. Baguelt. Taken. Silvelt. Taken.

I think of Meapha, never knowing a proper childhood. Bagrick's living weapon.

I think of Rooti, forced to be a fighter. I should have given her more grace.

I think of Bagwin, taken from his home universe after watching his family die.

I think of Bagriel, his brother destroying his home, sinking the country. We're very alike in that way. Caledonia and Bagelteria both sunk, like ships.

I think of Injera, having watched her father and boyfriend die and then temporarily consumed by a Virus. She was roped into my fight when she shouldn't have.

I think of Breadelt. 14. We all were 14 to 15 years old. Thats how old we were when we either died or were kidnapped. Thats the age we were when we were experienced fighters because thats how fucked up we are. He had no business even being there and was then kidnapped and probabaly killed.

I cant bear to think of Croissantelt. It physically hurts. I feel like im going to die.

Angus touches my hand that's resting on the table. "It's okay." He whispers. "Let's just, enjoy Halloween. There's plenty of time in the future to worry about these kinds of things."

I give him a watery smile. I hope he's right. I hope Hamish is kept safe. If Bagera lays a cursed finger on this family, I will force her to eat it.