Cassius counted on her possibly showing up but didn't think she would be such a cockroach. She kept launching herself at him with each attempt making it closer to his doom. Though he swung at her nothing was landing in the struggle. His punches only left scrapes on his freshly manicured hands.

Meanwhile she got a number of hits on his face with her Stress Sock. Enough that a rather large purple spot appeared under his left eye. If she could knock his teeth out she would be especially happy. But it did nothing for her getting the whistle away from him. Rolling around and around was only getting more dust stuck to their clothes. At least she can take satisfaction for his green button up shirt getting wrinkled.

The assistants ran into the storage room where the two were fighting. Before he could give a command Birch catches the whistle in her mouth and blows hard. They freeze in place as she yells, "Stop the other's from interfering!" And like that they turned around without another interruption. Cassius tried to get a word in but had the Stress Sock shoved into his mouth. With that she rips the whistle off his neck, cutting the back of his in the process.

She shuffled back to her feet as she ran out the door. Cassius takes a few seconds to bring himself up again. In the corner of the room he finds a cracked mirror staring back at him. Their gazes meet, the other with a purple bruise set on his left cheek. His jeans, just repaired recently, were torn in a few places. Beneath it his skin felt the pinching of splinters and even a small nail. The shirt was missing a few buttons and the silky material had stretched from the girl's grip on it. Worst of all, his wavy hair now had a bald spot right in the middle of where his hairline starts. Just next to his designer runners was a small yet shiny clump of hair.

Blood became hot. From his pocket he pulled his pocket knife, crafted by one of his many sponsors. They won't be calling you Freckles for long. That is when I tear them off your UGLY FACE!!!!!!!!

The faux feline was starting to have his lack of energy catch up with him. Especially after Lou, in his manic state, tore off his mask. Fully exposed to the horrendous smell he completely lost focus on his surroundings. His body was pushed against the cold cement while his mind started to slip. No longer were there people, only shadowed shapes that taunted him with their laughter. And the smell left him breathless.

Birch reached the stage just as they had finally pinned Shaliver. She sucks in a deep breath with whistle in hand.

Stomp. STOMP. STOMP!

Silver flashes right next to her, missing her by mere hairs. They dive forwards but roll back to standing position. Eyes once a dark coffee were now the pinpricks of an abyss. Saliva sputtered out as he screamed. Diving again for her she rolls away as the stage collapses again. The whistle slips around in her sweat drenched palms, as she tries to regain a grip. Crawling out was impossible as Cassius pulls her back down, forcing her down by the throat. She croaked under the weight but kept the grip on the whistle strong. Cassius smiled. For the first time the smile on his face rivaled that of his own followers. His lips curved till they cut into his demented eyes, pulling his pocket knife towards the spotlight above.

RAAAAAAAAAGAGGHAAGAHGAHGAHGAHAGH!!!

People flew through the air as wriggling tendrils rose. Windows shattered and walls shook as they slithering about enraged. Trying to grab the black limbs was pointless as they slipped out of the assistant's hands. Bodies slammed into surrounding boxes, turning the crates into oversized toothpicks. Arms, Legs, even her heart stopped. Her body may have wanted to run but every preservative instinct told her if she looked away she would perish. It took all her will to force eyes away from the scene.

Cassius was similarly locked on, the grip on her neck loosened. Cocking her legs back she slams at his chin and picks at the things from her pocket. Without even taking off the laminate she shoves the sticker down his sorry throat. Not noticing the other thing she stashed in her hoodie pocket going with it. Emmerging from the hole she left behind the chooking man.

Running up the stairs, only nearly falling off them, she blows the whistle. "Stop! NOW!"

Her voice echoed through the chaos. As if statues their movements ceased aside from the agitated Shaliver. He quickly caught on as he joined the masses in following their gaze. His tendrils slowly slipped into his back, zipping inside like they were never there at all. She sighed as the army of smiling faces were primed for new orders.

AAAAHHHHHHAHHAGAAAAAA!

Her chest rattled as she turned back. Cassius was banging against the floor in absolute agony, with bits of flesh falling into a putty mess. His clothes soaked in the sickly pink substance that melted from every orifice of his face. A smell so horrid evaporated off him, rotten to his core. While clawing to his feet her eyes meet his between the slimy sobs. He rushes, knife primed, up the rickety stairs to which Birch jumps off. While trying to readjust his charge his foot catches on the last step. There's a splash, sizzle and finally, gurgled screams from his slime filled lungs. Wails, Moans, Howls bubbled up from the cursed concoction. Birch backed out right as it tipped over into the hole Cassius first made. He slid out just long enough for her to catch one last look of his face.

Melted. Zombie movies wished they could come close.

With that the cauldron fell on him along with the rest of its contents. He didn't scream this time, he only twitched.

Shaliver joined her side and refreshingly looked at the gruesome picture. Birch held back her incoming vomit for the time. Walking back up the stairs she blows into the whistle and looks over her community.

"You may not realize it now but you have been wronged. Have no sympathy for this man. Forget about him ever existing if possible. You will rid this city of every single Bitty Bites Bar on the market which includes in this building. Erase their existence from Fatemore forever. Reconnect with your families or friends that you may have neglected at this time as well."

She catches Lou's tired eyes in the crowd, next to his mothers. Tears run down her face but she presses on, "And attend the Fatemore Market Halloween Event. There will be the best candy, entertainment and deals of the season! Be sure to grab something and try our fruit punch. There will also be coffee, tea and other options if you're not into those things. Even if it is only for a short time, grab something to drink from our serving area. If you see Mrs.Ginger or any of the local confectionists, thank them for the candy at the event. Now go and forget anything you saw tonight!"

Processions of people carried out crate after crate to an empty parking lot just near the back of the building. They gathered around when every box was stacked. Others returned later with more Bitty Bars, jugs full of gasoline along with other flammable materials. Among them she found Lou and his mom stuffing newspapers into different crevices. Presely also seemed to be assisting in her crimson pajama shorts. The two stopped to inspect their teary eyed friend. No thoughts entered their mind, even as she embraced them both. Something whispered for them to return the gesture. So they did. It felt... right.

Everyone stepped back, with Shaliver being the one to throw the first lit match. Flames climbed up higher and higher towards the moon, hanging in the golden midnight sky. As they burned a new smell wafted through the air, something sweet. Pulling the mask off she could still remember it from her first Valentines Day.

Cinnamon Hearts. Mmmmmm...

Hans had finished the cure just one day before Halloween. Not just that, he had made enough for everyone at the party. The only worry being of will it work. She already knew the first two people she wanted to give it to. With one call Presely and Lou arrived at the Hobby Shop. Lacing their drinks with it Hans offers the two some after walking all the way there. They didn't question it when they gulped down them in seconds. It took one minute for them to moan of headaches and stomach cramps. Then quickly remembering how they had treated her just a short while ago.

"BIIRCH~!" Presely wept when bringing her into a hug. "I'm so sorry we didn't listen to you earlier. Did we actually walk away like that?" She turned to Lou who was gawking at his muddy shoes. He rubbed his forearms while slightly rocking himself. Birch escaped from Presely's grip to wrap her arms around the distressed Lou. He snapped out of his trance before hugging her even harder.

"What happened to us?" Lou mumbled. Birch explained the circumstances that led to it, minus the murdering of an internet celebrity of course. And her breakdown. And Shaliver's backstory. And not telling her parents. And her nearly dying too. Lou may have been skeptical, considering she was wearing a scarf indoors, but couldn't argue what he didn't know. Presely was just happy to see her wearing the neon pink scarf she made her for Christmas last year.

Store owners were surprised by the substantial amount of profits during the last two days of the month. Mrs. Ginger specifically was finally able to sell her surplus of Halloween candy and more in that time. The Fated-Arcade found many of the local kids, teens and adults coming back after the dry month. Local business boomed enough that what were once canceled Halloween events were now back on. Even the Hobby Shop had an uptick in customers as many wanted to reschedule their ttrpg games soon.

But the best came Halloween night. Her friends, whose costumes were prepared far in advance, walked through the automatic doors into the bustling party. On stage her father was rocking the guitar to the theme of Freaky Slink, one of her favorite Halloween movies. Meanwhile her mother was supervising the event along with the drink and food. Though if she worried if anything was spiked she had the drinks and ice already mixed together with Hans's cure. And just to be sure she lightly doused the snacks in it as well.

After a month full of them she can finally relax seeing the crowds of truly happy again. She excuses herself to grab some snacks, treats and candy from the food table. Once stacked high she slips into the backroom where Shaliver was dozing. His eyes fluttered open when the plate was put in front of him.

"You earned it." She holds out a thumbs up before rejoining the party. Despite everything this turned out to be another great Halloween for Birch Barker, Practiced Paranormal Investigator!

............................................................................................................................................................

She probably doesn't want to return to the scene of the crime.

From rooftop to rooftop through the deteriorating Old Fate he tiredly pounced. With her getting the cure figured out and helping with the party preparations she was too occupied to know he's gone. Not that she was worried. Scoping the closed storage facility there was not a soul, aside from the seagulls fighting over empty bags of fast food.

Amateurs.

 From his high position the blackened remains of candy filled crates remained untouched, even by those stupid seagulls. That horrid man's smell still held the grounds hostage, but by now it had significantly weakened. The doors whines as he sauntered up to the stage with thoughts so vicious. However something was wrong. Or shall he say the lack of something. The cauldron was flipped over, the contents seemingly absorbed into the pink stained carpet. And the bits of goopy flesh turned had turned crunchy. But nobody. No. Body. Only torn remains of his silk pants waved eerily on one of the splintering wood pieces. He gulps.

Well I'll know if he shows up again. Afterall how can you forget a face like that? He lets out a small chuckle at the ironic remark.

But will he go after her?

...

Maybe I'll join her at the party after all.