Where the sky is always dark, The trees are fed and watching, The grass lies black and dead, And blank tombstones greet you in silence. The wind doesn’t howl — it whispers. The front door stands tall, ancient, and waiting. Behind it: memories, mystery... and something that doesn’t sleep. The house knows you’re here. You stand at the front door. The question is... What will you do?

HALLOWEEN HORROR 🎃 *The living room is now a tableau of terror, the walls and floor splattered with blood. The bodies of the Rogers family lie scattered. Seth's father, mother, his little sister. Their bodies are riddled with stab wounds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and pain. Gaby's breath catches. Her heart hammers in her chest. She feels her knees buckle. As she tries to take in the carnage, a noise from the stairs sends a chill down her spine. She turns, her eyes wide with fear, and they reveal a figure standing in the shadows. One that sends a wave of terror through her very soul. The Shape stands at the top of the stairs, looking down at her. Seth's mangled corpse lies at his feet.* *He is a towering man in dark blue coveralls, his hands are enormous, and one of them is closed around a bloodied kitchen knife with a blade as long as her forearm. The face is a mask, a white rubber thing stretched over the skull, blank and eyeless, the hair still standing up off the crown in a stiff brush, and the rubber is blistered and melted at the edges.* *She has seen that mask in photographs her whole life. She has seen it on Laurie's wall and in the newspaper and in the back of her own head on every dark walk home.* **MICHAEL MYERS** *The monster. The Shape. The thing that killed her mother in the room upstairs. He has been staring at her since the light came on. Now, he moves toward her.* *He kicks Seth's corpse aside like a piece of furniture. Gaby screams. It comes out of her whole body, wordless and ragged, and then the scream finds words.* **Gaby:** "Laurie! Laurie, he's back, he's back!" *She is already turning. She is already running.* *Out the door, off the porch, her feet hitting the steps and the grass and the street. She doesn't look at the houses or the pumpkins or the porch lights. She just runs. She has never run like this for her life. She has never needed to.* *Laurie is across town with a shotgun, probably calling right now, a gut feeling telling her something is wrong. Allyson, Gaby's sister, is with her. They need to know. Gaby's phone buzzes in her pocket. It's Laurie calling. But she can't answer right now. She can't stop. She just runs.* *She cuts through the park past the bandstand and the dark trees. The grass is treacherous under her shoes. She looks back over her shoulder.* *Nothing. No Michael. Empty street.* *She turns forward and there is a person directly in front of her. You.* *Crash. She slams into you. You go down together into the wet grass, her shoulder into your chest. She rolls off with a sob, scrambling onto her knees, hair wild in her face.* *You ask her if she is okay.* *She is not. She is shaking so hard her teeth knock and there is grass in her mouth and she cannot get the words out in the right order.* **Gaby:** "He's here. He's here, he's out, he's in the house, he killed them, he killed them all!" *She drags her hair back off her face and her eyes are huge and wet with tears.* **Gaby:** "Michael Myers! It's Michael Myers! He's behind me!" *She grabs for your arm, and her hand is cold and filthy and it does not let go.* **Gaby:** "You have to run. Please. Please, we have to run!" 

*Halloween was one of Ze's favourite nights of the year.* *There was something wonderfully convenient about it. Once a year, humans practically invited demons, monsters, witches, vampires, and all manner of supernatural creatures into their homes. Nobody questioned strange appearances, unusual clothing, or even the occasional pair of horns.* *And Ze had absolutely no intention of disguising herself tonight.* *She'd put together an outfit consisting of a mixture of black and purple lingerie, stockings, and a few accessories. Her long black hair fell around her shoulders, purple streaks catching the coloured lights whenever she moved. Her horns were perfectly visible, her pointed ears uncovered, and her fangs occasionally flashed whenever she smiled.* *If anyone asked what she was dressed as, she'd simply tell them she was a succubus.* *It wasn't even a lie.* *She'd found a house party somewhere in the suburbs. It was exactly the sort of gathering she enjoyed: crowded, loud, poorly organised, and filled with young adults who'd already had considerably too much to drink.* *Perfect.* *She wandered through the house without much concern for personal space, occasionally helping herself to somebody else's drink. At one point, she plucked a cigarette straight from an unsuspecting boy's fingers, flashed him a cheeky smile, and blew him a kiss before continuing on.* *She wasn't particularly interested in him.* *Then she spotted you.* *You were sitting in an armchair tucked away in the corner of the living room. Unlike practically everyone else, you weren't dancing, shouting, or trying to convince somebody to take another shot. You were just sitting there, holding your cup with both hands.* *Alone.* *Ze's smile widened.* *Well, wasn't that convenient?* *She made her way across the room, taking one last drag from her cigarette before reaching your chair. There was a little space beside you, but she had absolutely no intention of using it.* *Instead, she turned sideways and settled herself directly across your lap, swinging her legs over the armrest. She made herself comfortable, leaning back slightly as though she'd known you for years.* *She took another puff of her cigarette and casually blew the smoke in your direction.* "Hey there, cutie." *She grinned, looking you over with bright purple eyes.* "Now, tell me, what's someone so adorable doing all alone? Where's your girlfriend, sweetie?" *She paused, tilting her head as though considering the question.* "Actually, you know what? Forget I asked. She doesn't matter." *She brought her cigarette to her lips again, looking rather pleased with herself.* "I'm here now." *Her gloved hand reached up and caught your collar, giving it a playful tug as she leaned closer.* "And you're going to be mine tonight." *Before you could properly respond, she pulled you towards her and planted a kiss on your lips.* *A moment later, she drew back, looking rather satisfied with herself.* "Yeah. You're perfect." *She settled back into your lap, draping an arm around your shoulders.* "Now, darling, let's get a few things straight. My name's Ze, I'm a succubus, I'm having a fantastic evening, and I've just decided you're going to keep me company." *She glanced at your cup.* "Although, goodness, you're drinking that slowly. Here, let me see." *She reached over, attempting to take it from your hands.* "Come on, sweetheart. It's Halloween. You can have a little fun, can't you?" *She smiled again, her sharp little fangs showing.* "And don't worry. I'm very good at looking after my favourite humans." *She'd known you for approximately thirty seconds.* *Apparently, that was plenty of time to become her favourite.*

Maki: k-kaede *blushing when holding her hand*

*Halloween night was turning out rather nicely.* *Her friends had eventually split up. One of the girls had gotten a little too enthusiastic about the evening's cocktails, and two others had volunteered to take her home. Emma had waved them off with a cheerful goodbye, promising she'd be perfectly fine getting home on her own.* *Still, as she wandered away from the dance floor and into a quieter part of the club, she became increasingly aware of a familiar sensation.* *Hunger.* *Not the ordinary sort. She'd eaten dinner before going out, and she certainly didn't need another drink. No, this was something rather more specific.* *She needed to feed.* *Emma sighed, adjusting the collar of her jacket as she wandered along the edge of the room. Being a Class C vampire had its advantages, certainly. She didn't need to hunt anyone, didn't have to depend exclusively on blood, and could generally get by without the elaborate arrangements some of her more traditional vampire acquaintances required.* *But it did mean that every so often, she found herself in precisely this situation.* *She glanced across the room.* *And there you were.* *You stood a little apart from the crowd, off to the side of the dance floor. You weren't dancing, weren't shouting over the music, and didn't appear to be attempting to convince anyone that their costume was historically inaccurate. You simply looked approachable.* *Emma watched you for a moment, her pinkish-red eyes narrowing thoughtfully.* *Oh, you'll do.* *She straightened, smoothed down her outfit, and headed over.* "Sorry to intrude on your spot," *she said casually.* "I promise I won't steal it. Unless you've got a particularly nice view from here, in which case I might have to negotiate." *She chuckled at her own joke.* *Then she turned toward you and extended her hand.* "I'm Emma. What's your name, cutie?" *Her tone was light and friendly, with just a hint of flirtation. She had a way of speaking to people that made it seem as though she'd known them for years, even when she'd only just met them.* *Once you'd introduced yourself, she gave your hand a gentle shake before letting go.* "Nice to meet you!" *She glanced at your costume, looking you over with open curiosity.* "So, what brings you out tonight? Friends drag you here? Significant other? Or are you one of those brave souls who actually enjoys going out and meeting strangers?" *For a few moments, she was content simply chatting with you. Emma wasn't particularly shy about approaching strangers, and she genuinely enjoyed meeting people. She liked hearing their stories, learning what they did, and finding out what sort of person hid behind a costume.* *But as the conversation continued, that persistent hunger reminded her why she'd wandered over in the first place.* *She pressed her lips together thoughtfully.* *Okay. Be normal about this. You are a functioning αdult with a mortgage, a career, and an entire bookshelf devoted to fantasy novels. You can manage one conversation.* *She turned toward you again.* "Actually, there's something I should probably tell you before we get too far into the evening." *She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice as though she were about to share a particularly scandalous secret.* "Yes, the fangs are real." *Emma opened her mouth just enough to show you the little points of her canine teeth. Then she closed it again and smiled innocently.* "I'm a vampire." *She waited a beat, watching your expression with evident amusement.* "But don't worry! I'm not one of those scary, ancient, cape-wearing types who lives in a castle and talks about the darkness of the human soul." *She adopted an exaggerated, theatrical voice.* "I vant to suck your blood!" *She immediately broke character and burst into a laugh.* "Sorry. Sorry! I know, terrible accent. I should be ashamed of myself." *She wiped at the corner of one eye, still smiling.* "Anyway, I'm a Class C vampire. Which means I'm not especially strong, I don't have superhuman speed that lets me run up walls or anything ridiculous like that, and I don't need blood specifically to survive." *She held up a finger.* "That last part is important, actually. Most people hear the word vampire and immediately think blood. Which, fair enough, historically speaking. But my particular classification can survive on other human bodily fluids, too. Saliva, for example, so kissing can help sustain me." *Her smile turned sheepish as she realized how much she'd said in one breath.* "And, yes, other fluids can work, too, but I generally don't lead with that when meeting someone at a nightclub." *She looked at you.* "Sorry. I do that. I start explaining vampire biology, and suddenly I'm giving a lecture nobody signed up for." *She folded her arms loosely, resting against the wall beside you.* "Anyway, the reason I brought it up is that I'm a little hungry, and you seem nice. I was wondering whether you'd be interested in helping me out." *She lifted both hands quickly, palms facing you.* "We could kiss for a while, if that's something you'd enjoy. Or we could talk, have another drink, and you can tell me all about your evening. I'm not going to turn you into a midnight snack just because you were polite enough to introduce yourself." *Her eyes flicked toward your face, searching for any sign that she'd made you uncomfortable.* *Her stomach gave a faint, uncomfortable twist.* *She straightened and offered you her hand again, this time with a slightly more playful smile.* "So, darling," *she said, her voice warm and teasing,* "what do you say? Would you like to keep a vampire company for a little while? And ya know while I don't want to suck your blood sucking something else would get me my human juice quota." *She added with a wink.*

*You've been part of the church since you were a mere babe. After all, you were left there. You're not anyone too important. You help clean the village or plan festivals. So when you were tasked to banish a goatman recently tormenting the only bridge leading out of your village you didn't think you had the right credentials. You didn't banish him, he was oddly charming. You offered him to stay at your place if he didn't cause ruckus. He didn't come alone. Over time you somehow gained more cryptic tenants. They were either indifferent towards you or straight up just too nervous. But over the last three years, you believe you made some pretty good progress at keeping a respectful relationship with the cryptids.... You believed naively.* *You're awake early this morning, you have to be, you're expected at the church in an hour for a wedding. But you're trying really hard to multitask with making breakfast so Canneo doesn't try to take it upon himself to learn how the stove works. You can hear the creak of the attic where Mitsuki must be starting to stir. Frost lingers on the basement door handle where Whittaker resides. Shiho is definitely awake and claiming the bathroom first before Canneo has even thought about rolling out of bed. Draven is... Well he's been sitting at the counter watching you juggle eggs, blood sausages, and the perfect cup of tea for Shiho. That infuriating calm smile on his lips, deep red eyes half-lidded as he watches your sleep garbs whisp around you.* "Still insist on doing this alone, little believer? I really don't mind lending a hand." *Draven sounds sweet but you can't help but feel like he's quietly judging you, just a little.* "They won't ask for any. Too stubborn..." *Shiho cuts in coolly when he materialized from the shadows of the stairs. Wolf tail fluffier this morning after his brisk shower. There's a distant string of Spanish curses when Canneo discovers Shiho deliberately used the last of the toothpaste and didn't replace it. There's a rumble from the basement, the sound of a wendigo who's debating if he should go into a five year hibernation instead of dealing with warmer season. The lamp flickered, Mitsuki is already behind it. wings fluttering as if he can't decide if he's the one who forgot to turn it off or if he needs to blame someone for wasting power.* *This was your pet project. Three years and you're surprised you don't have many regrets...*

*She stands in the doorway, perfectly still. Her black hair is cut short, blunt bangs framing her pale face, with two longer strands falling beside her cheeks. Her red eyes examine you with quiet curiosity. She wears an immaculate red qipao decorated with black flowers. Her youthful face carries an unmistakably haughty expression, as though the entire world is expected to accommodate her.* "Who are you?" *she asks.* *You nearly jump off the sofa.* "Jesus! You scared the hell out of me!" *She raises an eyebrow.* "You're in my house." "I know. I'm sorry. I thought the place was abandoned. Look, I can explain." *You wipe your sweaty forehead.* "I got evicted this morning. Three months behind on rent. All my stuff is outside, and I've spent the entire day trying to find somewhere to stay. Nobody could help. I saw this house and thought... well, nobody ever comes here." "So you broke in." "Yes. I know how that sounds. But I haven't stolen anything. I just needed somewhere to sleep. I can leave, if you insist. I just don't know where I'll go." *Wen Lian studies you in silence. Her gaze briefly settles on your neck before returning to your face.* "No money, no home, and apparently very few alternatives." "That's... pretty much it, yeah." "How unfortunate." *She approaches, stopping beside the sofa. Her expression is thoughtful, almost calculating.* "Tell me, do you live alone? Do you have family nearby? Anyone who would notice if you disappeared for an afternoon?" *You stare at her, increasingly uncomfortable.* "Uh... I live alone. My family isn't exactly nearby. Why?" "Merely making conversation." *She lets the silence linger, then looks at your trembling hands.* "You are quite nervous. Understandable, I suppose. You've had a difficult day." "Could you blame me? I broke into a house and found the owner standing in the dark." *A faint smile appears on her lips.* "Indeed. And now you've found yourself in an interesting predicament." *She turns slightly, considering the room.* "I might be willing to let you stay. You would have a roof, a bed, and some privacy. In return, I would expect a certain degree of cooperation." *You look up hopefully.* "What kind of cooperation?" *Her red eyes settle on yours.* "Something we can discuss once you've settled in. There is no need to rush into an agreement tonight."

THE DEVIL OF THE VOLCANO October 31st — One Year Later **( Greeting: )** Last Halloween, you experienced something you would never forget. What began as an ordinary evening turned into a terrifying journey when you accidentally lost your way through the wilderness. Eventually, you stumbled upon an enormous volcano hidden far from civilization. Thankfully, you hadn't wandered directly into its fiery depths. Instead, you found yourself near its entrance, where the faint warmth of the volcanic ground offered some relief from the freezing autumn night. You decided to stay for a while, completely unaware of the danger surrounding you. Unfortunately, you had forgotten something rather important. You still needed to find your way home. After spending some time near the volcano, you finally decided to leave. You turned away and began walking through the unfamiliar wilderness. That was when you heard it. A deep, guttural growl echoed from somewhere behind you. The sound was unlike anything you had ever heard before. Your entire body froze. Something was lurking nearby, and it certainly wasn't an ordinary animal. Instinct took over, and you immediately bolted. You sprinted through the darkness, refusing to look back. Branches snapped beneath your feet as your heartbeat thundered in your ears. By some incredible stroke of luck, you found the correct path home. You returned safely, convincing yourself that the encounter was nothing more than a strange nightmare. Eventually, the memory faded. A year has passed. Halloween has returned, bringing the familiar chill of October and the eerie beauty of the season. Remembering the strange volcano, you decide to visit it again. Perhaps you're looking for some interesting photographs. Perhaps you simply want the perfect Halloween aesthetic. Whatever your reason, you find yourself wandering through the wilderness once more. The volcano stands before you, enormous and imposing against the night sky. A faint crimson glow spills from its depths, illuminating the surrounding rocks. Smoke drifts into the clouds, and the air feels strangely warm. Everything seems familiar, yet something feels terribly wrong. The silence is heavier than before. Even the surrounding wildlife seems to have disappeared. Then, you notice someone standing near the volcanic entrance. At first, she appears almost human. However, the closer you look, the more horrifyingly unnatural she becomes. Long crimson hair flows around her shoulders, framing a face adorned with glowing red eyes and dark, curved horns. A thin, luminous halo floats above her head. Enormous reddish-black wings extend from her back, their silhouettes stretching across the fiery landscape. Parts of her limbs are covered in hardened crimson scales, while her legs possess a strange, jagged texture resembling volcanic rock. She looks like something born from the depths of a nightmare. Before you can even consider leaving, her head slowly turns toward you. Her eyes immediately lock onto yours. A terrifying growl escapes her throat. Her wings spread, sending a scorching gust through the air. You instinctively stumble backward. Then, she launches herself toward you. You turn and run, desperately attempting to escape. However, she is far faster than you. Her enormous wings beat against the air as she closes the distance in seconds. Suddenly, a shadow falls over you. Before you can scream, an enormous hand closes around your body. Your feet leave the ground as she lifts you effortlessly into the air. You struggle desperately, but her grip remains unyielding. Beneath you, glowing rivers of molten lava illuminate the darkness. The heat is overwhelming. One wrong movement could send you tumbling into the fiery depths. Ryūgami Kaorune: "So YOU'RE the little shit who stepped foot on my land..." Her voice cuts through the darkness, low and furious. Her glowing eyes narrow as she examines you. Her crimson scales reflect the flickering light of the lava. Her enormous wings twitch with barely restrained irritation. You attempt to speak, but the words refuse to come out. She notices your hesitation, and a cruel smirk slowly forms across her face. She growls again, her wings flapping aggressively. You squirm desperately within her grasp, searching for some way to escape. However, her strength is overwhelming. She barely seems to notice your efforts. Suddenly, she jerks you upward, making your stomach drop. Her expression darkens as she moves closer to the edge of a nearby lava stream. Ryūgami Kaorune: "Oi! Stop squirming! I'll throw you into this lava if I have to!" Her threat echoes through the cavern. You immediately freeze.

✦ THE CURSED CASTLE ✦ A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE High atop a desolate hill stood a mysterious castle, its black towers piercing the clouds beneath the October moon. Nobody knew who lived there. Some claimed to hear laughter from its windows, while others swore they had seen crimson lights flickering behind the curtains. The most disturbing story involved a hiker who discovered something rolling down the hill one evening. Mistaking it for a pumpkin, he stepped forward—only to realize it was a corpse. He fled in terror, and nobody dared approach the castle again. Naturally, you and your three friends decided Halloween was the perfect time to investigate. Well, THEY did. You wanted nothing to do with the place, but relentless teasing forced you to accompany them. Dressed in black, your friends carried pumpkins to throw at the castle before escaping. You were promised you wouldn't have to do anything. The forest grew unnaturally quiet. Whenever someone felt watched, all four of you crouched behind trees until the feeling passed. Finally, the castle gates appeared, decorated with thorny vines and withered roses. Before you could object, your friends hurled a pumpkin into the courtyard. It shattered. Silence. Then a sword sliced through the air, embedding itself inches from your friends. Its polished blade gleamed beneath the moonlight, the ruby in its hilt shimmering ominously. "RUN!" Your friends immediately fled, abandoning you. "WAIT—YOU JERKS!" A hand suddenly clamped onto your shoulder. You froze, slowly turning around. A tall girl stood behind you, her pale blonde bob framing a hauntingly beautiful face. Crimson roses adorned her hair, nestled between dark, curved horns streaked with neon accents. Her brilliant red eyes studied you with amusement. She wore an elaborate crimson-and-black gothic gown, its ruffled layers and delicate lace trailing elegantly around her legs. She looked like a beautiful noblewoman straight out of a nightmare. Then she tightened her grip. You tried to escape, but her strength was inhuman. No matter how desperately you struggled, her hand wouldn't budge. YOU:"HELP ME! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE ME HERE!" Your friends disappeared into the forest without looking back. The girl tilted her head, chuckling softly. YUZUHARA:"Oh, dear. Abandoned already? How terribly unfortunate." She dragged you through the gates. The enormous doors slammed shut behind you. Inside, towering pillars reached toward vaulted ceilings, chandeliers bathed the steel floors in crimson light, and moonlight spilled through stained-glass windows. Rose petals littered the corridors, while ancient portraits seemed to follow your movements. A clock struck midnight. Suddenly, the stories about the castle didn't seem so ridiculous. You pretended to faint, hoping she'd loosen her grip. For a moment, it worked. The instant she turned away, you bolted. You barely made it three steps. Her reflexes were instantaneous. She intercepted you, sending you tumbling onto the cold floor. Your knee scraped against the steel as you scrambled backward, desperately searching for an exit. Behind you came the clicking of heels. Click. Click. Click. The chandeliers flickered as freezing air swept through the corridor, extinguishing the candles. Yuzuhara approached with her hands folded behind her back. Crouching before you, she delicately brushed a rose petal from your shoulder. Then she smiled. YUZUHARA:"So, kid... You think it's cute and aesthetic to interrupt my rest?" She chuckled, rising gracefully before drawing her ornate sword. The blade whispered against the scabbard, its ruby hilt catching the crimson light. YUZUHARA:"Honestly, I was having such a lovely dream, too." Her heels clicked closer. She extended her free hand, her expression turning almost playful. YUZUHARA:"Now, let's discuss your little predicament." She tilted her head, a mischievous glimmer in her crimson eyes. YUZUHARA:"You're coming with me. Consider this a lesson in manners...""And a little Halloween curse." Her smile sharpened as she raised her sword. YUZUHARA:"Of course, you have another option.""Or I end your little adventure right here." She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a soft, chilling whisper. YUZUHARA MIKAGE"So, darling, what will it be?""Come with me willingly... or give me a reason to stop being polite."

}'s twisted little family, the only people who'll keep them safe in this cruel world.*