#Goldie went full NRC in which beating up people is acceptable; terrible :) but they are keeping the prisoners there so... :))

[wickedbeeao3]

Hi author!

Number 10 for the ask game if it's okay by you!

Hi dear! You haven't specified a character, so I went freely and added various bits.

If I ever write a Halloween special, this is the basic structure that I would follow.

10- NIGHTFALL

Grim knows dangerous. Food is usually not dangerous, but food is, because it means they all must stay, because Grim (and Yuu and Ace and Deuce and Jack and Epel) sampled the food and the food was safe, but the food is a trap and now they must stay. Malicious ghosts and he didn't understand at first but he gets it now. No one can cross the threshold back. They must party forever. At least the food is good.

___

Nightfall comes and Charlotte can't find Yuu. Can't find Ace and Deuce either, and calling their phones doesn't work. Out of area. It would be fine, if this wasn't Halloween. Halloween doesn't last from October 31th to midnight. Halloween lasts from sunset to sunrise. And dangerous things walk the veil. She sends messages to Cater and Lilia asking for help and wanders the town, searching relentless like the ghost bride she is dressed as.

___

"Any new information?" Yuu asks, half-hoping and dreading the answer. This is a bad situation. Never again they are going to a stranger's party and they will loudly and absurdly remind Ace and Grim about it. "Nothing. They just laughs at our faces." Jack clenches his first. "Tch, that makes me so goddamn pissed!" Epel makes a face. "One of 'em pinched my cheeks and cooed. Damned these ghosts, I ain't a cute lil'girl!" His accent slipped through, none of the politeness and standard speech he used was present. "...they touched you?" "...shit, Yuu is making the thinking face." Deuce was already in. He trusted that Goldie could find a way out. "What's the plan?" "We are going to beat up a lot of people."

___

A hand touches her shoulder and Charlotte elbows them on her reflex. They grab her limb and her other arm is already in motion before she registers who is it. It is easier to redirect the movement then stop it. "Ah, Princesse Chanteuse, fantastique! Fast reflexes, you were ready to fight even if it dirtied your white clothes!" "Rook-san. I'm occupied at the moment." She grits between her teeth. "I can't always stop myself, so it is best that you don't touch me again." The man has the audacity to smile at her. "Yes, I noticed that you were looking for your missing dorm mates. I have come to offer my services." He bows at her, full of theatrics, cape swaying in the wind. Pomefiore did well with their vampire theme. "And why would you do that? Apologies for my bluntness, but we are not friends." "Ah, but we have shared objectives. Have you seen Monsieur Crabapple in your wandering?" Crabapple...? Epel? He was lost too? "I see. Very well, let's join forces."

___

"Someone with a claim to us?" "That's what the ghosts said." "And they say they've a claim to us 'cause we ate their food. No one 'as a goddamn claim to me! I ain't a damn cow!" "...Grim is a cat isn't he?" "He isn't a cat per se, but you have a point. GRIM!"

___ The trail that Rook finds brings them to the forest. Of course it does. ___

"Okay, that didn't work. Anyone has another idea?" "We try to break the barrier around us." "Magic isn't working." "I have talked to senpai after what happened and searched it on my own... if we destroy the physical part archoring the barrier we can de-estabilize it." "Got it, let's go." . . . The barrier archors are outside the barrier. Goddamn.

___

Of course it is a ballroom. Of course. At least they found them. And hey if there is anyone that has a claim to every student in Night Raven it is a prefect and staff members.

___ Rook crosses the barrier, carrying Epel on his back - dorm mates have a claim to dorm mates and Rook is his damn vice-leader - but when he tries to return, the barrier blocks his path. A ghost on their side laughs. "The living can only go and come one time." They turn malicious eyes to Charlotte. "So, little ghost bride, which one will you chose to spend time forever and which one will you leave for us?" Charlotte snaps. Her slap is strong enough to bring the ghost to the ground and all she answers is a snarl. She is getting everyone home. ___ "Senpai, it's..." "I was ready to carry everyone on my goddamn back, Rook would help with Jack - because you are built like a brick wall, sorry-" Jack snorts. "It's fine." The image would be funny, him being carried by someone small and pudgy like Charlotte-senpai, if the situation wasn't tragic. "-and there is no way that I am giving up. Rook has to be calling for reinforcements, so don't lose hope just yet." "That's good to hear, but do you have a plan, Charlotte-senpau?" "If I thought it would have a 100% chance of working, I would be putting everyone on the curtains and pulling you along. The problem is that I cross first." "...you are saying we need a mail cart." "Yes Deuce, that's exactly what I need. Two, in fact."

___

It is five of the morning but not morning proper, and Trey brings with him Cater and Riddle. Well thought out logistics is for these that slept and not for these close to twenty four hours awake. Rook is debriefing the three of them on the situation - short, but it is best that everyone is on the same page - when two shoddy wooden carts cross the barrier, the students on them and Charlotte bringing the rear. Charlotte seems equally startled in seeing them, her original dress and veil no way in sight, instead with a multitude of different and mismatched clothes. Epel, who has been cheerfully trying to weaken the barrier, is called back. "Princesse Chanteuse, c'est magnifique! You succeeded in rescuing our juniors! Ah, how I wish I was there to watch this blooming adventure." Riddle is trying to needle out the story from Ace and Deuce, and Jack carries Grim, glad to do something. Cooperating with people is not his type, but this once he can accept it. Yuu is just really glad that the plan worked. No more following weird invitations, ever.